Exhibit 10.32
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this
Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest
subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the
sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B)
the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition,
other than, in each case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation, with
respect to
2
which immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the transferee corporation owned by the Company's stockholders,
but not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
transferee corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (2) no Person (excluding the Company and any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee
benefit plan of such transferee corporation and any Person beneficially owning,
immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of such
transferee corporation and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities of such transferee corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors and (3) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of such transferee corporation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the
board providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a result
of (A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability (as
defined in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as
defined in Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the
Company for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the
Executive's decision to terminate employment other than for Good Reason
(as defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of
3
Termination (as defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the
Company, the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of
the Executive's duties, the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for
"Disability". If there is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive
is still an employee and if the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated for Disability within two years after the Change in Control, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) one times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second
4
sentence of this subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the
Board specifying in detail the particular act or failure to act on which the
Board is relying in proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the
Executive an opportunity, on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such
notice, to have a hearing, with counsel, before a majority of the non-employee
members of the Board, including each of the members of the Board who authorized
the termination for Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if,
within 30 days after the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if
the Executive waives a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the
proposed termination), he has corrected the particular act or failure to act
specified in the notice and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has
reduced the economic damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the
Company to a level which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability
that such act or failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage
to the Company. No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration
of the correction period described in the preceding sentence and the
determination by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the
Executive has failed to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the
terms of the preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after any
Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any of
the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any failure to
re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of his employment for Disability, Retirement or
Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate
of base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last
increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's annual rate
of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in an amount
which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of (A) the
average percentage increase in the annual rate
5
of base salary for all officers of the Company effected in the
preceding 12 months; or (B) the Consumer Price Index as published by
the United States Government (or, in the event such index is
discontinued, any similar index published by the United States
Government as designated in good faith by the Executive); provided,
however, that nothing contained in this clause (ii) shall be construed
under any circumstances as permitting the Company to decrease the
Executive's annual rate of base salary;
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which the
Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive with
benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there
is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in any such
Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any such
Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced, affected
or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to any fiscal
year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each such Incentive
Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or payable in cash or
in securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program with
respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in securities of the
Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such
substituted comparable plan with respect to the prior three fiscal
years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years that the Executive
was employed by the Company or that the Incentive Plan (together with
any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, the
6
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
and the Transaction Systems Architects Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan) in
which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control
of the Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing him with
substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as "Securities
Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which would
adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially reduce
the Executive's benefits under any such Securities Plan, unless in the
case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there is substituted a
comparable plan or program that is economically equivalent or superior,
in terms of the benefit offered to the Executive, to the Securities
Plan being altered, reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any failure by
the Company in any fiscal year to grant stock options, stock
appreciation rights or securities awards to the Executive pursuant to
such Securities Plans with respect to an aggregate number of securities
of the Company of each kind that is equal to or greater than the
greater of (1) the aggregate number of securities of the Company of
that kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights or
securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities
Plans in the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual aggregate number of securities of the Company of that kind
covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights, or securities
awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities Plans in
the prior three fiscal years; and provided further the material terms
and conditions of such stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive after the Change in Control
(including, but not limited to, the exercise price, vesting schedule,
period and methods of exercise, expiration date, forfeiture provisions
and other restrictions) are substantially similar to the material terms
and conditions of the stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans
immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the time
of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with
the number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is
entitled for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company
occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of
this Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into
an agreement with the Executive that is substantially similar to this
Agreement with respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its
successor occurring thereafter; or
7
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section
3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above,
shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this
Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice
of Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination
is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned
to the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b) below;
plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
8
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points,
compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to one times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination. For purposes of this
subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an employee
of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity, as such
terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's Compensation
for such fiscal year shall be annualized before determining the average
fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period. In annualizing
Compensation, the frequency with which payments are expected to be made
over a fiscal year shall be taken into account; thus, any amount of
Compensation that represents a payment that will not be made more often
than once per fiscal year is not annualized. Set forth on Appendix A,
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, are three examples
illustrating the calculation of the Base Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive
fiscal years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination.
However, if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a
predecessor entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in
clause (iii) below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years,
the Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such
two-fiscal-year period during which the Executive performed personal
services for the Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable
by the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and
which was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either
was excludible from such gross income as
9
"foreign earned income" within the meaning of Section 911 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or would have
been includible in such gross income if the Executive had been a United
States citizen or resident), but excluding the following: (A) amounts
realized from the exercise of a non-qualified stock option; and (B)
amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of stock
acquired under an incentive stock option described in Code Section
422(b) or under an employee stock purchase plan described in Code
Section 423(b). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Compensation
shall be determined without regard to any compensation deferral
election under any plan, program or arrangement, qualified or
nonqualified, maintained or contributed to by the Company, a
predecessor entity or a related entity, including but not limited to a
cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code Section 401(k), a
cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a nonqualified deferred
compensation plan. A "predecessor entity" is any entity which, as a
result of a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of property
or stock, corporate separation, or other similar business transaction
transfers some or all of its employees to the Company or to a related
entity or to a predecessor entity of the Company. The term "related
entity" includes any entity treated as a single employer with the
Company in accordance with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o) of Code
Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Executive will be entitled to
continued participation in all employee benefit plans or programs available to
Company employees generally in which the Executive was participating on the Date
of Termination, such continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise
on the same basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and benefits to be determined
on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from
the Date of Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from
continuing his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within 30 days
following the date it is determined he is unable to participate in any employee
benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic equivalent of the benefits
provided under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate for the
period specified in this sentence, and (B) the economic equivalent of any
benefit foregone shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by
the Executive in obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or
dependent coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall
be eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in accordance
with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
when he ceases to be eligible for continued participation in the Company's group
health plan under this subsection (e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES; NO EFFECT ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL
RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the
amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation
10
earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after
the Date of Termination or otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided for
hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way
diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as
a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or
Securities Plan, employment agreement or other contract, plan or agreement with
or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or awards of
securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the Executive
under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards or units or
the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the Incentive
Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined
11
pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within
five days after the receipt of the determination. Any determination by such
jointly designated public 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 hereunder, it is possible
that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the Company that should have
been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Executive hereafter is required to make a
payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive. Upon notice by the Executive of
any audit or other proceeding that may result in a liability to the Company
hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the Company of such audit or
other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option, but solely with respect to
the item or items that relate to such potential liability, choose to assume the
defense of such audit or other proceeding at its own cost, provided that (i) the
Executive shall cooperate with the Company in such defense and (ii) the Company
will not settle such audit or other proceeding without the consent of the
Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). The highest effective
marginal tax rate (determined by taking into account any reduction in itemized
deductions and/or exemptions attributable to the inclusion of the additional
amounts payable under this Section 7 in the Executive's adjusted gross or
taxable income) based upon the state and locality where the Executive is
resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be used for purposes of
determining the federal and state income and other taxes with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
12
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right
of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will be involved as a
party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a director
or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action
on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity
at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification,
reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
13
the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee or other
designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
If to the Executive:
------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
14
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, and ordinary
and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys, billed to and payable by the
Executive or by anyone claiming under or through the Executive, in connection
with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating, defending, litigating, negotiating,
or settling such claim or dispute. In no event shall the Executive be required
to reimburse the Company for any of the costs or expenses incurred by the
Company relating to arbitration or litigation. Pending the outcome or resolution
of any claim or dispute, the Company shall continue payment of all amounts due
the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
15
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: By:
---------------------- ---------------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date:
---------------------- ---------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] DIVIDED BY 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period.
The Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000
[160,000 + 120,000] DIVIDED BY 2 = $140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 DIVIDED BY 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this
Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest
subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the
sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B)
the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition,
other than, in each case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation,
2
with respect to which immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation
and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such
corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then
beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the
individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities
immediately prior to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same
proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other
disposition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company
Voting Securities, as the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such
percentage test is satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares
and voting securities of the transferee corporation owned by the Company's
stockholders, but not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting
securities of the transferee corporation, any shares or voting securities
received by any such stockholder in respect of any consideration other than
shares or voting securities of the Company), (2) no Person (excluding the
Company and any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any
qualified employee benefit plan of such transferee corporation and any Person
beneficially owning, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition,
directly or indirectly, 20% or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or
Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns,
directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding
shares of common stock of such transferee corporation and the combined voting
power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such transferee corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (3) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of such transferee corporation
were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial
agreement or action of the board providing for such sale or other disposition of
assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a result
of (A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability (as
defined in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as
defined in Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the
Company for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the
Executive's decision to terminate employment other than for Good Reason
(as defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of
3
Termination (as defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the
Company, the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of
the Executive's duties, the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for
"Disability". If there is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive
is still an employee and if the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated for Disability within two years after the Change in Control, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) one times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second
4
sentence of this subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the
Board specifying in detail the particular act or failure to act on which the
Board is relying in proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the
Executive an opportunity, on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such
notice, to have a hearing, with counsel, before a majority of the non-employee
members of the Board, including each of the members of the Board who authorized
the termination for Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if,
within 30 days after the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if
the Executive waives a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the
proposed termination), he has corrected the particular act or failure to act
specified in the notice and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has
reduced the economic damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the
Company to a level which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability
that such act or failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage
to the Company. No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration
of the correction period described in the preceding sentence and the
determination by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the
Executive has failed to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the
terms of the preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after any
Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any of
the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any failure to
re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of his employment for Disability, Retirement or
Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate
of base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last
increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's annual rate
of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in an amount
which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of (A) the
average percentage increase in the annual rate
5
of base salary for all officers of the Company effected in the
preceding 12 months; or (B) the Consumer Price Index as published by
the United States Government (or, in the event such index is
discontinued, any similar index published by the United States
Government as designated in good faith by the Executive); provided,
however, that nothing contained in this clause (ii) shall be construed
under any circumstances as permitting the Company to decrease the
Executive's annual rate of base salary;
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which the
Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive with
benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there
is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in any such
Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any such
Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced, affected
or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to any fiscal
year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each such Incentive
Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or payable in cash or
in securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program with
respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in securities of the
Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such
substituted comparable plan with respect to the prior three fiscal
years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years that the Executive
was employed by the Company or that the Incentive Plan (together with
any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, the
6
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
and the Transaction Systems Architects Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan) in
which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control
of the Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing him with
substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as "Securities
Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which would
adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially reduce
the Executive's benefits under any such Securities Plan, unless in the
case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there is substituted a
comparable plan or program that is economically equivalent or superior,
in terms of the benefit offered to the Executive, to the Securities
Plan being altered, reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any failure by
the Company in any fiscal year to grant stock options, stock
appreciation rights or securities awards to the Executive pursuant to
such Securities Plans with respect to an aggregate number of securities
of the Company of each kind that is equal to or greater than the
greater of (1) the aggregate number of securities of the Company of
that kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights or
securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities
Plans in the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual aggregate number of securities of the Company of that kind
covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights, or securities
awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities Plans in
the prior three fiscal years; and provided further the material terms
and conditions of such stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive after the Change in Control
(including, but not limited to, the exercise price, vesting schedule,
period and methods of exercise, expiration date, forfeiture provisions
and other restrictions) are substantially similar to the material terms
and conditions of the stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans
immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the time
of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with
the number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is
entitled for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company
occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of
this Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into
an agreement with the Executive that is substantially similar to this
Agreement with respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its
successor occurring thereafter; or
7
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section
3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above,
shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this
Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice
of Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination
is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned
to the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b)
below; plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
8
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points,
compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to one times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination. For purposes of this
subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an employee
of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity, as such
terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's Compensation
for such fiscal year shall be annualized before determining the average
fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period. In annualizing
Compensation, the frequency with which payments are expected to be made
over a fiscal year shall be taken into account; thus, any amount of
Compensation that represents a payment that will not be made more often
than once per fiscal year is not annualized. Set forth on Appendix A,
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, are three examples
illustrating the calculation of the Base Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive
fiscal years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination.
However, if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a
predecessor entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in
clause (iii) below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years,
the Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such
two-fiscal-year period during which the Executive performed personal
services for the Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable
by the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and
which was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either
was excludible from such gross income as
9
"foreign earned income" within the meaning of Section 911 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or would have
been includible in such gross income if the Executive had been a United
States citizen or resident), but excluding the following: (A) amounts
realized from the exercise of a non-qualified stock option; and (B)
amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of stock
acquired under an incentive stock option described in Code Section
422(b) or under an employee stock purchase plan described in Code
Section 423(b). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Compensation
shall be determined without regard to any compensation deferral
election under any plan, program or arrangement, qualified or
nonqualified, maintained or contributed to by the Company, a
predecessor entity or a related entity, including but not limited to a
cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code Section 401(k), a
cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a nonqualified deferred
compensation plan. A "predecessor entity" is any entity which, as a
result of a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of property
or stock, corporate separation, or other similar business transaction
transfers some or all of its employees to the Company or to a related
entity or to a predecessor entity of the Company. The term "related
entity" includes any entity treated as a single employer with the
Company in accordance with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o) of Code
Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Executive will be entitled to
continued participation in all employee benefit plans or programs available to
Company employees generally in which the Executive was participating on the Date
of Termination, such continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise
on the same basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and benefits to be determined
on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from
the Date of Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from
continuing his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within 30 days
following the date it is determined he is unable to participate in any employee
benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic equivalent of the benefits
provided under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate for the
period specified in this sentence, and (B) the economic equivalent of any
benefit foregone shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by
the Executive in obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or
dependent coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall
be eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in accordance
with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
when he ceases to be eligible for continued participation in the Company's group
health plan under this subsection (e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES; NO EFFECT ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL
RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the
amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation
10
earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after
the Date of Termination or otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided for
hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way
diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as
a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or
Securities Plan, employment agreement or other contract, plan or agreement with
or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or awards of
securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the Executive
under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards or units or
the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the Incentive
Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined
11
pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within
five days after the receipt of the determination. Any determination by such
jointly designated public 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 hereunder, it is possible
that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the Company that should have
been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Executive hereafter is required to make a
payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive. Upon notice by the Executive of
any audit or other proceeding that may result in a liability to the Company
hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the Company of such audit or
other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option, but solely with respect to
the item or items that relate to such potential liability, choose to assume the
defense of such audit or other proceeding at its own cost, provided that (i) the
Executive shall cooperate with the Company in such defense and (ii) the Company
will not settle such audit or other proceeding without the consent of the
Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). The highest effective
marginal tax rate (determined by taking into account any reduction in itemized
deductions and/or exemptions attributable to the inclusion of the additional
amounts payable under this Section 7 in the Executive's adjusted gross or
taxable income) based upon the state and locality where the Executive is
resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be used for purposes of
determining the federal and state income and other taxes with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
12
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right
of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will be involved as a
party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a director
or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action
on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity
at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification,
reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
13
the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee or other
designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
If to the Executive:
----------------------------------
----------------------------------
----------------------------------
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
14
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, and ordinary
and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys, billed to and payable by the
Executive or by anyone claiming under or through the Executive, in connection
with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating, defending, litigating, negotiating,
or settling such claim or dispute. In no event shall the Executive be required
to reimburse the Company for any of the costs or expenses incurred by the
Company relating to arbitration or litigation. Pending the outcome or resolution
of any claim or dispute, the Company shall continue payment of all amounts due
the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
15
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: By:
--------------------- --------------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date:
--------------------- ------------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period.
The Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000
[160,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 / 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of
Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning
of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of either (i)
the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding
Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that
the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any
acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an acquisition by virtue of the
exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any acquisition by any employee benefit
plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any
corporation controlled by the Company or (C) any acquisition by any corporation
pursuant to a reorganization, merger or consolidation, if, following such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, the conditions described in subclauses
(i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of Directors
(the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority
of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director
subsequent to the date hereof whose election,
or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote
of at least two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board
shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent
Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial
assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened
election contest subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the
Exchange Act or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents
by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the
sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B)
the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition,
other than, in each case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation, with
respect to which immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and
2
Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or other
disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately
prior to such sale or other disposition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock
and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be (for purposes of
determining whether such percentage test is satisfied, there shall be excluded
from the number of shares and voting securities of the transferee corporation
owned by the Company's stockholders, but not from the total number of
outstanding shares and voting securities of the transferee corporation, any
shares or voting securities received by any such stockholder in respect of any
consideration other than shares or voting securities of the Company), (2) no
Person (excluding the Company and any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
of the Company, any qualified employee benefit plan of such transferee
corporation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such sale
or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may
be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such transferee corporation and the
combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such
transferee corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of such
transferee corporation were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the
execution of the initial agreement or action of the board providing for such
sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a
result of (A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability (as
defined in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as
defined in Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the
Company for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the
Executive's decision to terminate employment other than for Good Reason
(as defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of Termination (as
defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the Company, the Executive
shall not have returned to the full-time performance of the Executive's duties,
the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for "Disability". If there
is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive is still an employee
and if the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated for Disability
within two years after the Change in Control, the
3
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) two times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second sentence of this
subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the Board specifying in
detail the particular act or failure to act on which the Board is relying in
proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the Executive an opportunity,
on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such notice, to have a hearing, with
counsel, before a majority of the non-employee members of the Board, including
each of the members of the Board who authorized the termination for
4
Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if, within 30 days after
the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if the Executive waives
a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the proposed termination),
he has corrected the particular act or failure to act specified in the notice
and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has reduced the economic
damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the Company to a level
which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability that such act or
failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage to the Company.
No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration of the
correction period described in the preceding sentence and the determination by a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the Executive has failed
to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the terms of the
preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after any
Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any of
the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any failure to
re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of his employment for Disability, Retirement or
Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate
of base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last
increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's annual rate
of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in an amount
which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of (A) the
average percentage increase in the annual rate of base salary for all
officers of the Company effected in the preceding 12 months; or (B) the
Consumer Price Index as published by the United States Government (or,
in the event such index is discontinued, any similar index published by
the United States Government as designated in good faith by the
Executive); provided, however, that nothing contained in this clause
(ii) shall be construed under any circumstances as permitting the
Company to decrease the Executive's annual rate of base salary;
5
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which the
Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive with
benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there
is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in any such
Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any such
Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced, affected
or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to any fiscal
year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each such Incentive
Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or payable in cash or
in securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program with
respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in securities of the
Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such
substituted comparable plan with respect to the prior three fiscal
years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years that the Executive
was employed by the Company or that the Incentive Plan (together with
any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999
Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the Transaction Systems Architects
Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan) in which the Executive is participating at
the time of a Change in Control of the Company, or any other plan or
arrangement providing him with substantially similar benefits,
(hereinafter referred to as "Securities Plans"), (B) the taking of any
action by the Company which would adversely affect the Executive's
participation in or materially reduce the Executive's benefits under
any such Securities Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or
(B) above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Securities Plan being altered,
6
reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company in any
fiscal year to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights or
securities awards to the Executive pursuant to such Securities Plans
with respect to an aggregate number of securities of the Company of
each kind that is equal to or greater than the greater of (1) the
aggregate number of securities of the Company of that kind covered by
stock options, stock appreciation rights or securities awards granted
to the Executive pursuant to such Securities Plans in the immediately
preceding fiscal year or (2) the average annual aggregate number of
securities of the Company of that kind covered by stock options, stock
appreciation rights, or securities awards granted to the Executive
pursuant to such Securities Plans in the prior three fiscal years; and
provided further the material terms and conditions of such stock
options, stock appreciation rights, and securities awards granted to
the Executive after the Change in Control (including, but not limited
to, the exercise price, vesting schedule, period and methods of
exercise, expiration date, forfeiture provisions and other
restrictions) are substantially similar to the material terms and
conditions of the stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans
immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the time
of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with
the number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is
entitled for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company
occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of
this Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into an agreement
with the Executive that is substantially similar to this Agreement with
respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its successor
occurring thereafter; or
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
7
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section
3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above,
shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this
Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice
of Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination
is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned
to the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b) below;
plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as
8
published in The Wall Street Journal on the Date of Termination plus
three percentage points, compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to two times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination. For purposes of this
subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an employee
of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity, as such
terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's Compensation
for such fiscal year shall be annualized before determining the average
fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period. In annualizing
Compensation, the frequency with which payments are expected to be made
over a fiscal year shall be taken into account; thus, any amount of
Compensation that represents a payment that will not be made more often
than once per fiscal year is not annualized. Set forth on Appendix A,
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, are three examples
illustrating the calculation of the Base Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive
fiscal years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination.
However, if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a
predecessor entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in
clause (iii) below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years,
the Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such
two-fiscal-year period during which the Executive performed personal
services for the Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable
by the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and
which was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either
was excludible from such gross income as "foreign earned income" within
the meaning of Section 911 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), or would have been includible in such gross
income if the Executive had been a United States citizen or resident),
but excluding the following: (A) amounts realized from the exercise of
a non-qualified stock option; and (B) amounts realized from the sale,
exchange or other disposition of stock acquired under an incentive
stock option described in Code Section 422(b) or under an employee
stock purchase plan described in Code Section 423(b). Notwithstanding
the preceding sentence, Compensation shall be determined without regard
to any compensation deferral election under any plan, program or
arrangement, qualified or nonqualified, maintained or contributed to by
the Company, a predecessor entity or a related entity, including but
not limited to a cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code Section
401(k), a cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a
nonqualified deferred compensation plan. A
9
"predecessor entity" is any entity which, as a result of a merger,
consolidation, purchase or acquisition of property or stock, corporate
separation, or other similar business transaction transfers some or all
of its employees to the Company or to a related entity or to a
predecessor entity of the Company. The term "related entity" includes
any entity treated as a single employer with the Company in accordance
with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o) of Code Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is
entitled to the compensation provided in this Section 4, then the
Executive will be entitled to continued participation in all employee
benefit plans or programs available to Company employees generally in
which the Executive was participating on the Date of Termination, such
continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise on the same
basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the
plans and programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and
benefits to be determined on a coverage-by-coverage or
benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from the Date of
Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from continuing
his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within
30 days following the date it is determined he is unable to participate
in any employee benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic
equivalent of the benefits provided under the plan or program in which
he is unable to participate for the period specified in this sentence,
and (B) the economic equivalent of any benefit foregone shall be deemed
to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by the Executive in
obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or dependent
coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall be
eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in
accordance with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1985, as amended, when he ceases to be eligible for continued
participation in the Company's group health plan under this subsection
(e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES; NO EFFECT ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL
RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or
the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking
other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment
provided for under this Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned
by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after
the Date of Termination or otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided
for hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in
any way diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would
accrue solely as a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit
Plan, Incentive Plan or Securities Plan, employment agreement or other
contract, plan or agreement with or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or
10
awards of securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the
Executive under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards
or units or the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the
Incentive Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the
Executive within five days after the receipt of the determination. Any
determination by such jointly designated public 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
hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the
Company that should have been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the
calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Executive
hereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment
shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive.
Upon notice by the Executive of any audit or other proceeding that may result in
a liability to the Company hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the
Company of such audit or other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option,
but solely with respect to the item or items that relate to such potential
liability, choose to assume the defense of such audit or other proceeding at its
own cost, provided that (i) the Executive shall cooperate with the Company in
such defense and (ii) the Company will not settle such audit or other proceeding
without the consent of the Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld). The highest effective
11
marginal tax rate (determined by taking into account any reduction in itemized
deductions and/or exemptions attributable to the inclusion of the additional
amounts payable under this Section 7 in the Executive's adjusted gross or
taxable income) based upon the state and locality where the Executive is
resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be used for purposes of
determining the federal and state income and other taxes with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right
of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will be
12
involved as a party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or
was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him
or of any action on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company,
or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in
such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which
indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under
this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, 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 be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
13
If to the Executive:
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys'
14
fees, court costs, and ordinary and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys,
billed to and payable by the Executive or by anyone claiming under or through
the Executive, in connection with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating,
defending, litigating, negotiating, or settling such claim or dispute. In no
event shall the Executive be required to reimburse the Company for any of the
costs or expenses incurred by the Company relating to arbitration or litigation.
Pending the outcome or resolution of any claim or dispute, the Company shall
continue payment of all amounts due the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
15
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: By:
------------------- ---------------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date:
------------------- ------------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period. The
Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000
[160,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 / 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this
Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election,
or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote
of at least two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board
shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent
Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial
assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened
election contest subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the
Exchange Act or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents
by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the sale or other
disposition (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B) the approval by the
stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition, other than, in each
case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation, with respect to which
immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding
shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were
the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and
2
Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or other
disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately
prior to such sale or other disposition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock
and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be (for purposes of
determining whether such percentage test is satisfied, there shall be excluded
from the number of shares and voting securities of the transferee corporation
owned by the Company's stockholders, but not from the total number of
outstanding shares and voting securities of the transferee corporation, any
shares or voting securities received by any such stockholder in respect of any
consideration other than shares or voting securities of the Company), (2) no
Person (excluding the Company and any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
of the Company, any qualified employee benefit plan of such transferee
corporation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such sale
or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may
be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such transferee corporation and the
combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such
transferee corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of such
transferee corporation were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the
execution of the initial agreement or action of the board providing for such
sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a
result of (A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability (as
defined in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as
defined in Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the
Company for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the
Executive's decision to terminate employment other than for Good Reason
(as defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of Termination (as
defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the Company, the Executive
shall not have returned to the full-time performance of the Executive's duties,
the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for "Disability". If there
is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive is still an employee
and if the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated for Disability
within two years after the Change in Control, the
3
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) two times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second sentence of this
subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the Board specifying in
detail the particular act or failure to act on which the Board is relying in
proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the Executive an opportunity,
on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such notice, to have a hearing, with
counsel, before a majority of the non-employee members of the Board, including
each of the members of the Board who authorized the termination for
4
Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if, within 30 days after
the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if the Executive waives
a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the proposed termination),
he has corrected the particular act or failure to act specified in the notice
and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has reduced the economic
damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the Company to a level
which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability that such act or
failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage to the Company.
No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration of the
correction period described in the preceding sentence and the determination by a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the Executive has failed
to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the terms of the
preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after any
Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any of
the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any failure to
re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of his employment for Disability, Retirement or
Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate
of base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last
increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's annual rate
of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in an amount
which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of (A) the
average percentage increase in the annual rate of base salary for all
officers of the Company effected in the preceding 12 months; or (B) the
Consumer Price Index as published by the United States Government (or,
in the event such index is discontinued, any similar index published by
the United States Government as designated in good faith by the
Executive); provided, however, that nothing contained in this clause
(ii) shall be construed under any circumstances as permitting the
Company to decrease the Executive's annual rate of base salary;
5
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which the
Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive with
benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there
is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in any such
Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any such
Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced, affected
or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to any fiscal
year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each such Incentive
Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or payable in cash or
in securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program with
respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in securities of the
Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such
substituted comparable plan with respect to the prior three fiscal
years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years that the Executive
was employed by the Company or that the Incentive Plan (together with
any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999
Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the Transaction Systems Architects
Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan) in which the Executive is participating at
the time of a Change in Control of the Company, or any other plan or
arrangement providing him with substantially similar benefits,
(hereinafter referred to as "Securities Plans"), (B) the taking of any
action by the Company which would adversely affect the Executive's
participation in or materially reduce the Executive's benefits under
any such Securities Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or
(B) above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Securities Plan being altered,
6
reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company in any
fiscal year to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights or
securities awards to the Executive pursuant to such Securities Plans
with respect to an aggregate number of securities of the Company of
each kind that is equal to or greater than the greater of (1) the
aggregate number of securities of the Company of that kind covered by
stock options, stock appreciation rights or securities awards granted
to the Executive pursuant to such Securities Plans in the immediately
preceding fiscal year or (2) the average annual aggregate number of
securities of the Company of that kind covered by stock options, stock
appreciation rights, or securities awards granted to the Executive
pursuant to such Securities Plans in the prior three fiscal years; and
provided further the material terms and conditions of such stock
options, stock appreciation rights, and securities awards granted to
the Executive after the Change in Control (including, but not limited
to, the exercise price, vesting schedule, period and methods of
exercise, expiration date, forfeiture provisions and other
restrictions) are substantially similar to the material terms and
conditions of the stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans
immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the time
of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with
the number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is
entitled for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company
occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of
this Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into
an agreement with the Executive that is substantially similar to this
Agreement with respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its
successor occurring thereafter; or
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
7
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b),
3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above, shall be
communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For purposes
of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written notice which
shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this Agreement relied
upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances
claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's employment under
the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice of
Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment is
terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination is
given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned to
the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b) below;
plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as
8
published in The Wall Street Journal on the Date of Termination plus
three percentage points, compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to two times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination.
For purposes of this subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an employee
of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity, as such
terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's Compensation
for such fiscal year shall be annualized before determining the average
fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period. In annualizing
Compensation, the frequency with which payments are expected to be made
over a fiscal year shall be taken into account; thus, any amount of
Compensation that represents a payment that will not be made more often
than once per fiscal year is not annualized. Set forth on Appendix A,
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, are three examples
illustrating the calculation of the Base Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive
fiscal years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination.
However, if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a
predecessor entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in
clause (iii) below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years,
the Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such
two-fiscal-year period during which the Executive performed personal
services for the Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable
by the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and
which was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either
was excludible from such gross income as "foreign earned income" within
the meaning of Section 911 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), or would have been includible in such gross
income if the Executive had been a United States citizen or resident),
but excluding the following: (A) amounts realized from the exercise of
a non-qualified stock option; and (B) amounts realized from the sale,
exchange or other disposition of stock acquired under an incentive
stock option described in Code Section 422(b) or under an employee
stock purchase plan described in Code Section 423(b). Notwithstanding
the preceding sentence, Compensation shall be determined without regard
to any compensation deferral election under any plan, program or
arrangement, qualified or nonqualified, maintained or contributed to by
the Company, a predecessor entity or a related entity, including but
not limited to a cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code Section
401(k), a cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a
nonqualified deferred compensation plan. A
9
"predecessor entity" is any entity which, as a result of a merger,
consolidation, purchase or acquisition of property or stock, corporate
separation, or other similar business transaction transfers some or all
of its employees to the Company or to a related entity or to a
predecessor entity of the Company. The term "related entity" includes
any entity treated as a single employer with the Company in accordance
with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o) of Code Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Executive will be entitled to
continued participation in all employee benefit plans or programs available to
Company employees generally in which the Executive was participating on the Date
of Termination, such continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise
on the same basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and benefits to be determined
on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from
the Date of Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from
continuing his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within 30 days
following the date it is determined he is unable to participate in any employee
benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic equivalent of the benefits
provided under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate for the
period specified in this sentence, and (B) the economic equivalent of any
benefit foregone shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by
the Executive in obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or
dependent coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall
be eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in accordance
with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
when he ceases to be eligible for continued participation in the Company's group
health plan under this subsection (e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES; NO EFFECT ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL
RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the
amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as the
result of employment by another employer after the Date of Termination or
otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided for
hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way
diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as
a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or
Securities Plan, employment agreement or other contract, plan or agreement with
or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or
10
awards of securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the
Executive under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards
or units or the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the
Incentive Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the
Executive within five days after the receipt of the determination. Any
determination by such jointly designated public 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
hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the
Company that should have been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the
calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Executive
hereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment
shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive.
Upon notice by the Executive of any audit or other proceeding that may result in
a liability to the Company hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the
Company of such audit or other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option,
but solely with respect to the item or items that relate to such potential
liability, choose to assume the defense of such audit or other proceeding at its
own cost, provided that (i) the Executive shall cooperate with the Company in
such defense and (ii) the Company will not settle such audit or other proceeding
without the consent of the Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld). The highest effective
11
marginal tax rate (determined by taking into account any reduction in itemized
deductions and/or exemptions attributable to the inclusion of the additional
amounts payable under this Section 7 in the Executive's adjusted gross or
taxable income) based upon the state and locality where the Executive is
resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be used for purposes of
determining the federal and state income and other taxes with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right
of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will be involved
12
as a party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a
director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of
any action on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by
reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such
capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which
indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under
this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, 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 be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
13
If to the Executive:
-------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys'
14
fees, court costs, and ordinary and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys,
billed to and payable by the Executive or by anyone claiming under or through
the Executive, in connection with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating,
defending, litigating, negotiating, or settling such claim or dispute. In no
event shall the Executive be required to reimburse the Company for any of the
costs or expenses incurred by the Company relating to arbitration or litigation.
Pending the outcome or resolution of any claim or dispute, the Company shall
continue payment of all amounts due the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
15
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: By:
--------------- --------------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date:
--------------- ------------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period.
The Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000
[160,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 / 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this
Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest
subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the
sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B)
the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition,
other than, in each case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation, with
respect to
2
which immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the transferee corporation owned by the Company's stockholders,
but not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
transferee corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (2) no Person (excluding the Company and any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee
benefit plan of such transferee corporation and any Person beneficially owning,
immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of such
transferee corporation and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities of such transferee corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors and (3) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of such transferee corporation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the
board providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a result
of (A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability (as
defined in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as
defined in Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the
Company for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the
Executive's decision to terminate employment other than for Good Reason
(as defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of
3
Termination (as defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the
Company, the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of
the Executive's duties, the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for
"Disability". If there is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive
is still an employee and if the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated for Disability within two years after the Change in Control, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) one times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second
4
sentence of this subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the
Board specifying in detail the particular act or failure to act on which the
Board is relying in proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the
Executive an opportunity, on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such
notice, to have a hearing, with counsel, before a majority of the non-employee
members of the Board, including each of the members of the Board who authorized
the termination for Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if,
within 30 days after the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if
the Executive waives a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the
proposed termination), he has corrected the particular act or failure to act
specified in the notice and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has
reduced the economic damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the
Company to a level which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability
that such act or failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage
to the Company. No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration
of the correction period described in the preceding sentence and the
determination by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the
Executive has failed to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the
terms of the preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after any
Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any of
the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any failure to
re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of his employment for Disability, Retirement or
Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate
of base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last
increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's annual rate
of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in an amount
which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of (A) the
average percentage increase in the annual rate
5
of base salary for all officers of the Company effected in the
preceding 12 months; or (B) the Consumer Price Index as published by
the United States Government (or, in the event such index is
discontinued, any similar index published by the United States
Government as designated in good faith by the Executive); provided,
however, that nothing contained in this clause (ii) shall be construed
under any circumstances as permitting the Company to decrease the
Executive's annual rate of base salary;
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which the
Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive with
benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there
is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in any such
Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any such
Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced, affected
or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to any fiscal
year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each such Incentive
Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or payable in cash or
in securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program with
respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in securities of the
Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such
substituted comparable plan with respect to the prior three fiscal
years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years that the Executive
was employed by the Company or that the Incentive Plan (together with
any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, the
6
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
and the Transaction Systems Architects Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan) in
which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control
of the Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing him with
substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as "Securities
Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which would
adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially reduce
the Executive's benefits under any such Securities Plan, unless in the
case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there is substituted a
comparable plan or program that is economically equivalent or superior,
in terms of the benefit offered to the Executive, to the Securities
Plan being altered, reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any failure by
the Company in any fiscal year to grant stock options, stock
appreciation rights or securities awards to the Executive pursuant to
such Securities Plans with respect to an aggregate number of securities
of the Company of each kind that is equal to or greater than the
greater of (1) the aggregate number of securities of the Company of
that kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights or
securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities
Plans in the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual aggregate number of securities of the Company of that kind
covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights, or securities
awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities Plans in
the prior three fiscal years; and provided further the material terms
and conditions of such stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive after the Change in Control
(including, but not limited to, the exercise price, vesting schedule,
period and methods of exercise, expiration date, forfeiture provisions
and other restrictions) are substantially similar to the material terms
and conditions of the stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans
immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the time
of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with
the number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is
entitled for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company
occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of
this Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into
an agreement with the Executive that is substantially similar to this
Agreement with respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its
successor occurring thereafter; or
7
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section
3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above,
shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this
Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice
of Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination
is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned
to the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b) below;
plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
8
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points,
compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to one times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination. For purposes of this
subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an employee
of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity, as such
terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's Compensation
for such fiscal year shall be annualized before determining the average
fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period. In annualizing
Compensation, the frequency with which payments are expected to be made
over a fiscal year shall be taken into account; thus, any amount of
Compensation that represents a payment that will not be made more often
than once per fiscal year is not annualized. Set forth on Appendix A,
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, are three examples
illustrating the calculation of the Base Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive
fiscal years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination.
However, if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a
predecessor entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in
clause (iii) below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years,
the Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such
two-fiscal-year period during which the Executive performed personal
services for the Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable
by the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and
which was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either
was excludible from such gross income as
9
"foreign earned income" within the meaning of Section 911 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or would have
been includible in such gross income if the Executive had been a United
States citizen or resident), but excluding the following: (A) amounts
realized from the exercise of a non-qualified stock option; and (B)
amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of stock
acquired under an incentive stock option described in Code Section
422(b) or under an employee stock purchase plan described in Code
Section 423(b). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Compensation
shall be determined without regard to any compensation deferral
election under any plan, program or arrangement, qualified or
nonqualified, maintained or contributed to by the Company, a
predecessor entity or a related entity, including but not limited to a
cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code Section 401(k), a
cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a nonqualified deferred
compensation plan. A "predecessor entity" is any entity which, as a
result of a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of property
or stock, corporate separation, or other similar business transaction
transfers some or all of its employees to the Company or to a related
entity or to a predecessor entity of the Company. The term "related
entity" includes any entity treated as a single employer with the
Company in accordance with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o) of Code
Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Executive will be entitled to
continued participation in all employee benefit plans or programs available to
Company employees generally in which the Executive was participating on the Date
of Termination, such continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise
on the same basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and benefits to be determined
on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from
the Date of Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from
continuing his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within 30 days
following the date it is determined he is unable to participate in any employee
benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic equivalent of the benefits
provided under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate for the
period specified in this sentence, and (B) the economic equivalent of any
benefit foregone shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by
the Executive in obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or
dependent coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall
be eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in accordance
with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
when he ceases to be eligible for continued participation in the Company's group
health plan under this subsection (e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES; NO EFFECT ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL
RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the
amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation
10
earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after
the Date of Termination or otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided for
hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way
diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as
a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or
Securities Plan, employment agreement or other contract, plan or agreement with
or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or awards of
securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the Executive
under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards or units or
the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the Incentive
Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined
11
pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within
five days after the receipt of the determination. Any determination by such
jointly designated public 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 hereunder, it is possible
that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the Company that should have
been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Executive hereafter is required to make a
payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive. Upon notice by the Executive of
any audit or other proceeding that may result in a liability to the Company
hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the Company of such audit or
other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option, but solely with respect to
the item or items that relate to such potential liability, choose to assume the
defense of such audit or other proceeding at its own cost, provided that (i) the
Executive shall cooperate with the Company in such defense and (ii) the Company
will not settle such audit or other proceeding without the consent of the
Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). The highest effective
marginal tax rate (determined by taking into account any reduction in itemized
deductions and/or exemptions attributable to the inclusion of the additional
amounts payable under this Section 7 in the Executive's adjusted gross or
taxable income) based upon the state and locality where the Executive is
resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be used for purposes of
determining the federal and state income and other taxes with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
12
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right
of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will be involved as a
party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a director
or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action
on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity
at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification,
reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
13
the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee or other
designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
If to the Executive:
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
14
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, and ordinary
and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys, billed to and payable by the
Executive or by anyone claiming under or through the Executive, in connection
with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating, defending, litigating, negotiating,
or settling such claim or dispute. In no event shall the Executive be required
to reimburse the Company for any of the costs or expenses incurred by the
Company relating to arbitration or litigation. Pending the outcome or resolution
of any claim or dispute, the Company shall continue payment of all amounts due
the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
15
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: By:
-------------------- ---------------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date:
-------------------- ------------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] DIVIDED BY 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period.
The Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000
[160,000 + 120,000] DIVIDED BY 2 = $140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 DIVIDED BY 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this
Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest
subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the
sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B)
the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition,
other than, in each case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation, with
respect to
2
which immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the transferee corporation owned by the Company's stockholders,
but not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
transferee corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (2) no Person (excluding the Company and any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee
benefit plan of such transferee corporation and any Person beneficially owning,
immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of such
transferee corporation and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities of such transferee corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors and (3) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of such transferee corporation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the
board providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a result
of (A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability (as
defined in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as
defined in Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the
Company for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the
Executive's decision to terminate employment other than for Good Reason
(as defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of
3
Termination (as defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the
Company, the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of
the Executive's duties, the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for
"Disability". If there is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive
is still an employee and if the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated for Disability within two years after the Change in Control, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) one times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second
4
sentence of this subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the
Board specifying in detail the particular act or failure to act on which the
Board is relying in proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the
Executive an opportunity, on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such
notice, to have a hearing, with counsel, before a majority of the non-employee
members of the Board, including each of the members of the Board who authorized
the termination for Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if,
within 30 days after the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if
the Executive waives a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the
proposed termination), he has corrected the particular act or failure to act
specified in the notice and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has
reduced the economic damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the
Company to a level which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability
that such act or failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage
to the Company. No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration
of the correction period described in the preceding sentence and the
determination by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the
Executive has failed to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the
terms of the preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after any
Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any of
the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any failure to
re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of his employment for Disability, Retirement or
Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate
of base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last
increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's annual rate
of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in an amount
which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of (A) the
average percentage increase in the annual rate
5
of base salary for all officers of the Company effected in the
preceding 12 months; or (B) the Consumer Price Index as published by
the United States Government (or, in the event such index is
discontinued, any similar index published by the United States
Government as designated in good faith by the Executive); provided,
however, that nothing contained in this clause (ii) shall be construed
under any circumstances as permitting the Company to decrease the
Executive's annual rate of base salary;
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which the
Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive with
benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there
is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in any such
Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any such
Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced, affected
or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to any fiscal
year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each such Incentive
Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or payable in cash or
in securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program with
respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in securities of the
Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such
substituted comparable plan with respect to the prior three fiscal
years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years that the Executive
was employed by the Company or that the Incentive Plan (together with
any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, the
6
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
and the Transaction Systems Architects Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan) in
which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control
of the Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing him with
substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as "Securities
Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which would
adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially reduce
the Executive's benefits under any such Securities Plan, unless in the
case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there is substituted a
comparable plan or program that is economically equivalent or superior,
in terms of the benefit offered to the Executive, to the Securities
Plan being altered, reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any failure by
the Company in any fiscal year to grant stock options, stock
appreciation rights or securities awards to the Executive pursuant to
such Securities Plans with respect to an aggregate number of securities
of the Company of each kind that is equal to or greater than the
greater of (1) the aggregate number of securities of the Company of
that kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights or
securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities
Plans in the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual aggregate number of securities of the Company of that kind
covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights, or securities
awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities Plans in
the prior three fiscal years; and provided further the material terms
and conditions of such stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive after the Change in Control
(including, but not limited to, the exercise price, vesting schedule,
period and methods of exercise, expiration date, forfeiture provisions
and other restrictions) are substantially similar to the material terms
and conditions of the stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans
immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the time
of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with
the number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is
entitled for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company
occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of
this Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into
an agreement with the Executive that is substantially similar to this
Agreement with respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its
successor occurring thereafter; or
7
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section
3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above,
shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this
Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice
of Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination
is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned
to the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b) below;
plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
8
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points,
compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to one times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination. For purposes of this
subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an employee
of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity, as such
terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's Compensation
for such fiscal year shall be annualized before determining the average
fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period. In annualizing
Compensation, the frequency with which payments are expected to be made
over a fiscal year shall be taken into account; thus, any amount of
Compensation that represents a payment that will not be made more often
than once per fiscal year is not annualized. Set forth on Appendix A,
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, are three examples
illustrating the calculation of the Base Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive
fiscal years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination.
However, if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a
predecessor entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in
clause (iii) below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years,
the Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such
two-fiscal-year period during which the Executive performed personal
services for the Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable
by the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and
which was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either
was excludible from such gross income as
9
"foreign earned income" within the meaning of Section 911 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or would have
been includible in such gross income if the Executive had been a United
States citizen or resident), but excluding the following: (A) amounts
realized from the exercise of a non-qualified stock option; and (B)
amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of stock
acquired under an incentive stock option described in Code Section
422(b) or under an employee stock purchase plan described in Code
Section 423(b). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Compensation
shall be determined without regard to any compensation deferral
election under any plan, program or arrangement, qualified or
nonqualified, maintained or contributed to by the Company, a
predecessor entity or a related entity, including but not limited to a
cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code Section 401(k), a
cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a nonqualified deferred
compensation plan. A "predecessor entity" is any entity which, as a
result of a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of property
or stock, corporate separation, or other similar business transaction
transfers some or all of its employees to the Company or to a related
entity or to a predecessor entity of the Company. The term "related
entity" includes any entity treated as a single employer with the
Company in accordance with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o) of Code
Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Executive will be entitled to
continued participation in all employee benefit plans or programs available to
Company employees generally in which the Executive was participating on the Date
of Termination, such continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise
on the same basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and benefits to be determined
on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from
the Date of Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from
continuing his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within 30 days
following the date it is determined he is unable to participate in any employee
benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic equivalent of the benefits
provided under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate for the
period specified in this sentence, and (B) the economic equivalent of any
benefit foregone shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by
the Executive in obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or
dependent coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall
be eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in accordance
with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
when he ceases to be eligible for continued participation in the Company's group
health plan under this subsection (e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES; NO EFFECT ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL
RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the
amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation
10
earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after
the Date of Termination or otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided for
hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way
diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as
a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or
Securities Plan, employment agreement or other contract, plan or agreement with
or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or awards of
securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the Executive
under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards or units or
the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the Incentive
Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined
11
pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within
five days after the receipt of the determination. Any determination by such
jointly designated public 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 hereunder, it is possible
that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the Company that should have
been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Executive hereafter is required to make a
payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive. Upon notice by the Executive of
any audit or other proceeding that may result in a liability to the Company
hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the Company of such audit or
other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option, but solely with respect to
the item or items that relate to such potential liability, choose to assume the
defense of such audit or other proceeding at its own cost, provided that (i) the
Executive shall cooperate with the Company in such defense and (ii) the Company
will not settle such audit or other proceeding without the consent of the
Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). The highest effective
marginal tax rate (determined by taking into account any reduction in itemized
deductions and/or exemptions attributable to the inclusion of the additional
amounts payable under this Section 7 in the Executive's adjusted gross or
taxable income) based upon the state and locality where the Executive is
resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be used for purposes of
determining the federal and state income and other taxes with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
12
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right
of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will be involved as a
party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a director
or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action
on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity
at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification,
reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
13
the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee or other
designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
If to the Executive:
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
--------------------------------
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
14
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, and ordinary
and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys, billed to and payable by the
Executive or by anyone claiming under or through the Executive, in connection
with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating, defending, litigating, negotiating,
or settling such claim or dispute. In no event shall the Executive be required
to reimburse the Company for any of the costs or expenses incurred by the
Company relating to arbitration or litigation. Pending the outcome or resolution
of any claim or dispute, the Company shall continue payment of all amounts due
the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
15
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: By:
------------------------- ---------------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date:
------------------------- ------------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period.
The Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000
[160,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 / 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this
Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest
subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the
sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B)
the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition,
other than, in each case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation, with
respect to
2
which immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the transferee corporation owned by the Company's stockholders,
but not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
transferee corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (2) no Person (excluding the Company and any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee
benefit plan of such transferee corporation and any Person beneficially owning,
immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of such
transferee corporation and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities of such transferee corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors and (3) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of such transferee corporation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the
board providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a result
of (A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability (as
defined in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as
defined in Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the
Company for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the
Executive's decision to terminate employment other than for Good Reason
(as defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of
3
Termination (as defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the
Company, the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of
the Executive's duties, the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for
"Disability". If there is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive
is still an employee and if the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated for Disability within two years after the Change in Control, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) one times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second
4
sentence of this subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the
Board specifying in detail the particular act or failure to act on which the
Board is relying in proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the
Executive an opportunity, on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such
notice, to have a hearing, with counsel, before a majority of the non-employee
members of the Board, including each of the members of the Board who authorized
the termination for Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if,
within 30 days after the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if
the Executive waives a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the
proposed termination), he has corrected the particular act or failure to act
specified in the notice and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has
reduced the economic damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the
Company to a level which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability
that such act or failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage
to the Company. No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration
of the correction period described in the preceding sentence and the
determination by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the
Executive has failed to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the
terms of the preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after any
Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any of
the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any failure to
re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of his employment for Disability, Retirement or
Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate
of base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last
increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's annual rate
of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in an amount
which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of (A) the
average percentage increase in the annual rate
5
of base salary for all officers of the Company effected in the
preceding 12 months; or (B) the Consumer Price Index as published by
the United States Government (or, in the event such index is
discontinued, any similar index published by the United States
Government as designated in good faith by the Executive); provided,
however, that nothing contained in this clause (ii) shall be construed
under any circumstances as permitting the Company to decrease the
Executive's annual rate of base salary;
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which the
Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive with
benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there
is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in any such
Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any such
Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced, affected
or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to any fiscal
year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each such Incentive
Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or payable in cash or
in securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program with
respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in securities of the
Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such
substituted comparable plan with respect to the prior three fiscal
years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years that the Executive
was employed by the Company or that the Incentive Plan (together with
any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, the
6
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
and the Transaction Systems Architects Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan) in
which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control
of the Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing him with
substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as "Securities
Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which would
adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially reduce
the Executive's benefits under any such Securities Plan, unless in the
case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there is substituted a
comparable plan or program that is economically equivalent or superior,
in terms of the benefit offered to the Executive, to the Securities
Plan being altered, reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any failure by
the Company in any fiscal year to grant stock options, stock
appreciation rights or securities awards to the Executive pursuant to
such Securities Plans with respect to an aggregate number of securities
of the Company of each kind that is equal to or greater than the
greater of (1) the aggregate number of securities of the Company of
that kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights or
securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities
Plans in the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual aggregate number of securities of the Company of that kind
covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights, or securities
awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities Plans in
the prior three fiscal years; and provided further the material terms
and conditions of such stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive after the Change in Control
(including, but not limited to, the exercise price, vesting schedule,
period and methods of exercise, expiration date, forfeiture provisions
and other restrictions) are substantially similar to the material terms
and conditions of the stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans
immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the time
of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with
the number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is
entitled for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company
occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of
this Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into
an agreement with the Executive that is substantially similar to this
Agreement with respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its
successor occurring thereafter; or
7
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section
3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above,
shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this
Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice
of Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination
is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned
to the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b) below;
plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
8
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points,
compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to one times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination. For purposes of this
subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an employee
of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity, as such
terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's Compensation
for such fiscal year shall be annualized before determining the average
fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period. In annualizing
Compensation, the frequency with which payments are expected to be made
over a fiscal year shall be taken into account; thus, any amount of
Compensation that represents a payment that will not be made more often
than once per fiscal year is not annualized. Set forth on Appendix A,
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, are three examples
illustrating the calculation of the Base Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive
fiscal years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination.
However, if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a
predecessor entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in
clause (iii) below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years,
the Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such
two-fiscal-year period during which the Executive performed personal
services for the Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable
by the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and
which was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either
was excludible from such gross income as
9
"foreign earned income" within the meaning of Section 911 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or would have
been includible in such gross income if the Executive had been a United
States citizen or resident), but excluding the following: (A) amounts
realized from the exercise of a non-qualified stock option; and (B)
amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of stock
acquired under an incentive stock option described in Code Section
422(b) or under an employee stock purchase plan described in Code
Section 423(b). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Compensation
shall be determined without regard to any compensation deferral
election under any plan, program or arrangement, qualified or
nonqualified, maintained or contributed to by the Company, a
predecessor entity or a related entity, including but not limited to a
cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code Section 401(k), a
cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a nonqualified deferred
compensation plan. A "predecessor entity" is any entity which, as a
result of a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of property
or stock, corporate separation, or other similar business transaction
transfers some or all of its employees to the Company or to a related
entity or to a predecessor entity of the Company. The term "related
entity" includes any entity treated as a single employer with the
Company in accordance with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o) of Code
Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Executive will be entitled to
continued participation in all employee benefit plans or programs available to
Company employees generally in which the Executive was participating on the Date
of Termination, such continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise
on the same basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and benefits to be determined
on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from
the Date of Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from
continuing his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within 30 days
following the date it is determined he is unable to participate in any employee
benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic equivalent of the benefits
provided under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate for the
period specified in this sentence, and (B) the economic equivalent of any
benefit foregone shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by
the Executive in obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or
dependent coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall
be eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in accordance
with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
when he ceases to be eligible for continued participation in the Company's group
health plan under this subsection (e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES; NO EFFECT ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL
RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the
amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation
10
earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after
the Date of Termination or otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided for
hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way
diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as
a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or
Securities Plan, employment agreement or other contract, plan or agreement with
or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or awards of
securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the Executive
under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards or units or
the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the Incentive
Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined
11
pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within
five days after the receipt of the determination. Any determination by such
jointly designated public 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 hereunder, it is possible
that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the Company that should have
been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Executive hereafter is required to make a
payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive. Upon notice by the Executive of
any audit or other proceeding that may result in a liability to the Company
hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the Company of such audit or
other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option, but solely with respect to
the item or items that relate to such potential liability, choose to assume the
defense of such audit or other proceeding at its own cost, provided that (i) the
Executive shall cooperate with the Company in such defense and (ii) the Company
will not settle such audit or other proceeding without the consent of the
Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). The highest effective
marginal tax rate (determined by taking into account any reduction in itemized
deductions and/or exemptions attributable to the inclusion of the additional
amounts payable under this Section 7 in the Executive's adjusted gross or
taxable income) based upon the state and locality where the Executive is
resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be used for purposes of
determining the federal and state income and other taxes with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
12
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right
of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will be involved as a
party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a director
or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action
on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity
at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification,
reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
13
the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee or other
designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
If to the Executive:
--------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
14
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, and ordinary
and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys, billed to and payable by the
Executive or by anyone claiming under or through the Executive, in connection
with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating, defending, litigating, negotiating,
or settling such claim or dispute. In no event shall the Executive be required
to reimburse the Company for any of the costs or expenses incurred by the
Company relating to arbitration or litigation. Pending the outcome or resolution
of any claim or dispute, the Company shall continue payment of all amounts due
the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
15
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: By:
-------------------------- --------------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date:
-------------------------- ------------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation
for the Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period.
The Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000
[160,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 / 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for
the Base Period.
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this
Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest
subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the
sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B)
the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition,
other than, in each case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation, with
respect to
2
which immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the transferee corporation owned by the Company's stockholders,
but not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
transferee corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (2) no Person (excluding the Company and any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee
benefit plan of such transferee corporation and any Person beneficially owning,
immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of such
transferee corporation and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities of such transferee corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors and (3) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of such transferee corporation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the
board providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a result
of (A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability (as
defined in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as
defined in Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the
Company for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the
Executive's decision to terminate employment other than for Good Reason
(as defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of
3
Termination (as defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the
Company, the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of
the Executive's duties, the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for
"Disability". If there is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive
is still an employee and if the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated for Disability within two years after the Change in Control, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) one times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second
4
sentence of this subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the
Board specifying in detail the particular act or failure to act on which the
Board is relying in proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the
Executive an opportunity, on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such
notice, to have a hearing, with counsel, before a majority of the non-employee
members of the Board, including each of the members of the Board who authorized
the termination for Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if,
within 30 days after the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if
the Executive waives a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the
proposed termination), he has corrected the particular act or failure to act
specified in the notice and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has
reduced the economic damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the
Company to a level which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability
that such act or failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage
to the Company. No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration
of the correction period described in the preceding sentence and the
determination by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the
Executive has failed to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the
terms of the preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after any
Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any of
the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any failure to
re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of his employment for Disability, Retirement or
Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate
of base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last
increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's annual rate
of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in an amount
which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of (A) the
average percentage increase in the annual rate
5
of base salary for all officers of the Company effected in the
preceding 12 months; or (B) the Consumer Price Index as published by
the United States Government (or, in the event such index is
discontinued, any similar index published by the United States
Government as designated in good faith by the Executive); provided,
however, that nothing contained in this clause (ii) shall be construed
under any circumstances as permitting the Company to decrease the
Executive's annual rate of base salary;
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which the
Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive with
benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there
is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in any such
Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any such
Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced, affected
or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to any fiscal
year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each such Incentive
Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or payable in cash or
in securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program with
respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in securities of the
Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such
substituted comparable plan with respect to the prior three fiscal
years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years that the Executive
was employed by the Company or that the Incentive Plan (together with
any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, the
6
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
and the Transaction Systems Architects Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan) in
which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change in
Control of the Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing him
with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Securities Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Securities Plan, unless
in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there is substituted
a comparable plan or program that is economically equivalent or
superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the Executive, to the
Securities Plan being altered, reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any
failure by the Company in any fiscal year to grant stock options,
stock appreciation rights or securities awards to the Executive
pursuant to such Securities Plans with respect to an aggregate number
of securities of the Company of each kind that is equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the aggregate number of securities of the
Company of that kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation
rights or securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such
Securities Plans in the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the
average annual aggregate number of securities of the Company of that
kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights, or
securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities
Plans in the prior three fiscal years; and provided further the
material terms and conditions of such stock options, stock
appreciation rights, and securities awards granted to the Executive
after the Change in Control (including, but not limited to, the
exercise price, vesting schedule, period and methods of exercise,
expiration date, forfeiture provisions and other restrictions) are
substantially similar to the material terms and conditions of the
stock options, stock appreciation rights, and securities awards
granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans immediately prior
to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the time
of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with
the number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is
entitled for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company
occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of
this Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into
an agreement with the Executive that is substantially similar to this
Agreement with respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its
successor occurring thereafter; or
7
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section
3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above,
shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this
Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice
of Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination
is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned
to the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b) below;
plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
8
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points,
compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to one times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination. For purposes of this
subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an employee
of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity, as such
terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's Compensation
for such fiscal year shall be annualized before determining the average
fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period. In annualizing
Compensation, the frequency with which payments are expected to be made
over a fiscal year shall be taken into account; thus, any amount of
Compensation that represents a payment that will not be made more often
than once per fiscal year is not annualized. Set forth on Appendix A,
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, are three examples
illustrating the calculation of the Base Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive
fiscal years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination.
However, if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a
predecessor entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in
clause (iii) below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years,
the Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such
two-fiscal-year period during which the Executive performed personal
services for the Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable
by the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and
which was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either
was excludible from such gross income as
9
"foreign earned income" within the meaning of Section 911 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or would have
been includible in such gross income if the Executive had been a
United States citizen or resident), but excluding the following: (A)
amounts realized from the exercise of a non-qualified stock option;
and (B) amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition
of stock acquired under an incentive stock option described in Code
Section 422(b) or under an employee stock purchase plan described in
Code Section 423(b). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence,
Compensation shall be determined without regard to any compensation
deferral election under any plan, program or arrangement, qualified or
nonqualified, maintained or contributed to by the Company, a
predecessor entity or a related entity, including but not limited to a
cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code Section 401(k), a
cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a nonqualified
deferred compensation plan. A "predecessor entity" is any entity
which, as a result of a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition
of property or stock, corporate separation, or other similar business
transaction transfers some or all of its employees to the Company or
to a related entity or to a predecessor entity of the Company. The
term "related entity" includes any entity treated as a single employer
with the Company in accordance with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o)
of Code Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Executive will be entitled to
continued participation in all employee benefit plans or programs available to
Company employees generally in which the Executive was participating on the Date
of Termination, such continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise
on the same basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and benefits to be determined
on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from
the Date of Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from
continuing his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within 30 days
following the date it is determined he is unable to participate in any employee
benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic equivalent of the benefits
provided under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate for the
period specified in this sentence, and (B) the economic equivalent of any
benefit foregone shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by
the Executive in obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or
dependent coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall
be eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in accordance
with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
when he ceases to be eligible for continued participation in the Company's group
health plan under this subsection (e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES; NO EFFECT ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL
RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the
amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation
10
earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after
the Date of Termination or otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided for
hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way
diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as
a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or
Securities Plan, employment agreement or other contract, plan or agreement with
or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or awards of
securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the Executive
under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards or units or
the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the Incentive
Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined
11
pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within
five days after the receipt of the determination. Any determination by such
jointly designated public 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 hereunder, it is possible
that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the Company that should have
been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Executive hereafter is required to make a
payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive. Upon notice by the Executive of
any audit or other proceeding that may result in a liability to the Company
hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the Company of such audit or
other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option, but solely with respect to
the item or items that relate to such potential liability, choose to assume the
defense of such audit or other proceeding at its own cost, provided that (i) the
Executive shall cooperate with the Company in such defense and (ii) the Company
will not settle such audit or other proceeding without the consent of the
Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). The highest effective
marginal tax rate (determined by taking into account any reduction in itemized
deductions and/or exemptions attributable to the inclusion of the additional
amounts payable under this Section 7 in the Executive's adjusted gross or
taxable income) based upon the state and locality where the Executive is
resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be used for purposes of
determining the federal and state income and other taxes with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
12
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right
of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will be involved as a
party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a director
or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action
on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity
at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification,
reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
13
the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee or other
designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
If to the Executive:
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
14
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, and ordinary
and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys, billed to and payable by the
Executive or by anyone claiming under or through the Executive, in connection
with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating, defending, litigating, negotiating,
or settling such claim or dispute. In no event shall the Executive be required
to reimburse the Company for any of the costs or expenses incurred by the
Company relating to arbitration or litigation. Pending the outcome or resolution
of any claim or dispute, the Company shall continue payment of all amounts due
the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
15
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: By:
------------------- ---------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date:
------------------- ------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year
Compensation for the Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period.
The Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000
[160,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 / 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year
Compensation for the Base Period.
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this
Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest
subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the
sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B)
the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition,
other than, in each case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation, with
respect to
2
which immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the transferee corporation owned by the Company's stockholders,
but not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
transferee corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (2) no Person (excluding the Company and any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee
benefit plan of such transferee corporation and any Person beneficially owning,
immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of such
transferee corporation and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities of such transferee corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors and (3) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of such transferee corporation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the
board providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a result
of (A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability (as
defined in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as
defined in Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the
Company for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the
Executive's decision to terminate employment other than for Good Reason
(as defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of
3
Termination (as defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the
Company, the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of
the Executive's duties, the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for
"Disability". If there is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive
is still an employee and if the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated for Disability within two years after the Change in Control, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) one times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second
4
sentence of this subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the
Board specifying in detail the particular act or failure to act on which the
Board is relying in proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the
Executive an opportunity, on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such
notice, to have a hearing, with counsel, before a majority of the non-employee
members of the Board, including each of the members of the Board who authorized
the termination for Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if,
within 30 days after the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if
the Executive waives a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the
proposed termination), he has corrected the particular act or failure to act
specified in the notice and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has
reduced the economic damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the
Company to a level which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability
that such act or failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage
to the Company. No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration
of the correction period described in the preceding sentence and the
determination by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the
Executive has failed to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the
terms of the preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after any
Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any of
the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any failure to
re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of his employment for Disability, Retirement or
Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate
of base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last
increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's annual rate
of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in an amount
which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of (A) the
average percentage increase in the annual rate
5
of base salary for all officers of the Company effected in the
preceding 12 months; or (B) the Consumer Price Index as published by
the United States Government (or, in the event such index is
discontinued, any similar index published by the United States
Government as designated in good faith by the Executive); provided,
however, that nothing contained in this clause (ii) shall be construed
under any circumstances as permitting the Company to decrease the
Executive's annual rate of base salary;
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which the
Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive with
benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there
is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in any such
Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any such
Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced, affected
or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to any fiscal
year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each such Incentive
Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or payable in cash or
in securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program with
respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in securities of the
Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such
substituted comparable plan with respect to the prior three fiscal
years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years that the Executive
was employed by the Company or that the Incentive Plan (together with
any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, the
6
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
and the Transaction Systems Architects Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan) in
which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control
of the Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing him with
substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as "Securities
Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which would
adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially reduce
the Executive's benefits under any such Securities Plan, unless in the
case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there is substituted a
comparable plan or program that is economically equivalent or superior,
in terms of the benefit offered to the Executive, to the Securities
Plan being altered, reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any failure by
the Company in any fiscal year to grant stock options, stock
appreciation rights or securities awards to the Executive pursuant to
such Securities Plans with respect to an aggregate number of securities
of the Company of each kind that is equal to or greater than the
greater of (1) the aggregate number of securities of the Company of
that kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights or
securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities
Plans in the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual aggregate number of securities of the Company of that kind
covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights, or securities
awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities Plans in
the prior three fiscal years; and provided further the material terms
and conditions of such stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive after the Change in Control
(including, but not limited to, the exercise price, vesting schedule,
period and methods of exercise, expiration date, forfeiture provisions
and other restrictions) are substantially similar to the material terms
and conditions of the stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans
immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the time
of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with
the number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is
entitled for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company
occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of
this Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into
an agreement with the Executive that is substantially similar to this
Agreement with respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its
successor occurring thereafter; or
7
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section
3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above,
shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this
Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice
of Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination
is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned
to the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b) below;
plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
8
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points,
compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to one times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination. For purposes of this
subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an employee
of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity, as such
terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's Compensation
for such fiscal year shall be annualized before determining the average
fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period. In annualizing
Compensation, the frequency with which payments are expected to be made
over a fiscal year shall be taken into account; thus, any amount of
Compensation that represents a payment that will not be made more often
than once per fiscal year is not annualized. Set forth on Appendix A,
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, are three examples
illustrating the calculation of the Base Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive
fiscal years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination.
However, if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a
predecessor entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in
clause (iii) below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years,
the Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such
two-fiscal-year period during which the Executive performed personal
services for the Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable
by the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and
which was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either
was excludible from such gross income as
9
"foreign earned income" within the meaning of Section 911 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or would have
been includible in such gross income if the Executive had been a United
States citizen or resident), but excluding the following: (A) amounts
realized from the exercise of a non-qualified stock option; and (B)
amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of stock
acquired under an incentive stock option described in Code Section
422(b) or under an employee stock purchase plan described in Code
Section 423(b). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Compensation
shall be determined without regard to any compensation deferral
election under any plan, program or arrangement, qualified or
nonqualified, maintained or contributed to by the Company, a
predecessor entity or a related entity, including but not limited to a
cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code Section 401(k), a
cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a nonqualified deferred
compensation plan. A "predecessor entity" is any entity which, as a
result of a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of property
or stock, corporate separation, or other similar business transaction
transfers some or all of its employees to the Company or to a related
entity or to a predecessor entity of the Company. The term "related
entity" includes any entity treated as a single employer with the
Company in accordance with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o) of Code
Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Executive will be entitled to
continued participation in all employee benefit plans or programs available to
Company employees generally in which the Executive was participating on the Date
of Termination, such continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise
on the same basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and benefits to be determined
on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from
the Date of Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from
continuing his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within 30 days
following the date it is determined he is unable to participate in any employee
benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic equivalent of the benefits
provided under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate for the
period specified in this sentence, and (B) the economic equivalent of any
benefit foregone shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by
the Executive in obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or
dependent coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall
be eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in accordance
with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
when he ceases to be eligible for continued participation in the Company's group
health plan under this subsection (e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES; NO EFFECT ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL
RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the
amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation
10
earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after
the Date of Termination or otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided for
hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way
diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as
a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or
Securities Plan, employment agreement or other contract, plan or agreement with
or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or awards of
securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the Executive
under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards or units or
the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the Incentive
Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined
11
pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within
five days after the receipt of the determination. Any determination by such
jointly designated public 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 hereunder, it is possible
that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the Company that should have
been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Executive hereafter is required to make a
payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive. Upon notice by the Executive of
any audit or other proceeding that may result in a liability to the Company
hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the Company of such audit or
other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option, but solely with respect to
the item or items that relate to such potential liability, choose to assume the
defense of such audit or other proceeding at its own cost, provided that (i) the
Executive shall cooperate with the Company in such defense and (ii) the Company
will not settle such audit or other proceeding without the consent of the
Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). The highest effective
marginal tax rate (determined by taking into account any reduction in itemized
deductions and/or exemptions attributable to the inclusion of the additional
amounts payable under this Section 7 in the Executive's adjusted gross or
taxable income) based upon the state and locality where the Executive is
resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be used for purposes of
determining the federal and state income and other taxes with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
12
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right
of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will be involved as a
party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a director
or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action
on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity
at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification,
reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
13
the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee or other
designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
If to the Executive:
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
14
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, and ordinary
and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys, billed to and payable by the
Executive or by anyone claiming under or through the Executive, in connection
with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating, defending, litigating, negotiating,
or settling such claim or dispute. In no event shall the Executive be required
to reimburse the Company for any of the costs or expenses incurred by the
Company relating to arbitration or litigation. Pending the outcome or resolution
of any claim or dispute, the Company shall continue payment of all amounts due
the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
15
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: __________ By:___________________________
---------- ---------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date: __________ ______________________________
---------- ------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year
Compensation for the Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period.
The Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000 [160,000 + 120,000] / 2 =
$140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 / 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year
Compensation for the Base Period.
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this
Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest
subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the
sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B)
the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition,
other than, in each case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation, with
respect to
2
which immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the transferee corporation owned by the Company's stockholders,
but not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
transferee corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (2) no Person (excluding the Company and any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee
benefit plan of such transferee corporation and any Person beneficially owning,
immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of such
transferee corporation and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities of such transferee corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors and (3) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of such transferee corporation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the
board providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a result
of (A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability (as
defined in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as
defined in Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the
Company for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the
Executive's decision to terminate employment other than for Good Reason
(as defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of
3
Termination (as defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the
Company, the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of
the Executive's duties, the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for
"Disability". If there is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive
is still an employee and if the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated for Disability within two years after the Change in Control, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) one times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second
4
sentence of this subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the
Board specifying in detail the particular act or failure to act on which the
Board is relying in proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the
Executive an opportunity, on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such
notice, to have a hearing, with counsel, before a majority of the non-employee
members of the Board, including each of the members of the Board who authorized
the termination for Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if,
within 30 days after the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if
the Executive waives a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the
proposed termination), he has corrected the particular act or failure to act
specified in the notice and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has
reduced the economic damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the
Company to a level which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability
that such act or failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage
to the Company. No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration
of the correction period described in the preceding sentence and the
determination by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the
Executive has failed to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the
terms of the preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after any
Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any of
the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any failure to
re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of his employment for Disability, Retirement or
Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate
of base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last
increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's annual rate
of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in an amount
which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of (A) the
average percentage increase in the annual rate
5
of base salary for all officers of the Company effected in the
preceding 12 months; or (B) the Consumer Price Index as published by
the United States Government (or, in the event such index is
discontinued, any similar index published by the United States
Government as designated in good faith by the Executive); provided,
however, that nothing contained in this clause (ii) shall be construed
under any circumstances as permitting the Company to decrease the
Executive's annual rate of base salary;
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which the
Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive with
benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there
is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in any such
Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any such
Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced, affected
or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to any fiscal
year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each such Incentive
Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or payable in cash or
in securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program with
respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in securities of the
Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such
substituted comparable plan with respect to the prior three fiscal
years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years that the Executive
was employed by the Company or that the Incentive Plan (together with
any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, the
6
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
and the Transaction Systems Architects Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan) in
which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control
of the Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing him with
substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as "Securities
Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which would
adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially reduce
the Executive's benefits under any such Securities Plan, unless in the
case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there is substituted a
comparable plan or program that is economically equivalent or superior,
in terms of the benefit offered to the Executive, to the Securities
Plan being altered, reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any failure by
the Company in any fiscal year to grant stock options, stock
appreciation rights or securities awards to the Executive pursuant to
such Securities Plans with respect to an aggregate number of securities
of the Company of each kind that is equal to or greater than the
greater of (1) the aggregate number of securities of the Company of
that kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights or
securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities
Plans in the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual aggregate number of securities of the Company of that kind
covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights, or securities
awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities Plans in
the prior three fiscal years; and provided further the material terms
and conditions of such stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive after the Change in Control
(including, but not limited to, the exercise price, vesting schedule,
period and methods of exercise, expiration date, forfeiture provisions
and other restrictions) are substantially similar to the material terms
and conditions of the stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans
immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the time
of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with
the number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is
entitled for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company
occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of
this Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into
an agreement with the Executive that is substantially similar to this
Agreement with respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its
successor occurring thereafter; or
7
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section
3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above,
shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this
Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice
of Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination
is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned
to the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b) below;
plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
8
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points,
compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to one times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination. For purposes of this
subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an employee
of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity, as such
terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's Compensation
for such fiscal year shall be annualized before determining the average
fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period. In annualizing
Compensation, the frequency with which payments are expected to be made
over a fiscal year shall be taken into account; thus, any amount of
Compensation that represents a payment that will not be made more often
than once per fiscal year is not annualized. Set forth on Appendix A,
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, are three examples
illustrating the calculation of the Base Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive
fiscal years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination.
However, if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a
predecessor entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in
clause (iii) below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years,
the Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such
two-fiscal-year period during which the Executive performed personal
services for the Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable
by the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and
which was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either
was excludible from such gross income as
9
"foreign earned income" within the meaning of Section 911 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or would have
been includible in such gross income if the Executive had been a United
States citizen or resident), but excluding the following: (A) amounts
realized from the exercise of a non-qualified stock option; and (B)
amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of stock
acquired under an incentive stock option described in Code Section
422(b) or under an employee stock purchase plan described in Code
Section 423(b). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Compensation
shall be determined without regard to any compensation deferral
election under any plan, program or arrangement, qualified or
nonqualified, maintained or contributed to by the Company, a
predecessor entity or a related entity, including but not limited to a
cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code Section 401(k), a
cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a nonqualified deferred
compensation plan. A "predecessor entity" is any entity which, as a
result of a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of property
or stock, corporate separation, or other similar business transaction
transfers some or all of its employees to the Company or to a related
entity or to a predecessor entity of the Company. The term "related
entity" includes any entity treated as a single employer with the
Company in accordance with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o) of Code
Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Executive will be entitled to
continued participation in all employee benefit plans or programs available to
Company employees generally in which the Executive was participating on the Date
of Termination, such continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise
on the same basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and benefits to be determined
on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from
the Date of Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from
continuing his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within 30 days
following the date it is determined he is unable to participate in any employee
benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic equivalent of the benefits
provided under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate for the
period specified in this sentence, and (B) the economic equivalent of any
benefit foregone shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by
the Executive in obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or
dependent coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall
be eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in accordance
with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
when he ceases to be eligible for continued participation in the Company's group
health plan under this subsection (e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES;
NO EFFECT ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the
amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation
10
earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after
the Date of Termination or otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided for
hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way
diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as
a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or
Securities Plan, employment agreement or other contract, plan or agreement with
or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or awards of
securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the Executive
under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards or units or
the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the Incentive
Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined
11
pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within
five days after the receipt of the determination. Any determination by such
jointly designated public 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 hereunder, it is possible
that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the Company that should have
been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Executive hereafter is required to make a
payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive. Upon notice by the Executive of
any audit or other proceeding that may result in a liability to the Company
hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the Company of such audit or
other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option, but solely with respect to
the item or items that relate to such potential liability, choose to assume the
defense of such audit or other proceeding at its own cost, provided that (i) the
Executive shall cooperate with the Company in such defense and (ii) the Company
will not settle such audit or other proceeding without the consent of the
Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). The highest effective
marginal tax rate (determined by taking into account any reduction in itemized
deductions and/or exemptions attributable to the inclusion of the additional
amounts payable under this Section 7 in the Executive's adjusted gross or
taxable income) based upon the state and locality where the Executive is
resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be used for purposes of
determining the federal and state income and other taxes with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
12
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right
of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will be involved as a
party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a director
or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action
on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity
at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification,
reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
13
the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee or other
designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
If to the Executive:
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
14
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, and ordinary
and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys, billed to and payable by the
Executive or by anyone claiming under or through the Executive, in connection
with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating, defending, litigating, negotiating,
or settling such claim or dispute. In no event shall the Executive be required
to reimburse the Company for any of the costs or expenses incurred by the
Company relating to arbitration or litigation. Pending the outcome or resolution
of any claim or dispute, the Company shall continue payment of all amounts due
the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
15
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: By:
------------------------------- --------------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date:
------------------------------- --------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period.
The Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000
[160,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 / 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this
Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest
subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the
sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B)
the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition,
other than, in each case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation, with
respect to
2
which immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the transferee corporation owned by the Company's stockholders,
but not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
transferee corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (2) no Person (excluding the Company and any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee
benefit plan of such transferee corporation and any Person beneficially owning,
immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of such
transferee corporation and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities of such transferee corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors and (3) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of such transferee corporation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the
board providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a
result of (A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability (as
defined in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as
defined in Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the
Company for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the
Executive's decision to terminate employment other than for Good Reason
(as defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of
3
Termination (as defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the
Company, the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of
the Executive's duties, the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for
"Disability". If there is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive
is still an employee and if the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated for Disability within two years after the Change in Control, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) one times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second
4
sentence of this subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the
Board specifying in detail the particular act or failure to act on which the
Board is relying in proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the
Executive an opportunity, on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such
notice, to have a hearing, with counsel, before a majority of the non-employee
members of the Board, including each of the members of the Board who authorized
the termination for Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if,
within 30 days after the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if
the Executive waives a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the
proposed termination), he has corrected the particular act or failure to act
specified in the notice and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has
reduced the economic damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the
Company to a level which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability
that such act or failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage
to the Company. No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration
of the correction period described in the preceding sentence and the
determination by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the
Executive has failed to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the
terms of the preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after any
Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any of
the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any failure to
re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of his employment for Disability, Retirement or
Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate
of base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last
increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's annual rate
of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in an amount
which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of (A) the
average percentage increase in the annual rate
5
of base salary for all officers of the Company effected in the
preceding 12 months; or (B) the Consumer Price Index as published by
the United States Government (or, in the event such index is
discontinued, any similar index published by the United States
Government as designated in good faith by the Executive); provided,
however, that nothing contained in this clause (ii) shall be construed
under any circumstances as permitting the Company to decrease the
Executive's annual rate of base salary;
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which the
Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive with
benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there
is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in any such
Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any such
Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced, affected
or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to any fiscal
year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each such Incentive
Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or payable in cash or
in securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program with
respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in securities of the
Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such
substituted comparable plan with respect to the prior three fiscal
years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years that the Executive
was employed by the Company or that the Incentive Plan (together with
any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, the
6
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
and the Transaction Systems Architects Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan) in
which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control
of the Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing him with
substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as "Securities
Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which would
adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially reduce
the Executive's benefits under any such Securities Plan, unless in the
case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there is substituted a
comparable plan or program that is economically equivalent or superior,
in terms of the benefit offered to the Executive, to the Securities
Plan being altered, reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any failure by
the Company in any fiscal year to grant stock options, stock
appreciation rights or securities awards to the Executive pursuant to
such Securities Plans with respect to an aggregate number of securities
of the Company of each kind that is equal to or greater than the
greater of (1) the aggregate number of securities of the Company of
that kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights or
securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities
Plans in the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual aggregate number of securities of the Company of that kind
covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights, or securities
awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities Plans in
the prior three fiscal years; and provided further the material terms
and conditions of such stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive after the Change in Control
(including, but not limited to, the exercise price, vesting schedule,
period and methods of exercise, expiration date, forfeiture provisions
and other restrictions) are substantially similar to the material terms
and conditions of the stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans
immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the time
of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with
the number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is
entitled for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company
occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of
this Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into
an agreement with the Executive that is substantially similar to this
Agreement with respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its
successor occurring thereafter; or
7
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section
3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above,
shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this
Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice
of Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination
is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned
to the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b) below;
plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
8
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points,
compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to one times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination. For purposes of this
subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an employee
of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity, as such
terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's Compensation
for such fiscal year shall be annualized before determining the average
fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period. In annualizing
Compensation, the frequency with which payments are expected to be made
over a fiscal year shall be taken into account; thus, any amount of
Compensation that represents a payment that will not be made more often
than once per fiscal year is not annualized. Set forth on Appendix A,
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, are three examples
illustrating the calculation of the Base Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive
fiscal years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination.
However, if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a
predecessor entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in
clause (iii) below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years,
the Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such
two-fiscal-year period during which the Executive performed personal
services for the Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable
by the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and
which was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either
was excludible from such gross income as
9
"foreign earned income" within the meaning of Section 911 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or would have
been includible in such gross income if the Executive had been a United
States citizen or resident), but excluding the following: (A) amounts
realized from the exercise of a non-qualified stock option; and (B)
amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of stock
acquired under an incentive stock option described in Code Section
422(b) or under an employee stock purchase plan described in Code
Section 423(b). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Compensation
shall be determined without regard to any compensation deferral
election under any plan, program or arrangement, qualified or
nonqualified, maintained or contributed to by the Company, a
predecessor entity or a related entity, including but not limited to a
cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code Section 401(k), a
cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a nonqualified deferred
compensation plan. A "predecessor entity" is any entity which, as a
result of a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of property
or stock, corporate separation, or other similar business transaction
transfers some or all of its employees to the Company or to a related
entity or to a predecessor entity of the Company. The term "related
entity" includes any entity treated as a single employer with the
Company in accordance with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o) of Code
Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Executive will be entitled to
continued participation in all employee benefit plans or programs available to
Company employees generally in which the Executive was participating on the Date
of Termination, such continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise
on the same basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and benefits to be determined
on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from
the Date of Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from
continuing his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within 30 days
following the date it is determined he is unable to participate in any employee
benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic equivalent of the benefits
provided under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate for the
period specified in this sentence, and (B) the economic equivalent of any
benefit foregone shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by
the Executive in obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or
dependent coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall
be eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in accordance
with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
when he ceases to be eligible for continued participation in the Company's group
health plan under this subsection (e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES;
NO EFFECT ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the
amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation
10
earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after
the Date of Termination or otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided for
hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way
diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as
a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or
Securities Plan, employment agreement or other contract, plan or agreement with
or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or awards of
securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the Executive
under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards or units or
the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the Incentive
Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined
11
pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within
five days after the receipt of the determination. Any determination by such
jointly designated public 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 hereunder, it is possible
that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the Company that should have
been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Executive hereafter is required to make a
payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive. Upon notice by the Executive of
any audit or other proceeding that may result in a liability to the Company
hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the Company of such audit or
other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option, but solely with respect to
the item or items that relate to such potential liability, choose to assume the
defense of such audit or other proceeding at its own cost, provided that (i) the
Executive shall cooperate with the Company in such defense and (ii) the Company
will not settle such audit or other proceeding without the consent of the
Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). The highest effective
marginal tax rate (determined by taking into account any reduction in itemized
deductions and/or exemptions attributable to the inclusion of the additional
amounts payable under this Section 7 in the Executive's adjusted gross or
taxable income) based upon the state and locality where the Executive is
resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be used for purposes of
determining the federal and state income and other taxes with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
12
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right
of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will be involved as a
party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a director
or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action
on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity
at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification,
reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
13
the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee or other
designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
If to the Executive:
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
14
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, and ordinary
and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys, billed to and payable by the
Executive or by anyone claiming under or through the Executive, in connection
with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating, defending, litigating, negotiating,
or settling such claim or dispute. In no event shall the Executive be required
to reimburse the Company for any of the costs or expenses incurred by the
Company relating to arbitration or litigation. Pending the outcome or resolution
of any claim or dispute, the Company shall continue payment of all amounts due
the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
15
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: By:
-------------------------- ---------------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date:
-------------------------- ------------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period.
The Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000
[160,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 / 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this
Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest
subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the
sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B)
the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition,
other than, in each case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation, with
respect to
2
which immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the transferee corporation owned by the Company's stockholders,
but not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
transferee corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (2) no Person (excluding the Company and any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee
benefit plan of such transferee corporation and any Person beneficially owning,
immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of such
transferee corporation and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities of such transferee corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors and (3) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of such transferee corporation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the
board providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a result
of (A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability (as
defined in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as
defined in Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the
Company for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the
Executive's decision to terminate employment other than for Good Reason
(as defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of
3
Termination (as defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the
Company, the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of
the Executive's duties, the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for
"Disability". If there is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive
is still an employee and if the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated for Disability within two years after the Change in Control, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) one times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second
4
sentence of this subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the
Board specifying in detail the particular act or failure to act on which the
Board is relying in proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the
Executive an opportunity, on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such
notice, to have a hearing, with counsel, before a majority of the non-employee
members of the Board, including each of the members of the Board who authorized
the termination for Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if,
within 30 days after the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if
the Executive waives a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the
proposed termination), he has corrected the particular act or failure to act
specified in the notice and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has
reduced the economic damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the
Company to a level which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability
that such act or failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage
to the Company. No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration
of the correction period described in the preceding sentence and the
determination by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the
Executive has failed to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the
terms of the preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after any
Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any of
the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any failure to
re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of his employment for Disability, Retirement or
Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate
of base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last
increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's annual rate
of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in an amount
which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of (A) the
average percentage increase in the annual rate
5
of base salary for all officers of the Company effected in the
preceding 12 months; or (B) the Consumer Price Index as published by
the United States Government (or, in the event such index is
discontinued, any similar index published by the United States
Government as designated in good faith by the Executive); provided,
however, that nothing contained in this clause (ii) shall be construed
under any circumstances as permitting the Company to decrease the
Executive's annual rate of base salary;
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which the
Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive with
benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there
is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in any such
Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any such
Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced, affected
or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to any fiscal
year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each such Incentive
Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or payable in cash or
in securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program with
respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in securities of the
Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such
substituted comparable plan with respect to the prior three fiscal
years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years that the Executive
was employed by the Company or that the Incentive Plan (together with
any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, the
6
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
and the Transaction Systems Architects Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan) in
which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control
of the Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing him with
substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as "Securities
Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which would
adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially reduce
the Executive's benefits under any such Securities Plan, unless in the
case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there is substituted a
comparable plan or program that is economically equivalent or superior,
in terms of the benefit offered to the Executive, to the Securities
Plan being altered, reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any failure by
the Company in any fiscal year to grant stock options, stock
appreciation rights or securities awards to the Executive pursuant to
such Securities Plans with respect to an aggregate number of securities
of the Company of each kind that is equal to or greater than the
greater of (1) the aggregate number of securities of the Company of
that kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights or
securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities
Plans in the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual aggregate number of securities of the Company of that kind
covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights, or securities
awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities Plans in
the prior three fiscal years; and provided further the material terms
and conditions of such stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive after the Change in Control
(including, but not limited to, the exercise price, vesting schedule,
period and methods of exercise, expiration date, forfeiture provisions
and other restrictions) are substantially similar to the material terms
and conditions of the stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans
immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the time
of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with
the number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is
entitled for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company
occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of
this Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into
an agreement with the Executive that is substantially similar to this
Agreement with respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its
successor occurring thereafter; or
7
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section
3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above,
shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this
Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice
of Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination
is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned
to the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b) below;
plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
8
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points,
compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to one times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination. For purposes of this
subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an employee
of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity, as such
terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's Compensation
for such fiscal year shall be annualized before determining the average
fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period. In annualizing
Compensation, the frequency with which payments are expected to be made
over a fiscal year shall be taken into account; thus, any amount of
Compensation that represents a payment that will not be made more often
than once per fiscal year is not annualized. Set forth on Appendix A,
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, are three examples
illustrating the calculation of the Base Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive
fiscal years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination.
However, if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a
predecessor entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in
clause (iii) below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years,
the Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such
two-fiscal-year period during which the Executive performed personal
services for the Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable
by the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and
which was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either
was excludible from such gross income as
9
"foreign earned income" within the meaning of Section 911 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or would have
been includible in such gross income if the Executive had been a United
States citizen or resident), but excluding the following: (A) amounts
realized from the exercise of a non-qualified stock option; and (B)
amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of stock
acquired under an incentive stock option described in Code Section
422(b) or under an employee stock purchase plan described in Code
Section 423(b). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Compensation
shall be determined without regard to any compensation deferral
election under any plan, program or arrangement, qualified or
nonqualified, maintained or contributed to by the Company, a
predecessor entity or a related entity, including but not limited to a
cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code Section 401(k), a
cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a nonqualified deferred
compensation plan. A "predecessor entity" is any entity which, as a
result of a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of property
or stock, corporate separation, or other similar business transaction
transfers some or all of its employees to the Company or to a related
entity or to a predecessor entity of the Company. The term "related
entity" includes any entity treated as a single employer with the
Company in accordance with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o) of Code
Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Executive will be entitled to
continued participation in all employee benefit plans or programs available to
Company employees generally in which the Executive was participating on the Date
of Termination, such continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise
on the same basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and benefits to be determined
on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from
the Date of Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from
continuing his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within 30 days
following the date it is determined he is unable to participate in any employee
benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic equivalent of the benefits
provided under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate for the
period specified in this sentence, and (B) the economic equivalent of any
benefit foregone shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by
the Executive in obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or
dependent coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall
be eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in accordance
with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
when he ceases to be eligible for continued participation in the Company's group
health plan under this subsection (e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES; NO EFFECT
ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the
amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation
10
earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after
the Date of Termination or otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided for
hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way
diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as
a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or
Securities Plan, employment agreement or other contract, plan or agreement with
or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or awards of
securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the Executive
under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards or units or
the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the Incentive
Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined
11
pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the
Executive within five days after the receipt of the determination. Any
determination by such jointly designated public 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
hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the
Company that should have been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the
calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Executive
hereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment
shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive.
Upon notice by the Executive of any audit or other proceeding that may result in
a liability to the Company hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the
Company of such audit or other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option,
but solely with respect to the item or items that relate to such potential
liability, choose to assume the defense of such audit or other proceeding at its
own cost, provided that (i) the Executive shall cooperate with the Company in
such defense and (ii) the Company will not settle such audit or other proceeding
without the consent of the Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld). The highest effective marginal tax rate (determined by taking into
account any reduction in itemized deductions and/or exemptions attributable to
the inclusion of the additional amounts payable under this Section 7 in the
Executive's adjusted gross or taxable income) based upon the state and locality
where the Executive is resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be
used for purposes of determining the federal and state income and other taxes
with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
12
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right
of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will be involved as a
party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a director
or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action
on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity
at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification,
reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
13
the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee or other
designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
If to the Executive:
--------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
14
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, and ordinary
and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys, billed to and payable by the
Executive or by anyone claiming under or through the Executive, in connection
with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating, defending, litigating, negotiating,
or settling such claim or dispute. In no event shall the Executive be required
to reimburse the Company for any of the costs or expenses incurred by the
Company relating to arbitration or litigation. Pending the outcome or resolution
of any claim or dispute, the Company shall continue payment of all amounts due
the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
15
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: By:
------------------------------ --------------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date:
------------------------------ ------------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period.
The Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000
[160,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 / 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this
Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest
subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the
sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B)
the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition,
other than, in each case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation, with
respect to
2
which immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the transferee corporation owned by the Company's stockholders,
but not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
transferee corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (2) no Person (excluding the Company and any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee
benefit plan of such transferee corporation and any Person beneficially owning,
immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of such
transferee corporation and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities of such transferee corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors and (3) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of such transferee corporation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the
board providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a result
of (A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability (as
defined in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as
defined in Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the
Company for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the
Executive's decision to terminate employment other than for Good Reason
(as defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of
3
Termination (as defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the
Company, the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of
the Executive's duties, the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for
"Disability". If there is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive
is still an employee and if the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated for Disability within two years after the Change in Control, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) one times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second
4
sentence of this subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the
Board specifying in detail the particular act or failure to act on which the
Board is relying in proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the
Executive an opportunity, on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such
notice, to have a hearing, with counsel, before a majority of the non-employee
members of the Board, including each of the members of the Board who authorized
the termination for Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if,
within 30 days after the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if
the Executive waives a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the
proposed termination), he has corrected the particular act or failure to act
specified in the notice and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has
reduced the economic damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the
Company to a level which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability
that such act or failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage
to the Company. No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration
of the correction period described in the preceding sentence and the
determination by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the
Executive has failed to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the
terms of the preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after any
Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any of
the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any failure to
re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of his employment for Disability, Retirement or
Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate
of base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last
increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's annual rate
of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in an amount
which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of (A) the
average percentage increase in the annual rate
5
of base salary for all officers of the Company effected in the
preceding 12 months; or (B) the Consumer Price Index as published by
the United States Government (or, in the event such index is
discontinued, any similar index published by the United States
Government as designated in good faith by the Executive); provided,
however, that nothing contained in this clause (ii) shall be construed
under any circumstances as permitting the Company to decrease the
Executive's annual rate of base salary;
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which the
Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive with
benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there
is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in any such
Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any such
Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced, affected
or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to any fiscal
year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each such Incentive
Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or payable in cash or
in securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program with
respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in securities of the
Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such
substituted comparable plan with respect to the prior three fiscal
years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years that the Executive
was employed by the Company or that the Incentive Plan (together with
any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, the
6
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
and the Transaction Systems Architects Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan) in
which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control
of the Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing him with
substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as "Securities
Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which would
adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially reduce
the Executive's benefits under any such Securities Plan, unless in the
case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there is substituted a
comparable plan or program that is economically equivalent or superior,
in terms of the benefit offered to the Executive, to the Securities
Plan being altered, reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any failure by
the Company in any fiscal year to grant stock options, stock
appreciation rights or securities awards to the Executive pursuant to
such Securities Plans with respect to an aggregate number of securities
of the Company of each kind that is equal to or greater than the
greater of (1) the aggregate number of securities of the Company of
that kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights or
securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities
Plans in the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual aggregate number of securities of the Company of that kind
covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights, or securities
awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities Plans in
the prior three fiscal years; and provided further the material terms
and conditions of such stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive after the Change in Control
(including, but not limited to, the exercise price, vesting schedule,
period and methods of exercise, expiration date, forfeiture provisions
and other restrictions) are substantially similar to the material terms
and conditions of the stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans
immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the time
of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with
the number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is
entitled for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company
occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of
this Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into
an agreement with the Executive that is substantially similar to this
Agreement with respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its
successor occurring thereafter; or
7
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section
3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above,
shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this
Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice
of Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination
is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned
to the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b) below;
plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
8
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points,
compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to one times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination. For purposes of this
subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an employee
of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity, as such
terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's Compensation
for such fiscal year shall be annualized before determining the average
fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period. In annualizing
Compensation, the frequency with which payments are expected to be made
over a fiscal year shall be taken into account; thus, any amount of
Compensation that represents a payment that will not be made more often
than once per fiscal year is not annualized. Set forth on Appendix A,
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, are three examples
illustrating the calculation of the Base Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive
fiscal years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination.
However, if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a
predecessor entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in
clause (iii) below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years,
the Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such
two-fiscal-year period during which the Executive performed personal
services for the Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable
by the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and
which was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either
was excludible from such gross income as
9
"foreign earned income" within the meaning of Section 911 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or would have
been includible in such gross income if the Executive had been a United
States citizen or resident), but excluding the following: (A) amounts
realized from the exercise of a non-qualified stock option; and (B)
amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of stock
acquired under an incentive stock option described in Code Section
422(b) or under an employee stock purchase plan described in Code
Section 423(b). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Compensation
shall be determined without regard to any compensation deferral
election under any plan, program or arrangement, qualified or
nonqualified, maintained or contributed to by the Company, a
predecessor entity or a related entity, including but not limited to a
cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code Section 401(k), a
cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a nonqualified deferred
compensation plan. A "predecessor entity" is any entity which, as a
result of a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of property
or stock, corporate separation, or other similar business transaction
transfers some or all of its employees to the Company or to a related
entity or to a predecessor entity of the Company. The term "related
entity" includes any entity treated as a single employer with the
Company in accordance with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o) of Code
Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Executive will be entitled to
continued participation in all employee benefit plans or programs available to
Company employees generally in which the Executive was participating on the Date
of Termination, such continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise
on the same basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and benefits to be determined
on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from
the Date of Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from
continuing his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within 30 days
following the date it is determined he is unable to participate in any employee
benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic equivalent of the benefits
provided under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate for the
period specified in this sentence, and (B) the economic equivalent of any
benefit foregone shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by
the Executive in obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or
dependent coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall
be eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in accordance
with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
when he ceases to be eligible for continued participation in the Company's group
health plan under this subsection (e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES; NO EFFECT ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL
RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the
amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation
10
earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after
the Date of Termination or otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided for
hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way
diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as
a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or
Securities Plan, employment agreement or other contract, plan or agreement with
or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or awards of
securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the Executive
under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards or units or
the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the Incentive
Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined
11
pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within
five days after the receipt of the determination. Any determination by such
jointly designated public 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 hereunder, it is possible
that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the Company that should have
been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Executive hereafter is required to make a
payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive. Upon notice by the Executive of
any audit or other proceeding that may result in a liability to the Company
hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the Company of such audit or
other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option, but solely with respect to
the item or items that relate to such potential liability, choose to assume the
defense of such audit or other proceeding at its own cost, provided that (i) the
Executive shall cooperate with the Company in such defense and (ii) the Company
will not settle such audit or other proceeding without the consent of the
Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). The highest effective
marginal tax rate (determined by taking into account any reduction in itemized
deductions and/or exemptions attributable to the inclusion of the additional
amounts payable under this Section 7 in the Executive's adjusted gross or
taxable income) based upon the state and locality where the Executive is
resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be used for purposes of
determining the federal and state income and other taxes with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
12
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right
of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will be involved as a
party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a director
or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action
on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity
at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification,
reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
13
the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee or other
designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
If to the Executive:
----------------------------
----------------------------
----------------------------
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
14
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, and ordinary
and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys, billed to and payable by the
Executive or by anyone claiming under or through the Executive, in connection
with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating, defending, litigating, negotiating,
or settling such claim or dispute. In no event shall the Executive be required
to reimburse the Company for any of the costs or expenses incurred by the
Company relating to arbitration or litigation. Pending the outcome or resolution
of any claim or dispute, the Company shall continue payment of all amounts due
the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
15
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: By:
------------ -------------------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date:
----------- -------------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year
Compensation for the Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period.
The Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000 [160,000 + 120,000] / 2 =
$140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 / 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year
Compensation for the Base Period.
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this
Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest
subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the
sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B)
the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition,
other than, in each case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation, with
respect to
2
which immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the transferee corporation owned by the Company's stockholders,
but not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
transferee corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (2) no Person (excluding the Company and any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee
benefit plan of such transferee corporation and any Person beneficially owning,
immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of such
transferee corporation and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities of such transferee corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors and (3) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of such transferee corporation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the
board providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a result
of (A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability (as
defined in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as
defined in Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the
Company for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the
Executive's decision to terminate employment other than for Good Reason
(as defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of
3
Termination (as defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the
Company, the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of
the Executive's duties, the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for
"Disability". If there is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive
is still an employee and if the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated for Disability within two years after the Change in Control, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) one times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second
4
sentence of this subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the
Board specifying in detail the particular act or failure to act on which the
Board is relying in proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the
Executive an opportunity, on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such
notice, to have a hearing, with counsel, before a majority of the non-employee
members of the Board, including each of the members of the Board who authorized
the termination for Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if,
within 30 days after the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if
the Executive waives a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the
proposed termination), he has corrected the particular act or failure to act
specified in the notice and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has
reduced the economic damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the
Company to a level which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability
that such act or failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage
to the Company. No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration
of the correction period described in the preceding sentence and the
determination by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the
Executive has failed to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the
terms of the preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after any
Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any of
the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any failure to
re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of his employment for Disability, Retirement or
Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate
of base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last
increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's annual rate
of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in an amount
which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of (A) the
average percentage increase in the annual rate
5
of base salary for all officers of the Company effected in the preceding 12
months; or (B) the Consumer Price Index as published by the United States
Government (or, in the event such index is discontinued, any similar index
published by the United States Government as designated in good faith by the
Executive); provided, however, that nothing contained in this clause (ii) shall
be construed under any circumstances as permitting the Company to decrease the
Executive's annual rate of base salary;
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which the
Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive with
benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there
is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in any such
Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any such
Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced, affected
or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to any fiscal
year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each such Incentive
Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or payable in cash or
in securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program with
respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in securities of the
Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such
substituted comparable plan with respect to the prior three fiscal
years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years that the Executive
was employed by the Company or that the Incentive Plan (together with
any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, the
6
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
and the Transaction Systems Architects Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan) in
which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control
of the Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing him with
substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as "Securities
Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which would
adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially reduce
the Executive's benefits under any such Securities Plan, unless in the
case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there is substituted a
comparable plan or program that is economically equivalent or superior,
in terms of the benefit offered to the Executive, to the Securities
Plan being altered, reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any failure by
the Company in any fiscal year to grant stock options, stock
appreciation rights or securities awards to the Executive pursuant to
such Securities Plans with respect to an aggregate number of securities
of the Company of each kind that is equal to or greater than the
greater of (1) the aggregate number of securities of the Company of
that kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights or
securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities
Plans in the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual aggregate number of securities of the Company of that kind
covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights, or securities
awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities Plans in
the prior three fiscal years; and provided further the material terms
and conditions of such stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive after the Change in Control
(including, but not limited to, the exercise price, vesting schedule,
period and methods of exercise, expiration date, forfeiture provisions
and other restrictions) are substantially similar to the material terms
and conditions of the stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans
immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the time
of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with
the number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is
entitled for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company
occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of
this Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into
an agreement with the Executive that is substantially similar to this
Agreement with respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its
successor occurring thereafter; or
7
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section
3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above,
shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this
Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice
of Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination
is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned
to the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b) below;
plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
8
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points,
compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to one times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination. For purposes of this
subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an employee
of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity, as such
terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's Compensation
for such fiscal year shall be annualized before determining the average
fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period. In annualizing
Compensation, the frequency with which payments are expected to be made
over a fiscal year shall be taken into account; thus, any amount of
Compensation that represents a payment that will not be made more often
than once per fiscal year is not annualized. Set forth on Appendix A,
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, are three examples
illustrating the calculation of the Base Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive
fiscal years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination.
However, if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a
predecessor entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in
clause (iii) below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years,
the Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such
two-fiscal-year period during which the Executive performed personal
services for the Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable
by the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and
which was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either
was excludible from such gross income as
9
"foreign earned income" within the meaning of Section 911 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or would have
been includible in such gross income if the Executive had been a United
States citizen or resident), but excluding the following: (A) amounts
realized from the exercise of a non-qualified stock option; and (B)
amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of stock
acquired under an incentive stock option described in Code Section
422(b) or under an employee stock purchase plan described in Code
Section 423(b). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Compensation
shall be determined without regard to any compensation deferral
election under any plan, program or arrangement, qualified or
nonqualified, maintained or contributed to by the Company, a
predecessor entity or a related entity, including but not limited to a
cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code Section 401(k), a
cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a nonqualified deferred
compensation plan. A "predecessor entity" is any entity which, as a
result of a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of property
or stock, corporate separation, or other similar business transaction
transfers some or all of its employees to the Company or to a related
entity or to a predecessor entity of the Company. The term "related
entity" includes any entity treated as a single employer with the
Company in accordance with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o) of Code
Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Executive will be entitled to
continued participation in all employee benefit plans or programs available to
Company employees generally in which the Executive was participating on the Date
of Termination, such continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise
on the same basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and benefits to be determined
on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from
the Date of Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from
continuing his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within 30 days
following the date it is determined he is unable to participate in any employee
benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic equivalent of the benefits
provided under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate for the
period specified in this sentence, and (B) the economic equivalent of any
benefit foregone shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by
the Executive in obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or
dependent coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall
be eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in accordance
with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
when he ceases to be eligible for continued participation in the Company's group
health plan under this subsection (e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES;
NO EFFECT ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the
amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation
10
earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after
the Date of Termination or otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided for
hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way
diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as
a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or
Securities Plan, employment agreement or other contract, plan or agreement with
or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or awards of
securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the Executive
under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards or units or
the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the Incentive
Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined
11
pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within
five days after the receipt of the determination. Any determination by such
jointly designated public 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 hereunder, it is possible
that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the Company that should have
been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Executive hereafter is required to make a
payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive. Upon notice by the Executive of
any audit or other proceeding that may result in a liability to the Company
hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the Company of such audit or
other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option, but solely with respect to
the item or items that relate to such potential liability, choose to assume the
defense of such audit or other proceeding at its own cost, provided that (i) the
Executive shall cooperate with the Company in such defense and (ii) the Company
will not settle such audit or other proceeding without the consent of the
Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). The highest effective
marginal tax rate (determined by taking into account any reduction in itemized
deductions and/or exemptions attributable to the inclusion of the additional
amounts payable under this Section 7 in the Executive's adjusted gross or
taxable income) based upon the state and locality where the Executive is
resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be used for purposes of
determining the federal and state income and other taxes with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
12
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right
of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will be involved as a
party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a director
or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action
on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity
at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification,
reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
13
the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee or other
designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
If to the Executive:
-----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
14
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, and ordinary
and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys, billed to and payable by the
Executive or by anyone claiming under or through the Executive, in connection
with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating, defending, litigating, negotiating,
or settling such claim or dispute. In no event shall the Executive be required
to reimburse the Company for any of the costs or expenses incurred by the
Company relating to arbitration or litigation. Pending the outcome or resolution
of any claim or dispute, the Company shall continue payment of all amounts due
the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
15
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: By:
-------------------------- --------------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date:
-------------------------- ------------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period.
The Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000
[160,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 / 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year Compensation for the
Base Period.
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this
Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest
subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the
sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B)
the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition,
other than, in each case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation, with
respect to
2
which immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the transferee corporation owned by the Company's stockholders,
but not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
transferee corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (2) no Person (excluding the Company and any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee
benefit plan of such transferee corporation and any Person beneficially owning,
immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of such
transferee corporation and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities of such transferee corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors and (3) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of such transferee corporation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the
board providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a
result of (A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability
(as defined in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as
defined in Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the
Company for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the
Executive's decision to terminate employment other than for Good
Reason (as defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of
3
Termination (as defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the
Company, the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of
the Executive's duties, the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for
"Disability". If there is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive
is still an employee and if the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated for Disability within two years after the Change in Control, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) one times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second
4
sentence of this subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the
Board specifying in detail the particular act or failure to act on which the
Board is relying in proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the
Executive an opportunity, on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such
notice, to have a hearing, with counsel, before a majority of the non-employee
members of the Board, including each of the members of the Board who authorized
the termination for Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if,
within 30 days after the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if
the Executive waives a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the
proposed termination), he has corrected the particular act or failure to act
specified in the notice and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has
reduced the economic damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the
Company to a level which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability
that such act or failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage
to the Company. No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration
of the correction period described in the preceding sentence and the
determination by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the
Executive has failed to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the
terms of the preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after any
Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any of
the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any failure to
re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of his employment for Disability, Retirement or
Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate
of base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last
increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's annual rate
of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in an amount
which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of (A) the
average percentage increase in the annual rate
5
of base salary for all officers of the Company effected in the
preceding 12 months; or (B) the Consumer Price Index as published by
the United States Government (or, in the event such index is
discontinued, any similar index published by the United States
Government as designated in good faith by the Executive); provided,
however, that nothing contained in this clause (ii) shall be construed
under any circumstances as permitting the Company to decrease the
Executive's annual rate of base salary;
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which the
Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive with
benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there
is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in any such
Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any such
Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced, affected
or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to any fiscal
year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each such Incentive
Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or payable in cash or
in securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program with
respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in securities of the
Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such
substituted comparable plan with respect to the prior three fiscal
years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years that the Executive
was employed by the Company or that the Incentive Plan (together with
any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation,
6
the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan and the Transaction Systems Architects Inc. 1999 Stock Option
Plan) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Securities Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Securities Plan, unless
in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there is substituted
a comparable plan or program that is economically equivalent or
superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the Executive, to the
Securities Plan being altered, reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any
failure by the Company in any fiscal year to grant stock options,
stock appreciation rights or securities awards to the Executive
pursuant to such Securities Plans with respect to an aggregate number
of securities of the Company of each kind that is equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the aggregate number of securities of the
Company of that kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation
rights or securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such
Securities Plans in the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the
average annual aggregate number of securities of the Company of that
kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights, or
securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities
Plans in the prior three fiscal years; and provided further the
material terms and conditions of such stock options, stock
appreciation rights, and securities awards granted to the Executive
after the Change in Control (including, but not limited to, the
exercise price, vesting schedule, period and methods of exercise,
expiration date, forfeiture provisions and other restrictions) are
substantially similar to the material terms and conditions of the
stock options, stock appreciation rights, and securities awards
granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans immediately prior
to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the time
of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with
the number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is
entitled for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company
occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of
this Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into
an agreement with the Executive that is substantially similar to this
Agreement with respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its
successor occurring thereafter; or
7
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section
3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above,
shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this
Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice
of Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination
is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned
to the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b) below;
plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
8
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points,
compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to one times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination. For purposes of this
subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an employee
of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity, as such
terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's Compensation
for such fiscal year shall be annualized before determining the average
fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period. In annualizing
Compensation, the frequency with which payments are expected to be made
over a fiscal year shall be taken into account; thus, any amount of
Compensation that represents a payment that will not be made more often
than once per fiscal year is not annualized. Set forth on Appendix A,
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, are three examples
illustrating the calculation of the Base Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive
fiscal years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination.
However, if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a
predecessor entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in
clause (iii) below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years,
the Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such
two-fiscal-year period during which the Executive performed personal
services for the Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable
by the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and
which was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either
was excludible from such gross income as
9
"foreign earned income" within the meaning of Section 911 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or would have
been includible in such gross income if the Executive had been a
United States citizen or resident), but excluding the following: (A)
amounts realized from the exercise of a non-qualified stock option;
and (B) amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition
of stock acquired under an incentive stock option described in Code
Section 422(b) or under an employee stock purchase plan described in
Code Section 423(b). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence,
Compensation shall be determined without regard to any compensation
deferral election under any plan, program or arrangement, qualified or
nonqualified, maintained or contributed to by the Company, a
predecessor entity or a related entity, including but not limited to a
cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code Section 401(k), a
cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a nonqualified
deferred compensation plan. A "predecessor entity" is any entity
which, as a result of a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition
of property or stock, corporate separation, or other similar business
transaction transfers some or all of its employees to the Company or
to a related entity or to a predecessor entity of the Company. The
term "related entity" includes any entity treated as a single employer
with the Company in accordance with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o)
of Code Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Executive will be entitled to
continued participation in all employee benefit plans or programs available to
Company employees generally in which the Executive was participating on the Date
of Termination, such continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise
on the same basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and benefits to be determined
on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from
the Date of Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from
continuing his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within 30 days
following the date it is determined he is unable to participate in any employee
benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic equivalent of the benefits
provided under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate for the
period specified in this sentence, and (B) the economic equivalent of any
benefit foregone shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by
the Executive in obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or
dependent coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall
be eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in accordance
with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
when he ceases to be eligible for continued participation in the Company's group
health plan under this subsection (e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES; NO EFFECT ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL
RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the
amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation
10
earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after
the Date of Termination or otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided for
hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way
diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as
a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or
Securities Plan, employment agreement or other contract, plan or agreement with
or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or awards of
securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the Executive
under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards or units or
the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the Incentive
Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined
11
pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within
five days after the receipt of the determination. Any determination by such
jointly designated public 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 hereunder, it is possible
that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the Company that should have
been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Executive hereafter is required to make a
payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive. Upon notice by the Executive of
any audit or other proceeding that may result in a liability to the Company
hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the Company of such audit or
other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option, but solely with respect to
the item or items that relate to such potential liability, choose to assume the
defense of such audit or other proceeding at its own cost, provided that (i) the
Executive shall cooperate with the Company in such defense and (ii) the Company
will not settle such audit or other proceeding without the consent of the
Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). The highest effective
marginal tax rate (determined by taking into account any reduction in itemized
deductions and/or exemptions attributable to the inclusion of the additional
amounts payable under this Section 7 in the Executive's adjusted gross or
taxable income) based upon the state and locality where the Executive is
resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be used for purposes of
determining the federal and state income and other taxes with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
12
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right
of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will be involved as a
party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a director
or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action
on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity
at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification,
reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
13
the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee or other
designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
If to the Executive:
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
14
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, and ordinary
and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys, billed to and payable by the
Executive or by anyone claiming under or through the Executive, in connection
with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating, defending, litigating, negotiating,
or settling such claim or dispute. In no event shall the Executive be required
to reimburse the Company for any of the costs or expenses incurred by the
Company relating to arbitration or litigation. Pending the outcome or resolution
of any claim or dispute, the Company shall continue payment of all amounts due
the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
15
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: By:
------------------- ---------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date:
------------------- ------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year
Compensation for the Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period.
The Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000
[160,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 / 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year
Compensation for the Base Period.
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this
Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest
subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the
sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B)
the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition,
other than, in each case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation, with
respect to
2
which immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the transferee corporation owned by the Company's stockholders,
but not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
transferee corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (2) no Person (excluding the Company and any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee
benefit plan of such transferee corporation and any Person beneficially owning,
immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of such
transferee corporation and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities of such transferee corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors and (3) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of such transferee corporation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the
board providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a
result of (A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability
(as defined in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as
defined in Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the
Company for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the
Executive's decision to terminate employment other than for Good
Reason (as defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of
3
Termination (as defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the
Company, the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of
the Executive's duties, the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for
"Disability". If there is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive
is still an employee and if the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated for Disability within two years after the Change in Control, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) one times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second
4
sentence of this subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the
Board specifying in detail the particular act or failure to act on which the
Board is relying in proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the
Executive an opportunity, on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such
notice, to have a hearing, with counsel, before a majority of the non-employee
members of the Board, including each of the members of the Board who authorized
the termination for Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if,
within 30 days after the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if
the Executive waives a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the
proposed termination), he has corrected the particular act or failure to act
specified in the notice and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has
reduced the economic damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the
Company to a level which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability
that such act or failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage
to the Company. No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration
of the correction period described in the preceding sentence and the
determination by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the
Executive has failed to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the
terms of the preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after any
Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any of
the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any failure to
re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of his employment for Disability, Retirement or
Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate
of base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last
increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's annual rate
of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in an amount
which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of (A) the
average percentage increase in the annual rate
5
of base salary for all officers of the Company effected in the
preceding 12 months; or (B) the Consumer Price Index as published by
the United States Government (or, in the event such index is
discontinued, any similar index published by the United States
Government as designated in good faith by the Executive); provided,
however, that nothing contained in this clause (ii) shall be construed
under any circumstances as permitting the Company to decrease the
Executive's annual rate of base salary;
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which the
Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive with
benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there
is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in any such
Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any such
Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced, affected
or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to any fiscal
year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each such Incentive
Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or payable in cash or
in securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program with
respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in securities of the
Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such
substituted comparable plan with respect to the prior three fiscal
years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years that the Executive
was employed by the Company or that the Incentive Plan (together with
any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation,
6
the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan and the Transaction Systems Architects Inc. 1999 Stock Option
Plan) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Securities Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Securities Plan, unless
in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there is substituted
a comparable plan or program that is economically equivalent or
superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the Executive, to the
Securities Plan being altered, reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any
failure by the Company in any fiscal year to grant stock options,
stock appreciation rights or securities awards to the Executive
pursuant to such Securities Plans with respect to an aggregate number
of securities of the Company of each kind that is equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the aggregate number of securities of the
Company of that kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation
rights or securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such
Securities Plans in the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the
average annual aggregate number of securities of the Company of that
kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights, or
securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities
Plans in the prior three fiscal years; and provided further the
material terms and conditions of such stock options, stock
appreciation rights, and securities awards granted to the Executive
after the Change in Control (including, but not limited to, the
exercise price, vesting schedule, period and methods of exercise,
expiration date, forfeiture provisions and other restrictions) are
substantially similar to the material terms and conditions of the
stock options, stock appreciation rights, and securities awards
granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans immediately prior
to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the time
of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with
the number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is
entitled for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company
occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of
this Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into
an agreement with the Executive that is substantially similar to this
Agreement with respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its
successor occurring thereafter; or
7
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section
3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above,
shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this
Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice
of Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination
is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned
to the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b) below;
plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
8
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points,
compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to one times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination. For purposes of this
subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an employee
of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity, as such
terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's Compensation
for such fiscal year shall be annualized before determining the average
fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period. In annualizing
Compensation, the frequency with which payments are expected to be made
over a fiscal year shall be taken into account; thus, any amount of
Compensation that represents a payment that will not be made more often
than once per fiscal year is not annualized. Set forth on Appendix A,
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, are three examples
illustrating the calculation of the Base Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive
fiscal years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination.
However, if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a
predecessor entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in
clause (iii) below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years,
the Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such
two-fiscal-year period during which the Executive performed personal
services for the Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable
by the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and
which was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either
was excludible from such gross income as
9
"foreign earned income" within the meaning of Section 911 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or would have
been includible in such gross income if the Executive had been a
United States citizen or resident), but excluding the following: (A)
amounts realized from the exercise of a non-qualified stock option;
and (B) amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition
of stock acquired under an incentive stock option described in Code
Section 422(b) or under an employee stock purchase plan described in
Code Section 423(b). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence,
Compensation shall be determined without regard to any compensation
deferral election under any plan, program or arrangement, qualified or
nonqualified, maintained or contributed to by the Company, a
predecessor entity or a related entity, including but not limited to a
cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code Section 401(k), a
cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a nonqualified
deferred compensation plan. A "predecessor entity" is any entity
which, as a result of a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition
of property or stock, corporate separation, or other similar business
transaction transfers some or all of its employees to the Company or
to a related entity or to a predecessor entity of the Company. The
term "related entity" includes any entity treated as a single employer
with the Company in accordance with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o)
of Code Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Executive will be entitled to
continued participation in all employee benefit plans or programs available to
Company employees generally in which the Executive was participating on the Date
of Termination, such continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise
on the same basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and benefits to be determined
on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from
the Date of Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from
continuing his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within 30 days
following the date it is determined he is unable to participate in any employee
benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic equivalent of the benefits
provided under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate for the
period specified in this sentence, and (B) the economic equivalent of any
benefit foregone shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by
the Executive in obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or
dependent coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall
be eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in accordance
with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
when he ceases to be eligible for continued participation in the Company's group
health plan under this subsection (e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES; NO EFFECT ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL
RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the
amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation
10
earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after
the Date of Termination or otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided for
hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way
diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as
a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or
Securities Plan, employment agreement or other contract, plan or agreement with
or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or awards of
securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the Executive
under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards or units or
the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the Incentive
Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined
11
pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within
five days after the receipt of the determination. Any determination by such
jointly designated public 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 hereunder, it is possible
that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the Company that should have
been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Executive hereafter is required to make a
payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive. Upon notice by the Executive of
any audit or other proceeding that may result in a liability to the Company
hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the Company of such audit or
other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option, but solely with respect to
the item or items that relate to such potential liability, choose to assume the
defense of such audit or other proceeding at its own cost, provided that (i) the
Executive shall cooperate with the Company in such defense and (ii) the Company
will not settle such audit or other proceeding without the consent of the
Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). The highest effective
marginal tax rate (determined by taking into account any reduction in itemized
deductions and/or exemptions attributable to the inclusion of the additional
amounts payable under this Section 7 in the Executive's adjusted gross or
taxable income) based upon the state and locality where the Executive is
resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be used for purposes of
determining the federal and state income and other taxes with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
12
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right
of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will be involved as a
party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a director
or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action
on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity
at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification,
reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
13
the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee or other
designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
If to the Executive:
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
14
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, and ordinary
and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys, billed to and payable by the
Executive or by anyone claiming under or through the Executive, in connection
with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating, defending, litigating, negotiating,
or settling such claim or dispute. In no event shall the Executive be required
to reimburse the Company for any of the costs or expenses incurred by the
Company relating to arbitration or litigation. Pending the outcome or resolution
of any claim or dispute, the Company shall continue payment of all amounts due
the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
15
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: By:
------------------- ---------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date:
------------------- ------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year
Compensation for the Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period.
The Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000
[160,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 / 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year
Compensation for the Base Period.
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this
Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election,
or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote
of at least two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board
shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent
Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial
assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened
election contest subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the
Exchange Act or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents
by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the
sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B)
the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition,
other than, in each case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation, with
respect to which immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and
2
Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or other
disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately
prior to such sale or other disposition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock
and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be (for purposes of
determining whether such percentage test is satisfied, there shall be excluded
from the number of shares and voting securities of the transferee corporation
owned by the Company's stockholders, but not from the total number of
outstanding shares and voting securities of the transferee corporation, any
shares or voting securities received by any such stockholder in respect of any
consideration other than shares or voting securities of the Company), (2) no
Person (excluding the Company and any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
of the Company, any qualified employee benefit plan of such transferee
corporation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such sale
or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may
be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such transferee corporation and the
combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such
transferee corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of such
transferee corporation were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the
execution of the initial agreement or action of the board providing for such
sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a result of
(A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability (as defined
in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as defined in
Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the Company
for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the Executive's
decision to terminate employment other than for Good Reason (as
defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of Termination (as
defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the Company, the Executive
shall not have returned to the full-time performance of the Executive's duties,
the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for "Disability". If there
is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive is still an employee
and if the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated for Disability
within two years after the Change in Control, the
3
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) two times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal quarter
prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater of (A)
the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash or in
securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect to
the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i), (ii)
and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid at
a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street Journal
on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second sentence of this
subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the Board specifying in
detail the particular act or failure to act on which the Board is relying in
proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the Executive an opportunity,
on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such notice, to have a hearing, with
counsel, before a majority of the non-employee members of the Board, including
each of the members of the Board who authorized the termination for
4
Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if, within 30 days after
the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if the Executive waives
a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the proposed termination),
he has corrected the particular act or failure to act specified in the notice
and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has reduced the economic
damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the Company to a level
which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability that such act or
failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage to the Company.
No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration of the
correction period described in the preceding sentence and the determination by a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the Executive has failed
to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the terms of the
preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after
any Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any
of the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's
titles or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in
Control of the Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any
failure to re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in
connection with the termination of his employment for Disability,
Retirement or Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the
Executive other than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate of
base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's
last increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's
annual rate of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in
an amount which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of
(A) the average percentage increase in the annual rate of base salary
for all officers of the Company effected in the preceding 12 months;
or (B) the Consumer Price Index as published by the United States
Government (or, in the event such index is discontinued, any similar
index published by the United States Government as designated in good
faith by the Executive); provided, however, that nothing contained in
this clause (ii) shall be construed under any circumstances as
permitting the Company to decrease the Executive's annual rate of base
salary;
5
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which
the Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of
the Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive
with benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above,
there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements
providing him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter
referred to as "Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the
Company which would adversely affect the Executive's participation in
any such Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any
such Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered
to the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced,
affected or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to
any fiscal year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each
such Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program
equal to or greater than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or
payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the Executive
pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or
program with respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2)
the average annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in
securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan with respect to the
prior three fiscal years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years
that the Executive was employed by the Company or that the Incentive
Plan (together with any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999
Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the Transaction Systems Architects
Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan) in which the Executive is participating
at the time of a Change in Control of the Company, or any other plan
or arrangement providing him with substantially similar benefits,
(hereinafter referred to as "Securities Plans"), (B) the taking of any
action by the Company which would adversely affect the Executive's
participation in or materially reduce the Executive's benefits under
any such Securities Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A)
or (B) above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that
is economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit
offered to the Executive, to the Securities Plan being altered,
6
reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company in any
fiscal year to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights or
securities awards to the Executive pursuant to such Securities Plans
with respect to an aggregate number of securities of the Company of
each kind that is equal to or greater than the greater of (1) the
aggregate number of securities of the Company of that kind covered by
stock options, stock appreciation rights or securities awards granted
to the Executive pursuant to such Securities Plans in the immediately
preceding fiscal year or (2) the average annual aggregate number of
securities of the Company of that kind covered by stock options, stock
appreciation rights, or securities awards granted to the Executive
pursuant to such Securities Plans in the prior three fiscal years; and
provided further the material terms and conditions of such stock
options, stock appreciation rights, and securities awards granted to
the Executive after the Change in Control (including, but not limited
to, the exercise price, vesting schedule, period and methods of
exercise, expiration date, forfeiture provisions and other
restrictions) are substantially similar to the material terms and
conditions of the stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
securities awards granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans
immediately prior to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the
time of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with the
number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is entitled
for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of this
Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of this
Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into an
agreement with the Executive that is substantially similar to this
Agreement with respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its
successor occurring thereafter; or
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment by
the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is not
effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
7
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section
3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above,
shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this
Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice
of Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination
is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned
to the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b) below; plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal quarter
prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater of (A)
the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash or in
securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect to
the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i), (ii)
and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid at
a rate equal to the prime rate as
8
published in The Wall Street Journal on the Date of Termination plus
three percentage points, compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to two times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination. For purposes of this
subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an
employee of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity,
as such terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's
Compensation for such fiscal year shall be annualized before
determining the average fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period.
In annualizing Compensation, the frequency with which payments are
expected to be made over a fiscal year shall be taken into account;
thus, any amount of Compensation that represents a payment that will
not be made more often than once per fiscal year is not annualized.
Set forth on Appendix A, which is attached hereto and made a part
hereof, are three examples illustrating the calculation of the Base
Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive fiscal
years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination. However,
if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a predecessor
entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in clause (iii)
below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years, the
Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such two-fiscal-year
period during which the Executive performed personal services for the
Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable by
the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and which
was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either was
excludible from such gross income as "foreign earned income" within
the meaning of Section 911 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), or would have been includible in such gross
income if the Executive had been a United States citizen or resident),
but excluding the following: (A) amounts realized from the exercise of
a non-qualified stock option; and (B) amounts realized from the sale,
exchange or other disposition of stock acquired under an incentive
stock option described in Code Section 422(b) or under an employee
stock purchase plan described in Code Section 423(b). Notwithstanding
the preceding sentence, Compensation shall be determined without
regard to any compensation deferral election under any plan, program
or arrangement, qualified or nonqualified, maintained or contributed
to by the Company, a predecessor entity or a related entity, including
but not limited to a cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code
Section 401(k), a cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a
nonqualified deferred compensation plan. A
9
"predecessor entity" is any entity which, as a result of a merger,
consolidation, purchase or acquisition of property or stock, corporate
separation, or other similar business transaction transfers some or
all of its employees to the Company or to a related entity or to a
predecessor entity of the Company. The term "related entity" includes
any entity treated as a single employer with the Company in accordance
with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o) of Code Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Executive will be entitled to
continued participation in all employee benefit plans or programs available to
Company employees generally in which the Executive was participating on the Date
of Termination, such continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise
on the same basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and benefits to be determined
on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from
the Date of Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from
continuing his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within 30 days
following the date it is determined he is unable to participate in any employee
benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic equivalent of the benefits
provided under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate for the
period specified in this sentence, and (B) the economic equivalent of any
benefit foregone shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by
the Executive in obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or
dependent coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall
be eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in accordance
with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
when he ceases to be eligible for continued participation in the Company's group
health plan under this subsection (e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES; NO EFFECT ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL
RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the
amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as the
result of employment by another employer after the Date of Termination or
otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided for
hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way
diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as
a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or
Securities Plan, employment agreement or other contract, plan or agreement with
or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or
10
awards of securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the
Executive under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards
or units or the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the
Incentive Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the
Executive within five days after the receipt of the determination. Any
determination by such jointly designated public 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
hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the
Company that should have been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the
calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Executive
hereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment
shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive.
Upon notice by the Executive of any audit or other proceeding that may result in
a liability to the Company hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the
Company of such audit or other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option,
but solely with respect to the item or items that relate to such potential
liability, choose to assume the defense of such audit or other proceeding at its
own cost, provided that (i) the Executive shall cooperate with the Company in
such defense and (ii) the Company will not settle such audit or other proceeding
without the consent of the Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld). The highest effective
11
marginal tax rate (determined by taking into account any reduction in itemized
deductions and/or exemptions attributable to the inclusion of the additional
amounts payable under this Section 7 in the Executive's adjusted gross or
taxable income) based upon the state and locality where the Executive is
resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be used for purposes of
determining the federal and state income and other taxes with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the
DGCL, and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean
any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate
dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or
any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the
right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will
be
12
involved as a party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or
was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him
or of any action on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company,
or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in
such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which
indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under
this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, 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 be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
13
If to the Executive:
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys'
14
fees, court costs, and ordinary and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys,
billed to and payable by the Executive or by anyone claiming under or through
the Executive, in connection with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating,
defending, litigating, negotiating, or settling such claim or dispute. In no
event shall the Executive be required to reimburse the Company for any of the
costs or expenses incurred by the Company relating to arbitration or litigation.
Pending the outcome or resolution of any claim or dispute, the Company shall
continue payment of all amounts due the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
15
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: By:
------------------- ---------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date:
------------------- ------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year
Compensation for the Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period.
The Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000
[160,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 / 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year
Compensation for the Base Period.
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
SEVERANCE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT dated as of July 31, 1999 between
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors has determined that it is
appropriate to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's management, including the Executive, to their assigned
duties without distraction in potentially disturbing circumstances arising from
the possibility of a change in control of the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, this Agreement sets forth the severance compensation
which the Company agrees it will pay to the Executive if the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates under certain circumstances described
herein following a Change in Control (as defined herein) and the other benefits
the Company will provide the Executive following a Change in Control.
1. TERM.
This Agreement shall terminate, except to the extent that any
obligation of the Company hereunder remains unpaid as of such time, upon the
earlier of (i) the termination of Executive's employment for any reason prior to
a Change in Control; and (ii) three years after the date of a Change in Control.
2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
For purposes of this Agreement, Change in Control shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person"), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change
in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege), (B) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (C)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of clause (c) of this
Section 2 are satisfied; or
(b) if individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of
Directors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then constituting the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest
subject to Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, unless following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or
consolidation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the resulting corporation owned by the Company's stockholders, but
not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
resulting corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee benefit
plan of such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) (i) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the first to occur of (A) the
sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (B)
the approval by the stockholders of the Company of any such sale or disposition,
other than, in each case, any such sale or disposition to a corporation, with
respect to
2
which immediately thereafter, (1) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their
ownership, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as
the case may be (for purposes of determining whether such percentage test is
satisfied, there shall be excluded from the number of shares and voting
securities of the transferee corporation owned by the Company's stockholders,
but not from the total number of outstanding shares and voting securities of the
transferee corporation, any shares or voting securities received by any such
stockholder in respect of any consideration other than shares or voting
securities of the Company), (2) no Person (excluding the Company and any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, any qualified employee
benefit plan of such transferee corporation and any Person beneficially owning,
immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20%
or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of such
transferee corporation and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities of such transferee corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors and (3) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of such transferee corporation were members of the Incumbent
Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the
board providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
3. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.
(a) The Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in
Section 4 of this Agreement if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a Change in Control of the Company while the
Executive is still an employee of the Company;
(ii) the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated
within two years after the Change in Control; and
(iii) the Executive's termination of employment is not a result
of (A) the Executive's death; (B) the Executive's Disability (as
defined in Section 3(b) below; (C) the Executive's Retirement (as
defined in Section 3(c) below); (D) the Executive's termination by the
Company for Cause (as defined in Section 3(d) below); or (E) the
Executive's decision to terminate employment other than for Good Reason
(as defined in Section 3(e) below).
(b) If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness, the Executive shall have been unable, with or without a
reasonable accommodation, to perform his duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for six months and within 30 days after a Notice of
3
Termination (as defined in Section 3(f) below) is thereafter given by the
Company, the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of
the Executive's duties, the Company may terminate the Executive's employment for
"Disability". If there is a Change in Control of the Company while the Executive
is still an employee and if the Executive's employment with the Company is
terminated for Disability within two years after the Change in Control, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive in a lump sum cash payment within five
days after his Date of Termination (as defined in Section 3(g) below) the
following:
(i) one times the Base Amount (as defined in Section 4(b)(i))
determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined in Section
4(b)(ii)); plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Retirement" shall mean
termination by the Company or the Executive of the Executive's employment based
on the Executive's having reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been
fixed in any arrangement established pursuant to this Agreement with the
Executive's consent with respect to the Executive.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement only, "Cause" shall mean: (i) the
Executive's conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or (ii) the
Executive's serious, willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties
(other than any such neglect resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or any such neglect after the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by the Executive for Good Reason, as such terms are defined in
subsections (e) and (f) below), which, in either case, has resulted, or in all
probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Company;
provided no act or failure to act by the Executive will constitute "Cause" under
clause (ii) if the Executive believed in good faith that such act or failure to
act was in the best interest of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement only, any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company for Cause shall be authorized by a vote of at least a
majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board") within 12 months of a majority of such non-employee members of the
Board having actual knowledge of the event or circumstances providing a basis
for such termination. In the case of clause (ii) of the second
4
sentence of this subsection (d), the Executive shall be given notice by the
Board specifying in detail the particular act or failure to act on which the
Board is relying in proposing to terminate him for Cause and offering the
Executive an opportunity, on a date at least 14 days after receipt of such
notice, to have a hearing, with counsel, before a majority of the non-employee
members of the Board, including each of the members of the Board who authorized
the termination for Cause. The Executive shall not be terminated for Cause if,
within 30 days after the date of the Executive's hearing before the Board (or if
the Executive waives a hearing, within 30 days after receiving notice of the
proposed termination), he has corrected the particular act or failure to act
specified in the notice and by so correcting such act or failure to act he has
reduced the economic damage his act or failure to act has allegedly caused the
Company to a level which is no longer material or has eliminated the probability
that such act or failure to act is likely to result in material economic damage
to the Company. No termination for Cause shall take effect until the expiration
of the correction period described in the preceding sentence and the
determination by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board that the
Executive has failed to correct the act or failure to act in accordance with the
terms of the preceding sentence.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if, following a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause based upon
the conviction of the Executive for a felony involving moral turpitude such
conviction is finally overturned on appeal, the Executive shall be entitled to
the compensation provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c). In lieu of the interest
provided in clause (iv) of the first sentence of Section 4(a) and the interest
provided in the second sentence of Section 4(c), however, the compensation
provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(c) shall be increased by a ten percent rate of
interest, compounded annually, calculated from the date such compensation would
have been paid if the Executive's employment had been terminated without Cause.
(e) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean, after any
Change in Control and without the Executive's express written consent, any of
the following:
(i) a significant diminution in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, or the assignment to the Executive by the Company of
duties inconsistent with the Executive's position, duties,
responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to a
Change in Control of the Company, or a change in the Executive's titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the
Company, or any removal of the Executive from or any failure to
re-elect the Executive to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of his employment for Disability, Retirement or
Cause or as a result of the Executive's death or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in the Executive's annual rate
of base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be
increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement or the
Company's failure to increase (within 12 months of the Executive's last
increase in his annual rate of base salary) the Executive's annual rate
of base salary after a Change in Control of the Company in an amount
which at least equals, on a percentage basis, the greater of (A) the
average percentage increase in the annual rate
5
of base salary for all officers of the Company effected in the
preceding 12 months; or (B) the Consumer Price Index as published by
the United States Government (or, in the event such index is
discontinued, any similar index published by the United States
Government as designated in good faith by the Executive); provided,
however, that nothing contained in this clause (ii) shall be construed
under any circumstances as permitting the Company to decrease the
Executive's annual rate of base salary;
(iii) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
benefit plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the life
insurance, medical, dental, accident and disability plans) in which the
Executive is participating at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing the Executive with
benefits that are no less favorable (hereinafter referred to as
"Benefit Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Benefit Plan or deprive
the Executive of any material fringe benefit or perquisite of office
enjoyed by the Executive at the time of a Change in Control of the
Company, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there
is substituted a comparable plan or program that is economically
equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the
Executive, to the Benefit Plan being altered, reduced, affected or
ended;
(iv) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
incentive plan or arrangement (including, without limitation, the
Company's bonus arrangements, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
Deferred Compensation Plan, the Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
401(k) Plan, the sales incentive plans, and the management incentive
plans) in which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change
in Control of the Company, or any other plans or arrangements providing
him with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Incentive Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in any such
Incentive Plan or reduce the Executive's benefits under any such
Incentive Plan, unless in the case of either subclause (A) or (B)
above, there is substituted a comparable plan or program that is
economically equivalent or superior, in terms of the benefit offered to
the Executive, to the Incentive Plan being altered, reduced, affected
or ended, or (C) any failure by the Company with respect to any fiscal
year to make an award to the Executive pursuant to each such Incentive
Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the award (whether paid or payable in cash or
in securities of the Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such
Incentive Plan or such substituted comparable plan or program with
respect to the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the average
annual award (whether paid or payable in cash or in securities of the
Company) made to the Executive pursuant to such Incentive Plan or such
substituted comparable plan with respect to the prior three fiscal
years (or such lesser number of prior fiscal years that the Executive
was employed by the Company or that the Incentive Plan (together with
any substituted comparable plan) was maintained);
(v) (A) any failure by the Company to continue in effect any
plan or arrangement to receive securities of the Company (including,
without limitation, the
6
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
and the Transaction Systems Architects Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan) in
which the Executive is participating at the time of a Change in
Control of the Company, or any other plan or arrangement providing him
with substantially similar benefits, (hereinafter referred to as
"Securities Plans"), (B) the taking of any action by the Company which
would adversely affect the Executive's participation in or materially
reduce the Executive's benefits under any such Securities Plan, unless
in the case of either subclause (A) or (B) above, there is substituted
a comparable plan or program that is economically equivalent or
superior, in terms of the benefit offered to the Executive, to the
Securities Plan being altered, reduced, affected or ended, or (C) any
failure by the Company in any fiscal year to grant stock options,
stock appreciation rights or securities awards to the Executive
pursuant to such Securities Plans with respect to an aggregate number
of securities of the Company of each kind that is equal to or greater
than the greater of (1) the aggregate number of securities of the
Company of that kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation
rights or securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such
Securities Plans in the immediately preceding fiscal year or (2) the
average annual aggregate number of securities of the Company of that
kind covered by stock options, stock appreciation rights, or
securities awards granted to the Executive pursuant to such Securities
Plans in the prior three fiscal years; and provided further the
material terms and conditions of such stock options, stock
appreciation rights, and securities awards granted to the Executive
after the Change in Control (including, but not limited to, the
exercise price, vesting schedule, period and methods of exercise,
expiration date, forfeiture provisions and other restrictions) are
substantially similar to the material terms and conditions of the
stock options, stock appreciation rights, and securities awards
granted to the Executive under the Securities Plans immediately prior
to the Change in Control of the Company;
(vi) the Executive's relocation more than 50 miles from the
location at which the Executive performed the Executive's duties prior
to a Change in Control of the Company, except for required travel by
the Executive on the Company's business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive's business travel obligations at the time
of a Change in Control of the Company;
(vii) any failure by the Company to provide the Executive with
the number of annual paid vacation days to which the Executive is
entitled for the year in which a Change in Control of the Company
occurs;
(viii) any material breach by the Company of any provision of
this Agreement;
(ix) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of
this Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company prior to such
succession or assignment;
(x) any failure by the Company or its successor to enter into
an agreement with the Executive that is substantially similar to this
Agreement with respect to a Change in Control of the Company or its
successor occurring thereafter; or
7
(xi) any purported termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 3(f) below (and, if applicable, Section 3(d)
above), and for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported
termination shall be effective.
For purposes of this subsection (e), an isolated, immaterial, and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith by the Company in violation of clause (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) or (vii) of this subsection that is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not be considered
Good Reason for the Executive's termination of employment with the Company. In
the event the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason hereunder,
then notwithstanding that the Executive may also retire for purposes of the
Benefit Plans, Incentive Plans or Securities Plans, the Executive shall be
deemed to have terminated his employment for Good Reason for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f) Any termination of the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section
3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) above, or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(e) above,
shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written
notice which shall indicate those specific termination provisions in this
Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no
such purported termination by the Company shall be effective without such Notice
of Termination.
(g) "Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination
is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned
to the performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any other
reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided, however,
that if within 30 days after any Notice of Termination is given to the Executive
by the Company, the Executive notifies the Company that a dispute exists
concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date the
dispute is finally determined, whether by mutual written agreement of the
parties or upon final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having
been perfected).
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Company shall pay to the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment within five days after the Date of
Termination the following:
(i) the Severance Amount as defined in Section 4(b) below;
plus
(ii) his earned but unpaid base salary through his Date of
Termination; plus
8
(iii) a quarterly incentive award for the current fiscal
quarter prorated through the Date of Termination equal to the greater
of (A) the quarterly incentive award (whether paid or payable in cash
or in securities of the Company) awarded to the Executive with respect
to the Company's most recent fiscal quarter ending prior to the Date of
Termination or (B) the average quarterly incentive award (whether paid
or payable in cash or in securities of the Company) made to the
Executive with respect to the Company's most recent three fiscal years
ending prior to the Date of Termination; plus
(iv) interest on the amounts payable pursuant to clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above calculated from the Date of Termination until paid
at a rate equal to the prime rate as published in The Wall Street
Journal on the Date of Termination plus three percentage points,
compounded annually.
(b) "Severance Amount" shall mean an amount equal to one times the Base
Amount (as defined below) determined with respect to the Base Period (as defined
below); provided, however, in no event shall the Severance Amount be less than
two times the Executive's annual rate of base salary at the higher of the annual
rate in effect (i) immediately prior to the Date of Termination or (ii) on the
date six months prior to the Date of Termination. For purposes of this
subsection (b):
(i) "Base Amount" means the Executive's average fiscal-year
Compensation (as defined below) for fiscal years of the Company in the
Base Period. Such average shall be computed by dividing the total of
the Executive's Compensation for the Base Period by the number of
fiscal years in the Base Period. If the Executive's Base Period
includes a portion of a fiscal year during which he was not an employee
of the Company (or a predecessor entity or a related entity, as such
terms are defined in clause (iii) below), the Executive's Compensation
for such fiscal year shall be annualized before determining the average
fiscal-year Compensation for the Base Period. In annualizing
Compensation, the frequency with which payments are expected to be made
over a fiscal year shall be taken into account; thus, any amount of
Compensation that represents a payment that will not be made more often
than once per fiscal year is not annualized. Set forth on Appendix A,
which is attached hereto and made a part hereof, are three examples
illustrating the calculation of the Base Amount.
(ii) "Base Period" means the most recent two consecutive
fiscal years of the Company ending prior to the Date of Termination.
However, if the Executive was not an employee of the Company (or a
predecessor entity or a related entity, as such terms are defined in
clause (iii) below) at any time during one of such two fiscal years,
the Executive's Base Period is the one fiscal year of such
two-fiscal-year period during which the Executive performed personal
services for the Company or a predecessor entity or a related entity.
(iii) "Compensation" means the compensation which was payable
by the Company, by a predecessor entity, or by a related entity and
which was includible in the gross income of the Executive (or either
was excludible from such gross income as
9
"foreign earned income" within the meaning of Section 911 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or would have
been includible in such gross income if the Executive had been a
United States citizen or resident), but excluding the following: (A)
amounts realized from the exercise of a non-qualified stock option;
and (B) amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition
of stock acquired under an incentive stock option described in Code
Section 422(b) or under an employee stock purchase plan described in
Code Section 423(b). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence,
Compensation shall be determined without regard to any compensation
deferral election under any plan, program or arrangement, qualified or
nonqualified, maintained or contributed to by the Company, a
predecessor entity or a related entity, including but not limited to a
cash-or-deferred arrangement described in Code Section 401(k), a
cafeteria plan described in Code Section 125 or a nonqualified
deferred compensation plan. A "predecessor entity" is any entity
which, as a result of a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition
of property or stock, corporate separation, or other similar business
transaction transfers some or all of its employees to the Company or
to a related entity or to a predecessor entity of the Company. The
term "related entity" includes any entity treated as a single employer
with the Company in accordance with subsections (b), (c), (m) and (o)
of Code Section 414.
(c) If pursuant to Section 3(a) above the Executive is entitled to the
compensation provided in this Section 4, then the Executive will be entitled to
continued participation in all employee benefit plans or programs available to
Company employees generally in which the Executive was participating on the Date
of Termination, such continued participation to be at Company cost and otherwise
on the same basis as Company employees generally, until the earlier of (i) the
date, or dates, he receives equivalent coverage and benefits under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverages and benefits to be determined
on a coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis) or (ii) two years from
the Date of Termination; provided (A) if the Executive is precluded from
continuing his participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided
in this sentence, he shall be paid, in a lump sum cash payment, within 30 days
following the date it is determined he is unable to participate in any employee
benefit plan or program, the after-tax economic equivalent of the benefits
provided under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate for the
period specified in this sentence, and (B) the economic equivalent of any
benefit foregone shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that would be incurred by
the Executive in obtaining such benefit for himself (including family or
dependent coverage, if applicable) on an individual basis. The Executive shall
be eligible for group health plan continuation coverage under and in accordance
with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended,
when he ceases to be eligible for continued participation in the Company's group
health plan under this subsection (e).
5. NO OBLIGATION TO MITIGATE DAMAGES; NO EFFECT ON OTHER CONTRACTUAL
RIGHTS.
(a) The Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the
amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other
employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation
10
earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer after
the Date of Termination or otherwise.
(b) The provisions of this Agreement, and any payment provided for
hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way
diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as
a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan, Incentive Plan or
Securities Plan, employment agreement or other contract, plan or agreement with
or of the Company.
6. INCENTIVE AWARDS.
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, then
notwithstanding the terms and conditions of any Incentive Plan, the Company
agrees (i) to immediately and fully vest all unvested awards, units, and
benefits (other than options to acquire securities of the Company or awards of
securities of the Company) which have been awarded or allocated to the Executive
under the Incentive Plans; and (ii) upon the exercise of such awards or units or
the distribution of such benefits, to pay all amounts due under the Incentive
Plans solely in cash.
7. CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.
(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
7) (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.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 7,
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 the Accounting Firm which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business
days after the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. The determination
of tax liability made by the Accounting Firm shall be subject to review by the
Executive's tax advisor, and, if the Executive's tax advisor does not agree with
the determination reached by the Accounting Firm, then the Accounting Firm and
the Executive's tax advisor shall jointly designate a nationally recognized
public accounting firm which shall make the determination. All fees and expenses
of the accountants and tax advisors retained by both the Executive and the
Company shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined
11
pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within
five days after the receipt of the determination. Any determination by such
jointly designated public 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 hereunder, it is possible
that Gross-Up Payments will not have been made by the Company that should have
been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Executive hereafter is required to make a
payment of any Excise Tax, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive. Upon notice by the Executive of
any audit or other proceeding that may result in a liability to the Company
hereunder, the Executive shall promptly notify the Company of such audit or
other proceeding; and the Company may, at its option, but solely with respect to
the item or items that relate to such potential liability, choose to assume the
defense of such audit or other proceeding at its own cost, provided that (i) the
Executive shall cooperate with the Company in such defense and (ii) the Company
will not settle such audit or other proceeding without the consent of the
Executive (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). The highest effective
marginal tax rate (determined by taking into account any reduction in itemized
deductions and/or exemptions attributable to the inclusion of the additional
amounts payable under this Section 7 in the Executive's adjusted gross or
taxable income) based upon the state and locality where the Executive is
resident at the time of payment of such amounts will be used for purposes of
determining the federal and state income and other taxes with respect thereto.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify the Executive to the fullest extent
permitted by law if the Executive is a party or threatened to be made a party to
any Proceeding (as defined below).
(b) If requested by the Executive, the Company shall advance (within
two business days of such request) any and all Expenses, as defined below,
relating to a Proceeding to the Executive (an "Expense Advance"), upon the
receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay such
Expense Advance if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
Executive (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or
lapsed) establishes that the Executive is not entitled to indemnification by the
Company. Expenses shall include attorney's fees and all other costs, charges and
expenses paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be
a witness in or participate in any Proceeding.
(c) The Company agrees to obtain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering the Executive and to continue and maintain such
policy. The amount of coverage shall be reasonable in relation to the
Executive's position and responsibilities during his employment by the Company.
(d) This Section 8 is a supplement to and in furtherance of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company and shall not be deemed a
substitute therefor, or diminish or abrogate any rights of the Executive
thereunder.
12
(e) For purposes of Section 8(a), the meaning of the phrase "to the
fullest extent permitted by law" shall include but not be limited to:
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") that authorizes or
contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the
corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL,
and
(ii) to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any
amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of
this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may
indemnify its officers and directors.
(f) For purposes of Sections 8(a) and 8(b), "Proceeding" shall mean any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any
other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right
of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative nature, in which the Executive was, is or will be involved as a
party or otherwise by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was a director
or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action
on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of
the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity
at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification,
reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement.
9. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely and
unconditionally to 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 or assignment had taken place. Any failure of the Company to
obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the
Executive to terminate the Executive's employment for Good Reason and receive
the compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof. As used in this Agreement,
"Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or
assign to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers
the agreement provided for in this Section 9 or which otherwise becomes bound by
all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
the Executive's personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, all such amounts,
unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with
13
the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee or other
designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's estate.
10. NOTICE.
For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
Transaction Systems Architects, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: President
If to the Executive:
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by
the Executive and the Company. 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 time 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 set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Nebraska, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of
law.
12. CONFLICT IN BENEFITS.
Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentences, this Agreement
is not intended to and shall not limit or terminate any other agreement or
arrangement between the Executive and the Company presently in effect or
hereafter entered into.
13. VALIDITY.
14
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
14. SURVIVORSHIP.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations and to the extent that any
performance is required following termination of this Agreement. Without
limiting the foregoing, Sections 7, 8 and 15 shall expressly survive the
termination of this Agreement.
15. LEGAL FEES AND EXPENSES.
If a claim or dispute arises concerning the rights of the Executive
under this Agreement, regardless of the party by whom such claim or dispute is
initiated, the Company shall, upon presentation of appropriate vouchers, pay all
legal expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, and ordinary
and necessary out-of-pocket costs of attorneys, billed to and payable by the
Executive or by anyone claiming under or through the Executive, in connection
with the bringing, prosecuting, arbitrating, defending, litigating, negotiating,
or settling such claim or dispute. In no event shall the Executive be required
to reimburse the Company for any of the costs or expenses incurred by the
Company relating to arbitration or litigation. Pending the outcome or resolution
of any claim or dispute, the Company shall continue payment of all amounts due
the Executive without regard to any dispute.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution.
17. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
18. NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed
as giving the Executive the right to be retained in employment with the Company,
nor shall it interfere with either the Company's right to terminate the
employment of the Executive at any time or the Executive's right to terminate
his employment at any time.
19. NO ASSIGNMENT BY EXECUTIVE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 9(b), the Executive's rights and
interest under this Agreement shall not be assignable (in law or in equity) or
subject to any manner of alienation, sale, transfer, claims of creditors,
pledge, attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or encumbrances of any kind.
15
20. WAIVER.
The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of
such provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other
provision, and any waiver of default in any provision of this Agreement shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of any later default thereof or of any other
provision.
21. WITHHOLDING.
All amounts paid pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to
withholding for taxes (federal, state, local or otherwise) to the extent
required by applicable law.
22. HEADINGS.
The headings of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and are to be ignored in the construction of the provisions
hereof.
23. NUMBER AND GENDER.
The use of the singular shall be interpreted to include the plural and
the plural the singular, as the context requires. The use of the masculine,
feminine or neuter shall be interpreted to include the masculine, feminine or
neuter as the context shall require.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
day and year first above written.
TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS, INC.
Date: By:
------------------- ---------------------------
EXECUTIVE:
Date:
------------------- ------------------------------
16
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLE 1 - Executive was employed by the Company for 1-1/3 fiscal
years preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in Control of the
Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the Company was
$30,000 for the 4-month period and $120,000 for the full fiscal year.
The Executive's Base Amount is $105,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
Year 2: $120,000
[90,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $105,000
$105,000 is the average fiscal-year
Compensation for the Base Period.
EXAMPLE 2 - Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except that the
Executive also received a $70,000 sign-on bonus when his employment
with the Company commenced at the beginning of the 4-month period.
The Executive's Base Amount is $140,000
Year 1: [3 x $30,000] + $70,000 = $160,000
Year 2: $120,000
[160,000 + 120,000] / 2 = $140,000
Since the sign-on bonus will not be paid more often than once per
fiscal year, the amount of the bonus is not increased in annualizing
the Executive's Compensation for the 4-month period.
EXAMPLE 3 - Executive was employed by the Company for the last 4 months
of the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which a Change in
Control of the Company occurs. The Executive's Compensation from the
Company was $30,000 for the 4-month period. The Executive's Base Amount
is $90,000.
Year 1: 3 x $30,000 = $90,000
$90,000 / 1 = $90,000
$90,000 is the average fiscal-year
Compensation for the Base Period.