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AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

Change of Control Agreement

AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT | Document Parties: Universal Display Corporation You are currently viewing:
This Change of Control Agreement involves

Universal Display Corporation

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Title: AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
Governing Law: New Jersey     Date: 3/12/2009
Industry: Computer Peripherals     Sector: Technology

AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT, Parties: universal display corporation
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AMENDED AND RESTATED

CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

 

 

This Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made as of November 4, 2008, by and between Universal Display Corporation (the “Company”), and Julia J. Brown (“Employee”).

 

WHEREAS, Employee is employed by UDC, Inc., an affiliate of the Company, currently serving in a capacity as Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer of the Company; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company believes that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of Employee to the Company without distraction notwithstanding the fact that the Company could be subject to a “Change in Control” (as hereinafter defined), and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it may raise among management, may result in the departure or distraction of key management personnel to the detriment of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, in consideration for Employee agreeing to continue in employment with the Company and its affiliate and agreeing to keep Company information confidential and not to compete with the Company (as hereinafter defined), the Company agrees that Employee shall receive the compensation set forth in this Agreement as a cushion against the financial and career impact on Employee in the event Employee’s employment with the Company is involuntarily terminated in connection with a Change in Control; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties previously entered into a Change in Control Agreement dated April 28, 2003, and the parties wish to amend such agreement to ensure conformity with the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations issued thereunder (the “Code”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Company and Employee (individually a “Party” and together, the “Parties”) agree as follows:

 

1.   Definitions .

 

(a)  Annual Base Salary ” shall mean twelve (12) times the greater of: (a) the highest monthly base salary paid or payable (including any base salary which has been earned but deferred and any car allowance) to Employee by the Company and its affiliates (as defined in Section 1504 of the Code without regard to subsection (b) thereof), together with any and all salary reduction authorized amounts under any of the Company’s and its affiliates’ benefit plans or programs, during the twenty-four (24) month period immediately preceding the date of the Change in Control, or (b) the monthly base salary paid or payable to Employee by the Company and its affiliates (including authorized deferrals, salary reduction amounts and any car allowance), together with any and all salary reduction authorized amounts under any of the Company’s and its affiliates’ benefit plans or programs, for the last full month immediately prior to Employee’s Termination of Employment.

 

 

 

 


 

 

(b)  Annual Bonus ” shall mean an amount equal to Employee’s highest annual bonus for the last three (3) full fiscal years prior to the Change in Control (annualized in the event that Employee was not employed for the whole of such fiscal year).  If any such amount was paid in whole or in part in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, warrants, stock awards or performance units, whether or not restricted or subject to the satisfaction of any performance goals or other criteria, the annual bonus for such fiscal year shall include the fair market dollar value equivalent of all such stock options, stock appreciation rights, warrants, stock awards and performance units, determined as of the date of grant.

 

(c)  Board ” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.

 

(d)  Cause ” shall mean (i) conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, or (ii) gross negligence in the performance of duties, which gross negligence is willful, has or has the potential to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, assets, properties or financial condition of the Company and its affiliates taken as a whole, and is not cured within sixty (60) days after reasonable written notice from the Company.

 

(e)  Change in Control ” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(i)   if any Person or affiliated group of Persons (other than in their capacities as trustees of a trust existing on the Effective Date or any successor trust having the same beneficiaries) first become the “beneficial owners” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Persons any securities acquired directly from the Company or its affiliates) representing thirty percent (30%) or more of either the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Company or the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities;

 

(ii)   if, during any period of twenty-four (24) consecutive months during the existence of this Agreement commencing on or after the date hereof, the individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason other than death to constitute at least a majority thereof; provided that a director who was not a director at the beginning of such twenty-four (24) month period shall be deemed to have satisfied such twenty-four (24) month requirement (and be an Incumbent Director) if such director was elected by, or on the recommendation of or with the approval of, at least two-thirds of the directors who then qualified as Incumbent Directors either actually (because they were directors at the beginning of such twenty-four (24) month period) or by prior operation of this clause (ii);

 

(iii)   the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation other than (A) a merger or consolidation that would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving of the Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof) at least  fifty percent

 

 

 

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(iv)   (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (B) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or a similar transaction) in which no Person or group of affiliated Persons (other than in their capacities as trustees of a trust existing on the Effective Date or any successor trust having the same beneficiaries) first become the “beneficial owners” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Persons any securities acquired directly from the Company or its affiliates) representing thirty percent (30%) or more of either the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Company or the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities;

 

(v)   the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by Persons in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale; or

 

(vi)   any Person has consummated a tender offer or exchange for voting stock of the Company and, directly or indirectly, has become (in one or more transactions) the “beneficial owner” of securities of the Company representing a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of stock of the Company.

 

Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control as provided above, no subsequent event or condition shall constitute a Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement, with the result that there can be no more than one Change in Control hereunder.

 

(f)  Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations issued thereunder.

 

(g)  Cure Period ” shall mean the thirty (30) day period after the Company receives Employee’s Notice of Termination as described in Section 2 below, during which period the Company shall have the opportunity, if the act or omission is capable of correction, to correct the action or failure to act that constitutes the applicable occurrence as set forth in the Notice of Termination.

 

(h)  Effective Termination Date ” shall mean:

 

(i)   in the case of a Termination of Employment initiated by the Company at the time of or within two (2) years after a Change in Control, the date of Employee’s receipt of the Notice of Termination described in Section 2 hereof,

 

 

 

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(ii)   or any later date specified therein on which a Termination of Employment is to occur (which date shall not be more than fifteen (15) days after the giving of such notice), as the case may be;

 

(iii)   in the case of a Termination of Employment initiated by Employee at the time of or within two (2) years after a Change in Control, the date immediately following the end of the Cure Period for the action or failure to act that constitutes the applicable occurrence as set forth in the Employee’s Notice of Termination, provided that the Company shall not have, prior to such date, corrected such action or failure to act or Employee has not waived such failure; and

 

(iv)   in the case of a Termination of Employment initiated by either the Company or Employee during the one (1) year period immediately preceding a Change in Control, the date of the Change in Control or, if sooner, the date the Company or its affiliates publicly announce an intention to consummate the Change in Control.

 

(i)  Person ” shall mean any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, other entity or natural person.

 

(j)  Separation Period ” shall mean the twenty-four (24) month period beginning on the Effective Termination Date.

 

(k)  Termination of Employment ” shall mean the termination of Employee’s active employment relationship with the Company or its affiliates.

 

(l)  Termination in Connection with a Change in Control ” shall mean:

 

(i)   Subject to the requirements of Section 2, a Termination of Employment at the time of or within two (2) years after a Change in Control either:

 

A.   initiated by the Company or its affiliates for any reason other than (I) Employee’s death, continuous illness, injury or incapacity for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months, or (II) for Cause; or

 

B.   initiated by Employee upon the occurrence of one or more of the following events without Employee’s consent, subject to any applicable Cure Period:

 

(I)   any material failure of the Company to comply with and satisfy any of the terms of this Agreement or any other material obligations of the Company or its affiliates to Employee;

 

(II)   any significant reduction by the Company or its affiliates of the authority, duties, reporting responsibilities or job responsibilities of Employee;

 

 

 

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(III)   any removal by the Company or its affiliates of Employee from the employment grade, compensation level or officer positions which Employee holds as of the effective date hereof (except in connection with a promotion to higher office);

 

(IV)   the relocation of the offices of the Company at which Employee is principally employed to a location more than fifty (50) miles from such location immediately prior to the date that is six (6) months before the Change in Control, except for required travel on the Company’s business to any extent substantially consistent with Employee’s business travel obligations as of the date of this Agreement;

 

(ii)   a Termination of Employment during the one (1) year period immediately preceding a Change in Control, which termination is initiated by the Company, or by Employee upon the occurrence of one or more of the events in clauses (I) – (IV) of subsection (l)(i)(B) above and without Employee’s consent, unless the Company establishes by clear and convincing evidence that such Termination of Employment was for good faith business reasons not related to the Change in Control.

 

2.   Notice of Termination of Employment .

 

(a)   The party initiating a Termination of Employment, whether Employee or the Company, shall communicate the Termination of Employment to the other party by a written notice of termination given in accordance with Section 16 hereof (a “Notice of Termination”).  The Notice of Termination shall (i) briefly summarize the facts and circumstances deemed to provide a basis for the Termination of Employment; (ii) indicate, to the extent known, whether the party initiating termination considers the Termination of Employment to be a Termination in Connection with a Change in Control and, if so, the specific reasons why; (iii) if the Effective Termination Date is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specify the Effective Termination Date to the extent determinable, subject to any applicable Cure Period.

 

(b)   If termination is initiated by Employee based on an event described in Section 1(l)(i)(B)(III)-(IV) above, such Notice of Termination shall be delivered to the Company within a reasonable period of time after the date on which Employee first has actual knowledge of the facts or circumstances giving rise thereto, such period not to exceed ninety (90) days following such date.

 

(c)   To the extent the Termination of Employment is initiated during the one (1) year period immediately preceding a Change in Control, it is understood that whether the Termination of Employment is a Termination in Connection with a Change in Control may be unknown and the Effective Termination Date may be undeterminable at the time the Notice of Termination is delivered.  In such event, the party initiating the Termination of Employment shall provide a supplemental written notice to the other party providing the additional information that was unknown or undeterminable at the time the original Notice of Termination was delivered (a “Supplemental Notice”).  This Supplemental Notice shall be delivered within a

 

 

 

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(d)   reasonable period of time after the first date on which the initiating party learns of the Change in Control or, if sooner, the date of the publicly announced intention of the Company or its affiliates to consummate the Change in Control, such period not to exceed ninety (90) days after the earlier of the two dates.

 

3.   Compensation upon Termination in Connection with a Change in Control .  In the event of a Termination in Connection with a Change in Control, the Company shall pay to Employee, or provide to Employee at no additional cost for the length of the Separation Period, the following:

 

(a)   An amount equal to Employee’s earned or accrued but unpaid compensation (including any unused paid time off) as of the date of Termination of Employment, said amount to be paid in a lump sum within fifteen (15) days after the Effective Termination Date, but in any event no later than March 15 of the year following the year of the Effective Termination Date.

 

(b)   An amount equal to all reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses properly incurred but not yet reimbursed by the Company or its affiliates, said amount to be paid in a lump sum within fifteen (15) days after the Effective Termination Date, but in any event no later than March 15 of the year following the year of the Effective Termination Date.

 

(c)   An amount equal to two (2) times the sum of the Annual Base Salary and the Annual Bonus, said amount to be paid in a lump sum within fifteen (15) days after the Effective Termination Date, but in any event no later than March 15 of the year following the year of the Effective Termination Date.

 

(d)   An amount equal to the estimated after-tax premium cost to Employee of continuing any Company-sponsored life, travel and accident and disability insurance coverage for Employee (and where applicable, his or her spouse and dependents) based on the coverage levels in effect for Employee (and where applicable, his or her spouse and dependents) immediately prior to the Effective Termination Date (less any amount that Employee would have been required to contribute toward the cost of such coverage), for the length of the Separation Period, as if Employee had continued to be employed by the Company during the Separation Period at his or her Annual Base Salary, said amount to be paid in a lump sum within fifteen (15) days after the Effective Termination Date, but in any event no later than March 15 of the year following the year of the Effective Termination Date.

 

(e)   An amount equal to the Company provided contributions to which Employee would be entitled under the Company’s or its affiliates’ 401(k) savings and retirement plans (whether qualified or non-qualified) (the “Benefit Plans”), if Employee had continued working for the Company during the Separation Period at his or her Annual Base Salary, and were making the maximum amount of employee contributions, if any, as are required under such Benefit Plans, said amount to be paid in a lump sum within fifteen (15) days after the Effective Termination Date, but in any event no later than March 15 of the year following the year of the Effective Termination Date.

 

 

 

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(f)   Effective immediately preceding the Change in Control (but contingent upon the consummation of the Change in Control), all outstanding equity awards held by Employee immediately preceding the Change in Control that have not yet become vested (and exercisable to the extent applicable) shall become fully vested (and exercisable to the extent applicable); provided that awards that vest based upon attainment of performance criteria shall not accelerate and vest pursuant to this Section 3(f) but shall instead be governed by the terms of the plan or award agreement evidencing the terms of such award.

 

(g)   Continued group hospitalization, health and dental care coverage during the Separation Period, at the level in effect as of the Effective Termination Date (or generally comparable coverage) for Employee and, where applicable, Employee’s spouse and dependents, as the same may be changed by the Company from time to time for employees generally, as if Employee had continued in employment during the Separation Period.  The COBRA healthcare continuation coverage period under Section 4980B of the Code shall run concurrently with the Separation Period.

 

(h)   Outplacement assistance services during the Separation Period provided by an outplacement agency selected by Employee, said amount to be paid in a lump sum equal to $10,000 within fifteen (15) days after the Effective Termination Date, but in any event no later than March 15 of the year following the year of the Effective Termination Date.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such payments, benefits or services shall be made or provided ( except as may be required by law) unless Employee executes, and does not revoke, a written release, substantially in the form attached hereto as ANNEX I (the “Release”), of any and all claims against the Company and all related parties with respect to all matters arising out of Employee’s employment by the Company or its affiliates (other than any entitlements under the terms of this Agreement or under any other plans or programs of the Company in which Employee participated and under which Employee has accrued or become entitled to a benefit), or the termination thereof.

 

4.   Other Payments; Non-Exclusivity of Rights .  The payments and benefits due under Section 3 hereof shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any payments or benefits due to Employee under any other plan, policy or program of the Company or its affiliates, including, without limitation, any employee benefit programs, compensation plans and programs, or other program permitting Employee to obtain benefits based on exceeding compensation limitations imposed by the Code, and any employee perquisite programs maintained for the benefit of the Company’s officers or employees, except that no cash payments shall be paid to Employee under the Company’s then-current severance pay policies.  Moreover, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit Employee’s continuing or future participation in or rights under any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plan or program provided by the Company or its affiliates and for which Employee may qualify.

 

5.   Enforcement .

 

(a)   In the event that the Company shall fail or refuse to make payment of any amounts due Employee under Sections 3 and 4 hereof within the respective time periods provided therein, the Company shall pay to Employee, in addition to the payment of any other

 

 

 

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(b)   sums provided in this Agreement, interest, compounded daily, on any amount remaining unpaid from the date payment is required under Section 3 and 4, as appropriate, until paid to Employee, at the rate from time to time reported by The Wall Street Journal as its “prime rate” plus 2%, each change in such rate to take effect on the effective date of the change in such prime rate.

 

(c)   It is the intent of the Parties that Employee not be required to incur any expenses associated with the enforcement of his or her rights under Sections 3 or 4 hereof by arbitration, litigation or other legal action because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to Employee hereunder.  Accordingly, the Company shall pay Employee, on demand, the amounts necessary to advance to, or reimburse Employee in full for, all expenses (including all attorneys’ fees and legal expenses) reasonably incurred by Employee in enforcing any of Employee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

6.   No Mitigation .  Employee shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount o


 
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