Exhibit 10.10
AMENDED AND
RESTATED
CHANGE OF CONTROL
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
This Agreement by and between
National Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”) and _____________________ (the
“Executive”), is dated as of the 15 th day
of April, 2008 and amends and restates any and all prior agreements
between Company and Executive relating to the subject matter
hereof.
The Board of Directors of the
Company (the “Board”) has determined that it is in the
best interests of the Company and its stockholders to assure that
the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive,
notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change
of Control (as defined below) of the Company. The Board believes it
is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of the
Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created
by a pending or threatened Change of Control and to encourage the
Executive’s full attention and dedication to the Company
currently and in the event of any threatened or pending Change of
Control, and to provide the Executive with compensation and
benefits arrangements upon a Change of Control which ensure that
the compensation and benefits expectations of the Executive will be
satisfied and which are competitive with those of other
corporations. Therefore, in order to accomplish these objectives
the Board has caused the Company to enter into this
Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED
AS FOLLOWS:
(a) The “Effective Date”
shall mean the first date during the Change of Control Period (as
defined in Section l(b)) on which a Change of Control (as defined
in Section 2) occurs. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, if a Change of Control occurs and if the
Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated within
the one-year period ending on the date of the Change of Control and
if it is reasonably demonstrated by the Executive that such
termination of employment (i) was at the request of a third party
who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change of
Control or (ii) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation
of a Change of Control (such a termination of employment, an
“Anticipatory Termination”), then for all purposes of
this Agreement the “Effective Date” shall mean the date
immediately prior to the date of such termination of
employment.
(b) The
“Change of Control Period” shall mean the period
commencing on the date hereof and ending on the third anniversary
of the date hereof; provided, however, that commencing on the first
day of the Company’s next fiscal year after the date hereof,
and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and each
annual anniversary thereof shall be hereinafter referred to as the
“Renewal Date”), unless previously terminated, the
Change of Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to
terminate three years from such Renewal Date, unless at least 60
days prior to the Renewal Date the Company shall give notice to the
Executive that the Change of Control Period shall not be so
extended.
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2.
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Change of Control . For the purpose of this Agreement, a
“Change of Control” shall mean:
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(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 35% 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 for purposes of this
subsection (a), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a
Change of Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company,
(ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any
employee
Ben/ExecComp/ChangeofControlWLRKfinal0802b2xxTMD
benefit plan (or related trust)
sponsored or maintained by the Company or any entity controlled by
the Company or (iv) any acquisition by any entity pursuant to a
transaction which complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of
subsection (c) of this Section 2; or
(b) Individuals
who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (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
shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the
directors then comprising 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 an actual or threatened
election contest with respect to the election or removal of
directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;
or
(c) Consummation
of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or
consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company or any
of its subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition
of assets or stock of another entity by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries (each, a “Business Combination”), in each
case unless, following such Business Combination, (i) all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the
beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the
Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such
Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more
than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock (or, for a
non-corporate entity, equivalent securities) and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors (or, for a
non-corporate entity, equivalent governing body), as the case may
be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination
(including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such
transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets either directly or through one or more
subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person (excluding any
corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such
corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially
owns, directly or indirectly, 35% or more of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting
power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such
corporation, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior
to the Business Combination, and (iii) at least a majority of the
members of the board of directors (or, for a non-corporate entity,
equivalent governing body) of the entity resulting from such
Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the
time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of
the Board providing for such Business Combination; or
(d) Approval
by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
3.
Employment Period . The Company hereby agrees to continue
the Executive in its employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to
remain in the employ of the Company subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, for the period commencing on the
Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of such date
(the “Employment Period”).
(a) Position and Duties
.
(i) During
the Employment Period, (A) the Executive’s position
(including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements),
authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least
commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of
those held, exercised and assigned to the Executive at any time
during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date
and (B) the Executive’s services shall be performed at the
location where the Executive was employed immediately preceding the
Effective Date or any office or location less than 35 miles from
such location.
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(ii) During
the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and
sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees
to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business
hours to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent
necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the
Executive hereunder, to use the Executive’s reasonable best
efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such
responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a
violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on
corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver
lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational
institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such
activities do not interfere with the performance of the
Executive’s responsibilities as an employee of the Company in
accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly understood and
agreed that to the extent that any such activities have been
conducted by the Executive prior to the Effective Date, the
continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities
similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective
Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the
performance of the Executive’s responsibilities to the
Company.
(b)
Compensation . (i) Base Salary . During the
Employment Period, the Executive shall receive an annual base
salary (“Annual Base Salary”), which shall be paid at
the equivalent of the monthly rate, at least equal to twelve times
the highest monthly base salary paid or payable, including any base
salary which has been earned but deferred, to the Executive by the
Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the twelve-month
period immediately preceding the month in which the Effective Date
occurs. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary shall
be reviewed at the time other peer executives of the Company are
reviewed, but no less than annually. Any increase in Annual Base
Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to
the Executive under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be
reduced after any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as
utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so
increased. As used in this Agreement, the term “affiliated
companies” shall include any company controlled by,
controlling or under common control with the Company.
(ii)
Annual Bonus . In addition to Annual Base Salary, the
Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal year ending during the
Employment Period, an annual bonus (the “Annual Bonus”)
in cash at least equal to the Executive’s target bonus set
under the Company’s Executive Officer Incentive Plan or any
comparable bonus under any predecessor or successor plan, for the
last full fiscal year prior to the Effective Date (annualized in
the event that the Executive was not employed by the Company for
the whole of such fiscal year). Each such Annual Bonus shall be
paid no later than the end of the third month of the fiscal year
next following the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is
awarded, unless the Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of
such Annual Bonus.
(iii)
Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans . During the
Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to participate
in all other incentive, equity compensation, savings and retirement
plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to
other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies,
but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs
provide the Executive with incentive opportunities (measured with
respect to both regular and special incentive opportunities, to the
extent, if any, that such distinction is applicable), savings
opportunities and retirement benefit opportunities, in each case,
less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most favorable of those
provided by the Company and its affiliated companies for the
Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as in
effect at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding
the Effective Date or if more favorable to the Executive, those
provided generally at any time after the Effective Date to other
peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies.
(iv)
Welfare Benefit Plans . During the Employment Period, the
Executive and/or the Executive’s family, as the case may be,
shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all
benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and
programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies
(including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental,
disability, salary continuance, employee life, group life,
accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs)
to the extent applicable generally to other peer executives of the
Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such
plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with
benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most
favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect
for the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the
Executive, those provided generally at any time after the Effective
Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies.
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(v)
Expenses . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall
be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable
expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the policies,
practices and procedures of the Company and its affiliated
companies in effect generally with respect to other peer executives
of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(vi)
Fringe Benefits . During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits as in effect
generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and
its affiliated companies.
(vii)
Office and Support Staff . During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and
with furnishings and other appointments, and to secretarial and
other assistance, at least equal to those provided other peer
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(viii)
Vacation . During the Employment Period, the Executive shall
be entitled to paid vacations in accordance with the most favorable
plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its
affiliated companies as in effect for the Executive at any time
during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date
or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at
any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the
Company and its affiliated companies.
5.
Termination of Employment . (a) Death or Disability .
The Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically upon
the Executive’s death during the Employment Period. If the
Company determines in good faith that Disability of the Executive
has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the
definition of Disability set forth below), it may give to the
Executive written notice in accordance with Section 14(b) of this
Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive’s
employment. In such event, the Executive’s employment with
the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt
of such notice by the Executive (the “Disability Effective
Date”), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt,
the Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of
the Executive’s duties. For purposes of this Agreement,
“Disability” shall mean the absence of the Executive
from the Executive’s duties with the Company on a full-time
basis for 180 consecutive business days as a result of incapacity
due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total
and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its
insurers and reasonably acceptable to the Executive or the
Executive’s legal representative.
(b)
Cause . The Company may terminate the Executive’s
employment during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of
this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean:
(i) the
willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform
substantially the Executive’s duties with the Company or one
of its affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from
incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after a written
demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by
the Applicable Board (as defined below) or the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company which specifically identifies the manner in
which the Applicable Board or Chief Executive Officer believes that
the Executive has not substantially performed the Executive’s
duties, or
(ii) the
willful engaging by the Executive in illegal conduct or gross
misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the
Company.
For purposes of this provision, no
act or failure to act, on the part of the Executive, shall be
considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to
be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief
that the Executive’s action or omission was in the best
interests of the Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon
authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the
Applicable Board or upon the instructions of the Chief Executive
Officer or a senior officer of the Company or based upon the advice
of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be
done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in good faith and in
the best interests of the Company. The cessation of employment of
the Executive shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and until
there shall have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a
resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than
three-quarters of the entire membership of the Applicable Board at
a meeting of the Applicable Board called and held for such purpose
(after reasonable notice is provided to the Executive and the
Executive is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be
heard before the Applicable Board), finding that, in the good faith
opinion
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of the Applicable Board, the
Executive is guilty of the conduct described in subparagraph (i) or
(ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. The
“Applicable Board” means (1) if the Company is the
ultimate surviving company after the Change of Control, the Board,
and (2) otherwise, the board of directors of such ultimate
surviving parent company.
(c)
Good Reason . The Executive’s employment may be
terminated by the Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this
Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean:
(i) the
assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in any
material respect with the Executive’s position (including
status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority,
duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4(a) of this
Agreement, or any other action by the Company which results in a
material diminution in such position, authority, duties or
responsibilities, taking into account the nature and scope, before
the Change of Control and at the time of the events claimed to be
“Good Reason,” of the position, authority, duties, and
responsibilities of both the Executive and of the persons reporting
to the Executive and to whom the Executive reports; and provided,
that there shall be excluded for this purpose an isolated,
ins