Exhibit 10.1
CHANGE IN CONTROL
AGREEMENT
This CHANGE IN CONTROL
AGREEMENT (the “Agreement” ) is entered
into on May 1, 2008 (the “Effective
Date” ) by and between Celanese Corporation (the
“Company” ) and Christopher W. Jensen
(the “Executive” ).
The Company considers it
essential to foster the continued employment of key management
personnel. The Board of Directors of the Company (the
“Board” ) believes that it is in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders to assure the Company
will have the continued dedication of Executive, notwithstanding
the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control. The
Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable
distraction of Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties
and risks created by a pending or threatened Change in Control and
to encourage Executive’s full attention and dedication to the
Company currently and in the event of any threatened or pending
Change in Control. The Company also requests, and the Executive
desires to give the Company, certain assurances with regard to the
protection of Confidential Information and Intellectual Property of
the Company and its Affiliates. Therefore, the Company and the
Executive have entered into this Agreement.
In consideration of the
premises and mutual covenants contained herein and for other good
and valuable consideration, the parties agree as
follows:
1.
Definitions:
a.
“Affiliate” shall mean, when used with respect
to any person or entity, any other person or entity which controls,
is controlled by or is under common control with the specified
person or entity. As used in the immediately preceding sentence,
the term “control” (with correlative meanings for
“controlled by” and “under common control
with”) shall mean, with respect to any entity, the ownership,
directly or indirectly, of fifty percent (50%) or more of the
outstanding equity interests in such entity.
b.
“Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given
such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act” ).
c.
“Cause” shall mean (i) Executive’s
willful failure to perform Executive’s duties hereunder
(other than as a result of total or partial incapacity due to
physical or mental illness) for a period of 30 days following
written notice by the Company to Executive of such failure,
(ii) conviction of, or a plea of nolo contendere to,
(x) a felony under the laws of the United States or any state
thereof or any similar criminal act in a jurisdiction outside the
United States or (y) a crime involving moral turpitude,
(iii) Executive’s willful malfeasance or willful
misconduct which is demonstrably injurious to the Company or its
Affiliates, (iv) any act of fraud by Executive, (v) any
material violation of the Company’s code of conduct,
(vi) any material violation of the Company’s policies
concerning harassment or discrimination,
(vii) Executive’s conduct that causes material harm to
the business reputation of the Company or its Affiliates, or
(viii) Executive’s breach of the provisions of
Sections 7 (Confidentiality; Intellectual Property) or 8
(Non-Competition; Non-Solicitation) of this Agreement.
d. A
“Change In Control” will be deemed to
have occurred for purposes hereof, upon any one of the following
events: (a) any person (within the meaning of
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than the
Company (including its subsidiaries, directors, and executive
officers) has become the Beneficial Owner of thirty percent (30%)
or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then
outstanding common stock or equivalent in voting power of any class
or classes of the Company’s outstanding securities ordinarily
entitled to vote in elections of directors (“Voting
Securities”) (other than as a result of an issuance
of securities by the Company approved by Incumbent Directors, or
open market purchases approved by Incumbent Directors at the time
the purchases are made); (b) individuals who constitute the
Board as of the Effective Date (the “Incumbent
Directors” ) have ceased for any reason to constitute
at least a majority thereof, provided that any person becoming a
director after the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a
majority of the directors comprising the
Incumbent Board, either by a
specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company
in which such person is named as a nominee for director without
objection to such nomination shall be an Incumbent Director;
provided, however, that no individual initially elected or
nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or
threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal
of directors (“Election Contest”) or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by
or on behalf of any Person other than the Board (“Proxy
Contest”), including by reason of any agreement
intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest,
shall be deemed an Incumbent Director; (c) the stockholders of
the Company approve a reorganization, merger, consolidation,
statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction,
or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets (a “Transaction”
), unless immediately following such Transaction, (i) all or
substantially all of the Persons who were the Beneficial Owners of
the Voting Securities outstanding immediately prior to such
Transaction are the Beneficial Owners of more than 50% of the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the
entity resulting from such Transaction (including, without
limitation, an entity which as a result of such Transaction owns
the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s
assets or stock either directly or through one or more
subsidiaries, the “Surviving Entity” ) in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately
prior to such Transaction, of the Voting Securities, (ii) no
Person is the Beneficial Owner of 30% or more of the combined
voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors of the Surviving
Entity, and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of the Surviving Entity are Incumbent Directors;
or (d) approval by the Company’s stockholders of a
complete liquidation and dissolution of the Company.
However, if in any circumstance in
which the foregoing definition would be operative and with respect
to which the income tax under Section 409A of the Code would
apply or be imposed, but where such tax would not apply or be
imposed if the meaning of the term “Change in Control”
met the requirements of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code,
then the term “Change in Control” herein shall mean,
but only for the transaction so affected, a “change in
control event” within the meaning of Treas. Reg.
§ 1.409A — 3(i)(5).
e. “
Change In Control Protection Period” shall mean that
period commencing on the date that the Company or a third party
publicly announces an event that, if consummated, would constitute
a Change In Control and ending (i) on the date that the
circumstances giving rise to the announcement of the event are
abandoned or withdrawn, or (ii) if such transaction is
consummated, two years after the Change In Control.
f. “
COBRA” shall mean those provisions of the Consolidated
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986, as amended, related to
continuation of group health and dental plan coverage as set forth
in Code section 4980B.
g.
“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended from time to time.
h.
“Competitive Business” shall mean businesses
that compete with products and services offered by the Company in
those countries where the Company or any of its Affiliates
manufactures, produces, sells, leases, rents, licenses or otherwise
provides its products or services during the two (2) years
preceding the Termination Date (including, without limitation,
businesses which the Company or its Affiliates have specific plans
to conduct in the future that were disclosed or made available to
Executive), provided that, if Executive’s duties were limited
to particular product lines or businesses during such period, the
Competitive Business shall be limited to those product lines or
businesses in those countries for which the Executive had such
responsibility.
i.
“Confidential Information” shall mean any
non-public, proprietary or confidential information, including
without limitation trade secrets, know-how, research and
development, software, databases, inventions, processes, formulae,
technology, designs and other intellectual property, information
concerning finances, investments, profits, pricing, costs,
products, services, vendors, customers, clients, partners,
investors, personnel, compensation, benefits, recruiting, training,
advertising, sales, marketing, promotions, government and
regulatory activities and approvals concerning the past, current or
future business, activities and operations of the Company, its
Affiliates and/or any third party that has disclosed or provided
any of same to the Company or its Affiliates on a confidential
basis. “Confidential Information” also includes any
information
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designated as a trade secret or
proprietary information by operation of law or otherwise, but shall
not be limited by such designation. “Confidential
Information” shall not include any information that is
(i) generally known to the industry or the public other than
as a result of Executive’s breach of this covenant;
(ii) made legitimately available to Executive by a third party
without breach of any confidentiality obligation; or
(iii) required by law to be disclosed; provided that Executive
shall give prompt written notice to the Company of such
requirement, disclose no more information than is so required, and
cooperate with any attempts by the Company to obtain a protective
order or similar treatment.
j. “
Controlled Group” shall mean all corporations or
business entities that are, along with the Company, members of a
controlled group of corporations or businesses, as defined in Code
Sections 414(b) and 414(c), except that the language “at
least 50 percent” is used instead of “at least
80 percent” in applying the rules of Code
Sections 414(b) and 414(c).
k. “
Fiscal Year” shall mean the fiscal year of the
Company.
l. “ Good
Reason” shall mean any of the following conditions which
occurs without the consent of the Executive: (i) a material
diminution in the Executive’s base salary or annual bonus
opportunity; (ii) a material diminution in the
Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities (including
status, offices, titles and reporting requirements); (iii) a
material change in the geographic location at which the Executive
must perform his duties; (iv) failure of the Company to pay
compensation or benefits when due, or (v) any other action or
inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company of this
Agreement. The conditions described above will not constitute
“Good Reason” unless the Executive provides written
notice to the Company of the existence of the condition described
above within 90 days after the initial existence of such
condition. In addition, the conditions described above will not
constitute “Good Reason” unless the Company fails to
remedy the condition within a period of thirty (30) days after
receipt of the notice described in the preceding sentence. If the
Company fails to remedy the condition within the period referred to
in the preceding sentence, Executive may terminate his employment
with the Company for “Good Reason” within in the next
thirty (30) days following the expiration of the cure
period.
m. “
Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall
indicate the general reasons for the termination employment and the
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of
employment or other Separation of Service under the provision so
indicated.
n. “
Person” shall mean any person, firm, partnership,
joint venture, association, corporation or other business
organization, entity or enterprise whatsoever.
o. “
Restricted Period” shall be (i) one year from the
Termination Date in the event of a Separation from Service that
occurs during the Service Term (as defined hereinafter) other than
in the case of an involuntary Separation from Service without
Cause, (ii) in the case of an involuntary Separation from
Service without Cause during the Service Term, an amount of time in
whole months equal to the number of months’ salary the
Company agrees to provide to Executive in severance, whether paid
over time or in a lump sum; and (iii) eighteen months from the
Termination Date in the event of a Separation from Service
following a Change In Control where Executive receives the Change
In Control Payment (as defined hereinafter).
p. “
Separation from Service” shall mean an event after
which the Executive shall no longer provide services to the members
of the Controlled Group, whether voluntarily or involuntarily as
determined by the Committee (as hereafter defined) in accordance
with Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h)(1). A Separation from
Service shall occur when Executive has experienced a termination of
employment from the members of the Controlled Group. Executive
shall be considered to have experienced a termination of employment
when the facts and circumstances indicate that the Executive and
the Company reasonably anticipate that either (i) no further
services will be performed for the members of the Controlled Group
after a certain date, or (ii) that the level of bona fide
services the Executive will perform for the members of the
Controlled Group after such date (whether as an employee or as an
independent contractor) will permanently decrease to no more than
20% of the average level of bona fide services performed by such
Executive (whether as an employee or an independent contractor)
over the immediately preceding 36-month period (or the full period
of services to the members of the Controlled Group if the Executive
has been providing services to the members of the
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Controlled Group less than
36 months). If Executive is on military leave, sick leave, or
other bona fide leave of absence, the employment relationship
between the Executive and the members of the Controlled Group shall
be treated as continuing intact, provided that the period of such
leave does not exceed 6 months, or if longer, so long as the
Executive retains a right to reemployment with the members of the
Controlled Group under an applicable statute or by contract. If the
period of a military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of
absence exceeds 6 months and the Executive does not retain a
right to reemployment under an applicable statute or by contract,
the employment relationship shall be considered to be terminated
for purposes of this Agreement as of the first day immediately
following the end of such 6-month period. In applying the
provisions of this paragraph, a leave of absence shall be
considered a bona fide leave of absence only if there is a
reasonable expectation that the Executive will return to perform
services for any members of the Controlled Group.
Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions, if Executive provides services for the Company as both
an employee and as a non-employee director, to the extent permitted
by Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h)(5) the services provided by
such Executive as a non-employee director shall not be taken into
account in determining whether the Executive has experienced a
Separation from Service.
q. “
Target Bonus” shall mean the target bonus for
Executive under any annual bonus plan in effect from time to time
as determined by the Compensation Committee (the
“Committee” ) or the Board.
r. “
Termination Date” shall mean the date upon which a
Separation from Service with respect to an Executive
occurs.
2. Term of
Change In Control Agreement .
a. This Agreement
shall be for an initial term (the “Initial
Term” ) of two years and shall continue to renew for
consecutive two year terms thereafter (a “Renewal
Term” ), unless either party shall give written
notice to the other (a “Notice of
Non-Renewal” ) that such agreement shall not renew at
least ninety days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or
Renewal Term then in effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company may not give a Notice of Non-Renewal during the Change In
Control Protection Period.
b. This Agreement,
except those provisions which shall survive under
Section 11(k), shall terminate upon the termination of
Executive’s employment for any reason other than the
termination of Executive’s employment during the Change In
Control Protection Period (x) by the Company without Cause or
(y) by the Executive with Good Reason. No payment under this
Agreement will be due to Executive upon termination of
Executive’s employment for any reason other than as specified
in (x) or (y) above.
3.
Executive’s Incumbent Position .
a. Unless notified
otherwise by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or the
Board, Executive shall serve as Vice President of Finance and
Treasurer (“Executive’s Incumbent
Position”) . In such position, Executive shall have
such duties and authority as shall be determined from time to time
by the Chief Executive Officer and the Board. If requested,
Executive shall also serve as a member of the Board without
additional compensation. The period during which the Executive
shall be employed by the Company shall be called the
“Service Term.”
b. Except as
provided in Section 5, (i) either Company or Executive
may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or
without Cause or Good Reason, (ii) this Agreement shall not be
construed as giving the Executive any right to be retained in the
employ of the Company or its Affiliates, (iii) the Company may
at any time terminate the Executive free from any liability of any
claim under this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein;
and (iv) the Company may demote Executive at any time in its
absolute and sole discretion without liability to the
Executive.
c. During the
Service Term, Executive will devote Executive’s full business
time and best efforts to the performance of Executive’s
duties hereunder and will not engage in any other business,
profession or occupation for compensation or otherwise which would
conflict or interfere with the rendition of such services either
directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the
Board; provided that nothing herein shall preclude Executive,
(i) subject to the prior approval of the Board, from accepting
appointment to or continuing to serve on any board of directors or
trustees of any business corporation or any charitable organization
or (ii) from participating in charitable activities or
managing personal investments; provided in each case, and in the
aggregate, that such
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activities do not conflict or
interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties
hereunder or conflict with Sections 7 or 8. Executive shall
promote the goodwill of the Company with its employees, customers,
stockholders, vendors, and the general public. During the Service
Term, reasonable business expenses incurred by Executive in the
performance of Executive’s duties hereunder and to support
the goodwill and business relationships of the Company shall be
reimbursed by the Company in accordance with Company
policies.
4. Obligations
of the Company upon Change In Control with Respect to Long-Term
Incentive Awards and Deferred Compensation.
The effect of a change
in control on any long-term incentive awards (cash or equity) or
deferred compensation previously granted to the Executive under the
2008 Deferred Compensation Plan, 2004 Stock Incentive Plan or the
2004 Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended, (the
“Long-Term Incentive Awards” ) shall be
governed by the terms and conditions of the applicable individual
award agreements or deferral agreements and the Celanese
Corporation 2008 Deferred Compensation Plan, the 2004 Stock
Incentive Plan or the 2004 Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended
(collectively, the “Long-Term Incentive Award
Agreements” ), and shall not be governed by this
Agreement.
5. Termination
of Employment Connected with a Change In Control.
a. Upon
Executive’s Separation from Service during the Change In
Control Protection Period, Executive shall receive the Change In
Control Payment if and only if the following conditions
occur:
(i) The Change In
Control is consummated;
(ii) Executive is
employed in the Executive Incumbent Position or some substantially
equivalent or higher position for the Company as of the
commencement of the Change In Control Protection Period;
(iii) Executive’s
employment is terminated either by the Company without Cause or by
the Executive with Good Reason such that a Separation from Service
occurs;
(iv) Within fifty
(53) days after both conditions in Sections 5(a)(i) and
5(a)(iii), or at the expiration of twenty-one (21) days
following the presentation of the release, Executive executes a
release of all claims, known or unknown, against the Company, its
Affiliates, and their respective agents in a form satisfactory to
the Company similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit A and
does not timely revoke such release before the expiration of seven
days following his or her execution of the
release; and
(v) Within fifty
(53) days after both conditions in Sections 5(a)(i) and
5(a)(iii), Executive reaffirms in writing in a manner satisfactory
to the Company his or her obligations under Sections 7 and 8
of this Agreement.
b. The “
Change In Control Payment” shall be equal to one and
one half (1.5) times the sum of (i) Executive’s then
current annualized base salary; and (ii) the higher of
(x) Executive’s Target Bonus in effect on the last day
of the Fiscal Year that ended immediately prior to the year in
which the Termination Date occurs, or (y) the average of the
cash bonuses paid by the Company to Executive for the three Fiscal
Years preceding the Termination Date.
c. The Change In
Control Payment shall be paid in a single lump sum to Executive six
(6) months and one day after the Executive’s Termination
Date, together with interest at the rate provided in
Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code.
d. Provided that
(i) all of the conditions in Section 5(a) are met,
(ii) Executive makes a timely COBRA election, and
(iii) Executive has complied in all material respects with
regard to the obligations of Sections 7 and 8 of this
Agreement, if the Executive timely remits to the Company the
applicable “COBRA” premiums for such coverage, the
Company will continue to provide group health and dental coverage
under the Company’s medical plan for Executive and his or her
dependents during the Restricted Period; and will reimburse
Executive for all premiums paid by Executive for such continued
coverage. Such reimbursements will be made within thirty
(30) days after Executive’s payment of such premiums (or
submission of a request for reimbursement and satisfactory proof of
such payment) but in no event later than on or before the last day
of the Executive’s tax year following the tax year in which
the expense was incurred. The amount of COBRA premiums and health
and dental
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expenses eligible for reimbursement
during Executive’s tax year may not affect the COBRA premiums
and health and dental expenses eligible for reimbursement in any
other tax year.
e. Certain Further
Payments Due Executive
(i) In the event
that any amount or benefit paid or distributed to Executive
pursuant to this Agreement and/or any amounts or benefits otherwise
paid or distributed to Executive by the Company that are treated as
parachute payments under Section 280G of the Code (such
payments, collectively, the “Covered Payments”
), are or become subject to the tax imposed under Section 4999
of the Code or any similar tax that may hereafter be imposed (the
“Excise Tax” ), the Company will pay to
Executive an additional amount (the “Tax Reimbursement
Payment” ), such that the net amount retained by
Executive with respect to such Covered Payments, after deduction of
any Excise Tax (as well as any penalties and interest thereon) on
the Covered Payments and any Federal, state and local income tax,
payroll tax, and Excise Tax on the Tax Reimbursement Payment
provided for by this subsection (e), but before deduction for any
Federal, state or local income or employment tax withholding on
such Covered Payments, will be equal to the amount of the Covered
Payments, together with an amount equal to the product of any
deductions disallowed to Executive for federal, state, or local
income tax purposes because of the inclusion of the Tax
Reimbursement Payment in Executive’s adjusted gross income
multiplied by the highest applicable marginal rate of federal,
state, or local income taxation, respectively, for the calendar
year in which the Tax Reimbursement Payment is to be made. The time
for payment of the Tax Reimbursement Payment is set forth in
subsection (e)(v) below. The Tax Reimbursement Payment is intended
to place the Executive in the same position he would have been in
if the Excise Tax did not apply.
(ii) For purposes
of determining whether any of the Covered Payments will be subject
to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax,
(A) such Covered
Payments will be treated as “parachute payments” within
the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and all
“parachute payments” in excess of the “base
amount” (as defined under Section 280G(b)(3) of the
Code) will be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, unless, and
except to the extent that, in the good faith judgment of a public
accounting firm appointed by the Company or tax counsel selected by
such accounting firm (the “Accountants” ), the
Company has a
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