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CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

Change of Control Agreement

CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT | Document Parties: Celanese Corporation You are currently viewing:
This Change of Control Agreement involves

Celanese Corporation

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Title: CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
Governing Law: Texas     Date: 7/23/2008
Industry: Chemical Manufacturing     Sector: Basic Materials

CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT, Parties: celanese corporation
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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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