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Exhibit 10.36
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "
Agreement ") is entered into by and between Basin Water,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the " Company "), and Michael
Stark (" Executive "), and shall be effective as of
December 16, 2008 (the " Effective Date ").
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive are parties to that certain
Employment Agreement (the " Prior Agreement ") dated as of
October 27, 2006 and effective as of October 22, 2006
(the " Original Effective Date "); and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ Executive,
and Executive desires to continue to be employed by the Company, on
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises herein
contained, the parties agree as follows:
1. Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) Board . " Board " means the Board of Directors
of the Company.
(b) Bonus . " Bonus " means an amount equal to the
greater of (i) Executive’s target annual bonus for the
fiscal year in which the date of termination occurs, or
(ii) the bonus awarded to Executive for the fiscal year prior
to the date of termination. If any portion of the bonuses awarded
to Executive consisted of securities or other property, the fair
market value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the
Board.
(c) Cause . " Cause " means any of the
following:
(i) the commission of an act of fraud or embezzlement by
Executive involving the Company or any successor or affiliate
thereof or Executive’s commission of any other act of
dishonesty that has a material adverse impact on the Company or any
successor or affiliate thereof;
(ii) a conviction of, or plea of "guilty" or "no contest" to, a
felony by Executive or any other crime involving moral turpitude
(it being understood that violation of the motor vehicle code does
not constitute such a crime);
(iii) any unauthorized use or disclosure by Executive of
confidential information or trade secrets of the Company or any
successor or affiliate thereof;
(iv) Executive’s gross negligence, insubordination or
material violation of any duty of loyalty to the Company or any
successor or affiliate thereof or any other material misconduct on
the part of Executive;
(v) Executive’s ongoing and repeated
failure or refusal to perform or neglect of Executive’s
duties as required by this Agreement, which failure, refusal or
neglect continues for fifteen (15) days following
Executive’s receipt of written notice from the Board stating
with specificity the nature of such failure, refusal or neglect;
or
(vi) Executive’s breach of any material provision of this
Agreement;
provided , however , that prior to the
determination that "Cause" under clause (i), (iii), (iv),
(v) or (vi) of this Section 1(c) has occurred, the
Company shall (w) provide to Executive in writing, in
reasonable detail, the reasons for the determination that such
"Cause" exists, (x) other than with respect to clause
(v) above which specifies the applicable period of time for
Executive to remedy his breach, afford Executive a reasonable
opportunity to remedy any such breach, if such breach is capable of
being remedied, and (y) provide Executive an opportunity to be
heard prior to the final decision to terminate the
Executive’s employment hereunder for such "Cause"; provided,
further, that prior to the determination that "Cause" under clause
(vi) of this Section 1(c) has occurred as a result of an
alleged breach by Executive of Section 3 of this Agreement,
the period provided to Executive to remedy such breach pursuant to
clause (x) above shall be at least ninety (90) days. The
Company shall make any decision that "Cause" exists in good faith.
Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to
a resolution duly adopted by the Board or based upon the advice of
counsel for the Company or any successor or affiliate shall be
conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, in good
faith and in the best interests of the Company or any successor or
affiliate thereof.
The foregoing definition shall not in any way preclude or
restrict the right of the Company or any successor or affiliate
thereof to discharge or dismiss Executive for any other acts or
omissions, but such other acts or omissions shall not be deemed,
for purposes of this Agreement, to constitute grounds for
termination for Cause.
(d) Change in Control . " Change in Control "
means and includes each of the following:
(i) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any "person" or
"group" (as those terms are defined in Sections 3(a)(9), 13(d) and
14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "
Exchange Act "), and the rules thereunder) of "beneficial
ownership" (as determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act) of securities entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (" voting securities ") of the Company
that represent fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined
voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting
securities, other than:
(A) an acquisition by a trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
sponsored or maintained by the Company or any person controlled by
the Company or by any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
sponsored or maintained by the Company or any person controlled by
the Company,
(B) an acquisition of voting securities by the Company or a
corporation owned, directly or indirectly by the stockholders of
the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of the stock of the Company, or
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(C) an acquisition of voting securities pursuant
to a transaction described in subsection (iii) below that
would not be a Change in Control under subsection (iii).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following event shall not
constitute an "acquisition" by any person or group for purposes of
this Section 1(d): an acquisition of the Company’s
securities by the Company which causes the Company’s voting
securities beneficially owned by a person or group to represent
fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of
the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or
(ii) during any period of two (2) consecutive years,
individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the
Board together with any new director(s) (other than a director
designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement
with the Company to effect a transaction described in clauses
(i) or (iii) of this Section 1(d)) whose election by
the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s
stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds
(2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were
directors at the beginning of the two (2) year period or whose
election or nomination for election was previously so approved,
cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or
(iii) the consummation by the Company (whether directly
involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through
one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation,
reorganization, or business combination or (y) a sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s
assets or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another
entity, in each case other than a transaction:
(A) which results in the Company’s voting securities
outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to
represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted
into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a
result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the
Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all
of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business
of the Company (the Company or such person, the " Successor
Entity ")), directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the
combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding
voting securities immediately after the transaction, and
(B) after which no person or group beneficially owns voting
securities representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the
combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided ,
however , that no person or group shall be treated for
purposes of this clause (B) as beneficially owning fifty
percent (50%) or more of combined voting power of the
Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the
Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; or
(iv) the Company’s stockholders approve a liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
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(e) Code . " Code " means the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and
the Treasury Regulations and other interpretive guidance issued
thereunder.
(f) Excise Tax . " Excise Tax " means the excise
tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, together with any
interest or penalties imposed with respect to such excise tax.
(g) Good Reason . " Good Reason " means
Executive’s voluntary resignation following any one or more
of the following that is effected without Executive’s written
consent:
(i) a material change in the geographic location at which
Executive must perform his duties (and the Company and Executive
agree that the relocation of the office of Executive more than
fifty (50) miles from the Company’s facility in Rancho
Cucamonga, California as of the Effective Date shall constitute a
material change);
(ii) a material diminution in Executive’s authority,
duties or responsibilities (in each case as compared to
Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities on the
Effective Date) (provided that the fact that the Company becomes a
subsidiary of an acquirer or a division of an acquirer shall not in
and of itself by considered a material diminution in
Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities);
(iii) a material diminution in Executive’s base
compensation, other than pursuant to a Company-wide reduction of
base compensation and target bonuses for employees of the Company
generally, provided that such reduction is no greater in proportion
to the reduction in base compensation for the Company’s other
senior executives;
(iv) a material diminution in the authority, duties or
responsibilities of the supervisor to whom Executive is required to
report pursuant to Section 3(a); or
(v) any other action or inaction that constitutes a material
breach by the Company of its obligations to Executive under this
Agreement.
Executive shall provide the Company with ninety (90) days
written notice of the initial occurrence of any of the foregoing
events or conditions. The Company shall have thirty (30) days
after receipt of written notice of such event or condition from
Executive to remedy the breach or event. Executive’s
termination by reason of resignation from employment with the
Company for Good Reason shall be treated as involuntary.
Executive’s resignation from employment with the Company for
Good Reason must occur within two (2) years following the
initial existence of the act or failure to act constituting Good
Reason.
(h) Payment . " Payment " means any payment or
distribution in the nature of compensation (within the meaning of
Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code) to or for the benefit of the
Executive, whether paid or payable pursuant to this Agreement or
otherwise.
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(i) Permanent Disability .
Executive’s " Permanent Disability " shall be deemed
to have occurred if Executive shall become physically or mentally
incapacitated or disabled or otherwise unable fully to discharge
his duties hereunder for a period of ninety (90) consecutive
calendar days or for one hundred twenty (120) calendar days in
any one hundred eighty (180) calendar-day period. The
existence of Executive’s Permanent Disability shall be
determined by the Company on the advice of a physician chosen by
the Company and the Company reserves the right to have the
Executive examined by a physician chosen by the Company at the
Company’s expense.
(j) Stock Awards . " Stock Awards " means all
stock options, restricted stock and such other awards granted
pursuant to the Company’s stock option and equity incentive
award plans or agreements and any shares of stock issued upon
exercise thereof.
2. Term of Agreement . Executive’s employment under
this Agreement shall commence on the Original Effective Date and
continue until the third anniversary of the Original Effective Date
(the " Employment Term ").
3. Services to Be Rendered.
(a) Duties and Responsibilities . Executive shall serve
as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and shall
perform such duties as are typical for that position in public
companies of similar size and industry, including but not limited
to responsibility for the overall operation of the Company
including marketing, sales, and profit and loss responsibilities.
Any changes in Executive’s title without his consent shall be
deemed a material breach of this Agreement by the Company. In the
performance of such duties, Executive shall report directly to the
Board and shall be subject to the direction of Board and to such
limits upon Executive’s authority as the Board may from time
to time impose. If there is any change in Executive’s
reporting relationship without his consent, any such action shall
constitute a material breach of this Agreement by the Company.
Executive hereby consents to serve as an officer and/or director of
the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof without any
additional salary or compensation, if so requested by the Board.
Executive shall be employed by the Company on a full time basis.
Executive’s primary place of work shall be the
Company’s facility in Rancho Cucamonga, California, or such
other location as may be designated by the Board from time to time
(such locations are referred to herein as the " Primary Work
Locations "). The Company shall not require or expect the
Executive to relocate his residence to California as part of his
job responsibilities and any such requirement shall constitute a
material breach of this Agreement by the Company. Executive
understands and agrees that he may be required to travel and
perform services for the Company at such other places within or
outside the United States as the Board may direct from time to
time, however, Executive’s primary place of work shall remain
the Primary Work Locations. Executive shall be subject to and
comply with the policies and procedures generally applicable to
senior executives of the Company to the extent the same are not
inconsistent with any term of this Agreement.
(b) Exclusive Services . Executive shall at all times
faithfully, industriously and to the best of his ability,
experience and talent perform to the satisfaction of the Board all
of the duties that may be assigned to Executive hereunder and shall
devote substantially all of his business time and efforts to the
performance of such duties. Subject to the terms of Section 6,
this shall not preclude Executive from devoting time to personal
and family investments or serving on community and civic boards, or
participating in industry associations, provided such activities do
not materially interfere with his duties to the Company, as
determined in good faith by the Board. Executive agrees that he
will not join any boards, other than community and civic boards
(which do not materially interfere with his duties to the Company),
without the prior approval of the Board.
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4. Compensation and Benefits . The Company
shall pay or provide, as the case may be, to the Executive the
compensation and other benefits and rights set forth in this
Section 4, commencing as of the Original Effective
Date.
(a) Base Salary . The Company shall pay to Executive a
base salary of $325,000 per year (the " Base Salary "),
payable in accordance with the Company’s usual pay practices
(and in any event no less frequently than monthly).
Executive’s Base Salary shall be subject to review annually
by and at the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee of the
Board based on the Company’s performance (such as
profitability of the Company and growth in the Company’s
market capitalization). Such adjusted annual base salary shall then
become Executive’s "Base Salary" for purposes of this
Agreement.
(b) Bonus . Executive shall be eligible to receive a
bonus based on achievement of annual targeted revenue and net
income, as established by the Compensation Committee of the Board
each fiscal year. If actual performance is less than eighty percent
(80%) of target no bonus will be earned or paid. If actual
performance is eighty percent (80%) or more of target, then
Executive shall earn and be paid a bonus as a percentage of Base
Salary as follows:
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% of Target Achieved
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80
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%
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90
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%
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100
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%
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110
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%
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120
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%+
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% of Base Salary as Bonus
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15
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%
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30
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%
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50
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%
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60
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%
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75
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%
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All interim percentages will be calculated on
straight-line, pro rata basis. For this purpose, revenue and net
income shall be defined to exclude contribution from any future
acquisitions, initiatives or other joint ventures of the Company,
unless specifically included by the Compensation Committee of the
Board, in advance and in writing. Any material reduction in
Executive’s target bonus hereunder shall constitute a
material breach of this Agreement by the Company.
In the event that the performance targets are not achieved, the
Compensation Committee of the Board in its sole discretion may
elect to pay a discretionary bonus of up to twenty-five percent
(25%) of Base Salary or other amounts based on other factors
not related to achievement of the performance targets.
(c) Benefits . Executive shall be entitled to participate
in benefits under the Company’s benefit plans and
arrangements, including, without limitation, any employee benefit
plan or arrangement made available in the future by the Company to
its senior executives, subject to and on a basis consistent with
the terms, conditions and overall administration of such plans
and
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arrangements. The Company shall have the right to
amend or delete any such benefit plan or arrangement made available
by the Company to its senior executives and not otherwise
specifically provided for herein. The Company shall provide
executive with the following employee benefits:
(i) The Company shall provide Executive long-term disability
insurance at its cost to the Executive in an amount equal to 75% of
base annual salary up to a maximum benefit of $30,000 per month
(total benefit to be provided through a combination of "group"
program offered to all employees and supplemental individual
disability policy for the Executive);
(ii) The Company shall provide Executive life insurance at its
cost in an amount equal to 3 times Executive’s annual base
salary (total benefit to be provided through Company’s basic
group term life insurance plan, should one be established, and an
individual term life insurance policy for the Executive);
(iii) The Company agrees to reimburse the Executive for
out-of-pocket expenses relating to a biennial physical examination
up to a maximum of $3,000.
The Company’s failure to continue in effect compensation
and benefit plans that provide Executive with benefits that are no
less favorable on an aggregate basis, both in terms of the amount
of benefits provided and the level of Executive’s
participation relative to other participants, to the benefits
provided to Executive under the Company’s compensation and
benefit plans and practices on the Effective Date shall constitute
a material breach of this Agreement by the Company. Any amounts
payable under this Section 4(c) shall be made in accordance
with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) and shall
be paid in accordance with Company policy but in no event later
than the last day of Executive’s taxable year following the
taxable year in which Executive incurred the expenses. The amounts
provided under this Section 4(c) during any taxable year of
Executive’s will not affect such amounts provided in any
other taxable year of Executive’s, and Executive’s
right to reimbursement for such amounts shall not be subject to
liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.
(d) Expenses . The Company shall reimburse Executive for
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the
performance of his duties hereunder, subject to (i) such
policies as the Company may from time to time establish, and
(ii) Executive furnishing the Company with evidence in the
form of receipts satisfactory to the Company substantiating the
claimed expenditures. Any amounts payable under this
Section 4(d) shall be made in accordance with Treasury
Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv) and shall be paid in
accordance with Company policy but in no event later than the last
day of Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in
which Executive incurred the expenses. The amounts provided under
this Section 4(d) during any taxable year of Executive’s
will not affect such amounts provided in any other taxable year of
Executive’s, and Executive’s right to reimbursement for
such amounts shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for
any other benefit.
(e) Paid Time Off . Executive shall be entitled to such
periods of paid time off (" PTO ") each year as provided
under the Company’s PTO policy and as otherwise provided for
senior executive officers, but in no event shall Executive be
entitled to less than three (3) weeks of PTO.
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(f) Equity Plans . Executive shall be
entitled to participate in any equity-based, incentive or other
employee benefit plan that is generally available to senior
executive officers, as distinguished from general management, of
the Company. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement,
Executive’s participation in and benefits under any such plan
shall be on the terms and subject to the conditions specified in
the governing document of the particular plan. Executive’s
Stock Awards granted pursuant to the Prior Agreement and in
accordance with the Board’s prior resolutions shall continue
in full force and effect.
(g) Accelerated Vesting of Stock Awards .
(i) In the event of a Change in Control, the vesting and/or
exercisability of one hundred percent (100%) of
Executive’s outstanding Stock Awards shall be automatically
accelerated immediately prior to the Change in Control.
(ii) If Executive’s employment is terminated by the
Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason, in each case
within twenty-four (24) months following a Change in Control,
the vesting and/or exercisability of one hundred percent
(100%) of Executive’s outstanding Stock Awards shall be
automatically accelerated as of the date of termination.
(iii) If Executive’s employment is terminated by the
Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason, in each case
prior to a Change in Control or more than twenty-four
(24) months following a Change in Control, the vesting and/or
exercisability of one hundred percent (100%) of
Executive’s outstanding Stock Awards shall be automatically
accelerated as of the date of termination (provided that the
vesting and/or exercisability of any Stock Awards the vesting of
which is performance-based and with respect to which the
performance objectives have not been achieved as of the date of
termination shall not be accelerated pursuant to this clause
(iii)).
(iv) The vesting pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) and
(iii) of this Section 4(g) shall be cumulative. The
foregoing provisions are hereby deemed to be a part of each Stock
Award and to supersede any less favorable provision in any
agreement or plan regarding such Stock Award.
5. Termination and Severance . Executive shall be
entitled to receive benefits upon termination of employment only as
set forth in this Section 5:
(a) At-Will Employment; Termination . The Company and
Executive acknowledge that Executive’s employment is and
shall continue to be at-will, as defined under applicable law, and
that Executive’s employment with the Company may be
terminated by either party at any time for any or no reason, with
or without notice. If Executive’s employment terminates for
any reason, Executive shall not be entitled to any payments,
benefits, damages, award or compensation other than as provided in
this Agreement. Executive’s employment under this Agreement
shall be terminated immediately on the death of Executive. Upon
Executive’s employment termination for any reason, the
Employer shall pay to Executive (or to the Executive’s
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representative or estate, in the event of his
death or Permanent Disability), within ten (10) days after the
date of termination, an amount equal to the sum of
(i) Executive’s Base Salary accrued through the date of
termination, (ii) any bonus earned and approved by the
Compensation Committee as of the date of termination under the
Company’s bonus program, but not yet paid to Executive,
(iii) any amounts payable under any of the employee benefit
plans of the Company in accordance with the terms of such plans,
(iv) any accrued but unpaid vacation, in accordance with the
terms of the Company’s vacation plan, and (v) any
unreimbursed expenses incurred by Executive under
Section 4(d). Such payments, rights and benefits described in
clauses (i) through (v) of this Section 5(a) are
collectively referred to hereinafter as the " Accrued
Obligations ."
(b) Termination without Cause or for Good Reason .
(i) Termination Apart From Change in Control . If
Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without
Cause or by Executive for Good Reason prior to a Change in Control
or more than twenty-four (24) months following a Change in
Control, Executive shall be entitled to receive, in lieu of any
severance benefits to which Executive may otherwise be entitled
under any severance plan or program of the Company, the benefits
provided below:
(A) the Company shall pay to Executive the Accrued Obligations
in accordance with Section 5(a);
(B) subject to Executive’s continued compliance with the
provisions of Section 6, Executive shall be entitled to
receive severance pay in an amount equal to the sum of:
(1) Executive’s Base Salary as in effect immediately prior
to the date of termination for the twelve (12) month period
following the date of termination, payable in a lump sum within ten
(10) days following the effective date of Executive’s
Release (as defined below) but in any event no later than two and
one-half (2 1 / 2 ) months
following the date of termination; plus
(2) an amount equal to Executive’s Bonus for the year in
which the date of termination occurs, prorated for the period of
Executive’s service during the year in which the date of
termination occurs, payable in a lump sum within ten (10) days
following the effective date of Executive’s Release but in
any event no later than two and one-half (2 1 / 2 ) months following the date of
termination;
(C) subject to Executive’s continued compliance with the
provisions of Section 6, for the period beginning on the date
of termination and ending on the date which is twelve
(12) full months following the date of termination (or, if
earlier, the date on which Executive accepts employment with
another employer that provides comparable benefits in terms of cost
and scope of coverage), the Company shall pay for and provide
Executive and his dependents with healthcare benefits which are
substantially the same as the benefits provided to Executive
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immediately prior to the date of termination,
including, if necessary, paying the costs associated with
continuation coverage pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (" COBRA "). If any
of the Company’s health benefits are self-funded as of the
date of Executive’s termination of employment, instead of
providing continued health benefits as set forth above, the Company
shall instead pay to Executive an amount equal to (1) twelve
(12) multiplied by (2) (A) 105% multiplied by
(B) the monthly premium Executive would be required to pay for
continuation coverage pursuant to COBRA for Executive and his
dependents who were covered under the Company’s health plans
as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment
(calculated by reference to the premium as of the date of
termination), payable in a lump sum within ten (10) days
following the effective date of Executive’s Release (as
defined below) but in any event no later than two and one-half
(2 1 / 2 ) months
following the date of termination; and
(D) subject to Executive’s continued compliance with the
provisions of Section 6, during the twelve (12) months
following the date of termination, Executive shall be entitled to
executive-level outplacement services at the Company’s
expense, not to exceed $15,000. Such services shall be provided by
a firm selected by Executive from a list compiled by the
Company.
(ii) Termination In Connection With Change in Control .
If Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company
without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason within twenty-four
(24) months following a Change in Control, Executive shall be
entitled to receive, in lieu of any severance benefits to which
Executive may otherwise be entitled under any severance plan or
program of the Company, the benefits provided below:
(A) the Company shall pay to Executive the Accrued Obligations
in accordance with Section 5(a);
(B) subject to Executive’s continued compliance with the
provisions of Section 6, Executive shall be entitled to
receive severance pay in an amount equal to the sum of:
(1) Executive’s Base Salary as in effect immediately prior
to date of termination for a period equal to twelve
(12) months, payable in a lump
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