Exhibit 10.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT, dated as of May 7, 2009 (this “
Agreement ”), is entered into by and between Axsys
Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “
Company ”), and Stephen W. Bershad (the “
Executive ”).
WHEREAS, the Executive currently
serves as Chairman (“ Chairman ”) of the Board
of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company (“ CEO
”);
WHEREAS, the Company and the
Executive have entered into an Employment Agreement, originally
dated as of October 12, 2000 and most recently amended and
restated as of December 22, 2008 (the “ Prior
Agreement ”), that sets forth certain terms and
conditions of the Executive’s employment as Chairman and
CEO;
WHEREAS, the Company and the
Executive have also entered into an Amended and Restated Severance
Protection Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2008 (the
“ SPA ”), that provides the Executive with
certain benefits in the event the Executive’s employment with
the Company is terminated as a result of, or in connection with, a
Change in Control (as defined in Section 6 below);
and
WHEREAS, the Company and the
Executive desire to consolidate the terms of the Prior Agreement
and the SPA into an amended and restated version of the Prior
Agreement on the terms set forth herein, which shall replace and
supersede the Prior Agreement and the SPA in their
entirety.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1.
Employment Term . The “ Employment Term
” shall continue as of December 22, 2008 (the “
Effective Date ”) and shall expire on the fifth
anniversary of the termination of the Initial Period, unless
earlier terminated as provided herein.
2.
Employment .
(a)
The Company agrees to employ the Executive and the Executive agrees
to perform services as an employee of the Company during the
Employment Term as described above. During the Initial Period
(and thereafter as the Company and the Executive may agree), the
Executive shall be employed as Chairman and CEO. For purposes
of this Agreement, the “ Initial Period ” shall
commence on the Effective Date and continue until, and end upon,
the first anniversary of the Effective Date; provided ,
however , that on the calendar day immediately preceding the
first anniversary of the Effective Date (the “ Renewal
Date ”) and on each anniversary of the Renewal Date
thereafter during the Employment Term (each such date, an “
Extension Deadline ”), the Initial Period shall
automatically be extended for one additional year unless either
(i)(A) the Company, acting through its Board, gives the
Executive written notice not later than thirty (30) days prior to
the applicable Extension Deadline or (B) the Executive gives
the Company written notice not later than thirty (30) days prior to
the applicable Extension
Deadline, that the Initial Period
should not be so extended or (ii) the Employment Term has been
earlier terminated in accordance with this Agreement. Upon
termination of the Initial Period and for the remainder of the
Employment Term, the Executive shall be appointed and serve or
continue to serve as Chairman. As Chairman and/or CEO, the
Executive shall perform the duties, undertake the responsibilities
and exercise the authority customarily performed, undertaken and
exercised by him in accordance with past practice, including
without limitation, the responsibility for determining the
strategic direction of the Company and any entity, directly or
indirectly, controlled by, controlling or under common control with
the Company (“ Affiliates ”), and such other
duties and responsibilities and/or any changes in the duties and
responsibilities set forth above, as agreed to by the Executive and
the Company from time to time. In performing his duties
hereunder, the Executive will report directly to the
Board.
(b)
During the Initial Period, excluding periods of vacation and sick
leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to
devote such portion of his business time and attention to the
business and affairs of the Company as may be necessary to fulfill
his responsibilities hereunder; provided , however ,
that the Executive may (i) serve on corporate, civic or
charitable boards or committees; (ii) manage personal
investments; and (iii) deliver lectures and teach at
educational institutions, so long as such activities do not
significantly interfere with the performance of the
Executive’s responsibilities hereunder. The parties
acknowledge and agree that, during the Employment Term, the
Executive may pursue other business interests and endeavors
unrelated to the business and affairs of the Company and that,
following the Initial Period, such other interests and endeavors
may constitute a significant portion of the Executive’s
business time and attention.
(c)
During the Employment Term, the Company shall provide the Executive
with an appropriate office and administrative support at one of the
Company’s offices, commensurate with the Executive’s
status and position. The Executive shall not be required to
live at or near any of the offices of the Company.
3.
Compensation . In consideration of the performance by
the Executive of the Executive’s obligations during the
Employment Term (including any services by the Executive as an
officer, director, employee or member of any committee of any
Affiliate of the Company, or otherwise on behalf of the Company),
the Executive shall be compensated as follows:
(a)
Base Salary . The Executive shall receive a base
salary (the “ Base Salary ”) at an annual
rate not less than the Executive’s rate of base salary
immediately prior to the Effective Date. The Base Salary
shall be reviewed by the Board from time to time in its sole
discretion. The Base Salary shall be payable in accordance
with the normal payroll practices of the Company then in
effect.
(b)
Bonus . For each fiscal year of the Company ending
during the Employment Term, the Company shall provide the Executive
with the opportunity to earn an annual incentive bonus based on
performance goals determined by the Board at the beginning of such
fiscal year.
2
(c)
Equity Awards . The Executive shall participate in the
Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan or any successor
plan on terms and at such level as may be determined by the Board
from time to time consistent with such plans.
(d)
Benefits . The Executive shall be entitled to
participate in any employee or executive benefit plans, policies or
programs that are provided generally to senior executives of the
Company as such plans, policies or programs may be in effect from
time to time.
(e)
Expenses . The Executive will be entitled to
reimbursement of all reasonable business, travel and entertainment
expenses incurred by him on behalf of the Company in the course of
the performance of his duties hereunder; provided ,
however , that such expenses must be paid no later than the
last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which
such expenses were incurred, and further provided that in no event
will the amount of expenses so reimbursed in one taxable year
affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or
in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable
year.
(f)
Taxes . Subject to Section 7(d) and Annex A,
the Executive shall be solely responsible for taxes imposed on the
Executive by reason of any compensation and benefits provided under
this Agreement, and all such compensation and benefits shall be
subject to applicable withholding taxes.
4.
Termination . The Employment Term shall terminate upon
the earliest to occur of any of the following events:
(a)
Mutual Agreement . Termination by the mutual agreement
of the Company and the Executive.
(b)
Expiration of Employment Term . The sixth anniversary
of the Effective Date (or such later date as determined in
accordance with Section 1 and Section 2(a) or as may
be agreed upon by the Board and the Executive).
(c)
Death . The death of the Executive.
(d)
Disability . The termination of the Executive’s
employment by the Company for Disability. For purposes of
this Agreement, “ Disability ” shall mean the
inability of the Executive to perform his duties, services and
responsibilities hereunder by reason of a physical or mental
infirmity, as reasonably determined by the Board, for a total of
180 consecutive days, and within the time period set forth in
a Notice of Termination given to the Executive (which time period
shall not be less than thirty (30) days), the Executive shall not
have returned to full-time performance of his duties;
provided , however , that if the Company’s
Long-Term Disability Plan, or any successor plan (the “
Disability Plan ”), is then in effect, the Executive
shall not be deemed disabled for purposes of this Agreement unless
the Executive is also eligible for long-term disability benefits
under the Disability Plan (or similar benefits in the event of a
successor plan).
3
(e)
By the Company for Cause . The termination of the
Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause. For
purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean that the
Executive:
(i)
has been convicted of a felony (including a plea of nolo
contendere); or
(ii)
intentionally and continually failed substantially to perform his
reasonably assigned duties with the Company (other than a failure
resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or
mental illness until such conditions result in a Disability or from
the assignment to the Executive of duties that would constitute
Good Reason) which failure continued for a period of at least
thirty (30) days after a written notice of demand for substantial
performance, signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company,
has been delivered to the Executive specifying the manner in which
the Executive has failed substantially to perform such duties;
or
(iii)
intentionally engaged in illegal conduct or willful misconduct
which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the
Company.
For purposes of this Agreement, no
act, or failure to act, on the Executive’s part shall be
considered “intentional” unless the Executive has
acted, or failed to act, with a lack of good faith and with a lack
of reasonable belief that the Executive’s action or failure
to act was in the best interest of the Company. 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 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 termination of employment of
the Executive shall not be deemed to be for Cause pursuant to
subparagraph (ii) or (iii) above 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-fourths
of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the 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 Board)
finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive
is guilty of the conduct described in subparagraph (ii) or
(iii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in
detail. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement
to the contrary, no failure to perform by the Executive after a
Notice of Termination (as defined below) is given to the Company by
the Executive shall constitute Cause for purposes of this
Agreement.
(f)
By the Company Without Cause . The termination of the
Executive’s employment by the Company other than for Cause or
Disability.
(g)
By the Executive for Good Reason . The termination of
the Executive’s employment by the Executive for Good
Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Good
Reason ” shall mean the occurrence of any of the
following conditions and the failure of the Company to remedy such
condition(s) within thirty (30) days after receipt by the
Company of written notice thereof from the Executive, which notice
must
4
be provided by the Executive to the
Company within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of such
condition(s):
(i)
a material diminution in the Executive’s authority, duties or
responsibilities;
(ii)
a requirement that the Executive report to a corporate officer or
employee instead of reporting directly to the Board (or similar
governing body);
(iii)
a material diminution in the Executive’s base compensation
(as such term is used in Treasury Regulation §
1.409A-1(n)(2)(ii) or any successor provision);
(iv)
a material diminution in the budget over which the Executive
retains authority;
(v)
the relocation of the offices of the Company or an Affiliate at
which the Executive is principally employed to a location more than
50 miles from the location of such offices on the date hereof, or
any other material change in the geographic location at which the
Executive is based, except to the extent the Executive was not
previously assigned to a principal location and except for required
travel on the business of the Company or an Affiliate to an extent
substantially consistent with the Executive’s business travel
obligations on the date hereof; or
(vi)
any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by
the Company or an Affiliate of the Agreement, including the failure
by the Company to obtain the assumption of the obligation to
perform this Agreement by any Successors and Assigns as
contemplated in Section 16 hereof.
(h)
By the Executive Without Good Reason . Termination by
the Executive without Good Reason.
5.
Compensation Upon Termination Prior to a Change in Control
During the Initial Period or Following a Change in Control
Period .
(a)
Death or Disability; By the Company for Cause; By the Executive
without Good Reason; Mutual Agreement; Expiration of Employment
Term . If, at any time other than coincident with the
occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in Section 6)
during the Initial Period or during a Change in Control Period (as
defined in Section 6), the Employment Term is terminated by
reason of the Executive’s death or Disability, by the Company
for Cause, by the Executive without Good Reason, by mutual
agreement of the parties, or by expiration of the Employment Term,
the Company’s sole obligation hereunder shall be to pay the
Executive or his estate, as the case may be, the Accrued Employment
Compensation in a lump sum within thirty (30) days following the
Employment Termination Date (defined below) (or, in the case of
amounts described in
5
clause (iii) of the following
sentence, in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan,
program or arrangement). For purposes of this Section 5,
“Accrued Employment Compensation” shall mean all
amounts of compensation for services rendered to the Company or any
of its Affiliates, including (i) any accrued and unpaid Base
Salary, (ii) any accrued and unpaid bonus which was earned for
the year immediately preceding the year in which the Employment
Termination Date occurs, (iii) any accrued and unpaid vacation
pay as of the Employment Termination Date, (iv) a “Pro
Rata Bonus” that is equal to the Bonus Amount (defined below)
multiplied by a fraction, (A) the numerator of which is the
number of days the Executive served in the year in which the
Employment Termination Date occurs through the Employment
Termination Date, and (B) the denominator of which is three
hundred and sixty-five (365), (v) all benefits accrued and
unpaid under any benefit plans, programs or arrangements in which
the Executive shall have been a participant as of such Employment
Termination Date in accordance with the applicable terms and
conditions of such plans, programs or arrangements, and
(vi) any reimbursable expenses incurred by the Executive on
behalf of the Company or any of its Affiliates during the period
ending on the Employment Termination Date but not previously paid
to the Executive. For purposes of this Section 5(a),
“Bonus Amount” shall mean, as of the Employment
Termination Date, an amount equal to the annual incentive bonus
that the Executive would have earned for the full fiscal year in
which the Employment Termination Date occurs, based on the last
monthly Annual Forecast produced by the Company preceding the
Employment Termination Date. The “Annual
Forecast” is the Company’s forecast of the extent to
which the performance goals for the fiscal year are expected be
achieved by the last day of the fiscal year.
(b)
By the Company Without Cause; By the Executive for Good
Reason . If, at any time other than coincident with the
occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in Section 6)
during the Initial Period or during a Change in Control Period (as
defined in Section 6), the Employment Term is terminated by
the Company other than for Cause or by the Executive for Good
Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to the following
compensation:
(i)
within ten (10) days of the Employment Termination Date (or,
in the case of amounts described in clause (v) of the
definition of Accrued Employment Compensation above, in accordance
with the terms of the applicable plan, program or arrangement), the
Company shall pay the Executive all Accrued Employment
Compensation, except that for purposes of this
Section 5(b)(i) and Section 5(b)(ii), “
Bonus Amount ” shall mean, as of the Employment
Termination Date, the highest annual bonus paid or payable to the
Executive in respect of any of the three full fiscal years of the
Company immediately preceding the Employment Termination
Date;
(ii)
within thirty (30) days following such Employment Termination Date,
the Company shall pay the Executive as severance pay and in lieu of
any further compensation for periods subsequent to the Employment
Termination Date, a lump sum amount equal to the greater
of
6
(A) two (2) times the sum
of (x) the Executive’s Base Salary at the annual rate in
effect on the Employment Termination Date and (y) the
Executive’s Bonus Amount and (B) the amount of the Base
Salary and Bonus Amount which would have been paid to the Executive
during the Employment Term had it not been terminated, assuming
that all of the Bonus Amount would have been paid to the Executive
for each full fiscal year during the Employment Term;
(iii)
during the greater of (A) the twenty-four (24) month period
following the Employment Termination Date and (B) the balance
of the Employment Term had it not been terminated by the Company
other than for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason (the
“ Continuation Period ”), the Company
shall at its expense continue on behalf of the Executive and his
dependents and beneficiaries the medical, dental, hospitalization,
prescription drug, and life insurance coverages and benefits
provided to the Executive immediately prior to the Employment
Termination Date. The coverages and benefits (including
deductibles and costs) provided in this
Section 5(b)(iii) during the Continuation Period shall be
in accordance with Section 3(d). The Company’s
obligation hereunder with respect to the foregoing coverages and
benefits shall be reduced to the extent that the Executive obtains
any such coverages and benefits pursuant to a subsequent
employer’s benefit plans, in which case the Company may
reduce any of the coverages or benefits it is required to provide
the Executive hereunder so long as the aggregate coverages and
benefits of the combined benefit plans is no less favorable to the
Executive than the coverages and benefits required to be provided
hereunder. This Section 5(b)(iii) shall not be
interpreted so as to limit any benefits to which the Executive, his
dependents or beneficiaries may be entitled under any of the
Company’s employee benefit plans, programs or practices
following the Executive’s termination of employment,
including without limitation, retiree medical and life insurance
benefits, if any. To the extent the benefit continuation
involves the reimbursement of expenses pursuant to this
Company’s supplemental medical plan, such reimbursement will
occur in all events prior to the last day of the calendar year
following the calendar year in which the Executive incurs the
expense. In no event will the amount of expenses reimbursed
in one year affect the amount of expenses eligible for
reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other
taxable year; and
(iv)
(A) notwithstanding any contrary provisions contained in the
applicable stock option agreements or option plan, all stock
options held by the Executive which are outstanding on the
Employment Termination Date shall become fully vested on the
Employment Termination Date and shall, subject to Section 12
of the Amended and Restated Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, remain
outstanding for their entire term and (B) notwithstanding any
contrary provision in the applicable restricted stock or other
equity based award agreement or plan,
7
all restrictions on all shares of
restricted stock or other equity based awards shall lapse and all
such shares held by the Executive on the Employment Termination
Date shall become fully vested on the Employment Termination
Date.
6.
Compensation Upon Termination on a Change in Control During the
Initial Period or During the Change in Control Period
.
(a)
Death or Disability; By the Company for Cause; By the Executive
Other than for Good Reason or Pursuant to a Window Period
Termination . If, coincident with the occurrence of a
Change in Control (as defined below) during the Initial Period or
within the twenty-four (24) month-period following the occurrence
of a Change in Control during the Initial Period (the “
Change in Control Period ”), the Executive’s
employment with the Company is terminated (i) by reason of the
Executive’s death or Disability, (ii) by the Company for
Cause, or (iii) by the Executive other than (x) for Good
Reason or (y) pursuant to a Window Period Termination (as
defined below), the Company’s sole obligation hereunder shall
be to pay the Executive or his estate, as the case may be, the
Change in Control Accrued Compensation. For purposes of this
Section 6, “ Change in Control Accrued
Compensation ” shall mean all amounts of compensation for
services rendered to the Company or any of its Affiliates that have
been earned or accrued through the Employment Termination Date but
that have not been paid as of the Employment Termination Date,
including (A) base salary, (B) reimbursement for
reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by the
Executive on behalf of the Company or an Affiliate during the
period ending on the Employment Termination Date, (C) unless
such amount is paid under Section 6A(a), any accrued but
unpaid bonus with respect to any fiscal year completed prior to the
Employment Termination Date and (D) vacation pay;
provided , however , that Change in
Control Accrued Compensation shall not include any amounts
described in clause (A) that have been deferred pursuant to
any salary reduction or deferred compensation elections made by the
Executive. Any reimbursement for reasonable and necessary
business expenses incurred by the Executive that is included within
the meaning of Change in Control Accrued Compensation will be made
in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policy
and in all events no later than the last day of the calendar year
following the calendar year in which the Executive incurred the
expense. In no event will the amount of expenses so
reimbursed by the Company in one year affect the amount of expenses
eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in
any other taxable year.
(b)
Any Other Termination . If, coincident with the
occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined below) during the
Initial Period or during the Change in Control Period, the
Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated for any
reason other than as specified in Section 6(a), or if the
Executive terminates his employment with or without Good Reason
during the one month period ending on the earlier of (i) the
end of the second month of the calendar year following the calendar
year in which the Change in Control occurs, or (ii) the last
day of the seventh month following a Change in Control (a “
Window Period Termination ”), the Executive shall be
entitled to the following compensation:
8
(i)
the Company shall pay the Executive the Change in Control Accrued
Compensation;
(ii)
the Company shall pay the Executive as severance pay an amount
equal to 2.99 times the sum of (A) the highest annual rate of
Base Salary paid to the Executive during the 12-month period
immediately prior to the Employment Termination Date and
(B) the average of the annual cash bonuses paid to the
Executive during the 3 calendar years prior to the year in which
the Employment Termination Date occurs (prorated for any lesser
period during which the Executive has been employed or for which
bonuses have been determined, if applicable, and, in the case of
each of (A) and (B), determined without reduction for any
portion thereof that has been deferred by the
Executive).
(iii)
for twelve (12) months following the Employment Termination Date
(the “ Change in Control Continuation Period ”),
the Company shall continue on behalf of the Executive and his
dependents and beneficiaries the life insurance, disability,
medical, dental, prescription drug and hospitalization coverages
and benefits provided to the Executive immediately prior to a
Change in Control (the “ Benefits Continuation
”), or, if greater, the coverages and benefits provided at
any time thereafter. The coverages and benefits (including
deductibles and costs to the Executive) provided in this
Section 6(b)(iii) during the Change in Control
Continuation Period shall be no less favorable to the Executive and
his dependents and beneficiaries than the most favorable of such
coverages and benefits referred to above. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, or any other provision of this Agreement, for purposes
of determining the period of continuation coverage to which the
Executive or any of the Executive’s dependents is entitled
pursuant to Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), under the
Company’s medical, dental and other group health plans, or
successor plans, the Executive’s “qualifying
event” will be the termination of the Change in Control
Continuation Period and the Executive will be considered to have
remained actively employed on a full-time basis through that
date. The Company’s obligation hereunder with respect
to the foregoing coverages and benefits shall be reduced to the
extent that the Executive obtains any such coverages and benefits
pursuant to a subsequent employer’s benefit plans, in which
case the Company may reduce any of the coverages or benefits it is
required to provide the Executive hereunder so long as the
aggregate coverages and benefits (including deductibles and costs
to the Executive) of the combined benefit plans are no less
favorable to the Executive than the coverages and benefits required
to be provided hereunder. This
Section 6(b)(iii) shall not be interpreted so as to limit
any benefits to which the Executive, his dependents or
beneficiaries may be entitled under any of the Company’s
employee benefit plans, programs or practices following the
Executive’s termination of employment, including but not
limited to, retiree medical
9
and life insurance benefits.
To the extent the Benefit Continuation involves the reimbursement
of expenses pursuant to the Company’s supplemental medical
plan, such reimbursement will occur in all events prior to the last
day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the
Executive incurred the expense. In no event will the amount
of expenses so reimbursed by the Company in one year affect the
amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits
to be provided, in any other taxable year.
(iv)
(A) notwithstanding any contrary provisions contained in the
applicable stock option agreements or option plan, all stock
options held by the Executive which are outstanding on the
Employment Termination Date shall become fully vested on the
Employment Termination Date and shall, subject to Section 12
of the Amended and Restated Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, remain
outstanding for their entire term and (B) notwithstanding any
contrary provision in the applicable restricted stock or other
equity based award agreement or plan, all restrictions on all
shares of restricted stock or other equity based awards shall lapse
and all such shares held by the Executive on the Employment
Termination Date shall become fully vested on the Employment
Termination Date.
(c)
The cash amounts provided for in Sections 6(a) and
6(b) shall be paid in a single lump sum cash payment within
ten (10) days after the Employment Termination Date (or
earlier, if required by applicable law).
(d)
If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company or
an Affiliate without Cause prior to the date of a Change in Control
that occurs during the Initial Period, or any of the events or
conditions that constitute Good Reason occur prior to a Change in
Control that occurs during the Initial Period, but the Executive
reasonably demonstrates that such termination or Good Reason
occurrence, as the case may be, (i) was at the request of a
third party who has indicated an intention or taken steps
reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control (a “
Third Party ”) and who effectuates a Change in Control
during the Initial Period or (ii) otherwise arose in
connection with, or in anticipation of, a Change in Control which
has been threatened or proposed and which actually occurs during
the Initial Period, such termination or Good Reason occurrence, as
the case may be, shall be deemed to have occurred immediately after
a Change in Control that occurs during the Initial Period, it being
agreed that any such action taken following shareholder approval of
a transaction which, if consummated, would constitute a Change in
Control, shall be deemed to be in anticipation of a Change in
Control provided such transaction is actually consummated. In
the event that the Executive reasonably demonstrates that the
termin