AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Employment
Agreement (this " Agreement ") is entered into as of May 6,
2009, by and between Young Innovations, Inc., a Missouri
corporation (the " Company "), and Alfred E. Brennan, of
Algonquin, Illinois (" Executive ").
In consideration of the Company's
employment of Executive, the terms, conditions and covenants
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Executive
and the Company, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as
follows:
1.
EMPLOYMENT. The Company hereby
agrees to employ Executive and Executive agrees to accept such
employment upon the terms and conditions herein set
forth.
2. EMPLOYMENT
PERIOD. The initial term of employment hereunder shall commence on
the date hereof and shall expire on January 31, 2012 (such period,
the " Term "); provided, however, that the Term shall
automatically be extended for an additional period of one year on
January 31, 2012, and on each January 31 thereafter unless the
Company delivers written notice to Executive of the Company's
intention not to extend the Term not later than six (6) months
prior to its expiration.
3. POSITION
AND DUTIES. Executive hereby agrees to serve as Chief Executive
Officer or in such other capacity to which Executive may be
promoted during the term hereof. Executive shall devote his full
business time and attention to the management, development and
enhancement of the business of the Company and perform such duties
as are necessary and required of the Chief Executive Officer or in
such capacity as Executive may then be serving. During the Term,
Executive may not undertake any other employment, engagements,
consulting or other outside activities that in the opinion of the
Board of Directors interfere with the effective carrying out of
Executive's duties hereunder; provided, however, that nothing
herein shall prevent Executive from making and managing personal
investments consistent with Section 8 of this Agreement or engaging
in community and/or charitable activities, so long as such
activities, either singly or in the aggregate, do not interfere
with the proper performance of his duties and responsibilities to
the Company.
(a) BASE
SALARY. The Company shall pay to Executive salary at the rate of
$450,000 per year during the Term hereof, or such higher amounts as
shall be recommended and approved by the Compensation Committee of
the Board of Directors (in each case, the " Base Salary ").
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors shall review
Executive’s Base Salary on an annual basis during the Term
and make any upward adjustments it deems appropriate.
(b) BONUS
COMPENSATION. In addition to Base Salary, Executive shall be
eligible to receive bonus compensation as recommended and approved
by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and subject
to the bonus criteria as established by the Compensation Committee
of the Board of Directors from time to time (the " Bonus
Compensation ").
(c) HOLIDAYS
AND VACATION TIME. Executive shall be entitled to sick leave as is
consistent with the Company's policy for executive employees with
respect to such matters as of the date hereof. Executive is
entitled to as many weeks of paid vacation time as Executive deems
appropriate, provided that such vacation time does not interfere
with Executive's duties to the Company. Moreover, if this Agreement
is terminated for any reason other than Cause, death or Permanent
Disability, Executive shall be entitled to three weeks of vacation
pay.
(d) OTHER
BENEFITS. Subject to the Company's rules, policies and regulations
as in effect from time to time, Executive shall be entitled to all
other rights and benefits for which Executive may be eligible under
any: (i) group life insurance, disability or accident, death or
dismemberment insurance, (ii) medical and/or dental insurance
program, (iii) 401(k) benefit plan, or (iv) other employee benefits
that the Company may, in its sole discretion, make generally
available to employees of the Company of the same level and
responsibility as Executive; provided, however, that nothing herein
shall obligate the Company to establish or maintain any of such
benefits or benefit plans. In addition to the foregoing, the
Company agrees that it shall pay for 100% of any premiums for a
health insurance policy which covers Executive and his Qualified
Dependents (PPO or equivalent).
(e) DISABILITY
INSURANCE. The Company will provide Executive with long term
disability insurance which provides a minimum benefit of at least
seventy-five percent (75%) of Executive's Base Salary to age
65.
(f) LIFE
AND OTHER INSURANCE. The Company will continue to provide Two
Million Dollars ($2,000,000) of guaranteed level premium term life
insurance coverage (naming Executive's written designee as the
beneficiary of the policy, with the Company having no right to
revoke or alter the designation) and such other types of insurance
for Executive as shall be agreed upon between Executive and the
Company from time to time. The Company shall only be responsible
for the payment of insurance premiums during the Term. The Company
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to insure that life
insurance policy is "portable" so that Executive can continue the
policy after the end of Executive's employment with the Company at
Executive's own expense.
(g) AUTOMOBILE
ALLOWANCE. The Company shall provide Executive with an automobile
allowance which is consistent with the Company’s policy for
executive employees with respect to such matters as of the date
hereof.
(h) FAILURE
TO RENEW OR RENEGOTIATE CONTRACT. In the event that the Company and
Executive do not enter into a new employment contract at the end of
the Term, the Company shall have the right, exercisable by written
notice at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of the Term, to
extend the applicability of Section 8(e) until the second
anniversary of the end of the Term, by payment to Executive, in one
lump sum, of an amount equal to Executive's Base Salary for the
last year of the Term. Such payment shall be made within fifteen
(15) days after the end of the Term.
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5.
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SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT UPON A CHANGE IN
CONTROL.
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(a) If
a Change In Control occurs during the Term, and Executive is
employed by the Company on the date of the Change In Control or
Executive demonstrates that Executive would have been employed by
the Company but for steps taken at the request of a third party to
effect the Change In Control or Executive's termination was without
Cause and arose in connection with or anticipation of such Change
In Control, then Executive shall have the additional rights set
forth in this Section 5. Namely, the Company shall, within thirty
(30) days immediately following the date of the Change In Control,
pay to Executive a lump sum cash amount equal to 2.9999 times the
"base amount" (as such term is used in Section 280G(b)(3) of the
Code). The Company shall engage its Accounting Firm to determine
the "base amount" and all amounts payable in connection with a
Change In Control; provided, however, that if the Accounting Firm
is serving as accountant or auditor for the person, entity or group
effecting the Change In Control, Executive shall appoint another
nationally recognized accounting firm which shall provide Executive
and the Company with detailed supporting calculations for its
conclusions. Any determination of the Accounting Firm shall be
binding upon the Company and Executive. All fees and expenses of
the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the
Company.
(b) In
the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution
of any type to or for the benefit of Executive, by the Company, any
of its Affiliates, any Person who acquires ownership or effective
control of the Company or ownership of a substantial portion of the
Company’s assets (within the meaning of Section 280G of the
Code, and the regulations thereunder) or any Affiliate of such
Person, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (the “
Total Payments ”), would be subject to the excise tax
imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties
with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any
such interest and penalties, are collectively referred to as the
“ Excise Tax ”), then Executive shall be
entitled to receive an additional payment (a “ Gross-Up
Payment ”) in an amount such that after payment by
Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed
with respect to such taxes), including any Excise Tax, imposed upon
the Gross-Up Payment, Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up
Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Total Payments.
For purposes of the foregoing determination, Executive’s tax
rate will be deemed to be the highest statutory marginal state and
federal tax rate (on a combined basis) then in effect.
(c) All
determinations as to whether any of the Total Payments are
“parachute payments” (within the meaning of Section
280G of the Code), whether a Gross-Up Payment is required, the
amount of such Gross-Up Payment and any amounts relevant to the
last sentence of Section 5(b), shall be made by the Accounting
Firm. The Accounting Firm shall provide its determination (the
“ Determination ”), together with detailed
supporting calculations regarding the amount of any Gross-Up
Payment and any other relevant matter, both to the Company and
Executive within five (5) days of the Termination Date, if
applicable, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company or
Executive (if Executive reasonably believes that any of the Total
Payments may be subject to the Excise Tax). Any determination by
the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and
Executive. As a result of uncertainty in the application of Section
4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the
Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that the Company should
have made Gross-Up Payments (“ Underpayment ”),
or that Gross-Up Payments will have been made by the Company which
should not have been made (“ Overpayments ”). In
either such event, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount
of the Underpayment or Overpayment that has occurred. In the case
of an
Underpayment, the amount of such
Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the
benefit of Executive. In the case of an Overpayment, Executive
shall, at the direction and expense of the Company, take such steps
as are reasonably necessary (including the filing of returns and
claims for refund), follow reasonable instructions from, and
procedures established by, the Company, and otherwise reasonably
cooperate with the Company to correct such Overpayment.
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6.
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TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
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(a) PERMANENT
DISABILITY. In the event of the Permanent Disability (as defined
below) of Executive, the Company shall cause all amounts due under
the disability policy described in Section 4(e) to be paid to
Executive, along with any Base Salary accruing during any
eligibility or waiting period under the disability insurance policy
obtained by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all
payments hereunder shall end upon the earlier to occur of
Executive's attaining the age of sixty-five (65) or the cessation
of such Permanent Disability (whether as a result of recovery,
rehabilitation, death or otherwise).
(b) DEATH.
In the event of Executive's death, the Company shall pay to
Executive's personal representative (on behalf of Executive's
estate), within sixty (60) days after the Company receives written
notice of such representative's appointment, all amounts of Base
Salary and Bonus Compensation accrued pursuant to Section 4 above
as of the date of Executive's death, which payment shall constitute
full and complete satisfaction of the Company's obligations
hereunder. Executive's dependents shall also be entitled to receive
fully paid group medical and dental benefits for a period of ninety
(90) days at the Company's expense, and thereafter, at the
dependents' expense, any continuation of health insurance coverage
rights, if any, under applicable law.
(c) TERMINATION
FOR CAUSE OR VOLUNTARY TERMINATION WITHOUT GOOD REASON. The Company
may in its sole discretion terminate this Agreement and Executive's
employment with the Company for Cause (as defined in Section 7(e)
below) at any time and with or without advance notice to Executive.
If Executive's employment is terminated for Cause, or if Executive
Voluntarily Terminates (as defined below) his employment with the
Company without Good Reason (as defined below), the Company shall
promptly pay to Executive all amounts of Base Salary accrued
pursuant to Section 4 above through the date of termination (but
not Bonus Compensation), whereupon the Company shall have no
further obligations to Executive under this Agreement. Executive
and his dependents shall also be entitled to any continuation
health insurance coverage rights, if any, under applicable law. If
Executive Voluntarily Terminates without Good Reason and provides
at least 6-months prior written notice, Executive is entitled to
receive, in one lump sum, an amount (the “Voluntary
Termination with Notice Amount”) equal to Executive’s
annual Base Salary at the end of the notice period. This Voluntary
Termination with Notice Amount shall be in addition to the Base
Salary and Bonus Compensation during the notice period. If
Executive Voluntarily Terminates without Good Reason but gives less
than 6 months written notice, then Executive will be entitled to no
further payments other than Base Salary earned through the date of
termination. The Voluntary Termination with Notice Amount shall be
made as soon as practicable following the effective date of
Executive’s termination (but in no event later than the
fifteenth day of the third month after the date of termination),
unless the Company reasonably determines that Code
Section 409A will result in the
imposition of additional tax on account of such payment before the
expiration of the 6-month period described in Section
409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code in which case such payment will be
paid on the date that is six (6) months and one (1) day following
the date of Executive’s separation from service (as defined
in Code Section 409A) or, if earlier, the date of death of
Executive.
(d) TERMINATION
WITHOUT CAUSE; VOLUNTARY TERMINATION WITH GOOD REASON. The Company
may in its sole discretion terminate this Agreement and
Executive’s employment with the Company without Cause at any
time, with or without notice, for any reason or no reason (and no
reason need be given). Executive may terminate this Agreement and
Voluntarily Terminate his employment with the Company with Good
Reason (as defined in Section 7(i) below). In the event
Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated
pursuant to this Section 6(d): (i) the Company shall pay to
Executive all amounts of Base Salary accrued pursuant to Section 4
above through the date of termination, and any accrued, but unpaid,
Bonus Compensation attributable to completed fiscal years, (ii)
Executive shall be relieved of his obligations under Sections 1 and
3 hereof, and (iii) Executive shall be free to seek other
employment subject to the terms of Section 8 hereof. In addition,
if Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated
pursuant to this Section 6(d), the Company shall pay to Executive
the value of all compensation and any other benefits that Executive
would have earned under this Agreement for the remaining Term
together with all reasonable attorneys’ or other professional
fees and costs incurred by Executive in enforcing his rights under
this Section 6(d). Payments under this Section 6(d) will be made to
Executive in monthly installments. Executive has no duty to
mitigate payments under this Section 6(d) by obtaining other
employment. However, the amounts payable hereunder shall be reduced
by 25% of the base salary and bonus which Executive earns from new
employment during such period. The Company may also require
Executive to fully and completely release any and all claims for
breach of this Agreement at the time of termination as a condition
to receiving such payments under this Section 6(d); provided that
any such release would be executed and effective no later than 60
days after Executive’s termination date. Executive and his
dependents shall also be entitled to any continuation health
insurance coverage rights, if any, under applicable law.
Of the amounts to be paid pursuant
to Section 6(d), an amount equal to the Voluntary Termination with
Notice Amount shall be paid at the same time and in the same form
as provided under Section 6(c). Any additional benefits provided
under Section 6(d) shall be paid in installments subject to the
following:
(i) For
purposes of applying the exception to Section 409A for short-term
deferrals, each installment payment made pursuant to this Section
6(d) shall be treated as a separate “payment” for
purposes of Section 409A. Accordingly, any benefits paid (1) within
2-½ months of the end of the Company’s taxable year
containing the date on which Executive incurs a separation from
service (as defined in Section 409A) (the “separation
date”), or (2) within 2-½ months of Executive’s
taxable year containing the separation date shall be exempt from
Section 409A.
(ii) To
the extent benefits are not exempt from Section 409A under
subparagraph (i) above, and to the extent Executive’s
remaining severance pay benefit is equal to
or less than the lesser of the
amounts described in Treasury Regulation Section
1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A)(1) and (2), such severance benefit shall be
exempt from Section 409A.
(iii) Only to
the extent a portion of Executive’s severance pay benefit is
not exempt from Section 409A pursuant to subparagraphs (i) and (ii)
above, such severance pay benefit shall be payable to Executive in
installments according to the Company’s normal payroll
schedule commencing on the payroll date following Executive’s
separation date; provided, however, that no payment shall be paid
to Executive if he is a specifie