Exhibit 10.29
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated as of the 24
th day of August, 2000 (this “Agreement”),
by and between Hercules Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), and Allen A. Spizzo
(“Executive”).
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of
the Company (the “Board”), has determined that it is in
the best interests of the Company and its shareholders/stockholders
to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of
the Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or
occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined herein). The
Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable
distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal
uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change
of Control and to encourage the Executive’s full attention
and dedication to the current Company and in the event of any
threatened or pending Change of Control, and to provide the
Executive with compensation and benefits arrangements upon a Change
of Control that ensure that the compensation and benefits
expectations of the Executive will be satisfied and that are
competitive with those of other corporations. Therefore, in
order to accomplish these objectives, the Board has caused the
Company to enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED
AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1.
Certain Definitions
.
(a) “Effective Date” means the first date during
the Change of Control Period (as defined herein) on which a Change
of Control occurs. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement
to the contrary, if a Change of Control occurs and if the
Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated prior
to the date on which the Change of Control occurs, and if it is
reasonably demonstrated by the Executive that such termination of
employment (1) was at the request of a third party that has
taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change of Control or
(2) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of a
Change of Control, then “Effective Date” means the date
immediately prior to the date of such termination of
employment.
(b) “Change of
Control Period” means the period commencing on the date
hereof and ending on the third anniversary of the date hereof;
provided , however , that, commencing on the date one
year after the date hereof, and on each annual anniversary of such
date (such date and each annual anniversary thereof, the
“Renewal Date”), unless previously terminated, the
Change of Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to
terminate three years from such Renewal Date, unless, at least 60
days prior to the Renewal Date, the Company shall give notice to
the Executive that the Change of Control Period shall not be so
extended.
(c) “Affiliated
Company” means any company controlled by, controlling or
under common control with the Company.
(d) “Change of
Control” means:
(1)
The acquisition
by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of
Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”))
(a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of
20% or more of either (A) the then-outstanding shares of
common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common
Stock”) or (B) the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding
Company Voting Securities”); provided , however
, that, for purposes of this Section 1(d), the following
acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control:
(i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any
acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by
the Company or any Affiliated Company or (iv) any acquisition
by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with
Sections 1(d)(3)(A), 1(d)(3)(B) and 1(d)(3)(C).
(2)
Individuals who,
as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent
Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided , however , that any
individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose
election, or nomination for election by the Company’s
shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the
directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered
as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial
assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened
election contest with respect to the election or removal of
directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the
Board.
(3)
Approval by the
shareholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger,
consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company (a “Business
Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business
Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities
immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own,
directly or indirectly, 60% or more of the then-outstanding shares
of common stock and the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation
resulting from such Business Combination (including, without
limitation, a corporation that, as a result of such transaction,
owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s
assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately
prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company
Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the
case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any corporation
resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit
plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation
resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns,
directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such
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Business
Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding
voting securities of such corporation, except to the extent that
such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and
(C) at least a majority of the members of the board of
directors of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the
execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board
providing for such Business Combination; or
(4)
Approval by the
shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
(e) “Alternative
Change of Control” means a Change of Control as defined
above, except that the phrase “Approval by the shareholder of
the Company” in clause (3) of
Section 1(d) shall be deemed to read
“Consummation.”
Section 2.
Employment Period
. The
Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive in its employ,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the
period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third
anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Employment
Period”). The Employment Period shall terminate upon
the Executive’s termination of employment for any
reason.
Section 3.
Terms of Employment
. (a)
Position and Duties
. (1) During the
Employment Period, (A) the Executive’s position
(including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements),
authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least
commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of
those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the 120-day
period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B) the
Executive’s services shall be performed at the office where
the Executive was employed immediately preceding the Effective Date
or at any other location less than 30 miles from such
office.
(2)
During the
Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick
leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to
devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours
to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent
necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the
Executive hereunder, to use the Executive’s reasonable best
efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such
responsibilities. During the Employment Period, it shall not
be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to
(A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or
committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements
or teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal
investments, so long as such activities do not significantly
interfere with the performance of the Executive’s
responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with
this Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that,
to the extent that any such activities have been conducted by the
Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of
such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and
scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not
thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of the
Executive’s responsibilities to the Company.
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(b)
Compensation
. (1)
Base Salary
. During the Employment Period,
the Executive shall receive an annual base salary (the
“Annual Base Salary”) at an annual rate at least equal
to 12 times the highest monthly base salary paid or payable,
including any base salary that has been earned but deferred, to the
Executive by the Company and the Affiliated Companies in respect of
the 12-month period immediately preceding the month in which the
Effective Date occurs. The Annual Base Salary shall be paid
at such intervals as the Company pays executive salaries
generally. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base
Salary shall be reviewed at least annually, beginning no more than
12 months after the last salary increase awarded to the Executive
prior to the Effective Date. Any increase in the Annual Base
Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to
the Executive under this Agreement. The Annual Base Salary
shall not be reduced after any such increase and the term
“Annual Base Salary” shall refer to the Annual Base
Salary as so increased.
(2)
Annual Bonus
. In addition to the
Annual Base Salary, the Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal
year ending during the Employment Period, an annual bonus (the
“Annual Bonus”) in cash at least equal to the
Executive’s Recent Target Bonus, as defined in the next
sentence. The “Recent Target Bonus” means the
Annual Base Salary times a percentage equal to the percentage of
base salary most recently established, before the Effective Date,
for purposes of determining the Executive’s target bonus
under the Company’s Management Incentive Compensation Plan or
any predecessor or successor plan (the “MICP”).
Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than the end of the
third month of the fiscal year next following the fiscal year for
which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the Executive shall elect
to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus. Any bonus paid to
the Executive under the MICP as a result of the Change of Control
(a “Change of Control Bonus”) shall be taken into
account in determining whether the requirements of this
Section 3(b)(2) have been met with respect to the fiscal
year in which the Change of Control occurs.
(3)
Incentive, Savings and Retirement
Plans .
During the
Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to participate
in all cash incentive, equity incentive, savings and retirement
plans, practices, policies, and programs applicable generally to
other peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies,
but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs
provide the Executive with incentive opportunities (measured with
respect to both regular and special incentive opportunities, to the
extent, if any, that such distinction is applicable), savings
opportunities and retirement benefit opportunities, in each case,
less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most favorable of those
provided by the Company and the Affiliated Companies for the
Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as in
effect at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding
the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, those
provided generally at any time after the Effective Date to other
peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies.
The Executive shall also continue to be entitled to any
supplemental pension benefits to which he may be entitled pursuant
to any individual agreement with the company or any Affiliated
Companies (collectively, “Enhanced Pension
Benefits”).
(4)
Welfare Benefit Plans
. During the Employment
Period, the Executive and/or the Executive’s family, as the
case may be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall
receive
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all benefits under welfare
benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the
Company and the Affiliated Companies (including, without
limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, employee
life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance
plans and programs) to the extent applicable generally to other
peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies, but in
no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide
the Executive with benefits that are less favorable, in the
aggregate, than the most favorable of such plans, practices,
policies and programs in effect for the Executive at any time
during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date
or, if more favorable to the Executive, those provided generally at
any time after the Effective Date to other peer executives of the
Company and the Affiliated Companies.
(5)
Expenses . During the Employment
Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt
reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive
in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices and
procedures of the Company and the Affiliated Companies in effect
for the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the
Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with
respect to other peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated
Companies.
(6)
Fringe Benefits
. During the Employment
Period, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits,
including, without limitation, tax and financial planning services,
payment of club dues, and, if applicable, use of an automobile and
payment of related expenses, in accordance with the most favorable
plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and the
Affiliated Companies in effect for the Executive at any time during
the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if
more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time
thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and
the Affiliated Companies.
(7)
Office and Support
Staff .
During the
Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to an office or
offices of a size and with furnishings and other appointments, and
to exclusive personal secretarial and other assistance, at least
equal to the most favorable of the foregoing provided to the
Executive by the Company and the Affiliated Companies at any time
during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date
or, if more favorable to the Executive, as provided generally at
any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the
Company and the Affiliated Companies.
(8)
Vacation . During the Employment
Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in
accordance with the most favorable plans, policies, programs and
practices of the Company and the Affiliated Companies as in effect
for the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the
Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with
respect to other peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated
Companies.
Section 4.
Termination of
Employment .
(a) Death or
Disability .
The
Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically if the
Executive dies during the Employment Period. If the Company
determines in good faith that the Disability (as defined herein) of
the
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Executive has occurred
during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of
“Disability”), it may give to the Executive written
notice in accordance with Section 11(b) of its intention
to terminate the Executive’s employment. In such event,
the Executive’s employment with the Company shall terminate
effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the
Executive (the “Disability Effective Date”),
provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the
Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of the
Executive’s duties. “Disability” means the
absence of the Executive from the Executive’s duties with the
Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive business days as a
result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness that is
determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the
Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or the
Executive’s legal representative.
(b)
Cause . The Company may terminate the
Executive’s employment during the Employment Period for
Cause. “Cause” means:
(1)
the willful and
continued failure of the Executive to perform substantially the
Executive’s duties (as contemplated by
Section 3(a)(1)(A)) with the Company or any Affiliated Company
(other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to
physical or mental illness or following the Executive’s
delivery of a Notice of Termination for Good Reason), after a
written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the
Executive by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company that specifically identifies the manner in which the Board
or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company believes that the
Executive has not substantially performed the Executive’s
duties, or
(2)
the willful
engaging by the Executive in illegal conduct or gross misconduct
that is materially and demonstrably injurious to the
Company.
For purposes of this Section 4(b), no act,
or failure to act, on the part of the Executive shall be considered
“willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by
the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the
Executive’s action or omission was in the best interests of
the Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority
given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or upon
the instructions of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or a
senior officer of the Company 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 cessation of employment of the
Executive shall not be deemed to be for Cause 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-quarters of the entire membership of the Board (excluding the
Executive, if the Executive is a member 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,
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