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This Agreement made effective the 24 th day of
January, 2007.
Between:
Laidlaw International, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Laidlaw")
and
Jeffery A. McDougle (the "Executive")
WHEREAS , Laidlaw desires to employ the Executive and the
Executive desires to be employed by Laidlaw;
WHEREAS , Laidlaw and Executive entered into an
Employment Agreement dated August 1, 2006 (the "Employment
Agreement"), which Employment Agreement amended and restated the
initial employment agreement by and between Laidlaw and Executive
dated August 20, 2004 and replaced the Change of Control
Agreement dated, August 20, 2004; and
WHEREAS , Laidlaw and Executive intend to amend and
restate and replace the Employment Agreement with this
Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE , the parties have agreed that the terms
and conditions of the relationship shall be as follows:
Article 1 — Definitions
Whenever used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have
the meanings set forth below, and when the meaning is intended, the
initial letter of the word is capitalized:
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(a)
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"Accrued Obligations" means any unpaid amounts with respect to
(i) the Executive’s Base Salary through the Date of
Termination, (ii) any then-unpaid Annual Bonus or other
incentive compensation that the Executive may have earned pursuant
to the terms of any applicable incentive compensation or bonus plan
of Laidlaw with respect to any fiscal year or other performance
period completed prior to the Date of Termination,
(iii) reimbursement for any properly incurred, unreimbursed
business expenses incurred prior to termination in accordance with
Laidlaw’s business reimbursement policy applicable to the
Executive prior to the Date of Termination and (iv) payments
and benefits under the employee benefit and incentive plans and
perquisite programs of Laidlaw, in accordance with the respective
terms of those plans and perquisite programs.
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(b) "Agreement" means this employment agreement, as amended
from time to time.
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(c)
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"Annual Bonus" means the annual bonus under Laidlaw’s
Short Term Incentive Plan or any successor annual incentive
plan.
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(d)
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"Base Salary" means the salary of record paid to the Executive
as annual salary, and as further indicated in Section (a) of
Article 4.
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(e)
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"Board" means the Board of Directors of Laidlaw.
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(i)
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the continuous and willful failure or refusal by the Executive
to perform the Executive’s material duties and
responsibilities of his position with Laidlaw (other than any such
failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to
physical or mental illness), which has not ceased within twenty
(20) days after a written demand for substantial performance
is delivered to the Executive by Laidlaw, which demand identifies
with particularity the manner in which Laidlaw believes that the
Executive has not performed such duties,
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(ii)
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Executive’s willful malfeasance or willful misconduct in
connection with Executive’s duties hereunder or any willful
act or willful omission, including a willful failure to abide by
the Laidlaw International, Inc. Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics, which is materially injurious to the financial condition or
business reputation of Laidlaw or any significant Subsidiary;
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(iii)
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Executive’s commission of an act of fraud, embezzlement or
theft in connection with the Executive’s duties or in the
course of his employment with Laidlaw or any Subsidiary;
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(iv)
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the conviction of the Executive of, or the entering of a plea of
nolo contendere by, the Executive with respect to a felony; or
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(v)
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Executive’s breach of the provisions of Article 7 of
this Agreement.
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For purposes of this paragraph and Section (f), no act or
omission by the Executive shall be considered "willful" unless it
is done or omitted in bad faith or without reasonable belief that
the Executive’s action or omission was in the best interests
of Laidlaw. 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 Laidlaw shall be conclusively presumed to
be done, or omitted to be done, in good faith and in the best
interests of Laidlaw. A termination of employment shall not be
deemed to be for Cause unless prior to such termination the
Executive shall have received a copy of a resolution duly adopted
by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the
disinterested membership of the Board at a meeting of such Board
called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is
provided to the Executive and the Executive is given an opportunity
to be heard before such Board), finding that, in the good faith
opinion of the Board, the Executive is guilty of the conduct
described in Subsection (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) of
this Section (f) above.
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(g)
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"Change in Control" means the occurrence during the term of this
Agreement of any of the following events:
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(i)
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the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act)
(a "Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of
Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of fifty
percent (50%) or more of the then-outstanding Voting Stock;
provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not
constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition directly
from Laidlaw, (B) any acquisition by Laidlaw, (C) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
sponsored or maintained by Laidlaw or any Subsidiary, or
(D) any acquisition by any Person pursuant to a transaction
that complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of Subsection
(iii) of this Section (g);
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(ii)
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individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board
(the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason (other than death or
disability) 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 Laidlaw’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of
at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent
Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy
statement of Laidlaw in which such person is named as a nominee for
director, without objection to such nomination) 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 (within the meaning of Rule 14a-11 of the
Exchange Act) 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;
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(iii)
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consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or
sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
of Laidlaw (a "Business Combination"), unless, in each case,
immediately following such Business Combination, (A) all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the
beneficial owners of Voting Stock of Laidlaw immediately prior to
such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly,
more than fifty percent (50%) 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 of the entity resulting from such Business Combination
(including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such
transaction owns Laidlaw or all or substantially all of
Laidlaw’s assets either directly or through one or more
subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions relative to
each other as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business
Combination, of the Voting Stock of Laidlaw, (B) no Person
(excluding any entity resulting from such Business Combination or
any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by Laidlaw, any Subsidiary or such entity resulting from
such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or
indirectly, fifteen percent (15%) or more of the then outstanding
shares of common stock of the entity resulting from such Business
Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities of such entity except to the extent such
ownership existed prior to the Business Combination and (C) at
least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the
entity 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
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(iv)
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approval by the stockholders of Laidlaw of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of Laidlaw.
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(h)
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"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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(i) "Committee" means the Human Resources and Compensation
Committee of the Board.
(j) "Date of Termination" has the meaning ascribed to such
term in Section (e) of Article 6.
(k) "Effective Date" means the date first above
written.
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(l)
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"Employee Benefits" means the perquisites, benefits and service
credit for benefits as provided under any and all employee
retirement income and welfare benefit policies, plans, programs or
arrangements in which the Executive is entitled to participate,
including, without limitation, any stock option, performance share,
performance unit, stock purchase, stock appreciation, savings,
pension, supplemental executive retirement, or other retirement
income or welfare benefit, compensation, incentive compensation,
group or other life, health, medical/hospital or other insurance
(whether funded by actual insurance or self-insurance by Laidlaw or
a Subsidiary), salary continuation, expense reimbursement and other
employee benefit policies, plans, programs or arrangements.
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(m)
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"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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(n)
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"Executive" means Jeffery A. McDougle.
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(o)
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"Good Reason" means the occurrence of one or more of the
following events (regardless of whether any other reason, other
than Cause, for such termination exists or has occurred, including,
without limitation, other employment):
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(i)
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With respect to the two (2) year period commencing on a
Change in Control, the failure to elect or reelect or otherwise to
maintain the Executive in the office or the position, or a
substantially equivalent office or position, of or with Laidlaw
and/or a Subsidiary (or any successor thereto by operation of law
of or otherwise), as the case may be, which the Executive held
immediately prior to a Change in Control, or the removal of the
Executive as a director of Laidlaw and/or a Subsidiary (or any
successor thereto) if the Executive shall have been a director of
Laidlaw and/or a Subsidiary immediately prior to the Change in
Control;
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(ii)
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With respect to the two (2) year period commencing on a
Change in Control, (A) a significant adverse change in the nature
or scope of the authorities, powers, functions, responsibilities or
duties attached to the position with Laidlaw and any Subsidiary
which the Executive held immediately prior to the Change in
Control, (B) a reduction in the aggregate of the
Executive’s Base Salary received from Laidlaw and any
Subsidiary or the Executive’s Incentive Pay opportunity from
Laidlaw or its Subsidiaries, or (C) the termination or denial
of the Executive’s rights to Employee Benefits or a reduction
in the scope or value thereof to a level that is substantially
lower in the aggregate from the level in effect at the time of the
Change in Control, any of which is not remedied by Laidlaw within
ten (10) calendar days after receipt by Laidlaw of written
notice from the Executive of such change, reduction, denial or
termination, as the case may be;
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(iii)
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The liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation or
reorganization of Laidlaw or transfer of all or substantially all
of its business and/or assets, unless the successor or successors
(by liquidation, merger, consolidation, reorganization, transfer or
otherwise) to which all or substantially all of its business and/or
assets have been transferred (by operation of law or otherwise)
assumes all duties and obligations of Laidlaw under this Agreement
pursuant to Section (a) of Article 14;
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(iv)
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Laidlaw relocates its principal executive offices (if such
offices are the principal location of the Executive’s work),
or requires the Executive to have his principal location of work
changed, to any location that, in either case, increases the
Executive’s commute to work by more than fifty
(50) miles without his prior written consent; or
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(v)
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Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, any
material breach of this Agreement by Laidlaw or any successor
thereto which is not remedied by Laidlaw within ten
(10) calendar days after receipt by Laidlaw of written notice
from the Executive of such breach.
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(p)
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"Laidlaw" means Laidlaw International Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
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(q)
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"Notice of Termination" has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section (d) of Article 6.
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(r)
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"Retirement Plans" means the retirement income, supplemental
executive retirement, excess benefits and retiree medical, life and
similar benefit plans, programs or arrangements of Laidlaw or a
Subsidiary in which the Executive is entitled to participate.
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(s)
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"Subsidiary" means an entity in which Laidlaw directly or
indirectly beneficially owns fifty percent (50%) or more of the
outstanding Voting Stock.
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(t)
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"Target Bonus" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
(b) of Article 4.
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(u)
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"Voting Stock" means securities entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors.
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Article 2 — Term of the Agreement
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The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date
and shall continue until terminated in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement (the "Term").
1
Article 3 — Title; Commencement of Employment;
Reporting
The Executive shall serve as the Vice President and Treasurer of
Laidlaw. The Executive shall report to the Chief Executive
Officer.
Article 4 — Compensation
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(a)
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Unless otherwise provided, all dollar amounts set forth in this
Agreement shall be in United States Dollars. The Base Salary of the
Executive for his services is established by the Committee at the
annualized rate of Three Hundred and Eighteen Thousand, Six Hundred
and Thirteen Dollars ($318,613.00). The Base Salary shall be
payable twice monthly on the fifteenth business day and the last
business day of each month. The Base Salary shall be reviewed
annually during Laidlaw’s normal review period. The review
will be undertaken by assessing the Executive’s achievement
of the overall objectives established by the Committee in
consultation with the Executive and with regard to the market rates
of remuneration paid for similar duties and responsibilities. As a
result of such review, the Executive’s Base Salary may be
increased, but not decreased.
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(b)
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The Executive will be eligible to participate in and be eligible
to receive an Annual Bonus under Laidlaw’s Short Term
Incentive Plan or any successor plan or program. For each fiscal
year of Laidlaw, the Executive’s target bonus shall be no
less than fifty percent (50%) of Base Salary and the maximum bonus
shall be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of Base Salary.
The Executive’s right to receive any bonus under
Laidlaw’s Short Term Incentive Plan shall be determined based
upon measurements established by the Committee after consultation
with the Executive and as set forth in accordance with
Laidlaw’s Short Term Incentive Plan.
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(c)
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The Executive shall participate in the Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan sponsored by Laidlaw for the benefit of its
employees.
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(d)
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Subject to approval by the Committee, the Executive will be
eligible to receive equity or equity based grants from time to
time. Such grants will be on terms and conditions established by
the Committee in accordance with the Laidlaw International, Inc.
Amended and Restated 2003 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan or
any successor plan.
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It is understood and agreed that the Executive will incur
expenses in connection with his duties under this Agreement,
including, but not limited to, travel expenses, home facsimile
expenses, personal computer expenses and telephone expenses.
Laidlaw shall reimburse the Executive for any such expenses
provided that the Executive provides to Laidlaw an itemized written
account and receipts acceptable to Laidlaw.
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The Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks vacation
during each calendar year. The vacation shall be taken at the
discretion of the Executive with the understanding that the
Executive will take into account business needs and operations in
scheduling vacation. All vacation earned by the Executive shall be
governed by Laidlaw’s vacation policies and other similar
benefit policies Laidlaw has in place, from time to time.
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The Executive shall be entitled to those welfare benefit
coverages as are offered by Laidlaw to its employees generally
(such as medical insurance, dental insurance, short and long-term
disability insurance and group term life insurance), all in
accordance with the employee benefit plans and policies maintained
by Laidlaw or a Subsidiary for the benefit of employees of Laidlaw,
and as amended from time to time.
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(d)
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Change in Control Vesting
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Upon a Change in Control, and notwithstanding any provision to
the contrary in any applicable plan, program or agreement, upon the
occurrence of a Change in Control, all equity incentive awards held
by the Executive shall become fully vested and all stock options
held by the Executive shall become fully exercisable.
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Article 6 — Termination of Employment
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(a)
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The parties understand and agree that this Agreement and the
Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated in the
following manner in the specified circumstances:
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(i)
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The Executive’s employment hereunder shall automatically
terminate upon the death of the Executive.
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(ii)
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By Laidlaw, if, as a result of the Executive’s incapacity
due to physical or mental illness which is expected to be of more
than a brief duration, the Executive has been unable to perform the
essential functions of his job for one hundred and eighty
(180) days (whether or not consecutive) during any period of
eighteen (18) consecutive months ("Disability"), and no
reasonable accommodation can be made that will allow Executive to
perform the essential functions of his position with Laidlaw. Upon
such termination, the Executive shall be entitled to the same
severance benefits and payments described in Subsection (v) or
(vi), as applicable, as if such termination was a termination by
Laidlaw without Cause.
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(iii)
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By the Executive, at any time, for any reason. Laidlaw may waive
notice required by Section (d) of this Article 6, in
whole or in part, upon immediate payment to the Executive of the
Executive’s Base Salary for such portion of notice period as
is waived by Laidlaw. If such termination is for Good Reason, then
unless the provisions of Subsection (vi) apply, the Executive
shall be entitled to the same payments and benefits as provided in
Subsection (v) for terminations by Laidlaw without Cause. If
such termination is for any other reason, Laidlaw shall pay to the
Executive the Accrued Obligations.
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(iv)
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By Laidlaw, in its absolute discretion, without any pay in lieu
of notice, for Cause. Upon such termination, Laidlaw shall pay to
the Executive the Accrued Obligations.
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(v)
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By Laidlaw, in its absolute discretion and for any reason,
without Cause. Upon such termination, unless the provisions of
Subsection (vi) hereof apply, Laidlaw shall (A) continue
to pay the Executive his Base Salary in effect at the time of such
termination for a period of twelve (12) months following such
termination, (B) pay the Executive a monthly amount equal to
one-twelfth of the Executive’s Target Bonus in effect at the
time of Executive’s termination of employment for a period of
twelve (12) months following such termination, (C) continue to
provide the Executive term life insurance for a period of twelve
(12) months after termination, or, if such benefits cannot be
provided by Laidlaw, Laidlaw shall pay to the Executive an
equivalent lump sum cash amount in lieu of such benefits,
(D) continue to provide the Executive (and his eligible
dependents) with the opportunity to continue to participate in its
group medical and dental benefits (with such continuation being
counted towards any required COBRA continuation period), at the
Executive’s sole expense based on COBRA rates charged from
time to time; provided, however, that Laidlaw shall pay to the
Executive over the twelve (12) month period an amount equal to
the full COBRA cost of such coverage, (E) reasonable
outplacement services by a firm selected by the Executive, at the
expense of Laidlaw, in an amount up to Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars
($25,000.00) and (F) pay to the Executive the Accrued
Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Executive is a
"specified employee" within the meaning of Code Section 409A
at the Date of Termination, then
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(I)
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the total amount which would have been payable to the Executive
over the twelve (12) month period pursuant to this Subsection
(v) shall instead be paid to the Executive in equal monthly
amounts over the period commencing on the Date of Termination and
ending no later than the first day of the third month following the
later of (X) the calendar year in which the Date of
Termination occurred and (Y) the fiscal year of Laidlaw in
which the Date of Termination occurred, if such payments would not
be subject to Code Section 409A, or
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(II)
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if the payments specified in Clause (I) would be subject to
Code Section 409A, then such payments shall be paid in the
manner set forth above without regard to Clause (I) hereof,
but payments which would otherwise have been made during the first
six (6) months following the Date of Termination, shall be
withheld and paid to the Executive during the seventh month
following the Date of Termination, increased for interest as
provided in Section (b) hereof.
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(vi)
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In the event that during the two (2) year period commencing
on the date of a Change in Control, Laidlaw terminates the
Executive’s employment without Cause or the Executive
terminates employment for Good Reason, Laidlaw shall pay to the
Executive the amounts described in Annex A within five
(5) business days after the Date of Termination and shall
provide to the Executive the benefits described on Annex A for the
periods described therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the
event that the Executive is at the Date of Termination a "specified
employee" within the meaning of Code Section 409A, payment to
the Executive shall be made within five (5) days following the
expiration of six (6) months from the Date of Termination, and
not before such six (6) month period, if necessary to avoid
adverse tax consequences to the Executive under Code
Section 409A.
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(b)
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Without limiting the rights of the Executive at law or in
equity, in the event it is determined that Laidlaw fails to make
any payment or provide any benefit required to be made or provided
under Section (a) hereof on a timely basis, Laidlaw shall pay
interest on the amount or value thereof at an annualized rate of
interest equal to the so-called composite "prime rate" as quoted
from time to time during the relevant period in The Wall Street
Journal . Any change in such prime rate shall be effective on
and as of the date of such change. In addition, if any payment
described in Subsection (v) or (vi) of Section
(a) hereof by Laidlaw subjects the Executive to the excise tax
under Code Section 409A on such payment, Laidlaw shall pay on
the Executive’s behalf to the applicable taxing authorities,
an amount which, after payment of all state, local and federal
income and employment taxes which may be due on such payment
(calculated at the highest marginal rates), is equal to the excise
tax under Code Section 409A which arose as a result of
Laidlaw’s delay or acceleration in to making such
payment.
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(c)
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In order to receive the entitlement under Subsection
(vi) of Section (a) hereof, or Clauses (A), (B), (C),
(D) and (E) of Subsection (v) of Section
(a) hereof (whether such termination is by the Executive for
Good Reason or by Laidlaw without Cause), the Executive must
undertake to sign a release in a form satisfactory to Laidlaw,
fully releasing Laidlaw from further claims upon payment of the
amounts stipulated herein and must not revoke such release.
However, the form of release shall not require that the Executive
give up any rights of indemnity which the Executive may have had
against Laidlaw for acts carried out by the Executive in the
ordinary course of Laidlaw’s business, nor shall it require
the release of the benefits this Agreement payable due to or after
the Executive’s termination of employment. Laidlaw may
withhold payment of such amount until the period during which the
Executive may revoke such waiver (normally seven (7) days) has
elapsed.
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(d)
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Any purported termination of the Executive’s employment by
Laidlaw or by the Executive shall be communicated by written Notice
of Termination to the other party hereto in accordance with
Article 15. "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice that
shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement
relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the
Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated.
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(e)
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"Date of Termination" shall mean (i) if the
Executive’s employment is terminated because of death, the
date of the Executive’s death, (ii) if the
Executive’s employment is terminated for Disability, the date
Notice of Termination is delivered to the Executive following a
determination that Disability exists pursuant to the provisions of
this Agreement, (iii) if the Executive’s employment is
terminated by Laidlaw for any other reason other than Disability or
for Cause or if the Executive terminates employment for Good
Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination which shall
not be less than thirty (30) days from the date such Notice of
Termination is given, (iv) if the Executive’s employment
is terminated by Laidlaw for reasons of Cause, immediately upon
delivery of the Notice of Termination and the expiration of any
cure period provided under Section (d) of Article I, and
(v) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the
Executive pursuant to Subsection (iii) of Section (a) of
this Article for reasons other than Good Reason, the date specified
in the Notice of Termination which shall not be less than ninety
(90) days from the date such Notice of Termination is
given.
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(f)
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Any termination of employment of the Executive or the removal of
the Executive from the office or position in Laidlaw or any
Subsidiary that occurs (i) not more than ninety (90) days
prior to the date on which a Change in Control occurs, and
(ii) following the commencement of any discussion with a third
person that ultimately results in a Change in Control,
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