EXHIBIT
10.1
MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY
INCORPORATED
CHANGE OF CONTROL SEVERANCE
AGREEMENT
This Change of Control Severance Agreement (the
“Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between
________________ (the “Employee”) and Microchip
Technology Incorporated (the “Company”), effective as
of ________________, 2006 (the “Effective
Date”).
RECITALS
1. It is expected that the Company from time to
time will consider the possibility of an acquisition by another
company or other change of control. The Board of Directors of the
Company (the “Board”) recognizes that such
consideration can be a distraction to the Employee and can cause
the Employee to consider alternative employment opportunities. The
Board has determined that it is in the best interests of the
Company and its stockholders to assure that the Company will have
the continued dedication and objectivity of the Employee,
notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change
of Control (as defined herein) of the Company.
2. The Board believes that it is in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders to provide the
Employee with an incentive to continue his or her employment and to
motivate the Employee to maximize the value of the Company upon a
Change of Control for the benefit of its stockholders.
3. The Board believes that it is imperative to
provide the Employee with certain benefits upon a Change of Control
and certain benefits upon the Employee’s termination of
employment following a Change of Control. These benefits will
provide the Employee with enhanced financial security and incentive
and encouragement to remain with the Company notwithstanding the
possibility of a Change of Control.
4. Certain capitalized terms used in the Agreement
are defined in Section 5 below.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1.
Term of Agreement
. This Agreement shall terminate
upon the date that all of the obligations of the parties hereto
with respect to this Agreement have been satisfied.
2.
At-Will Employment
. The Company and the Employee
acknowledge that the Employee’s employment is and shall
continue to be at-will, as defined under applicable law, except as
may otherwise be specifically provided under the terms of any
written formal employment agreement or offer letter between the
Company and the Employee (an “Employment Agreement”).
If the Employee’s employment terminates prior to the Change
of Control Period, the Employee shall not be entitled to any
payments, benefits, damages, awards or compensation other than as
provided by this Agreement, or under his or her Employment
Agreement if any exists in writing, or as may otherwise be
available in accordance with the Company’s established
employee plans.
(a)
Benefits Upon a Change of
Control . Immediately
prior to consummation of a Change of Control the Employee shall
receive the following benefit:
(i) Equity Compensation
Acceleration . One hundred percent (100%) of the
Employee’s outstanding stock options, stock appreciation
rights, restricted stock units and other Company equity
compensation awards (the “Equity Compensation Awards”)
shall immediately vest and become exercisable. Any Company stock
options and stock appreciation rights shall remain exercisable
following the Employee’s employment termination for the
period prescribed in the respective option and stock appreciation
right agreements.
(b)
Termination Other than for Cause
During the Change of Control Period . If within the three-month period preceding or
any time following a Change of Control (the “Change of
Control Period”), the Employee ceases to be employed with the
Company (or any parent or subsidiary of the Company) for any reason
other than “Cause” (as defined herein), and the
Employee signs, and does not revoke, a standard release of claims
with the Company in a form acceptable to the Company (the
“Release”), then the Employee shall receive the
following severance from the Company:
(i) Severance
Payment . The Employee shall be entitled to receive a lump-sum
severance payment (less applicable withholding taxes) equal to
(one/two) hundred percent of the Employee’s annual base
salary (as in effect immediately prior to (A) the Change of
Control, or (B) the Employee’s termination of employment,
whichever is greater) plus ( one/two) hundred
percent of the Employee’s target bonuses for which Employee
was or would have been eligible (for the fiscal year in which the
Change of Control or the Employee’s termination occurs,
whichever is greater.)
(ii)
Continued Employee
Benefits . Company-paid
health, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage at the same
level of coverage as was provided to such Employee immediately
prior to termination and at the same ratio of Company premium
payment to Employee premium payment as was in effect immediately
prior to termination (the “Company-Paid Coverage”). If
such coverage included the Employee’s eligible dependents
immediately prior to termination, such dependents shall also be
covered at Company expense. Company-Paid Coverage shall continue
until the earlier of (A) (twelve/twenty-four) months from the date
of termination, or (B) the date upon which the Employee and his
dependents become covered under another employer’s group
health, dental, vision, long-term disability or life insurance
plans that provide Employee and his dependents with comparable
benefits and levels of coverage. For purposes of Title X of to the
Consolidated Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985
(“COBRA”), the date of the “qualifying
event” for Employee and his or her dependents shall be the
date upon which the Company-Paid Coverage terminates. Coverage in
this Section is dependent on the valid and timely election of
continued COBRA coverage under applicable law.
(c)
Timing of Severance
Payments . Except as
otherwise provided herein, the severance payment to which Employee
is entitled shall be paid by the Company to Employee in cash and in
full, not later than ten (10) calendar days after the effective
date of the Release. If the Employee should die before all amounts
have been paid, such unpaid amounts shall be paid in a lump-sum
payment (less any withholding taxes) to the Employee’s
designated beneficiary, if living, or otherwise to the personal
representative of the Employee’s estate.
(d)
Termination for Cause;
Termination Prior to Change of Control Period
. In the event the Employee’s
employment is terminated for Cause, or for any reason prior to the
Change of Control Period, then the Employee shall not be entitled
to receive severance and any other benefits except as may then be
established under the Company’s existing written severance
and benefits plans and practices or pursuant to other written
agreements with the Company.
(e)
Internal Revenue Code Section
409A . Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, if the Employee is a
“key employee” under Code Section 409A and a delay in
making any payment or providing any benefit under this Agreement is
required by Code Section 409A and any Treasury Regulations, and IRS
guidance thereunder, or necessary in the good faith judgment of the
Company, to avoid the Employee incurring additional tax under
Section 409A, such payments shall not be made until the end of six
(6) months following the date of the Employee’s separation
from service in accordance with Code Section 409A.
4.
Golden Parachute Excise
Tax .
(a)
Parachute Payments Equal to or
Greater than 3.0 x Base Amount . In the event that the benefits provided for in
this agreement or otherwise payable to Employee, including vesting
acceleration upon a change of control pursuant to Company equity
plans or any Employment Agreement which may exist
(i) constitute “parachute payments” within the
meaning of Section 280G of the Code, (ii