Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance





Exhibit 10.2.1




AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT




THIS
AMENDMENT (“Amendment”) is made this 31st day of December, 2008, by Spirit AeroSystems,
Inc. (the “Company”) and Ulrich Schmidt (the “Executive”) to the Employment Agreement previously
entered into between the Company and the Executive as of August 3, 2005 (the “Agreement”).




WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive are parties to the Agreement; and



WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend the Agreement to address compliance with the requirements
of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); and



WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive have reviewed and approved the provisions of this
Amendment.



NOW THEREFORE, on the basis of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants and agreements
contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:



1. Expense Reimbursement. Section 3(f) of the Agreement (regarding reimbursement of
expenses) is amended in its entirety to read as follows:




(f) Expenses. The Company will promptly pay or reimburse the Executive
for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Executive during the term of
the Executive’s employment in the performance of duties hereunder in accordance with
the Company’s policies and procedures then in effect.




The expenses described in this Section 3(f) are not intended to provide for the
deferral of compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A because all such
expenses are paid or reimbursed currently and/or will be tax-free. To the extent such
expenses are deemed to provide for the deferral of compensation within the meaning of
Code Section 409A, they are intended to meet the requirements of a specified date or a
fixed schedule of payments. Accordingly, the Company will pay or reimburse (as
applicable) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Executive during the
term of the Executive’s employment in the performance of duties under the Agreement in
accordance with the Company’s policies and procedures. The amount of expenses
eligible for payment or reimbursement in any calendar year will not affect the amount
of expenses eligible for payment or reimbursement in any other calendar year. Payment
of, or reimbursement for, an expense will be made as soon as administratively
practicable after the expense is incurred and in no event later than the end of the
calendar year after the calendar year in which the expense was incurred. The right to
payment of, or reimbursement for, these expenses is not subject to liquidation or
exchange for another benefit.


 


 









 





2. Effect of Voluntary Termination. Section 7(a) of the Agreement (regarding the
effect of voluntary termination) is amended by replacing the first sentence thereof with the
following:




If Executive’s employment is voluntarily terminated by Executive, the Company shall
pay Executive’s Base Salary through point of termination and pay one half (1/2) a pro
rated bonus under the STIP for the time worked, such bonus to be paid during the
calendar year immediately following the year in which the Executive’s employment
terminates (but not later than March 15 of such calendar year or, if earlier, the time
incentive compensation would otherwise be payable under the STIP for the year of
termination), on the basis of the Company’s performance relative to target achieved
for that full year, provided that, following termination of Executive’s employment,
all benefits payable to Executive under the STIP shall be paid in cash.



3. Effect of Termination Due to Contract Expiration. Section 7(c) of the Agreement
(regarding the effect of termination due to expiration of the Agreement without renewal) is amended
by adding the following paragraph after the first paragraph thereof:




Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 7(c) to the contrary, the following
will govern the timing of amounts payable under this Section 7(c): (1) to the extent
the Executive constitutes a Specified Employee at the time employment terminates (see
Section 7(g)), the payments described in Section 7(c)(i) will, to the extent such
amounts are subject to Code Section 409A, be delayed until the date that is the
earlier of (i) six months after the Executive’s termination of employment, or (ii) the
date of the Executive’s death, and upon reaching that date all amounts that would have
been paid during the six-month delay period, plus interest thereon at the prime rate
(as published in the Wall Street Journal) from the date the payment would have been
made but for this paragraph to the date of payment, will be paid in a single lump sum
and all remaining amounts will be paid in equal monthly payments for the remainder of
the Expiry Period; (2) to the extent the Executive is not a Specified Employee at the
time employment terminates, the payments described in Section 7(c)(i) will be paid in
equal monthly payments throughout the Expiry Period; and (3) the STIP bonus payments
described in Section 7(c)(ii) will be paid during the calendar year immediately
following the calendar year to which the bonus amounts relate (e.g., the first bonus
payment will be paid during the calendar year immediately following the calendar year
in which employment terminates), but will in no event be paid later than March 15 of
such calendar year or, if earlier, the date during such calendar year on which STIP
awards are otherwise paid to active participants in the STIP.


 


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4. Effect of Involuntary Termination Without Cause. Section 7(d) of the Agreement
(regarding the effect of involuntary termination without cause) is amended by adding the following
paragraph after the first paragraph thereof:




Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 7(d) to the contrary, the following
will govern the timing of amounts payable under this Section 7(d): (1) to the extent
the Executive constitutes a Specified Employee at the time employment terminates (see
Section 7(g)), the payments described in Section 7(d)(i) will, to the extent such
amounts are subject to Code Section 409A, be delayed until the date that is the
earlier of (i) six months after the Executive’s termination of employment, or (ii) the
date of the Executive’s death, and upon reaching that date all amounts that would have
been paid during the six-month delay period, plus interest thereon at the prime rate
(as published in the Wall Street Journal) from the date the payment would have been
made but for this paragraph to the date of payment, will be paid in a single lump sum
and all remaining amounts will be paid in equal monthly payments for the remainder of
the Termination Period; (2) to the extent the Executive is not a Specified Employee at
the time employment terminates, the payments described in Section 7(d)(i) will be paid
in equal monthly payments throughout the Termination Period; and (3) the STIP bonus
payments described in Section 7(d)(ii) will be paid during the calendar year
immediately following the calendar year to which the bonus amounts relate (e.g., the
first bonus payment will be paid during the calendar year immediately following the
calendar year in which employment terminates), but will in no event be paid later than
March 15 of such calendar year or, if earlier, the date during such calendar year on
which STIP awards are otherwise paid to active participants in the STIP.



5. Effect of Termination Due to Disability. Section 7(e) of the Agreement (regarding
the effect of termination due to disability) is amended by adding the following paragraph after the
first paragraph thereof:




Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Section 7(e), the following will
govern the timing of amounts payable under this Section 7(e): (1) to the extent the
Executive constitutes a Specified Employee at the time employment terminates (see
Section 7(g)), the payments described in this Section 7(e) will, to the extent such
amounts are subject to Code Section 409A, be delayed until the earlier of (i) six
months after the Executive’s termination of employment, or (ii) the date of the
Executive’s death, and upon reaching that date all amounts that would have been paid
during the six-month delay period, plus interest thereon at the prime rate (as
published in the Wall Street Journal) from the date the payment would have been made
but for this paragraph to the date of payment, will be paid in a single lump sum and
all remaining amounts will be paid in equal monthly payments until the Executive
reaches age 65 or, if earlier, commences full-time employment in an executive position
with another employer; and (2) to the extent the Executive is not a Specified Employee
at the time employment terminates, the payments described in this Section 7(e) will be
paid in equal monthly payments until the Executive reaches age 65 or, if earlier,
commences full-time employment in an executive position with another employer.


 


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6. Effect of Termination Due to Death. Section 7(f) of the Agreement (regarding the
effect of termination due to death) is amended by adding the following paragraph after the first
paragraph thereof:




Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 7(f) to the contrary, the following
will govern the timing of amounts payable under this Section 7(f): (1) the
salary-continuation payments described in Section 7(f)(i) will be paid in equal
monthly payments throughout the remainder of the Employment Period; and (2) the STIP
bonus payments described in Section 7(f)(ii) will be paid during the calendar year
immediately following the calendar year to which the bonus amounts relate (e.g., the
first bonus payment will be paid during the calendar year immediately following the
calendar year in which employment terminates), but will in no event be paid later than
March 15 of such calendar year or, if earlier, the date during such calendar year on
which STIP awards are otherwise paid to active participants in the STIP.



7. General Provisions Regarding Termination of Employment. A new Section 7(g) will be
added to the Agreement to read as follows:




(g) With respect to amounts payable to the Executive (or the Executive’s
beneficiary) under this Section 7 on account of or following termination of
employment, the following provisions also will apply, notwithstanding any contrary
provision of this Agreement:




(i) The termination of Executive as an employee of the Company (whether
due to retirement, disability, discharge, voluntary termination, or otherwise)
will not be deemed to occur earlier than the date on which the Executive has
incurred a separation from service with the Company and all entities that have
a relationship to the Company described in Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code,
applied by substituting the phrase “more than 50%” for the phrase “at least
80%” in each place it appears in Code Section 1563(a)(1), (2), and (3) and in
each place it appears in Treas. Reg. § 1.414(c)-2.




(ii) The Executive is a “Specified Employee” if, with respect to a
corporation any stock in which is publicly traded on an established securities
market or otherwise, the Executive is, or is treated under Code Section 409A
as, either (i) an officer of the corporation having annual compensation greater
than $130,000 (as adjusted for
cost-of-living increases in accordance with Code
Section 416(i)(1)(A) and Code Section 415(d)), (ii) a 5% owner of the
corporation, or (iii) a 1% owner of the corporation having annual compensation
from the corporation of more than $150,000. For purposes of determining the
Executive’s percentage ownership in a corporation, the
constructive-ownership
rules described in Code Section 416(i)(1)(B) will apply. The determination of
whether the Executive is a Specified Employee will be made by the Company in
accordance with regulations issued under Code Section 409A and other available
guidance.


 


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(iii) With respect to the provision of, or the payment or reimbursement
for, medical insurance, life insurance, or other welfare-benefits after
separation from service (to the extent otherwise provided in this Section 7),
if such amounts are deemed to provide for the deferral of compensation within
the meaning of Code Section 409A, they are intended to meet the requirements of
a fixed schedule of payments. Accordingly, the Company will pay, provide, or
reimburse those amounts only during the period otherwise specified in this
Section 7. The amounts paid, provided, or reimbursed in any calendar year will
not affect the amount paid, provided, or reimbursed in any other calendar year.
To the extent payment or reimbursement for any amounts will be made to the
Executive (or the Executive’s beneficiary), in no event will payment or
reimbursement be made later than the end of the calendar year after the
calendar year in which the expense was incurred. The right to provision of, or
payment or reimbursement for, any benefits is not subject to liquidation or
exchange for any other benefit.



8. Controversy Expenses. Section 12(e) (related to reimbursement of certain
controversy expenses) is amended by adding the following paragraph at the end thereof:




To address compliance with Code Section 409A, the parties agree that (i) the
reimbursements described in this Section 12(e) will in no event be made later than the
end of the calendar year after the calendar year in which such costs and expenses are
incurred by the Executive, (ii) the amounts paid or reimbursed in any calendar year
will not affect the amount paid or reimbursed in any other calendar year, and (iii)
the right to reimbursement under this Section 12(e) is not subject to liquidation or
exchange for any other benefit.



9. Offset. Section 16(a) (related to mitigation and offset) is amended by replacing
the second sentence thereof with the following:




Except as expressly provided herein, the Company’s obligation to make any payment
pursuant to, and otherwise perform its obligations under, this Agreement shall not be
affected by any offset, counterclaim or other right that the Company may have against
Executive for any reason, except that the Company shall be entitled to offset amounts
payable hereunder (other than amounts constituting deferred compensation within the
meaning of Code Section 409A) against any and all amounts owed by Executive to the
Company or an Affiliated Company due to Executive’s material breach of this Agreement,
fraudulent or dishonest conduct, or conviction of a felony with respect to assets of
the Company or an Affiliated Company.


 


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10. Tax Gross-Up. Section 22 (related to certain tax gross-up payments) is amended by
adding the following new paragraph at the end thereof:




To address compliance with Code Section 409A, the parties agree that the payments
by Company described in this Section 22 will in no event be made later than (i) in the
case of a payment to reimburse the Executive for taxes (including interest, penalties,
or other similar items) paid to any taxing authority, the end of the calendar year
after the calendar year in which the Executive remits those amounts to the taxing
authority; (ii) in the case of a payment to reimburse the Executive for the costs,
fees, and expenses of tax or accounting services, the end of the calendar year after
the calendar year in which such amounts are incurred by the Executive; and (iii) in
the case of a payment to reimburse the Executive for costs and expenses incurred in
connection with a tax audit or related administrative or legal proceeding, the end of
the calendar year after the calendar year in which the taxes subject to the audit or
related proceeding are remitted to the taxing authority or where as a result of the
audit or related proceeding no taxes are remitted the end of the calendar year after
the calendar year in which the audit is completed or there is a final and
nonappealable settlement or other resolution of any litigation resulting from the
audit. Further, with respect to any of the foregoing amounts, the amounts paid or
reimbursed in any calendar year will not affect the amount paid or reimbursed in any
other calendar year, and the right to payment or reimbursement of any such costs or
expenses will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.




11. No Acceleration. A new Section 24 is added to the agreement to read as follows:




24. No Acceleration. To the extent any amount payable under this
Agreement is deferred compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A or is
otherwise subject to Code Section 409A then, except as otherwise permitted by law, the
time or schedule of any such payment under this Agreement will not be accelerated, and
no interpretation, modification, alteration, amendment, or complete or partial
termination of this Agreement, or any provision of this Agreement, will cause or
permit acceleration of the time or schedule of any payment of such amounts under this
Agreement.


 


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12. Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Executive
from and against any taxes, penalties, or interest (“Taxes”) that may be imposed on or assessed
against the Executive by reason of the failure of any amounts paid or payable under the Agreement
to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A due to either (i) an alleged deficiency in the
form of the Agreement, or (ii) the Company’s failure to follow the terms of the Agreement, unless
the imposition or assessment of such Taxes is due to failure by the Executive to agree to any
modifications to the Agreement, or to take any other actions, that are, in the opinion of legal
counsel to the Company, necessary to permit the Agreement, and the amounts paid or payable under
the Agreement, to continue to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 409A. In the event any such
Taxes are assessed or proposed to be assessed against the Executive, the Executive will notify the
Company of such assessment or proposed assessment within 30 days, and the Executive will, if
requested by the Company, contest the assessment of such Taxes in such forums and proceedings as
the Company may deem appropriate, utilizing counsel selected by the Company, so long as the Company
pays or provides for all the costs and expenses associated with such contest(s), including, but not
limited to, paying or reimbursing (within five business days after request by the Executive) costs
of counsel and providing advance payment or deposit of any taxes, penalties, or interest deemed
necessary or appropriate by the Company. Upon final assessment of any Taxes for which the
Executive is entitled to indemnification hereunder, the Company will either (A) pay such Taxes on
the Executive’s behalf when due, or (B) reimburse the Executive for payment of such Taxes within
five business days after such payment by the Executive. In addition, in the event the Executive
becomes entitled to indemnification for Taxes hereunder, the Company will make a gross-up payment
to the Executive in an amount such that, after payment by the Executive of all Taxes imposed with
respect to the indemnification payment(s) hereunder and such gross-up payment the Executive retains
an amount equal to the gross amount of such indemnification payment(s) (or, in the event the
Company’s indemnification obligation is satisfied by direct payment of Taxes on the Executive’s
behalf, the Executive has no out-of-pocket expense for payment of Taxes related to such
indemnification payment(s)).



The right to indemnification for Taxes hereunder, and the right to payment or reimbursement of
expenses in connection with the contest of the assessment of such Taxes, is intended to meet the
requirements of a fixed schedule of payments for purposes of Code Section 409A. Accordingly, (i)
in the case of a payment to reimburse the Executive for taxes (including interest, penalties, or
other similar items) paid to any taxing authority, such amounts will be paid or reimbursed not
later than the end of the calendar year after the calendar year in which the Executive remits those
amounts to the taxing authority; (ii) in the case of a payment to reimburse the Executive for the
costs, fees, and expenses of tax or accounting services, such amounts will be paid or reimbursed
not later than the end of the calendar year after the calendar year in which such amounts are
incurred by the Executive; and (iii) in the case of a payment to reimburse the Executive for costs
and expenses incurred in connection with a tax audit or related administrative or legal proceeding,
such amounts will be paid or reimbursed not later than the end of the calendar year after the
calendar year in which the taxes subject to the audit or related proceeding are remitted to the
taxing authority or where as a result of the audit or related proceeding no taxes are remitted the
end of the calendar year after the calendar year in which the audit is completed or there is a
final and nonappealable settlement or other resolution of any litigation resulting from the audit.
Further, with respect to any of the foregoing amounts, the amounts paid or reimbursed in any
calendar year will not affect the amount paid or reimbursed in any other calendar year, and the
right to payment or reimbursement of any such costs or expenses will not be subject to liquidation
or exchange for any other benefit.


 


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13. Remaining Provisions. The remaining provisions of the Agreement will continue in
full force and effect.



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first set forth
above.





	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Gloria Farha Flentje 
 

	 	 	 	/s/ Ulrich Schmidt 
 

	 	 
	Name:

	 	Gloria Farha Flentje 
 

	 	 	 	Ulrich Schmidt	 	 
	Title:	 	Senior Vice President,	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Human Resources and Administration	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	“Company”
	 	 	 	“Executive”	 	 






 


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