Source: http://corpdocs.msci.com/contracts/ceo_100940.htm
Timestamp: 2017-09-22 09:53:06
Document Index: 316312655

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 2000', '§ 12101', '§ 201', '§ 1001', '§ 621']

EX-10.17 7 dex1017.htm FORM OF ASSURANT, INC. CHANGE OF CONTROL EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS CHANGE OF CONTROL EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of the 1st day of January, 2009 (this “Agreement”), by and between Assurant, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [Executive] (the “Executive”).
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 the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated prior to the date on which a Change of Control occurs, and if it is reasonably demonstrated by the Executive that such termination of employment (i) was at the request of a third party that has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change of Control or (ii) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of a Change of Control (such a termination of employment, an “Anticipatory Termination”) and if such Change of Control is consummated, then for all purposes of this Agreement, the “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 second 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 two 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.
(d) “Change of Control” means any of the following events:
(1) 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”) becomes the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 30% 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 pursuant to a transaction that complies with Sections 1(d)(3)(A), 1(d)(3)(B) and 1(d)(3)(C);
(3) Consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (each, 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, more than 60% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent securities) and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent governing body), as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity 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, 30% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such 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 (or, for a non-corporate entity, equivalent governing body) 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
Section 2. Employment Period. The Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive in the employ of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second 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 with the Company (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date, (B) the Executive’s services for the Company 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 and (C) the Executive shall not be required to travel on Company business to a substantially greater extent than required during the 120-day period immediately prior to the Effective Date.
(2) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of paid time off 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.
(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 one-year 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
(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 product of Annual Base Salary and the greater of (A) the Executive’s target percentage under the Company’s applicable bonus plan or any comparable percentage under any predecessor or successor Company plan for the year immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B) the Executive’s target percentage, as determined immediately prior to the Effective Date, under the Company’s applicable bonus plan or any comparable percentage under any predecessor or successor Company plan for the year in which the Effective Date occurs (such product, the “Highest Annual Bonus”). Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than two and a half months after the end of the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus pursuant to an arrangement that meets the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), excluding arrangements authorized pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(e).
(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. In no event shall the reimbursements under this Section 3(b)(5) be made later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which such expenses were incurred. The amount of such expenses that the Company and/or the Affiliated Companies are obligated to pay in any given calendar year shall not affect the expenses that the Company and/or the Affiliated Companies are obligated to pay in any other calendar year, and the Executive’s right to have the Company and/or the Affiliated Companies pay such expenses may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit.
(6) Paid Time Off. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid time off 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 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 one year after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the “Disability Effective Date”), provided that, within thirty 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 (such agreement as to acceptability not to be unreasonably withheld).
(c) Good Reason. The Executive’s employment may be terminated during the Employment Period by the Executive for Good Reason or by the Executive voluntarily without Good Reason. “Good Reason” means actions taken by the Company resulting in a material negative change in the employment relationship. For these purposes, a “material negative change in the employment relationship” shall include, without limitation:
(1) the assignment to the Executive of duties materially inconsistent with the Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 3(a), or a material diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities or a material diminution in the budget over which the Executive retains authority;
(2) a material diminution in the authorities, duties or responsibilities of the person to whom the Executive is required to report, including a requirement that the Executive report to an officer or employee instead of reporting directly to the Applicable Board;
(3) (i) a reduction of ten (10) percent or greater of any element of the compensation required to be provided to the Executive in accordance with any of the provisions of Section 3(b)(1) through 3(b)(3); or (ii) a material reduction of the aggregate benefits required to be provided to the Executive under the remaining provisions of Section 3(b) of this Agreement;
(4) the Company’s requiring the Executive (i) to be based at any office or location other than as provided in Section 3(a)(1)(B) resulting in a material increase in the Executive’s commute to and from the Executive’s primary residence (for this purpose an increase in the Executive’s commute by 30 miles or more shall be deemed material) or (ii) to be based at a location other than the principal executive offices of the Company if the Executive was employed at such location immediately preceding the Effective Date;
(5) any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company of this Agreement; or
(6) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 10(c).
In order to invoke a termination for Good Reason, the Executive shall provide written notice to the Company of the existence of one or more of the conditions described in clauses (1) through (5) within 90 days following the Executive’s knowledge of the initial existence of such condition or conditions, specifying in reasonable detail the conditions constituting Good Reason, and the Company shall have 30 days following receipt of such written notice (the “Cure Period”) during which it may remedy the condition. In the event that the Company fails to remedy the condition constituting Good Reason during the applicable Cure Period, the Executive’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) must occur, if at all, within two years following such Cure Period in order for such termination as a result of such condition to constitute a termination for Good Reason. The Executive’s mental or physical incapacity following the occurrence of an event described above in clauses (1) through (5) shall not affect the Executive’s ability to terminate employment for Good Reason and the Executive’s death following delivery of a Notice of Termination for Good Reason shall not affect the Executive’s estate’s entitlement to severance payments benefits provided hereunder upon a termination of employment for Good Reason.
(d) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 11(b). “Notice of Termination” means a written notice that (1) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (2) to the extent applicable, sets 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 and (3) if the Date of Termination (as defined herein) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the Date of Termination (which Date of Termination shall be not more than 30 days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance that contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive’s or the Company’s respective rights hereunder.
(e) Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” means (1) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or such later date specified in the Notice of Termination, as the case may be, (2) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination, (3) if the Executive resigns without Good Reason, the date on which the Executive notifies the Company of such termination and (4) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability, the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be.
(1) the Company shall pay to the Executive, in a lump sum in cash within 60 days after the Date of Termination (subject to the Executive’s execution and nonrevocation, within fifty-two (52) days after the Date of Termination, of the general release attached hereto as Appendix A), the aggregate of the following amounts:
(A) the sum of (i) the Executive’s Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (ii) the Executive’s business expenses that are reimbursable pursuant to Section 3(b)(5) but have not been reimbursed by the Company as of the Date of Termination; (iii) the Executive’s Annual Bonus for the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs, if such bonus has been determined but not paid as of the Date of Termination; (iv) any accrued paid time off to the extent not theretofore paid (the sum of the amounts described in subclauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), the “Accrued Obligations”) and (v) an amount equal to the product of (x) the Highest Annual Bonus and (y) 0.5 (the “Pro Rata Bonus”); provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Executive has made an irrevocable election under any deferred compensation arrangement subject to Section 409A of the Code to defer any portion of the Annual Bonus described in clause (iii) above, then for all purposes of this Section 5 (including, without limitation, Sections 5(b) through 5(d)), such deferral election, and the terms of the applicable arrangement shall apply to the same portion of the amount described in such clause (iii), and such portion shall not be considered as part of the “Accrued Obligations” but shall instead be an “Other Benefit” (as defined below); and
(2) for eighteen (18) months after the Executive’s Date of Termination, or such longer period as may be provided by the terms of the appropriate plan, program, practice or policy (the “Benefit Continuation Period”), the Company shall provide health care, life insurance benefits and long-term disability benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive’s family at least equal to, and at the same after-tax cost to the Executive and/or the Executive’s family, as those that would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs, practices and policies providing health care, life insurance benefits and long-term disability benefits and at the benefit level described in Section 3(b)(4) if the Executive’s employment had not been terminated 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 and their families; provided, however, that if the Executive becomes re-employed with another employer and is eligible to
receive health care under another employer-provided plan, the health care provided hereunder shall be secondary to those provided under such other plan during such applicable period of eligibility. The health care benefits provided during the Benefit Continuation Period hereunder shall be provided concurrently with any health care benefits that may be provided during such period pursuant to Section 4980B of the Code. For purposes of determining eligibility and the Company’s contribution (but not the time of commencement of benefits) of the Executive for retiree welfare benefits pursuant to the retiree welfare benefit plans, the Executive shall be considered to have remained employed until the third anniversary of the Date of Termination, and the Company shall take such actions as are necessary to cause the Executive to be eligible to commence in the applicable retiree welfare benefit plans as of the applicable benefit commencement date;
(3) the Company shall, at its sole expense as incurred, provide the Executive with outplacement services, for a limited period of time not longer than twelve (12) months following the Executive’s Date of Termination, the scope and provider of which shall be selected by the Executive in the Executive’s sole discretion; and
(b) Death. If the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of the Executive’s death during the Employment Period, the Company shall provide the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries with the Accrued Obligations (subject to the proviso set forth in Section 5(a)(1)(A) to the extent applicable) and the Pro Rata Bonus and the timely payment or delivery of the Other Benefits (subject to the proviso set forth in Section 5(a)(1)(A) to the extent applicable), and shall have no other severance obligations under this Agreement. The Accrued Obligations and the Pro Rata Bonus shall be paid to the Executive’s estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. With respect to the provision of the Other Benefits, the term “Other Benefits” as utilized in this Section 5(b) shall include, without limitation, and the Executive’s estate and/or beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive, benefits at least equal to the most favorable benefits provided by the Company and the Affiliated Companies to the estates and beneficiaries of peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to death benefits, if any, as in effect with respect to other peer executives and their beneficiaries at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive’s estate and/or the Executive’s beneficiaries, as in effect on the date of the Executive’s death with respect to other peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies and their beneficiaries.
(c) Disability. If the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of the Executive’s Disability during the Employment Period, the Company shall provide the Executive with the Accrued Obligations and Pro Rata Bonus and the timely payment or delivery of the Other Benefits (subject to the proviso set forth in Section 5(a)(1)(A) to the extent applicable) in accordance with the terms of the underlying plans or agreements, and shall have no other severance obligations under this Agreement. The Accrued Obligations (subject to the proviso set
forth in Section 5(a)(1)(A) to the extent applicable) and the Pro Rata Bonus shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. With respect to the provision of the Other Benefits, the term “Other Benefits” as utilized in this Section 5(c) shall include, and the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date to receive, disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable of those generally provided by the Company and the Affiliated Companies to disabled executives and/or their families in accordance with such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to disability, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their families at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive’s family, as in effect at any time thereafter generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and the Affiliated Companies and their families.
(d) Cause; Other Than for Good Reason. If the Executive’s employment is terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, the Company shall provide the Executive with the Executive’s Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination, and the timely payment or delivery of the Other Benefits (disregarding the proviso set forth in Section 5(a)(1)(A) to the extent applicable), and shall have no other severance obligations under this Agreement. If the Executive voluntarily terminates employment during the Employment Period, excluding a termination for Good Reason, the Company shall provide to the Executive the Accrued Obligations and the Pro Rata Bonus and the timely payment or delivery of the Other Benefits, subject to the proviso set forth in Section 5(a)(1)(A) to the extent applicable, and shall have no other severance obligations under this Agreement. In such case, all the Accrued Obligations and the Pro Rata Bonus shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination.
Section 6. Non-exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive’s continuing or future participation in any plan, program, policy or practice provided by the Company or the Affiliated Companies and for which the Executive may qualify, nor, subject to Section 11(f), shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any other contract or agreement with the Company or the Affiliated Companies. Amounts that are vested benefits or that the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of or any other contract or agreement with the Company or the Affiliated Companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination (“Other Benefits”) shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program or contract or agreement, except as explicitly modified by this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Executive’s resignation under this Agreement with or without Good Reason, shall in no way affect the Executive’s ability to terminate employment by reason of the Executive’s “retirement” under, or to be eligible to receive benefits under, any compensation and benefits plans, programs or arrangements of the Company or any of the Affiliated Companies, including without limitation any retirement or pension plans or arrangements or substitute plans adopted by the Company, any of the Affiliated Companies or any of their respective successors, and any termination which otherwise qualifies as Good Reason shall be treated as such even if it is also a “retirement” for purposes of any such plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Executive receives payments and benefits pursuant to Section 5(a) of this Agreement, the Executive shall not be entitled to any severance pay or benefits under any severance plan, program or policy of the Company and the Affiliated Companies, unless otherwise specifically provided therein in a specific reference to this Agreement.
Section 7. Full Settlement; Legal Fees. The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other claim, right or action that the Company may have against the Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement, and except as specifically provided in Section 5(a)(2), such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other employment. The Company agrees to pay as incurred (within 10 days following the Company’s receipt of an invoice from the Executive), at any time from the Effective Date of this Agreement through the Executive’s remaining lifetime (or, if longer, through the 20th anniversary of the Effective Date) to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses that the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof (including as a result of any contest by the Executive about the amount of any payment pursuant to this Agreement), plus, in each case, interest on any delayed payment at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code (“Interest”) determined as of the date such legal fees and expenses were incurred. In order to comply with Section 409A of the Code, in no event shall the payments by the Company under this Section 7 be made later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which such fees and expenses were incurred, provided, that the Executive shall have submitted an invoice for such fees and expenses at least 10 days before the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which such fees and expenses were incurred. The amount of such legal fees and expenses that the Company is obligated to pay in any given calendar year shall not affect the legal fees and expenses that the Company is obligated to pay in any other calendar year, and the Executive’s right to have the Company pay such legal fees and expenses may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding and except as set forth below, in the event it shall be determined that any Payment would be subject to the Excise Tax, then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (the “Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount such that, after payment by the Executive of all taxes (and any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including, without limitation, any income taxes (and any interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, but excluding any income taxes and penalties imposed pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8(a), if it shall be determined that the Executive is entitled to the Gross-Up Payment, but that the Parachute Value of all Payments does not exceed 105% of the Safe Harbor Amount, then no Gross-Up Payment shall be made to the Executive and the amounts payable under this Agreement shall be reduced so that the Parachute Value of all Payments, in the aggregate, equals the Safe Harbor Amount. The reduction of the amounts payable hereunder, if applicable, shall be made by reducing the payments and benefits under the following sections in the following order: (i) Section 5(a)(1)(B), (ii) Section 5(a)(1)(A)(v) and (iii) Section 5(a)(2). For purposes of reducing the Payments to the Safe Harbor Amount, only amounts payable under this Agreement (and no other
Payments) shall be reduced. If the reduction of the amount payable under this Agreement would not result in a reduction of the Parachute Value of all Payments to the Safe Harbor Amount, no amounts payable under the Agreement shall be reduced pursuant to this Section 8(a) and the Executive shall be entitled to the Gross-Up Payment. The Company’s obligation to make Gross-Up Payments under this Section 8 shall not be conditioned upon the Executive’s termination of employment.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 8(c), all determinations required to be made under this Section 8, including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment is required, the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, or such other nationally recognized certified public accounting firm as may be designated by the Executive (the “Accounting Firm”). The Accounting Firm shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a Payment or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. In the event that the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change of Control, the Executive may appoint another nationally recognized accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive. As a result of the 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 Gross-Up Payments that will not have been made by the Company should have been made (the “Underpayment”), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event the Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section 8(c) and the Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive.
provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest, and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest and penalties) imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of this Section 8(c), the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest, and, at its sole discretion, may pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the applicable taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole discretion, either pay the tax claimed to the appropriate taxing authority on behalf of the Executive and direct the Executive to sue for a refund or to contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided, however, that, if the Company pays such claim and directs the Executive to sue for a refund, the Company shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest or penalties) imposed with respect to such payment or with respect to any imputed income in connection with such payment; and provided, further, that any extension of the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the Executive with respect to which such contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, the Company’s control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which the Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder, and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority.
(e) Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this Section 8, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within five days of the receipt of the Accounting Firm’s determination; provided that, the Gross-Up Payment shall in all events be paid no later than the end of the Executive’s taxable year next following the Executive’s taxable year in which the Excise Tax (and any income or other related taxes or interest or penalties thereon) on a Payment are
remitted to the Internal Revenue Service or any other applicable taxing authority or, in the case of amounts relating to a claim described in Section 8(c) that does not result in the remittance of any federal, state, local and foreign income, excise, social security and other taxes, the calendar year in which the claim is finally settled or otherwise resolved. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 8, the Company may, in its sole discretion, withhold and pay over to the Internal Revenue Service or any other applicable taxing authority, for the benefit of the Executive, all or any portion of any Gross-Up Payment, and the Executive hereby consents to such withholding.
Section 9. Noncompetition; Nonsolicitation; Confidential Information. (a) The Executive agrees that the Executive shall not, during the Noncompete Period (as defined below), directly or indirectly engage in a Competitive Activity, whether as an individual or as an owner, principal, employee, officer, director, independent contractor, representative, stockholder, financial backer, agent, partner, advisor or lender of any individual, partnership, corporation or other organization that is engaged in a Competitive Activity. For purposes of this Agreement, (i) “Competitive Activity” shall mean any business or other entity engaged in any business in which the Company or its subsidiaries are engaged and (ii) “Noncompete Period” shall mean the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the earlier of (x) the Effective Date and (y) (1) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or by the Executive without Good Reason, the date that is six months following the date of termination of the Executive’s employment or (2) if the Executive’s employment is terminated other than by the Company for Cause or by the Executive without Good Reason, the date of termination of the Executive’s employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may make and retain investments during the Noncompete Period in five percent (5%) or less of the equity of any entity engaged in a Competitive Activity, if such equity is listed on a national securities exchange or regularly traded in an over-the-counter market. The Executive further agrees that he shall not, during the Noncompete Period, directly or indirectly, alone or with others, on his own behalf or on behalf of another, induce or solicit (or aid or assist any person to induce or solicit) any customer of the Company
or any Affiliated Company, or any person that was a customer of the Company or any Affiliated Company during or within the six-month period prior to the Noncompete Period, for the benefit or account of any person that is actively engaged in a Competitive Activity.
(b) The Executive agrees that the Executive shall not, during the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the first anniversary of the date of termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason, employ or offer to employ, solicit, actively interfere with the Company’s or any Affiliated Company’s relationship with, or attempt to divert or entice away, any officer or employee of the Company or any Affiliated Company.
(c) The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or the Affiliated Companies, and their respective businesses, which information, knowledge or data shall have been obtained by the Executive during the Executive’s employment by the Company or the Affiliated Companies and which information, knowledge or data shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those persons designated by the Company. In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of this Section 9 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement.
(f) The Executive and the Company acknowledge that, except as may otherwise be provided under any other written agreement between the Executive and the Company, the employment of the Executive by the Company is “at will” and, subject to Section 1(a), prior to the Effective Date, the Executive’s employment may be terminated by either the Executive or the Company at any time prior to the Effective Date, in which case the Executive shall have no further rights under this Agreement. From and after the Effective Date, except as specifically provided herein, this Agreement shall supersede any other agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof in effect immediately prior to the execution of this Agreement.
(g) Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event of an Anticipatory Termination, any payments that the Company shall be required to pay pursuant to Section 5(a)(1) of this Agreement shall be paid on the date of such Change of Control.
(h) The Agreement is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or an exception or exclusion therefrom and shall in all respects be administered in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. Severance payments shall be made under the “separation pay” exception under Section 409A of the Code, to the maximum extent possible, and then under the “short-term deferral” exclusion Section 409A of the Code or another applicable exception. Within the time period permitted by the applicable Treasury Regulations, the Company may, in consultation with the Executive, modify the Agreement, in the least restrictive manner necessary and without any diminution in the value of the payments to the Executive, in order to cause the provisions of the Agreement to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, so as to avoid the imposition of taxes and penalties on the Executive pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.
(i) In the event that payments are to be provided to the Executive under Section 5(a) of this agreement, then within five business days of the Executive’s Date of Termination, the Company shall deliver cash, in an amount equal to the aggregate of the cash amounts payable under Section 5(a) and, to the extent not previously paid (or immediately payable within five business days of the determination in accordance with Section 8(e) of this Agreement), any unpaid portion of the then estimated Gross-Up Payment (as determined by the Accounting Firm), to a “rabbi trust” (the “Trust”) to be established by the Company with a nationally recognized financial institution as trustee (the “Trustee”) to be held by the Trustee pursuant to the terms of the trust agreement entered into between the Company and the Trustee prior to the Effective Date; provided, however, that the Trust shall not be funded if the funding thereof would result in taxable income to the Executive by reason of Section 409A(b) of the Code; and provided, further, in no event shall any Trust assets at any time be located or transferred outside of the United States, within the meaning of Section 409A(b) of the Code. Any fees and expenses of the Trustee shall be paid by the Company.
(j) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Effective Date and the Date of Termination occur in the same fiscal year, any payment to the Executive pursuant to Section 5(a)(1)(A)(v) hereof shall be reduced (but not below zero) by any amounts payable to the Executive pursuant to the Assurant, Inc. Executive Short Term Incentive Plan in respect of such fiscal year.
THIS RELEASE (this “Release”) is granted effective as of the [ ] day of [ ], 20[ ], by Executive (the “Executive”) in favor of Assurant, Inc. (the “Company”). This is the release referred to in that certain Change of Control Severance Agreement dated as of January 1, 2009 by and between the Company and the Executive (the “COC Agreement”). The Executive gives this Release in consideration of the Company’s promises and covenants as recited in the COC Agreement, with respect to which this Release is an integral part.
Section 1. Release of the Company. The Executive, for himself/herself, his/her successors, assigns, attorneys and all those entitled to assert his/her rights, now and forever hereby releases and discharges the Company and its respective officers, directors, stockholders, trustees, employees, agents, parent corporations, subsidiaries, affiliates, estates, successors, assigns and attorneys (the “Released Parties”), from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, sums of money due, suits, debts, liens, covenants, contracts, obligations, costs, expenses, damages, judgments, agreements, promises, demands, claims for attorney’s fees and costs or liabilities whatsoever, in law or in equity, which the Executive ever had or now has against the Released Parties, including any claims arising by reason of or in any way connected with any employment relationship which existed between the Company or any of its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, or predecessors and the Executive. It is understood and agreed that this Release is intended to cover all actions, causes of action, claims or demands for any damage, loss or injury, which may be traced either directly or indirectly to the aforesaid employment relationship, or the termination of that relationship, that the Executive has, had or purports to have, from the beginning of time to the date of this Release, whether known or unknown, that now exists, no matter how remotely they may be related to the aforesaid employment relationship including but not limited to claims for employment discrimination under federal or state law, except as provided in Paragraph 2; claims arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000(e), et seq. or the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.; claims for statutory or common law wrongful discharge, including any claims arising under the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.; claims for attorney’s fees, expenses and costs; claims for defamation; claims for wages or paid time off; claims for benefits, including any claims arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. § 1001, et seq.; and provided, however, that nothing herein shall release the Company of its obligations to the Executive under the COC Agreement or any other contractual obligations between the Company or its affiliates and the Executive, or any indemnification obligations to Executive under the Company’s bylaws, certificate of incorporation, New York law or otherwise.
Section 2. Release of Claims Under Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Executive agrees that by executing this Release, he/she has released and waived any and all claims he/she has or may have as of the date of this Release for age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621, et seq. It is understood that the Executive is advised to consult with an attorney prior to executing this Release; that the Executive in fact has consulted a knowledgeable, competent attorney regarding this Release; that the Executive may, before executing this Release, consider this Release for a period of forty-five (45) calendar days calendar days; and that the consideration the Executive receives for this Release is in addition to amounts to which the Executive
was already entitled. It is further understood that this Release is not effective until seven (7) calendar days after the execution of this Release and that the Executive may revoke this Release within seven (7) calendar days from the date of execution hereof.
The Executive agrees that he/she has carefully read this Release and is signing it voluntarily. The Executive acknowledges that he/she has had forty-five (45) days from receipt of this Release to review it prior to signing or that, if the Executive is signing this Release prior to the expiration of such 45-day period, the Executive is waiving his/her right to review the Release for such full 45-day period prior to signing it. The Executive has the right to revoke this release within seven (7) days following the date of its execution by him/her.
Section 3. Certain Exceptions. Notwithstanding any provision of the COC Agreement to the contrary, this Release shall not affect and expressly excludes any claim relating to: (1) obligations under this Agreement; (2) obligations that, in each case, by their terms are to be performed after the date hereof (including, without limitation, obligations to the Executive under any equity compensation awards or agreements or obligations under any pension plan or other benefit or deferred compensation plan, all of which shall remain in effect in accordance with their terms); (3) obligations to indemnify the Executive respecting acts or omissions in connection with the Executive’s service as a director, officer or employee of the Company or any Affiliated Company (as defined in the COC Agreement); (4) obligations with respect to insurance coverage under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies; (5) Executive’s rights to obtain contribution in the event of the entry of judgment against Executive as a result of any act or failure to act for which both the Executive and the Company or any Affiliated Company (as defined in the COC Agreement) are jointly responsible; (6) any rights that the Executive may have as a stockholder of the Company; and (7) on facts or circumstances arising after the date hereof.
THE EXECUTIVE HAS CAREFULLY READ THIS RELEASE AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT CONSTITUTES A GENERAL RELEASE OF ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS AGAINST THE COMPANY UNDER THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT. THE EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE/SHE HAS HAD A FULL OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY OR OTHER ADVISOR OF THE EXECUTIVE’S CHOOSING CONCERNING HIS/HER EXECUTION OF THIS RELEASE AND THAT HE/SHE IS SIGNING THIS RELEASE VOLUNTARILY AND WITH THE FULL INTENT OF RELEASING THE COMPANY FROM ALL SUCH CLAIMS.
EX-10.1 2 dex101.htm FORM OF AMENDMENT TO ASSURANT, INC. CHANGE OF CONTROL EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT to the Change of Control Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) by and between Assurant, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”) and [ ] (the “Executive”) is effective as of February 1, 2010. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning as set forth in the Agreement.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 11 of the Agreement, the Agreement may be amended by written agreement executed by the parties; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive have agreed to amend the Agreement to (i) eliminate the additional payment to make the Executive whole on an after-tax basis for (a) any excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (and any interest and penalties imposed with respect to such excise tax) upon the Payments, and (b) any income taxes (and any interest and penalties imposed with respect to such income taxes) and any excise tax imposed on such additional payment and (ii) reduce the amounts payable under this Agreement by an amount sufficient to reduce the aggregate Parachute Value of the Payments to the Safe Harbor Amount if the aggregate after-tax amount that would be received by the Executive without applying such reduction would be less than the maximum after-tax amount that would be received by the Executive if such reduction were applied.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:
Section 8 of the Agreement is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that (i) any Payment (or any acceleration of any Payment) to or for the benefit of Executive would be subject to the Excise Tax, and (ii) the reduction of the amounts payable to Executive under this Agreement to the Safe Harbor Amount would provide the Executive with a greater after-tax amount than if such amounts were not reduced, then the amounts payable to Executive under this Agreement shall be reduced (but not below zero) by an amount sufficient to reduce the Parachute Value of the Payments to the Safe Harbor Amount. The reduction of the Parachute Value of the Payments, if applicable, shall be made by reducing the payments and benefits under the following sections of this Agreement in the following order: (i) Section 5(a)(1)(B) hereof, (ii) Section 5(a)(1)(A)(v) hereof and (iii) Section 5(a)(2) hereof unless an alternative method of reduction was elected by Executive prior to the date set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement. If the reductions described in the preceding sentence are not sufficient to reduce the Parachute Value of the Payments to the Safe Harbor Amount, further reduction of the Parachute Value of the Payments shall be made in the manner which has the least economic cost to the Executive.
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section 8, including the Safe Harbor Amount, whether and when an Excise Tax is due, the amount of Excise Tax and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determinations, shall be made by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, or such other nationally recognized certified public accounting firm as may be designated by the Executive (the “Accounting Firm”). The Accounting Firm shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a Payment or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. In the event that the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change of Control, the Executive may appoint another nationally recognized accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by Executive, it shall furnish Executive with a written opinion to such effect, and to the effect that failure to report the Excise
Tax, if any, on Executive’s applicable federal income tax return will not result in the imposition of a negligence or similar penalty. In the event the Accounting Firm determines that the Parachute Value of the Payments shall be reduced to the Safe Harbor Amount, it shall furnish Executive with a written opinion to such effect. The determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and Executive (except as provided in paragraph (c) below).
(c) If it is established pursuant to a final determination of a court or the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) proceeding, which has been finally and conclusively resolved, that Payments have been made to, or provided for the benefit of, Executive by the Company, which are in excess of the limitations provided in this Section 8 (hereinafter referred to as an “Excess Payment”), such Excess Payment shall be deemed for all purposes to be a loan to Executive made on the date Executive received the Excess Payment and Executive shall repay the Excess Payment to the Company on demand, together with interest on the Excess Payment at the applicable federal rate (as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code) from the date of Executive’s receipt of such Excess Payment until the date of such repayment. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the determination, it is possible that Payments which will not have been made by the Company should have been made (an “Underpayment”), consistent with the calculations required to be made under this Section 8. In the event that it is determined (i) by the Accounting Firm, the Company (which shall include the position taken by the Company, or together with its consolidated group, on its federal income tax return) or the IRS or (ii) pursuant to a determination by a court, that an Underpayment has occurred, the Company shall pay an amount equal to such Underpayment to Executive within 10 days of such determination together with interest on such amount at the applicable federal rate from the date such amount would have been paid to Executive until the date of payment. Executive shall cooperate, to the extent his or her expenses are reimbursed by the Company, with any reasonable requests by the Company in connection with any contests or disputes with the IRS in connection with the Excise Tax or the determination of the Excess Payment.
(d) Definitions. The following terms shall have the following meanings for purposes of this Section 8.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive’s hand and, pursuant to the authorization from the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written.