Document:

Exhibit
10.29

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of the
18th day of March, 2003 by and between Network Multi-Family Security
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Steve V. Williams (“Executive”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Executive entered into an Employment Agreement
dated September 22, 1997 (the “Prior Employment Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Board (as defined in Section 1) has determined that it is
in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to assure that the
Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding
the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined
below), and to encourage the Executive’s full attention and dedication to the
Company currently and in the event of a threat or occurrence of a Change in
Control and to provide the Executive with compensation and benefits
arrangements which are competitive with those of other comparable corporations;
and

 

WHEREAS, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained, the Company and Executive hereby
agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

 

a.               “Board”
means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

b.              “Bonus
Amount” means: (i) for a Date of Termination or Change in Control occurring in
fiscal year 2003, the annual incentive bonuses payable by the Company to or for
the benefit of or deferred by Executive for the 2002 fiscal year of the
Company; (ii) for a Date of Termination or a Change in Control occurring in
fiscal year 2004, the average of the annual incentive bonuses payable by the
Company to or for the benefit of or deferred by Executive for the 2002 and 2003
fiscal years of the Company; and (iii) for a Date of Termination or Change in
Control occurring after fiscal year 2004, the average of the annual incentive
bonuses payable by the Company to or for the benefit of or deferred by Executive
for the last three (3) completed fiscal years of the Company immediately preceding
the Date of Termination or Change in Control.

 

c.               “Cause”
means (i) the willful and continued failure of Executive to perform
substantially his duties with the Company (other than any such failure
resulting from Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any
such failure subsequent to Executive being delivered a Notice of Termination
without Cause by the Company or Executive delivering a Notice of Termination
for Good Reason to the Company) that is not remedied within 30 days after a
written demand for substantial performance is delivered to Executive by the
Chief Executive Officer of the Company which specifically identifies the manner
in which Executive has not substantially performed

 

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Executive’s
duties, or (ii) the willful engaging by Executive in illegal conduct which
is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company.  For purposes of this subsection (c), no
act or failure to act by Executive shall be considered “willful” unless done or
omitted to be done by Executive in bad faith and without reasonable belief that
Executive’s action or omission was in, or not opposed to, the best interests of
the Company.

 

d.              “Change
in Control” means the occurrence of any one of the following events:

 

i.                                          individuals
who, on March 18, 2003, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease
for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that
any person becoming a director subsequent to March 18, 2003, whose election or
nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval
of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a
nominee for director, without written objection to such nomination) shall be an
Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual
initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an
actual election contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other
actual solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any person other
than the Board shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director; provided,

 

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further,
that if any individual is appointed to the Board with the consent of Protection
One (or Westar, if the event at issue would otherwise constitute a Change in
Control of Protection One) at such time as Protection One (or Westar, if the
event at issue would otherwise constitute a Change in Control of Protection
One) is the direct or indirect beneficial owner or has direct or indirect
control over the voting power of 40% or more of the Company Voting Securities
(as defined below), that individual shall be deemed to be an Incumbent
Director;

 

ii.                                       any
“person” (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and as used in Sections 13(d)(3)
and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes a “beneficial owner” (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing more than 40% of the combined voting
power of the Company’s then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the
election of the Board (the “Company Voting Securities”); provided, however,
that the event described in this paragraph (ii) shall not be deemed to be
a Change in Control if such beneficial owner is any of the following or becomes
a beneficial owner as a result of any of the following, except as provided in
paragraph (v):  (A) Westar or
Protection One or any of their subsidiaries, (B) any employee benefit plan
(or related trust) sponsored or

 

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maintained by
the Company, Protection One, Westar or any of their subsidiaries, (C) any
underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such
securities, (D) a person involved in a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as
defined in paragraph (iii)), (E) an entity (x) controlled by the Executive
or a group of persons consisting, at the time of such acquisitions, of the Executive
and other employees of the Company or (y) of which the majority of common
equity securities, at the time of such acquisitions, is owned by the Executive
or a group of persons consisting of the Executive and other employees of the
Company or (F) any event in which Protection One (or Westar, if the event
at issue would otherwise constitute a Change in Control of Protection One)
continues to be directly or indirectly the beneficial owner of a greater number
of shares of the Company than that held by any other person as a result of the
event described in this paragraph (ii) or has the right to direct the vote of a
greater number of voting securities for directors (or the equivalent) of the
Company than any other person as a result of the event described in this paragraph
(ii);

 

iii.                                    the
consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange, sale of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company or POAMI, or similar form of
corporate transaction (whether in one transaction or a series of transactions)
involving the Company or POAMI (a “Business

 

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Combination”),
unless immediately following such Business Combination:  (A) more than 50% of the total voting
power of (x) the corporation that owns, leases or controls all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company and of POAMI resulting from such
Business Combination (the “Surviving Corporation”), or (y) if applicable,
the ultimate parent corporation that directly or indirectly has beneficial
ownership of 100% of the voting securities eligible to elect directors (or the
equivalent) of the Surviving Corporation (the “Parent Corporation”), is represented
by Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior to such
Business Combination (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which
such Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Business
Combination); (B) no person (other than Protection One, Westar or any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by Protection
One, Westar, the Surviving Corporation or the Parent Corporation) is or becomes
the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 40% of the total
voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors
(or the equivalent) of the Parent Corporation (or, if there is no Parent
Corporation, the Surviving Corporation); and (C) at least a majority of
the members of the board of directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there
is no Parent Corporation, the Surviving Corporation) following the consummation
of the Business Combination were

 

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Incumbent Directors
at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement
providing for such Business Combination (any Business Combination which
satisfies all of the criteria specified in (A), (B) and (C) above shall be
deemed to be a “Non-Qualifying Transaction”);

 

iv.                                   the
Company substantially completes a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution
whether in one transaction or a series of transactions; or

 

v.                                      Westar
becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of Protection One
representing 100% of Protection One’s securities eligible to vote for the
election of the board of directors of Protection One.

 

vi.                                   It
is the intent of the parties that if an event that would constitute a “Change
in Control” under this Agreement occurs at Westar, Protection One or POAMI, a
“Change in Control” shall have occurred for purposes of this Agreement.  Upon the occurrence of an event described in
the preceding sentence, unless the context otherwise requires, for purposes of
this Agreement, Westar, Protection One or POAMI shall be substituted for the
defined term “the Company” in the definition of “Change in Control” together
with appropriate changes to other references in the definition of “Change in
Control” to give effect to the parties’ intent.

 

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e.               “Date
of Termination” means (i) if Executive’s employment is to be terminated
for Disability, 30 days after Notice of Termination is given (provided that
Executive shall not have returned to the performance of Executive’s duties on a
full-time basis during such 30 day period); (ii) if Executive’s employment
is to be terminated by the Company for Cause or by Executive for Good Reason,
the date specified in the Notice of Termination; (iii) if Executive’s
employment is to be terminated by the Company for any reason other than Cause,
the date specified in the Notice of Termination, which shall be 90 days after
the Notice of Termination is given, unless an earlier date has been expressly
agreed to by Executive in writing; (iv) if Executive’s employment
terminates by reason of death, the date of death of Executive; (v) if
Executive’s employment is terminated by Executive in a Non-Qualifying
Termination, the date specified in Executive’s Notice of Termination, but not
more than 30 days after the Notice of Termination is given, unless expressly
agreed to by the Company in writing; or (vi) in the event of a Change in
Control, 180 days after the date of the Change in Control, unless otherwise
expressly agreed to by the Executive and the Company in writing not later than
120 days after the date of the Change in Control.

 

f.                 “Disability”
means termination of Executive’s employment by the Company due to Executive’s
absence from Executive’s duties with the Company on a full-time basis for at
least one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days as a result of

 

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Executive’s
incapacity due to physical or mental illness, unless within 30 days after
Notice of Termination is given to Executive following such absence Executive
shall have returned to the full-time performance of Executive’s duties.

 

g.              “Good
Reason” shall mean termination based on any of the following events:

 

i.                                          any
change in the duties or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities)
of Executive that is inconsistent in any material and adverse respect (which
may be cumulative) with Executive’s position(s), duties, responsibilities or
status with the Company (including any adverse diminution of such duties or
responsibilities);

 

ii.                                       the
failure to reappoint or reelect Executive to any position held by Executive
without Executive’s consent; or

 

iii.                                    a
material breach of this Agreement by the Company including but not limited to
reduction of Executive’s Annual Base Salary (as defined in Section 4(a)) or
other employment benefits.

 

Executive must
provide notice of termination of employment within one hundred eighty (180)
days following Executive’s knowledge of an event or facts constituting Good
Reason (or the last of such events or facts if cumulative) or such event or
facts shall not constitute Good Reason under this Agreement.

 

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h.              “Non-Qualifying
Termination” means a termination of Executive’s employment under any
circumstances not qualifying as a Qualifying Termination, including without
limitation any termination by the Company for Cause, any termination by
Executive without Good Reason or for no reason at all or any termination on
account of death, Disability or Retirement.

 

i.                  “Notice
of Termination” means a written notice of termination of employment given by
one party to the other party pursuant to Section 17(b).

 

j.                  “POAMI”
means Protection One Alarm Monitoring, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

k.               “Protection
One” means Protection One, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

l.                  “Qualifying
Termination” means a termination of Executive’s employment (i) by the
Company other than for Cause or (ii) by Executive for Good Reason.  Termination of Executive’s employment on
account of death, Disability or Retirement shall not be treated as a Qualifying
Termination.

 

m.            “Retirement”
means Executive’s termination of his employment on or after his attainment of
age 65.

 

n.              “Subsidiary”
means any corporation or other entity in which the Company has a direct or
indirect ownership interest of 50% or more of the total combined voting power
of the then outstanding securities or interests of such corporation or other
entity entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or in which the
Company has the

 

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right to
receive 50% or more of the distribution of profits or 50% or more of the assets
upon liquidation or dissolution.

 

o.              “Westar”
means Westar Industries, Inc., a Kansas corporation, or any parent entity.

 

2.                                       Employment
and Duties.

 

a.               Term of
Employment.  The Company
agrees to employ Executive, and Executive agrees to enter into employment with
the Company, in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, for
the Term of this Agreement.  In the event
that there is a Change in Control prior to a Qualifying Termination or
Non-Qualifying Termination of Executive’s employment, Executive’s employment
under this Agreement shall terminate 180 days after the date of such Change in
Control, unless otherwise expressly agreed to in writing by the Executive and
the Company not later than 120 days after the date of the Change in
Control.  Upon termination of
Executive’s employment (regardless of whether such termination constitutes a
Qualifying Termination or Non-Qualifying Termination), Executive shall be
relieved of any obligation to continue to perform the duties described in
Section 2(b) effective as of the Date of Termination.  The termination of the employment relationship by either party
for any reason or for no reason at all shall not constitute a breach of this
Agreement, but certain obligations and benefits shall survive such termination
of employment as set forth in Section 20.

 

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b.              Duties.  During the period of Executive’s employment
under this Agreement, Executive shall serve as President of the Company.  Executive shall devote Executive’s full
business time and attention to the affairs of the Company and his duties as its
President.  Executive shall have such
duties as are appropriate to Executive’s position as President, and shall have
such authority as required to enable Executive to perform these duties.  Consistent with the foregoing, Executive
shall comply with all reasonable instructions of the Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Company.  Executive
shall report to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company.  In addition, during the period of
Executive’s employment under this Agreement, Executive may serve as an officer
and/or director of Protection One or of a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries if
requested to do so by the Board. 
Executive may resign from the board of directors of Protection One or
any Subsidiaries at any time in his sole and absolute discretion.

 

3.                                       Term of
Agreement.  The Term of this
Agreement shall commence on the date of this Agreement and shall continue until
the earlier of (i) the date on which Executive’s employment is terminated by
the Company or Executive in a Qualifying Termination or Non-Qualifying
Termination or (ii) 180 days after the occurrence of a Change in Control,
unless otherwise expressly agreed to by the Executive and the Company in
writing not later than 120 days after the date of the Change in Control.  Certain obligations and benefits shall
survive the expiration of the Term as set forth in Section 20.

 

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4.                                       Base Salary
and Benefits.

 

a.               Base Salary.  During the period of Executive’s employment
under this Agreement, the Company shall pay Executive an annual base salary
(“Annual Base Salary”) at an annual rate equal to not less than Two Hundred
Seventy Seven Thousand Dollars and No/100 Dollars ($277,000.00), which shall be
reviewed annually by the Board. 
Executive’s Annual Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the standard
practices for other senior corporate executives of the Company.

 

b.              Bonuses.  Executive shall be eligible to receive
annually or otherwise any bonus awards, whether payable in cash, shares of
common stock of Protection One or otherwise, which the Company, the Board or
such authorized committee of the Board determines to award or grant.

 

c.               Benefit
Programs.  During the period
of Executive’s employment under this Agreement, Executive shall be eligible to
participate in all employee benefit plans and programs of the Company from time
to time in effect for the benefit of senior executives of the Company (subject
to meeting generally applicable participation requirements under the applicable
plan or program), including, but not limited to, stock option plans, restricted
stock grants, 401(k) plans, group life insurance, hospitalization and surgical
and major medical coverages, sick leave, employee stock purchase plans, car
allowances, vacations and holidays, long-term disability, and such other
benefits as are or may be made available from time to time to senior executives

 

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of the
Company.  For purposes of this Section
4(c), the term “the Company” shall also include POAMI.

 

d.              Business
Expenses and Perquisites. 
Executive shall be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses incurred by
Executive in connection with the conduct of the business of the Company,
provided Executive properly accounts therefor in accordance with the Company’s
policies.  During the period of Executive’s
employment under this Agreement, Executive shall also be entitled to such other
perquisites as are customary for senior executives of the Company.

 

e.               Office and
Services Furnished.  During
the period of Executive’s employment under this Agreement, the Company shall
make available to Executive office space at the Company’s Irving, Texas office
(which may be relocated at the discretion of the Company), secretarial
assistance and such other facilities and services as shall be suitable to Executive’s
position and adequate for the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder.  During the period of Executive’s employment
under this Agreement, the Company shall install and maintain, at its expense, a
broadband (cable modem or DSL) connection at his home for the use of Executive
in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder.

 

5.                                       Change in
Control.  Upon the occurrence
of a Change in Control:

 

a.               the
Company shall pay to Executive a lump-sum cash payment equal to the sum of (A)
Executive’s Annual Base Salary payable through the date of the Change in

 

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Control; (B)
bonus amounts payable to Executive for prior fiscal years; (C) bonus amounts
not paid to Executive as a result of Executive’s election to defer payment; (D)
a pro
rata portion of Executive’s annual bonus for the fiscal year in
which the Change in Control occurs in an amount at least equal to (1) Executive’s
Bonus Amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
days in the fiscal year in which the Change in Control occurs through the date
of the Change in Control and the denominator of which is three hundred
sixty-five (365), and reduced by (2) any amounts paid to Executive from the Company’s
annual incentive plan for the fiscal year in which the Change in Control
occurs; and (E) the cash equivalent of any accrued Paid Time Off; in each case
to the extent not already paid;

 

b.              the
Company shall pay to Executive a lump-sum cash payment equal to the sum of (i)
2.99 times the Executive’s highest Annual Base Salary during the 12-month period
immediately prior to the date of the Change in Control, plus (ii) 2.99 times
Executive’s Bonus Amount;

 

c.               the
Company shall continue, for a period of three (3) years following the earlier
of Executive’s Date of Termination and the date that is 180 days after the date
of the Change in Control  (the “Change
in Control Termination Date”), to provide Executive (and Executive’s
dependents, if applicable) with substantially similar levels of medical,
dental, and life insurance benefits upon substantially similar terms and
conditions as Executive would have been entitled to receive if he had continued
in

 

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employment; provided,
that,
if Executive cannot continue to participate in the Company plans providing such
benefits, the Company shall otherwise provide, at the Company’s option, (i)
such benefits on a substantially similar basis as if continued participation
had been permitted through one or more new plans (the “Continued Benefit
Plans”) or (ii) a lump-sum cash payment based on the cost of premiums
comparable to those that would be required to receive such benefits on a
substantially similar basis plus the amount of any conversion fees required to
convert from group coverage to individual coverage under the Company’s existing
benefit plans (the “Benefits Lump-Sum Payment”).  If the Company elects to provide the Executive with Continued
Benefit Plans, the Executive shall cooperate with the Company and each provider
of any such Continued Benefit Plan in order for the Company to obtain such
Continued Benefit Plans for Executive, which cooperation shall include but not
be limited to providing copies of medical records and other information
required by any provider of such Continued Benefit Plan and undergoing one or
more physical examinations.  If the
Company elects to provide the Executive with the Benefits Lump-Sum Payment, the
Company shall notify the Executive of its intention to make this election not
later than 90 days prior to the date on which Executive’s coverage under
existing benefit plans will expire, and if, within 60 days after Executive
receives such notification from the Company, Executive presents the Company
with one or more benefit plans that the Executive has obtained or intends to
obtain that provide

 

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benefits on a
substantially similar basis as the benefits provided to Executive prior to the Change
in Control Termination Date (and acknowledgement from the provider of such
benefit plans that such benefit plans have been or can be obtained by the
Executive on those terms, including without limitation, at least substantially
similar scope of coverage, substantially similar deductibles and substantially
similar co-payments), then the Benefits Lump-Sum Payment shall be made based on
the premiums plus any other administrative fees (except co-payments) charged by
the company offering such plans.  If the
Company elects to provide the Executive with the Benefits Lump-Sum Payment and
it is determined by the Company that any portion of the Benefits Lump-Sum
Payment constitutes taxable wages for federal income and/or employment tax purposes,
the Company agrees to pay Executive an additional amount (the “Benefits
Gross-Up Payment”) such that the net amount retained by Executive from the
Benefits Lump-Sum Payment and the Benefits Gross-Up Payment, after reduction
for any federal, state and local income and employment taxes on the Benefits
Lump-Sum Payment and the Benefits Gross-Up Payment, shall equal the Benefits
Lump-Sum Payment.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event Executive becomes reemployed with another employer and
becomes eligible to receive benefits from such employer, the benefits described
herein shall be secondary to such benefits during the period of Executive’s
eligibility, but only to the extent that the Company reimburses

 

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Executive for
any increased cost and provides any additional benefits necessary to give
Executive the benefits provided hereunder; and

 

d.              all
outstanding stock options, restricted stock and other equity based awards
(collectively, “Awards”) shall fully vest, all restrictions on such Awards
shall lapse and the maximum level of achievement of all performance criteria
with respect to such Awards shall be deemed fully satisfied.  In the case of stock options or any other
equity based Awards in the nature of a right that may be exercised, such stock
options and other equity based Awards shall remain exercisable for three years
after the date of the Change in Control.

 

6.                                       Payments
Upon Termination of Employment.

 

a.               Qualifying
Termination.  If the
employment of Executive terminates pursuant to a Qualifying Termination, then:

 

i.                                          within
five (5) business days following the Date of Termination, the Company shall pay
to Executive a lump-sum cash payment equal to the sum of (A) Executive’s Annual
Base Salary payable through the Date of Termination; (B) bonus amounts payable
to Executive for prior fiscal years; (C) bonus amounts not paid to Executive as
a result of Executive’s election to defer payment; (D) a pro rata portion of
Executive’s annual bonus for the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination
occurs in an amount at least equal to (1) Executive’s Bonus Amount multiplied
by a fraction, the numerator of 

 

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which is the
number of days in the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs
through the Date of Termination and the denominator of which is three hundred
sixty-five (365), and reduced by (2) any amounts paid to Executive from the
Company’s annual incentive plan for the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination
occurs; and (E) the cash equivalent of any accrued Paid Time Off; in each case
to the extent not already paid;

 

ii.                                       within
five (5) business days following the Date of Termination, the Company shall pay
to Executive a lump-sum cash payment equal to the sum of (i) 2.0 times the
Executive’s highest Annual Base Salary during the 12-month period immediately
prior to the Date of Termination, plus (ii) 2.0 times Executive’s Bonus Amount;
provided,
however, if on or prior to the date that a Notice of Termination is
given to Executive pursuant to a Qualifying Termination there has been
stockholder approval of a Change in Control and if such Change in Control is
consummated within 100 days after the date such Notice of Termination is given,
the Company shall pay the Executive an additional lump-sum cash payment equal
to (x) .99 times the Executive’s highest Annual Base Salary during the 12-month
period immediately prior to the Date of Termination plus (y) .99 times
Executive’s Bonus Amount;

 

iii.                                    the
Company shall continue, for a period of two (2) years following Executive’s
Date of Termination (or a period of three (3) years if on

 

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or prior to
the date that a Notice of Termination is given to Executive pursuant to a
Qualifying Termination there has been stockholder approval of a Change in
Control and if such Change in Control is consummated within 100 days after the
date such Notice of Termination is given), to provide Executive (and
Executive’s dependents, if applicable) with substantially similar levels of
medical, dental, and life insurance benefits upon substantially similar terms
and conditions as Executive would have been entitled to receive if he had
continued in employment; provided, that, if Executive cannot
continue to participate in the Company plans providing such benefits, the
Company shall otherwise provide, at the Company’s option, (i) such benefits on
a substantially similar basis as if continued participation had been permitted
through Continued Benefit Plans or (ii) a Benefits Lump-Sum Payment.  If the Company elects to provide the
Executive with Continued Benefit Plans, the Executive shall cooperate with the
Company and each provider of any such Continued Benefit Plan in order for the
Company to obtain such Continued Benefit Plans for Executive, which cooperation
shall include but not be limited to providing copies of medical records and
other information required by any provider of such Continued Benefit Plan and
undergoing one or more physical examinations. 
If the Company elects to provide the Executive with the Benefits
Lump-Sum Payment, the Company shall notify the Executive of its

 

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intention to
make this election not later than 90 days prior to the date on which
Executive’s coverage under existing benefit plans will expire, and if, within
60 days after Executive receives such notification from the Company, Executive
presents the Company with one or more benefit plans that the Executive has obtained
or intends to obtain that provide benefits on a substantially similar basis as
the benefits provided to Executive prior to the Date of Termination (and
acknowledgement from the provider of such benefit plans that such benefit plans
have been or can be obtained by the Executive on those terms, including without
limitation, at least substantially similar scope of coverage, substantially
similar deductibles and substantially similar co-payments), then the Benefits
Lump-Sum Payment shall be made based on the premiums plus any other
administrative fees (except co-payments) charged by the company offering such
plans.  If the Company elects to provide
the Executive with the Benefits Lump-Sum Payment and it is determined by the Company
that any portion of the Benefits Lump-Sum Payment constitutes taxable wages for
federal income and/or employment tax purposes, the Company agrees to pay
Executive the Benefits Gross-Up Payment such that the net amount retained by
Executive from the Benefits Lump-Sum Payment and the Benefits Gross-

 

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Up Payment,
after reduction for any federal, state and local income and employment taxes on
the Benefits Lump-Sum Payment and the Benefits Gross-Up Payment, shall equal
the Benefits Lump-Sum Payment.  Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the event Executive becomes reemployed with another employer
and becomes eligible to receive benefits from such employer, the benefits
described herein shall be secondary to such benefits during the period of
Executive’s eligibility, but only to the extent that the Company reimburses
Executive for any increased cost and provides any additional benefits necessary
to give Executive the benefits provided hereunder; and

 

iv.                                   all
outstanding Awards shall fully vest, all restrictions on such Awards shall
lapse and the maximum level of achievement of all performance criteria with
respect to such Awards shall be deemed fully satisfied.  In the case of stock options or any other
equity based Awards in the nature of a right that may be exercised, such stock
options and other equity based Awards shall remain exercisable for three years
after the Date of Termination;

 

provided, however, that
Executive shall not be entitled to receive payments or benefits under Section 6(a)(i)(D),
6(a)(ii) or 6(a)(iii) to the extent Executive has received or is entitled to
receive payments or benefits under Section 5 of this Agreement.

 

b.              Non-Qualifying
Termination.  If the
employment of Executive terminates pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Termination,
then the Company shall pay to Executive within five (5) business days following
the Date of Termination, a lump-sum cash

 

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payment equal
to the sum of (1) Executive’s Annual Base Salary payable through the Date
of Termination; (2)  bonus amounts
earned by Executive and declared and approved by the Board; and (3) the
cash equivalent of any accrued Paid Time Off; in each case to the extent not
already paid.  The Company may make such
additional payments and provide such additional benefits to Executive as the
Company and Executive may agree in writing.

 

7.                                       Excise
Tax.  In the event that any
amount or benefit paid or distributed to Executive pursuant to this Agreement,
taken together with any amounts or benefits otherwise paid or distributed to
Executive (collectively, the “Covered Payments”), are or become subject to the
excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the “Code”), or any similar tax that may hereafter by imposed (“Excise
Tax”), then the Company agrees to pay the Executive an additional amount (the
“Termination Gross Up Amount”) such that the amount retained by the Executive
pursuant to Section 5, 6(a) or 6(b), as applicable, shall equal or exceed the
amount of the Covered Payments.

 

8.                                       Non-Competition.  Executive hereby acknowledges that the services
which he will perform for the Company are of a special and unique nature, and
that the Company would find it extremely difficult or impossible to replace
Executive.  Accordingly, Executive
agrees that, in consideration of this Agreement and the payments to be received
by him hereunder, from and after the date hereof through the period during
which Executive continues to be employed by the Company and following
termination of Executive’s employment for any

 

23

 

reason until the later of (i) the second
anniversary of such termination of employment or (ii) the last day through
which Annual Base Salary is payable to Executive pursuant to Section 5(a),
6(a)(i) or 6(b)(i), whichever is applicable (the “Non-Competition Period”),
Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join,
control or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of,
or be connected as a director, officer, employee, partner, lender, consultant
or otherwise (“Participate” or a “Participation”) with any Competitor (as
hereinafter defined), except with the Company’s prior written consent.  For purposes of this Agreement, the term
“Competitor” shall mean any entity engaged in the business of providing
property monitoring services with revenue in excess of Ten Million Dollars
($10,000,000) during the most recent twelve (12) month period for which financial
statements are available, including without limitation ADT Security Services,
Brinks Home Security, Inc., Honeywell Inc. and their respective subsidiaries,
affiliates and successors.  Nothing in
this section shall prohibit Executive from owning for investment purposes an
aggregate of up to 3% of the publicly traded securities of any corporation
listed on the New York Stock Exchange or American Stock Exchange or whose
securities are quoted on the NASDAQ National Market.  Notwithstanding anything which may be to the contrary herein,
Executive shall not be required to cease Participation in any business or
organization which begins to compete with the Company subsequent to the time
Executive commences such Participation, provided that such business or organization
began to compete with the Company through no action, assistance, or plan of
Executive.

 

24

 

It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this
Section 8 shall be enforced under the laws and public policies applied in each
jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. 
Accordingly, if any particular provision of this Section 8 is
adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable or shall for any reason be held to
be excessively broad as to duration, geographic scope, activity or subject, it
shall be construed by limiting and reducing it, so as to be enforceable to the
extent compatible with applicable law and such provision shall be deemed modified
and amended to the extent necessary to render such provision enforceable in
such jurisdiction.

 

If Executive challenges the enforceability of the provisions of this
Section 8 in whole or in part as to any Competitors, Executive shall,
immediately upon such challenge, forfeit any right to any payments and benefits
under Section 5 or 6(a) that he has not already received.

 

9.                                       Confidential
Information.  Executive
acknowledges that:  (i) the
business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates is intensely competitive
and that Executive’s engagement by the Company requires that Executive have
access to and knowledge of confidential information of the Company and its
Subsidiaries and affiliates, including, but not limited to, the identity of
customers, the identity of the representatives of customers with whom the
Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates have dealt, the kinds of services
provided by the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates to customers and
offered to be performed for potential customers, the manner in which such services
are performed or offered to be performed, the service needs of actual or
prospective customers, pricing

 

25

 

information, information concerning the creation,
acquisition or disposition of products and services, customer maintenance
listings, computer software applications and other programs, personnel information
and other trade secrets (the “Confidential Information”); (ii) the direct
or indirect disclosure of such Confidential Information to existing or potential
competitors of the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates would place the
Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates at a competitive disadvantage and
would do damage, monetary or otherwise, to the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries and affiliates; and (iii) the engaging by Executive in any of
the activities prohibited by this Section 9 may constitute improper
appropriation and/or use of such information and trade secrets.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential
Information shall not include information which (x) is or becomes part of
the public domain through a source other than Executive, (y) is or becomes
available to Executive from a source independent of the Company and its
Subsidiaries and affiliates, or (z) constitutes general industry knowledge
possessed by Executive by virtue of Executive’s employment with the Company.  Executive expressly acknowledges the trade
secret status of the Confidential Information and that the Confidential
Information constitutes a protectable business interest of the Company and its
Subsidiaries and affiliates.  Accordingly,
the Company and Executive agree as follows:

 

a.               During
the Non-Competition Period, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly,
whether individually, as a director, stockholder, owner, partner, employee,
principal or agent of any business, or in any other capacity, make known,
disclose,

 

26

 

furnish, make
available or use any of the Confidential Information, other than in the proper
performance of the duties contemplated herein or requested by the Company, or
as required by law or by a court of competent jurisdiction or other
administrative or legislative body; provided, however, that prior to disclosing
any of the Confidential Information to a court or other administrative or
legislative body, Executive shall promptly notify the Company so that the
Company may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy.

 

b.              Executive
agrees to return all computer hardware and all Confidential Information, including
all photocopies, extracts and summaries thereof, and any such information
stored electronically on tapes, computer disks or in any other manner to the Company
at any time upon request of the Chairman of the Board of the Company and upon
the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason.

 

10.                                 Nonsolicitation.  During the Non-Competition Period, Executive
shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit, interfere with, hire, offer to hire
or induce any person who is an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or affiliates and whose salary is in excess of $50,000 to discontinue his or
her relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates and
accept employment by, or enter into a business relationship with, Executive or
any other person or entity; provided, however, that this provision
shall not apply to solicitation by general advertising.

 

27

 

11.                                 Antidisparagement.

 

a.               Unless
otherwise required by a court of competent jurisdiction, pursuant to any
recognized subpoena power or by any applicable law, rule or regulation,
Executive agrees and promises that Executive shall not make any oral or written
statements or reveal any information to any person, company or agency which
(i) is materially negative, disparaging or damaging to the name,
reputation or business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates,
or any of their shareholders, directors, officers or employees, or
(ii) has or would have a materially negative financial impact, whether
directly or indirectly, on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and
affiliates, or any of their shareholders, directors, officers or employees;
provided that this subsection (ii) shall not be deemed to have been
violated by statements or releases of information by Executive during the
period of his employment under this Agreement which Executive believes to be
truthful and which are made in the performance of his duties under this Agreement.

 

b.              Unless
otherwise required by a court of competent jurisdiction, pursuant to any
recognized subpoena power or by any applicable law, rule or regulation, the
Company agrees and promises that neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries and
affiliates shall make any oral or written statements or reveal any information
to any person, company or agency which (i) is materially negative, disparaging
or damaging to the

 

28

 

name,
reputation or business of Executive or (ii) has or would have a negative
financial impact, whether directly or indirectly, on Executive.

 

12.                                 Injunctive Relief.

 

a.               Executive
acknowledges that a breach of the undertakings in Sections 8, 9, 10, or
11(a) of this Agreement would cause irreparable damage to the Company and its
Subsidiaries and affiliates, the exact amount of which shall be difficult to
ascertain, and that remedies at law for any such breach would be
inadequate.  Executive agrees that, if Executive
breaches or attempts or threatens to breach any of the undertakings in
Sections 8, 9, 10, or 11(a) of this Agreement, then the Company shall be
entitled to injunctive relief without posting bond or other security, in
addition to any other remedy or remedies available to the Company at law or in
equity.

 

b.              The
Company acknowledges that a breach of the undertakings in Section 11(b) of
this Agreement would cause irreparable damage to Executive, the exact amount of
which shall be difficult to ascertain, and that remedies at law for any such
breach would be inadequate.  The Company
agrees that, if the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates breaches
or attempts or threatens to breach any of the undertakings in
Section 11(b) of this Agreement, then Executive shall be entitled to
injunctive relief, without posting bond or other security, in addition to any
other remedy or remedies available to Executive at law or in equity.

 

29

 

13.                                 Withholding Taxes.  The Company may withhold from all payments
due to Executive (or his beneficiary or estate) hereunder all taxes which, by
applicable federal, state, local or other law, the Company is required to
withhold therefrom.  Executive has represented
that he is and will continue to be a resident of the State of Texas for all
purposes.

 

14.                                 Directors and Officers Insurance;
Indemnity.  The Company shall
take all steps necessary to ensure that Executive is covered under any directors
and officers liability insurance policy in effect from time to time for current
and former directors and officers of the Company.  In addition, the Company shall hold harmless and indemnify
Executive against any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by
Executive in connection with any threatened, pending, or completed action,
suit, or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative
(including an action by or in the right of the corporation) to which Executive
is, was, or at any time becomes a party, or is threatened to be made a party,
by reason of the fact that Executive is, was, or at any time becomes a
director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company, or is, or was serving, or
at any time serves at the request of the Company as a director, officer,
employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
or other enterprise; or otherwise to the fullest extent as may be provided to
Executive by the Company under the provisions of the Bylaws and the Articles of
Incorporation of the Company and Delaware law.

 

15.                                 Scope of Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to
permit or entitle the Executive to receive any payments or benefits under
Section 5 or Section 6 of this

 

30

 

Agreement on more than one occasion.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to
entitle Executive to continued employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries
or shall require Executive to continue the employment relationship against his
wishes; provided,
however,
that any termination of Executive’s employment during the Term of this
Agreement shall be subject to all of the provisions of this Agreement as
provided in Section 20.

 

16.                                 Successors; Binding Agreement.

 

a.               This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be legally binding upon all
successors and assigns of the Company. 
The Company will require a successor (whether direct or indirect, by
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of
the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance
satisfactory to the Executive, to expressly assume and agree to perform this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be
required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.  For purposes of this Section 16(a),
“Company” shall mean the Company as defined above and all successors to its
business or assets that execute and deliver the agreement provided for in this
Section 16(a) or that otherwise become bound by the terms and provisions of
this Agreement by operation of law.

 

b.                                      This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s personal
or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs,
distributees, devisees and legatees.  If
Executive shall die while any amounts

 

31

 

would be payable to Executive hereunder had
Executive continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided
herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to such
person or persons appointed in writing by Executive to receive such amounts or,
if no person is so appointed, to Executive’s estate.

 

17.                                 Notice.

 

a.               For
purposes of this Agreement, all notices and other communications required or
permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
given when delivered or five (5) days after deposit in the United States mail,
certified and return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

If to the Executive:

 

Steve V.
Williams

3809 Shady
Meadow

Grapevine, TX
76051

 

If to the Company:

 

Network
Multi-Family Security Corporation

4221 West John
Carpenter Freeway

Irving,
TX  75063

Attention:  President

 

or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the
other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of
address shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

32

 

b.                                      A
written notice of Executive’s Date of Termination by the Company or Executive,
as the case may be, to the other, shall (i) indicate the specific
termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent
applicable, set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed
to provide a basis for termination of Executive’s employment under the
provision so indicated, and (iii) specify the Date of Termination.  The failure by Executive or the Company to
set forth in such notice any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing
of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of Executive or the Company
hereunder or preclude Executive or the Company from asserting such fact or
circumstance in enforcing Executive’s or the Company’s rights hereunder.

 

18.                                 Full Settlement; Resolution of Disputes.  The Company’s obligation to make any payments
provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations
hereunder shall be in lieu and in full settlement of all other severance
payments to Executive under any other severance or employment agreement between
Executive and the Company, and any severance plan of the Company.  In no event shall Executive be obligated to
seek other employment or take other action by way of mitigation of the amounts
payable to Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and except
as otherwise provided in Section 6(a)(iii), such amounts shall not be reduced
whether or not Executive obtains other employment.  Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with
this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in Wilmington,
Delaware by three arbitrators in

 

33

 

accordance with the rules of the American
Arbitration Association then in effect. 
Judgment may be entered on the arbitrators’ award in any court having
jurisdiction.  The arbitrators shall
determine the allocation of the costs and expenses arising in connection with
any arbitration proceeding pursuant to this Section based on the arbitrators’
assessment of the merits of the positions of the parties.

 

19.                                 Employment with Subsidiaries.  Employment with the Company for purposes of
this Agreement shall include employment with any Subsidiary.

 

20.                                 Survival.  The respective obligations and benefits
afforded to the Company and Executive as provided in Sections 1, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 21 and 23 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.

 

21.                                 GOVERNING LAW; VALIDITY.  THE INTERPRETATION, CONSTRUCTION AND
PERFORMANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITHOUT REGARD TO
THE PRINCIPLE OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.  THE
INVALIDITY OR UNENFORCEABILITY OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT
AFFECT THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT,
WHICH OTHER PROVISIONS SHALL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.

 

34

 

22.                                 Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

 

23.                                 Miscellaneous.  No provision of this Agreement may be modified
or waived unless such modification or waiver is agreed to in writing and signed
by Executive and by a duly authorized officer of the Company.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time
of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition
or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed
a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at
any prior or subsequent time.  Failure
by Executive or the Company to insist upon strict compliance with any provision
of this Agreement or to assert any right Executive or the Company may have
hereunder, including without limitation, the right of Executive to terminate
employment for Good Reason, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such
provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.  Except as otherwise specifically provided
herein, the rights of, and benefits payable to, Executive, his estate or his
beneficiaries pursuant to this Agreement are in addition to any rights of, or
benefits payable to, Executive, his estate or his beneficiaries under any other
employee benefit plan or compensation program of the Company.

 

24.                                 Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes and
replaces all previous verbal or

 

35

 

written agreements that the parties may have
made, including the Prior Employment Agreement.

 

 

[Remainder of
page intentionally left blank. 
Signatures on next page.]

 

36

 

IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly
authorized officer of the Company and Executive has executed this Agreement as
of the day and year first above written.

 

	
   

  	
  NETWORK MULTI-FAMILY SECURITY

  CORPORATION

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/ Richard Ginsburg

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  /s/ Steve V. Williams

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Steve V. Williams

  

 

GUARANTY BY PROTECTION ONE, INC.

 

In consideration of the assurance that the
Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding
the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control, and to encourage
the Executive’s full attention and dedication to the Company currently and in
the event of a threat or occurrence of a Change in Control, Protection One
hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the performance of all of the
obligations and commitments of the Company set forth in this Agreement
including, without limitation, the obligations of the Company to make payments
and provide benefits to the Executive. Protection One will require a
successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or
otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of
Protection One, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Executive,
to expressly assume and agree to perform this Guaranty in the same manner and
to the same extent that Protection One would be required to perform it if no
such succession had taken place.

 

 

37

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Protection One has caused this Guaranty to be executed
by a duly authorized officer of Protection One as of the day and year first
above written.

 

	
   

  	
  PROTECTION ONE, INC.

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/ Richard Ginsburg

  	
   

  

 

38Exhibit 10.39

 

THE
STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION

OF THE
STATE OF KANSAS

 

	
  Before
  Commissioners:

  	
   

  	
  John Wine, Chair

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Cynthia L. Claus

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Brian J. Moline

  

 

	
  In the Matter of
  the Investigation of Actions

  	
  )

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  of Western
  Resources, Inc. to Separate its

  	
  )

  	
   

  	
  Docket No.
  01-WSRE-949-GIE

  
	
  Jurisdictional
  Electric Public Utility Business

  	
  )

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  from its
  Unregulated Businesses.

  	
  )

  	
   

  	
   

  

 

No. 62

ORDER
APPROVING LIMITED STIPULATION

AND
AGREEMENT

 

For the reasons discussed
below, the Commission finds that it has jurisdiction over the Limited
Stipulation and Agreement filed February 11, 2003, and that Westar Energy, Inc.
(Westar Energy) is authorized to repurchase the Westar Energy stock presently
held by Protection One, Inc., as more fully explained below.

 

1.             On February 14, 2003, the Commission conducted a hearing
on the Limited Stipulation and Agreement submitted by Commission Staff (Staff),
Kansas Industrial Consumers (KIC), Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board (CURB),
MBIA Insurance Corporation (MBIA), Westar Energy and its affiliates Protection
One, Inc. (Protection One) and Westar Industries, Inc. (Westar
Industries).  The following appearances
were entered:  Ms. Susan B. Cunningham,
General Counsel, and Ms. Anne Bos, Assistant General Cousnel, on behalf of
Staff and the public generally; Messrs. Martin J. Bregman, Executive Director,
Law, Westar Energy, Inc., and Larry M. Cowger, Director, Law, on behalf of
Westar Energy, Inc.; Ms. Teresa James, Messrs. Eric Griffen and Mitchell Hertz
on behalf of Protection One; Mr. David Springe and Ms. Niki Christopher,
Consumer Counsel, on behalf of CURB; and Mr. James P. Zakoura of behalf of KIC;
and Mr. Carl Zobrist on behalf of MBIA.

 

 

 

2.             The signatory parties of the Limited Stipulation and
Agreement seek waiver of the Commission’s interim restrictions set forth in
paragraph 113 of Order 51. 
Specifically, the signatory parties request permission to allow Westar
Energy to repurchase Westar Energy stock presently held by Protection One.  Limited Stipulation and Agreement at
¶ 13.  The Limited Stipulation and
Agreement states that the sole purpose of the agreement is to allow Westar
Energy to make cash available for Protection One, contending that the cash
transfer will allow settlement negotiations to continue among the parties.  The signatory parties also contend that the
repurchase of the Westar Energy stock by Westar Energy from Protection One is
better than a simple transfer of funds from Westar Energy to Protection
One.  Id. at ¶ 14.

 

3.             Under the Limited Stipulation and Agreement, Westar
Energy will repurchase all of Westar Energy common and preferred stock
presently held by Protection One for approximately $11.6 million.  The purchase price was based upon the
closing price for a share of Westar Energy common stock as of February 13, 2003,
and based upon the most recent sales prices for shares of each class of Westar
Energy preferred stock.  Protection One
previously purchased the Westar Energy stock during 2002 for approximately $13
- 14 million through capital provided by Westar Energy.

 

4.             Protection One states that it will use the proceeds from
the transaction to make an interest payment of approximately $7 million, due
February 18, 2003, on publicly-held debt of which Westar Industries holds
approximately 10 percent of the total debt. 
Protection One states that through recent measures taken within the
company to curtail expenditures, it has sufficient cash to meet the interest
obligation.  However, Protection One
asserts that the measures taken by Protection One have resulted in other areas
of its business being short.  Protection
One maintains that the infusion of cash is still needed for the company to
proceed with its business plan to sell 

 

2

 

the company.  Westar Energy also states that it has
sufficient cash on hand to make the purchase and that the purchase will not
affect the execution of its Financial Plan to reduce its excessive debt level.

 

5.             Westar Energy, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kansas
Gas and Electric Company (KG&E), doing business as Westar Energy, are certified
electric public utilities that provide retail electric service in the state of
Kansas.  As public utilities, the
Commission has comprehensive regulatory authority to establish rules governing
affiliate relations and accounting practices between and among the public
utility and nonutility businesses. 
K.S.A. 66-101 et seq.

 

6.             The Commission previously entered Orders 51 and 55
imposing interim standstill protections to prevent interaffiliate accounting
practices and relations that are harmful to WEstar Energy’s public utility
operations.  Further, the interim
standstill protections were ordered to protect ratepayers from the risks of
Westar Energy’s nonutility business ventures conducted within the corporate
family controlled by Westar Energy and to prohibit the unjust enrichment of
Westar Energy’s unregulated businesses at the expense of Westar Energy’s
utility operations and ratepayers.

 

7.             Those restrictions prohibit Westar Energy from making an
investment/purchase, as contemplated by the Limited Stipulation and
Agreement.  However, the waiver of those
restrictions, in this particular instant, is reasonable and in the public
interest because it results in Westar Energy acquiring an asset and results in
Westar Energy making progress towards unwinding the affiliate relationship with
Protection One.  Accordingly, the
Commission grants the limited waiver to the interim standstill protections of
Orders 51, as contemplated by the Limited Stipulation and Agreement.

 

IT IS, THEREFORE, BY THE COMMISSION ORDERED THAT:

 

 

3

 

A.            Westar Energy is authorized to repurchase Westar Energy
stock from Protection One according to the terms of the Limited Stipulation and
Agreement.

 

B.            This Order is effective upon service by facsimile
transmission.

 

C.            Any party may file a petition for reconsideration of this
Order within fifteen days of the date this order is served.  If this Order is served by mail, service is
complete upon mailing, and three days may be added to the above time frame.

 

D.            The Commission retains jurisdiction over the subject
matter of this investigation and the parties for the purpose of entering such
further order or orders as it may deem necessary and proper.

 

	
   

  	
  BY THE COMMISSION IT IS SO ORDERED.

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Wine, Chr.;
  Claus, Comm.; Moline, Comm.

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  ORDER MAILED

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  Dated: February
  14, 2003

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  FEB 14, 2003

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  /S/ Susan K.
  Duffy

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  Susan K. Duffy

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
  Executive
  Director

  

 

 

4

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