Document:

Exhibit 10.2

 

NATURE’S SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, INC.

2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
 NON-INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

This NON-INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made this 6th day of February, 2012, by and between Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc., a Utah corporation (the “Company”), and David Wynne Roberts, an individual resident of the United Kingdom (“Employee”).

 

1.                                       Grant of Option.  The Company hereby grants Employee the option (the “Option”) to purchase all or any part of an aggregate of 135,000 shares (the “Shares”) of Common Stock of the Company at the exercise price of $15.85 per share (the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of this agreement) according to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).  The Option will not be treated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).  The Option is issued under the Plan and is subject to its terms and conditions.  A copy of the Plan will be furnished upon request of Employee.

 

The Option shall terminate at the close of business ten years from the date hereof.

 

2.                                       Vesting of Option Rights.

 

(a)                                  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Option may be exercised by Employee in accordance with the following schedule:

 

	
On or   after each of
   the following dates
    	
 
    	
Number   of non-cumulative
   Shares with respect to
   which the Option is
   exercisable
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
February 6, 2013
    	
 
    	
45,000
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
February 6, 2014
    	
 
    	
45,000
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
February 6, 2015
    	
 
    	
45,000
    

 

(b)                                 During the lifetime of Employee, the Option shall be exercisable only by Employee and shall not be assignable or transferable by Employee, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

3.                                       Exercise of Option after Death or Termination of Employment.  The Option shall terminate and may no longer be exercised if Employee ceases to be employed by the Company or its affiliates, except that:

 

 

(a)                                  If Employee’s employment shall be terminated for any reason, voluntary or involuntary, other than for “Cause” (as defined in Section 3(e)) or Employee’s death or disability (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), Employee may, at any time within a period of 3 months after such termination, exercise the Option to the extent the Option was exercisable or becomes exercisable by Employee on the date of the termination of Employee’s employment.

 

(b)                                 If Employee’s employment is terminated for Cause, the Option shall be terminated as of the date of the act giving rise to such termination.

 

(c)                                  If Employee shall die while the Option is still exercisable according to its terms or if employment is terminated because Employee has become disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) while in the employ of the Company and Employee shall not have fully exercised the Option, such Option may be exercised at any time within 12 months after Employee’s death or date of termination of employment for disability by Employee, personal representatives or administrators or guardians of Employee, as applicable, or by any person or persons to whom the Option is transferred by will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution, to the extent of the full number of Shares Employee was entitled to purchase under the Option on (i) the earlier of the date of death or termination of employment or (ii) the date of termination for such disability, as applicable.

 

(d)                                 Notwithstanding the above, in no case may the Option be exercised to any extent by anyone after the termination date of the Option.

 

(e)                                  “Cause” shall mean (i) the willful and continued failure by Employee substantially to perform his or her duties and obligations (other than any such failure resulting from his or her incapacity due to physical or mental illness), (ii) Employee’s conviction or plea bargain of any felony or gross misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, fraud or misappropriation of funds or (iii) the willful engaging by Employee in misconduct which causes substantial injury to the Company or its affiliates, its other employees or the employees of its affiliates or its clients or the clients of its affiliates, whether monetarily or otherwise.  For purposes of this subsection, no action or failure to act on Employee’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done or omitted to be done by Employee in bad faith and without reasonable belief that his or her action or omission was in the best interests of the Company.

 

4.                                       Acceleration of Vesting.

 

(a)                                  In the event that Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason, other than for Cause, or by reason of Employee’s death or disability, the Option, in its entirety, shall fully vest and become immediately exercisable.

 

(b)                                 Additionally, upon the occurrence of a “Change in Control Event” (as defined below):

 

(i)                                     If in connection with the Change in Control Event, the Acquiring Person (as defined below) elects to continue this Option in effect (or substitute a

 

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similar option for this Option) and to replace the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Option with other equity securities that are registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are freely transferable under all applicable federal and state securities laws and regulations, with appropriate adjustments as to the number of shares purchasable thereunder and the exercise price thereof, this Option shall remain subject to the vesting schedule set forth in Section 2 and otherwise become exercisable in full if:

 

(A)                              at any time after the date of the Change in Control Event, Employee’s employment with the Company (or any successor company or affiliated entity with which Employee is then employed) is terminated for any reason set forth in Section 4(a) above; or

 

(B)                                within 24 months after the date of the Change in Control Event, Employee’s employment with the Company (or any successor company or affiliated entity with which Employee is then employed) is terminated by Employee for “Good Reason” (as defined below).

 

(ii)                                  If the Change in Control Event does not meet the criteria specified in subsection (b)(i) above, this Option shall fully vest and become immediately exercisable upon the Change in Control Event.

 

(c)                                  For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control Event” shall mean:

 

(i)                                     approval by the stockholders of the Company of a plan of complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company; or

 

(ii)                                  consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries that requires the approval of the Company’s stockholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a “Business Combination”), unless immediately following such Business Combination:  (A) more than 50% of the total voting power of (x) the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (the “Surviving Corporation”), or (y) if applicable, the ultimate parent corporation that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of at least 90% of the voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Surviving Corporation (the “Parent Corporation”), is represented by Company Voting Securities (as defined in subsection (c)(iv)) 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), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power of such Company Voting Securities among the holders thereof immediately prior to the Business Combination, (B) no person (other than any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Corporation or the Parent Corporation) is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect

 

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directors 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 Incumbent Directors (as defined in subsection (c)(v)) at the time of the approval by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) 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”); or

 

(iii)                               consummation of a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s business and/or assets to a person or entity which is not a subsidiary; or

 

(iv)                              any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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 50% or more (an “Acquiring Person”) 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 subsection (c)(iv) shall not be deemed to be a Change in Control Event by virtue of any of the following acquisitions:  (A) by the Company or any subsidiary, (B) by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any subsidiary, (C) by any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (D) pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction, as defined in subsection (c)(ii); or

 

(v)                                 during any period not longer than two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the beginning of such period whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of a least a majority 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 or threatened election contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director.

 

(d)                                 For purposes of this Agreement, “Continuing Director” shall mean any Incumbent Director, who, while such person is a member of the Board, is not an Acquiring Person or an Affiliate or Associate (as defined below) of an Acquiring Person, or a representative of an Acquiring Person or of any such Affiliate or Associate; and for purposes hereof, “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

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(e)                                  For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events following a Change in Control Event, except for the occurrence of such an event in connection with the termination of Employee’s employment by the Company (or any successor company or affiliated entity then employing Employee) for Cause, disability or death:

 

(A)                              the assignment to Employee of employment duties or responsibilities which are not substantially comparable in responsibility to the employment duties and responsibilities held by Employee immediately prior to the Change in Control Event;

 

(B)                                a reduction in Employee’s base salary as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control Event or as the same may be increased from time to time during the term of this Agreement; or

 

(C)                                requiring Employee to work in a location more than 50 miles from Employee’s office location immediately prior to the Change in Control Event, except for requirements of temporary travel on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with Employee’s business travel obligations immediately prior to the Change in Control Event.

 

(f)                                    Notwithstanding any of the foregoing to the contrary, any acceleration of the Option shall be subject to and conditioned on compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, including, without limitation, Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

5.                                       Method of Exercise of Option.  Subject to the foregoing, the Option may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time by serving written notice of exercise on the Company at its principal office within the Option period.  The notice shall state the number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised and shall be accompanied by payment of the exercise price.  Payment of the exercise price shall be made (i) in cash (including bank check, personal check or money order payable to the Company), (ii) with the approval of the Company (which may be given in its sole discretion), by delivering to the Company for cancellation shares of the Company’s Common Stock already owned by Employee having a Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) equal to the full exercise price of the Shares being acquired, or (iii) with the approval of the Company (which may be given in its sole discretion), by delivering to the Company a combination thereof.  In addition, with the approval of the Company (which may be given in its sole discretion), the Option may be exercised by delivering to the Employee, a number of Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of exercise) equal to the excess, if positive, of the Fair Market Value of the Shares underlying the Option being exercised, on the date of exercise, over the exercise price of the Option for such Shares.

 

6.                                       Miscellaneous.

 

(a)                                  Plan Provisions Control.  In the event that any provision of the Agreement conflicts with or is inconsistent in any respect with the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.

 

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(b)                                 No Rights of Stockholders.  Neither Employee, Employee’s legal representative nor a permissible assignee of this Option shall have any of the rights and privileges of a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Shares, unless and until such Shares have been issued in the name of Employee, Employee’s legal representative or permissible assignee, as applicable.

 

(c)                                  No Right to Employment.  The grant of the Option shall not be construed as giving Employee the right to be retained in the employ of, or as giving a director of the Company or an Affiliate (as defined in the Plan) the right to continue as a director of the Company or an Affiliate with, the Company or an Affiliate, nor will it affect in any way the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate such employment or position at any time, with or without cause.  In addition, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss Employee from employment, or terminate the term of a director of the Company or an Affiliate, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan or the Agreement.  Nothing in the Agreement shall confer on any person any legal or equitable right against the Company or any Affiliate, directly or indirectly, or give rise to any cause of action at law or in equity against the Company or an Affiliate.  The Option granted hereunder shall not form any part of the wages or salary of Employee for purposes of severance pay or termination indemnities, irrespective of the reason for termination of employment.  Under no circumstances shall any person ceasing to be an employee of the Company or any Affiliate be entitled to any compensation for any loss of any right or benefit under the Agreement or Plan which such employee might otherwise have enjoyed but for termination of employment, whether such compensation is claimed by way of damages for wrongful or unfair dismissal, breach of contract or otherwise.  By participating in the Plan, Employee shall be deemed to have accepted all the conditions of the Plan and the Agreement and the terms and conditions of any rules and regulations adopted by the Committee (as defined in the Plan) and shall be fully bound thereby.

 

(d)                                 Governing Law.  The validity, construction and effect of the Plan and the Agreement, and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and the Agreement, shall be determined in accordance with the internal laws, and not the law of conflicts, of the State of Utah.

 

(e)                                  Severability.  If any provision of the Agreement is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or would disqualify the Agreement under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the purpose or intent of the Plan or the Agreement, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction or the Agreement, and the remainder of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(f)                                    No Trust or Fund Created.  Neither the Plan nor the Agreement shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and Employee or any other person.

 

(g)                                 Headings.  Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Agreement solely as a convenience to facilitate reference.  Such headings shall not be deemed in any way 

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material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Agreement or any provision thereof.

 

(h)                                 Conditions Precedent to Issuance of Shares.  Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of the Option unless such exercise and the issuance and delivery of the applicable Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the requirements of any applicable Stock Exchange and the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act.  As a condition to the exercise of the purchase price relating to the Option, the Company may require that the person exercising or paying the purchase price represent and warrant that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation and warranty is required by law.

 

(i)                                     Withholding.  In order to provide the Company with the opportunity to claim the benefit of any income tax deduction which may be available to it upon the exercise of the Option and in order to comply with all applicable federal or state income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take such action as it deems appropriate to insure that, if necessary, all applicable federal or state payroll, withholding, income or other taxes are withheld or collected from Employee.

 

(j)                                     Consultation With Professional Tax and Investment Advisors.  The holder of this Award acknowledges that the grant, exercise, vesting or any payment with respect to this Award, and the sale or other taxable disposition of the Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise thereof, may have tax consequences pursuant to the Code or under local, state or international tax laws.  The holder further acknowledges that such holder is relying solely and exclusively on the holder’s own professional tax and investment advisors with respect to any and all such matters (and is not relying, in any manner, on the Company or any of its employees or representatives).  Finally, the holder understands and agrees that any and all tax consequences resulting from the Award and its grant, exercise, vesting or any payment with respect thereto, and the sale or other taxable disposition of the Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan, is solely and exclusively the responsibility of the holder without any expectation or understanding that the Company or any of its employees or representatives will pay or reimburse such holder for such taxes or other items.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Employee have executed this Agreement on the date set forth in the first paragraph.

 

	
 
    	
NATURE’S   SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Stephen M. Bunker
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Stephen   M. Bunker
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
DAVID   WYNNE ROBERTS
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   D. Wynne Roberts
    

 

8Exhibit 10.24

 

SUPERMEDIA INC.
 EXECUTIVE TRANSITION PLAN

 

(Amended and Restated as of May 26, 2010)

 

1.                                       Purpose. The purpose of the Executive Transition Plan (the “Plan”) is to provide certain protections to covered executives in the event their employment is involuntarily terminated, including in connection with a Change in Control of the Company. It is intended that having the protections provided by the Plan will alleviate personal concerns that covered executives might otherwise have about uncertainties that may arise in the face of certain business exigencies and opportunities the Company may have from time to time and, in turn, provide greater assurance to the Company and its shareholders that the covered executives will be able to maintain their undivided focus on and attention to the business and interests of the Company and the enhancement of shareholder value.

 

2.                                       Certain Definitions.

 

(a)                                  “Affiliate” means any entity at least 50%  of the voting, capital or profit interests of which are owned directly or indirectly by the Company.

 

(b)                                 “Cause” means a participant’s (a) conviction or plea of nolo contendre to a felony; (b) commission of fraud or a material act or omission involving dishonesty with respect to the Company or its Affiliates, as reasonably determined by the Company; (c) willful failure or refusal to carry out the material responsibilities of his or her employment, as reasonably determined by the Company; (d) gross negligence, willful misconduct, or engaging in a pattern of behavior which has had or is reasonably likely to have a significant adverse effect on the Company, as reasonably determined by the Company; or (e) willfully engaging in any act or omission that is in material violation of a material policy of the Company, including, without limitation, policies on business ethics and conduct, and policies on the use of inside information and insider trading.

 

(c)                                  “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(i)                                     any person, as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, other than (1) the Company, (2) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, (3) any entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, or (4) any person who becomes a beneficial owner (as defined below) in connection with a transaction described in clause (1) of subparagraph (iii) below, is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its affiliates) representing 40 percent or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities;

 

(ii)                                  the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the directors then serving: individuals who on December 

 

 

31, 2006, constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors on December 31, 2006, or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended;

 

(iii)                               there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company with any other entity, other than (1) a merger or consolidation which results in the directors of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the Company, the surviving entity or any parent thereof or (2) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no person is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its affiliates) representing 40% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;

 

(iv)                              the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or a majority of the Company’s assets, income or revenue to an entity, at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale; or

 

(v)                                 any other transaction or event occurs that is designated by the Company’s Board of Directors as a “Change in Control” for purposes of this Agreement or that would be required to be reported as a “change in control” on Form 8-K under the Exchange Act.

 

(d)                                 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(e)                                  “Committee” means the Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(f)                                    “Company” means SuperMedia Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto.

 

(g)                                 “Disability” means the inability of a participant to perform the material duties of his or her employment by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or is expected to last for a 

 

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continuous period of at least 12 months, as determined by a duly licensed physician selected by the Committee.

 

(h)                                 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

(i)                                     “Good Reason” means (i) a material adverse change in a participant’s status or position, including, without limitation, any material adverse change resulting from a diminution in the participant’s position, duties, responsibilities or authority or the assignment to the participant of duties or responsibilities that are materially inconsistent with his or her status or position or, if applicable, a material breach by the Company of a participant’s employment agreement; (ii) a reduction in the participant’s annual base salary or a failure to pay same; (iii) a reduction in the participant’s target incentive award opportunities, expressed as a percentage of the participant’s base salary; (iv) the relocation of the participant’s principal place of employment by more than 50 miles from the current location; or (v) at the time of a Change in Control, the successor or acquiring company fails or refuses to assume the obligations of the Company under this Plan or, if applicable, the participant’s employment agreement. Before terminating employment for Good Reason, a participant must specify in writing to the Company the nature of the act or omission that the participant deems to constitute Good Reason and provide the Company 30 days after receipt of such notice to review and, if required, correct the situation (and thus prevent the participant’s termination for Good Reason).

 

(j)                                     “Long-Term Incentive Award” means any equity-based or other incentive award (other than an annual incentive award) that is subject to vesting or forfeiture conditions.

 

3.                                       Administration.

 

(a)                                  The Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, acting in its sole and absolute discretion, shall have full power and authority to interpret, construe and apply the provisions of the Plan and to take such actions as it deems necessary or appropriate in order to carry out the provisions of the Plan. The decision of the Committee as to any question or issue arising under or in connection with the Plan or an individual’s participation in the Plan shall be final and conclusive on all persons. The Committee may delegate to other persons such duties and functions as it deems appropriate in connection with the administration of the Plan.

 

(b)                                 Indemnification.  The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee and any employee or director of the Company or an Affiliate to whom any duty or function relating to the administration of the Plan is delegated from and against any loss, cost, liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the approval of the Board), damage and expense (including legal and other expenses incident thereto) arising out of or incurred in connection with the Plan, unless and except to the extent attributable to such person’s fraud or willful misconduct.

 

4.                                       Participation. The Plan covers employees of the Company or an Affiliate who are in compensation bands 1, 2 or 3.

 

5.                                       Involuntary Termination of Participant’s Employment Without Cause—General. Subject to Section 10 (imposing additional conditions with respect to payments and benefits 

 

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under the Plan) and except as otherwise provided in Section 6 (relating to involuntary termination in conjunction with a Change in Control), if the Company or an Affiliate terminates a participant’s employment without Cause, the participant shall be entitled to receive the following payments and benefits:

 

(a)                                  a single sum cash payment equal to the sum of (1) any unpaid base salary earned by the terminated participant through the date of his or her termination of employment, and (2) any unpaid short term incentive award earned by the participant for the preceding year;

 

(b)                                 payment of any business expenses that were previously incurred but not reimbursed and are otherwise eligible for reimbursement;

 

(c)                                  any payments or benefits which are payable to the terminated participant or any covered spouse, dependent or beneficiary of the terminated participant, under and in accordance with the provisions of any employee plan, program or arrangement of the Company or an Affiliate (other than the Plan);

 

(d)                                 a single sum cash payment equal to a proportionate amount of the terminated participant’s target short term incentive award for the calendar year in which the participant’s employment terminates, based upon the number of days elapsed since the beginning of such calendar year;

 

(e)                                  a single sum cash payment equal to the product of X multiplied by Y, where—

 

X = 1.0 if the terminated participant is, or at any time during the period of his or her participation in the Plan was, in compensation band 2 or 3 (or their equivalents), and 2.0 if the terminated participant is, or at any time during the period of his or her participation in the Plan, was in compensation band 1; and

 

Y = the sum of (1) the terminated participant’s highest annual rate of base salary at any time during the preceding 24 months, and (2) the participant’s target short term incentive award for the calendar year in which his or her employment terminates (or, if greater, the actual annual short term incentive award earned by the terminated participant for the preceding calendar year);

 

(f)                                    effective on the date of the participant’s termination of employment, all continuing service and performance conditions will be waived with respect to any Long-Term Incentive Award  made to the participant at least six months before the termination of his or her employment, with the payout under a performance-based award being equal to the target amount;

 

(g)                                 if applicable, the terminated participant will continue to participate in the Company’s Executive Life Insurance Program for the longer of (1) the number of months following the termination of his or her employment equal to the product of 12 multiplied by the severance multiplier (X) determined under 5(e) above (or, if earlier, until the participant’s death) as if such employment had continued at the terminated participant’s highest annual rate of base 

 

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salary in effect at any time during the 12 months preceding the participant’s actual termination of employment, or (2) the period provided by such Program;

 

(h)                                 if the terminated participant and/or any spouse or dependent participates (other than via COBRA) in a Company group health plan, then, for the number of months equal to the product of 12 multiplied by the severance multiplier (X) determined under Section 5(e) above or, if sooner, until corresponding coverage is obtained under a successor employer’s plan, the terminated participant and/or such spouse and/or dependents may elect to continue participating in such plan at the same benefit and contribution levels in effect immediately before the termination of the participant’s employment (which continuing participation will be deemed to be in addition to and not in lieu of COBRA), or, if such coverage is not permitted by the plan or by applicable law, Company will provide COBRA continuation coverage to such terminated participant and/or spouse or dependent, at the Company’s sole expense, if and to the extent any of such persons elects and is entitled to receive COBRA continuation coverage; and

 

(i)                                     the terminated participant will continue to receive such perquisites (including, without limitation, any flexible allowance and financial planning services) as were made available to the participant at any time during the 12 months preceding the participant’s actual termination of employment for the number of months equal to the product of 12 multiplied by the severance multiplier (X) determined under Section 5(e) above; and

 

(j)                                     outplacement services for up to one year with a reputable firm selected by the Company.

 

6.                                       Involuntary Termination of a Participant’s Employment Without Cause in Conjunction with a Change in Control. Subject to Section 10 (relating to other agreements that may be applicable and restoration of payments due to a terminated participant’s violation of restrictive covenants and the execution and delivery of a release), if the Company or an Affiliate terminates a participant’s employment without Cause during the period beginning six months prior to the date of a Change in Control (or, if earlier, the date a definitive agreement is signed with respect to the Change in Control) and ending on the second anniversary of the Change in Control, or if a participant terminates his or her employment for Good Reason within two years after the consummation of a Change in Control, then the terminated participant shall be entitled to receive the payments and benefits described in Section 5, except that, for the purpose of the severance calculation under this section 6, the calculation in Section 5(e) will be modified such that the severance multiplier (X) will be (a) 2.0 with respect to a terminated participant who is or who, at any time during the period of his or her participation in the Plan, was in compensation band 2 or 3, and (b) 3.0 with respect to a terminated participant who is, or at any time during the period of his or her participation in the Plan, was in compensation band 1. If a participant is entitled to receive payments and benefits under this Section 6 due to a termination of employment prior to but in conjunction with a Change in Control and if, with respect to such termination of employment, the participant receives payments or benefits under Section 5, then, in order to avoid duplication, the payments and benefits to which the participant is entitled under this Section 6 will be reduced by the payments and benefits which the participant has received under Section 5.

 

7.                                       Effect of a Change in Control on Long-Term Incentive Awards. All outstanding Company Long-Term Incentive Awards  held by a participant shall become fully vested immediately before the occurrence of a Change in Control if (a) the participant is then still employed by the Company or an Affiliate; or (b) the participant is entitled to payments and benefits under Section 5 or Section 6 as a result of the termination of his or her employment during the pre-Change in Control severance protection period described in Section 6. If a participant becomes vested in a Long-Term Incentive Award pursuant to part (b) of the 

 

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preceding sentence, then, before the Change in Control, the Company will either reinstate such award to the extent it would otherwise not be vested, or make a cash payment to the participant equal to the then value of the non-vested portion of the award. The vesting and other terms and conditions of a participant’s Long-Term Incentive Awards will continue to govern except as otherwise specifically provided by this Section 7.

 

8.                                       Termination Due to Death or Disability. In  the  event  that  a  participant’s  employment  terminates  due  to  death  or  is  terminated  by  the  Company  due  to  Disability,  (a)  the  participant  (or  the  participant’s  beneficiary,  as  the  case  may  be)  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  an  amount  equal  to  the  sum  of  (1)  six  months’  base  salary,  plus  (2)  pro  rata  target  bonus  for  the  year  in  which  the  participant’s  employment  terminates,  payable  in  the  form  of  a  single-sum  cash  payment  as  soon  as  practicable  but  not  more  than  sixty  days  following  such  termination  of  employment,  (b)  if  the  participant’s  employment  terminates  due  to  Disability,  the  participant  shall  be  entitled  to  two  years  of  continuing  group  health  and  welfare  benefits  (including  continuing  participation  in  the  Company’s  Executive  Life  Insurance  Program  and  conversion  of  any  life  or  disability  policies)  at  the  Company’s  expense,  and  (c)  the  participant  (or  beneficiary)  will  be  fully  vested  in  all  outstanding  Long-Term  Incentive  Awards,  it  being  understood,  however,  that,  the  payout,  if  any,  with  respect  to  a  performance-based  award  will  remain  contingent  upon  the  satisfaction  of  the  applicable  performance  condition(s).

 

9.                                       Excise Tax Payments. If a participant, hired prior to January 1, 2010, is entitled to receive payments and benefits under the Plan and if, when combined with the payments and benefits the participant is entitled to receive under any other plan, program or arrangement, the participant would be subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, then the Company shall make “gross-up” payments to the participant in the amount(s), at the time(s) and upon the terms and conditions set forth in Exhibit A annexed to the Plan and incorporated herein by reference.

 

10.                                 Additional Conditions of Severance Payments.

 

(a)                                  Effect of Other Agreements. Notwithstanding the provisions hereof, if a terminated participant is entitled to receive a payment or benefit under the Plan and the terminated participant is also entitled to receive a payment or benefit under similar circumstances from the Company or an Affiliate under another plan or agreement, then the Company may reduce the amount of the corresponding payment or adjust the corresponding benefit to which the participant (or the participant’s beneficiary) is entitled under the Plan if and to the extent reasonably necessary in order to avoid an unintended duplication of any such payment or benefit.

 

(b)                                 Restoration. Any severance payments and benefits due, made or provided pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to continuing compliance with the restrictive covenants described in Exhibit B annexed to and made a part of the Plan, and repayment pursuant to this Section 10(b). As a condition of coverage under the Plan, each participant is subject to the restrictions described in Exhibit B. If a participant violates or is in breach of any restrictions set forth in Exhibit B (the determination of which shall be made in the discretion of the Committee), then (1) the participant shall not be entitled to any further severance payments and benefits under the Plan, (2) the participant shall immediately return to the Company any severance payments and the value of any severance benefits previously received hereunder, and (3) the participant 

 

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shall have no further rights or entitlements under the Plan. This Section 10(b) shall not in any manner supersede or limit any other right the Company may have to enforce or seek legal or equitable relief based on the Plan or Exhibit B.

 

(c)                                  Release of Claims. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Committee may condition severance payments or benefits which, but for the Plan, would not otherwise be payable, on the execution and delivery of a general release in favor of the Company, its Affiliates and their officers, directors and employees, in such form as the Committee may specify. Any payment or benefit that is so conditioned may be deferred until the expiration of the seven day revocation period prescribed by the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, or any similar revocation period in effect on the effective date of the termination of the participant’s employment.

 

11.                                 No Duty to Mitigate/Set Off. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or in an employment or other agreement, a participant entitled to receive any payment or benefits hereunder shall not be required to seek other employment or to attempt in any way to reduce any amounts payable to him or her pursuant to the Plan and the payments and benefits payable hereunder shall not be reduced by any compensation earned by the participant as a result of employment or consultancy with another person.

 

12.                                 Amendment and Termination. The Committee may amend the Plan at any time and from time to time and the Committee may terminate the Plan at any time after December 31, 2008, provided, however, that any such action which would have an adverse effect on the amount, timing or value of the payments or benefits a participant is or otherwise may become entitled to receive under the Plan shall not be effective with respect to the participant (a) if his or her employment terminates before or within six months after the date such action is taken and written notice thereof is furnished to the participant, and/or (b) prior to the second anniversary of a Change in Control if such action is taken (1) on the day of or subsequent to the Change in Control, (2) prior to the Change in Control, but at the request of a third party participating directly or indirectly in the Change in Control, or (3) otherwise in connection with or in anticipation of the Change in Control.

 

13.                                 Successors and Beneficiaries.

 

(a)                                  Successors and Assigns of Company.  The Company shall require any successor or assignee, whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all or substantially all the business or assets of the Company, expressly and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform or cause to be performed the Company’s obligations under the Plan in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession or assignment had taken place. In any such event, the term “Company,” as used in the Plan shall mean the Company, as defined above and any such successor or assignee.

 

(b)                                 Beneficiary of Deceased Participant. For the purposes hereof, a deceased participant’s beneficiary will be the person or persons designated as such in a written Plan beneficiary designation filed with the Committee or its designee, which may be revoked or revised in the same manner at any time prior to the participant’s death. In the absence of a 

 

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properly filed written Plan beneficiary designation or if no designated beneficiary survives a participant, the deceased participant’s estate will be deemed to be the participant’s beneficiary hereunder.

 

14.                                 Miscellaneous.

 

(a)                                  Nonassignability. With the exception of a participant’s beneficiary designation, no participant or beneficiary may pledge, transfer or assign in any way his or her right to receive payments under the Plan, and any attempted pledge, transfer or assignment shall be void and of no force or effect.

 

(b)                                 Legal Fees to Enforce Rights after a Change in Control. If, following a Change in Control, the Company fails to comply with any of its obligations under the Plan or the Company takes any action to declare the Plan void or unenforceable or institutes any litigation or other legal action designed to deny, diminish or to recover from any participant (or beneficiary) the payments and benefits intended to be provided, then such participant (or beneficiary, as the case may be) shall be entitled to retain counsel of his or her choice at the expense of the Company to represent such participant (or beneficiary, as the case may be) in connection with the good faith initiation or defense of any litigation or other legal action, whether by or against the Company or any director, officer, stockholder or other person affiliated with the Company or any successor thereto in any jurisdiction.

 

(c)                                  Not a Contract of Employment. The terms and conditions of the Plan shall not be deemed to constitute a contract of employment between any participant and the Company or any of its Affiliates. Nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to give any employee the right to be retained in the employ or other service of the Company or any of its Affiliates or to interfere with the right of the Company or any of its Affiliates to terminate a participant’s employment at any time.

 

(d)                                 Governing Law. The Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas, excluding its conflict of law rules.

 

(e)                                  Withholding.  The Company and its Affiliates may withhold from any and all amounts payable under the Plan such federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

Excise Tax Gross-Up

 

1.                                       Gross-Up Payment. If any payment or benefit received or to be received by a participant, hired prior to January 1, 2010, from the Company pursuant to the terms of the Plan to which this Exhibit A is attached (the “Plan”) or otherwise (the “Payments”) would be subject to the excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) as determined in accordance with this Exhibit A, the Company shall pay the participant, at the time(s) specified below, an additional amount (the “Gross-Up Payment”) such that the net amount the participant retains, after deduction of the Excise Tax on the Payments and any federal, state, and local income tax and the Excise Tax upon the Gross-Up Payment, and any interest, penalties, or additions to tax payable by a participant with respect thereto, shall be equal to the total present value (using the applicable federal rate (as defined in section 1274(d) of the Code) in such calculation) of the Payments at the time such Payments are to be made.

 

2.                                       Eligibility. A participant must have been hired prior to January 1, 2010 to be eligible for any Gross-Up Payment(s).

 

3.                                       Calculations. For purposes of determining whether any of the Payments shall be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such excise tax—

 

(a)                                  the total amount of the Payments shall be treated as “parachute payments” within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, and all “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of section 280G(b)(1) of the Code shall be treated as subject to the excise tax, except to the extent that, in the written opinion of independent counsel or an independent national accounting or other qualified professional firm selected by the Company (“Independent Adviser”), a Payment (in whole or in part) does not constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, or such “excess parachute payments” (in whole or in part) are not subject to the Excise Tax;

 

(b)                                 the amount of the Payments that shall be subject to the Excise Tax shall be equal to the lesser of (1) the total amount of the Payments or (2) the amount of “excess parachute payments “ within the meaning of section 280G(b)(1) of the Code (after applying clause (a), above); and

 

(c)                                  the value of any non-cash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Independent Adviser in accordance with the principles of section 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

 

4.                                       Tax Rates. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, a participant shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rates of federal income taxation applicable to individuals in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes, if any, at the highest marginal rates of taxation applicable to individuals as are in effect in the state and locality of his or her residence in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, net of the maximum 

 

 

reduction in federal income taxes that can be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes, taking into account any limitations applicable to individuals subject to federal income tax at the highest marginal rates.

 

5.                                       Time of Gross-Up Payments. The Gross-Up Payments provided for in this Exhibit A shall be made upon the earlier of (a) the payment to a participant of any Payment or (b) the imposition upon a participant, or any payment by him or her, of any Excise Tax.

 

6.                                       Adjustments to Gross-Up Payments. If it is established pursuant to a final determination of a court or an Internal Revenue Service proceeding or the written opinion of the Independent Adviser that the Excise Tax is less than the amount previously taken into account hereunder, the participant shall repay the Company, within 30 days of her receipt of notice of such final determination or opinion, the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to such reduction (plus the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to the Excise Tax and federal, state, and local income tax imposed on the Gross-Up Payment being repaid by the participant if such repayment results in a reduction in Excise Tax or a federal, state, and local income tax deduction) plus any interest received by the participant on the amount of such repayment, provided that if any such amount has been paid by a participant as an Excise Tax or other tax, he or she shall cooperate with the Company in seeking a refund of any tax overpayments, and shall not be required to make repayments to the Company until the overpaid taxes and interest thereon are refunded to him or her.

 

7.                                       Additional Gross-Up Payment. If it is established pursuant to a final determination of a court or an Internal Revenue Service proceeding or the written opinion of the Independent Adviser that the Excise Tax exceeds the amount taken into account hereunder (including by reason of any payment the existence or amount of which cannot be determined at the time of the Gross-Up Payment), the Company shall make an additional Gross-Up Payment in respect of such excess within 30 days of the Company’s receipt of notice of such final determination or opinion.

 

8.                                       Change in Law or Interpretation. In the event of any change in or further interpretation of section 280G or 4999 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder,  a participant shall be entitled, by written notice to the Company, to request a written opinion of the Independent Adviser regarding the application of such change or further interpretation to any of the foregoing, and the Company shall use its best efforts to cause such opinion to be rendered as promptly as practicable.

 

9.                                       Fees and Expenses. All fees and expenses of the Independent Adviser incurred in connection with this Exhibit A shall be borne by the Company.

 

10.                                 Survival. The Company’s obligation to make a Gross-Up Payment with respect to Payments made or accrued before the termination of the Plan shall survive the termination of the Plan unless (a) the affected participant’s employment is terminated for Cause, (b) the participant fails to execute a release in accordance with the requirements of the Plan, or (c) the participant fails to comply with the restrictive covenants contained in Exhibit B of the Plan, in which event the Company’s obligation under this Exhibit A shall terminate immediately.

 

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11.                                 Defined Terms. Unless otherwise clearly required by the context, for purposes of this Exhibit A, any capitalized term that is defined in the Plan and is not defined in this Exhibit A shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Plan.

 

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EXHIBIT B
 CONFIDENTIALITY AND
 POST-EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

 

This Exhibit B contains the confidentiality and post-employment restrictive covenants referenced in the Plan to which this Exhibit B is annexed. This Exhibit B is a part of and will be interpreted in accordance with and otherwise subject to the provisions of the Plan. The payments and benefits provided to a participating employee (a “Participant”) under the Plan are expressly conditioned upon continuing compliance with the covenants set forth herein and the provisions hereof.

 

1.                                       Access to Secret and Confidential Information. The Company has furnished and shall furnish to the Participant Secret and Confidential Information (including, without limitation, Secret and Confidential Information of the Company’s Affiliates) (collectively “Secret and Confidential Information”), which the Participant would not otherwise have access to or knowledge of. Secret and Confidential Information includes, without limitation, the Company’s technical and business information, whether patentable or not, which is of a confidential, trade secret or proprietary character, and which is either developed by the Participant alone, with others or by others; lists of customers; identity of customers; identity of prospective customers; contract terms; bidding information and strategies; pricing methods or information; computer software; computer software methods and documentation; hardware; the Company’s or its Affiliates’ methods of operation; the procedures, forms and techniques used in servicing accounts; and other information or documents that the Company requires to be maintained in confidence for the Company’s continued business success.

 

2.                                       Non-Disclosure of Secret and Confidential Information. In consideration of being admitted to the Plan and as a condition of receiving and retaining payments or benefits thereunder, the Participant shall not during the period of Participant’s employment with the Company or at any time thereafter, disclose to anyone, including, without limitation, any person, firm, corporation, or other entity,  or publish, or use for any purpose, any Secret and Confidential Information, except as properly required in the ordinary course of the Company’s business or as directed and authorized by the Company.

 

3.                                       Duty to Return Company Documents and Property. Upon the termination of Participant’s employment with the Company, for any reason whatsoever, Participant shall immediately return and deliver to the Company any and all papers, books, records, documents, memoranda and manuals, e-mail, electronic or magnetic recordings or data, including all copies thereof, belonging to the Company or relating to its business, in Participant’s possession, whether prepared by Participant or others. If at any time after the termination of employment, Participant determines that he or she has any Secret and Confidential Information in his or her possession or control, Participant shall immediately return to the Company all such Secret and Confidential Information in Participant’s possession or control, including all copies and portions thereof.

 

4.                                       Disclosure. While he or she is employed with the Company, Participant shall promptly disclose to the Company all ideas, inventions, computer programs, and 

 

 

discoveries, whether or not patentable or copyrightable, which Participant may conceive or make, alone or with others, during Participant’s employment, whether or not during working hours, and which directly or indirectly:

 

(a)                                  relate to matters within the scope, field, duties or responsibility of Participant’s employment with the Company; or

 

(b)                                 are based on the Participant’s knowledge of the actual or anticipated business or interest of the Company; or

 

(c)                                  are aided by the use of time, materials, facilities or information of the Company.

 

Participant assigns to the Company, without further compensation, all rights, titles and interest in all such ideas, inventions, computer programs and discoveries in all countries of the world. Participant recognizes that all ideas, inventions, computer programs and discoveries of the type described above, conceived or made by Participant alone or with others within one year after termination of employment (voluntary or otherwise), are likely to have been conceived in significant part either while employed by the Company or as a direct result of knowledge Participant had of proprietary information. Accordingly, Participant agrees that such ideas, inventions or discoveries shall be presumed to have been conceived during Participant’s employment with the Company, unless and until the contrary is clearly established by the Participant.

 

5.                                       Inventions. Any and all writings, computer software, inventions, improvements, processes, procedures and/or techniques which Participant may make, conceive, discover, or develop, either solely or jointly with any other person or persons, at any time during the term of his or her employment, whether at the request or upon the suggestion of the Company or otherwise, which relate to or are useful in connection with any business now or hereafter carried on or contemplated by the Company, including developments or expansions of its present fields of operations, shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Participant shall take all actions necessary so that the Company can prepare and present applications for copyright or Letters Patent therefor, and can secure such copyright or Letters Patent wherever possible, as well as reissue renewals, and extensions thereof, and can obtain the record title to such copyright or patents. Participant shall not be entitled to any additional or special compensation or reimbursement regarding any such writings, computer software, inventions, improvements, processes, procedures and techniques. Participant acknowledges that the Company from time to time may have agreements with other persons or entities which impose obligations or restrictions on the Company regarding inventions made during the course of work thereunder or regarding the confidential nature of such work. Participant shall be bound by all such obligations and restrictions and take all action necessary to discharge the obligations of the Company.

 

6.                                       Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Restrictions. To protect the Company’s Secret and Confidential Information, and in the event of Participant’s termination of employment for any reason whatsoever, whether by Participant or the Company, the Participant will be subject to the following restrictive covenants as a further condition of his or 

 

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her participation in the Plan and entitlement to receive and retain any payments or benefits under the Plan.

 

(a)                                  Non-Competition. — For one year following Participant’s separation from employment with Company, the Participant shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company:

 

(1)                                  personally engage in Competitive Activities (as defined below); or

 

(2)                                  work for, own, manage, operate, control, or participate in the ownership, management, operation, or control of, or provide consulting or advisory services to, any person, partnership, firm, corporation, institution or other entity engaged in Competitive Activities, or any company or person affiliated with such person or entity engaged in Competitive Activities; provided that the Participant’s purchase or holding, for investment purposes, of securities of a publicly traded company shall not constitute “ownership” or “participation in the ownership” for purposes of this paragraph so long as such equity interest in any such company is less than a controlling interest;

 

provided that this paragraph (a) shall not prohibit the Participant from being employed by, or providing services to, a consulting firm, provided that the Participant does not personally engage in Competitive Activities or provide consulting or advisory services to any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, institution or other entity engaged in Competitive Activities, or any person or entity affiliated with such individual, partnership, firm, corporation, institution or other entity engaged in Competitive Activities.

 

(b)                                 Competitive Activities. — For purposes hereof, “Competitive Activities” means activities relating to products or services of the same or similar type as the products or services (1) which are sold (or, pursuant to an existing business plan, will be sold) to paying customers of the Company or any Affiliate, and (2) for which the Participant has responsibility to plan, develop, manage, market, oversee or perform, or had any such responsibility within the Participant’s most recent 24 months of employment with the Company or an Affiliate. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, an activity shall not be treated as a Competitive Activity if the geographic marketing area of the relevant products or services does not overlap with the geographic marketing area for the applicable products and services of the Company and its Affiliates.

 

(c)                                  Interference With Business Relations — For one year following Participant’s separation from employment with Company, the Participant shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company:

 

(1)                                  recruit, induce or solicit any employee or officer, directly or indirectly, of the Company or an Affiliate for employment or for retention as a consultant or service provider;

 

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(2)                                  hire or participate (with another person or entity) in the process of hiring (other than for the Company or an Affiliate) any person who is then an employee or officer of the Company or an Affiliate, or provide names or other information about any employees of the Company or an Affiliate to any person or entity (other than SuperMedia or a Subsidiary), directly or indirectly, under circumstances that could lead to the use of any such information for purposes of recruiting, soliciting or hiring;

 

(3)                                  interfere, directly or indirectly, with the relationship of the Company or an Affiliate with any of its employees, agents, or representatives;

 

(4)                                  solicit or induce, or in any manner attempt to solicit or induce, directly or indirectly, any client, customer, or prospect of the Company or an Affiliate (1) to cease being, or not to become, a customer of the Company or an Affiliate, or (2) to divert any business of such customer or prospect from the Company or an Affiliate; or

 

(5)                                  otherwise interfere with, disrupt, or attempt to interfere with or disrupt, the relationship, contractual or otherwise, between the Company or an Affiliate and any of its customers, clients, prospects, suppliers, consultants, employees, agents, or representatives.

 

7.                                       Reformation.  If a court concludes that any time period or the geographic area specified in paragraph 6 above are unenforceable, then the time period will be reduced by the number of months, or the geographic area will be reduced by the elimination of the overbroad portion, or both, so that the restrictions may be enforced in the geographic area and for the time to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

8                                          Tolling. If Participant violates any of the restrictions contained in paragraph 6, the restrictive period will be suspended and will not run in favor of Participant from the time of the commencement of any violation until the time when the Participant cures the violation to the Company’s satisfaction.

 

9.                                       Remedies. It is intended that, in view of the nature of the Company’s business, the restrictions contained in this Exhibit B shall be considered reasonable and necessary to protect the Company’s legitimate business interests and that any violation of these restrictions would result in irreparable injury to the Company. In the event of a breach or a threatened breach by Participant of any restrictive covenant contained herein, the Company shall be entitled to a temporary restraining order and injunctive relief restraining Participant from the commission of any breach, and to recover the Company’s attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses related to the breach or threatened breach. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedies available to it for any breach or threatened breach, including, without limitation, the restoration and other remedies specified in the Plan and/or the recovery of money damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs. These covenants and restrictions shall each be construed as independent of any other provisions in the Plan, and the 

 

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existence of any claim or cause of action by Participant against the Company, whether predicated on the Plan or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of such covenants and restrictions.

 

10.                                 Severability. Should a court determine that any paragraph or sentence, or any portion of a paragraph or sentence of this Exhibit B is invalid, unenforceable, or void, this determination shall not have the effect of invalidating or validating the remainder of the paragraph, sentence or any other provision of this Exhibit B. Further, it is intended that the court should construe the Plan and this Exhibit B by limiting and reducing it only to the extent necessary to be enforceable under then applicable law.

 

11.                                 Future Employment. If, before the expiration of the period covered by Section 6(a) hereof, a Participant seeks or is offered employment by any other company, firm, or person, the Participant shall provide a copy of this Exhibit B to the prospective employer before accepting employment with that prospective employer.

 

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