Document:

exv10w2

Exhibit 10.2

SETTLEMENT AND STANDSTILL AGREEMENT

     This AGREEMENT, dated as of October 5, 2011 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and between
Breeze-Eastern Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), on the one hand and Wynnefield
Partners Small Cap Value, L.P., Wynnefield Small Cap Value Offshore Fund, Ltd, Wynnefield Partners
Small Cap Value L.P.I, Channel Partnership II, L.P., Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC, and
Wynnefield Capital, Inc. (together, the “Wynnefield Parties”), on the other hand. The Company and
the Wynnefield Parties, are collectively referred to as the “Parties” and each a “Party”.

     WHEREAS, the Wynnefield Parties beneficially own an aggregate of 2,117,911 shares of Common
Stock, par value of $0.01, of the Company, constituting approximately 22% of the Company’s
outstanding shares (the “Wynnefield Held Shares”); and

     WHEREAS, a dispute has arisen between the Wynnefield Parties and Tinicum Capital Partners II,
L.P. and Tinicum Capital Partners II Parallel Fund, L.P. (collectively, the “Tinicum Parties”)
regarding, among other things, the composition of the board of directors of the Company (the
“Board”); and

     WHEREAS, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the “Nominating
Committee”) having in good faith reviewed and approved the credentials of all of the following
nominees, including Mr. Robert J. Kelly, a first time nominee as a director of the Company in the
exercise of its fiduciary duties, concluded that each such candidate has business experience in
such areas as would reasonably be expected to enhance the Board, and determined, consistent with
the Company’s guidelines related to director qualifications and Board composition, has nominated
William H. Alderman, William J. Recker, Russell M. Sarachek, William M. Shockley, Frederick
Wasserman, Michael Harlan, Jr. and Robert J. Kelly (collectively, the “Company Nominees”) for
election at its 2011 annual meeting of stockholders, which shall be held no later than October 6,
2011 (the “2011 Annual Meeting”) and its 2012 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2012 Annual
Meeting”); and

     WHEREAS, on July 18, 2011, the Board adopted a shareholder rights plan, substantially in the
form previously distributed to the Board by counsel to the Company (the “Rights Plan”); and

     WHEREAS, the Parties have determined that the best interests of the Parties and the
stockholders of the Company would be served by avoiding further expense and disruption that could
result from a contested election at the 2011 Annual Meeting or the 2012 Annual Meeting; and

     WHEREAS, the Parties intend to provide hereby, for among other matters, the full support from
the Wynnefield Parties for (i) the Company Nominees, and (ii) the Rights Plan; and

     WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, the Tinicum Parties, beneficial
owners of an aggregate of 3,303,373 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 of the Company,
constituting approximately 35% of the Company’s outstanding shares (the “Tinicum Held Shares”), are
entering into a substantially similar settlement and standstill agreement with the Company (the
“Tinicum Agreement”); and

 

 

     WHEREAS, although the Wynnefield Parties and the Tinicum Parties are simultaneously entering
into substantially similar settlement and standstill agreements, the Wynnefield Parties and the
Tinicum Parties are not acting as, nor have they formed, a 13D Group (as defined below); and

     WHEREAS, the Wynnefield Parties desire to explicitly disclaim beneficial ownership of the
Tinicum Held Shares; and

     WHEREAS, this Agreement shall not constitute a Change of Control (as defined below) under any
agreement to which the Company is a party.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, and
for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, the Parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

     SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS.

     (a) Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and
warrants to the Wynnefield Parties that this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company, and is a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms.

     (b) Representations and Warranties of the Wynnefield Parties. Each of the Wynnefield
Parties hereby represents and warrants to the Company that:

          (1) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Wynnefield
Parties, and is a valid and binding obligation of each of the Wynnefield Parties, enforceable
against each of the Wynnefield Parties in accordance with its terms; and

          (2) except for the Wynnefield Held Shares, which are beneficially owned solely by the
Wynnefield Parties as indicated in their Schedule 13D filed with the SEC, and except any equity
security granted by the Company to any representative of the Wynnefield Parties serving on the
Board, no Affiliate or Associate (as such terms are hereinafter defined) of any of the Wynnefield
Parties may be deemed the “beneficial owner” (as such term is hereinafter defined) of any shares of
the Common Stock, par value $0.01, of the Company (including the Tinicum Held Shares or any direct
or indirect rights, options or agreements to acquire Common Stock of the Company) or has any
rights, options or agreements to acquire or vote, any other Common Stock of the Company; and

          (3) in entering into this Agreement with the Company, the Wynnefield Parties are acting solely
on behalf of the Wynnefield Parties and not in concert with any others, including the Tinicum
Parties, as a 13D Group (as defined below).

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     SECTION 2. ELECTION OF COMPANY NOMINEES, ADOPTION OF THE RIGHTS PLAN, GOVERNANCE MATTERS
AND TERMINATION.

     (a) The Election of the Company Nominees.

          (1) The Wynnefield Parties shall cause all shares of the Wynnefield Held Shares and any other
Common Stock of the Company beneficially owned by the Wynnefield Parties and/or their respective
Affiliates or Associates, as of the record date for the 2011 Annual Meeting, to be present for
quorum purposes and to be voted in favor of the Company Nominees at the 2011 Annual Meeting.

          (2) The Wynnefield Parties shall cause all shares of the Wynnefield Held Shares and any other
Common Stock of the Company beneficially owned by the Wynnefield Parties and/or their respective
Affiliates or Associates, as of the record date for the 2012 Annual Meeting, to be present for
quorum purposes and to be voted in favor of the Company Nominees at the 2012 Annual Meeting if the
Company Nominees are nominated for election as directors at the 2012 Annual Meeting.

     (b) Rights Plan. The Wynnefield Parties shall cause all shares of the Wynnefield Held
Shares and any other Common Stock of the Company beneficially owned by the Wynnefield Parties
and/or their respective Affiliates or Associates, as of the record date for the 2011 Annual
Meeting, to be present for quorum purposes and to be voted in favor of the Rights Plan at the 2011
Annual Meeting.

     (c) Governance Matters. Subject to compliance with applicable Securities and
Exchange Commission and NYSE Amex governance rules and regulations and the obligations of its
directors to exercise their business judgment in satisfaction of their fiduciary obligations, at
the first Board meeting following the 2011 Annual Meeting, the Company hereby agrees that (1) Mr.
Kelly will serve as the Chairman of the Board, (2) Messrs. Wasserman, Alderman and Recker will
serve on the Company’s Audit Committee with Mr. Wasserman to serve as the Chair, (3) Messrs.
Alderman, Sarachek, Shockley and Kelly will serve on the Nominating Committee with Mr. Alderman to
serve as the Chair, (4) Messrs. Recker, Shockley, Alderman and Sarachek will serve on the Company’s
Strategy Committee with Mr. Recker to serve as the Chair, and (5) Messrs. Shockley, Kelly and
Wasserman will serve on the Company’s Incentive and Compensation Committee with Mr. Shockley to
serve as the Chair.

     (d) Termination. This Agreement shall immediately terminate and be of no further
force and effect in the event that (i) the Tinicum Parties have sold, transferred, or otherwise
disposed of Tinicum Held Shares such that the Tinicum Parties beneficially own less than 15% of the
then issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company as a result of such sale,
transfer or other disposition, or (ii) the Company nominates for election as a director any person
other than: (i) the Company Nominees; or (ii) any person that would be a Company Nominee pursuant
to paragraph 4(c) hereof, in each case at the 2012 Annual Meeting.

     SECTION 3. STANDSTILL

     (a) The Wynnefield Parties agree that, for a period of eighteen (18) months following the date
hereof, the Wynnefield Parties, individually or in concert with others acting as a 13D

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Group (as defined below), will not, and will cause each of their principals, directors,
stockholders, members, general partners and affiliates, not to, in any way, without the prior
written consent of the Company, acquire, agree to acquire (whether by purchase, tender or exchange
offer, through acquisition of control of another Person (as defined below), by joining a 13D Group,
through the use of a derivative instrument or voting agreement) or otherwise knowingly facilitate
the acquisition of, beneficial ownership of any additional Voting Securities; provided, that the
foregoing shall not prohibit or restrict any representative of the Wynnefield Parties serving as a
director on the Board from receiving an equity grant as compensation for services as a director of
the Company.

     (b) The Wynnefield Parties agree that, for a period of eighteen (18) months following the date
hereof, the Wynnefield Parties, individually or in concert with others acting as a 13D Group will
not (1) make or in any way participate in the “solicitation” of “proxies” (as such terms are used
in the rules and regulations of the SEC) with respect to any Voting Securities, (2) propose any
stockholder resolutions under Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (3)
seek to call a meeting of stockholders of the Company, (4) seek to take any action by the written
consent of the stockholders of the Company, or (5) seek to advise or influence any other Person
with respect to the voting of the Voting Securities,.

     (c) The Wynnefield Parties agree that, for a period of eighteen (18) months following the date
hereof, the Wynnefield Parties, individually or in concert with others acting as a 13D Group will
not deposit any Voting Securities in a voting trust or, except as otherwise provided or
contemplated herein, subject any Voting Securities to any arrangement or agreement with any Person
with respect to the voting of such Voting Securities.

     (d) The Wynnefield Parties agree that, for a period of eighteen (18) months following the date
hereof, the Wynnefield Parties will not join a 13D Group (other than a group consisting solely of
the Wynnefield Parties and their Affiliates and Associates) or other group, or otherwise act in
concert with any third Person for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of Voting
Securities.

     (e) The Wynnefield Parties agree that, for a period of eighteen (18) months following the date
hereof, the Wynnefield Parties, individually or in concert with others acting as a 13D Group will
not otherwise act, alone or in concert with others, without the prior written consent of the
Company, to effect to seek offer or propose (whether publicly or otherwise) to effect control of
the management, board of directors (including the removal of any director) or policies of the
Company.

     (f) The Wynnefield Parties and the Company agree that the foregoing paragraphs (a) through (e)
shall not prohibit the Wynnefield Parties, individually or in concert with others acting as a
“group” as defined under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, or any of the Wynnefield Parties’
principals, directors, stockholders, members, general partners and affiliates,

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from taking any other action with respect to the Company or any Voting Securities of the
Company held by the Wynnefield Parties.

     (g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any representative of the
Wynnefield Parties serving as a director of the Company, during the term of his or her service as a
director of the Company, will not be prohibited from acting in his or her capacity as a director
and complying with his or her fiduciary duties as a director of the Company.

     (h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) no director of the Company
shall be prohibited from acting in his capacity as a director and complying with his fiduciary
duties as a director of the Company, and (ii) the Wynnefield Parties shall not be restricted,
prevented or prohibited from making, seeking or proposing a Change of Control and any required
public disclosure related thereto.

     SECTION 4. ACTIONS BY COMPANY.

     (a) The Company shall hold the 2011 Annual Meeting no later than October 6, 2011.

     (b) The Company shall fix the number of directors authorized to serve on the Board at seven
(7) and the Company shall not adopt an “advance notice” bylaw with respect to shareholder business
or director elections prior to the 2012 Annual Meeting.

     (c) The Company shall nominate the Company Nominees for election at the 2011 Annual Meeting
and the 2012 Annual Meeting; provided, however, that if one or more of the Company
Nominees dies, resigns, is unwilling to stand for re-election or is otherwise unable to complete
his term as a director of the Company, the term “Company Nominee” includes any replacement nominee
that is reasonably acceptable, as evidenced in writing, to the Tinicum Parties and the Wynnefield
Parties; provided, further, that the Wynnefield Parties shall not have the right to
terminate this Agreement by virtue of the provisions of Section 2(d) hereof in the event that a
Company Nominee who was originally nominated by a Wynnefield Party dies, resigns, is unwilling to
stand for re-election or is otherwise unable to complete his term as a director of the Company. The
Wynnefield Parties hereby agree that in the event a Company Nominee who was originally nominated by
a Tinicum Party dies, resigns, is unwilling to stand for re-election or is otherwise unable to
complete his term as a director of the Company, the persons set forth on Exhibit A hereto
as Tinicum Party replacement nominees shall be deemed to be reasonably acceptable to the Wynnefield
Parties and, if nominated to serve as directors of the Company, such replacement nominees shall be
deemed to be Company Nominees for all purposes of this Agreement.

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     (d) The Company shall recommend that its stockholders (i) ratify the Rights Plan at the 2011
Annual Meeting, and (ii) vote in favor of the Company Nominees for election at the 2011 Annual
Meeting and the 2012 Annual Meeting.

     (e) The Company shall, for a period of twenty-four (24) months following the date hereof,
permit directors nominated by Wynnefield Parties to communicate non-public information to the
Wynnefield Parties subject to the Wynnefield Parties agreement to keep such information
confidential and all applicable insider trading policies of the Company.

     (f) The Company shall issue a press release summarizing the terms hereof in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit B (the “Press Release”).

     SECTION 5. DEFINITIONS.As used in this Agreement, the terms “Affiliate” and
“Associate” shall have the respective meanings set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated by the SEC under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); the terms “beneficial owner”
and “beneficially own” shall have the same meanings as set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the
SEC under the Exchange Act, except that a person shall also be deemed to be the beneficial owner of
all Common Stock of the Company that such person has the right to acquire pursuant to the exercise
of any rights in connection with any securities or any agreement, regardless of when such rights
may be exercised and whether they are conditional; and the terms “person” or “persons” shall mean
any individual, corporation (including not-for-profit), general or limited partnership, limited
liability or unlimited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, association, organization
or other entity of any kind or nature; the term “Voting Securities” shall mean any securities
issued by the Company entitled to vote on any matter presented to shareholders at an annual or
special meeting of shareholders, including the election of directors, or securities convertible
into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, such securities, whether or not subject to the passage of
time or other contingencies; the term “business day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday or a day on which banks in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by applicable law
or executive order to close or are otherwise generally closed; the term “Change of Control” means
any of: (a) the purchase or other acquisition by any Person or group of Persons, directly or
indirectly, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of Voting Securities that,
immediately following consummation of the transaction(s), when combined with any other Voting
Securities beneficially owned by such Person or group, represent one hundred percent (100%) of the
then outstanding Voting Securities; (b) the consummation of any tender offer or exchange offer by
any Person or group that results in such Person or group beneficially owning, when combined with
any other Voting Securities beneficially owned by such Person or group, one hundred percent (100%)
of the then outstanding Voting Securities immediately following the consummation of such tender or
exchange offer; (c) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, amalgamation, joint venture,
business combination or other similar transaction involving the Company pursuant to which
the stockholders of the Company immediately preceding such transaction hold none of the voting
equity interests in the surviving or resulting entity of such transaction; or (d) the purchase or
other acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, by any Person or group of Persons;

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and the term “13D Group” means any group of Persons formed for the purpose of acquiring,
holding, voting or disposing of Voting Securities which would be required under Section 13(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, to file a statement on Schedule 13D (a “Schedule 13D”) pursuant to Rule
13d-1(a) of the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act or a Schedule 13G of the
rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c) of the rules and
regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act with the SEC as a “person” within the meaning of
Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act if such group beneficially owns Voting Securities representing
more than five percent (5%) of any class of Voting Securities then outstanding.

     SECTION 6. REMEDIES. Each of the Parties acknowledges that a breach of any of the
terms of this Agreement may result in immediate and irreparable injury to the other Party not
compensable by monetary damages. Therefore, each of the Parties acknowledge that the other Party
to this Agreement shall be entitled to injunctive relief from any court of competent jurisdiction
in the event of any actual or threatened breach of any of the terms of this Agreement in addition
to any other remedy to which an aggrieved party may be entitled at law or in equity, including the
right to recover all costs and expenses, including, but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees,
court costs, witness fees, disbursements and other expenses of litigation or negotiation and
notwithstanding the actions of the other aggrieved party.

     SECTION 7. MISCELLANEOUS

     (a) Notices. All notices, consents, requests, instructions, approvals and other
communications provided for herein and all legal process in regard hereto will be in writing and
will be deemed validly given, made or served if (1) given by fax, when such fax is transmitted to
the fax number set forth below and the appropriate confirmation is received, or (2) if given by any
other means, when delivered in person, by overnight courier or two business days after being sent
by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) as follows:

          If to the Wynnefield Parties:

Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P.

450 Seventh Avenue, Suite 509

New York, New York 10123

Attn: Nelson Obus

Phone: (212) 760-0814

Fax: (212) 760-0824

          With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Kane Kessler, P.C.

1350 Avenue of the Americas, 26th Floor

New York, New York 10019

Attn: Jeffrey S. Tullman, Esq.

Phone: (212) 519-5101

Fax: (212) 757-2063

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          If to the Company:

Breeze-Eastern Corporation

35 Melanie Lane

Whippany, NJ 07981

Attn: D. Michael Harlan, Jr., President, CEO

Phone: (973) 602-1023

Fax: (973) 739-9333

          With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Fox Rothschild LLP

997 Lenox Drive, Bldg. 3

Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Attn: Matthew H. Lubart, Esq.

Phone: (609) 896-3600

Fax: (609) 896-1469

     (b) This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in separate counterparts (including
by fax and .pdf), each of which when so executed shall be an original, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

     (c) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State
of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. The parties each consent to the
jurisdiction of the Delaware Chancery Court for purposes of enforcement of this Agreement. In
addition, for purposes of any action arising with respect to this Agreement, the Company and the
Tinicum Parties each (1) irrevocably and unconditionally consent to the personal jurisdiction and
venue of the federal or state courts located in Wilmington, Delaware; (2) agree that it shall not
attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any
such court; (3) agree that it shall not bring any action relating to this Agreement or otherwise in
any court other than the federal or state courts located in Wilmington, Delaware; and (4)
irrevocably waive the right to trial by jury.

     (d) This Agreement constitutes the only agreement between the Company and the Wynnefield
Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements,
understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
permitted assigns. No party hereto may assign or otherwise transfer either this Agreement or any of
its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other
parties hereto. Any purported transfer without such consent shall be void. No amendment,
modification, supplement or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless

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it is in writing and signed by the party or parties hereto affected thereby, and then only in
the specific instance and for the specific purpose stated therein. Any waiver by any party hereto
of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver
of any other breach of such provision or of any breach of any other provision of this Agreement.
The failure of a party hereto to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on one
or more occasions shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party of the right thereafter to
insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement.

     (e) If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of
competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree shall
remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable. The parties hereto
further agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and
enforceable provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the purposes of such invalid or
unenforceable provision.

     (f) This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective
principals, directors, members and general partners, and is not enforceable by any other Persons,
provided, however, that the Tinicum Parties will be entitled to enforce the terms hereof.

     (g) Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it has been represented by counsel of its
choice throughout all negotiations that have preceded the execution of this Agreement, and that it
has executed this Agreement with the advice of such counsel. Each party hereto and its counsel
cooperated and participated in the drafting and preparation of this Agreement, and any and all
drafts relating thereto exchanged among the parties shall be deemed the work product of all of the
parties and may not be construed against any party by reason of its drafting or preparation.
Accordingly, any rule of law or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any
ambiguities in this Agreement against any party hereto that drafted or prepared it is of no
application and is hereby expressly waived by each of the parties, and any controversy over
interpretations of this Agreement shall be decided without regard to events of drafting or
preparation.

     (h) The Wynnefield Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that the language contained in its
Schedule 13D filed subsequent to the date hereof relating to the matters hereto shall be
consistent, in all material respects, with the language contained in the Press Release issued by
the Company.

[Execution page follows.]

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     If the terms of this Agreement are in accordance with your understanding, please sign below,
whereupon this Agreement shall constitute a binding agreement between us.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	Very truly yours,

BREEZE-EASTERN CORPORATION

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ D. Michael Harlan
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	D. Michael Harlan 	 
	 	 	Title:  	CEO and President 	 
	 

[Signature Pages to Letter Agreement]

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed to as of the date first written above:

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	WYNNEFIELD PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE, L.P.

 
	 	By:  	Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC
 	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	Its:  	General Partner
 	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	By:  	                          /s/ Nelson Obus
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Nelson Obus 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Co-Managing Member 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	WYNNEFIELD SMALL CAP VALUE OFFSHORE FUND, LTD.

 
	 	By:  	Wynnefield Capital, Inc.
 	 
	 
	 	Its:  	Investment Manager
 	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	By: 	                             /s/ Nelson Obus
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Nelson Obus 	 
	 	 	Title:  	President 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	WYNNEFIELD PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE, L.P. I

 
	 	By:  	Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC
 	 
	 
	 	Its:  	General Partner
 	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	By:  	                          /s/ Nelson Obus
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Nelson Obus 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Co-Managing Member 	 
	 

[Signature Pages to Letter Agreement]

 

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	CHANNEL PARTNERSHIP II L.P.

 	 
	 	By: 	 /s/ Nelson Obus
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Nelson Obus 	 
	 	 	Title:  	General Partner 	 
	 
	 	WYNNEFIELD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

 	 
	 	By: 	 /s/ Nelson Obus
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Nelson Obus 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Co-Managing Member 	 
	 
	 	WYNNEFIELD CAPITAL, INC.

 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Nelson Obus
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Nelson Obus 	 
	 	 	Title:  	President 	 
	 

[Signature Pages to Letter Agreement]

 

 

Exhibit A

 

 

Exhibit Bexv10w1

Exhibit 10.1

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into on this 2nd day of
October, 2011 by and between Waste Management, Inc. (the “Company”) and Steven C. Preston (the
“Executive”).

     1. Employment.

     The Company shall employ Executive, and Executive shall be employed by the Company upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

     2. Term of Employment.

     The period of Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall begin on October 1, 2011
(“Employment Date”), and may be terminated by either party pursuant to Section 5 below. The period
during which Executive is employed hereunder shall be referred to as the “Employment Period.”

     3. Duties and Responsibilities.

     (a) Executive shall serve as Executive Vice-President — Finance, Recycling, and Energy
Services. In such capacity, Executive shall perform such duties and have the power, authority, and
functions of the Company’s principal financial officer and head of the Recycling and Energy
Services business units, and shall perform such other duties, and shall have such other power,
authority, and functions as may be deemed appropriate for the position and assigned to Executive by
the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company. Until the
first anniversary of the Employment Date, the Company shall maintain an office for Executive at its
Hartford, Connecticut location in order that Executive may continue to assist in the integration
and coordination of the Oakleaf operations.

     (b) Executive shall devote substantially all of his working time, attention and energies to
the business of the Company, and its affiliated entities. Executive may make and manage his
personal investments (provided such investments in other activities do not violate, in any material
respect, the provisions of Section 10 of this Agreement), be involved in charitable and
professional activities, and, with the prior written consent of the Board, serve on boards of other
for profit entities, provided such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of
his duties hereunder or create a conflict of interest (however, the Board does not typically allow
officers to serve on more than one public company board at a time).

     4. Compensation and Benefits.

     (a) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Company shall pay Executive a base salary
at the annual rate of Five Hundred Eighty Thousand and 00/100ths Dollars ($580,000.00) per year, or
such higher rate as may be determined from time to time by the Company (“Base Salary”). Such Base
Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s

 

 

standard payroll practice for its executive officers. Once increased, Base Salary shall not
be reduced except by mutual agreement.

     (b) Annual Bonus. Executive’s guaranteed annual bonus for calendar year 2011 (“2011 Bonus”)
shall be Five Hundred Ten Thousand and 00/100ths Dollars ($510,000.00) and based on services
rendered from the execution of the Agreement through December 31, 2011. It is expressly understood
and agreed that Executive will not be eligible for nor will he receive any additional bonus for
calendar year 2011 from either the Company or Oakleaf Global Holdings, Inc., or any of their
affiliates. The 2011 Bonus will be paid in calendar year 2012, at the same time as similarly
situated executive employees receive or otherwise would have received their bonuses.

     Beginning January 1, 2012 and continuing throughout the Employment Period, Executive shall be
entitled to participate in an annual incentive compensation plan of the Company, as established by
the Management Development and Compensation Committee (“Compensation Committee”) of the Board from
time to time. The Executive’s target annual bonus will be eighty-five percent (85%) of his Base
Salary in effect for such year (the “Target Bonus”), and his actual annual bonus may range from 0%
to 170% of Base Salary (i.e., a maximum possible bonus of two times the Target Bonus), and will be
determined based upon (i) the achievement of certain corporate financial and/or performance goals,
as may be established and approved from time to time by the Compensation Committee of the Board,
and (ii) the achievement of personal performance goals as may be established by the Chief Executive
Officer or the Board of Directors. The annual bonus will be paid at such time and in such manner
as set forth in the annual incentive compensation plan document.

     (c) Benefit Plans and Vacation. Subject to the terms of such plans, Executive shall be
eligible to participate in or receive benefits under any profit sharing plan, salary deferral plan,
medical and dental benefits plan, life insurance plan, short-term and long-term disability plans,
or any other health, welfare or fringe benefit plan, generally made available by the Company to
similarly-situated executive employees. The Company shall not be obligated to institute, maintain,
or refrain from changing, amending, or discontinuing any benefit plan, so long as such changes are
similarly applicable to similarly-situated employees generally.

     During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to vacation each year in accordance
with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time, but in no event less than four (4) weeks
paid vacation per calendar year. Vacation not taken in the calendar year in which it is granted
cannot be carried forward to any subsequent year.

     (d) Expense Reimbursement. The Company shall promptly reimburse Executive for the ordinary
and necessary business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of his duties hereunder in
accordance with the Company’s customary practices applicable to executive officers. The
reimbursement of expenses during a year will not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in
any other year. In no event shall any expense be reimbursed after the last day of the year
following the year in which the expense was incurred.

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     (e) Stock Options. Subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee of the Board,
Executive shall receive a Stock Option Award under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan on October 4,
2011. The award, vesting, and exercise of all options shall be subject to and governed by the
provisions of the applicable Waste Management, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan.

     (f) Relocation to Houston. Prior to the first year anniversary of the Employment Date,
Executive will relocate his primary residence to the Houston, Texas area. Executive’s relocation
of his residence to Houston will be eligible for coverage under the Company’s relocation policy.
It is expressly agreed to and understood that should Executive resign without “Good Reason” (as
that term is defined in Section 5(d) below) during the twelve-month period following such
relocation, then Executive shall be required to reimburse the Company for the prorated portion of
the relocation expense based on a 365-day proration schedule.

     (g) Other Perquisites. Executive shall be entitled to all perquisites provided to
Executive and/or Senior Vice Presidents of the Company as approved by the Compensation Committee of
the Board, and as they may exist from time to time.

     5. Termination of Employment.

     Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated during the Employment Period under the
following circumstances:

     (a) Death. Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon Executive’s death.

     (b) Total Disability. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment hereunder upon
Executive’s becoming “Totally Disabled.” For purposes of this Agreement, Executive shall be
considered “Totally Disabled” if Executive has become physically or mentally disabled so as to
render Executive incapable of performing the essential functions of his position (with or without
reasonable accommodations) and such disability is expected to result in death or to last for a
continuous period of at least 12 months, provided that such condition constitutes a “disability”
within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. Executive’s receipt of disability
benefits under the Company’s long-term disability plan or receipt of Social Security disability
benefits shall be deemed conclusive evidence of Total Disability for purpose of this Agreement.

     (c) Termination by the Company for Cause. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment
hereunder for “Cause” at any time after providing a Notice of Termination for Cause to Executive.

	 	(i)	 	For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Cause” means any of the following:
Executive’s (A) willful or deliberate and continual refusal to perform Executive’s
employment duties reasonably requested by the Company after receipt of written notice
to Executive of such failure to perform, specifying such failure (other than as a
result of Executive’s sickness, illness or injury) and Executive’s failure to cure such
nonperformance within ten (10) days of receipt of said written notice;

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	 		 	(B)breach of any statutory or common law duty of loyalty to the Company; (C)
conviction of, or plea of nolo contendre to, any felony; (D) willful or intentional
cause of material injury to the Company, its property, or its assets; (E) disclosure
or attempted disclosure to any unauthorized person(s) of the Company’s proprietary
or confidential information; (F) material violation or a repeated and willful
violation of the Company’s published policies or procedures, including but not
limited to, the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (or any successor
policy) then in effect; or (G) breach of any of the covenants set forth in Section
10 hereof.

	 	(ii)	 	For purposes of this Agreement, the phrase “Notice of Termination for Cause”
shall mean a written notice that shall indicate the specific termination provision or
provisions in Section 5(c)(i) relied upon, and shall set forth in reasonable detail the
facts and circumstances which provide the basis for termination for Cause.

     (d) Voluntary Termination by Executive. Executive may terminate his employment hereunder with
or without Good Reason at any time upon written notice to the Company.

	 	(i)	 	A termination for “Good Reason” means a resignation of employment by Executive
by written notice (“Notice of Termination for Good Reason”) given to the Company’s
Chief Executive Officer within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of the Good Reason
event, unless such circumstances are substantially corrected prior to the date of
termination specified in the Notice of Termination for Good Reason. For purposes of
this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence or failure to cause the
occurrence, as the case may be, without Executive’s express written consent, of any of
the following circumstances: (A) the Company materially diminishes Executive’s core
duties or responsibility for those core duties, so as to effectively cause Executive to
(1) no longer be performing the duties of principal financial officer or (2) no longer
have executive management responsibility over some significant business operations of
the Company (except in each case in connection with the termination of Executive’s
employment for Death, Total Disability, or Cause, or temporarily as a result of
Executive’s illness or other absence); (B) in the event of the Company’s becoming a
fifty percent or more subsidiary of any other entity, the Company materially diminishes
the duties, authority or responsibilities of the person to whom Executive is required
to report; (C) removal or the non-reelection of the Executive from an officer position
with the Company; (D) any material breach by the Company of any provision of this
Agreement; or (E) failure of any successor to the Company (whether direct or indirect
and whether by merger, acquisition, consolidation or otherwise) to assume in a writing
delivered to Executive upon the assignee becoming such, the obligations of the Company
hereunder, resulting in a material negative change in the employment relationship; or
(F) in the event that Executive no longer directly reports to the current Chief
Executive Officer, David P. Steiner.

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	 	(ii)	 	A “Notice of Termination for Good Reason” shall mean a notice that shall
indicate the specific termination provision or provisions relied upon and shall set
forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for
Termination for Good Reason. The Notice of Termination for Good Reason shall provide
for a date of termination not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days after
the date such Notice of Termination for Good Reason is given, provided that in the case
of the events set forth in Sections 5(d)(i)(A) or (B), the date may be twenty (20) days
after the giving of such notice.

     (e) Termination by the Company without Cause. The Company may terminate Executive’s
employment hereunder without Cause at any time upon written notice to Executive.

     (f) Effect of Termination. Upon any termination of employment for any reason, Executive shall
immediately resign from all Board memberships and other positions with the Company or any of its
subsidiaries held by him at such time.

     6. Compensation Following Termination of Employment.

     In the event that Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated in a manner as set forth in
Section 5 above, Executive shall be entitled to the compensation and benefits provided under this
Section 6, in each case subject to potential reduction as may be required by Section 22, as
applicable to the form of termination:

     (a) Termination by Reason of Death. In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated by
reason of Executive’s death, the Company shall pay the following amounts to Executive’s beneficiary
or estate:

	 	(i)	 	Any accrued but unpaid Base Salary for services rendered to the date of death,
any accrued but unpaid expenses required to be reimbursed under this Agreement, any
accrued but unused vacation to the date of employment termination, and any earned but
unpaid bonuses for any prior calendar year. Executive shall also be eligible for a
pro-rata bonus or incentive compensation payment for the calendar year of his
employment termination to the extent such awards are made to other senior executives of
the Company and paid at the same time as other senior executives are paid.

	 	(ii)	 	Any benefits accrued through the date of termination to which Executive may be
entitled pursuant to the plans, policies and arrangements (including those referred to
in Section 4(c) hereof), as determined and paid in accordance with the terms of such
plans, policies and arrangements.

     (b) Termination by Reason of Total Disability. In the event that Executive’s employment is
terminated by the Company by reason of Executive’s Total Disability (as determined in accordance
with Section 5(b)), the Company shall pay the following amounts to Executive:

5

 

	 	(i)	 	Any accrued but unpaid Base Salary for services rendered to the date of
termination, any accrued but unpaid expenses required to be reimbursed under this
Agreement, any accrued but unused vacation to the date of termination, and any earned
but unpaid bonuses for any prior calendar year. Executive shall also be eligible for a
pro-rata bonus or incentive compensation payment for the calendar year of his
employment termination to the extent such awards are made to other senior executives of
the Company and paid at the same time as other senior executives are paid.

	 	(ii)	 	Any benefits accrued through the date of termination to which Executive may be
entitled pursuant to the plans, policies and arrangements (including those referred to
in Section 4(c) hereof) shall be determined and paid in accordance with the terms of
such plans, policies and arrangements.

     (c) Termination for Cause. In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated by the
Company for Cause, the Company shall pay the following amounts to Executive:

	 	(i)	 	Any accrued but unpaid Base Salary for services rendered to the date of
termination, any accrued but unpaid expenses required to be reimbursed under this
Agreement, any accrued but unused vacation to the date of termination, and any earned
but unpaid bonuses for any prior calendar year.

	 	(ii)	 	Any benefits accrued through the date of termination to which Executive may be
entitled pursuant to the plans, policies and arrangements (including those referred to
in Section 4(c) hereof up to the date of termination) shall be determined and paid in
accordance with the terms of such plans, policies and arrangements.

     (d) Voluntary Termination by Executive. In the event that Executive voluntarily terminates
employment other than for Good Reason, the Company shall pay the following amounts to Executive:

	(i)	 	Any accrued but unpaid Base Salary for services rendered to the date of termination,
any accrued but unpaid expenses required to be reimbursed under this Agreement, any
accrued but unused vacation to the date of termination, and any earned but unpaid bonuses
for any prior calendar year.

	(ii)	 	Any benefits accrued through the date of termination to which Executive may be
entitled pursuant to the plans, policies and arrangements (including those referred to in
Section 4(c) hereof up to the date of termination) shall be determined and paid in
accordance with the terms of such plans, policies and arrangements.

     (e) Termination by the Company Without Cause Outside a Change in Control Period; Termination
by Executive for Good Reason Outside a Change in Control Period. In the event that Executive’s
employment is terminated by the Company outside a Change in Control Period (as defined in Section 7
below) for reasons other than death, Total Disability or Cause, or Executive terminates his
employment for Good Reason outside of a Change in Control Period, the Company shall pay the
following amounts to Executive:

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	 	(i)	 	Any accrued but unpaid Base Salary for services rendered to the date of
termination, any accrued but unpaid expenses required to be reimbursed under this
Agreement, any accrued but unused vacation to the date of termination, and any earned
but unpaid bonuses for any prior calendar year.

	 	(ii)	 	Any benefits accrued through the date of termination to which Executive may be
entitled pursuant to the plans, policies and arrangements referred to in Section 4(c)
hereof shall be determined and paid in accordance with the terms of such plans,
policies and arrangements.

	 	(iii)	 	Subject to Executive’s execution of the Release (as defined in Section 7),
Executive shall be eligible for a bonus or incentive compensation payment, at the same
time, on the same basis, and to the same extent payments are made to senior executives
of the Company, pro-rated for the fiscal year in which the Executive’s employment is
terminated.

	 	(iv)	 	Subject to Executive’s execution of the Release (as defined in Section 7), an
amount equal to two (2) times the sum of Executive’s Base Salary plus his Target Annual
Bonus (in each case, as then in effect), of which one-half of such amount shall be paid
in a lump sum within the calendar quarter in which the 60th day following
Executive’s employment termination date falls and one-half of such amount shall be paid
during the two (2) year period beginning in the calendar quarter within which the
60th day following Executive’s employment termination date falls and
continuing at the same time and in the same manner as Base Salary would have been paid
if Executive had remained in active employment until the end of such period.

	 	(v)	 	Subject to Executive’s execution of the Release (as defined in Section 7) and
Executive’s completion of required enrollment elections, the Company will continue for
Executive and Executive’s spouse and eligible dependents coverage under the Company’s
health benefit plan and disability benefit plans, in which Executive was a participant
at any time during the twelve-month period prior to the date of termination (subject to
the payment by Executive of the applicable premium at the same rate as an active
employee would pay for the same coverage), until the earliest to occur of (A)
twenty-four (24) months after the employment termination date; (B) Executive’s death
(provided that benefits provided to Executive’s spouse and dependents shall not
terminate until twenty-four (24) months after the employment termination date); or (C)
with respect to any particular plan, the date Executive becomes eligible to participate
in a comparable benefit provided by a subsequent employer. In the event that
Executive’s continued participation in any such Company plan is prohibited, the Company
will arrange to provide Executive with benefits substantially similar to those which
Executive would have been entitled to receive under this paragraph on a basis which
provides Executive with no additional after-tax cost. Such continued coverage under
this paragraph shall be in satisfaction of the Company’s
obligation under COBRA.

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     (f) Suspension and Refund of Termination Benefits for Subsequently Discovered Cause.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if within one (1) year of
Executive’s employment termination date for any reason other than for Cause, it is determined by
the Company that Executive could have been terminated for Cause, then to the extent permitted by
law:

	 	(i)	 	the Company may elect to cancel any and all payments of any benefits otherwise
due Executive, but not yet paid, under this Agreement or otherwise; and

	 	(ii)	 	upon written demand by the Company, Executive shall refund to the Company any
amounts, plus interest, previously paid by Company to Executive pursuant to Subsections
6(e)(iii), 6(e)(iv) or 6(e)(v), less one thousand dollars ($1,000) which Executive
shall be entitled to retain as fully sufficient consideration to support and maintain
in effect any contractual obligations that Executive has to the Company prior to the
refund, including the Release as defined herein.

     7. Resignation by Executive for Good Reason or Termination by Company Without Cause During a
Change in Control Period.

     (a) Certain Terminations During a Change in Control Period. Subject to reduction required by
Section 22, in the event a Change in Control occurs and (x) Executive terminates his employment for
Good Reason during a Change in Control Period, or (y) the Company terminates Executive’s employment
without Cause (and for reason other than Death of Total Disability) during a Change in Control
Period, the Company shall, subject to Executive’s execution of the Release (as defined in this
Section 7), pay the following amounts to Executive:

	 	(i)	 	The payments and benefits provided for in Section 6(e)(iv) and (v) in the same
form as provided for therein.

	 	(ii)	 	Executive shall also receive a bonus or incentive compensation payment for the
calendar year of the employment termination, payable at 100% of the maximum bonus
available to Executive, pro-rated as of the employment termination date. Such bonus
payment shall be payable within five (5) days after the later of the effective date of
Executive’s termination or the Change in Control.

     (b) Certain Definitions.

	 	(i)	 	For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” means the first to occur on
or after the date on which this Agreement is first signed, the occurrence of any of the
following events:

	 	(A)	 	any Person, or Persons acting as a group (within the meaning of
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code), directly or indirectly, including
by purchases, mergers, consolidation or otherwise, acquires ownership of
securities of the Company that, together with stock held by such Person or

8

 

	 	 	 	Persons, represents fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power or
total fair market value of the Company’s then outstanding securities;

	 	(B)	 	any Person, or Persons acting as a group (within the meaning of
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code), acquires, (or has acquired during
the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such
Person or Persons) directly or indirectly, including by purchases, merger,
consolidation or otherwise, ownership of the securities of the Company that
represent thirty percent (30%) or more of the total voting power of the
Company’s then outstanding voting securities;

	 	(C)	 	the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a
majority of the number of directors then serving during any 12-month period:
individuals who, at the beginning of the 12-month period, 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 or the election of directors of
the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for
election by the Company’s stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of
at least a majority of the directors before the date of such appointment or
election or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was
previously so approved or recommended;

	 	(D)	 	a Person or Persons acting as a group acquires (or has acquired
during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by
such Person or Persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair
market value equal to or more than forty percent (40%) of the total gross fair
market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately before such
acquisition or acquisitions, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of
such assets to an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting
power of the voting securities of which are owned by the Company or by the
stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale.

	 	(ii)	 	For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control Period” means the period
commencing on the date occurring six months immediately prior to the date on which a
Change in Control occurs and ending on the second anniversary of the date on which a
Change in Control occurs.

	 	(iii)	 	For purposes of this Agreement, “Exchange Act” means the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

	 	(iv)	 	For purposes of this Section 7, “Person” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
thereof, except that such term shall not include (1) the Company, (2) a trustee or
other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the

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	 	 	 	Company, (3) an employee benefit plan of the Company, (4) an underwriter temporarily
holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (5) a corporation
owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially
the same proportions as their ownership of shares of Common Stock of the Company.

	 	(v)	 	For purposes of this Agreement, “Release” means that specific document which
the Company shall present to Executive for consideration and execution after any
applicable termination of employment, wherein if he agrees to such, he will irrevocably
and unconditionally release and forever discharge the Company, it subsidiaries,
affiliates and related parties from any and all causes of action which Executive at
that time had or may have had against the Company (excluding any claim for indemnity
under this Agreement, any claim under state workers’ compensation or unemployment laws,
or any claim under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985
(“COBRA”)).

     8. No Other Benefits or Compensation. Except as may be provided under this Agreement, or
under the terms of any incentive compensation, employee benefit, or fringe benefit plan applicable
to Executive at the time of Executive’s employment termination or resignation, Executive shall have
no right to receive any other compensation, or to participate in any other plan, arrangement or
benefit, with respect to future periods after such employment termination or resignation.

     9. No Mitigation. In the event of any termination of employment hereunder, Executive shall be
under no obligation to seek other employment, and there shall be no offset against any amounts due
Executive under this Agreement on account of any remuneration attributable to any subsequent
employment that Executive may obtain.

10

 

     10. Protective Covenants. In reliance upon Executive’s promise to abide by the various
protective covenants and restrictions provided for below, the Company will continue to provide
Executive with one or more of the following: (i) portions of the Company’s Confidential Information
(through a computer password or other means) and updates thereto; (ii) authorization to communicate
with customers and prospective customers, and other business relationship providers, to help
Executive develop goodwill for Company; and/or (iii) authorization to participate in specialized
training related to Company’s business. Executive agrees that each of Executive’s covenants in
Section 10 of this Agreement (the “Protective Covenants”) is reasonable and necessary to protect a
legitimate business interest of the Company, and that no one restriction or obligation (such as the
confidentiality obligations) would be sufficient to protect the Company’s interests standing alone
due to the variety of different interests involved, the difficulty of identifying and addressing a
breach before irreparable harm has occurred, and the need to prevent irreparable harm. Employee
understands and agrees that one purpose of this Agreement is to enhance, maintain, and not
diminish, all common law and contract protections that have been in effect for the parties
concerning Confidential Information that Employee has received in the past. In addition, Executive
agrees that any and all rights Executive may have to incentive compensation, stock or stock-related
compensation, and/or severance compensation, whether provided for in this Agreement or elsewhere,
are provided in reliance upon Executive’s agreement to abide by and not challenge the validity of
the Protective Covenants described below.

     (a) Company Property, Computer Systems, and Inventions. All written materials, records, data,
and other documents prepared or possessed by Executive during Executive’s employment with the
Company are the Company’s property. Executive understands that access to the Company’s computer
systems is authorized for activities that are consistent with the business purposes of the Company,
that benefit the Company (consistent with Company policies and/or guidelines as they may be
modified from time to time), and that do not knowingly cause harm to the Company. The use of the
Company computer systems to pursue a competing enterprise, or prepare to compete with the Company,
is unauthorized and strictly prohibited. All information, ideas, concepts, improvements,
discoveries, and inventions that are conceived, made, developed, or acquired by Executive
individually or in conjunction with others during Executive’s employment (whether during business
hours or not and whether on the Company’s premises or not) which relate to or are derived from the
Company’s business, products, property, resources or services are the Company’s sole and exclusive
property. Executive does hereby grant and assign to the Company (or its nominee) Executive’s
entire right, title and interest in and to all inventions, original works of authorship,
developments, concepts, improvements, designs, discoveries, and ideas of commercial use or value
that either: (i) relate to the Company’s business, or actual or demonstrably anticipated research
or development activity of the Company; or (ii) are derived from, suggested by, or result of work
performed for the Company, or were created, discovered, or conceived with the aid of Company
property (“Company IP”). While employed, and as necessary thereafter, Executive will assist
Company to obtain patents or copyrights on Company IP, and will upon request execute all documents
and otherwise cooperate in the Company’s efforts to obtain the copyrights, patents, licenses, and
other rights and interests that would be necessary to secure for the Company the complete benefit
of Company IP. To the extent state law where Executive resides requires it (such as under Cal.
Lab. Code, § 2870, or comparable laws), Executive is notified that no provision in this Agreement
requires

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Executive to assign any of rights to an invention for which no equipment, supplies, facility,
or trade secret information of the Company was used and which was developed entirely on Executive’s
own time, unless (i) the invention relates at the time of conception or reduction to practice of
the invention, (A) to the business of the Company, or (B) to the Company’s actual or demonstrably
anticipated research or development, or (ii) the invention results from any work performed by
Executive for the Company. This paragraph is intended to compliment and supplement, not replace,
any additional written agreement(s) the parties may have regarding Company IP. All memoranda,
notes, records, files, correspondence, drawings, manuals, models, specifications, computer
programs, maps, and all other documents, data, or materials of any type embodying such information,
ideas, concepts, improvements, discoveries, and inventions are the Company’s property. At the
termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, Executive shall return all
of the Company’s documents, data, or other Company property to the Company and shall not retain any
copies of such property, in any form (tangible or intangible), without the express written consent
of the Company.

     (b) Confidential Information; Non-Disclosure. Executive acknowledges that the business of the
Company is highly competitive and that Executive’s position is one where the Company will provide
Executive with access to “Confidential Information” relating to the business of the Company and its
affiliates. Executive further acknowledges that protection of such Confidential Information against
unauthorized disclosure and use is of critical importance to the Company and its affiliates in
maintaining their competitive advantage. Executive understands that it shall be his responsibility
to handle and use “Confidential Information” in a manner that does not violate Company policies or
knowingly cause harm to the Company. Accordingly, during employment and for so long thereafter as
the information remains qualified as “Confidential Information,” Executive agrees to maintain the
confidentiality of “Confidential Information” and not to engage in any unauthorized use or
disclosure of such information.

     For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” refers to an item of information,
or a compilation of information, in any form (tangible or intangible), related to the Company’s
business that (i) the Company has not intentionally made public or authorized public disclosure of,
and (ii) is not generally known to the public or to other persons who might obtain value or
competitive advantage from its disclosure or use, through proper means. Confidential Information
will not lose its protected status under this Agreement if it becomes known to the public or to
other persons through improper means such as the unauthorized use or disclosure of the information
by Executive or another person. Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to: (i)
Market Business Strategy (MBS) data, the Company Transformation Change processes, MBS Plans,
Business Improvement Process (BIP), Fleet Planning, Public Sector Pro-formas, Letters of Intent,
Route Manager and District Manager Training Programs, internal information regarding acquisition
targets, divestiture targets, and mergers, Real Estate Market Area Analysis Mapping and Real Estate
Owned and Leased Property Data and Reporting; (ii) Company’s business plans and analysis, customer
and prospect lists; compilations of names and other individualized information concerning
customers, investors, and business affiliates (such as contact name, service provided, pricing for
that customer, type and amount of services used, credit and financial data, and/or other
information relating to the Company’s relationship with that customer); pricing strategies and
price curves; marketing plans and strategies, research and development data, buying practices,
human resource information and personnel files (including

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salaries of management level personnel), financial data, operational data, methods,
techniques, technical data, know-how, innovations, computer programs, un-patented inventions, and
trade secrets; and (iii) information about the business affairs of third parties (including, but
not limited to, clients and acquisition targets) that such third parties provide to Company in
confidence.

     Confidential Information will include trade secrets, but an item of Confidential Information
need not qualify as a trade secret to be protected by this Agreement. Company’s confidential
exchange of information with a third party for business purposes will not remove it from protection
under this Agreement. Executive acknowledges that items of Confidential Information are Company’s
valuable assets and have economic value, actual or potential, because they are not generally known
by the public or others who could use them to their own economic benefit and/or to the competitive
disadvantage of the Company, and thus, should be treated as Company’s trade secrets.

     (c) Unfair Competition Restrictions. Ancillary to the rights provided to Executive following
employment termination, the Company’s provision of Confidential Information, specialized training,
and/or goodwill support to Executive, and Executive’s agreements regarding the use of same, and in
order to protect the value of any restricted stock, stock options, or other stock-related
compensation, training, goodwill support and/or the Confidential Information described above, the
Company and Executive agree to the following provisions against unfair competition. Executive
agrees that for a period of two (2) years following the termination of employment for any reason
(“Restricted Term”), Executive will not, directly or indirectly, for Executive or for others,
anywhere in the United States (including all parishes in Louisiana, and Puerto Rico), Canada, the
United Kingdom, or the People’s Republic of China (the “Restricted Area”) do the following, unless
expressly authorized to do so in writing by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company:

	 	 	 	Engage in, or assist any person, entity, or business engaged in, the
selling or providing of products or services that would displace the
products or services that (i) the Company is currently in the
business of providing and was in the business of providing, or was
planning to be in the business of providing, at the time Executive
was employed with the Company, and (ii) that Executive had
involvement in or received Confidential Information about in the
course of employment; the foregoing is expressly understood to
include, without limitation, the business of solid waste disposal,
collection, transfer, storage, recycling and resource recovery,
waste-to-energy conversion, landfill operation, waste compacting,
management and/or brokering of waste disposal, reduction, recycling
and related services, and development of beneficial-use projects for
landfill gas.

During the Restricted Term, Executive cannot engage in any of the enumerated prohibited activities
in the Restricted Area by means of telephone, telecommunications, satellite communications,
correspondence, or other contact from outside the Restricted Area. Executive further understands
that the foregoing restrictions may limit his ability to engage in certain

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businesses during the Restricted Term, but acknowledges that these restrictions are necessary to
protect the Confidential Information the Company has provided to Executive.

     A failure to comply with the foregoing restrictions will create a presumption that Executive
is engaging in unfair competition. Executive agrees that this Section defining unfair competition
with the Company does not prevent Executive from using and offering the skills that Executive
possessed prior to receiving access to Confidential Information, confidential training, and
knowledge from the Company. This Agreement creates an advance approval process, and nothing herein
is intended, or will be construed as, a general restriction against the pursuit of lawful
employment in violation of any controlling state or federal laws. Executive shall be permitted to
engage in activities that would otherwise be prohibited by this covenant if such activities are
determined in the sole discretion of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company in writing to be of
no material threat to the legitimate business interests of the Company.

     (d) Non-Solicitation of Customers. For the Restricted Term, Executive will not, in person or
through the direction or control of others, call on, service, or solicit competing business from a
Covered Customer, or induce or encourage any such Covered Customer or other source of ongoing
business to stop doing business with Company. A “Covered Customer” is any Company customer (person
or entity) for which Executive had business-related contact or dealings with, or received
Confidential Information about, in the two (2) year period preceding the termination of Executive’s
employment with the Company for any reason.

     (e) Non-Solicitation of Employees. During Executive’s employment, and for the Restricted Term,
Executive will not, in person or through the direction or control of others, call on, solicit,
encourage, or induce any other employee or officer of the Company or its affiliates whom Executive
had contact with, knowledge of, or association within the course of employment with the Company to
terminate his or her employment, and will not assist any other person or entity in such a
solicitation.

     (f) Non-Disparagement. During Executive’s employment, and for the Restricted Term, Executive
covenants and agrees that Executive shall not engage in any pattern of conduct that involves the
making or publishing of written or oral statements or remarks (including, without limitation, the
repetition or distribution of derogatory rumors, allegations, negative reports or comments) which
are disparaging, deleterious or damaging to the integrity, reputation or good will of the Company,
its management, or of management of corporations affiliated with the Company.

     (g) Protected Communications. Nothing in this Agreement (particularly nothing in Paragraphs
10(b) and (f) regarding non-disclosure and non-disparagement) is intended or to be construed to
prohibit or interfere with any and all rights Executive may have to report a violation of state or
federal law to appropriate federal or state law enforcement officials, or to cooperate with a duly
authorized government investigation. In addition, nothing herein prohibits Executive from engaging
in a disclosure of information that is required by law (such as by court order or subpoena).
Provided, however, that if Executive believes that the disclosure of Confidential Information is
required by a subpoena, court order, or similar legal mandate, then Executive will provide the
Company reasonable notice and opportunity to protect any legitimate business

14

 

interests it may have in maintaining Confidential Information as confidential (through
protective order or other means) before engaging in such a disclosure.

     11. Enforcement of Protective Covenants.

     (a) Termination of Employment and Forfeiture of Compensation. Executive agrees that any
breach by Executive of any of the Protective Covenants set forth in Section 10 during Executive’s
employment with the Company shall be grounds for immediate employment termination of Executive for
Cause pursuant to Section 5(c)(i), which shall be in addition to and not exclusive of any and all
other rights and remedies the Company may have against Executive.

     In the event that Executive violates one of the Protective Covenants, (i) the Company shall
have the right to immediately cease making any payments that it may otherwise owe to Executive, if
any, (ii) Executive will forfeit any remaining rights to payments or continuing benefits provided
by this Agreement, if there are any, and (iii) upon the Company’s demand, Executive will refund to
the Company any amounts, plus interest, previously paid by Company to Executive pursuant to
Subsections 6(e)(iii), 6(e)(iv), 6(e)(v), 7(a)(i) or 7(a)(ii), less one thousand dollars ($1,000)
which Executive shall be entitled to retain as fully sufficient consideration to support and
maintain in effect any contractual obligations that Executive has to the Company prior to the
refund, including the Release as defined herein.

     (b) Right to Injunction. Executive acknowledges that a breach of a Protective Covenant set
forth in Section 10 hereof will cause irreparable damage to the Company with respect to which the
Company’s remedy at law for damages will be inadequate. Therefore, in the event of any breach or
anticipatory breach of a Protective Covenant by Executive, Executive and the Company agree that the
Company shall be entitled to seek the following particular forms of relief, in addition to remedies
otherwise available to it at law or equity: (i) injunctions, both preliminary and permanent,
enjoining or restraining such breach or anticipatory breach and Executive hereby consents to the
issuance thereof forthwith and without bond by any court of competent jurisdiction; and (ii)
recovery of all reasonable sums expended and costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees, incurred
by the Company to pursue the remedies provided for in this Section of the Agreement to enforce the
Protective Covenants.

     (c) Reformation of Covenants. The Protective Covenants set forth in Section 10 constitute a
series of separate but ancillary covenants, one for each applicable State in the United States and
the District of Columbia, and one for each applicable foreign country. If in any judicial
proceeding, a court shall hold that any of the Protective Covenants set forth in Section 10 exceed
the time, geographic, or occupational limitations permitted by applicable laws, Executive and the
Company agree that such provisions shall and are hereby reformed to provide for a restriction with
the maximum time, geographic, or occupational limitations permitted by such laws to protect the
Company’s business interests. Further, in the event a court shall hold unenforceable any of the
separate covenants deemed included herein, then such unenforceable covenant or covenants shall be
deemed eliminated from the provisions of this Agreement for the purpose of such proceeding to the
extent necessary to permit the remaining separate covenants to be enforced in such proceeding.

15

 

     (d) Survival. Executive and the Company further agree that the protective Covenants set forth
in Section 10 shall each be construed as a separate agreement independent of any other provisions
of this Agreement, and the existence of any claim or cause of action by Executive against the
Company whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the
enforcement by the Company of any of the Protective Covenants. The Protective Covenants will
survive the termination of Executive’s employment with Company, regardless of the cause of the
termination. If Executive violates one of the Protective Covenants for which there is a specific
time limitation, the time period for that restriction will be extended by one day for each day
Executive violates it, up to a maximum extension equal to the length of time prescribed for the
restriction, so as to give Company the full benefit of the bargained-for length of forbearance. If
Executive becomes employed with an affiliate of the Company without signing a new agreement, the
affiliate will step into Company’s position under this Agreement, and will be entitled to the same
protections and enforcement rights as the Company.

     12. Indemnification.

     The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Executive to the fullest extent permitted by
Delaware law for any action or inaction of Executive while serving as an officer and director of
the Company or, at the Company’s request, as an officer or director of any other entity or as a
fiduciary of any benefit plan. This provision includes the obligation and undertaking of the
Executive to reimburse the Company for any fees advanced by the Company on behalf of the Executive
should it later be determined that Executive was not entitled to have such fees advanced by the
Company under Delaware law. The Company shall cover the Executive under directors and officers
liability insurance both during and, while potential liability exists, after the Employment Period
in the same amount and to the same extent as the Company covers its other officers and directors.

     13. Arbitration.

     The parties agree that any dispute relating to this Agreement, or to the breach of this
Agreement, arising between Executive and the Company shall be settled by arbitration in accordance
with the Federal Arbitration Act and the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration
Association (“AAA”), or any other mutually agreed upon arbitration service; provided, however, that
temporary and preliminary injunctive relief to enforce the covenants contained in Section 10 of
this Agreement, and related expedited discovery, may be pursued in a court of law to provide
temporary injunctive relief pending a final determination of all issues of final relief through
arbitration. The arbitration proceeding, including the rendering of an award, shall take place in
Houston, Texas, and shall be administered by the AAA (or any other mutually agreed upon arbitration
service). The arbitrator shall be jointly selected by the Company and Executive within thirty (30)
days of the notice of dispute, or if the parties cannot agree, in accordance with the commercial
arbitration rules of the AAA (or any other mutually agreed upon arbitration service). All fees and
expenses associated with the arbitration shall be borne equally by Executive and the Company during
the arbitration, pending final decision by the arbitrator as to who should bear fees, unless
otherwise ordered by the arbitrator. The arbitrator shall not be authorized to create a cause of
action or remedy not recognized by applicable state or federal law. The arbitrator shall be
authorized to award final injunctive relief.

16

 

The award of the arbitrator shall be final and binding upon the parties without appeal or
review, except as permitted by the arbitration laws of the State of Texas. The award, inclusive of
any and all injunctive relief provided for therein, shall be enforceable through a court of law
upon motion of either party.

     14. Requirement of Timely Payments.

     If any amounts which are required, or determined to be paid or payable, or reimbursed or
reimbursable, to Executive under this Agreement (or any other plan, agreement, policy or
arrangement with the Company) are not so paid promptly at the times provided herein or therein,
such amounts shall accrue interest, compounded daily, at an 5% annual percentage rate, from the
date such amounts were required or determined to have been paid or payable, reimbursed or
reimbursable to Executive, until such amounts and any interest accrued thereon are finally and
fully paid, provided, however, that in no event shall the amount of interest contracted for,
charged or received hereunder, exceed the maximum non-usurious amount of interest allowed by
applicable law.

     15. Withholding of Taxes.

     The Company may withhold from any compensation and benefits payable under this Agreement all
applicable federal, state, local, or other taxes.

     16. Source of Payments.

     All payments provided under this Agreement, other than payments made pursuant to a plan which
provides otherwise, shall be paid from the general funds of the Company, and no special or separate
fund shall be established, and no other segregation of assets made, to assure payment. Executive
shall have no right, title or interest whatever in or to any investments which the Company may make
to aid the Company in meeting its obligations hereunder. To the extent that any person acquires a
right to receive payments from the Company hereunder, such right shall be no greater than the right
of an unsecured creditor of the Company.

     17. Assignment.

     This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company, its subsidiaries, affiliates,
successors, and assigns. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, this Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of Executive, and Executive’s heirs, representatives, and successors. This
Agreement shall not be assignable by Executive (but any payments due hereunder which would be
payable at a time after Executive’s death shall be paid to Executive’s estate).

     18. Entire Agreement; Amendment.

     This Agreement shall supersede any and all existing oral or written agreements,
representations, or warranties between Executive and the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliated entities relating to the terms of Executive’s employment by the Company; provided,
however, that if all or any material part of the Protective Covenants provided for in this

17

 

Agreement are deemed void or unenforceable, then any prior agreement between the parties (or
any of its subsidiaries, including Oakleaf Waste Management, Inc.) covering the same or
substantially similar restrictions on Executive shall resume effect to the extent necessary to
maintain protection of the Company’s legitimate protectable interests covered by the Protective
Covenants. This Agreement may not be amended except by a written agreement signed by both parties.
No material term or obligation of a party may be waived except through written agreement by the
party with the authority to enforce such right or obligation.

     19. Governing Law and Venue.

     This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Texas applicable to agreements made and to be performed in that State, without regard to its
conflict of laws provisions. The parties agree that any legal action arising from this Agreement
that is not required to be resolved through arbitration pursuant to Section 13 must be pursued in a
court of competent jurisdiction that is located in Houston, Texas.

     20. Notices.

     Any notice, consent, request, or other communication made or given in connection with this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed
by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by facsimile or by hand delivery, to
those listed below at their following respective addresses or at such other address as each may
specify by notice to the others:

	 	 	 	 	 

	 

	 	To the Company:
	 	Waste Management, Inc.
	 

	 	 	 	1001 Fannin, Suite 4000
	 

	 	 	 	Houston, Texas 77002
	 

	 	 	 	Attention: General Counsel
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	To Executive:
	 	At the address for Executive set forth below.

     21.
Miscellaneous.

          (a)
Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this
Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver thereof or deprive that party of the
right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement.

          (b)
Severability. Subject to Section 11 hereof, if any term or provision of this Agreement is
declared illegal or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction and cannot be modified to
be enforceable, such term or provision shall immediately become null and void, leaving the
remainder of this Agreement in full force and effect.

          (c)
Headings. Section headings are used herein for convenience of reference only and shall
not affect the meaning of any provision of this Agreement.

          (d)
Rules of Construction. Whenever the context so requires, the
use of the singular

18

 

        shall be deemed to include the plural and vice versa.

        (e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
so executed shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts will together constitute but
one Agreement.

        22. Potential Limitation on Severance Benefits.

        (a) Maximum Severance Amount. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the
contrary, in the event of a qualifying termination (or resignation) under Section 6(e) or Section 7
of this Agreement it is determined by the Company that the Severance Benefits (as defined in
Section 22(b) below) would exceed 2.99 times the sum of the Executive’s then current base salary
and target bonus (the “Maximum Severance Amount”), then the aggregate present value of the
Severance Benefits provided to the Executive shall be reduced by the Company to the Reduced Amount.
The “Reduced Amount” shall be an amount, expressed in present value, that maximizes the aggregate
present value of the Severance Benefits without exceeding the Maximum Severance Amount.

        (b) Severance Benefits. For purposes of determining Severance Benefits under Section 22(a)
above, Severance Benefits means the present value of payments or distributions by the Company, its
subsidiaries or affiliated entities to or for the benefit of the Executive (whether paid or
provided pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise), and

(A)
including: (i) cash amounts payable by the Company in the event of termination of
Executive’s employment; and (ii) the present value of benefits or perquisites provided for
periods after termination of employment (but excluding benefits or perquisites provided to
employees generally); and

(B) excluding: (i) payments of salary, bonus or performance award amounts that had accrued
at the time of termination; (ii) payments based on accrued qualified and non-qualified
deferred compensation plans, including retirement and savings benefits; (iii) any benefits
or perquisites provided under plans or programs applicable to employees generally; (iv)
amounts paid as part of any agreement intended to “make-whole” any forfeiture of benefits
from a prior employer; (v) amounts paid for services following termination of employment for
a reasonable consulting agreement for a period not to exceed one year; (vi) amounts paid for
post-termination covenants (such as a covenant not to compete); (vii) the value of
accelerated vesting or payment of any outstanding equity-based award; and (viii) any payment
that the Board or any committee thereof determines in good faith to be a reasonable
settlement of any claim made against the Company.

        (c)
 Possible 280G Reduction. Following application of Section 22(a), in the event that the
payment of the remaining Severance Benefits to Executive plus any other payments to Executive which
would be subject to Internal Revenue Code Section 280G (including any reduced Severance Benefits)
(“280G Severance Benefits”) would be subject (in whole or part), to any excise tax imposed under
Internal Revenue Code Section 4999 (the “Excise Tax”), then the

19

 

cash portion of the 280G Severance Benefits shall first be further reduced, and the non-cash
280G Severance Benefits shall thereafter be further reduced, to the extent necessary so that no
portion of the 280G Severance Benefits is subject to the Excise Tax, but only if (i) the amount of
the 280G Severance Benefits to be received by Executive, as so reduced by this Section 22(c) and
after subtracting the amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced 280G
Severance Benefits (after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal
exemptions attributable to such reduced 280G Severance Benefits) is greater than or equal to (ii)
the amount of the 280G Severance Benefits to be received by Executive without such reduction by
this Section 22(c) after subtracting the amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such
280G Severance Benefits and the amount of the Excise Tax to which Executive would be subject in
respect of such unreduced 280G Severance Benefits (after taking into account the phase out of
itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced 280G Severance Benefits
).

     (d) Calculation of 280G Severance Benefits. For purposes of determining the 280G Severance
Benefits, (i) no portion of the 280G Severance Benefits, the receipt or enjoyment of which
Executive shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a “payment” within
the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 280G(b), shall be taken into account, (ii) no portion
of the 280G Severance Benefits shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of tax counsel
(“Tax Counsel”) who is reasonably acceptable to Executive and selected by the accounting firm (the
“Auditor”) which was, immediately prior to the Change in Control, the Company’s independent
auditor, does not constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code
Section 280G(b)(2) (including by reason of Internal Revenue Code Section 280G(b)(4)(A)); (iii) no
portion of the 280G Severance Benefits shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of Tax
Counsel, constitutes reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of
Internal Revenue Code Section 280G(b)(4)(B), in excess of the “base amount” (as defined in Internal
Revenue Code Section 280G(b)(3)) allocable to such reasonable compensation, and (iv) the value of
any non-cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the 280G Severance Benefits
shall be determined by the Auditor in accordance with the principles of Internal Revenue Code
Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4).

     (e) Determination of Present Value. For purposes of this Section 22, the present value of
Severance Benefits and 280G Severance Benefits 280G shall be determined in accordance with Internal
Revenue Code Section 280G(d)(4).

     23. Compliance with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A.

     (a) Compliance. It is the intention of the Company and Executive that this Employment
Agreement not result in unfavorable tax consequences to Executive under Internal Revenue Code
Section 409A. This Section 23 does not create an obligation on the part of Company to modify the
Employment Agreement in the future and does not guarantee that the amounts or benefits owed under
the Employment Agreement will not be subject to interest and penalties under Internal Revenue Code
Section 409A.

     (b) Payment Timing. The payments of severance under Sections 6(e)(iii) and (iv) and Sections
7(a)(i) and (ii) above (“Separation Payments”) are designated as separate payments for purposes of
the short-term deferral rules under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-

20

 

1(b)(4)(i)(F), and, with respect to such Separation Payments, the exemption for involuntary
terminations under separation pay plans under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii). As
a result, (A) Separation Payments that are by their terms scheduled to be made on or before March
15th of the calendar year following the applicable year of termination, (B) any additional
Separation Payments that are made on or before December 31st of the second calendar year following
the year of Executive’s termination and do not exceed the lesser of two times Base Salary or two
times the limit under Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a)(17) then in effect, and (C) any
Separation Payments under Section 7(a) made on account of a 409A Change in Control within the
meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A are exempt from the requirements of Internal Revenue
Code Section 409A. If Executive is designated as a “specified employee” within the meaning of
Internal Revenue Code Section 409A, then to the extent the Disability Payments and Separation
Payments to be made during the first six month period following Executive’s termination of
employment exceed such exempt amounts, the payments shall be withheld and the amount of the
payments withheld will be paid in a lump sum, with interest (at the Company’s then applicable
overnight rate), on the date that is six (6) months and one (1) day after Executive’s termination.
Continued medical benefits under Sections 6(e)(v) and 7(a)(i) above are intended to satisfy the
exemption for medical expense reimbursements under Treasury Regulation Section
1.409A-1(b)(9)(v)(B).

21

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is EXECUTED as of the date first set forth above and
effective as set forth therein.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	STEVEN C. PRESTON

(“Executive”)

 	 
	 	/s/ Steven C. Preston
 	 
	 	Steven C. Preston 	 

	 	 	 	 	 

	 

	 	 	 	(Address)
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.

(The “Company”)

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ David P. Steiner
 	 
	 	 	David P. Steiner 	 
	 	 	President and Chief Executive Officer 	 
	 

22

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