EXHIBIT 10.7
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
This Agreement (the "Agreement") made as of the 1st day of August,
2001, by and between, Florida East Coast Industries, Inc., a Florida
corporation, with its principal office at Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xx. Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000 (the "Company") and _______________ (the "Executive").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company believes that the establishment and maintenance of
sound and vital management of the Company is essential to the protection and
enhancement of the interests of the Company and the stockholders of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Company also recognizes that the possibility of a Change
in Control (as defined herein), with the attendant uncertainties and risks,
might result in the departure or distraction of key employees of the Company to
the detriment of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that it is appropriate to take steps
to induce key employees to remain with the Company, and to reinforce and
encourage their continued attention and dedication, when faced with the
possibility of a Change in Control of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of
the Company and the stockholders of the Company to improve upon the provisions
relating to a Change in Control contained in any written agreement with the
Company, including the Executive's Employment Agreement, and to include those
provisions in this Agreement, with certain modifications as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:
1. Definitions.
(a) "Base Salary" means the Executive's annual base
compensation rate for services paid by the Company to the Executive at
the time immediately prior to the Executive's termination of
employment, as reflected in the Company's payroll records or, if
higher, the Executive's annual base compensation rate immediately prior
to a Change in Control. Base Salary shall not include commissions,
bonuses, overtime pay, incentive compensation, benefits paid under any
qualified plan, any group medical, dental or other welfare benefit
plan, noncash compensation or any other additional compensation but
shall include amounts reduced pursuant to the Executive's salary
reduction agreement under Sections 125 or 401(k) of the Code, if any,
or a nonqualified elective deferred compensation arrangement, if any,
to the extent that in each such case the reduction is to base salary.
(b) "Board" means the board of directors of the Company.
(c) "Bonus" means the Executive's target performance bonus for
the fiscal year in which the Executive's termination of employment
occurs or, if higher, the Executive's target performance bonus for the
fiscal year in which a Change in Control occurs.
(d) "Cause" means any of the following:
(i) a material breach by the Executive of the obligations
under the Employment Agreement (other than as a result of incapacity
due to physical or mental illness), including but not limited to a
failure to attempt in good faith to perform the Executive's duties and
responsibilities, which is demonstrably willful and deliberate on the
Executive's part and which is not remedied in a reasonable period of
time after receipt of notice from the Company specifying such breach;
(ii) the Executive's conviction for committing a felony or
the guilty or nolo contendere plea by the Executive to a felony (other
than as a result of vicarious liability where the Executive was not
involved in and had no material knowledge of the action or inactions
leading to the charges or had such involvement or knowledge but acted
upon advice of the Company's counsel as to its legality);
(iii) the (A) willful engaging by the Executive in
misconduct or (B) the Executive's gross negligence, in either case,
with regard to, the Employer or the Executive's duties, which have, or
is likely to have, a material adverse impact on the Employer; or
(iv) a material act of dishonesty or breach of trust on
the Executive's part resulting or intending to result, directly or
indirectly, in material personal or family gain or enrichment at the
expense of the Employer.
For purposes of this paragraph, no act, or failure to act, on the
Executive's part shall be considered "willful" unless done or omitted to be
done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the
Executive's action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. In the
event that the Executive alleges that the failure to attempt to perform the
Executive's duties and responsibilities is due to a physical or mental illness,
and thus not "Cause" under (i) above, the Executive shall be required to furnish
the Company with a written statement from a licensed physician who is reasonably
acceptable to the Company which confirms the Executive's inability to attempt to
perform due to such physical or mental illness. A termination for Cause after a
Change in Control shall be based only on events occurring after such Change in
Control; provided, however, the foregoing limitation shall not apply to an event
constituting Cause which was not discovered by the Company prior to a Change in
Control.
(e) "Change in Control" means the occurrence of any of the
following:
(i) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d)
and 14(d) of the Exchange Act becomes the "beneficial owner" (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
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Exchange Act) directly or indirectly, of securities representing more
than 50% of the total voting power represented by the Company's then
outstanding voting securities;
(ii) a change in the composition of the Board, as a result
of which fewer than a majority of the Directors are Incumbent
Directors. "Incumbent Directors" shall mean Directors who either (A)
are Directors of the Company as of the date hereof or (B) are elected
or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of
at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such
election or nomination (but shall not include an individual whose
election or nomination is in connection with an actual or threatened
proxy contest relating to the election of Directors of the Company); or
(iii) the Company adopts, and the stockholders approve, if
necessary, a plan of complete liquidation of the Company, or the
Company sells or disposes of substantially all of its assets to any
"person" or group of affiliated "persons" (as such term is used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than a spin-off or
similar disposition to the stockholders of the Company; or
(iv) the Company is a party to a merger or consolidation
in which the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such
transaction hold less than 50% of the total voting power of the
resulting or surviving entity immediately after such transaction in
approximately the same proportion as prior to such transaction.
Only one Change in Control may occur under this Agreement.
(f) "COBRA" means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.
(g) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
(h) "Company" has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble
and in paragraph 14 hereof.
(i) "Effective Date" means August 1, 2001.
(j) "Employer" means the Company and its affiliates.
(k) "Employment Agreement" means the employment agreement
between the Executive and the Company in effect on the Effective Date.
(l) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
(m) "Good Reason" means the occurrence or failure to cause the
occurrence of any of the following events without the Executive's
express written consent:
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(i) any (A) diminution in the Executive's title from that
which exists immediately prior to a Change in Control or (B) any
material diminution in the Executive's duties, responsibilities,
authority or reporting lines from that which exists immediately prior
to a Change in Control (except in each case in connection with the
termination of the Executive's employment for Cause or as a result of
the Executive's death, or temporarily as a result of the Executive's
illness or other absence), or (C) the assignment to the Executive of
duties and responsibilities materially inconsistent with the position
held by the Executive immediately prior to the Change in Control,
excluding in the case of (B) or (C) an isolated, insubstantial and
inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied
promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;
(ii) a relocation of the Executive's principal business
location to an area outside a 35 mile radius of the Executive's
principal business location at the time of the Change in Control, or a
material increase in the amount of travel required of Executive beyond
that required prior to the Change in Control;
(iii) a reduction in the Executive's annual Base Salary;
(iv) a failure by the Company after a Change in Control to
continue any annual bonus plan, program or arrangement in which the
Executive is then entitled to participate (the "Bonus Plans"), provided
that any such plan(s) may be modified at the Company's discretion from
time to time but shall be deemed terminated if (A) any such plan does
not remain substantially in the form in effect prior to such
modification and (B) plans providing the Executive with substantially
similar benefits are not substituted therefor ("Substitute Plans"), or
a failure by the Company to continue the Executive as a participant in
the Bonus Plans and Substitute Plans on at least the same basis as to
the potential amount of the bonus and the achievability thereof as the
Executive participated immediately prior to any change in such plans or
awards, in accordance with the Bonus Plans and the Substitute Plans,
provided that such action is not cured within 10 days after written
notice thereof from the Executive to the Company;
(v) a failure to permit the Executive after the Change in
Control to participate in cash or equity based incentive plans and
programs (other than Bonus Plans) on a basis providing the Executive in
the aggregate with an annualized award value in each fiscal year after
the Change in Control at least equal to the aggregate annualized award
value being provided by the Company to the Executive under such
incentive plans and programs immediately prior to the Change in Control
(with any awards intended not to be repeated on an annual basis
allocated over the years the awards are intended to cover), provided
that such action is not cured within 10 days after written notice
thereof from the Executive to the Company;
(vi) the failure by the Company to continue to provide
Executive with benefits substantially similar to those enjoyed by
Executive under any of the Company's life insurance, medical, dental,
accident, disability or pension plans or perquisites in which the
Executive was participating at the time of the Change in Control, the
taking of any action by the Company which would directly or indirectly
materially reduce any of
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such benefits, or the failure by the Company to provide Executive with
the number of paid vacation days to which he is entitled on the basis
of years of service with the Company in accordance with the Company's
normal vacation policy in effect at the time of the Change in Control;
(vii) a material breach by the Company of any other
written agreement with the Executive or failure to timely pay any
compensation obligation to the Executive that in either case remains
uncured for 10 days after written notice of such breach is given by the
Executive to the Company;
(viii) failure of any successor to assume in a writing
delivered to Executive and reasonably satisfactory to Executive the
obligations hereunder within 10 days after written notice by the
Executive to the Company; or
(ix) any purported termination of Executive's employment
that is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Sections 5 and 6 hereof, which purported termination
shall not be effective for purposes of this Agreement.
(n) "Term" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 2 hereof.
2. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective
Date and end on the earlier of (a) the termination of the Executive's employment
with the Company or (b) the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the "Term,"
as it may be extended or terminated); provided, however, that the Term shall be
automatically extended for successive additional one (1) year periods (the
"Additional Terms"), unless, at least 180 days prior to the end of the original
Term or the then Additional Term, the Company has notified the Executive in
writing that the Term shall not be extended and further provided, if a Change in
Control occurs prior to the end of the aforesaid period, the duration of this
Agreement shall be extended, if it would otherwise end prior thereto, until the
second anniversary of the date of such Change in Control, whether such two-year
period ends before or after the end of such aforesaid period. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Company becomes obligated to
make any payment to the Executive pursuant to the terms hereof, then this
Agreement shall remain in effect for such purposes until all of the Company's
obligations hereunder are fulfilled.
3. Termination Following Change in Control. If a Change in Control
occurs during the Term and the Executive's employment by the Company is
terminated (a) by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason
at any time during the period commencing on the date of the Change in Control
and ending on the second anniversary of the Change in Control or (b) by the
Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason (based on Section
1(m)(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) and without reference to the Change in Control
measurement date) at any time during the period commencing three months prior to
a Change in Control and ending immediately prior to the Change in Control and
the Executive demonstrates that such termination was requested by the party
taking control or was otherwise in anticipation of the Change in Control, then
the Company shall pay or provide the Executive with the payments and benefits
provided under Section 4 hereof.
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4. Compensation Upon Termination. Subject to Section 9, in the event
that the Executive becomes entitled to payments or benefits pursuant to Section
3, then the Company shall pay or provide the Executive with the following
payments and benefits in lieu of any other termination, change in control,
separation, severance or similar benefits under the Employment Agreement or
under any other compensation arrangement with the Employer. The amounts
hereunder shall reduce and be in full satisfaction of any statutory entitlement
(including notice of termination, termination pay and/or severance pay) of the
Executive upon a termination of employment.
(a) Within 10 business days after the Date of Termination (or
within 10 business days after the date of the Change in Control if the
termination occurred within three months prior to the Change in Control
and such amount was not previously paid): (i) any unpaid Base Salary
through the Date of Termination and any accrued vacation; (ii) any
unpaid bonus accrued with respect to the fiscal year ending on or
preceding the date of termination; (iii) reimbursement for any
unreimbursed expenses incurred through the Date of Termination; and
(iv) all other payments, benefits or fringe benefits to which the
Executive may be entitled subject to, and in accordance with, the terms
of any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit (other than
severance arrangements), equity or fringe benefit plan or program or
grant.
(b) Within 10 business days after the Date of Termination (or
within 10 business days after the date of the Change in Control if the
termination occurred within three months prior to the Change in Control
and such amount was not previously paid), a lump sum cash payment equal
to three times the sum of the Executive's Base Salary and Bonus in
effect on the date immediately preceding the Change in Control.
(c) Within 10 business days after the Date of Termination (or
within 10 business days after the date of the Change in Control, if the
termination occurred within three months prior to the Change in Control
and such amount was not previously paid), payment of a pro-rata portion
of the Bonus for the fiscal year to which the Bonus relates (determined
by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of days during the fiscal year of termination that the Executive
is employed by the Company and the denominator of which is 365).
(d) Repayment obligations for any sign-on bonuses or
relocation payments, if any, conditioned upon a termination of
employment shall be forgiven on a termination for Good Reason or
without Cause following a Change in Control.
(e) Subject to the Executive's continued co-payment of
premiums which shall not exceed the level of co-payment made by the
Executive immediately prior to the date of the Change in Control,
continued participation in all health plans which cover the Executive
(and eligible dependents), including, without limitation, medical,
dental and prescription drug coverage upon the same terms and
conditions (except for the requirements of the Executive's continued
employment) in effect on the date of termination until three years
after the Date of Termination; provided, however, that in the event
that the Execu-
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tive obtains other employment that offers substantially similar or
improved benefits, as to any particular health plan, the continuation
of coverage by the Company for such similar or improved benefit under
such plan shall immediately cease. To the extent, in the good faith
judgment of the Company, such coverage cannot be provided under the
Company's health plans without jeopardizing the tax status of such
plans, for underwriting reasons or because of the tax impact on the
Executive, the Company shall pay the Executive an amount equal to the
cost to the Company for a similarly situated active employee fully
grossed-up to cover taxes on such amount and the gross-up payment. Such
period of medical coverage shall reduce and count against the
Executive's rights to COBRA continuation coverage.
(f) Unless otherwise provided in any stock option grant
agreements made after the Effective Date, all stock options to purchase
shares of FECI common stock held by or for the benefit of the Executive
shall become immediately fully vested and exercisable as of the Date of
Termination for the Exercise Period set forth in such stop option grant
agreements.
5. Notice of Termination. After a Change in Control, any purported
termination of the Executive's employment pursuant to Section 3 shall be
communicated by written Notice of Termination from one party hereto to the other
party hereto in accordance with Section 17. For purposes of this Agreement, a
"Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice which shall set forth in reasonable
detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of
the Executive's employment.
6. Date of Termination. "Date of Termination", with respect to any
purported termination of the Executive's employment after a Change in Control,
shall mean the date specified in the Notice of Termination (which, in the case
of a termination by the Executive for Good Reason, shall not be less than five
days nor more than 60 days, from the date such Notice of Termination is given).
In the event of Notice of Termination by the Company, the Executive may treat
such notice as having a Date of Termination at any date between the date of the
receipt of such notice and the Date of Termination indicated in the Notice of
Termination by the Company; provided, that the Executive must give the Company
written notice of the Date of Termination if the Executive deems it to have
occurred prior to the Date of Termination indicated in the notice.
7. Excise Tax. In the event that the Executive becomes entitled to
payments and/or benefits which would constitute "parachute payments" within the
meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, the provisions of Exhibit A shall
apply.
8. No Duty to Mitigate/Set-off. In the event of any termination of the
Executive's employment, the Executive shall not be required to seek other
employment or to attempt in any way to reduce any amounts payable to the
Executive by the Company pursuant to this Agreement. Further, the amount of any
payment or benefit provided for in this Agreement shall not be reduced by any
compensation earned by the Executive or benefit provided to the Executive as the
result of employment by another employer or otherwise. The amounts payable
hereunder shall not be subject to set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or
other right which the Company may have against the Executive.
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9. Non-Competition; Confidentiality. (a) The Executive acknowledges
that the restrictive covenants (including, without limitation, confidentiality
and non-competition) in any other agreement with the Company previously signed
by the Executive (including the Employment Agreement) shall not be affected by
this Agreement and that the restrictive covenants therein shall continue to
apply after a Change in Control or a termination of employment after a Change in
Control in accordance with the terms of such restrictive covenants.
(b) Furthermore, during the two-year period after the
Termination Date, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, (i)
induce, solicit, recruit or hire or attempt to induce, solicit, recruit
or hire or aid others in inducing, soliciting, recruiting or hiring any
employee of the Company, or in any way interfere with the relationship
between the Company and an employee thereof, or (ii) in any way
interfere with the relationship between the Company and any customer,
supplier, licensee or other business relation thereof.
10. Release Required. Any amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement
(beyond amounts payable pursuant to Section 4(a)) shall only be payable if the
Executive delivers to the Company (and does not revoke) a release of all claims
of any kind whatsoever that the Executive has or may have against the Employer
and its officers, directors and employees, known or unknown, as of the Date of
Termination (other than claims to payments specifically payable hereunder,
claims under COBRA, claims to vested accrued benefits under the Employer's
employee benefit plans, claims relating to any rights of indemnification under
the Company's organizational documents or otherwise or claims relating to any
outstanding stock options or other equity-based award on the Date of
Termination) occurring up to the release date in such form as reasonably
required by the Company (but without ancillary provisions not directly related
to the release).
11. Litigation Support. Subject to the Executive's other commitments,
following the Executive's receipt of any payments or benefits under this
Agreement, the Executive shall be reasonably available to cooperate with the
Company and provide information as to matters which the Executive was personally
involved, or has information on, during the Executive's employment with the
Company and which are or become the subject of litigation or other dispute.
12. Arbitration. Any dispute or controversy arising under or in
connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration
conducted in Jacksonville, Florida under the Commercial Arbitration Rules then
prevailing of the American Arbitration Association and such submission shall
request the American Arbitration Association to: (a) appoint an arbitrator
experienced and knowledgeable concerning the matter then in dispute; (b) require
the testimony to be transcribed; (c) require the award to be accompanied by
findings of fact and the statement for reasons for the decision; and (d) request
the matter to be handled by and in accordance with the expedited procedures
provided for in the Commercial Arbitration Rules. The determination of the
arbitrators, which shall be based upon a de novo interpretation of this
Agreement, shall be final and binding and judgment may be entered on the
arbitrators' award in any court having jurisdiction.
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13. Attorney's Fees. In the event that a claim for payment or benefits
under this Agreement is disputed or the Executive is otherwise enforcing rights
under this Agreement, the Company shall promptly pay upon submission of
statements, all legal and other professional fees, costs of arbitration and
other expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with any dispute
concerning payments, benefits and other entitlements under this Agreement;
provided, however, the Company shall be reimbursed by the Executive for (i) the
fees and expenses advanced in the event the Executive's claim is, in a material
manner, in bad faith or frivolous and the arbitrator determines that the
reimbursement of such fees and expenses is appropriate, or (ii) to the extent
that the arbitrator determines that such legal and other professional fees are
clearly and demonstrably unreasonable.
14. No Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assignable by the
Executive. This Agreement shall be assignable by the Company only by merger or
with all or a substantial portion of the assets of the Company. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit and be binding upon the personal or legal
representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees,
devisees, legatees and permitted assignees of the parties hereto. If the Company
is acquired, consolidates or merges into or with, or transfers all or
substantially all of its assets to, another entity, the term "Company" as used
herein shall mean such other entity and this Agreement shall continue in full
force and effect. In the case of any transaction in which a successor would not
by the foregoing provision or operation of law be bound by this Agreement, the
Company shall require such successor expressly and unconditionally to assume and
agree to perform the Company's obligations under this Agreement, in the same
manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if
no such succession had taken place.
15. Miscellaneous. No provisions of this Agreement may be modified,
waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to
in writing and signed by the Executive and such officer as may be specifically
designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any
breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or
provision shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or
conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. This Agreement
constitutes the entire Agreement between the parties hereto pertaining to the
subject matter hereof and supersedes all existing agreements between them
concerning such subject matter (including, without limitation, the Employment
Agreement as it may apply with regard to a termination after a Change in Control
or with regard to a termination in anticipation of a Change in Control but not
any stock option or other equity agreement nor any plan or programs, except as
provided herein); provided, however, that in the event the Term ends before the
Company becomes obligated to make any payment to the Executive pursuant to the
terms hereof, the effect of this sentence regarding superceding existing
agreement as they apply to a termination of employment in connection with a
Change in Control shall be of no further force or effect. No agreements or
representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the
subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not expressly set
forth in this Agreement. All references to any law shall be deemed also to refer
to any successor provisions to such laws.
16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.
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17. Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid as follows:
If to the Company, to:
Florida East Coast Industries, Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xx. Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
If to the Executive, to the Executive's last shown address on the books
of the Company.
Any such notice shall be deemed given when so delivered personally, or,
if mailed, five days after the date of deposit in the United States mail. Any
party may by notice given in accordance with this Section to the other parties,
designate another address or person for receipt of notices hereunder.
18. Separability. If any provisions of this Agreement shall be declared
to be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, such invalidity or
unenforceability shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof which shall
remain in full force and effect.
19. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. Except as otherwise specifically
provided therein, (a) nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the
Executive's continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive,
equity or other plan or program provided by the Company and for which the
Executive may qualify, nor (b) shall anything herein limit or otherwise
prejudice such rights as the Executive may have under any other currently
existing plan, agreement as to employment or severance from employment with the
Company or statutory entitlements, provided, that to the extent such amounts are
paid under Section 4(a) hereof or otherwise, they shall not be due under any
such program, plan, agreement, or statute. Amounts that are vested benefits or
which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan or program
of the Company, at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in
accordance with such plan or program, except as otherwise specifically provided
herein.
20. Not an Agreement of Employment. This is not an agreement assuring
employment and the Company reserves the right to terminate the Executive's
employment at any time with or without Cause, subject to the payment provisions
hereof if such termination is after, or within three months prior to, a Change
in Control. The Executive acknowledges that the Executive is aware that the
Executive shall have no claim against the Company hereunder or for deprivation
of the right to receive the amounts hereunder as a result of any termination
that does not specifically satisfy the requirements hereof. Except as provided
herein, the foregoing shall not affect the Executive's rights under any other
agreement with the Company.
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21. Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from all payments due
hereunder such federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld
pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
22. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed, interpreted, and
governed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without reference
to rules relating to conflicts of law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be duly
executed and the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand as of the date
first set forth above.
FLORIDA EAST COAST INDUSTRIES, INC.
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:
EXECUTIVE
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:
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EXHIBIT A
Golden Parachute Provision
(a) (i) In the event that the Executive shall become entitled to
payments and/or benefits provided by this Agreement or any other amounts in the
"nature of compensation" (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any
other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any person whose actions
result in a change of ownership or effective control covered by Section
280G(b)(2) of the Code or any person affiliated with the Company or such person)
as a result of such change in ownership or effective control (collectively the
"Company Payments"), and such Company Payments will be subject to the tax (the
"Excise Tax") imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (and any similar tax that may
hereafter be imposed by any taxing authority) the Company shall pay to the
Executive at the time specified in subsection (d) below (x) an additional amount
(the "Gross-up Payment") such that the net amount retained by the Executive,
after deduction of any Excise Tax on the Company Payments and any U.S. federal,
state, and for local income or payroll tax upon the Gross-up Payment provided
for by this paragraph (a), but before deduction for any U.S. federal, state, and
local income or payroll tax on the Company Payments, shall be equal to the
Company Payments and (y) an amount equal to the product of any deductions
disallowed for federal, state or local income tax purposes because of the
inclusion of the Gross-Up Payment in the Executive's adjusted gross income
multiplied by the highest applicable marginal rate of federal, state or local
income taxation, respectively, for the calendar year in which the Gross-Up
Payment is to be made.
(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if it shall be determined that the
Executive is entitled to a Gross-Up Payment, but that if the Company Payments
(other than that portion valued under Q&A 24(a) of the proposed regulations
under Section 280G of the Code (the "Cash Payments") are reduced by the amount
necessary such that the receipt of the Company Payments would not give rise to
any Excise Tax (the "Reduced Payment") and the Reduced Payment would not be less
than 90% of the Cash Payment, then no Gross-Up Payment shall be made to the
Executive and the Cash Payments, shall be reduced to the Reduced Payments. If
the Reduced Payments is to be effective, payments shall be reduced as mutually
agreed between the Company and the Executive or, in the event the parties cannot
agree, in the following order (1) any lump sum severance based on a multiple of
Base Salary or Bonus, (2) any other cash amounts payable to the Executive, and
(3) any benefits valued as parachute payments
(iii) In the event that the Internal Revenue Service or court
ultimately makes a determination that the excess parachute payments plus the
base amount is an amount other than as determined initially, an appropriate
adjustment shall be made with regard to the Gross-Up Payment or Reduced Payment,
as applicable to reflect the final determination and the resulting impact on
whether (ii) applies.
(b) For purposes of determining whether any of the Company Payments and
Gross-up Payments (collectively the "Total Payments") will be subject to the
Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax, (x) the Total Payments shall be
treated as "parachute payments" within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the
Code, and all "parachute payments" in excess of the "base amount" (as defined
under Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) shall be treated as subject to the Ex-
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cise Tax, unless and except to the extent that, in the opinion of the Company's
independent certified public accountants appointed prior to any change in
ownership (as defined under Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code) or tax counsel
selected by such accountants or the Company (the "Accountants") such Total
Payments (in whole or in part) either do not constitute "parachute payments,"
represent reasonable compensation for services actually rendered within the
meaning of Section 280G(b)(4) of the Code in excess of the "base amount" or are
otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax, and (y) the value of any non-cash
benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the
Accountants in accordance with the principles of Section 280G of the Code. In
the event that the Accountants are serving as accountant or auditor for the
individual, entity or group effecting the Change in Control, the Executive may
appoint another nationally recognized accounting firm to make the determinations
hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be referred to as the "Accountants"
hereunder). All determinations hereunder shall be made by the Accountants which
shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the
Executive at such time as it is requested by the Company or the Executive. If
the Accountants determine that payments under this Agreement must be reduced
pursuant to this paragraph, they shall furnish the Executive with a written
opinion to such effect. The determination of the Accountants shall be final and
binding upon the Company and the Executive.
(c) For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-up Payment, the
Executive shall be deemed to pay U.S. federal income taxes at the highest
marginal rate of U.S. federal income taxation in the calendar year in which the
Gross-up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest
marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of the Executive's residence
for the calendar year in which the Company Payment is to be made, net of the
maximum reduction in U.S. federal income taxes which could be obtained from
deduction of such state and local taxes if paid in such year. In the event that
the Excise Tax is subsequently determined by the Accountants to be less than the
amount taken into account hereunder at the time the Gross-up Payment is made,
the Executive shall repay to the Company, at the time that the amount of such
reduction in Excise Tax is finally determined, the portion of the prior Gross-up
Payment attributable to such reduction (plus the portion of the Gross-up Payment
attributable to the Excise Tax and U.S. federal, state and local income tax
imposed on the portion of the Gross-up Payment being repaid by the Executive if
such repayment results in a reduction in Excise Tax or a U.S. federal, state and
local income tax deduction), plus interest on the amount of such repayment at
the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event any portion of the Gross-up Payment to be refunded to
the Company has been paid to any U.S. federal, state and local tax authority,
repayment thereof (and related amounts) shall not be required until actual
refund or credit of such portion has been made to the Executive, and interest
payable to the Company shall not exceed the interest received or credited to the
Executive by such tax authority for the period it held such portion. The
Executive and the Company shall mutually agree upon the course of action to be
pursued (and the method of allocating the expense thereof) if the Executive's
claim for refund or credit is denied.
In the event that the Excise Tax is later determined by the Accountant
or the Internal Revenue Service to exceed the amount taken into account
hereunder at the time the Gross-up Payment is made (including by reason of any
payment the existence or amount of which cannot be determined at the time of the
Gross-up Payment), the Company shall make an additional
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Gross-up Payment in respect of such excess (plus any interest or penalties
payable with respect to such excess) at the time that the amount of such excess
is finally determined.
(d) The Gross-up Payment or portion thereof provided for in subsection
(c) above shall be paid not later than the thirtieth (30th) day following an
event occurring which subjects the Executive to the Excise Tax; provided,
however, that if the amount of such Gross-up Payment or portion thereof cannot
be finally determined on or before such day, the Company shall pay to the
Executive on such day an estimate, as determined in good faith by the
Accountant, of the minimum amount of such payments and shall pay the remainder
of such payments (together with interest at the rate provided in Section
1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code), subject to further payments pursuant to subsection
(c) hereof, as soon as the amount thereof can reasonably be determined, but in
no event later than the ninetieth day after the occurrence of the event
subjecting the Executive to the Excise Tax. In the event that the amount of the
estimated payments exceeds the amount subsequently determined to have been due,
such excess shall constitute a loan by the Company to the Executive, payable on
the fifth day after demand by the Company (together with interest at the rate
provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code).
(e) In the event of any controversy with the Internal Revenue Service
(or other taxing authority) with regard to the Excise Tax, the Executive shall
permit the Company to control issues related to the Excise Tax (at its expense),
provided that such issues do not potentially materially adversely affect the
Executive, but the Executive shall control any other issues. In the event the
issues are interrelated, the Executive and the Company shall in good faith
cooperate so as not to jeopardize resolution of either issue, but if the parties
cannot agree the Executive shall make the final determination with regard to the
issues. In the event of any conference with any taxing authority as to the
Excise Tax or associated income taxes, the Executive shall permit the
representative of the Company to accompany the Executive, and the Executive and
the Executive's representative shall cooperate with the Company and its
representative.
(f) The Company shall be responsible for all charges of the Accountant.
(g) The Company and the Executive shall promptly deliver to each other
copies of any written communications, and summaries of any verbal
communications, with any taxing authority regarding the Excise Tax covered by
this Exhibit A.
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