EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT by and between Westvaco Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company") and Xxxx X. Xxxx, Xx. (the
"Executive"), dated as of the 25th day of January, 1999.
The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"),
has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company
and its shareholders to assure that the Company will have the
continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding the
possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as
defined below) of the Company. The Board believes it is
imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of the
Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks
created by a pending or threatened Change of Control and to
encourage the Executive's full attention and dedication to the
Company currently and in the event of any threatened or pending
Change of Control, and to provide the Executive with compensation
and benefits arrangements upon a Change of Control which ensure
that the compensation and benefits expectations of the Executive
will be satisfied and which are competitive with those of other
corporations. Therefore, in order to accomplish these
objectives, the Board has caused the Company to enter into this
Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Certain Definitions. (a) The "Effective Date"
shall mean the first date during the Change of Control Period (as
defined in Section 1(b)) on which a Change of Control (as defined
in Section 2) occurs. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, if a Change of Control occurs and if the
Executive's employment with the Company is terminated prior to
the date on which the Change of Control occurs, and if it is
reasonably demonstrated by the Executive that such termination of
employment (i) was at the request of a third party who has taken
steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change of Control or (ii)
otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of a Change of
Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the "Effective
Date" shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such
termination of employment.
(b) The "Change of Control Period" shall mean the
period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the third
anniversary of the date hereof; provided, however, that
commencing on the date one year after the date hereof, and on
each annual anniversary of such date (such date and each annual
anniversary thereof shall be hereinafter referred to as the
"Renewal Date"), unless previously terminated, the Change of
Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to terminate
three years from such Renewal Date, unless at least 60 days prior
to the Renewal Date the Company shall give notice to the
Executive that the Change of Control Period shall not be so
extended.
(c) The "Multiple" means the least of (i) three, (ii)
the greater of one and the number of years and fractions thereof
during the period from the Date of Termination (as hereinafter
defined) and the Executive's 65th birthday, and (iii) if the
Executive had announced his intention to retire before the Date
of Termination, the number of years and fractions thereof from
the Date of Termination until the date of such intended
retirement.
2. Change of Control. For the purpose of this
Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean:
(a) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group
(within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"))
(a "Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of
either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the
Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities
of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities");
provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (a), the
following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control:
(i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any
acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (iv) any
acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which
complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of
this Section 2; or
(b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute
the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however,
that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date
hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the
Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a
majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board
shall be considered as though such individual were a member of
the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such
individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result
of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the
election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person
other than the Board; or
(c) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or
consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company (a "Business
Combination"), in each case, unless, following such Business
Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and
entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting
Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination
beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of,
respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the
case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which
as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or
substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or
through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such
Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and
Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii)
no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business
Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of
the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business
Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or
more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common
stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination
or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation except to the extent that such
ownership existed prior to the Business Combination and (iii) at
least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the
corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members
of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the
initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for
such Business Combination; or
(d) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a
complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
3. Employment Period. The Company hereby agrees to
continue the Executive in its employ, and the Executive hereby
agrees to remain in the employ of the Company subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period commencing
on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of such
date (the "Employment Period").
4. Terms of Employment. (a) Position and Duties.
(i) During the Employment Period, (A) the Executive's position
(including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements),
authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least
commensurate in all material respects with the most significant
of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the 120-day
period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B) the
Executive's services shall be performed at the location where the
Executive was employed immediately preceding the Effective Date,
any office or location less than 35 miles from such location, or
any other location to which the Company's Headquarters Office,
Corporate Department Office, Division Office where the Executive
was employed immediately preceding the Effective Date is
relocated.
(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any
periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is
entitled, the Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention and
time during normal business hours to the business and affairs of
the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge the
responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the
Executive's reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and
efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment Period
it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive
to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or
committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or
teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal
investments, so long as such activities do not significantly
interfere with the performance of the Executive's
responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with
this Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that to
the extent that any such activities have been conducted by the
Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of
such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature
and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not
thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of the
Executive's responsibilities to the Company.
(b) Compensation. (i) Base Salary. During the
Employment Period, the Executive shall receive an annual base
salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which shall be paid at a monthly
rate, at least equal to twelve times the highest monthly base
salary paid or payable, including any base salary which has been
earned but deferred, to the Executive by the Company and its
affiliated companies in respect of the twelve-month period
immediately preceding the month in which the Effective Date
occurs. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary
shall be reviewed no more than 12 months after the last salary
increase awarded to the Executive prior to the Effective Date and
thereafter at least annually. Any increase in Annual Base Salary
shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the
Executive under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be
reduced after any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary
as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary
as so increased. As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliated
companies" shall include any company controlled by, controlling
or under common control with the Company.
(ii) Annual Bonus. In addition to Annual Base Salary,
the Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal year ending
during the Employment Period, an annual bonus (the "Annual
Bonus") in cash at least equal to the average of the Executive's
bonus under the Company's Annual Incentive Plan, or any
comparable bonus under any predecessor or successor plan, for
each of the last three full fiscal years prior to the Effective
Date (annualized in the event that the Executive was not employed
by the Company for the whole of such fiscal year) (the "Recent
Annual Bonus"). Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later
than the end of the third month of the fiscal year next following
the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the
Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus.
(iii) Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans.
During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to
participate in all incentive, savings and retirement plans,
practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other
peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but
in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs
provide the Executive with incentive opportunities (measured with
respect to both regular and special incentive opportunities, to
the extent, if any, that such distinction is applicable), savings
opportunities and retirement benefit opportunities, in each case,
less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most favorable of
those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies for
the Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs
as in effect at any time during the 120-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date or if more favorable to the
Executive, those provided generally at any time after the
Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies.
(iv) Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Employment
Period, the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case
may be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive
all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and
programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies
(including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental,
disability, employee life, group life, accidental death and
travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent
applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and
its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans,
practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with
benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than the
most favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in
effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day period
immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to
the Executive, those provided generally at any time after the
Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies.
(v) Expenses. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for
all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance
with the most favorable policies, practices and procedures of the
Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive
at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the
Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in
effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other
peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(vi) Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Period,
the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits, including,
without limitation, tax and financial planning services, payment
of club dues, and, if applicable, use of an automobile and
payment of related expenses, in accordance with the most
favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company
and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any
time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the
Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in
effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other
peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(vii) Office and Support Staff. During the
Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to an office
or offices of a size and with furnishings and other appointments,
and to exclusive personal secretarial and other assistance, at
least equal to the most favorable of the foregoing provided to
the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies at any
time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the
Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as
provided generally at any time thereafter with respect to other
peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(viii) Vacation. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with
the most favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the
Company and its affiliated companies as in effect for the
Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the
Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with
respect to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies.
5. Termination of Employment. (a) Death or
Disability. The Executive's employment shall terminate
automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment
Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the
Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment
Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth
below), it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance
with Section 12(b) of this Agreement of its intention to
terminate the Executive's employment. In such event, the
Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate effective
on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the Executive
(the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within the 30
days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to
full-time performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of
this Agreement, "Disability" shall mean the absence of the
Executive from the Executive's duties with the Company on a full-
time basis for 180 consecutive business days as a result of
incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined
to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company
or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or the
Executive's legal representative.
(b) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's
employment during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes
of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean:
(i) the willful and continued failure of the Executive
to perform substantially the Executive's duties with the
Company or one of its affiliates (other than any such
failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental
illness), after a written demand for substantial performance
is delivered to the Executive by the Board or the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company which specifically
identifies the manner in which the Board or Chief Executive
Officer believes that the Executive has not substantially
performed the Executive's duties, or
(ii) the willful engaging by the Executive in illegal
conduct, gross misconduct or a clearly established violation
of the Company's Code of Conduct, in each case which is
materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.
For purposes of this provision, no act or failure
to act, on the part of the Executive, shall be considered
"willful" unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by the
Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the
Executive's action or omission was in the best interests of
the Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon
authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the
Board or upon the instructions of the Chief Executive
Officer or a senior officer of the Company or based upon the
advice of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively
presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive
in good faith and in the best interests of the Company.
(c) Good Reason. The Executive's employment may be
terminated by the Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of
this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean:
(i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties
inconsistent in any respect with the Executive's
position (including status, offices, titles and
reporting requirements), authority, duties or
responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4(a) of
this Agreement, or any other action by the Company
which results in a diminution in such position,
authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for
this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent
action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by
the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof
given by the Executive;
(ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any
of the provisions of Section 4(b) of this Agreement,
other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent
failure not occurring in bad faith and which is
remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of
notice thereof given by the Executive;
(iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to
be based at any office or location other than as
provided in Section 4(a)(i)(B) hereof or the Company's
requiring the Executive to travel on Company business
to a substantially greater extent than required
immediately prior to the Effective Date;
(iv) any purported termination by the Company of
the Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly
permitted by this Agreement; or
(v) any failure by the Company to comply with and
satisfy Section 11(c) of this Agreement.
For purposes of this Section 5(c), any good faith
determination of "Good Reason" made by the Executive shall
be conclusive.
(d) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the
Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, shall be
communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto
given in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement. For
purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a
written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination
provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent
applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the
Executive's employment under the provision so indicated and (iii)
if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the
date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date
(which date shall be not more than thirty days after the giving
of such notice). The failure by the Executive or the Company to
set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance
which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not
waive any right of the Executive or the Company, respectively,
hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company, respectively,
from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the
Executive's or the Company's rights hereunder.
(e) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" means
(i) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company
for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, the date of
receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified
therein, as the case may be, (ii) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability,
the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the Company
notifies the Executive of such termination and (iii) if the
Executive's employment is terminated by reason of death or
Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of
the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may
be.
6. Obligations of the Company upon Termination. (a)
Good Reason; Other Than for Cause, Death or Disability. If,
during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the
Executive's employment other than for Cause or Disability or the
Executive shall terminate employment for Good Reason:
(i) the Company shall pay to the Executive in a
lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of
Termination the aggregate of the following amounts:
A. the sum of (1) the Executive's Annual
Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the
extent not theretofore paid, (2) the product of
(x) the higher of (I) the Recent Annual Bonus and
(II) the Annual Bonus paid or payable, including
any bonus or portion thereof which has been earned
but deferred (and annualized for any fiscal year
consisting of less than twelve full months or
during which the Executive was employed for less
than twelve full months), for the most recently
completed fiscal year during the Employment
Period, if any (such higher amount being referred
to as the "Highest Annual Bonus") and (y) a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of
days in the current fiscal year through the Date
of Termination, and the denominator of which is
365 and (3) any compensation previously deferred
by the Executive (together with any accrued
interest or earnings thereon) and any accrued
vacation pay, in each case to the extent not
theretofore paid (the sum of the amounts described
in clauses (1), (2), and (3) shall be hereinafter
referred to as the "Accrued Obligations"); and
B. the amount equal to the product of (1)
the Multiple, (2) the sum of (x) the Executive's
Annual Base Salary, (y) the Highest Annual Bonus
and (z) the aggregate amount of the employer
contributions made with respect to the most
recently completed plan year before the Date of
Termination to the Executive's account(s) in the
Company's Savings and Investment Plan and Savings
and Investment Restoration Plan and any successor
or other qualified defined contribution plan
sponsored by the Company or any of its affiliated
companies in which the Executive participated and
any related nonqualified plans; and
C. an amount equal to the excess of (a) the
actuarial equivalent of the benefit under the
Company's Retirement Income Plan and any successor
or other qualified defined benefit retirement plan
sponsored by the Company or any of its affiliated
companies (such plans collectively, the
"Retirement Plan") (utilizing actuarial
assumptions no less favorable to the Executive
than those in effect under the Company's
Retirement Plan immediately prior to the Effective
Date), and the Retirement Income Restoration Plan
and any successor or other nonqualified excess or
supplemental defined benefit retirement plan in
which the Executive participates (together, the
"SERP") which the Executive would receive if the
Executive's employment continued for a number of
years equal to the Multiple after the Date of
Termination assuming for this purpose that all
accrued benefits are fully vested, and, assuming
that the Executive's compensation in each of such
years is that required by Section 4(b)(i) and
Section 4(b)(ii), over (b) the actuarial
equivalent of the Executive's actual benefit (paid
or payable), if any, under the Retirement Plan and
the SERP as of the Date of Termination;
(ii) for a number of years equal to the Multiple
after the Executive's Date of Termination, or such
longer period as may be provided by the terms of the
appropriate plan, program, practice or policy, the
Company shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or
the Executive's family at least equal to those which
would have been provided to them in accordance with the
plans, programs, practices and policies described in
Section 4(b)(iv) of this Agreement if the Executive's
employment had not been terminated or, if more
favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at
any time thereafter with respect to other peer
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies
and their families, provided, however, that if the
Executive becomes reemployed with another employer and
is eligible to receive medical or other welfare
benefits under another employer provided plan, the
medical and other welfare benefits described herein
shall be secondary to those provided under such other
plan during such applicable period of eligibility. For
purposes of determining eligibility (but not the time
of commencement of benefits) of the Executive for
retiree benefits pursuant to such plans, practices,
programs and policies, the Executive shall be
considered to have remained employed until the
expiration of a number of years after the Date of
Termination equal to the Multiple and to have retired
on the last day of such period;
(iii) the Company shall, at its sole expense
as incurred, provide the Executive with outplacement
services the scope and provider of which shall be
reasonable and consistent with industry practice for
similarly situated executives; and
(iv) to the extent not theretofore paid or
provided, the Company shall timely pay or provide to
the Executive any other amounts or benefits required to
be paid or provided or which the Executive is eligible
to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice
or contract or agreement of the Company and its
affiliated companies (such other amounts and benefits
shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Other
Benefits").
(b) Death. If the Executive's employment is
terminated by reason of the Executive's death during the
Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further
obligations to the Executive's legal representatives under this
Agreement, other than for payment of Accrued Obligations and the
timely payment or provision of Other Benefits. Accrued
Obligations shall be paid to the Executive's estate or
beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days
of the Date of Termination. With respect to the provision of
Other Benefits, the term Other Benefits as utilized in this
Section 6(b) shall include, without limitation, and the
Executive's estate and/or beneficiaries shall be entitled to
receive, benefits at least equal to the most favorable benefits
provided by the Company and affiliated companies to the estates
and beneficiaries of peer executives of the Company and such
affiliated companies under such plans, programs, practices and
policies relating to death benefits, if any, as in effect with
respect to other peer executives and their beneficiaries at any
time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the
Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive's estate
and/or the Executive's beneficiaries, as in effect on the date of
the Executive's death with respect to other peer executives of
the Company and its affiliated companies and their beneficiaries.
(c) Disability. If the Executive's employment is
terminated by reason of the Executive's Disability during the
Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further
obligations to the Executive, other than for payment of Accrued
Obligations and the timely payment or provision of Other
Benefits. Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in
a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination.
With respect to the provision of Other Benefits, the term Other
Benefits as utilized in this Section 6(c) shall include, and the
Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date
to receive, disability and other benefits at least equal to the
most favorable of those generally provided by the Company and its
affiliated companies to disabled executives and/or their families
in accordance with such plans, programs, practices and policies
relating to disability, if any, as in effect generally with
respect to other peer executives and their families at any time
during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective
Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the
Executive's family, as in effect at any time thereafter generally
with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies and their families.
(d) Cause; Other than for Good Reason. If the
Executive's employment shall be terminated for Cause during the
Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further
obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to pay to
the Executive (x) his Annual Base Salary through the Date of
Termination, (y) the amount of any compensation previously
deferred by the Executive, and (z) Other Benefits, in each case
to the extent theretofore unpaid. If the Executive voluntarily
terminates employment during the Employment Period, excluding a
termination for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to the Executive, other than for
Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision of Other
Benefits. In such case, all Accrued Obligations shall be paid to
the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of
Termination.
7. Non-exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this
Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or
future participation in any plan, program, policy or practice
provided by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and
for which the Executive may qualify, nor, subject to Section
12(f), shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such
rights as the Executive may have under any contract or agreement
with the Company or any of its affiliated companies; provided,
that the Executive shall not be entitled to receive any pay or
benefits under the Company's Significant Change Severance Pay
Plan for Salaried Employees or any successor or other severance
pay plan, policy or program sponsored by the Company or any of
its affiliated companies in connection with a termination of
employment that occurs on or after the Effective Date. Amounts
which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise
entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program
of or any contract or agreement with the Company or any of its
affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination
shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice
or program or contract or agreement except as explicitly modified
by this Agreement.
8. Full Settlement. The Company's obligation to make
the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to
perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any
set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right
or action which the Company may have against the Executive or
others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek
other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of
the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions
of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced whether
or not the Executive obtains other employment. The Company
agrees to pay as incurred, to the full extent permitted by law,
all legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably
incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome
thereof) by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity
or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this
Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof (including as a
result of any contest by the Executive about the amount of any
payment pursuant to this Agreement), plus in each case interest
on any delayed payment at the applicable Federal rate provided
for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code").
9. Certain Additional Payments by the Company.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding and except as set forth below, in the event it
shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the
Company or its affiliates to or for the benefit of the Executive
(whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined
without regard to any additional payments required under this
Section 9) (a "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax
imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties
are incurred by the Executive with respect to such excise tax
(such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties,
are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"),
then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional
payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that after
payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest or
penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including, without
limitation, any income taxes (and any interest and penalties
imposed with respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed upon the
Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up
Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9(a), if
it shall be determined that the Executive is entitled to a Gross-Up
Payment, but that the Payments do not exceed 110% of the
greatest amount (the "Reduced Amount") that could be paid to the
Executive such that the receipt of Payments would not give rise
to any Excise Tax, then no Gross-Up Payment shall be made to the
Executive and the Payments, in the aggregate, shall be reduced to
the Reduced Amount.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 9(c), all
determinations required to be made under this Section 9,
including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment is required and the
amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions to be
utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made such
certified public accounting firm as may be designated by the
Executive (the "Accounting Firm"), which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive
within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from the
Executive that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as
is requested by the Company. In the event that the Accounting
Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual,
entity or group effecting the Change of Control, the Executive
shall appoint another nationally recognized accounting firm to
make the determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm
shall then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All
fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by
the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to
this Section 9, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive
within five days of the receipt of the Accounting Firm's
determination. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be
binding upon the Company and the Executive. As a result of the
uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the
time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm
hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not
have been made by the Company should have been made
("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be
made hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts its
remedies pursuant to Section 9(c) and the Executive thereafter is
required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm
shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred
and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company
to or for the benefit of the Executive.
(c) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing
of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful,
would require the payment by the Company of the Gross-Up Payment.
Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable but no
later than ten business days after the Executive is informed in
writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature
of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be
paid. The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the
expiration of the 30-day period following the date on which it
gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending
on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim
is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior
to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such
claim, the Executive shall:
(i) give the Company any information
reasonably requested by the Company relating to such
claim,
(ii) take such action in connection with
contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably
request in writing from time to time, including,
without limitation, accepting legal representation with
respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably
selected by the Company,
(iii) cooperate with the Company in good
faith in order effectively to contest such claim, and
(iv) permit the Company to participate in any
proceedings relating to such claim;
provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly
all costs and expenses (including additional interest and
penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall
indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis,
for any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest and
penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such
representation and payment of costs and expenses. Without
limitation on the foregoing provisions of this Section 9(c), the
Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with
such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and
all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences
with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at
its sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax
claimed and xxx for a refund or contest the claim in any
permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such
contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in
a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate
courts, as the Company shall determine; provided, however, that
if the Company directs the Executive to pay such claim and xxx
for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such
payment to the Executive, on an interest-free basis and shall
indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis,
from any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest or
penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such
advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to
such advance; and further provided that any extension of the
statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the
taxable year of the Executive with respect to which such
contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such
contested amount. Furthermore, the Company's control of the
contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up
Payment would be payable hereunder and the Executive shall be
entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other
issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing
authority.
(d) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an
amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 9(c), the
Executive becomes entitled to receive any refund with respect to
such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the Company's
complying with the requirements of Section 9(c)) promptly pay to
the Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest
paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If,
after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the
Company pursuant to Section 9(c), a determination is made that
the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to
such claim and the Company does not notify the Executive in
writing of its intent to contest such denial of refund prior to
the expiration of 30 days after such determination, then such
advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid
and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent
thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.
10. Confidential Information. The Executive shall
hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all
secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to
the Company or any of its affiliated companies, and their
respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the
Executive during the Executive's employment by the Company or any
of its affiliated companies and which shall not be or become
public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or
representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement).
After termination of the Executive's employment with the Company,
the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the
Company or as may otherwise be required by law or legal process,
communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to
anyone other than the Company and those designated by it. In no
event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of this
Section 10 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any
amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement.
11. Successors. (a) This Agreement is personal to
the Executive and without the prior written consent of the
Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than
by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
Executive's legal representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and
be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.
(c) The Company will require any successor (whether
direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or
otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or
assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform
this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had
taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the
Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business
and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform
this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.
12. Miscellaneous. (a) This Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of
laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the
provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This
Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a
written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their
respective successors and legal representatives.
(b) All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the
other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
If to the Executive:
Xxxx X. Xxxx, Xx.
00 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
If to the Company:
Westvaco Corporation
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to
the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and
communications shall be effective when actually received by the
addressee.
(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.
(d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable
under this Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes
as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable
law or regulation.
(e) The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist
upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or
the failure to assert any right the Executive or the Company may
have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of the
Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to
Section 5(c)(i)-(v) of this Agreement, shall not be deemed to be
a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or
right of this Agreement.
(f) The Executive and the Company acknowledge that,
except as may otherwise be provided under any other written
agreement between the Executive and the Company, the employment
of the Executive by the Company is "at will" and, subject to
Section 1(a) hereof, prior to the Effective Date, the Executive's
employment and/or this Agreement may be terminated by either the
Executive or the Company at any time prior to the Effective Date,
in which case the Executive shall have no further rights under
this Agreement, provided, that this Agreement may not be
terminated by the Company if it is reasonably demonstrated by the
Executive that such termination (i) was at the request of a third
party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a
Change of Control or (ii) otherwise arose in connection with or
anticipation of a Change of Control. From and after the
Effective Date this Agreement shall supersede any other agreement
between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof,
other than the Westvaco Intellectual Property Agreement between
the Executive and the Company.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the
Executive's hand and, pursuant to the authorization from its
Board of Directors, the Company has caused these presents to be
executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year
first above written.
Xxxx X. Xxxx, Xx.
WESTVACO CORPORATION
By_________________________________
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Chairman, Compensation
Committee
