2. | Compensation and Benefits Payable Upon Involuntary Termination without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason. |
a. | Triggering Event. In further consideration for Executive’s employment, Executive will receive the compensation and benefits set forth in Section 2(b) if the following requirements (hereinafter referred to as the “Triggering Event”) are met: |
i. | Executive’s employment is terminated involuntarily by the Company at any time for reasons other than death, Total Disability, or Cause,as defined in this Agreement,or Executive resigns from employment for Good Reason, as defined in this Agreement; and |
ii. | As of the 45thday following his termination date, Executive has executed and delivered to the Company, a Severance Agreement and General Release acceptable to the Company (the “Release”),and thereafter, any applicable revocation period has expired and Executive has not revoked the Release during such revocation period. Such Release shall include a release of all claims against the Company, all affiliated and related entities and/or persons deemed necessary by the Company. The Release may also include Confidentiality, Non-Disparagement, No-Reapply, Tax Indemnification, and/or other appropriate terms. |
b. | Compensation and Benefits.Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Company will provide the following compensation and benefits to Executive: |
i. | The Company will pay Executive a lump sum payment equal to the product of twelve (12) times Executive’s Base Monthly Salary (excluding incentives, bonuses, and other compensation), plus the average of the annual amounts paid to Executive under any cash-based incentive or bonus plan in which Executive participates with respect to the last three (3) full fiscal years of Executive’s participation in such plan prior to the date of termination of Executive’s employment with the Company (or, if Executive’s number of full fiscal years of participation in any such plan prior to the date of termination of Executive’s employment is less than three (3), the average of the annual amounts paid to Executive over the number of full fiscal years of Executive’s participation in such plan prior to the date of termination of Executive’s employment). Subject to Section 2(c) below, such payment shall be made within sixty (60) days after Executive’s termination date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the 60 day period following the Executive’s termination ends in a calendar year after the year in which the Executive’s Employment terminates, the Severance Payment shall be made no earlier than the first day of such later calendar year. |
ii. | The Company agrees to pay the COBRA premiums for health and/or dental coverage under its group plans to provide continued coverage of health and/or dental benefits for up to twelve (12) months beginning on Executive’s termination date and ending on the earlier of either: (A) the first anniversary of Executive’s termination date; or (B) the date on which Executive becomes eligible for other group health coverage. |
c. | Delay of Payment to Comply with Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at the time of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company, Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, then if and to the extent required in order to avoid the imposition on Executive of any excise tax under Code Section 409A the Company shall delay the commencement of such payments (without any reduction) by a period of six(6) months after Executive’s termination date. Any payments that would have been paid during such six (6) month period but for the provisions of the preceding sentence shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive six (6) months and one (1) day after Executive’s termination date. The 6-month payment delay requirement of this Section 2(c) shall apply only to the extent that the payments under this Section 2 are subject to Code Section 409A. With respect to payments or benefits under this Agreement that are subject to Code Section 409A, whether Executive has had a termination |
d. | Limitation of Payments. If any payment or benefit due under this Agreement, together with all other payments and benefits Executive receives or is entitled to receive from the Company or any of its Affiliates, would (if paid or provided) constitute an excess parachute payment (within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code), the amounts otherwise payable and benefits otherwise due under this Agreement will be limited to be minimum extent necessary to ensure that no portion thereof will fail to be tax-deductible to the Company by reason of Section 280G of the Code. The determination of whether any payment or benefit would (if paid or provided) constitute an excess parachute payment will be made by the Board, in its sole discretion. Any such reduction in the preceding sentence shall be made in the following order: (i) first, any future cash payments (if any) shall be reduced (if necessary, to zero); (ii) second, any current cash payments shall be reduced (if necessary, to zero); (ii) third, all non-cash payments (other than equity or equity derivative related payments) shall be reduced (if necessary, to zero); and (iv) fourth, all equity or equity derivative payments shall be reduced.Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to bring the issue to a shareholder vote in accordance with Section 280G(b)(5) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. |
a. | Section 409A Compliance. The following rules shall apply, to the extent necessary, with respect to distribution of the payments and benefits, if any, to be provided to the Executive under this Agreement. This Agreement is intended to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”) and the parties hereto agree to interpret, apply and administer this Agreement in the least restrictive manner necessary to comply therewith and without resulting in any increase in the amounts owed hereunder by the Company. Subject to the provisions in this Section, the severance payments pursuant to this Agreement shall begin only upon the date of the Executive’s “separation from service” which occurs on or after the date of the Executive’s termination of employment. It is intended that each installment of the severance payments and benefits provided under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A. |
a. | Except as may be provided under this Agreement, any benefits to which Executive may be entitled pursuant to the plans, policies and arrangements of the Company shall be determined and paid in accordance with the terms of such plans, policies, and arrangements, and Executive shall have no right to receive any other compensation or benefits, or to participate in any other plan or arrangement, following the termination of Executive’s employment by either party for any reason. |
b. | Notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the contrary, in the event of any termination of employment, the Company shall pay Executive his or her earned, but unpaid, base salary within ten (10) days of Executive’s termination date and shall reimburse Executive for any accrued, but unpaid, reasonable business expenses, in each case, earned or accrued as of the date of termination. Executive shall submit documentation of any business expenses within ninety (90) days of his or her termination date and any reimbursements of such expenses that are taxable to the Executive shall be made on or before the last day of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred, the amount of the expense eligible for reimbursement during one year shall not affect the amount of reimbursement in any other year, and the right to reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. |
4. | Withholding. All amounts payable under this Agreement shall be subject to customary withholding and other employment taxes, and shall be subject to such other withholding as may be required in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or applicable law. |
5. | Confidentiality, Non-Solicitation and Covenant Not to Compete Agreement. In the event Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by either party for any reason, Executive shall continue to be bound by the Confidential Information, Non-Disclosure, Non-Solicitation, and Rights to Intellectual Property Agreement signed at or about the time this Agreement is executed and/or the Confidentiality, Non-Solicitation |
6. | Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is personal to Executive and may not be assigned by Executive without the written consent of the Company; provided, however, that if Executive is entitled to the payments of this Agreement and Executive dies before Executive has received all such payments, the unpaid payments will be paid to Executive’s estate on the same terms and conditions as described in this Agreement. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns. This Agreement will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any Change of Control and in the case of any merger or consolidation, if not terminated on or as of the effective date of any such merger, will be the obligation of the surviving entity. |
A. | The failure by the company to pay Executive any material amount of his or her current base salary, or any material amount of his or her compensation deferred under any plan, agreement or arrangement of or with the Company that is currently due and payable; |
B. | A material reduction Executive’s annual base salary; |
C. | The relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment to a location more than fifty (50) miles from Executive’s current principal place of employment. |
D. | A material adverse alteration of Executive’s duties and responsibilities; or |
E. | An intentional, material reduction of Executive’s aggregate target incentive awards under any incentive plans. |
A. | The failure by the Company to pay Executive any material amount of his or her current base salary, or any material amount of his or her compensation deferred under any plan, agreement or arrangement of or with the Company that is currently due and payable; |
B. | A material reduction in Executive’s annual base salary; |
C. | The relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment to a location more than fifty (50) miles from Executive’s current principal place of employment; |
D. | A material adverse alteration of Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control; |
E. | An intentional, material reduction by the Company of Executive’s aggregate target incentive awards under any short-term and/or long term incentive plans; or |
F. | The failure of the Company to maintain the Executive’s benefit, retirement, or fringe benefit plans, policies, practices or arrangements in which Executive participates (individually and collectively “Fringe Benefits”) at or above the level in effect immediately before the Change of Control, unless such change is a global change made to Fringe Benefits for all employees at or above Executive’s level. |
8. | Integration: Amendment. This Agreement (including any Exhibits) shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters set forth herein and supersede and render of no force and effect all prior understandings and agreements between the parties with respect thereto. No amendments or additions to this Agreement shall be binding unless in writing and signed by both parties, provided, however, that this Agreement may be unilaterally amended by the Company where necessary to ensure any benefits payable hereunder are either excepted from Code Section 409A or otherwise comply with Code Section 409A. |
9. | Governing Law; Headings. This Agreement will be construed and governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to principles of conflicts of law and the parties to this Agreement hereby submit to the jurisdiction of the Courts of the State of New Jersey with regard to enforcement of this Agreement. |
10. | Notices. All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given or made hereunder by either party shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be duly given if delivered personally or transmitted by first class certified mail, postage and fees prepaid, return receipt requested, or sent by prepaid overnight delivery service to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other addresses as shall be specified by the parties by like notice): |
11. | Severability. Whenever possible, each provision and term of this Agreement will be interpreted in a manner to be effective and valid but if any provision or term of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by applicable law or invalid, then such provision or term will be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating or affecting in any manner whatsoever the remainder of such term or provision or the remaining provisions or terms of this Agreement. |
12. | Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed to be an original of this Agreement and all of which, when taken together, will be deemed to constitute one and the same agreement. |
13. | Assignment. The Company may assign all of its rights and obligations hereunder to an affiliate or subsidiary of the Company. |