Change In Control Agreement - Weider Nutrition Group Inc. and Bruce J. Wood
AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT ("Agreement") dated as of October 1, 2002 (the "Effective Date") is entered by and between Bruce J. Wood, 3983 East Alta Approach Road, Sandy, Utah 84092 ("Executive"), and Weider Nutrition Group, Inc., a Utah corporation (the "Company").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Executive is a senior executive of the Company and has made and is expected to continue to make major contributions to the short and long term profitability, growth and financial strength of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into the Change in Control Agreement with Executive dated as of January 26, 2001, (the "Change in Control Agreement") in order to provide for both present and future continuity of management and to assure itself that Executive is not practically disabled from discharging his duties in respect of a proposed or actual transaction involving a Change in Control;
WHEREAS, in the event of a Change in Control, the Change in Control Agreement provides for a Retention Bonus based on formula relating to the Transaction Value and the Transaction Target Percentage (as defined);
WHEREAS, the Company adopted a long term compensation program pursuant to which the Company will pay Executive a bonus if certain debt reduction and working capital targets are met as of May 31, 2003 (the "Long Term Bonus Plan");
WHEREAS, the Company has (i) granted Executive certain shares of restricted stock pursuant to the Restricted Stock Agreement dated August 16, 2002, (the "Restricted Stock Grant") and (ii) permitted Executive to participate in the Company's Offer to Exchange Certain Outstanding Options dated September 12, 2002 ("Option Exchange Program"); and
WHEREAS, in consideration of the Long Term Bonus Plan, the Restricted Stock Grant and the Option Exchange Program, the Company and Executive now desire to amend and restate the Change in Control Agreement, including, among other matters, to continue and clarify Executive's rights to Severance Payments and certain tax gross-up payments and to delete any requirement for the payment of a Retention Bonus.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in exchange for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and Executive agree as follows:
1. Certain Defined Terms. In addition to terms defined elsewhere herein, the following terms have the following meanings when used in this Agreement with initial capital letters:
(a) "Affiliate" shall mean a domestic or foreign business entity controlled by, controlling, under common control with, or in a joint venture with, the applicable person or entity.
(b) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) "Change in Control" shall mean the occurrence during the Term of this Agreement (as set forth in Section 2) of both (i) and (ii), below:
(i) Change in the Board. A change in the composition of the Board over a period of twelve consecutive months (or less) such that a majority of the Board members (rounded up to the nearest whole number) ceases to be comprised of individuals who either (A) have been Board members continuously since the beginning of such period or
(B) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least a majority of the Board members described in clause (A) who were still in office at the time such election or nomination was approved by the Board; and
(ii) One of:
(A) Sale of Assets. The sale of all or substantially all of the assets and business of the Company or WNI in substantially a single transaction;
(B) Merger. The merger or consolidation of WNI with and into another corporation if, following such merger or consolidation, persons who were not direct or indirect shareholders of WNI immediately prior to such event (other than persons in which such original shareholders themselves have an interest) ("New Shareholders"), will collectively own stock in the surviving corporation representing both (A) more than 30% of the surviving corporation's total equity value and (B) more than that percentage of the surviving corporation's total equity value owned by the Weider Group, provided, however, that such merger or consolidation shall not be covered by this paragraph (ii) if the Weider Group owns 30% or more of the surviving corporation's total equity value and no New Shareholders who constitute a "group" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, own more than that percentage of the surviving corporation's total equity value owned by the Weider Group; or
(C) Sale of Stock. Acquisition of 50% or more of the fair market value of the outstanding capital stock of WNI by one or more other persons if, following such acquisition, persons who were not direct or indirect shareholders of WNI immediately prior to such event (other than persons in which such original shareholders themselves have an interest), will collectively own stock of WNI representing more than 50% of WNI's total equity value.
(d) "Closing Date" shall mean the effective date of a Change in Control.
(e) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(f) "Employment Agreement" shall mean that certain employment agreement entered into by and between Executive and Weider Nutrition Group, Inc., a Utah corporation, as of June 1, 2002, as such agreement may be amended from time to time.
(g) "Weider Group" shall mean Weider Heath and Fitness, a Nevada corporation (or its successor) and its Affiliates.
2. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall be effective with respect to any Change in Control that is both (i) subject to a definitive written purchase, sale, merger or similar agreement entered into during the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on September 30, 2005 and (ii) consummated on or prior to the expiration of six months following September 30, 2005.
3. Severance Payment. In addition to any severance payments Executive may be entitled to receive under the Employment Agreement, in the event Executive's employment with the Company is terminated "in connection with a Change in Control" pursuant to Section 5.2 or 5.3 of the Employment Agreement during the period beginning on the Closing Date, the Company shall pay to Executive an amount equal to his Base Salary (as defined in the Employment Agreement). Such amount shall be payable to Executive in 12 equal monthly installments, beginning on the month following the last month Executive receives any payments under Section 6 of the Employment Agreement.
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4. Parachute Payments.
(a) If it is determined (as hereafter provided) that Executive would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999 to which Executive would not have been subject but for any payment or stock option or restricted stock vesting (collectively a "Payment") occurring pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise upon a Change in Control (a "Parachute Tax"), then Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment or payments (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that, after payment by Executive of all taxes (including any Parachute Tax) imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Parachute Tax imposed upon the Payment.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 4(a) hereof, all determinations required to be made under this Section 4, including whether a Parachute Tax is payable by Executive and the amount of such Parachute Tax and whether a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment, shall be made by the nationally recognized firm of certified public accountants (the "Accounting Firm") used by the Company prior to the Change in Control (or, if such Accounting Firm declines to serve, the Accounting Firm shall be a nationally recognized firm of certified public accountants selected by the Company). For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section, the Accounting Firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code, provided that the Accounting Firm's determinations must be made with substantial authority (within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code). The Accounting Firm shall be directed by the Company or Executive to submit its preliminary determination and detailed supporting calculations to both the Company and Executive within 15 calendar days after the determination date, if applicable, and any other such time or times as may be requested by the Company or Executive. If the Accounting Firm determines that any Parachute Tax is payable by Executive, the Company shall pay the required Gross-Up Payment to, or for the benefit of, Executive within five business days after receipt of such determination and calculations. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Parachute Tax is payable by Executive, it shall, at the same time as it makes such determination, furnish Executive with an opinion that he has substantial authority not to report any Parachute Tax on his federal tax return. Any good faith determination by the Accounting Firm as to the amount of the Gross-Up Payment shall be binding upon the Company and Executive absent a contrary determination by the Internal Revenue Service or a court of competent jurisdiction; provided, however, that no such determination shall eliminate or reduce the Company's obligation to provide any Gross-Up Payments that shall be due as a result of such contrary determination. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Code Section 4999 at the time of any determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments that will not have been made by the Company should have been made (an "Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts or fails to pursue its remedies pursuant to Section 4(f) hereof and Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Parachute Tax, Executive shall direct the Accounting Firm to determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and to submit its determination and detailed supporting calculations to both the Company and Executive as promptly as possible. Any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to, or for the benefit of, Executive within five business days after receipt of such determination and calculations.
(c) The Company and Executive shall each provide the Accounting Firm access to and copies of any books, records and documents in the possession of the Company or Executive, as the case may be, reasonably requested by the Accounting Firm, and otherwise cooperate with the Accounting Firm in connection with the preparation and issuance of the determination contemplated by Section 4(b) hereof.
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(d) The federal tax returns filed by Executive (or any filing made by a consolidated tax group which includes the Company) shall be prepared and filed on a basis consistent with the determination of the Accounting Firm with respect to the Parachute Tax payable by Executive. Executive shall make proper payment of the amount of any Parachute Tax, and at the request of the Company, provide to the Company true and correct copies (with any amendments) of his federal income tax return as filed with the Internal Revenue Service, and such other documents reasonably requested by the Company, evidencing such payment. If prior to the filing of Executive's federal income tax return, the Accounting Firm determines in good faith that the amount of the Gross-Up Payment should be reduced, Executive shall within five business days pay to the Company the amount of such reduction.
(e) The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm for its services in connection with the determinations and calculations contemplated by Sections 4(b) and (d) hereof shall be borne by the Company. If such fees and expenses are initially advanced by Executive, the Company shall reimburse Executive the full amount of such fees and expenses within five business days after receipt from Executive of a statement therefor and reasonable evidence of his payment thereof.
(f) In the event that the Internal Revenue Service claims that any payment or benefit received under this Agreement constitutes an "excess parachute payment" within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(1), Executive shall notify the Company in writing of such claim. Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable but not later than 10 business days after 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. Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30 day period following the date on which Executive 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 Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, 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 and reasonably satisfactory to Executive; (iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order to effectively 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, but not limited to, additional interest and penalties and related legal, consulting or other similar fees) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for and against for any Parachute Tax or income tax or other tax (including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses.
(g) 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 Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner and 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 Executive to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to Executive on an interest-free basis, and shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on an after tax basis, from any Parachute Tax (or other tax including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance; and provided, further, that if Executive is required to extend the statue of limitations to
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enable the Company to contest such claim, Executive may limit this extension solely to such contested amount. The Company's control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a corporate deduction would be disallowed pursuant to Code Section 280G and 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. In addition, no position may be taken nor any final resolution be agreed to by the Company without Executive's consent if such position or resolution could reasonably be expected to adversely affect Executive unrelated to matters covered hereto.
(h) If, after the receipt by Executive of an amount advanced by the Company in connection with the contest of the Parachute Tax claim, Executive receives any refund with respect to such claim, Executive shall promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto); provided, however, if the amount of that refund exceeds the amount advanced by the Company Executive may retain such excess. If, after the receipt by Executive of an amount advanced by the Company in connection with a Parachute Tax claim, a determination is made that Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify Executive in writing of its intent to contest the denial of such refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such determination such advance shall be deemed to be in consideration for services rendered after the Date of Termination.
5. Successors and Binding Agreement.
(a) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise, including, without limitation, any successor due to a Change in Control) to the business or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance reasonable satisfactory to the Executive, expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor to the Company, including, without limitation, any person directly or indirectly acquiring the business or assets of the Company in a transaction constituting a Change in Control (and such successor shall thereafter be deemed the "Company" for the purpose of this Agreement), but will not otherwise be assignable, transferable or delegable by the Company.
(b) This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees and legatees.
(c) This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign, transfer or delegate this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder except as expressly provided in Sections 5(a) and 5(b). Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, the Executive's right to receive payments hereunder will not be assignable, transferable or delegable, whether by pledge, creation of a security interest, or otherwise, other than by a transfer by Executive's will or by the laws of descent and distribution and, in the event of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this Section 5(c), the Company shall have no liability to pay any amount so attempted to be assigned, transferred or delegated.
6. Notices. For all purposes of this Agreement, all communications, including without limitation notices, consents, requests or approvals, required or permitted to be given hereunder will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when hand delivered or dispatched by electronic facsimile transmission (with receipt thereof orally confirmed), or five business days after having been mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or three business days after having been sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service such as FedEx, UPS, or DHL, addressed to the Company (to the attention of the Secretary of the Company) at its principal
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executive office and to Executive at his principal residence, or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing and in accordance herewith, except that notices of changes of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
7. Validity. If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any provision hereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to any other person or circumstances will not be affected, and the provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal will be reformed to the extent (and only to the extent) necessary to make it enforceable, valid or legal.
8. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. The laws of the state of Utah shall govern the interpretation, validity and performance of the terms of this Agreement, regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of law. Any suit, action or proceeding against Executive, with respect to this Agreement, or any judgment entered by any court in respect of any of such, may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Utah, and Executive hereby submits to the jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of any such suit, action, proceeding or judgment.
9. Confidentiality. Executive agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company or except as required by law, Executive will not disclose to any person the existence or contents of this Agreement or that discussions or negotiations are taking place concerning a possible merger, sale or similar transaction between the Company and a third party or any of the terms, conditions or other facts with respect to any such possible transaction, including the status thereof.
10. Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by Executive and the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto or compliance with any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party will 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 of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior agreements of the parties with respect to such subject matter. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, expressed or implied with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. References to Sections are to references to Sections of this Agreement.
11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
| WEIDER NUTRITION GROUP, INC. | |||
By: |
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Title: |
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EXECUTIVE |
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Bruce J. Wood |
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