Reynolds American Inc. Executive Severance Plan Effective January 1, 2007
This agreement establishes the Reynolds American Inc. Executive Severance Plan, effective January 1, 2007, to provide severance benefits to certain senior executives of Reynolds American Inc. and its affiliates in the event of specific terminations of employment, including those following a change in control of the company. The plan outlines eligibility, benefit calculations, conditions for payment, and protections for executives, including restrictions on plan termination after a change in control. It also addresses tax considerations, legal rights, and the obligations of successor entities.
Executive Severance Plan
Page | ||||||
Article 1. | Establishment and Term of the Plan | 1 | ||||
1.1 | Establishment of the Plan | 1 | ||||
1.2 | Plan Term | 1 | ||||
1.3 | Change in Control and Plan Term | 1 | ||||
Article 2. | Definitions | 1 | ||||
Article 3. | Severance Benefits | 7 | ||||
3.1 | Right to Severance Benefits | 7 | ||||
3.2 | Qualifying Termination | 9 | ||||
3.3 | Description of Change in Control Severance Benefits | 9 | ||||
3.4 | Description of General Severance Benefits | 12 | ||||
3.5 | Notice of Termination | 13 | ||||
3.6 | Disability | 13 | ||||
Article 4. | Excise Taxes | 14 | ||||
4.1 | Applicable Provisions if Excise Tax Applies | 14 | ||||
Article 5. | Contractual Rights and Legal Remedies | 15 | ||||
5.1 | Payment Obligations Absolute | 15 | ||||
5.2 | Contractual Rights to Benefits | 16 | ||||
5.3 | Legal Fees and Expenses | 16 | ||||
Article 6. | Successors | 16 | ||||
6.1 | Successors to the Company | 16 | ||||
6.2 | Assignment by the Executive | 16 | ||||
Article 7. | Miscellaneous | 16 | ||||
7.1 | Employment Status | 16 | ||||
7.2 | Entire Plan | 17 | ||||
7.3 | Adoption Procedure for a Participating Company | 17 | ||||
7.4 | Notices | 17 | ||||
7.5 | Includable Compensation | 17 | ||||
7.6 | Tax Withholding | 17 | ||||
7.7 | Internal Revenue Code Section 409A | 17 | ||||
7.8 | Severability | 18 |
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7.9 | Modification | 18 | ||||
7.10 | Gender and Number | 18 | ||||
7.11 | Applicable Law | 18 |
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Executive Severance Plan
(a) | Accounting Firm means a nationally recognized accounting firm, or actuarial, benefits or compensation consulting firm (with experience in performing the calculations regarding the applicability of Section 280G of the Code and of the tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code) selected by the Company. | ||
(b) | B&W means Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation. | ||
(c) | Base Salary means, at any time, the then regular annual rate of pay which the Executive is receiving as annual salary, excluding amounts: (i) received under short-term or long-term incentive or other bonus plans, regardless of whether the amounts are deferred, or (ii) designated by the Participating Company as payment toward reimbursement of expenses. | ||
(d) | BAT means, collectively, British American Tobacco, p.l.c., a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, and its affiliates, other than the Participating Companies. | ||
(e) | BCA has the meaning set forth in Section 2(j). | ||
(f) | Beneficial Owner or Beneficial Ownership shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act. | ||
(g) | Board or Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Company. | ||
(h) | Cause means the occurrence of any one or more of the following: |
(i) | The Executives criminal conduct; | ||
(ii) | The Executives deliberate and continual refusal to perform employment duties on a substantially full-time basis; | ||
(iii) | The Executives deliberate and continual refusal to act in accordance with any specific lawful instructions of an authorized officer or employee more senior than the Executive or a majority of the Board of Directors of the Participating Company; or | ||
(iv) | The Executives deliberate misconduct which could be materially damaging to the Participating Company or any of its business operations without a reasonable good faith belief by the Executive that such conduct was in the best interests of the Participating Company. |
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(i) | Change in Control shall occur if any of the following events occur: |
(i) | An individual, corporation, partnership, group, associate, or other entity or Person, other than any employee benefit plans sponsored by the Company, is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the Companys outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections of directors; provided, however, that the acquisition of Company securities by BAT pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of October 27, 2003, between RJR and B&W, as thereafter amended (the BCA), or as expressly permitted by the Governance Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2004, among British American Tobacco, p.l.c., B&W, and the Company (the Governance Agreement), shall not be considered a Change in Control for purposes of this subsection (i); | ||
(ii) | Individuals who constitute the Board (or who have been designated as directors in accordance with Section 1.09 of the BCA) on July 30, 2004 (the Incumbent Board) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, provided that any individual becoming a director subsequent to such date whose election, or nomination for election by the Companys shareholders, was: (A) approved by a vote of at least three-quarters (3/4) of the directors comprising the Incumbent Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such individual is named as a nominee of the Company for director); or (B) made in accordance with Section 2.01 of the Governance Agreement, but excluding for this purpose any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an individual, corporation, partnership, group, associate, or other entity or Person other than the Companys Board, shall be, for purposes of this paragraph (ii), considered as though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board; or | ||
(iii) | The approval by the shareholders of the Company of a plan or agreement providing: (A) for a merger or consolidation of the Company other than with a wholly owned Subsidiary and other than a merger or consolidation that would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent, either by remaining |
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outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (B) for a sale, exchange, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, other than any such transaction where the transferee of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company is a wholly owned Subsidiary or an entity more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which is represented by voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to the transaction (either remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the transferee entity). If any of the events enumerated in this paragraph (iii) occur, the Board shall determine the effective date of the Change in Control resulting there from for purposes of this Plan. |
(j) | Change in Control Good Reason means, without a Tier I or Tier II Executives express written consent, the occurrence after a Change in Control of any one (1) or more of the following: |
(i) | A material reduction of the Tier I or Tier II Executives authorities, duties, or responsibilities as an executive and/or officer of a Participating Company from those in effect as of ninety (90) calendar days prior to the Change in Control, other than an insubstantial or inadvertent reduction that is remedied by the Participating Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Tier I or Tier II Executive; provided, however, that any reduction in the foregoing resulting merely from the acquisition of the Participating Company and its existence as a subsidiary or division of another entity, such as a change in reporting relationship or title, shall not be sufficient to constitute a Change in Control Good Reason; | ||
(ii) | A Participating Companys requiring a Tier I or Tier II Executive to be based at a location that exceeds the minimum distance under Section 217(c) of the Code (for purposes of a moving expense deduction), from the location of the Tier I or Tier II Executives principal job location or office immediately prior to the Change in Control; except for required travel on the Participating Companys business to an extent substantially consistent with the Tier I or Tier II Executives then present business travel obligations; | ||
(iii) | A reduction by a Participating Company in excess of twenty percent (20%) of the aggregate value of (A) a Tier I or Tier II Executives Base Salary and target annual bonus amount (both as in effect on the date of the Change in Control) and (B) the long-term incentive opportunities provided to a Tier I or Tier II Executive (as compared to the value of aggregate long-term incentive opportunities provided as of the date of the Change in Control), except for across-the-board reductions generally applicable to all Tier I or Tier II Executives; |
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(iv) | A reduction by a Participating Company in aggregate employee benefits provided to a Tier I or Tier II Executive as compared to the value of aggregate employee benefits provided as of the date of the Change in Control, except for across-the-board reductions generally applicable to all Tier I or Tier II Executives; | ||
(v) | The failure of the Company to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any successor to the Company to assume and agree to perform the Companys obligations under this Plan, as contemplated in Article 7 herein; and | ||
(vi) | A material breach of this Plan by a Participating Company which is not remedied by the Participating Company within ten (10) business days of receipt of written notice of such breach delivered by a Tier I or Tier II Executive to the Participating Company. |
(k) | Change in Control Severance Benefits mean the severance benefits as provided in Section 3.3(a) through 3.3(g). | ||
(l) | Code means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. | ||
(m) | Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, or another committee of Board members appointed by the Board to administer this Plan. | ||
(n) | Company means Reynolds American Inc., a North Carolina corporation, and any successor thereto as provided in Article 7. | ||
(o) | Disability or Disabled shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Companys governing long-term disability plan, or if no such plan exists, at the discretion of the Board. | ||
(p) | Effective Date means January 1, 2007. |
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(q) | Effective Date of Termination means the date on which a Qualifying Termination occurs, as provided in Section 3.2, which triggers the payment of Severance Benefits, or such other date upon which the Executives employment with a Participating Company terminates for reasons other than a Qualifying Termination. | ||
(r) | Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time. | ||
(s) | Excise Tax means, collectively, (i) the tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code by reason of being contingent on a change in ownership or control of the Company, within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, or (ii) any similar tax imposed by state or local law, or (iii) any interest or penalties with respect to any excise tax described in clause (i) or (ii). | ||
(t) | Executive means a Tier I, Tier II or Tier III Executive who is initially hired or rehired by a Participating Company on or after the Effective Date or who was hired before that date and is not a party to an effective agreement with a Participating Company providing for severance benefits. | ||
(u) | General Severance Benefits mean the severance benefits as provided in Section 3.4(a) through 3.4(g). | ||
(v) | General Good Reason means, without the Executives express written consent, a reduction by a Participating Company in excess of twenty percent (20%) of the aggregate value of (A) the Executives Base Salary and target annual bonus amount (both as in effect on the date the Executive first becomes covered by the Plan) and (B) the long-term incentive opportunities provided to the Executive (as compared to the value of aggregate long-term incentive opportunities provided as of the date the Executive first becomes covered by the Plan), except for across-the-board reductions generally applicable to all Executives. Notwithstanding the foregoing, General Good Reason shall cease to exist for an event on the ninetieth (90th) day following the later of its occurrence or the Executives knowledge thereof, unless the Executive has given a Participating Company written notice thereof prior to such date. Unless the Executive becomes Disabled, the Executives right to terminate employment for a General Good Reason shall not be affected by the Executives incapacity due to physical or mental illness. The Executives continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any circumstance constituting a General Good Reason herein. | ||
(w) | Governance Agreement has the meaning set forth in Section 2(j). | ||
(x) | Gross-Up Payment has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1. | ||
(y) | Incumbent Board has the meaning set forth in Section 2(j). |
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(z) | Notice of Termination means a written notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Plan relied upon, and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executives employment under the provision so indicated. | ||
(aa) | Participating Company or Participating Companies means the Company and/or any other entity that adopts this Plan in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.3. Participating Company includes any successor(s) to a Participating Company, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise. All Participating Companies are listed on Appendix C. | ||
(bb) | Payment has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1. | ||
(cc) | Person shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a group as defined in Section 13(d). | ||
(dd) | Plan means this Reynolds American Inc. Executive Severance Plan. | ||
(ee) | Qualifying Termination means any of the events described in Section 3.2, the occurrence of which triggers the payment of Severance Benefits. | ||
(ff) | RJR means R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings, Inc. | ||
(gg) | Severance Benefits means the payout of Change in Control or General (as appropriate) Severance compensation as provided in Article 3. | ||
(hh) | Subsidiary means any corporation or other entity in which the Company has a significant equity or other interest as determined by the Committee. | ||
(ii) | Tier I Executive means the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. | ||
(jj) | Tier II Executive means an individual employed by a Participating Company at job level eleven (11) through fourteen (14), inclusive (within the meaning of the Companys payroll structure). | ||
(kk) | Tier III Executive means an individual employed by a Participating Company at job level ten (10) (within the meaning of the Companys payroll structure). |
(a) | Change in Control Severance Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company Change in Control Severance Benefits, as described in Section 3.3, if a Qualifying Termination of the Executives employment as described in Section 3.2(a) or 3.2(b) has occurred. |
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(b) | General Severance Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company General Severance Benefits, as described in Section 3.4, if a Qualifying Termination of the Executives employment as described in Section 3.2(c) has occurred. | ||
(c) | Severance Payment Schedule. |
(i) | The Severance Benefits described in Sections 3.3(a) and 3.4(a) shall be paid in cash to the Executive in a single lump sum as soon as practicable following the date of the Executives Qualifying Termination, but in no event later than sixty (60) calendar days from such date. | ||
(ii) | The Severance Benefits described in Sections 3.3(c), 3.3(e), 3.4(c), and 3.4(e) shall be paid in cash to the Executive in a single lump sum at the applicable time provided under the annual bonus plan then in effect. | ||
(iii) | The Severance Benefits described in Section 3.3(d) shall be paid out in the form of salary continuation over a period of: (i) thirty-six (36) months for Tier I Executives, (ii) twenty-four (24) months for Tier II Executives or (iii) eighteen (18) months for Tier III Executives, in accordance with the normal payroll procedures of the Participating Company. In addition, the Severance Benefits described in Section 3.3(b) shall be paid in cash to the Executive in a single lump sum with the last payment described in the immediately preceding sentence. | ||
(iv) | The Severance Benefits described in Section 3.4(d) shall be paid out in the form of salary continuation over a period of: (i) thirty (30) months for Tier I Executives, (ii) eighteen (18) months for Tier II or Tier III Executives, in accordance with the normal payroll procedures of the Participating Company. In addition, the Severance Benefits described in Section 3.4(b) shall be paid in cash to the Executive in a single lump sum with the last payment described in the immediately preceding sentence. | ||
(v) | Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Section 3.1(c), if it is determined that Section 7.7 is applicable to the payment of Severance Benefits, then the timing of such payments shall be pursuant to Section 7.7. |
(d) | No Severance Benefits. The Executive shall not be entitled to receive Severance Benefits if the Executives employment with a Participating Company ends for reasons other than a Qualifying Termination. | ||
(e) | General Release and Restrictive Covenant Agreement.. As a condition to receiving Severance Benefits under either Section 3.3 or 3.4, the Executive shall be obligated to execute (i) a general release of claims in favor of the Company, its current and former subsidiaries, affiliates and shareholders, and the current and former directors, officers, employees, and agents thereof in substantially the form attached hereto as Appendix A and (ii) a Reynolds American Non-Competition, |
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Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information, and Commitment to Provide Assistance Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Appendix B (a Non-Competition Agreement) or, with respect to an Executive who has previously executed a Non-Competition Agreement, a written affirmation of the Executives obligations thereunder. | |||
(f) | No Duplication of Severance Benefits. If the Executive becomes entitled to Change in Control Severance Benefits, the benefits provided for under Section 3.3 shall be in lieu of all other benefits provided to the Executive under the provisions of this Plan and any other Participating Company-related severance plans, programs, or agreements including, but not limited to, the Severance Benefits under Section 3.4. Similarly, except following a Qualifying Termination described in Section 3.2(a)(ii), if the Executive becomes entitled to General Severance Benefits, the Severance Benefits provided under Section 3.4 shall be in lieu of all other benefits provided to the Executive under the provisions of this Plan and any other Participating Company-related severance plans, programs, or other agreements including, but not limited to, the Severance Benefits under Section 3.3. |
(a) | Within twenty-four (24) calendar months following a Change in Control: |
(i) | A Participating Companys involuntary termination of the Executives employment without Cause; or | ||
(ii) | A Tier I or Tier II Executives voluntary termination of employment for Change in Control Good Reason. |
(b) | Within twelve (12) calendar months prior to a Change in Control, an involuntary termination by a Participating Company without Cause if such termination occurs at the request of any party involved in the Change in Control transaction; in such event, the date of the Qualifying Termination shall be deemed to be the date of the Change in Control. | ||
(c) | At any time other than as described in Section 3.2(a) or 3.2(b), a Participating Companys involuntary termination of the Executives employment without Cause or the Executives voluntary termination of employment for General Good Reason. |
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(a) | An amount equal to the Executives unpaid Base Salary, unreimbursed business expenses, and all other items earned by and owed to the Executive through and including the date of the Qualifying Termination. Such payment shall constitute full satisfaction for these amounts owed to the Executive. | ||
(b) | An amount equal to the unpaid, accrued vacation pay owed to the Executive through and including the date of the Qualifying Termination. Such payment shall constitute full satisfaction for this amount owed to the Executive, and in no event shall the Executive accrue additional vacation time after the date of the Executives Qualifying Termination. | ||
(c) | Any amount payable to the Executive under the annual bonus plan then in effect in respect of the most recently completed fiscal year, to the extent not theretofore paid. Such payment shall constitute full satisfaction for these amounts owed to the Executive. | ||
(d) | An amount equal to: (i) three (3) for Tier I Executives, (ii) two (2) for Tier II Executives or (iii) one and one-half (11/2) for Tier III Executives times the sum of: (A) the Executives annual rate of Base Salary in effect upon the date of the Qualifying Termination or, if greater, by the Executives annual rate of Base Salary in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control plus (B) the Executives then current target bonus opportunity established under the annual bonus plan in effect for the bonus plan year in which the date of the Executives Qualifying Termination occurs or, if greater, the Executives target bonus opportunity in effect prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control. | ||
(e) | An amount equal to the annual bonus the Executive would have earned under the annual bonus plan for the plan year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs, determined based on the actual performance achieved under such annual bonus plan for such plan year, adjusted on a pro rata basis based on the number of days the Executive was actually employed during such plan year. Such payment shall constitute full satisfaction for these amounts owed to the Executive. | ||
(f) | Subject to clauses (i) and (ii) below, a Participating Company shall provide, at the same cost to the Executive, and under the same plans as in effect as of the date of the Qualifying Termination (subject to changes in costs and in such plans applicable to all employees generally), a continuation of the Executives (and the Executives eligible dependents) health insurance coverage and other welfare benefits for: (1) thirty-six (36) months for Tier I Executives, (2) twenty-four (24) months for Tier II Executives or (3) eighteen (18) months for Tier III Executives from the date of the Qualifying Termination. The applicable COBRA health |
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(i) | If the Executive becomes covered under the health insurance coverage of a subsequent employer that does not contain any exclusion or limitation with respect to any preexisting condition of the Executive or the Executives eligible dependents, this health insurance benefit coverage by the Participating Company shall be discontinued prior to the end of the applicable benefit continuation period. | ||
(ii) | If, as of the date of the Qualifying Termination, the provision to the Executive of the health insurance coverage described in this Section 3.3(f) would either: (A) violate the terms of the health insurance or other welfare benefit plan (or any other related insurance policies), (B) violate any of the Codes nondiscrimination requirements applicable to such coverage, or (C) trigger the additional tax under Code Section 409A, then the Company, in its sole discretion, may elect to pay the Executive, in lieu of the health insurance coverage described under this Section 3.3(f), a lump-sum cash payment equal to the total monthly premiums (or in the case of a self-funded plan, the cost of COBRA continuation coverage) that would have been paid by the Participating Company for the Executive under the health insurance or other welfare benefit plan from the date of termination through the: (1) thirty-six (36) months for Tier I Executives, (2) twenty-four (24) months for Tier II Executives or (iii) eighteen (18) months for Tier III Executives following such date. |
(g) | A Participating Company shall provide the Executive with an additional pension benefit determined as if the Executives employment with the Participating Company had continued for an additional: (i) three (3) years for Tier I Executives, (ii) two (2) years for Tier II Executives or (iii) one and one-half (11/2) years for Tier III Executives, and calculated as if the Executives relevant pay for such additional period is at the same level as on the date of the Qualifying Termination, which benefit shall be provided under the Companys qualified retirement plans to the extent permitted thereunder or under a nonqualified plan established by the Company. |
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(a) | An amount equal to the Executives unpaid Base Salary, unreimbursed business expenses, and all other items earned by and owed to the Executive through and including the date of the Qualifying Termination. Such payment shall constitute full satisfaction for these amounts owed to the Executive. | ||
(b) | An amount equal to the unpaid, accrued vacation pay owed to the Executive through and including the date of the Qualifying Termination. Such payment shall constitute full satisfaction for this amount owed to the Executive, and in no event shall the Executive accrue additional vacation time after the date of the Executives Qualifying Termination. | ||
(c) | Any amount payable to the Executive under the annual bonus plan then in effect in respect of the most recently completed fiscal year, to the extent not theretofore paid. Such payment shall constitute full satisfaction for these amounts owed to the Executive. | ||
(d) | An amount equal to: (i) two and one-half (21/2) for Tier I Executives, or (ii) one and one-half (11/2) for Tier II and III Executives, times the sum of: (A) the Executives annual rate of Base Salary in effect upon the date of the Qualifying Termination plus (B) the Executives then current target bonus opportunity established under the annual bonus plan in effect for the bonus plan year in which the date of the Executives Qualifying Termination occurs. | ||
(e) | An amount equal to the annual bonus the Executive would have earned under the annual bonus plan for the plan year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs, determined based on the actual performance achieved under such annual bonus plan for such plan year, adjusted on a pro rata basis based on the number of days the Executive was actually employed during such plan year. Such payment shall constitute full satisfaction for these amounts owed to the Executive. | ||
(f) | Subject to clauses (i) and (ii) below, a Participating Company shall provide, at the same cost to the Executive, and under the same plans as in effect as of the date of the Qualifying Termination (subject to changes in costs and in such plans applicable to all employees generally), a continuation of the Executives (and the Executives eligible dependents) health insurance coverage and other welfare benefits for: (1) thirty (30) months for Tier I Executives, or (2) eighteen (18) months for Tier II and III Executives, from the date of the Qualifying Termination. The applicable COBRA health insurance benefit continuation period shall begin at the end of the period of continued health insurance coverage described in the preceding sentence. |
(i) | If the Executive becomes covered under the health insurance coverage of a subsequent employer that does not contain any exclusion or limitation |
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with respect to any preexisting condition of the Executive or the Executives eligible dependents, this health insurance benefit coverage by the Participating Company shall be discontinued prior to the end of the applicable benefit continuation period. | |||
(ii) | If, as of the date of the Qualifying Termination, the provision to the Executive of the health insurance coverage described in this Section 3.4(f) would either: (A) violate the terms of the health insurance or other welfare benefit plan (or any other related insurance policies), (B) violate any of the Codes nondiscrimination requirements applicable to such coverage, or (C) trigger tax penalty under Code Section 409A, then the Company, in its sole discretion, may elect to pay the Executive, in lieu of the health insurance coverage described under this Section 3.4(f), a lump-sum cash payment equal to the total monthly premiums (or in the case of a self-funded plan, the cost of COBRA continuation coverage) that would have been paid by the Participating Company for the Executive under the health insurance or other welfare benefit plan from the date of termination through the: (1) thirty (30) months for Tier I Executives, or (2) eighteen (18) months for Tier II and III Executives following such date. |
In the event that any health insurance or other welfare benefit coverage provided under this Section 3.4(f) is subject to federal, state, or local income or employment taxes, or in the event that a lump-sum payment is made in lieu of health insurance or other welfare benefit coverage under Section 3.4(f)(ii), the Company shall provide the Executive with an additional payment in the amount necessary such that after payment by the Executive of all such taxes (calculated after assuming the Executive pays such taxes for the year in which the payment or benefit occurs at the highest marginal tax rate applicable), including the taxes imposed on the additional payments, the Executive effectively received coverage on a tax-free basis or retains a cash amount equal to the health insurance or other welfare benefit cash payments provided pursuant to this Section 3.4(f)(ii). | |||
(g) | A Participating Company shall provide the Executive with an additional pension benefit determined as if the Executives employment with the Participating Company had continued for an additional: (i) thirty (30) months for Tier I Executives or (ii) eighteen (18) months for Tier II and III Executives, and calculated as if the Executives relevant pay for such additional period is at the same level as on the date of the Qualifying Termination, which benefit shall be provided under the Companys qualified retirement plans to the extent permitted thereunder or under a nonqualified plan established by the Company. |
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(a) | All determinations required to be made under this Section 4.1, including whether an Excise Tax is payable by a Tier I or Tier II Executive and the amount of such Excise Tax, shall be made by the Accounting Firm. The Participating Company shall direct the Accounting Firm to submit its determination and detailed supporting calculations to the relevant Participating Company and the Tier I or Tier II Executive within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date of the Tier I or |
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Tier II Executives termination, if applicable, and any other such time or times as may be requested by such Participating Company or the Tier I or Tier II Executive. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Tier I or Tier II Executive, it shall, at the same time as it makes such determination, furnish the Tier I or Tier II Executive with an opinion that the Tier I or Tier II Executive has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on the Tier I or Tier II Executives federal, state, local income or other tax return. | |||
(b) | The Participating Company and the Tier I or Tier II Executive shall each provide the Accounting Firm access to and copies of any books, records and documents in the possession of the Participating Company or the Tier I or Tier II 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 4.1(a). Any reasonable determination by the Accounting Firm of the type contemplated by Section 4.1(a) (and supported by the calculations done by the Accounting Firm) shall be binding upon such Participating Company and the Tier I or Tier II Executive. | ||
(c) | The federal, state and local income or other tax returns filed by the Tier I or Tier II Executive shall be prepared and filed on a consistent basis with the determination of the Accounting Firm with respect to the Excise Tax, if any, payable by the Tier I or Tier II Executive. The Tier I or Tier II Executive shall make proper payment of the amount of any Excise Tax, and upon request, provide to the Participating Company true and correct copies (with any amendments) of the Tier I or Tier II Executives federal income tax return as filed with the Internal Revenue Service and corresponding state and local tax returns, if relevant, as filed with the applicable taxing authority, and such other documents reasonably requested by the Participating Company, evidencing such filing and payment. | ||
(d) | The Participating Company will pay the fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm for its services in connection with the determinations and calculations contemplated by Section 4.1(a) and Section 4.1(c). If such fees and expenses are initially paid by the Tier I or Tier II Executive, subject to Section 7.7, the Participating Company shall reimburse the Tier I or Tier II Executive the full amount of such fees and expenses within ten (10) business days after receipt from the Tier I or Tier II Executive of reasonable evidence of payment. |
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(a) | Any Subsidiary of the Company may become a Participating Company under the Plan provided that by appropriate resolutions of the board of directors or other governing body of such Subsidiary, such Subsidiary agrees to become a Participating Company under the Plan and also agrees to be bound by any other terms and conditions which may be required by the Board or the Committee, provided that such terms and conditions are not inconsistent with the purposes of the Plan. | ||
(b) | A Participating Company may withdraw from participation in the Plan, subject to approval by the Committee, by providing written notice to the Committee that withdrawal has been approved by the board of directors or other governing body of the Participating Company. The Committee may at any time remove a Participating Company from participation in the Plan by providing written notice to the Participating Company that it has approved removal. The Committee will act in accordance with this Section 7.3 pursuant to unanimous written consent or by majority vote at a meeting. |
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By: | Lisa Caldwell Senior Vice President Human Resources |
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EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PLAN
GENERAL RELEASE
1 The Age Discrimination in Employment Act prohibits employment discrimination based on age and is enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Other federal laws prohibit discrimination in employment based on sex, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, or veteran status. These laws are enforced by the EEOC and the U.S. Department of Labor. There are also state and local laws prohibiting discrimination, which are enforced by state and local human rights agencies. |
Ella Long
Senior Director Employment Practices
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
P.O. Box 2959
401 North Main Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27102
Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information,
And
Commitment to Provide Assistance Agreement
| I will not, without the prior written consent of Reynolds American Inc. (RAI), use, divulge, disclose or make accessible to any other person, firm, partnership or corporation or other entity any confidential information pertaining to the businesses of RAI, and/or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries (collectively, the Companies), except when required to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction, by any governmental agency having supervisory authority over the businesses of the Companies, or by any administrative body or legislative body (including a committee thereof) with jurisdiction to order me to divulge, disclose or make accessible such information. For purposes of this agreement, Confidential Information shall mean non-public information concerning any of the Companies data, strategic business plans, product development data (or other proprietary product data), customer lists, marketing plans and other proprietary information, except for specific items which have become publicly available information (other than such items which I know have become publicly available through a breach of fiduciary duty or any confidentiality agreement). | ||
| During the period commencing on the date of my execution of this agreement or conclusion of active employment, which ever is later, and ending at the conclusion of my Severance Benefits, as defined by the Executive Severance Plan depending upon my status as a Tier I, Tier II or Tier III Executive and the Qualifying Termination, more specifically ___months, I covenant and agree that: |
| I agree that: |
| I agree that any breach of the covenants contained in this agreement would irreparably injure the Companies. Accordingly, the Companies may, in addition to pursuing any other remedies that they may have in law or in equity, obtain an injunction against me from any court having jurisdiction over the matter, restraining any further violation of this agreement by me. |
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
R. J. Reynolds Global Products, Inc.
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco (CI), Co.
Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, Inc.
Lane, Limited
Conwood LLC
Conwood Company, L.P.
Conwood Sales Co., L.P.
Scott Tobacco LLC
Rosswil LLC