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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):
November 13, 2009
Aon Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
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Delaware
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1-7933
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36-3051915
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(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
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(Commission File Number)
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(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
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200 East Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
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60601
(Zip Code)
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Registrants telephone number, including area code:
(312) 381-1000
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (
see
General Instruction A.2. below):
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(e)
On November 13, 2009, Aon
Corporation (the Company) entered into an amended and restated employment
agreement (the Employment Agreement) with Gregory C. Case, its President and
Chief Executive Officer, which modifies the existing employment agreement dated
as of April 4, 2005 between the Company and Mr. Case (the Prior Agreement). The terms of the Prior Agreement were
disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the SEC) on April 5, 2005. The principal modifications set forth in the
Employment Agreement are described below:
Term
.
The Employment Agreement commenced November 13, 2009, and will expire April
3, 2015, unless terminated earlier. The
term of Mr. Cases employment was thereby extended five years.
Salary
and Bonus
. No changes were made to Mr. Cases current
annual base salary of $1,500,000. Mr. Case
is eligible for a target bonus of 200% (an increase from 150%) of base salary
and a maximum bonus of 300% of the target bonus (an increase from 250% of base
salary), subject to the current cap of $5 million established under the Companys
Senior Officer Incentive Compensation Plan.
The Companys board of directors retains the discretion to determine Mr.
Cases actual bonus payment.
Long-Term
Incentive Compensation.
The Employment
Agreement no longer requires an annual award of $1.8 million in non-qualified
stock options be granted by the Company to Mr. Case, a contractual requirement under
the Prior Agreement that Mr. Case has annually waived. Mr. Case will continue to be eligible to
participate in the Companys long-term incentive compensation plans, such as
its Leadership Performance Program (LPP), a sub-plan of the 2001 Aon Stock
Incentive Plan. As a reflection of Mr. Cases exceptional performance to date
and his commitment to the extended term as set forth in the Employment
Agreement, he will receive an additional award valued at $10 million under the
LPP for the performance period beginning January 1, 2010 and ending December 31,
2012. This additional award will be
earned based on the same performance criteria and weightings as the regular
award the Company anticipates awarding to Mr. Case under the LPP for the same
performance period. The performance
criteria and weightings will be the same as those applicable to other LPP award
recipients.
Benefits.
No changes were made to Mr. Cases eligibility for life insurance
coverage of at least $5 million. Mr. Case
will be eligible to participate in the Companys other employee benefit
programs on the same basis as provided currently under the Prior Agreement;
however, he and his family will be eligible for coverage under the Companys
retiree medical program if his employment terminates for any reason other than
cause after he has attained age 50 and irrespective of his years of employment
with the Company.
Noncompetition.
The Employment Agreement modified the two-year
noncompetition provision to prohibit Mr. Cases employment with an insurance
brokerage, reinsurance brokerage or employee benefits brokerage business if
such services represent at least 55% of such business annual gross revenue,
subject to additional restrictions.
Other restrictive covenants set forth in the Employment Agreement
continue unchanged from those set forth in the Prior Agreement.
Termination
Provisions
.
The Employment Agreement contains no material
changes to the termination provisions applicable to Mr. Cases employment as set
forth in the Prior Agreement.
In addition, on November 13,
2009, the Company entered into an amended and restated change in control
agreement (the Change in Control Agreement) with Mr. Case, which modifies the
existing severance agreement dated as of April 4, 2005 between the Company and Mr.
Case (the Prior Change in Control Agreement).
The terms of the Prior Change in Control Agreement were disclosed in a
Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 5, 2005. The Change in Control Agreement significantly
reduces the financial protection to be afforded to Mr. Case in the event of the
termination of his employment in connection with a change in control of the
Company. The principal modifications are:
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(1)
Complete elimination of the Companys
obligation to provide a gross-up payment to Mr. Case in connection with excise
taxes imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the Code); and
(2)
Capping Mr. Cases cash and non-equity
award payments to the safe harbor amount under Code Section 280G, such that
the cash and non-equity award payments are not deemed to be excess parachute
payments.
The foregoing summaries
are qualified in their entirety by reference to each of the Employment
Agreement and the Change in Control Agreement, copies of which are attached
hereto as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by
reference.
A copy of the press
release announcing the extension of Mr. Cases employment agreement is filed
with this report as Exhibit 99.1.
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Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a)(c) Not applicable.
(d) Exhibits:
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Exhibit
Number
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Description of Exhibit
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10.1
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Amended and Restated
Employment Agreement dated as of November 13, 2009, between Aon Corporation
and Gregory C. Case.
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10.2
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Amended and Restated
Change in Control Agreement entered into as of November 13, 2009 between Aon
Corporation and Gregory C. Case.
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99.1
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Press Release issued by
Aon Corporation on November 16, 2009.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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Aon
CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ Peter Lieb
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Peter Lieb
Executive Vice President and General
Counsel
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Date: November 16, 2009
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit
Number
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Description of Exhibit
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10.1
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Amended and Restated
Employment Agreement dated as of November 13, 2009, between Aon Corporation
and Gregory C. Case.
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10.2
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Amended and Restated
Change in Control Agreement entered into as of November 13, 2009 between Aon
Corporation and Gregory C. Case.
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99.1
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Press Release issued by
Aon Corporation on November 16, 2009.
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Exhibit 10.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (this Agreement) is
dated as of November 13, 2009, between Aon Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the Company), and Gregory C. Case (the Executive).
WHEREAS, on April 4, 2005 the Company entered into an employment
agreement with Executive whereby Executive is employed as President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company (the 2005 Agreement); and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to make certain changes to the 2005
Agreement, including to extend the Employment Period, as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1.
Employment
.
The Company will
continue to employ the Executive, and the Executive will continue to be
employed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained in this
Agreement. The extended term of
employment of the Executive pursuant to this Agreement (the Employment Period)
shall commence effective as of November 13, 2009 (the Effective Date) and
shall end on April 3, 2015, unless earlier terminated pursuant to Section 4
hereof.
2.
Position and Duties;
Responsibilities; Board Service
.
(a)
Position
and Duties
. The Company shall
continue to employ the Executive during the Employment Period as its President
and Chief Executive Officer. During the
Employment Period, the Executive shall continue to perform faithfully and
loyally and to the best of his abilities the duties assigned to him hereunder
and shall devote his full business time, attention and effort to the affairs of
the Company and its subsidiaries and shall use his best efforts to promote the
interests of the Company and its subsidiaries.
The Executive may engage in charitable, civic or community activities
and, with the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the Company (the
Board), may serve as a director of any other business corporation, provided
that (i) such activities or service do not interfere with his duties hereunder
or violate the terms of any of the covenants contained in Sections 7, 8 or 9
hereof and (ii) such other business corporation provides the Executive with
director and officer insurance coverage which, in the opinion of the Board, is
adequate under the circumstances.
(b)
Responsibilities
. Subject to the powers, authority and
responsibilities vested in the Board and in duly constituted committees of the
Board, the Executive shall continue to have the authority and responsibility for
the management, operation and overall conduct of the business of the
Company. The Executive shall also
perform such other duties (not inconsistent with the position of Chief
Executive Officer) on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries as may from time
to time be authorized or directed by the Board.
The Executive shall continue to report to the Board.
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(c)
Board Service
. Effective April 4, 2005, the Executive was appointed as a member of
the Board, and he was duly elected as a member of the Board at the Companys
annual meeting of stockholders on May 20, 2005.
Provided that the Executives employment with the Company has not
previously been terminated, the Executive will be nominated for reelection as a
member of the Board at the Companys 2010 annual meeting of shareholders and at
each subsequent annual meeting of shareholders during the Employment
Period. If so re-elected, the Executive
agrees that he will serve as a member of the Board.
3.
Compensation
.
(a)
Base Salary
. During the Employment Period, the Company
shall pay to the Executive a base salary at the rate of $1,500,000 per annum
(Base Salary), payable semi-monthly in accordance with the Companys
executive payroll policy. Such Base
Salary shall be reviewed annually on the Companys regular executive salary
review schedule, and shall be subject to adjustment at the discretion of the
Board.
(b)
Annual Bonus
. During the Employment Period, the Executive
shall participate in one or more annual incentive bonus plans (collectively,
the Senior Executive Plan). Each such
annual incentive bonus shall be determined pursuant to the terms of the Senior
Executive Plan as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that (i) the
Executives target annual incentive bonus for calendar year 2009 and subsequent
years shall not be less than 200% of the Executives Base Salary as in effect
at the end of the fiscal year to which such annual incentive bonus relates (the
Bonus Year), (ii) the Executive shall be eligible to earn an annual incentive
bonus of up to 300% of the Executives target annual incentive bonus as in
effect at the end of the Bonus Year, (iii) the annual incentive bonuses earned
hereunder will be subject to payment pursuant to and in accordance with the
provisions of the Aon Incentive Stock Program, a sub-plan of the
stockholder-approved 2001 Aon Stock Incentive Plan (the Stock Plan), payable
currently in a combination of cash and restricted stock units of Aon
Corporation common stock. The portion
of the annual incentive bonus paid in cash shall be paid following the end of
the calendar year for which the bonus is awarded and no later than two and
one-half months after the end of the calendar year for which awarded.
(c)
Equity-Based Awards
. Subject to the approval of the Board on or
before March 31, 2010, the Executive shall receive an additional award pursuant
to the Companys Leadership Performance Program, a sub-plan of the Stock Plan,
for the performance period beginning January 1, 2010 and ending December 31,
2012. Such additional award shall have a
grant date target value of $10 million.
It is intended that such award value will reflect the Executives
exceptional performance to date and his commitment to the extended Employment
Period set forth herein. The $10 million
value will be in addition to the value to be otherwise granted pursuant to the
Companys regular annual long-term incentive award process, and will be earned
based on the same performance criteria and weightings as the regular award,
which also will be the same for other corporate participants for the
performance period.
(d)
Other Benefits
. During the Employment Period, the Executive
shall be entitled to participate in the Companys employee benefit plans
generally available to executives of the Company (such benefits being
hereinafter referred to as the Employee Benefits); provided that life
insurance coverage shall be no less than $5 million. The Executive also shall be entitled to take
time off for vacation or illness in accordance with the Companys policy for
executives and to receive all other fringe benefits as are from time to time
made generally
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available to executives of the Company who are
domiciled in the United States. If the
Executives termination of employment occurs for any reason, other than by the
Company for Cause pursuant to Section 4(c), after the Executive has attained at
least age 50 and irrespective of the Executives years of continuous employment
with the Company, the Executive and the Executives spouse and dependent
children shall be eligible for coverage under the Companys retiree medical
program, as such program may be amended, excluding any amendment of the age and
service eligibility requirements, from time to time (the Retiree Medical
Plan). The Companys share of the cost of continuation of coverage under any
self-insured medical reimbursement program that is subject to Section 105(h) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), will be included in
the Executives taxable income from the Company.
(e)
Expense
Reimbursement
. During the Employment
Period the Company shall reimburse the Executive in accordance with the
Companys policies and procedures, for all proper expenses incurred by him in
the performance of his duties hereunder.
The Company shall pay the reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by
the Executive in connection with the negotiation and preparation of this
Agreement in an amount not to exceed $25,000.
Payment or reimbursement of expenses described in this Agreement,
including in connection with the Executives Employee Benefits, shall be made
promptly and in no event later than December 31 of the year following the year
in which such expenses were incurred, and the amount of such expenses eligible
for payment or reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, in any year shall
not affect the amount of such expenses eligible for payment or reimbursement,
or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other year, except for any limit on
the amount of expenses that may be reimbursed under an arrangement described in
Code Section 105(b). Additionally, any
right to expense reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to
liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
4.
Termination
.
(a)
Death
.
Upon the death of the Executive, all rights of the Executive and the
Executives heirs, executors and administrators to compensation and other
benefits under this Agreement shall cease immediately, except that the
Executives heirs, executors or administrators, as the case may be, shall be
entitled to:
(i)
accrued Base Salary through and including
the Executives date of death;
(ii)
the amount of any annual incentive bonus
earned and payable but not yet paid for the Bonus Year prior to the year in
which the Executives termination of employment occurs;
(iii)
prorated annual incentive bonus (based on
the target bonus under the Senior Executive Plan or any successor plan for the
Bonus Year in which the Executives termination of employment occurs) through
and including the Executives date of death;
(iv)
other Employee Benefits to which the Executive was
entitled on the date of death in accordance with the terms of the plans and
programs of the Company;
(v)
the treatment of the restricted stock units granted to
the Executive pursuant to Section 3(c) of the 2005 Agreement in accordance with
the terms thereof;
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(vi)
the treatment of the options granted to the Executive
pursuant to Section 3(d) of the 2005 Agreement in accordance with the terms
thereof; and
(vii)
the Executive will be entitled to payment or vesting
of any other long-term incentive awards that have been granted to him prior to
his date of termination, to the extent that such payment or vesting is provided
for in the terms of the award agreements.
(b)
Disability
. The Company
may, at its option, terminate the Executives employment upon written notice to
the Executive if the Executive, because of physical or mental incapacity or
disability, fails to perform the essential functions of the Executives
position, with or without reasonable accommodation, if relevant, required of
the Executive hereunder for a continuous period of 120 days or any 180 days
within any 12-month period; provided, however, if prior to such notice the
Executive incurs a separation from service within the meaning of Treas. Reg.
1-409A-1(h) as a result of illness, injury, accident or condition, such date
shall be the date of the disability termination. Upon such termination, the Executives
entitlement to compensation and benefits shall cease immediately, except that
the Executive shall be entitled to:
(i)
accrued Base Salary through and including
the effective date of the Executives termination of employment;
(ii)
the amount of any annual incentive bonus
earned and payable but not yet paid for the Bonus Year prior to the year in
which the Executives termination of employment occurs;
(iii)
prorated annual incentive bonus (based on
the target bonus under the Senior Executive Plan or any successor plan for the
Bonus Year in which the Executives termination of employment occurs) through
and including the effective date of the Executives termination of employment;
(iv)
other Employee Benefits to which the
Executive is entitled upon termination of employment in accordance with the
terms of the plans and programs of the Company;
(v)
the treatment of the restricted stock
units granted to the Executive pursuant to Section 3(c) of the 2005 Agreement in
accordance with the terms thereof;
(vi)
the treatment of the options granted to the Executive
pursuant to Section 3(d) of the 2005 Agreement in accordance with the terms
thereof; and
(vii)
the Executive will be entitled to payment or vesting
of any other long-term incentive awards that have been granted to him prior to
his date of termination, to the extent that such payment or vesting is provided
for in the terms of the award agreements.
In the
event of any dispute regarding the existence of the Executives incapacity or
disability hereunder, the matter shall be resolved by the determination of a
physician selected by the Board and reasonably acceptable to the
Executive. The Executive shall submit to
appropriate medical examinations for purposes of such determination.
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(c)
Cause
. (i) The Company may, at its option, terminate the
Executives employment under this Agreement for Cause (as hereinafter defined)
upon written notice to the Executive (the Cause Notice). The Cause Notice shall state the particular
action(s) or inaction(s) giving rise to termination for Cause. No action(s) or inaction(s) will constitute
Cause unless (1) a resolution finding that Cause exists has been approved by a
majority of all of the members of the Board (excluding the Executive) at a
meeting at which the Executive is allowed to appear with his legal counsel and (2)
where remedial action is feasible, the Executive fails to remedy the action(s) or
inaction(s) within 10 days after receiving the Cause Notice. If the Executive so effects a cure to the
satisfaction of the Board, the Cause Notice shall be deemed rescinded and of no
force or effect.
(ii)
As used in this Agreement, the term
Cause shall mean any one or more of the following:
(A)
any willful refusal by the Executive to follow lawful
directives of the Board which are consistent with the scope and nature of the
Executives duties and responsibilities as set forth herein;
(B)
the Executives conviction of, or plea of guilty or
nolo contendere to, a felony or of any crime involving moral turpitude, fraud
or embezzlement;
(C)
any gross negligence or willful misconduct of the
Executive resulting in a material loss to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, or material damage to the reputation of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries;
(D)
any material breach by the Executive of any one or
more of the covenants contained in Section 7, 8 or 9 hereof; or
(E)
any violation of any statutory or common law duty of
loyalty to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
(iii)
The exercise of the right of the Company
to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 4(c) shall not abrogate
the rights or remedies of the Company in respect of the breach giving rise to
such termination.
(iv)
If the Company terminates the Executives
employment for Cause, the Executives entitlement to compensation and benefits
shall cease immediately, except that the Executive shall be entitled to the
payments and benefits specified in Sections 4(b)(i) and 4(b)(iv) hereof.
(v)
If the Company terminates the Executives
employment for Cause, the Executive agrees to immediately resign from the
Board.
(d)
Termination Without Cause
.
The Company may, at its option, terminate the Executives employment
under this Agreement upon written notice to the Executive for a reason other
than a reason set forth in Section 4(a), 4(b) or 4(c). Any such termination shall be authorized by
the Board. If the Company terminates the
Executives employment for any such
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reason, the Executives entitlement to compensation
and benefits shall cease immediately, except that the Executive shall be
entitled to:
(i)
the payments and benefits specified in
Sections 4(b)(i) and 4(b)(ii) hereof;
(ii)
the Executives annual incentive bonus
calculated pursuant to the provisions of the Senior Executive Plan for the
Bonus Year in which the Executives employment terminates, and prorated for the
portion of the calendar year that the Executive was employed by the Company;
provided that the Executives entitlement to such bonus will be contingent upon
the satisfaction of the specified performance goals established for such bonus
year, and provided further that such lump sum payment will be paid no later
than two and one-half months following the calendar year for which awarded;
(iii)
other Employee Benefits to which the
Executive is entitled upon termination of employment in accordance with the
terms of the plans and programs of the Company; provided that the Company shall
continue to provide medical, dental and vision benefits to the Executive,
spouse and dependent children for twenty-four (24) months following the date on
which the Executives employment terminates, followed immediately thereafter
with immediate eligibility for coverage under the Retiree Medical Plan
(irrespective of his age and years of continuous employment), until the
Executive, spouse and dependent children become covered by the plan of another
employer providing comparable benefits;
(iv)
the treatment of the restricted stock
units granted to the Executive pursuant to Section 3(c) of the 2005 Agreement
in accordance with the terms thereof;
(v)
the treatment of the options granted to
the Executive pursuant to Section 3(d) of the 2005 Agreement in accordance with
the terms thereof;
(vi)
the payment or vesting of any other
long-term incentive awards that have been granted to the Executive prior to his
date of termination, to the extent that such payment or vesting is provided for
in the terms of the award agreements;
(vii)
a lump sum cash payment equal to the
product of (x) two, and (y) the Executives target annual incentive bonus under
the Senior Executive Plan for the Bonus Year in which the Executives
employment terminates; and
(viii)
so long as the Executive continues to
abide by the provisions of Sections 7(b), 7(c) and 8 herein, the Company shall
pay the Executive an amount equal to the product of (x) two, and (y) the
Executives Base Salary, payable in cash installment payments as and when the
Company provides salary payments to its executives generally, through the
Noncompetition Period as defined in Section 7(b) herein.
(e)
Voluntary Termination
.
Upon 60 days prior written notice to the Company (or such shorter period
as may be permitted by the Board), the Executive may voluntarily terminate the
Executives employment with the Company for any reason. If the Executive voluntarily terminates the
Executives employment pursuant to this Section 4(e), the
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Executives entitlement to compensation and benefits
shall cease immediately, except that the Executive shall be entitled to the
payments and benefits specified in Sections 4(b)(i) and 4(b)(iv) hereof.
(f)
Termination for Good Reason
. (i)
Upon 30 days prior written notice to the
Company (or such shorter period as may be permitted by the Board), the
Executive may voluntarily terminate the Executives employment with Good Reason
(as hereinafter defined). If the
Executive voluntarily terminates employment pursuant to this Section 4(f), the
Executives entitlement to compensation and benefits shall cease immediately,
except that the Executive shall be entitled to:
(A)
the payments and benefits specified in Sections 4(b)(i)
and 4(b)(ii) hereof;
(B)
the Executives annual incentive bonus
calculated pursuant to the provisions of the Senior Executive Plan for the
Bonus Year in which the Executives employment terminates, and prorated for the
portion of the calendar year that the Executive was employed by the Company;
provided that the Executives entitlement to such bonus will be contingent upon
the satisfaction of the specified performance goals established for such bonus
year, and provided further that such lump sum payment will be paid no later
than two and one-half months following the calendar year for which awarded;
(C)
other Employee Benefits to which the
Executive is entitled upon termination of employment in accordance with the
terms of the plans and programs of the Company; provided that the Company shall
continue to provide medical, dental and vision benefits to the Executive,
spouse and dependent children for twenty-four (24) months following the date on
which the Executives employment terminates, followed immediately thereafter
with immediate eligibility for coverage under the Retiree Medical Plan
(irrespective of his age and years of continuous employment), until the
Executive, spouse and dependent children become covered by the plan of another
employer providing comparable benefits; provided further that the Companys
share of the cost of continuation of coverage under any self-insured medical
reimbursement program that is subject to Section 105(h) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), will be included in the Executives
taxable income from the Company;
(D)
the treatment of the restricted stock units granted to
the Executive pursuant to Section 3(c) of the 2005 Agreement in accordance with
the terms thereof;
(E)
the treatment of the options granted to
the Executive pursuant to Section 3(d) of the 2005 Agreement in accordance with
the terms thereof;
(F)
the payment or vesting of any other
long-term incentive awards that have been granted to the Executive prior to his
date of
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termination, to the
extent that such payment or vesting is provided for in the terms of the award
agreements;
(G)
a lump sum cash payment equal to the
product of (x) two, and (y) the Executives target annual incentive bonus under
the Senior Executive Plan for the Bonus Year in which the Executives
employment terminates; and
(H)
so long as the Executive continues to abide by the
provisions of Sections 7(b), 7(c) and 8 herein, the Company shall pay the Executive
an amount equal to the product of (x) two, and (y) the Executives Base Salary,
payable in installment payments as and when the Company provides salary
payments to its executives generally, through the Noncompetition Period as
defined in Section 7(b) herein.
(ii) As used in this Agreement, the term Good
Reason shall mean during the Employment Period, without the written consent of
the Executive, any one or more of the following, provided that an isolated,
insubstantial or inadvertent action not taken in bad faith or failure not
occurring in bad faith which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt
of notice thereof given by the Executive shall not constitute Good Reason:
(A)
the assignment to the Executive of any duties
materially inconsistent in any respect with the Executives position (including
status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or
responsibilities as contemplated by this Agreement;
(B)
any failure by the Company to comply with
the provisions of Section 3 hereof;
(C)
any requirement by the Company that the
Executives principal office be located more than 50 miles outside of the
greater Chicago metropolitan area; or
(D)
any other material breach by the Company of this
Agreement.
(g)
Time and Form of
Payment
. For purposes
of this Agreement, the terms terminated, termination, termination of
employment, and variations thereof, as used in this Agreement, are intended to
mean a termination of employment that constitutes a separation from service
under Code Section 409A. The time and
form of payment of benefits upon termination of employment described in the
preceding provisions of this Section 4 (including expense reimbursements or
payment and in-kind benefits) shall be made in accordance with such Section;
provided that the lump sum cash payments shall be paid 60 days following the
Executives termination of employment; and provided further, with respect to
termination of employment for reasons other than death, the payment at such
time can be characterized as a short-term deferral for purposes of Code Section
409A or as otherwise exempt from the provisions of Code Section 409A, or if any
portion of the payment cannot be so characterized, and the Executive is a
specified employee under Code Section 409A, such portion of the payment shall
be delayed until the earlier to occur of the Executives death or the date that
is six
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months and one day
following the Executives termination of employment (the Delay Period). Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all
payments and benefits delayed pursuant to this Section 4(g) shall be paid or
reimbursed to the Executive in a lump sum, and any remaining payments due under
the preceding provisions of this Section 4, whichever is applicable, shall be
payable at the same time and in the same form as such amounts or benefits would
have been paid in accordance with their original payment schedule under such
Section. If the Executive is a
specified employee under Code Section 409A, the full cost of the continuation
or provision of Employee Benefits (other than any cost of medical or dental
benefit plans or programs or the cost of any other plan or program that is
exempt from Code Section 409A) under Section 4(d) and 4(f) shall be paid by the
Executive until the earlier to occur of the Executives death or the date that
is six months and one day following the Executives termination of employment,
and such cost shall be reimbursed by the Company to, or on behalf of, the
Executive in a lump sum cash payment on the earlier to occur of the Executives
death or the date that is six months and one day following Executives
termination of employment. For purposes
of applying the provisions of Section 409A, each separately identified amount
to which the Executive is entitled shall be treated as a separate payment.
5.
Change in Control
.
Beginning on the Effective Date and extending through the Employment
Term, the Executive shall be entitled to Change in Control severance protection
pursuant to the Amended and Restated Severance Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit
A, which Severance Agreement may not, without the Executives consent, be
further amended or terminated during the Employment Term.
6.
Federal and State
Withholding
.
The Company shall deduct from the amounts
payable to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement the amount of all required
federal, state and local withholding taxes in accordance with the Executives Form
W-4 on file with the Company, and all applicable federal employment taxes.
7.
Noncompetition;
Nonsolicitation
.
(a)
General
. The Executive acknowledges that in the course
of his employment with the Company he has and will become familiar with trade
secrets and other confidential information concerning the Company and its
subsidiaries and that his services will be of special, unique and extraordinary
value to the Company and its affiliates.
(b)
Noncompetition
. The Executive agrees that during the period
of his employment with the Company and for a period of two years thereafter
(the Noncompetition Period) he shall not in any manner, directly or
indirectly, through any person, firm or corporation, alone or as a member of a
partnership or as an officer, director, stockholder, investor or employee of or
consultant to any other corporation or enterprise or otherwise, engage or be
engaged, or assist any other person, firm, corporation or enterprise in
engaging or being engaged, in the business of insurance brokerage, reinsurance
brokerage or employee benefits brokerage, provided that (i) such services or
engagements represent, or are reasonably expected to represent, at least 55% of
the business annual gross revenue (any such business being defined as a Major
Competitor) or (ii) irrespective of the revenue threshold set forth in subpart
(i), the business is a successor in interest to any of the listed Major
Competitors below. This restriction will
apply in any geographic area in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
then conducting such business. For the
avoidance of doubt, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing
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prohibition, the following businesses are deemed to be
among the Companys Major Competitors as of the Effective Date: Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.; Willis
Group Holdings Limited; Hewitt & Associates; and the resulting entity from
the anticipated merger of Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt, expected to be known
as Towers Watson & Co.
(c)
Nonsolicitation
. The Executive further agrees that during the
Noncompetition Period he shall not in any manner, directly or indirectly,
induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries to terminate or abandon his or her employment for any purpose
whatsoever.
(d)
Exceptions.
Nothing in this Section 7 shall prohibit the
Executive from being (i) a stockholder in a mutual fund or a diversified
investment company or (ii) a passive owner of not more than two percent of the
outstanding stock of any class of a corporation, any securities of which are
publicly traded, so long as Executive has no active participation in the
business of such corporation.
(e)
Reformation
. If, at any time of enforcement of this Section
7, a court holds that the restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under
circumstances then existing, the parties hereto agree that the maximum period,
scope or geographical area reasonable under such circumstances shall be
substituted for the stated period, scope or area and that the court shall be
allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum
period, scope and area permitted by law.
This Agreement shall not authorize a court to increase or broaden any of
the restrictions in this Section 7.
(f)
Consideration; Breach
.
The Company and the Executive agree that the payments to be made, and
the benefits to be provided, by the Company to the Executive pursuant to Section
3 hereof shall be made and provided in consideration of the Executives
agreements contained in Section 7 hereof.
In the event that the Executive shall commit a material breach of any
provision of Section 7 hereof, the Company shall be entitled immediately to
terminate making all remaining payments and providing all remaining benefits
pursuant to Section 3 hereof and upon such termination the Company shall have
no further liability to the Executive under this Agreement.
8.
Confidentiality
.
The Executive
shall not, at any time during the Employment Period or thereafter, make use of
or disclose, directly or indirectly, any (i) trade secret or other confidential
or secret information of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries or (ii) other
technical, business, proprietary or financial information of the Company or of
any of its subsidiaries not available to the public generally or to the
competitors of the Company or to the competitors of any of its subsidiaries
(Confidential Information), except to the extent that such Confidential
Information (a) becomes a matter of public record or is published in a
newspaper, magazine or other periodical available to the general public, other
than as a result of any act or omission of the Executive, (b) is required to be
disclosed by any law, regulation or order of any court or regulatory
commission, department or agency, provided that the Executive gives prompt
notice of such requirement to the Company to enable the Company to seek an
appropriate protective order, or (c) is necessary to perform properly the
Executives duties under this Agreement.
Promptly following the termination of the Employment Period, the
Executive shall surrender to the Company all records, memoranda, notes, plans,
reports, computer tapes and
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software and other documents and data which constitute
Confidential Information which he may then possess or have under his control
(together with all copies thereof).
9.
Inventions
.
The Executive
hereby assigns to the Company his entire right, title and interest in and to
all discoveries and improvements, patentable or otherwise, trade secrets and
ideas, writings and copyrightable material, which may be conceived by the
Executive or developed or acquired by him during the Employment Period, which
may pertain directly or indirectly to the business of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries. The Executive agrees to
disclose fully all such developments to the Company upon its request, which
disclosure shall be made in writing promptly following any such request. The Executive shall, upon the Companys
request, execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company all instruments and do
all other acts which are necessary or desirable to enable the Company or any of
its subsidiaries to file and prosecute applications for, and to acquire,
maintain and enforce, all patents, trademarks and copyrights in all countries.
10.
Enforcement
.
The parties
hereto agree that the Company and its subsidiaries would be damaged irreparably
in the event that any provision of Section 7, 8 or 9 of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with its terms or were otherwise breached and that
money damages would be an inadequate remedy for any such nonperformance or
breach. Accordingly, the Company and its
successors and permitted assigns shall be entitled, in addition to other rights
and remedies existing in their favor, to an injunction or injunctions to
prevent any breach or threatened breach of any of such provisions and to
enforce such provisions specifically (without posting a bond or other
security). The Executive agrees that he
will submit himself to the personal jurisdiction of the courts of the State of
Illinois in any action by the Company to enforce any provision of Section 7, 8
or 9 of this Agreement.
11.
Survival
.
Sections 4, 5,
7, 8, 9 and 10 of this Agreement shall survive and continue in full force and
effect in accordance with their respective terms, notwithstanding any
termination of the Employment Period.
12.
Notices
.
All notices
and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given when (i) delivered personally or by overnight courier
to the following address of the other party hereto (or such other address for
such party as shall be specified by notice given pursuant to this Section 12)
or (ii) sent by facsimile to the following facsimile number of the other party
hereto (or such other facsimile number for such party as shall be specified by
notice given pursuant to this Section 12), with the confirmatory copy delivered
by overnight courier to the address of such party pursuant to this Section 12:
If to the Company, to:
Aon Corporation
200 East Randolph
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Attention: Chairman of
the Board
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with copies to:
Aon Corporation
200 East Randolph
Chicago,
Illinois 60601
Attention:
Chairman of the Governance Committee
Aon Corporation
200
East Randolph
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Attention: General Counsel
If to the Executive, to
the Executives home address as shown on the Companys records.
13.
Reimbursement of Legal
Expenses
. In the event that the Executive is
successful, whether in arbitration or litigation, in pursuing any claim or
dispute involving the Executives employment with the Company, including any
claim or dispute relating to (a) this Agreement, (b) termination of the
Executives employment with the Company or (c) the failure or refusal of the
Company to perform fully in accordance with the terms hereof, the Company shall
promptly reimburse the Executive for all reasonable costs and expenses
(including, without limitation, attorneys fees) relating solely, or allocable,
to such successful claim. In any other
case, the Executive and the Company shall each bear all their own respective
costs and attorneys fees. In the event
the Executive is successful, whether in arbitration or litigation, the payment
or reimbursement of all costs and expenses (including, without limitation,
attorneys fees) shall be made no later than two and one-half months after the
end of the calendar year in which the right to such payment or reimbursement is
no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (as such term is
described under Code Section 409A); except if the payment or reimbursement of
such expenses is a deferral of compensation (as such term is described under
Code Section 409A), payment or reimbursement of such expenses shall be made
promptly and in no event later than December 31 of the year following the year
in which such expenses were incurred, and the amount of such expenses eligible
for payment or reimbursement in any year shall not affect the amount of such
expenses eligible for payment or reimbursement in any other year nor shall such
right to payment or reimbursement be subject to liquidation or exchange for
another benefit. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, if the Executive is a specified employee under Code Section
409A upon the Executives termination of employment, payment or reimbursement
of any costs and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys fees)
shall not be made until the earlier to occur of the Executives death or the
date that is six months and one day following the Executives termination of
employment.
14.
Indemnification
.
The Company shall maintain, for the benefit of the Executive, director
and officer liability insurance in form at least as comprehensive as, and in an
amount that is at least equal to, that maintained by the Company for any other
officer or director. In addition, the
Executive shall be indemnified by the Company against liability as an officer
and director of the Company and any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company to
the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.
The Executives rights under this Section 14 shall continue so long as
he may be subject to such liability, whether or not this Agreement may have
terminated prior thereto.
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15.
Severability
.
Whenever
possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner
as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this
Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under
applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of
any other provision of this Agreement or the validity, legality or
enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement
shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such
invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
16.
Entire Agreement
.
This Agreement
constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior
understandings, agreements or representations by or between the parties,
written or oral, which may have related in any manner to the subject matter
hereof; provided, however, that the Sections 3(c) and 3(d)(i) of the 2005
Agreement, in particular the terms and conditions (including, without
limitation, the vesting provisions upon the termination of the Executives
employment) related to certain stock options and restricted stock units
described therein, shall remain in full force and effect.
17.
No Mitigation
.
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.
18.
Successors and Assigns
.
This Agreement
shall be enforceable by the Executive and his heirs, executors, administrators
and legal representatives, and by the Company and its successors and assigns,
and shall be binding on such successors and assigns.
19.
Headings; Inconsistency
. Section
headings in this Agreement are included herein for convenience of reference
only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other
purpose. In the event of any
inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and any form, award (including
the award agreements attached hereto as Exhibits A, B and C), plan or policy of
the Company or any other agreement between the Executive and the Company, the
terms of this Agreement shall control.
20.
Governing Law
.
This Agreement
shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal
laws of the State of Illinois without regard to principles of conflict of laws.
21.
Amendment and Waiver
.
The provisions
of this Agreement may be amended or waived only by the written agreement of the
Company and the Executive, and no course of conduct or failure or delay in
enforcing the provisions of this Agreement shall affect the validity, binding
effect or enforceability of this Agreement.
22.
Counterparts
.
This Agreement
may be executed in two counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original and both of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
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23.
Prohibition on
Acceleration of Payments
.
The time or schedule of any payment or
amount scheduled to be paid pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including
but not limited to any restricted stock unit or other equity-based award,
payment or amount that provides for the deferral of compensation (as such
term is described under Code Section 409A), may not be accelerated except as
otherwise permitted under Code Section 409A and the guidance and Treasury
regulations issued thereunder.
24.
Code Section 409A
.
The parties intend that this Agreement and the benefits provided
hereunder be interpreted and construed to comply with Code Section 409A to the
extent applicable thereto.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, this
Agreement shall be interpreted and construed consistent with this intent,
provided that the Company shall not be required to assume any increased
economic burden in connection therewith.
Although the Company intends to administer this Agreement so that it
will comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A, the Company does not
represent or warrant that the Agreement will comply with Code Section 409A or
any other provision of federal, state, local or non-United States law. In the event provisions of this Agreement do
not comply with Code Section 409A, the parties will use reasonable business
efforts to amend the Agreement as necessary to bring it into compliance while,
to the largest extent possible, maintaining the economic interests hereunder of
both parties.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed
this Agreement as of the date first written above.
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AON
CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ Lester B.
Knight
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Lester B. Knight
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Title:
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Chairman
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EXECUTIVE:
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/s/ Greg Case
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Gregory C.
Case
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EXHIBIT A
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement (the Agreement)
is entered into as of November 13, 2009 between Aon Corporation, a Delaware
corporation, and Gregory C. Case (the Executive).
WHEREAS, the Executive currently serves as a key employee of the
Company (as defined in Section 1) and the Executives services and knowledge
are valuable to the Company in connection with the management of one or more of
the Companys principal operating facilities, divisions, departments or
subsidiaries; and
WHEREAS, the Board (as defined in Section 1) has determined that it is
in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to secure the
Executives continued services and to ensure the Executives continued
dedication and objectivity in the event of any threat or occurrence of, or
negotiation or other action that could lead to, or create the possibility of, a
Change in Control (as defined in Section 1) of the Company, without concern as
to whether the Executive might be hindered or distracted by personal
uncertainties and risks created by any such possible Change in Control, and to
encourage the Executives full attention and dedication to the Company, the
Board has authorized the Company to enter into this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the parties entered into a Severance Agreement effective as of
April 4, 2005 (the 2005 Change in Control Agreement), providing certain
financial protection to the Executive in connection with a change-in-control of
the Company, and the parties desire to make certain changes to the 2005 Change
in Control Agreement as provided herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained, the Company and the Executive hereby
agree as follows:
1.
Definitions
.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective
meanings set forth below:
(a)
Board means the Board of Directors of
the Company.
(b)
Cause means:
(1)
a material breach by the Executive of
those duties and responsibilities of the Executive which do not differ in any
material respect from the duties and responsibilities of the Executive during
the 90-day period immediately prior to a Change in Control (other than as a
result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness) which is demonstrably
willful and deliberate on the Executives part, which is committed in bad faith
or without reasonable belief that such breach is in the best interests of the
Company and which is not remedied in a reasonable period of time after receipt
of written notice from the Company specifying such breach;
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(2)
Gross misconduct, theft, fraud, breach of
trust or any act of dishonesty by the Executive which results in material harm
to the Company; or
(3)
the commission by the Executive of a
felony involving moral turpitude.
(c)
Change in Control means:
(1)
the acquisition by any individual, entity
or group (a Person), including any person within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3)
or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange
Act), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated
under the Exchange Act) of 30% or more of either (i) the then outstanding
shares of common stock of the Company (the Outstanding Common Stock) or (ii) the
combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the Outstanding
Voting Securities); excluding, however, the following: (A) any acquisition
directly from the Company (excluding any acquisition resulting from the
exercise of an exercise, conversion or exchange privilege unless the security
being so exercised, converted or exchanged was acquired directly from the
Company), (B) any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by an
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company
or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (D) any acquisition by any
corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (i), (ii) and
(iii) of subsection (3) of this Section 1(c); provided further, that for
purposes of clause (B), if any Person (other than the Company or any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any
corporation controlled by the Company) shall become the beneficial owner of 30%
or more of the Outstanding Common Stock or 30% or more of the Outstanding
Voting Securities by reason of an acquisition by the Company, and such Person
shall, after such acquisition by the Company, become the beneficial owner of
any additional shares of the Outstanding Common Stock or any additional
Outstanding Voting Securities and such beneficial ownership is publicly
announced, such additional beneficial ownership shall constitute a Change in
Control;
(2)
individuals who, as of the date hereof,
constitute the Board (the Incumbent Board) cease for any reason to constitute
at least a majority of such Board; provided that any individual who becomes a
director of the Company subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or
nomination for election by the Companys stockholders, was approved by the vote
of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board
shall be deemed a member of the Incumbent Board; and provided further, that any
individual who was initially elected as a director of the Company as a result
of an actual or threatened solicitation by a Person other than the Board for the
purpose of opposing a solicitation by any other Person with respect to the
election or removal of directors, or any other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any Person other than
the Board shall not be deemed a member of the Incumbent Board;
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(3)
the consummation of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company (a Corporate Transaction); excluding,
however, a Corporate Transaction pursuant to which (i) all or substantially all
of the individuals or entities who are the beneficial owners, respectively, of
the Outstanding Common Stock and the Outstanding Voting Securities immediately prior
to such Corporate Transaction will beneficially own, directly or indirectly,
more than
60% of, respectively, the outstanding
shares of common stock, and the combined voting power of the outstanding
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case
may be, of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction
(including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such
transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Companys
assets either directly or indirectly) in substantially the same proportions
relative to each other as their ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate
Transaction, of the Outstanding Common Stock and the Outstanding Voting
Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person (other than: the Company; any employee benefit plan (or
related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation
controlled by the Company; the corporation resulting from such Corporate
Transaction; and any Person which beneficially owned, immediately prior to such
Corporate Transaction, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of the Outstanding
Common Stock or the Outstanding Voting Securities, as the case may be) will
beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of, respectively, the
outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such
Corporate Transaction or the combined voting power of the outstanding
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors and (iii) individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board will
constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the
corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction; or
(4)
the consummation of a plan of complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
(d)
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended.
(e)
Company means Aon Corporation, a
Delaware corporation.
(f)
Good Reason means, without the
Executives express written consent, the occurrence of any of the following
events after a Change in Control:
(1)
a material adverse change in the nature
or scope of the Executives authority, powers, functions, duties or
responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to such Change in Control;
(2)
a material reduction by the Company in
the Executives rate of annual base salary or bonus opportunity as in effect
immediately prior to such Change in Control or as the same may be increased
from time to time thereafter;
(3)
the failure of the Company to continue in
effect any material employee benefit plan or compensation plan in which the
Executive is participating
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immediately prior to such
Change in Control, unless the Executive is permitted to participate in other
plans providing the Executive with substantially comparable benefits, or the
taking of any action by the Company which would adversely affect the
Executives participation in or materially reduce the Executives benefits
under any such plan;
(4)
a change in the Executives primary
employment location to a location that is more than 50 miles from the primary
location of the Executives employment at the time of such Change in Control;
or
(5)
the failure of the Company to obtain from
any successor or transferee of the Company an express written and unconditional
assumption of the Companys obligations under this Agreement, as further
described in Section 12(b) of this Agreement.
For purposes of this Agreement, any good faith determination of Good
Reason made by the Executive shall be conclusive;
provided
,
however
,
that an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action taken in good faith and
which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given
by the Executive shall not constitute Good Reason.
The Executives employment may be terminated by the Executive for Good
Reason if (x) an event or circumstance set forth in this Section 1(f) shall
have occurred and the Executive provides the Company with written notice
thereof within 90 days after the Executive has knowledge of the occurrence or
existence of such event or circumstance, which notice shall specifically
identify the event or circumstance that the Executive believes constitutes Good
Reason, (y) the Company fails to correct the circumstance or event so
identified within 30 days after receipt of such notice, and (z) the Executive
resigns during the Termination Period and after the date of delivery of the
notice referred to in clause (x) above.
(g)
Nonqualifying Termination means a
termination of the Executives employment (1) by the Company for Cause, (2) by
the Executive for any reason other than a Good Reason, (3) as a result of the
Executives death or (4) by the Company due to the Executives absence from the
Executives duties with the Company on a full-time basis for at least 180
consecutive days as a result of the Executives incapacity due to physical or
mental illness.
(h)
Termination Date means the date during
the Termination Period on which the Executives employment is terminated other
than by reason of a Nonqualifying Termination.
(i)
Termination Period means the period of
time beginning with a Change in Control and ending on the earlier to occur of (1)
the date which is two (2) years following such Change in Control and (2) the
Executives death; provided, however, that, anything in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, if a Change in Control occurs and if the Executives
employment with the Company was terminated prior to the date on which the
Change in Control occurs, and if it is reasonably demonstrated by the Executive
that such termination of employment (a) was at the request of a third party who
was taking steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control or (b) otherwise
arose in connection with or in anticipation of a
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Change in Control, then for purposes of this
Agreement, Termination Period means the period of time commencing upon the
date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment and ending
on the earlier to occur of (x) two (2) years following such Change in Control
and (y) the Executives death.
2.
Obligations of the Executive
.
The Executive agrees that in the event any person or group attempts a
Change in Control, he shall not voluntarily leave the employ of the Company
without Good Reason (a) until such attempted Change in Control terminates or (b)
if a Change in Control shall occur, until 90 days following such Change in
Control.
3.
Payments and Benefits Upon Termination of
Employment
. If during the Termination Period the
employment of the Executive shall terminate, other than by reason of a
Nonqualifying Termination, and the Executive (or the Executives executor or
other legal representative in the case of the Executives death or disability
following such termination) executes a noncompetition, nonsolicitation and
confidentiality agreement and release of claims substantially in the form of Exhibit
A hereto (the Noncompetition Agreement and Release) within 45 days following
the Termination Date, the Company shall provide to the Executive, as
compensation for services rendered to the Company, and in consideration of the
covenants set forth in the Noncompetition Agreement and Release, the payments
and benefits described in this Section 3.
The Executive shall forfeit the payments and benefits described in this Section
3 in the event that the Executive fails to execute and deliver the
Noncompetition Agreement and Release to the Company in accordance with the
timing and other provisions of the preceding sentence or revokes such
Noncompetition Agreement and Release prior to the date the release of claims
contained therein becomes effective. For
purposes of this Agreement, the Executive shall be considered to have a termination
of employment with the Company and its subsidiaries on the date the Executive
has a separation from service as described under Section 409A of the Code and
the guidance and Treasury regulations issued thereunder with the Company and
its subsidiaries. Any amount paid
pursuant to this Section 3 shall be paid in lieu of any other severance
payments or benefits, which benefits may, without limitation, include pay in
lieu of notice, salary continuation through a contractual notice period or
enhanced supplemental pension benefits conferred, in any event as a result of
termination of employment, from the Company or any of its subsidiaries which
are not payable pursuant to this Agreement, but are payable pursuant to an
employment agreement or other compensation arrangement entered into between the
Executive and the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
(a)
Except as otherwise provided in Sections
5 and 6, and conditioned upon the Executives execution of the Noncompetition
Agreement and Release without revocation within the time period described in
the preceding provisions of this Section 3, the Company shall pay to the
Executive (or the Executives beneficiary or estate, as the case may be) on the
60
th
day following the later to occur of the
Termination Date or the Change in Control:
(1)
a cash amount (subject to any applicable
payroll or other taxes required to be withheld pursuant to Section 7 and any
deductions authorized by the Executive) equal to the sum of (i) the Executives
full annual base salary from the Company and its affiliated companies through
the Termination Date, to the extent not theretofore paid, (ii) the average of
the Executives annual cash incentive for each of the three fiscal years
immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Termination Date
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occurs, multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the fiscal year in
which the Termination Date occurs and the denominator of which is 365 or 366,
as applicable, and (iii) any accrued vacation pay, in each case to the extent
not theretofore paid; plus
(2)
a lump sum cash amount (subject to any
applicable payroll or other taxes required to be withheld pursuant to Section 7
and any deductions authorized by the Executive) in an amount equal to three (3)
times the sum of (i) the Executives highest annual base salary from the
Company and its affiliated companies in effect during the 12-month period prior
to the Termination Date and (ii) the Executives target annual incentive bonus
for the fiscal year in which the Termination Date occurs; plus
(3)
a lump sum cash amount (subject to any
applicable payroll or other taxes required to be withheld pursuant to Section 7
and any deductions authorized by the Executive) in an amount equal to the
amount forfeited by the Executive under any qualified defined contribution plan
maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries as a result of the
Executives termination of employment.
(b)
The Executive shall become fully (100%)
vested in the Executives accrued benefits under the Aon Corporation Excess
Benefit Plan, the Aon Corporation Supplemental Savings Plan and the Aon
Corporation Supplemental Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or successor plans in
effect on the date of the Executives termination of employment (the
Nonqualified Plans). The Executives
accrued benefits under the Aon Corporation Excess Benefit Plan or the Aon
Corporation Supplemental Savings Plan, whichever plan is applicable to the
Executive on the date of the Executives termination of employment, shall be
determined by crediting the Executive with three (3) additional years of age
and service credits and, in the case of the Aon Corporation Supplemental
Savings Plan, three (3) additional years of Retirement Plan Contributions. Within 30 days following the Termination
Date, the Company shall pay to the Executive a lump sum cash amount equal to
the actuarial equivalent of the Executives accrued benefits under the Nonqualified
Plans, determined as of the Executives Termination Date, notwithstanding
anything contained in the Nonqualified Plans to the contrary. Such lump sum cash payment shall be computed
in the case of the Aon Corporation Excess Benefit Plan using the same actuarial
assumptions then in use for purposes of computing benefits under the plan,
provided that the interest rate used in making such computations shall not be
greater than the interest rate permitted under section 417(c) of the Code on
the date of the Change in Control.
(c)
For the period commencing on the
Termination Date and ending on the earlier of (i) the date which is three (3) years
following the Termination Date and (ii) the date on which the Executive becomes
eligible to participate in and receive medical, dental and life insurance
benefits under a plan or arrangement sponsored by another employer having
benefits substantially equivalent to the benefits provided pursuant to this Section
3(c), the Company shall continue the Executives medical, dental and life
insurance coverage, under the Company-sponsored plans or otherwise, upon the
same terms and otherwise to the same extent as such coverage shall have been in
effect immediately prior to the Executives Termination Date, and the Company
and the Executive shall share the costs of the continuation of such medical,
dental and life insurance coverage in the same proportion as such costs were
shared immediately prior
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to the Termination Date;
provided, the Companys share of the cost of the continuation of coverage under
any self-insured medical reimbursement plan that is subject to Section 105(h) of
the Code shall be included in the Executives taxable income from the
Company. Such continuation of medical
and dental coverage shall be in satisfaction of the Companys obligations under
the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA). Payment or reimbursement of expenses incurred
by the Executive pursuant to this Section 3(c) shall be made promptly and in no
event later than December 31 of the year following the year in which such
expenses were incurred, and the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement,
or in-kind benefits provided, in any year shall not affect the amount of
expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any
other year, except for any limit on the amount of expenses that may be
reimbursed under an arrangement described in Section 105(b) of the Code. Additionally, such right to payment or
reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, shall not be subject to
liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
If the Executive is a specified employee under Section 409A of the
Code, the full cost of the continuation or provision of employee benefits
described under this Section 3(c) (other than any cost of medical or dental
benefit plans or programs or the cost of any other plan or program that is
exempt from Section 409A of the Code) shall be paid by the Executive until the
earlier to occur of the Executives death or the date that is six months and
one day following the Executives termination of employment, and such cost
shall be reimbursed by the Company or the applicable subsidiary to, or on
behalf of, the Executive in a lump sum cash payment on the earlier to occur of
the Executives death or the date that is six months and one day following the
Executives termination of employment.
4.
Vesting of Equity Awards Upon Termination
Date; Exercise Period
. Immediately upon the
Executives Termination Date, all stock options and other equity awards, if
any, granted by the Company to the Executive (or stock options and other equity
awards granted in substitution therefor by an acquiror of, or successor to, the
Company) that are not otherwise exercisable or vested shall become exercisable
and vested in full in accordance with the applicable plan documents and award
agreements. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the time or schedule of any payment or amount scheduled to be paid
pursuant to the terms of this Section 4, including but not limited to any
restricted stock unit or other equity-based award, payment or amount that
provides for the deferral of compensation (as such term is defined under Section
409A of the Code), may not be accelerated except as otherwise permitted under Section
409A of the Code and the guidance and Treasury regulations issued
thereunder. With respect to any and all
outstanding stock options granted by the Company to the Executive, each such
option shall remain exercisable following the Executives termination of
employment until and including the expiration date of the term of the option
(as set forth in the written agreement relating to such option).
5.
Contingent Reduction of Parachute Payments.
(a)
The definitions in subsection (e) of this Section apply to the provisions in
subsections (b) through (d) of this Section.
(b)
Anything in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, to the extent that any Payments to the Executive
would be subject to the Excise Tax, then the Company shall either (i) eliminate
all Non-Equity Award Payments, if the Excise Tax would apply despite the
elimination of all Non-Equity Award Payments, or (ii) if a reduction in
Non-Equity Award
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Payments would eliminate
the Excise Tax, reduce the amount of Non-Equity Award Payments by the least
amount that causes none of the Payments to be subject to the Excise Tax. If a reduction in the Non-Equity Award Payments
is necessary so that the Parachute Value (as defined below) of all Payments
equals the Safe Harbor Amount and none of the Non-Equity Award Payments is
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation, then the reduction shall occur in the
manner the Executive elects in writing prior to the date of payment. If any Non-Equity Award Payment constitutes
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation or the Executive fails to elect an order,
then the reduction shall occur in the following order: (i) reduction in the benefits described in
Sections 3(b) and 3(c) hereof (with such reduction being applied to the
benefits in the manner having the least economic impact to the Executive and,
to the extent the economic impact is equivalent, such benefits shall be reduced
in the reverse order of when the benefits would have been provided to the
Executive, that is, benefits payable later shall be reduced before benefits
payable earlier); and (ii) reduction of cash payments described in Section 3(a)
hereof (with such reduction being applied to the payments in reverse order in
which they would otherwise be made, that is, later payments shall be reduced
before earlier payments).
(c)
To the extent that any Equity Award
Payments to the Executive would be subject to the Excise Tax after application
of sub-section 5(b) above, and if a reduction would provide the Executive with
a greater after-tax amount than if a reduction in Equity Award Payments did not
occur, then the Company shall reduce the amount of the Equity Award Payments by
the least amount that would provide the Executive with such greater after-tax
amount.
(d)
All determinations required to be made
under this Section 5, including whether and when Payments are to be reduced so
that Payments are reduced to the Safe Harbor Amount and the amount of such
reduction and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination,
shall be made by the public accounting firm that is retained by the Company as
of the date immediately prior to the Change in Control (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 Company
or the Executive that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is
requested by the Company. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the event (i) the Board shall determine prior to the Change
in Control that the Accounting Firm is precluded from performing such services
under applicable auditor independence rules or (ii) the Audit Committee of the
Board determines that it does not want the Accounting Firm to perform such
services because of auditor independence concerns or (iii) the Accounting Firm
is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group
effecting the Change in Control, the Board shall appoint another nationally
recognized public accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder
(which accounting firm shall then be referred to as the Accounting Firm
hereunder). All fees, costs and expenses
(including, but not limited to, the costs of retaining experts) of the
Accounting Firm shall be borne by the Company.
If Payments are reduced to the Safe Harbor Amount or the Accounting Firm
determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive without a reduction
in Payments, the Accounting Firm shall furnish the Executive with a written
opinion to the effect that the Executive is not required to report any Excise
Tax on the Executives federal income tax return, and that the failure to
report the Excise Tax, if any, on the Executives applicable federal income tax
return will not result in the imposition of a negligence or similar
penalty. The determination by the
Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive.
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(e)
The following terms shall have the
following meanings for purposes of this Section.
(i) Equity Award Payment means any Payment to
the Executive on account of awards of compensation to the Executive in the form
of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock
units, performance shares or other forms of award payable in or exercisable
with respect to Company stock.
(ii) Excise Tax means the excise tax imposed by Section
4999 of the Code, together with any interest or penalties imposed with respect
to such excise tax.
(iii) Nonqualified Deferred Compensation means any
reimbursement, payment or benefit to be paid or provided under this Agreement
or otherwise that constitutes a deferral of compensation within the meaning
of and subject to Section 409A of the Code.
(iv) Non-Equity Award Payment means any payment
to the Executive other than an Equity Award Payment.
(v) Parachute Value of a Payment means the
present value as of the date of the change of control from purposes of Section 280G
of the Code of the portion of such Payment that constitutes a parachute
payment under Section 280G(b)(2), as determined by the Accounting Firm for
purposes of determining whether and to what extent the Excise Tax will apply to
such Payment.
(vi) A Payment means any payment or distribution
in the nature of compensation (within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the
Code) to or for the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable pursuant
to this Agreement or otherwise.
(vii) The Safe Harbor Amount means the maximum
Parachute Value of all Payments that an Executive can receive without any
Payments being subject to the Excise Tax.
6.
Delay of Payments
.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 6(b) below, in the event that
any payment or distribution or portion of any payment or distribution to be
made to the Executive under Section 3(a) of this Agreement cannot be
characterized as a short term deferral for purposes of Section 409A of the
Code, and the Executive is determined to be a specified employee (as defined
in Section 409A of the Code), and Change in Control is as defined for
purposes of this Agreement does not satisfy the requirements of a change in
control event as described in Section 409A of the Code and the guidance and
regulations issued thereunder, or if Change in Control does satisfy such
requirements under Code Section 409A but the Termination Date is not within two
years following the Change in Control in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section
1.409A-3(c)(1), then an amount equal to the aggregate severance payments that
would otherwise be payable to the Executive upon an involuntary termination of
employment under any other employment agreement or other compensation
arrangement entered into between the Executive and the Company or any of its
subsidiaries shall be paid to the Executive at the same time and in the same
form of payment as such other severance payments would otherwise be paid and
the remainder of the payment or distribution,
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or portion thereof, under Section 3(a) of this
Agreement shall be paid in accordance with Section 3(a).
(b) In the event that any
payment or distribution or portion of any payment or distribution to be made to
the Executive hereunder cannot be characterized as a short term deferral for
purposes of Section 409A of the Code, or is not otherwise exempt from the
provisions of Section 409A of the Code, and the Executive is determined to be a
specified employee under Section 409A of the Code, such portion of the
payment shall be delayed until the earlier to occur of the Executives death or
the date which is six months and one day following the termination of the
Executives employment with the Company and its subsidiaries (the Delay
Period). Upon the expiration of the
Delay Period, the payments delayed pursuant to this Section 6 shall be paid to
the Executive or his beneficiaries in a lump sum, and any remaining payments
due under this Agreement shall be payable in accordance with their original
payment schedule.
7.
Withholding Taxes
.
The Company may withhold from all payments due to the Executive (or the
Executives beneficiary or estate) hereunder all taxes which, by applicable
federal, state, local or other law, the Company is required to withhold
therefrom.
8.
Disputes;
Reimbursement of Expenses;
Interest on Late Payments
.
(a)
If any contest or dispute shall arise
under this Agreement involving termination of the Executives employment with
the Company or involving the failure or refusal of the Company to perform fully
in accordance with the terms hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Executive,
on a current basis, for all legal fees and expenses, if any, incurred by the
Executive in connection with such contest or dispute, together with interest
thereon at a rate equal to the prime rate, as published under Money Rates in
The
Wall Street Journal
from time to time plus 300 basis points, but in no
event higher than the maximum legal rate permissible under applicable law (the
Interest Rate), such interest to accrue from the date the Company receives
the Executives written statement for such fees and expenses through the date
of payment thereof;
provided
,
however
, that in the event the
resolution of any such contest or dispute includes a finding denying, in total,
the Executives claims in such contest or dispute, the Executive shall be
required to reimburse the Company, over a period of 12 months from the date of
such resolution, for all sums advanced to the Executive pursuant to this Section
8.
(b)
With respect to any and all payments that
are required to be made by the Company to the Executive pursuant to this
Agreement and that are not made within the time period specified herein, the
Company shall pay to the Executive interest on such payments at the Interest
Rate. Such interest shall accrue from
the due date of the required payment through the date on which such payment is
made to the Executive.
(c)
Payment or reimbursement of expenses
described in this Section 8 shall be made promptly and in no event later than December
31 of the year following the year in which such expenses were incurred, and the
amount of such expenses eligible for payment or reimbursement in any year shall
not affect the amount of such expenses eligible for payment or reimbursement in
any other year nor shall the right to payment or reimbursement be subject to
liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
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9.
Operative Event
.
No amounts shall be payable hereunder unless and until there is a Change
in Control.
10.
Termination of Agreement
. (a)
This Agreement shall be effective on the
date hereof and shall continue until terminated by the Company as provided in Section
10(b);
provided
,
however
, that this Agreement shall terminate in
any event upon the earlier to occur of (1) termination of the Executives
employment with the Company prior to a Change in Control and (2) the
Executives death.
(b) The Company shall have the
right prior to a Change in Control, in its sole discretion, pursuant to action
by the Board, to approve the termination of this Agreement, which termination
shall not become effective until the date fixed by the Board for such
termination, which date shall be at least 120 days after notice thereof is
given by the Company to the Executive in accordance with Section 13;
provided
,
however
, that no such action shall be taken by the Board during any
period of time when the Board has knowledge that any person has taken steps
reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control until, in the opinion of
the Board, such person has abandoned or terminated its efforts to effect a
Change in Control; and
provided
further
, that in no event shall
this Agreement be terminated in the event of a Change in Control.
11.
Scope of Agreement; Entire Agreement
. (a)
Nothing in this Agreement shall be
deemed to entitle the Executive to continued employment with the Company or its
subsidiaries and, subject to Section 2 hereof, if the Executives employment
with the Company shall terminate prior to a Change in Control, then the
Executive shall have no further rights under this Agreement;
provided
,
however
,
that any termination of the Executives employment following a Change in
Control shall be subject to all of the provisions of this Agreement.
(b)
This Agreement supersedes the Severance
Agreement between the parties entered into as of April 4, 2005. This Agreement constitutes the entire
understanding between the parties with respect to the Executives severance pay
in the event of a termination of the Executives employment with the Company in
connection with a Change in Control; provided, however, that except as
otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, the rights of, and benefits
payable to, the Executive, the Executives estate or the Executives
beneficiaries pursuant to this Agreement are in addition to any rights of, or
benefits payable to, the Executive, the Executives estate or the Executives
beneficiaries under any other employee benefit plan or broad-based compensation
program of the Company.
12.
Successors; Binding Agreement
.
(a) This Agreement shall not be
terminated by any merger or consolidation of the Company whereby the Company is
or is not the surviving or resulting corporation or as a result of any transfer
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company. In the event of any such merger,
consolidation or transfer of assets, the provisions of this Agreement shall be
binding upon the surviving or resulting corporation or the person or entity to
which such assets are transferred.
(b) The Company agrees that
concurrently with any merger, consolidation or transfer of assets referred to
in Section 12(a), it will cause any successor or transferee
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unconditionally to assume, by written instrument
delivered to the Executive (or the Executives beneficiary or estate), all of
the obligations of the Company hereunder.
Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption prior to the
effectiveness of any such merger, consolidation or transfer of assets shall be
a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to compensation and
other benefits from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as the
Executive would be entitled hereunder if the Executives employment were
terminated following a Change in Control other than by reason of a
Nonqualifying Termination during the Termination Period. For purposes of implementing the foregoing,
the date on which any such merger, consolidation or transfer becomes effective
shall be deemed the Date of Termination.
(c) This Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executives personal or legal
representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees,
devisees and legatees. If the Executive
shall die while any amounts would be payable to the Executive hereunder had the
Executive continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided
herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to such
person or persons appointed in writing by the Executive to receive such amounts
or, if no person is so appointed, to the Executives estate.
13.
Notices
. (a) For purposes of this Agreement, all notices
and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or five days after
deposit in the United States mail, certified and return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, addressed (1) if to the Executive, to Executives home address
as shown on the Companys records, and if to the Company, to Aon Corporation,
200 East Randolph Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60602, 3d Floor, attention General
Counsel, with a copy to the Secretary, or (2) to such other address as either
party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except
that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
(b)
A written notice of the Executives
Termination Date by the Company or the Executive, as the case may be, to the
other, shall (1) indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement
relied upon, (2) to the extent applicable, 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 and (3) specify the
termination date (which date shall be not less than 15 days after the giving of
such notice). The failure by the
Executive or the Company to set forth in such notice 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 hereunder or preclude the Executive or
the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the
Executives or the Companys rights hereunder.
14.
Full Settlement; Resolution of Disputes
. (a)
The Companys obligation to make any 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, subject to Section 3(c) hereof,
such amounts
shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other employment.
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(b)
If there shall be any dispute between the
Company and the Executive in the event of any termination of the Executives
employment, then, unless and until there is a final, nonappealable judgment by
a court of competent jurisdiction declaring that such termination was for
Cause, that the determination by the Executive of the existence of Good Reason
was not made in good faith, or that the Company is not otherwise obligated to
pay any amount or provide any benefit to the Executive and the Executives
dependents or other beneficiaries, as the case may be, under Sections 3 and 4
hereof, the Company shall pay all amounts, and provide all benefits, to the
Executive and the Executives dependents or other beneficiaries, as the case
may be, that the Company would be required to pay or provide pursuant to
Sections 3 and 4 hereof as though such termination were by the Company without
Cause or by the Executive with Good Reason;
provided
,
however
,
that the Company shall not be required to pay any disputed amounts pursuant to
this Section 14(b) except upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the
Executive to repay all such amounts to which the Executive is ultimately
adjudged by such court not to be entitled.
15.
Employment with, and Action by,
Subsidiaries
. For purposes of this Agreement, employment
with the Company or actions taken by the Company with respect to the Executive
shall include employment with or actions taken by any corporation or other
entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect ownership interest of 50%
or more of the total combined voting power of the then outstanding securities
of such corporation or other entity entitled to vote generally in the election
of directors.
16.
Governing Law; Validity
.
The interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall
be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws
of the State of Illinois without regard to the principle of conflicts of
laws. The invalidity or unenforceability
of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of any other provisions of this Agreement, which other
provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
17.
Counterparts
.
This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed to be an original and both of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.
18.
Miscellaneous
.
No provision of this Agreement may be modified or waived unless such
modification or waiver is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and
by a duly authorized officer of the Company.
No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other
party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this
Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of
similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or
subsequent time. Failure by the
Executive or the Company to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of
this Agreement or 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, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of
such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in
this Agreement, the rights of, and benefits payable to, the Executive, the
Executives estate or the Executives beneficiaries pursuant to this Agreement
are in addition to any rights of, or benefits payable to, the Executive, the
Executives
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estate or the Executives beneficiaries under any
other employee benefit plan or compensation program of the Company.
19.
Prohibition on Acceleration of Payments
.
The time or schedule of any payment or amount scheduled to be paid
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, or pursuant to the terms of any other
employment agreement or compensation arrangement entered into between the
Executive and the Company or any of its subsidiaries, may not be accelerated
hereunder, or under any such other employment agreement or other compensation
arrangement, except as otherwise permitted under Section 409A of the Code and
the guidance and Treasury Regulations issued thereunder.
20.
Code Section 409A
. The parties intend that this Agreement
and the benefits provided hereunder be interpreted and construed to comply with
Section 409A of the Code to the extent applicable thereto. Notwithstanding any provision of the Agreement
to the contrary, the Agreement shall be interpreted and construed consistent
with this intent, provided that the Company shall not be required to assume any
increased economic burden in connection therewith. Although the Company intends to administer
the Agreement so that it will comply with the requirements of Section 409A of
the Code, the Company does not represent or warrant that the Agreement will
comply with Section 409A of the Code or any other provision of federal, state,
local or non-United States law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be
executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company and the Executive has
executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
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AON CORPORATION
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By:
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EXECUTIVE
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Gregory C. Case
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29
Exhibit 10.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement (the Agreement)
is entered into as of November 13, 2009 between Aon Corporation, a Delaware
corporation, and Gregory C. Case (the Executive).
WHEREAS, the Executive currently serves as a key employee of the
Company (as defined in Section 1) and the Executives services and knowledge
are valuable to the Company in connection with the management of one or more of
the Companys principal operating facilities, divisions, departments or
subsidiaries; and
WHEREAS, the Board (as defined in Section 1) has determined that it is
in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to secure the
Executives continued services and to ensure the Executives continued
dedication and objectivity in the event of any threat or occurrence of, or
negotiation or other action that could lead to, or create the possibility of, a
Change in Control (as defined in Section 1) of the Company, without concern as
to whether the Executive might be hindered or distracted by personal
uncertainties and risks created by any such possible Change in Control, and to
encourage the Executives full attention and dedication to the Company, the
Board has authorized the Company to enter into this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the parties entered into a Severance Agreement effective as of
April 4, 2005 (the 2005 Change in Control Agreement), providing certain
financial protection to the Executive in connection with a change-in-control of
the Company, and the parties desire to make certain changes to the 2005 Change
in Control Agreement as provided herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained, the Company and the Executive hereby
agree as follows:
1.
Definitions
.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective
meanings set forth below:
(a)
Board means the Board of Directors of
the Company.
(b)
Cause means:
(1)
a material breach by the Executive of
those duties and responsibilities of the Executive which do not differ in any
material respect from the duties and responsibilities of the Executive during
the 90-day period immediately prior to a Change in Control (other than as a
result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness) which is demonstrably
willful and deliberate on the Executives part, which is committed in bad faith
or without reasonable belief that such breach is in the best interests of the
Company and which is not remedied in a reasonable period of time after receipt
of written notice from the Company specifying such breach;
(2)
Gross misconduct, theft, fraud, breach of
trust or any act of dishonesty by the Executive which results in material harm
to the Company; or
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(3)
the commission by the Executive of a
felony involving moral turpitude.
(c)
Change in Control means:
(1)
the acquisition by any individual, entity
or group (a Person), including any person within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3)
or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange
Act), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated
under the Exchange Act) of 30% or more of either (i) the then outstanding
shares of common stock of the Company (the Outstanding Common Stock) or (ii) the
combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the Outstanding
Voting Securities); excluding, however, the following: (A) any acquisition
directly from the Company (excluding any acquisition resulting from the
exercise of an exercise, conversion or exchange privilege unless the security
being so exercised, converted or exchanged was acquired directly from the
Company), (B) any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by an
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company
or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (D) any acquisition by any
corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (i), (ii) and
(iii) of subsection (3) of this Section 1(c); provided further, that for
purposes of clause (B), if any Person (other than the Company or any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any
corporation controlled by the Company) shall become the beneficial owner of 30%
or more of the Outstanding Common Stock or 30% or more of the Outstanding
Voting Securities by reason of an acquisition by the Company, and such Person
shall, after such acquisition by the Company, become the beneficial owner of
any additional shares of the Outstanding Common Stock or any additional
Outstanding Voting Securities and such beneficial ownership is publicly
announced, such additional beneficial ownership shall constitute a Change in
Control;
(2)
individuals who, as of the date hereof,
constitute the Board (the Incumbent Board) cease for any reason to constitute
at least a majority of such Board; provided that any individual who becomes a
director of the Company subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or
nomination for election by the Companys stockholders, was approved by the vote
of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board
shall be deemed a member of the Incumbent Board; and provided further, that any
individual who was initially elected as a director of the Company as a result
of an actual or threatened solicitation by a Person other than the Board for
the purpose of opposing a solicitation by any other Person with respect to the
election or removal of directors, or any other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any Person other than
the Board shall not be deemed a member of the Incumbent Board;
(3)
the consummation of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company (a Corporate Transaction); excluding,
however, a Corporate Transaction pursuant to which (i) all or substantially all
of the individuals or entities who are the beneficial
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owners, respectively, of
the Outstanding Common Stock and the Outstanding Voting Securities immediately
prior to such Corporate Transaction will beneficially own, directly or
indirectly, more than
60% of,
respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock, and the combined voting
power of the outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election
of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such
Corporate Transaction (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a
result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the
Companys assets either directly or indirectly) in substantially the same
proportions relative to each other as their ownership, immediately prior to
such Corporate Transaction, of the Outstanding Common Stock and the Outstanding
Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person (other than: the Company; any employee benefit plan (or
related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation
controlled by the Company; the corporation resulting from such Corporate
Transaction; and any Person which beneficially owned, immediately prior to such
Corporate Transaction, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of the Outstanding
Common Stock or the Outstanding Voting Securities, as the case may be) will
beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 30% or more of, respectively, the
outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such
Corporate Transaction or the combined voting power of the outstanding
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors and (iii) individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board will
constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the
corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction; or
(4)
the consummation of a plan of complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
(d)
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended.
(e)
Company means Aon Corporation, a
Delaware corporation.
(f)
Good Reason means, without the
Executives express written consent, the occurrence of any of the following
events after a Change in Control:
(1)
a material adverse change in the nature
or scope of the Executives authority, powers, functions, duties or
responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to such Change in Control;
(2)
a material reduction by the Company in
the Executives rate of annual base salary or bonus opportunity as in effect
immediately prior to such Change in Control or as the same may be increased
from time to time thereafter;
(3)
the failure of the Company to continue in
effect any material employee benefit plan or compensation plan in which the
Executive is participating immediately prior to such Change in Control, unless
the Executive is permitted to participate in other plans providing the
Executive with substantially comparable benefits, or the taking of any action
by the Company which would adversely affect the Executives participation in or
materially reduce the Executives benefits under any such plan;
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(4)
a change in the Executives primary
employment location to a location that is more than 50 miles from the primary
location of the Executives employment at the time of such Change in Control;
or
(5)
the failure of the Company to obtain from
any successor or transferee of the Company an express written and unconditional
assumption of the Companys obligations under this Agreement, as further
described in Section 12(b) of this Agreement.
For purposes of this Agreement, any good faith determination of Good
Reason made by the Executive shall be conclusive;
provided
,
however
,
that an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action taken in good faith and
which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given
by the Executive shall not constitute Good Reason.
The Executives employment may be terminated by the Executive for Good
Reason if (x) an event or circumstance set forth in this Section 1(f) shall
have occurred and the Executive provides the Company with written notice
thereof within 90 days after the Executive has knowledge of the occurrence or
existence of such event or circumstance, which notice shall specifically
identify the event or circumstance that the Executive believes constitutes Good
Reason, (y) the Company fails to correct the circumstance or event so
identified within 30 days after receipt of such notice, and (z) the Executive
resigns during the Termination Period and after the date of delivery of the
notice referred to in clause (x) above.
(g)
Nonqualifying Termination means a
termination of the Executives employment (1) by the Company for Cause, (2) by the
Executive for any reason other than a Good Reason, (3) as a result of the
Executives death or (4) by the Company due to the Executives absence from the
Executives duties with the Company on a full-time basis for at least 180
consecutive days as a result of the Executives incapacity due to physical or
mental illness.
(h)
Termination Date means the date during
the Termination Period on which the Executives employment is terminated other
than by reason of a Nonqualifying Termination.
(i)
Termination Period means the period of
time beginning with a Change in Control and ending on the earlier to occur of (1)
the date which is two (2) years following such Change in Control and (2) the
Executives death; provided, however, that, anything in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, if a Change in Control occurs and if the Executives
employment with the Company was terminated prior to the date on which the
Change in Control occurs, and if it is reasonably demonstrated by the Executive
that such termination of employment (a) was at the request of a third party who
was taking steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control or (b) otherwise
arose in connection with or in anticipation of a Change in Control, then for
purposes of this Agreement, Termination Period means the period of time
commencing upon the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of
employment and ending on the earlier to occur of (x) two (2) years following
such Change in Control and (y) the Executives death.
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2.
Obligations of the Executive
.
The Executive agrees that in the event any person or group attempts a
Change in Control, he shall not voluntarily leave the employ of the Company
without Good Reason (a) until such attempted Change in Control terminates or (b)
if a Change in Control shall occur, until 90 days following such Change in
Control.
3.
Payments and Benefits Upon Termination of
Employment
. If during the Termination Period the
employment of the Executive shall terminate, other than by reason of a
Nonqualifying Termination, and the Executive (or the Executives executor or
other legal representative in the case of the Executives death or disability
following such termination) executes a noncompetition, nonsolicitation and
confidentiality agreement and release of claims substantially in the form of Exhibit
A hereto (the Noncompetition Agreement and Release) within 45 days following
the Termination Date, the Company shall provide to the Executive, as
compensation for services rendered to the Company, and in consideration of the
covenants set forth in the Noncompetition Agreement and Release, the payments
and benefits described in this Section 3.
The Executive shall forfeit the payments and benefits described in this Section
3 in the event that the Executive fails to execute and deliver the
Noncompetition Agreement and Release to the Company in accordance with the
timing and other provisions of the preceding sentence or revokes such
Noncompetition Agreement and Release prior to the date the release of claims
contained therein becomes effective. For
purposes of this Agreement, the Executive shall be considered to have a
termination of employment with the Company and its subsidiaries on the date the
Executive has a separation from service as described under Section 409A of
the Code and the guidance and Treasury regulations issued thereunder with the
Company and its subsidiaries. Any amount
paid pursuant to this Section 3 shall be paid in lieu of any other severance
payments or benefits, which benefits may, without limitation, include pay in
lieu of notice, salary continuation through a contractual notice period or
enhanced supplemental pension benefits conferred, in any event as a result of
termination of employment, from the Company or any of its subsidiaries which
are not payable pursuant to this Agreement, but are payable pursuant to an
employment agreement or other compensation arrangement entered into between the
Executive and the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
(a)
Except as otherwise provided in Sections
5 and 6, and conditioned upon the Executives execution of the Noncompetition
Agreement and Release without revocation within the time period described in
the preceding provisions of this Section 3, the Company shall pay to the
Executive (or the Executives beneficiary or estate, as the case may be) on the
60
th
day following the later to occur of the
Termination Date or the Change in Control:
(1)
a cash amount (subject to any applicable payroll
or other taxes required to be withheld pursuant to Section 7 and any deductions
authorized by the Executive) equal to the sum of (i) the Executives full
annual base salary from the Company and its affiliated companies through the
Termination Date, to the extent not theretofore paid, (ii) the average of the
Executives annual cash incentive for each of the three fiscal years
immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Termination Date occurs,
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the
fiscal year in which the Termination Date occurs and the denominator of which
is 365 or 366, as applicable, and (iii) any accrued vacation pay, in each case
to the extent not theretofore paid; plus
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(2)
a lump sum cash amount (subject to any
applicable payroll or other taxes required to be withheld pursuant to Section 7
and any deductions authorized by the Executive) in an amount equal to three (3)
times the sum of (i) the Executives highest annual base salary from the
Company and its affiliated companies in effect during the 12-month period prior
to the Termination Date and (ii) the Executives target annual incentive bonus
for the fiscal year in which the Termination Date occurs; plus
(3)
a lump sum cash amount (subject to any
applicable payroll or other taxes required to be withheld pursuant to Section 7
and any deductions authorized by the Executive) in an amount equal to the
amount forfeited by the Executive under any qualified defined contribution plan
maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries as a result of the
Executives termination of employment.
(b)
The Executive shall become fully (100%)
vested in the Executives accrued benefits under the Aon Corporation Excess
Benefit Plan, the Aon Corporation Supplemental Savings Plan and the Aon
Corporation Supplemental Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or successor plans in
effect on the date of the Executives termination of employment (the Nonqualified
Plans). The Executives accrued
benefits under the Aon Corporation Excess Benefit Plan or the Aon Corporation
Supplemental Savings Plan, whichever plan is applicable to the Executive on the
date of the Executives termination of employment, shall be determined by
crediting the Executive with three (3) additional years of age and service
credits and, in the case of the Aon Corporation Supplemental Savings Plan,
three (3) additional years of Retirement Plan Contributions. Within 30 days following the Termination
Date, the Company shall pay to the Executive a lump sum cash amount equal to
the actuarial equivalent of the Executives accrued benefits under the
Nonqualified Plans, determined as of the Executives Termination Date,
notwithstanding anything contained in the Nonqualified Plans to the
contrary. Such lump sum cash payment
shall be computed in the case of the Aon Corporation Excess Benefit Plan using
the same actuarial assumptions then in use for purposes of computing benefits under
the plan, provided that the interest rate used in making such computations
shall not be greater than the interest rate permitted under section 417(c) of
the Code on the date of the Change in Control.
(c)
For the period commencing on the
Termination Date and ending on the earlier of (i) the date which is three (3) years
following the Termination Date and (ii) the date on which the Executive becomes
eligible to participate in and receive medical, dental and life insurance
benefits under a plan or arrangement sponsored by another employer having
benefits substantially equivalent to the benefits provided pursuant to this Section
3(c), the Company shall continue the Executives medical, dental and life
insurance coverage, under the Company-sponsored plans or otherwise, upon the
same terms and otherwise to the same extent as such coverage shall have been in
effect immediately prior to the Executives Termination Date, and the Company
and the Executive shall share the costs of the continuation of such medical,
dental and life insurance coverage in the same proportion as such costs were
shared immediately prior to the Termination Date; provided, the Companys share
of the cost of the continuation of coverage under any self-insured medical
reimbursement plan that is subject to Section 105(h) of the Code shall be
included in the Executives taxable income from the Company. Such continuation of medical and dental
coverage shall be in satisfaction of the Companys obligations under the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA).
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Payment or reimbursement
of expenses incurred by the Executive pursuant to this Section 3(c) shall be
made promptly and in no event later than December 31 of the year following the
year in which such expenses were incurred, and the amount of expenses eligible
for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, in any year shall not affect
the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be
provided, in any other year, except for any limit on the amount of expenses
that may be reimbursed under an arrangement described in Section 105(b) of the
Code. Additionally, such right to
payment or reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, shall not be
subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. If the Executive is a specified employee
under Section 409A of the Code, the full cost of the continuation or provision
of employee benefits described under this Section 3(c) (other than any cost of
medical or dental benefit plans or programs or the cost of any other plan or
program that is exempt from Section 409A of the Code) shall be paid by the
Executive until the earlier to occur of the Executives death or the date that
is six months and one day following the Executives termination of employment,
and such cost shall be reimbursed by the Company or the applicable subsidiary
to, or on behalf of, the Executive in a lump sum cash payment on the earlier to
occur of the Executives death or the date that is six months and one day
following the Executives termination of employment.
4.
Vesting of Equity Awards Upon Termination
Date; Exercise Period
. Immediately upon the Executives
Termination Date, all stock options and other equity awards, if any, granted by
the Company to the Executive (or stock options and other equity awards granted
in substitution therefor by an acquiror of, or successor to, the Company) that
are not otherwise exercisable or vested shall become exercisable and vested in
full in accordance with the applicable plan documents and award
agreements. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the time or schedule of any payment or amount scheduled to be paid
pursuant to the terms of this Section 4, including but not limited to any
restricted stock unit or other equity-based award, payment or amount that
provides for the deferral of compensation (as such term is defined under Section
409A of the Code), may not be accelerated except as otherwise permitted under Section
409A of the Code and the guidance and Treasury regulations issued thereunder. With respect to any and all outstanding stock
options granted by the Company to the Executive, each such option shall remain
exercisable following the Executives termination of employment until and
including the expiration date of the term of the option (as set forth in the
written agreement relating to such option).
5.
Contingent Reduction of Parachute
Payments.
(a) The definitions in subsection (e) of this
Section apply to the provisions in subsections (b) through (d) of this Section.
(b)
Anything in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, to the extent that any Payments to the Executive
would be subject to the Excise Tax, then the Company shall either (i) eliminate
all Non-Equity Award Payments, if the Excise Tax would apply despite the
elimination of all Non-Equity Award Payments, or (ii) if a reduction in
Non-Equity Award Payments would eliminate the Excise Tax, reduce the amount of
Non-Equity Award Payments by the least amount that causes none of the Payments
to be subject to the Excise Tax. If a
reduction in the Non-Equity Award Payments is necessary so that the Parachute
Value (as defined below) of all Payments equals the Safe Harbor Amount and none
of the Non-Equity Award Payments is Nonqualified Deferred Compensation, then
the reduction shall occur in the
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manner the Executive
elects in writing prior to the date of payment.
If any Non-Equity Award Payment constitutes Nonqualified Deferred
Compensation or the Executive fails to elect an order, then the reduction shall
occur in the following order: (i) reduction
in the benefits described in Sections 3(b) and 3(c) hereof (with such reduction
being applied to the benefits in the manner having the least economic impact to
the Executive and, to the extent the economic impact is equivalent, such
benefits shall be reduced in the reverse order of when the benefits would have
been provided to the Executive, that is, benefits payable later shall be
reduced before benefits payable earlier); and (ii) reduction of cash payments
described in Section 3(a) hereof (with such reduction being applied to the
payments in reverse order in which they would otherwise be made, that is, later
payments shall be reduced before earlier payments).
(c)
To the extent that any Equity Award
Payments to the Executive would be subject to the Excise Tax after application
of sub-section 5(b) above, and if a reduction would provide the Executive with
a greater after-tax amount than if a reduction in Equity Award Payments did not
occur, then the Company shall reduce the amount of the Equity Award Payments by
the least amount that would provide the Executive with such greater after-tax
amount.
(d)
All determinations required to be made
under this Section 5, including whether and when Payments are to be reduced so
that Payments are reduced to the Safe Harbor Amount and the amount of such
reduction and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination,
shall be made by the public accounting firm that is retained by the Company as
of the date immediately prior to the Change in Control (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 Company
or the Executive that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is
requested by the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event (i) the Board shall
determine prior to the Change in Control that the Accounting Firm is precluded
from performing such services under applicable auditor independence rules or (ii)
the Audit Committee of the Board determines that it does not want the
Accounting Firm to perform such services because of auditor independence
concerns or (iii) the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for
the individual, entity or group effecting the Change in Control, the Board
shall appoint another nationally recognized public accounting firm to make the
determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be referred
to as the Accounting Firm hereunder).
All fees, costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, the costs
of retaining experts) of the Accounting Firm shall be borne by the Company. If Payments are reduced to the Safe Harbor
Amount or the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the
Executive without a reduction in Payments, the Accounting Firm shall furnish
the Executive with a written opinion to the effect that the Executive is not
required to report any Excise Tax on the Executives federal income tax return,
and that the failure to report the Excise Tax, if any, on the Executives
applicable federal income tax return will not result in the imposition of a
negligence or similar penalty. The
determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the
Executive.
(e)
The following terms shall have the
following meanings for purposes of this Section.
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(i) Equity Award Payment means any Payment to
the Executive on account of awards of compensation to the Executive in the form
of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock
units, performance shares or other forms of award payable in or exercisable
with respect to Company stock.
(ii) Excise Tax means the excise tax imposed by Section
4999 of the Code, together with any interest or penalties imposed with respect
to such excise tax.
(iii) Nonqualified Deferred Compensation means any
reimbursement, payment or benefit to be paid or provided under this Agreement
or otherwise that constitutes a deferral of compensation within the meaning
of and subject to Section 409A of the Code.
(iv) Non-Equity Award Payment means any payment
to the Executive other than an Equity Award Payment.
(v) Parachute Value of a Payment means the
present value as of the date of the change of control from purposes of Section 280G
of the Code of the portion of such Payment that constitutes a parachute
payment under Section 280G(b)(2), as determined by the Accounting Firm for
purposes of determining whether and to what extent the Excise Tax will apply to
such Payment.
(vi) A Payment means any payment or distribution
in the nature of compensation (within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the
Code) to or for the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable pursuant
to this Agreement or otherwise.
(vii) The Safe Harbor Amount means the maximum
Parachute Value of all Payments that an Executive can receive without any
Payments being subject to the Excise Tax.
6.
Delay of Payments
.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 6(b) below, in the event that
any payment or distribution or portion of any payment or distribution to be made
to the Executive under Section 3(a) of this Agreement cannot be characterized
as a short term deferral for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, and the
Executive is determined to be a specified employee (as defined in Section 409A
of the Code), and Change in Control is as defined for purposes of this
Agreement does not satisfy the requirements of a change in control event as
described in Section 409A of the Code and the guidance and regulations issued
thereunder, or if Change in Control does satisfy such requirements under Code
Section 409A but the Termination Date is not within two years following the
Change in Control in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(c)(1),
then an amount equal to the aggregate severance payments that would otherwise
be payable to the Executive upon an involuntary termination of employment under
any other employment agreement or other compensation arrangement entered into
between the Executive and the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall be paid
to the Executive at the same time and in the same form of payment as such other
severance payments would otherwise be paid and the remainder of the payment or
distribution, or portion thereof, under Section 3(a) of this Agreement shall be
paid in accordance with Section 3(a).
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(b) In the event that any
payment or distribution or portion of any payment or distribution to be made to
the Executive hereunder cannot be characterized as a short term deferral for purposes
of Section 409A of the Code, or is not otherwise exempt from the provisions of Section
409A of the Code, and the Executive is determined to be a specified employee
under Section 409A of the Code, such portion of the payment shall be delayed
until the earlier to occur of the Executives death or the date which is six
months and one day following the termination of the Executives employment with
the Company and its subsidiaries (the Delay Period). Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, the
payments delayed pursuant to this Section 6 shall be paid to the Executive or
his beneficiaries in a lump sum, and any remaining payments due under this
Agreement shall be payable in accordance with their original payment schedule.
7.
Withholding Taxes
.
The Company may withhold from all payments due to the Executive (or the
Executives beneficiary or estate) hereunder all taxes which, by applicable
federal, state, local or other law, the Company is required to withhold
therefrom.
8.
Disputes;
Reimbursement of Expenses;
Interest on Late Payments
.
(a)
If any contest or dispute shall arise
under this Agreement involving termination of the Executives employment with
the Company or involving the failure or refusal of the Company to perform fully
in accordance with the terms hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Executive,
on a current basis, for all legal fees and expenses, if any, incurred by the
Executive in connection with such contest or dispute, together with interest
thereon at a rate equal to the prime rate, as published under Money Rates in
The
Wall Street Journal
from time to time plus 300 basis points, but in no
event higher than the maximum legal rate permissible under applicable law (the Interest
Rate), such interest to accrue from the date the Company receives the
Executives written statement for such fees and expenses through the date of
payment thereof;
provided
,
however
, that in the event the
resolution of any such contest or dispute includes a finding denying, in total,
the Executives claims in such contest or dispute, the Executive shall be
required to reimburse the Company, over a period of 12 months from the date of
such resolution, for all sums advanced to the Executive pursuant to this Section
8.
(b)
With respect to any and all payments that
are required to be made by the Company to the Executive pursuant to this
Agreement and that are not made within the time period specified herein, the
Company shall pay to the Executive interest on such payments at the Interest
Rate. Such interest shall accrue from
the due date of the required payment through the date on which such payment is
made to the Executive.
(c)
Payment or reimbursement of expenses
described in this Section 8 shall be made promptly and in no event later than December
31 of the year following the year in which such expenses were incurred, and the
amount of such expenses eligible for payment or reimbursement in any year shall
not affect the amount of such expenses eligible for payment or reimbursement in
any other year nor shall the right to payment or reimbursement be subject to
liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
9.
Operative Event
.
No amounts shall be payable hereunder unless and until there is a Change
in Control.
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10.
Termination of Agreement
. (a)
This Agreement shall be effective on the
date hereof and shall continue until terminated by the Company as provided in Section
10(b);
provided
,
however
, that this Agreement shall terminate in
any event upon the earlier to occur of (1) termination of the Executives
employment with the Company prior to a Change in Control and (2) the Executives
death.
(b) The Company shall have the
right prior to a Change in Control, in its sole discretion, pursuant to action
by the Board, to approve the termination of this Agreement, which termination
shall not become effective until the date fixed by the Board for such
termination, which date shall be at least 120 days after notice thereof is
given by the Company to the Executive in accordance with Section 13;
provided
,
however
, that no such action shall be taken by the Board during any
period of time when the Board has knowledge that any person has taken steps
reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control until, in the opinion of
the Board, such person has abandoned or terminated its efforts to effect a
Change in Control; and
provided
further
, that in no event shall
this Agreement be terminated in the event of a Change in Control.
11.
Scope of Agreement; Entire Agreement
. (a)
Nothing in this Agreement shall be
deemed to entitle the Executive to continued employment with the Company or its
subsidiaries and, subject to Section 2 hereof, if the Executives employment
with the Company shall terminate prior to a Change in Control, then the
Executive shall have no further rights under this Agreement;
provided
,
however
,
that any termination of the Executives employment following a Change in
Control shall be subject to all of the provisions of this Agreement.
(b)
This Agreement supersedes the Severance
Agreement between the parties entered into as of April 4, 2005. This Agreement constitutes the entire
understanding between the parties with respect to the Executives severance pay
in the event of a termination of the Executives employment with the Company in
connection with a Change in Control; provided, however, that except as
otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, the rights of, and benefits
payable to, the Executive, the Executives estate or the Executives beneficiaries
pursuant to this Agreement are in addition to any rights of, or benefits
payable to, the Executive, the Executives estate or the Executives
beneficiaries under any other employee benefit plan or broad-based compensation
program of the Company.
12.
Successors; Binding Agreement
.
(a) This Agreement shall not be
terminated by any merger or consolidation of the Company whereby the Company is
or is not the surviving or resulting corporation or as a result of any transfer
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company. In the event of any such merger,
consolidation or transfer of assets, the provisions of this Agreement shall be
binding upon the surviving or resulting corporation or the person or entity to
which such assets are transferred.
(b) The Company agrees that
concurrently with any merger, consolidation or transfer of assets referred to
in Section 12(a), it will cause any successor or transferee unconditionally to
assume, by written instrument delivered to the Executive (or the Executives
beneficiary or estate), all of the obligations of the Company hereunder. Failure of the Company to obtain such
assumption prior to the effectiveness of any such merger, consolidation or
transfer
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of assets shall be a breach of this Agreement and
shall entitle the Executive to compensation and other benefits from the Company
in the same amount and on the same terms as the Executive would be entitled
hereunder if the Executives employment were terminated following a Change in
Control other than by reason of a Nonqualifying Termination during the
Termination Period. For purposes of
implementing the foregoing, the date on which any such merger, consolidation or
transfer becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination.
(c) This Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executives personal or legal
representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees,
devisees and legatees. If the Executive
shall die while any amounts would be payable to the Executive hereunder had the
Executive continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided
herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to such
person or persons appointed in writing by the Executive to receive such amounts
or, if no person is so appointed, to the Executives estate.
13.
Notices
. (a) For purposes of this Agreement, all notices
and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or five days after
deposit in the United States mail, certified and return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, addressed (1) if to the Executive, to Executives home address
as shown on the Companys records, and if to the Company, to Aon Corporation,
200 East Randolph Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60602, 3d Floor, attention General
Counsel, with a copy to the Secretary, or (2) to such other address as either
party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except
that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
(b)
A written notice of the Executives
Termination Date by the Company or the Executive, as the case may be, to the
other, shall (1) indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement
relied upon, (2) to the extent applicable, 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 and (3) specify the
termination date (which date shall be not less than 15 days after the giving of
such notice). The failure by the
Executive or the Company to set forth in such notice 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 hereunder or preclude the Executive or
the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executives
or the Companys rights hereunder.
14.
Full Settlement; Resolution of Disputes
. (a)
The Companys obligation to make any 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, subject to Section 3(c) hereof,
such amounts
shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other employment.
(b)
If there shall be any dispute between the
Company and the Executive in the event of any termination of the Executives
employment, then, unless and until there is a
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final, nonappealable judgment by a court of competent
jurisdiction declaring that such termination was for Cause, that the
determination by the Executive of the existence of Good Reason was not made in
good faith, or that the Company is not otherwise obligated to pay any amount or
provide any benefit to the Executive and the Executives dependents or other
beneficiaries, as the case may be, under Sections 3 and 4 hereof, the Company
shall pay all amounts, and provide all benefits, to the Executive and the
Executives dependents or other beneficiaries, as the case may be, that the
Company would be required to pay or provide pursuant to Sections 3 and 4 hereof
as though such termination were by the Company without Cause or by the
Executive with Good Reason;
provided
,
however
, that the Company
shall not be required to pay any disputed amounts pursuant to this Section 14(b)
except upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay
all such amounts to which the Executive is ultimately adjudged by such court
not to be entitled.
15.
Employment with, and Action by,
Subsidiaries
. For purposes of this Agreement, employment
with the Company or actions taken by the Company with respect to the Executive
shall include employment with or actions taken by any corporation or other
entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect ownership interest of 50%
or more of the total combined voting power of the then outstanding securities
of such corporation or other entity entitled to vote generally in the election
of directors.
16.
Governing Law; Validity
.
The interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall
be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws
of the State of Illinois without regard to the principle of conflicts of
laws. The invalidity or unenforceability
of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of any other provisions of this Agreement, which other
provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
17.
Counterparts
.
This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed to be an original and both of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.
18.
Miscellaneous
.
No provision of this Agreement may be modified or waived unless such
modification or waiver is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and
by a duly authorized officer of the Company.
No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other
party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this
Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of
similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or
subsequent time. Failure by the
Executive or the Company to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of
this Agreement or 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, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such
provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in
this Agreement, the rights of, and benefits payable to, the Executive, the
Executives estate or the Executives beneficiaries pursuant to this Agreement
are in addition to any rights of, or benefits payable to, the Executive, the
Executives estate or the Executives beneficiaries under any other employee
benefit plan or compensation program of the Company.
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19.
Prohibition on Acceleration of Payments
.
The time or schedule of any payment or amount scheduled to be paid
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, or pursuant to the terms of any other
employment agreement or compensation arrangement entered into between the
Executive and the Company or any of its subsidiaries, may not be accelerated
hereunder, or under any such other employment agreement or other compensation
arrangement, except as otherwise permitted under Section 409A of the Code and
the guidance and Treasury Regulations issued thereunder.
20.
Code Section 409A
. The parties intend that this Agreement
and the benefits provided hereunder be interpreted and construed to comply with
Section 409A of the Code to the extent applicable thereto. Notwithstanding any provision of the
Agreement to the contrary, the Agreement shall be interpreted and construed
consistent with this intent, provided that the Company shall not be required to
assume any increased economic burden in connection therewith. Although the Company intends to administer
the Agreement so that it will comply with the requirements of Section 409A of
the Code, the Company does not represent or warrant that the Agreement will
comply with Section 409A of the Code or any other provision of federal, state,
local or non-United States law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be
executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company and the Executive has
executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
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AON CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ Lester B. Knight
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Lester B. Knight
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Chairman
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EXECUTIVE
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/s/
Greg Case
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Gregory C. Case
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14
Exhibit
99.1
Aon Extends Employment Agreement
With President and Chief Executive Officer Greg Case
CHICAGO, Nov. 16
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ Aon Corporation, the leading global provider of risk
management services and human capital consulting, today announced that it has
extended the employment agreement of President and Chief Executive Officer
Gregory C. Case, which was set to renew in 2010, through April 3, 2015.
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041215/CGW049LOGO)
Greg continues to do a terrific
job leading Aon, said Lester B. Knight, non-executive chairman and director of
Aon Corporation. Under Gregs leadership, the firm is well-positioned to
enhance shareholder value.
Thanks to the tremendous
work of our team members around the world, the core foundation of Aon continues
to improve and is stronger than ever, said Case. I am grateful for the
support of the Aon Board of Directors and deeply appreciative of the
opportunity to work with my Aon colleagues to serve our valued clients and
continue to build our great firm.
Case, 46, has served as
President and Chief Executive Officer of Aon Corporation since April 2005
when he joined the firm. He currently serves on the boards of Discover
Financial Services, the International Insurance Society, Inc., Childrens
Memorial Hospital, The Field Museum of Chicago, the Economic Club of Chicago,
the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the St. Johns University School of Risk
Management, where he was named the 2008 Insurance Executive of the Year.
About Aon
Aon Corporation (NYSE: AOC)
is the leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and
reinsurance brokerage, and human capital consulting. Through its more than
37,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon readily delivers distinctive client value via
innovative and effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions.
Aons industry-leading global resources and technical expertise are delivered
locally through more than 500 offices in more than 120 countries. Named the
worlds best broker by Euromoney magazines 2008 and 2009 Insurance Survey, Aon
also ranked highest on Business Insurances listing of the worlds largest
insurance brokers based on commercial retail, wholesale, reinsurance and
personal lines brokerage revenues in 2008. A.M. Best deemed Aon the number
one insurance broker based on brokerage revenues in 2007 and 2008, and Aon was
voted best insurance intermediary, best reinsurance intermediary and best
employee benefits consulting firm in 2007, 2008 and 2009 by the readers of
Business Insurance. For more information on Aon, log onto
http://www.aon.com
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Safe Harbor
Statement
This press release contains
certain statements related to future results, or states our intentions, beliefs
and expectations or predictions for the future which are forward-looking
statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from either
historical or anticipated results depending on a variety of factors. Potential
factors that could impact results include: general economic conditions in
different countries in which we do business around the world, changes in global
equity and fixed income markets that could affect the return on invested
assets, fluctuations in exchange and interest rates that could influence
revenue and expense, rating agency actions that could affect our ability to
borrow funds, funding of our various pension plans, changes in the competitive
environment, our ability to implement restructuring initiatives and other
initiatives intended to yield cost savings, changes in commercial property and
casualty markets and commercial premium rates that could impact revenues, the
outcome of inquiries from regulators and investigations related to compliance
with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and non-U.S. anti-corruption laws,
the impact of investigations brought by U.S. state attorneys general, U.S.
state insurance regulators, U.S. federal prosecutors, U.S. federal regulators,
and regulatory authorities in the U.K. and other countries, the impact of class
actions and individual lawsuits including client class actions, securities
class actions, derivative actions, ERISA class actions, the cost of resolution
of other contingent liabilities and loss contingencies, our ability to
integrate Benfield successfully and to realize the anticipated benefits of the
Benfield merger. Further information concerning the Company and its business,
including factors that potentially could materially affect the Companys
financial results, is contained in the Companys filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
Media Contact:
David Prosperi
Aon Corp.
312-381-2485
David_Prosperi@aon.com
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