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): December 13, 2011
Coeur dAlene Mines Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
IDAHO
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
1-8641
(Commission File Number)
82-0109423
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
505 Front Ave., P.O. Box I
Coeur dAlene, Idaho, 83816
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(208) 667-3511
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(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 Instructions A.2 below):
¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(e) | Material Compensatory Plans, Contracts or Arrangements |
On January 4, 2012, Coeur dAlene Mines Corporation (the Company) entered into an employment agreement with K. Leon Hardy providing for a term of employment from December 31, 2011 through December 31, 2012 as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. The employment agreement provides for a base salary of $315,000 and an annual incentive bonus targeted to be 50% of Mr. Hardys then-current salary. In addition, Mr. Hardy has the opportunity to earn a long-term incentive bonus with a target level of 190% of his base salary. Such bonuses are at the discretion of the Companys Board of Directors. The employment agreement also provides for a vehicle allowance. A copy of the employment agreement is filed as an exhibit to this Form 8-K.
On January 4, 2012, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Kelli C. Kast providing for a term of employment from December 31, 2011 through June 30, 2012 as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Company. The employment agreement provides for a base salary of $250,000 and an annual incentive bonus targeted to be 50% of Ms. Kasts then-current salary. In addition, Ms. Kast has the opportunity to earn a long-term incentive bonus with a target level of 190% of her base salary. Such bonuses are at the discretion of the Companys Board of Directors. The employment agreement also provides for a vehicle allowance. A copy of the employment agreement is filed as an exhibit to this Form 8-K.
On December 13, 2011, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted an Executive Severance Policy, effective January 1, 2012. This policy provides for certain benefits upon severance for executive officers or key employees designated by the Compensation Committee of the Companys Board of Directors. In connection with an involuntary termination, such an employee would be entitled to up to one year of continued health care benefits, plus severance pay consisting of the sum of the employees base salary, target annual incentive bonus and target long-term incentive bonus. In connection with an involuntary termination occurring in connection with a change in control, the employee would be entitled to up to 18 months of continued health care benefits, plus severance pay consisting of 1.5 times the sum of the employees base salary and target annual incentive bonus. A copy of the policy is filed as an exhibit to this Form 8-K.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) | Exhibits: |
Exhibit |
Description of Exhibit | |
10.1 | Employment Agreement, dated January 4, 2012, between the Company and K. Leon Hardy. | |
10.2 | Employment Agreement, dated January 4, 2012, between the Company and Kelli C. Kast. | |
10.3 | Coeur dAlene Mines Corporation Executive Severance Policy, effective as of January 1, 2012. |
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SIGNATURE
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.
Coeur dAlene Mines Corporation | ||||||
Date: January 6, 2012 | By: | /s/ Mitchell J. Krebs | ||||
Name: | Mitchell J. Krebs | |||||
Title: | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit |
Description of Exhibit | |
10.1 | Employment Agreement, dated January 4, 2012, between the Company and K. Leon Hardy. | |
10.2 | Employment Agreement, dated January 4, 2012, between the Company and Kelli C. Kast. | |
10.3 | Coeur dAlene Mines Corporation Executive Severance Policy, effective as of January 1, 2012. |
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Exhibit 10.1
Employment Agreement
This Employment Agreement is made on this 4th day of January 2012, between Coeur dAlene Mines Corporation (Company), and K. Leon Hardy (Employee) is made effective on the 31st day of December, 2011.
WITNESSETH:
In consideration of the mutual promises and covenants herein contained to be kept and performed by the parties hereto, the parties agree as follows:
1. Employment. The Company agrees to, and hereby does, employ Employee as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Company, and Employee accepts such employment, on the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
2. Term Of Employment. The initial term of Employees employment pursuant to this Agreement shall be from December 31, 2011 through December 31, 2012 (the Term). Following the expiration of the initial Term, the Term will automatically renew for successive terms of one year each unless either Employee or the Company notify the other in writing of intent not to renew, no less than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the initial or subsequent Term. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Term and Employees employment with the Company may be sooner terminated in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 below.
3. Compensation. The Company shall pay to Employee during the duration of the Term as follows:
(a) A base salary of $315,000 annually, payable in equal monthly installments, which may be reviewed and increased annually during any Agreement year, but which may not be decreased, and any higher salary to become the base salary for the purposes of this provision, it being understood, however, that failure to increase the salary shall not be grounds for termination of this Agreement (the Base Salary);
(b) Employee shall be entitled to participate in the Companys Annual Incentive Plan (or any successor thereto), with a target bonus opportunity thereunder during each calendar year of 50% of Employees Base Salary (the Target Annual Bonus), which, at the date of this Agreement, is the potential sum of $157,500, and a maximum bonus opportunity of 200% of the Target Annual Bonus which, at the date of this Agreement, is $315,000;
(c) Employee shall be entitled to participate in the Companys Amended and Restated 2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan (or any successor thereto), with a target award opportunity thereunder during each calendar year of 190% of Employees Base Salary at the beginning of such calendar year (the Target LTIP Award);
(d) Such other compensation and benefits that may be made available by the Company in the discretion of the Board, including, without limitation, retirement plan, profit
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sharing plan, stock purchase plan and any other kind or type of incentive programs approved by the Board; it being understood that Employee shall be a participant in all compensation and benefit programs, both retirement and welfare benefit plans, which exist for the executive staff of the Company; and
(e) Employee will be eligible for a cash vehicle allowance to be paid by the Company which allowance amount shall be not less than $500 per month, and may be increased from time-to- time in the discretion of the Board.
4. Duties. Employee, during the Term, shall perform the duties usually and customarily associated with the office specified in Section 1 above and as assigned to Employee from time-to-time by the Board. As a part of Employees duties it is agreed that Employee will become familiar with and comply with Employees duties under the Sarbanes-Oxley laws and under the Companys corporate governance policies, and Employee will, with the assistance of the Companys outside counsel and accountants, promptly execute the necessary public filings and certify the contents of such documents on the date of their filing. Employee shall devote Employees best efforts and substantially all of Employees time during business hours to advance the interests of the Company. During the Term and any applicable Restricted Period (as defined in Section 7), Employee shall not engage in business activity in competition with the Company.
5. Vacation. Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of paid vacation during each contract year of this Agreement in accordance with the Companys vacation policy as in effect from time to time.
6. Termination Of Employment. The Term and Employees employment with the Company may be terminated by either party at any time and for any or no reason; provided, however, that the Company and Employee will be required to give written notice of any termination of Employees employment as set forth in this Section 6. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section 6 shall exclusively govern Employees rights to compensation and benefits upon termination of employment with the Company and its affiliates.
(a) Notice of Termination. Any termination of Employees employment by the Company or by Employee under this Section 6 (other than as a result of Employees death) shall be communicated by a written notice to the other party specifying a date of termination (the Date of Termination) which, if submitted by Employee, shall be at least thirty (30) days and no more than forty-five days following the date of such notice; provided, however, that in the case of a termination by Employee for Good Reason, Employee may provide immediate written notice of termination once the applicable cure period (as contemplated by the definition of Good Reason) has lapsed if the Company has not reasonably cured the circumstances that gave rise to the basis for the Good Reason termination. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, during the period beginning on the date of the notice of termination and ending on the Date of Termination, the Company may, in its sole discretion, place Employee on paid leave of absence during which he shall continue to be deemed to be an employee of the Company for all purposes under this Agreement, but only be involved in Company matters to the extent requested by the Company.
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(b) Accrued Rights. Upon a termination of Employees employment for any reason, Employee (or Employees estate) shall be entitled to receive the sum of (i) Employees Base Salary through the Date of Termination not theretofore paid; (ii) any expenses owed to Employee under the Companys expense reimbursement policy; (iii) any accrued vacation pay owed to Employee; and (iv) any amount arising from Employees participation in, or benefits under, any employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements (including, without limitation, the Companys Amended and Restated 2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan, Annual Incentive Plan, and/or any successors thereto), which amounts shall be payable in accordance with the terms and conditions of such employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements (clauses (i)-(iv)_collectively shall be the Accrued Rights), which (except for amounts under clause (iv) which shall be paid pursuant to the applicable plan, program or arrangement) shall be paid to Employee promptly, but in all events within thirty days following the Date of Termination.
(c) Termination by the Company without Cause or by Employee for Good Reason Apart From a Change in Control. If Employees employment is terminated during the Term by the Company without Cause (and not by reason of the expiration of the Term, Employees death, Disability, a termination by Employee without Good Reason, or a termination by the Company for Cause) or by Employee for Good Reason, in either case, more than 90 days prior to or more than two (2) years following a Change in Control, then, in addition to the Accrued Rights, Employee (or, if applicable, Employees estate) shall be entitled to the following benefits (subject to Section 6(g)):
(i) Severance pay consisting of an amount equal to the sum of the Base Salary, Target Annual Bonus and Target LTIP Award for the full year in which the Date of Termination occurs; which amount shall be payable to Employee in twelve (12) equal monthly installments commencing on the date that is thirty days following the Date of Termination; and
(ii) Continuation of the health care benefits for Employee and his dependents until the earlier of (1) the date Employee becomes eligible for comparable coverage (at a comparable cost) or (2) the first anniversary of the Date of Termination, which benefits shall be provided at the same coverage level as in effect as of the Date of Termination, and at the same premium cost to Employee that was paid by Employee as of the Date of Termination (subject to the terms and conditions of such benefit plans as in effect from time to time).
For purposes of this Agreement, the term Cause means: (A) that Employee has failed to perform Employees duties after having received from the Company written documentation that Employees duties are not being performed, which written documentation shall specify how performance is deficient, and Employee then fails to resume satisfactory performance promptly after receipt of such documentation and failure of performance is not satisfactorily rectified; (B) a serious and substantial failure to perform Employees duties, which failure is so obvious and so harmful to Company that written documentation and an opportunity to rectify conduct need not be afforded by Company to Employee; and (C) conviction of a felony, or engagement in illegal conduct which may not constitute a felony but which is injurious to the Company, in either such case Company need not allow Employee to rectify nonperformance. For purposes of this Agreement, failure to perform duties includes, but is not limited to, misfeasance or nonfeasance of duty which was intended to, or does, injure the Companys reputation or its business or relationships, including normal working relationships between employees; willful
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and continued failure of Employee to substantially perform his duties under this Agreement (except by reason of physical or mental disability); dishonesty in the performance of Employees duties and material breach by Employee of the covenants contained in Section 4 above.
For purposes of this Agreement, the term Good Reason means a termination of employment within sixty (60) days following: (i) a material reduction in Employees responsibilities, authorities or duties as compared to those in existence on the effective date of this Agreement which is evidence of the duties contemplated by Section 4; or (ii) material failure of the Company to pay to Employee any amount otherwise vested and due under this Agreement or under any plan or policy of the Company, which failure in either (i) or (ii) is not cured within thirty (30) days from receipt by the Company of written notice from Employee which specifies the details of the failure.
For the avoidance of doubt, following Employees termination of employment by the Company without Cause (and not by reason of the expiration of the Term, Employees death, Disability, a termination by Employee without Good reason, or a termination by the Company for Cause) or by Employee for Good Reason, in either case, more than 90 days prior to or more than two (2) years following a Change in Control, Employee shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement, except as set forth in this Section 6(c).
(d) Termination by the Company without Cause or by Employee for Good Reason in Connection with a Change in Control. If Employees employment is terminated during the Term by the Company without Cause (and not by reason of the expiration of the Term, Employees death, Disability, a termination by Employee without Good Reason, or a termination by the Company for Cause) or by Employee for Good Reason, in either case, within the period that begins 90 days prior to and ends two years following a Change in Control, then, in addition to the Accrued Rights, Employee (or, if applicable, Employees estate) shall be entitled to the following benefits (subject to Sections 6(g) and 6(h)):
(i) A lump sum severance payment in an amount equal to two (2) times the sum of the Base Salary and Target Annual Bonus Award for the year in which the Date of Termination occurs; which amount shall be payable to Employee within sixty (60) days following the Date of Termination; and
(ii) Continuation of the health care benefits for Employee and his dependents until the earlier of (1) the date Employee becomes eligible for comparable coverage (at a comparable cost) or (2) the second anniversary of the Date of Termination, which benefits shall be provided at the same coverage level as in effect as of the Date of Termination, and at the same premium cost to Employee that was paid by Employee as of the Date of Termination (subject to the terms and conditions of such benefit plans as in effect from time to time).
For purposes of this Agreement, the term Change in Control shall mean and be determined to have occurred in the following instances:
(A) any organization, group or person (Person) (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended)(the Exchange Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in
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Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 35% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company; or
(B) during any two-year period, a majority of the members of the Board serving at the date of this Agreement is replaced by directors who are not nominated and approved by the Board; or
(C) a majority of the members of the Board is represented by, appointed by or affiliated with any Person whom the Board has determined is seeking to effect a Change in Control of the Company; or
(D) the Company shall be combined with or acquired by another company and the Board shall have determined, either before such event or thereafter, by resolution, that a Change in Control will or has occurred.
For the avoidance of doubt, following Employees termination of employment by the Company without Cause (and not by reason of the expiration of the Term, Employees death, Disability, a termination by Employee without Good Reason, or a termination by the Company for Cause) or by Employee for Good Reason, in either case, within the period that begins 90 days prior to and ends two (2) years following a Change in Control, Employee shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement, except as set forth in this Section 6(d).
(e) Other Termination. If Employees employment is terminated during the Term by the Company for Cause, upon Employees resignation without Good Reason or upon or following the expiration of the Term or any renewal thereof due to notice of non-renewal, without renewal thereof, Employee shall only be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights. Following Employees termination of employment by the Company for Cause, upon Employees resignation without Good Reason or upon or following the expiration of the Term without renewal thereof, Employee shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement, except as set forth in this Section 6(e).
(f) Disability or Death. The Term and Employees employment with the Company will terminate upon Employees death or Disability. Upon termination of Employees employment hereunder by reason of his death or Disability, Employee or Employees estate (as the case may be) shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights. For purposes of this Agreement, the term Disability means inability or incapacity, due to physical or mental illness, of Employee to perform his duties with the Company for a period of three (3) continuous months. Following the termination of Employees employment by reason of Employees Disability or death, Employee shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement, except as set forth in this Section 6(f).
(g) Release; Cessation of Severance Payments. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Employee hereby agrees that (i) Employee shall be entitled to the payments and benefits provided for in Sections 6(c) or 6(d) (other than the Accrued Rights) if and only if (A) Employee executes and delivers to the Company a general release of claims against the Company in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company (the General Release) within
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twenty-one (21) days following the Date of Termination (which General Release shall be provided to Employee on or about the Date of Termination) and the General Release has become effective and irrevocable in accordance with its terms, and (B) Employee does not breach in any material respect any of the restrictive covenants in Section 7 of this Agreement at any time during the period for which such payments or benefits are to be made; and (ii) the Companys obligation to make any of the payments or provide any of the benefits provided for in Sections 6(c) or 6(d) (other than the Accrued Rights) will terminate upon the occurrence of any breach in any material respect any of the restrictive covenants in Section 7 of this Agreement by Employee during any such period.
(h) Limitation on Payments. If the severance payments provided for under this Agreement, either alone or together with other payments which Employee would have the right to receive from the Company, would constitute a parachute payment, as defined in Section 280G(a) of the Code as in effect at the time of payment, such payment shall be reduced to the largest amount as will result in no portion being subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or the disallowance of a deduction by Company pursuant to Section 280G of the Code. The determination of the amount of any reduction under this section, and the plan and payment to which such reductions shall apply, shall, to the extent permitted by Section 409A, be made in good faith by the Company and otherwise shall be made in such a manner so as to maximize the value of payments to Employee and such determination shall be binding on Employee.
7. Employee Covenants.
(a) Confidentiality. Employee agrees to keep information acquired in connection with Employees employment confidential, in accordance with the confidentiality agreement which is attached to this Agreement, marked Attachment A, previously executed by Employee.
(b) Resignation of Offices. Promptly following the termination of Employees employment with the Company for any reason other than his death, Employee shall promptly deliver to the Company reasonably satisfactory evidence of Employees resignation from all positions that Employee may then hold as an employee, officer or director of the Company or any affiliate.
(c) Ongoing Assistance. Following the termination of Employees employment with the Company and its affiliates, Employee agrees to make himself reasonably available, subject to Employees other personal and professional commitments and obligations, to provide information and other assistance as reasonably requested by the Company (and, at the reasonable expense of the Company), with respect to pending, threatened or potential claims and other matters related to the business of the Company about which Employee has personal knowledge as a result of Employees supervision or other involvement within such claims or matters performed in connection with Employees employment. In all events, the Company shall reimburse Employee or pay on Employees behalf, all direct expenses incurred (including any travel) in connection with Employees fulfillment of the obligations set forth in this Section 7(c).
(d) Agreement Not to Compete. Employee will not during the period of Employees employment by the Company and, in the event of a termination of Employees
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employment under any of the circumstances covered by Sections 6(c) or (d), for twelve (12) months thereafter (the Restricted Period), directly or indirectly, whether as owner, partner, investor, consultant, agent, employee, co-venturer or otherwise, compete with the Company or any affiliate (collectively, the Company Group) within any state, province or region in any country in which the Company Group conducts business, or has plans (of which Employee was aware) to conduct business, as of the Date of Termination, or undertake any planning for any business competitive with the Company Group. Specifically, but without limiting the foregoing, Employee agrees not to engage in any manner in any activity that is directly or indirectly competitive with the business of the Company Group as conducted as of the Date of Termination or that otherwise provides services that directly or indirectly complete with services provided to clients by the Company Group, and further agrees not to work or provide services, in any capacity, whether as an employee, independent contractor or otherwise, whether with or without compensation, to any Person who is engaged in any business that is competitive with the business of the Company Group or otherwise provides services that directly or indirectly complete with services provided to clients by the Company Group. For the purposes of this Section 7(d), the business of the Company shall include active exploration and precious metals mining operations. The foregoing, however, shall not prevent Employees passive ownership of two percent (2%) or less of the equity securities of any publicly traded company.
(e) Agreement Not to Solicit Business Contacts. Employee agrees that, during the Restricted Period, Employee will not directly or indirectly (i) solicit or encourage any client, customer, bona fide prospective client or customer, supplier, licensee, licensor, landlord or other business relation of the Company and/or any of its affiliates (each a Business Contact) to terminate or diminish its relationship with them; or (ii) seek to persuade any such Business Contact to conduct with anyone else the business of the Company that such Business Contact conducts or could conduct with the Company and/or any of its affiliates.
(f) Agreement Not to Solicit or Hire Employees. During the Restricted Period, Employee will not directly or indirectly solicit for employment, employ or induce or attempt to induce any employees, consultants, contractors or representatives of the Company and/or any of its affiliates to stop working for, contracting with or representing the Company and/or its affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall not be in breach or violation hereof in the event Employee shall use any form of industry wide or public media to advertise, seek or solicit employment, consulting, contract or representative services without specifically targeting the employees, consultants, contractors or representatives of the Company.
(g) Non-Disparagement. Employee shall not, during the Term or at any time thereafter, make, directly or indirectly, any public or private statements or other communications that are or could be harmful to or reflect negatively on (or that are otherwise disparaging of) the Company or any of its affiliates or their respective businesses, or any of their past, present or future officers, directors, employees, advisors, agents, policies, procedures, practices, decision-making, conduct, professionalism or compliance with standards, provided that Employee may give truthful testimony under oath if so required. The Company shall cause the Company and its executive officers and directors to not, during the Term or at any time thereafter, make, directly or indirectly, any public or private statements or other communications that are or could be harmful to or reflect negatively on (or that are otherwise disparaging of) Employee or his decision-making, conduct, professionalism or compliance with standards, provided that the Companys and any of its subsidiaries respective executive officers, directors and other employees may give truthful testimony under oath if so required.
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8. Specific Performance. Employee understands that the obligations undertaken by Employee as set forth in this Agreement are unique, and that Company will likely have no adequate remedy at law in the event such obligations are breached. Employee therefore confirms that Company has the right to seek specific performance if Company feels such remedy is essential to protect the rights of Company. Accordingly, in addition to any other remedies which Company might have in law or equity, it shall have the right to have all obligations specifically performed, and to obtain injunctive relief, preliminary or otherwise, to secure performance. Further, Employee acknowledges that he has carefully read and considered all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the restraints imposed upon him pursuant to Section 7. Employee agrees that each of the restraints contained in Section 7 are necessary for the protection of the goodwill, confidential information and other legitimate interests of the Company and its affiliates; that each and every one of these restraints is reasonable in respect to subject matter, length of time and geographic area; and that these restraints, individually or in the aggregate, will not prevent him from obtaining other suitable employment during the period in which Employee is bound by such restraints. Employee further acknowledges that, were he to breach any of the covenants contained in Section 7, the damage to the Company and its affiliates would be irreparable. Employee therefore agrees that the Company, in addition to any other remedies available to it, shall be entitled to injunctive relief against any breach or threatened breach by Employee of any of said covenants, without having to post bond. The parties further agree that, in the event that any provision of Section 7 shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of its being extended over too great a time, too large a geographic area or too great a range of activities, such provision shall be deemed to be modified to permit its enforcement to the maximum extent permitted by law.
9. Arbitration. Except as set forth in Section 8, Employee and Company agree that in the event a dispute arises concerning or relating to the interpretation, application or enforcement of this Agreement, such dispute shall be submitted to binding arbitration in accordance with the employment arbitration rules of American Arbitration Association (AAA) by a single impartial arbitrator experienced in employment law selected as follows: if Company and Employee are unable to agree upon an impartial arbitrator within ten days of a request for arbitration, the parties shall request a panel of employment arbitrators from AAA and alternatively strike names until a single arbitrator remains. The arbitration shall take place in Coeur dAlene, Idaho, and both Employee and Company agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the arbitrator selected in accordance with AAAs rules and procedures. Employee and Company further agree that arbitration as provided for in this section will be the exclusive remedy for any such dispute and will be used instead of any court action, which is hereby expressly waived, except for any request by either Party hereto for temporary or preliminary injunctive relief pending arbitration in accordance with applicable law, or an administrative claim with an administrative agency. The Parties further agree that the award of the arbitrator shall be final and binding on both parties. The arbitrator shall have discretion to award monetary and other damages, or no damages, and to fashion such other relief as the arbitrator deems appropriate. Company will be responsible for paying any filing fees and costs of the arbitration proceeding itself (for example, arbitrators fees, conference room, transcripts), but each Party shall be responsible for its own attorneys fees (except as set forth in Section 10(g) below). COMPANY AND EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGE
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AND AGREE THAT BY AGREEING TO ARBITRATE, THEY ARE WAIVING ANY RIGHT TO BRING AN ACTION AGAINST THE OTHER IN A COURT OF LAW, EITHER STATE OR FEDERAL, AND ARE WAIVING THE RIGHT TO HAVE CLAIMS AND DAMAGES, IF ANY, DETERMINED BY A JURY.
10. Other Items. The parties also agree:
(a) This Agreement shall not be amended or modified in any way unless the amendment or modification is in writing, signed by the parties. There shall be no oral modification of this Agreement.
(b) No provision of this Agreement shall be waived by conduct of the parties or in any other way.
(c) This Agreement and its validity, interpretation, construction and performance shall be governed by the laws of the State of Idaho.
(d) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, of the parties with respect to such subject matter, including, but not limited to, that certain Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective as of December 31, 2008, between the Company and Employee, as amended (the Original Employment Agreement), which Original Employment Agreement shall be of no further force or effect.
(e) Any and all notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be effective when delivered in person, consigned to a reputable national courier service or deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, registered or certified, and addressed to Employee at his last known address on the books of the Company or, in the case of the Company, at its principal place of business, attention of the General Counsel or to such other address as any party may specify by notice to the other actually received.
(f) Employee acknowledges that he previously received a copy of the Companys Insider Trading Policy.
(g) In the event of any arbitration or other litigation between the parties that is based upon or arises out of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the losing party its reasonable attorneys fees and costs (other than the arbitration costs described in Section 9, which will be borne by the Company whether or not it is the prevailing party).
11. Section 409A Compliance. All payments pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 11. This Agreement is intended to be interpreted and operated to the fullest extent possible so that the payments and benefits under this Agreement either shall be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Section 409A) or shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement in no event shall the Company be liable to the Employee for or with respect to any taxes, penalties or interest which
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may be imposed upon the Employee pursuant to Section 409A. For purposes of this Agreement, the date on which a separation from service pursuant to Section 409A (Separation from Service) occurs shall be treated as the termination of employment date for purposes of determining the timing of payments under this Agreement to the extent necessary to have such payments and benefits under this Agreement be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A or comply with the requirements of Section 409A. For purposes of determining whether a Separation from Service has occurred for purposes of Section 409A, a Separation from Service is deemed to include a reasonably anticipated permanent reduction in the level of services performed by the Employee to less than fifty percent (50%) of the average level of services performed by the Employee during the immediately preceding 12-month period (or period of service if less than twelve (12) months).
(a) To the extent that any payment or benefit pursuant to this Agreement constitutes a deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A (after taking into account to the maximum extent possible any applicable exemptions) (a 409A Payment) treated as payable upon a Separation from Service, then, if on the date of the Employees Separation from Service, the Employee is a Specified Employee, then to the extent required for Employee not to incur additional taxes pursuant to Section 409A, no such 409A Payment shall be made to the Employee sooner than the earlier of (i) six (6) months after the Employees Separation from Service; or (ii) the date of Employees death. Should this Section 11 otherwise result in the delay of in-kind benefits, any such benefit shall be made available to the Employee by the Company during such delay period at Employees expense. Should this Section 11 result in payments or benefits to Employee at a later time than otherwise would have been made under this Agreement, on the first day any such payments or benefits may be made without incurring additional tax pursuant to Section 409A (the 409A Payment Date), the Company shall make such payments and provide such benefits as provided for in this Agreement, provided that any amounts that would have been payable earlier but for the application of this Section 11, as well as reimbursement of the amount Employee paid for benefits pursuant to the preceding sentence, shall be paid in lump-sum on the 409A Payment Date along with accrued interest at the Prime Rate quoted by JP Morgan Chase on the date that payments or benefits, as applicable, to Employee should have been made under this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 11, the term Specified Employee shall have the meaning set forth in Section 409A.
(b) For purposes of complying with Section 409A and without extending the payment timing otherwise provided in this Agreement, taxable reimbursements under this Agreement, subject to the following sentence and to the extent required to comply with Section 409A, will be made no later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred. To the extent required to comply with Section 409A, any taxable reimbursements and any in-kind benefits under this Agreement will be subject to the following: (a) payment of such reimbursements or in-kind benefits during one calendar year will not affect the amount of such reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided during any other calendar year (other than for medical reimbursement arrangements as excepted under Treasury Regulations §1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv)(B) solely because the arrangement provides for a limit on the amount of expenses that may be reimbursed under such arrangement over some or all of the period the arrangement remains in effect); (b) such right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another form of compensation to the Employee; and (c) the right to reimbursements under this Agreement will be in effect for the lesser of the time
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specified in this Agreement or ten years plus the lifetime of the Employee. Any taxable reimbursements or in-kind benefits shall be treated as not subject to Section 409A to the maximum extent provided by Section 409A.
(c) No 409A Payment payable under this Agreement shall be subject to acceleration or to any change in the specified time or method of payment, except as otherwise provided under this Agreement and consistent with Section 409A. If under this Agreement, a 409A Payment is to be paid in two or more installments, for purposes of Section 409A, each installment shall be treated as a separate payment.
(d) If the Company or Employee determines that any provision of this Agreement is or might be inconsistent with the requirements of Section 409A, the parties shall attempt in good faith to agree on such amendments to this Agreement as may be necessary or appropriate to avoid subjecting Employee to the imposition of any additional tax under Section 409A without changing the basic economic terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted or construed to transfer any liability for failure to comply with Section 409A from Employee or any other individual to the Company. This Section 11 is not intended to impose any restrictions on payments or benefits to Employee other than those otherwise set forth in this Agreement or required for Employee not to incur additional tax under Section 409A and shall be interpreted and operated accordingly. The Company to the extent reasonably requested by Employee shall modify this Agreement to effectuate the intention set forth in the preceding sentence.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.
Coeur dAlene Mines Corporation
By | /s/ Mitchell J. Krebs | |
Mitchell J. Krebs, President & CEO | ||
/s/ K. Leon Hardy | ||
Employee |
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Exhibit 10.2
Employment Agreement
This Employment Agreement is made on this 4th day of January 2012, between Coeur dAlene Mines Corporation (Company), and Kelli C. Kast (Employee) is made effective on the 31st day of December, 2011.
WITNESSETH:
In consideration of the mutual promises and covenants herein contained to be kept and performed by the parties hereto, the parties agree as follows:
1. Employment. The Company agrees to, and hereby does, employ Employee as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Company, and Employee accepts such employment, on the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
2. Term Of Employment. The initial term of Employees employment pursuant to this Agreement shall be from December 31, 2011 through June 30, 2012 (the Term). Following the expiration of the initial Term, the Term will automatically renew for successive terms of one year each unless either Employee or the Company notify the other in writing of intent not to renew, no less than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the initial or subsequent Term. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Term and Employees employment with the Company may be sooner terminated in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 below.
3. Compensation. The Company shall pay to Employee during the duration of the Term as follows:
(a) A base salary of $250,000 annually, payable in equal monthly installments, which may be reviewed and increased annually during any Agreement year, but which may not be decreased, and any higher salary to become the base salary for the purposes of this provision, it being understood, however, that failure to increase the salary shall not be grounds for termination of this Agreement (the Base Salary);
(b) Employee shall be entitled to participate in the Companys Annual Incentive Plan (or any successor thereto), with a target bonus opportunity thereunder during each calendar year of 50% of Employees Base Salary (the Target Annual Bonus), which, at the date of this Agreement, is the potential sum of $125,000, and a maximum bonus opportunity of 200% of the Target Annual Bonus which, at the date of this Agreement, is $250,000;
(c) Employee shall be entitled to participate in the Companys Amended and Restated 2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan (or any successor thereto), with a target award opportunity thereunder during each calendar year of 190% of Employees Base Salary at the beginning of such calendar year (the Target LTIP Award);
(d) Such other compensation and benefits that may be made available by the Company in the discretion of the Board, including, without limitation, retirement plan, profit sharing plan, stock purchase plan and any other kind or type of incentive programs approved by the Board; it being understood that Employee shall be a participant in all compensation and benefit programs, both retirement and welfare benefit plans, which exist for the executive staff of the Company; and
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(e) Employee will be eligible for a cash vehicle allowance to be paid by the Company which allowance amount shall be not less than $500 per month, and may be increased from time-to- time in the discretion of the Board.
4. Duties. Employee, during the Term, shall perform the duties usually and customarily associated with the office specified in Section 1 above and as assigned to Employee from time-to-time by the Board. As a part of Employees duties it is agreed that Employee will become familiar with and comply with Employees duties under the Sarbanes-Oxley laws and under the Companys corporate governance policies, and Employee will, with the assistance of the Companys outside counsel and accountants, promptly execute the necessary public filings and certify the contents of such documents on the date of their filing. Employee shall devote Employees best efforts and substantially all of Employees time during business hours to advance the interests of the Company. During the Term and any applicable Restricted Period (as defined in Section 7), Employee shall not engage in business activity in competition with the Company.
5. Vacation. Employee shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of paid vacation during each contract year of this Agreement in accordance with the Companys vacation policy as in effect from time to time.
6. Termination Of Employment. The Term and Employees employment with the Company may be terminated by either party at any time and for any or no reason; provided, however, that the Company and Employee will be required to give written notice of any termination of Employees employment as set forth in this Section 6. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section 6 shall exclusively govern Employees rights to compensation and benefits upon termination of employment with the Company and its affiliates.
(a) Notice of Termination. Any termination of Employees employment by the Company or by Employee under this Section 6 (other than as a result of Employees death) shall be communicated by a written notice to the other party specifying a date of termination (the Date of Termination) which, if submitted by Employee, shall be at least thirty (30) days and no more than forty-five days following the date of such notice; provided, however, that in the case of a termination by Employee for Good Reason, Employee may provide immediate written notice of termination once the applicable cure period (as contemplated by the definition of Good Reason) has lapsed if the Company has not reasonably cured the circumstances that gave rise to the basis for the Good Reason termination. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, during the period beginning on the date of the notice of termination and ending on the Date of Termination, the Company may, in its sole discretion, place Employee on paid leave of absence during which he shall continue to be deemed to be an employee of the Company for all purposes under this Agreement, but only be involved in Company matters to the extent requested by the Company.
(b) Accrued Rights. Upon a termination of Employees employment for any reason, Employee (or Employees estate) shall be entitled to receive the sum of (i) Employees
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Base Salary through the Date of Termination not theretofore paid; (ii) any expenses owed to Employee under the Companys expense reimbursement policy; (iii) any accrued vacation pay owed to Employee; and (iv) any amount arising from Employees participation in, or benefits under, any employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements (including, without limitation, the Companys Amended and Restated 2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan, Annual Incentive Plan, and/or any successors thereto), which amounts shall be payable in accordance with the terms and conditions of such employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements (clauses (i)-(iv) collectively shall be the Accrued Rights), which (except for amounts under clause (iv) which shall be paid pursuant to the applicable plan, program or arrangement) shall be paid to Employee promptly, but in all events within thirty days following the Date of Termination.
(c) Termination by the Company without Cause or by Employee for Good Reason Apart From a Change in Control. If Employees employment is terminated during the Term by the Company without Cause (and not by reason of the expiration of the Term, Employees death, Disability, a termination by Employee without Good Reason, or a termination by the Company for Cause) or by Employee for Good Reason, in either case, more than 90 days prior to or more than two (2) years following a Change in Control, then, in addition to the Accrued Rights, Employee (or, if applicable, Employees estate) shall be entitled to the following benefits (subject to Section 6(g)):
(i) Severance pay consisting of an amount equal to the sum of the Base Salary, Target Annual Bonus and Target LTIP Award for the full year in which the Date of Termination occurs; which amount shall be payable to Employee in twelve (12) equal monthly installments commencing on the date that is thirty days following the Date of Termination; and
(ii) Continuation of the health care benefits for Employee and his dependents until the earlier of (1) the date Employee becomes eligible for comparable coverage (at a comparable cost) or (2) the first anniversary of the Date of Termination, which benefits shall be provided at the same coverage level as in effect as of the Date of Termination, and at the same premium cost to Employee that was paid by Employee as of the Date of Termination (subject to the terms and conditions of such benefit plans as in effect from time to time).
For purposes of this Agreement, the term Cause means: (A) that Employee has failed to perform Employees duties after having received from the Company written documentation that Employees duties are not being performed, which written documentation shall specify how performance is deficient, and Employee then fails to resume satisfactory performance promptly after receipt of such documentation and failure of performance is not satisfactorily rectified; (B) a serious and substantial failure to perform Employees duties, which failure is so obvious and so harmful to Company that written documentation and an opportunity to rectify conduct need not be afforded by Company to Employee; and (C) conviction of a felony, or engagement in illegal conduct which may not constitute a felony but which is injurious to the Company, in either such case Company need not allow Employee to rectify nonperformance. For purposes of this Agreement, failure to perform duties includes, but is not limited to, misfeasance or nonfeasance of duty which was intended to, or does, injure the Companys reputation or its business or relationships, including normal working relationships between employees; willful and continued failure of Employee to substantially perform his duties under this Agreement (except by reason of physical or mental disability); dishonesty in the performance of Employees duties and material breach by Employee of the covenants contained in Section 4 above.
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For purposes of this Agreement, the term Good Reason means a termination of employment within sixty (60) days following: (i) a material reduction in Employees responsibilities, authorities or duties as compared to those in existence on the effective date of this Agreement which is evidence of the duties contemplated by Section 4; or (ii) material failure of the Company to pay to Employee any amount otherwise vested and due under this Agreement or under any plan or policy of the Company, which failure in either (i) or (ii) is not cured within thirty (30) days from receipt by the Company of written notice from Employee which specifies the details of the failure.
For the avoidance of doubt, following Employees termination of employment by the Company without Cause (and not by reason of the expiration of the Term, Employees death, Disability, a termination by Employee without Good reason, or a termination by the Company for Cause) or by Employee for Good Reason, in either case, more than 90 days prior to or more than two (2) years following a Change in Control, Employee shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement, except as set forth in this Section 6(c).
(d) Termination by the Company without Cause or by Employee for Good Reason in Connection with a Change in Control. If Employees employment is terminated during the Term by the Company without Cause (and not by reason of the expiration of the Term, Employees death, Disability, a termination by Employee without Good Reason, or a termination by the Company for Cause) or by Employee for Good Reason, in either case, within the period that begins 90 days prior to and ends two years following a Change in Control, then, in addition to the Accrued Rights, Employee (or, if applicable, Employees estate) shall be entitled to the following benefits (subject to Sections 6(g) and 6(h)):
(i) A lump sum severance payment in an amount equal to two (2) times the sum of the Base Salary and Target Annual Bonus Award for the year in which the Date of Termination occurs; which amount shall be payable to Employee within sixty (60) days following the Date of Termination; and
(ii) Continuation of the health care benefits for Employee and his dependents until the earlier of (1) the date Employee becomes eligible for comparable coverage (at a comparable cost) or (2) the second anniversary of the Date of Termination, which benefits shall be provided at the same coverage level as in effect as of the Date of Termination, and at the same premium cost to Employee that was paid by Employee as of the Date of Termination (subject to the terms and conditions of such benefit plans as in effect from time to time).
For purposes of this Agreement, the term Change in Control shall mean and be determined to have occurred in the following instances:
(A) any organization, group or person (Person) (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (the Exchange Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 35% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company; or
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(B) during any two-year period, a majority of the members of the Board serving at the date of this Agreement is replaced by directors who are not nominated and approved by the Board; or
(C) a majority of the members of the Board is represented by, appointed by or affiliated with any Person whom the Board has determined is seeking to effect a Change in Control of the Company; or
(D) the Company shall be combined with or acquired by another company and the Board shall have determined, either before such event or thereafter, by resolution, that a Change in Control will or has occurred.
For the avoidance of doubt, following Employees termination of employment by the Company without Cause (and not by reason of the expiration of the Term, Employees death, Disability, a termination by Employee without Good Reason, or a termination by the Company for Cause) or by Employee for Good Reason, in either case, within the period that begins 90 days prior to and ends two (2) years following a Change in Control, Employee shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement, except as set forth in this Section 6(d).
(e) Other Termination. If Employees employment is terminated during the Term by the Company for Cause, upon Employees resignation without Good Reason or upon or following the expiration of the Term or any renewal thereof due to notice of non-renewal, without renewal thereof, Employee shall only be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights. Following Employees termination of employment by the Company for Cause, upon Employees resignation without Good Reason or upon or following the expiration of the Term without renewal thereof, Employee shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement, except as set forth in this Section 6(e).
(f) Disability or Death. The Term and Employees employment with the Company will terminate upon Employees death or Disability. Upon termination of Employees employment hereunder by reason of his death or Disability, Employee or Employees estate (as the case may be) shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights. For purposes of this Agreement, the term Disability means inability or incapacity, due to physical or mental illness, of Employee to perform his duties with the Company for a period of three (3) continuous months. Following the termination of Employees employment by reason of Employees Disability or death, Employee shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement, except as set forth in this Section 6(f).
(g) Release; Cessation of Severance Payments. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Employee hereby agrees that (i) Employee shall be entitled to the payments and benefits provided for in Sections 6(c) or 6(d) (other than the Accrued Rights) if and only if (A) Employee executes and delivers to the Company a general release of claims against the Company in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company (the General Release) within twenty-one (21) days following the Date of Termination (which General Release shall be
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provided to Employee on or about the Date of Termination) and the General Release has become effective and irrevocable in accordance with its terms, and (B) Employee does not breach in any material respect any of the restrictive covenants in Section 7 of this Agreement at any time during the period for which such payments or benefits are to be made; and (ii) the Companys obligation to make any of the payments or provide any of the benefits provided for in Sections 6(c) or 6(d) (other than the Accrued Rights) will terminate upon the occurrence of any breach in any material respect any of the restrictive covenants in Section 7 of this Agreement by Employee during any such period.
(h) Limitation on Payments. If the severance payments provided for under this Agreement, either alone or together with other payments which Employee would have the right to receive from the Company, would constitute a parachute payment, as defined in Section 280G(a) of the Code as in effect at the time of payment, such payment shall be reduced to the largest amount as will result in no portion being subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or the disallowance of a deduction by Company pursuant to Section 280G of the Code. The determination of the amount of any reduction under this section, and the plan and payment to which such reductions shall apply, shall, to the extent permitted by Section 409A, be made in good faith by the Company and otherwise shall be made in such a manner so as to maximize the value of payments to Employee and such determination shall be binding on Employee.
7. Employee Covenants.
(a) Confidentiality. Employee agrees to keep information acquired in connection with Employees employment confidential, in accordance with the confidentiality agreement which is attached to this Agreement, marked Attachment A, previously executed by Employee.
(b) Resignation of Offices. Promptly following the termination of Employees employment with the Company for any reason other than his death, Employee shall promptly deliver to the Company reasonably satisfactory evidence of Employees resignation from all positions that Employee may then hold as an employee, officer or director of the Company or any affiliate.
(c) Ongoing Assistance. Following the termination of Employees employment with the Company and its affiliates, Employee agrees to make himself reasonably available, subject to Employees other personal and professional commitments and obligations, to provide information and other assistance as reasonably requested by the Company (and, at the reasonable expense of the Company), with respect to pending, threatened or potential claims and other matters related to the business of the Company about which Employee has personal knowledge as a result of Employees supervision or other involvement within such claims or matters performed in connection with Employees employment. In all events, the Company shall reimburse Employee or pay on Employees behalf, all direct expenses incurred (including any travel) in connection with Employees fulfillment of the obligations set forth in this Section 7(c).
(d) Agreement Not to Compete. Employee will not during the period of Employees employment by the Company and, in the event of a termination of Employees employment under any of the circumstances covered by Sections 6(c) or (d), for twelve (12)
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months thereafter (the Restricted Period), directly or indirectly, whether as owner, partner, investor, consultant, agent, employee, co-venturer or otherwise, compete with the Company or any affiliate (collectively, the Company Group) within any state, province or region in any country in which the Company Group conducts business, or has plans (of which Employee was aware) to conduct business, as of the Date of Termination, or undertake any planning for any business competitive with the Company Group. Specifically, but without limiting the foregoing, Employee agrees not to engage in any manner in any activity that is directly or indirectly competitive with the business of the Company Group as conducted as of the Date of Termination or that otherwise provides services that directly or indirectly complete with services provided to clients by the Company Group, and further agrees not to work or provide services, in any capacity, whether as an employee, independent contractor or otherwise, whether with or without compensation, to any Person who is engaged in any business that is competitive with the business of the Company Group or otherwise provides services that directly or indirectly complete with services provided to clients by the Company Group. For the purposes of this Section 7(d), the business of the Company shall include active exploration and precious metals mining operations. The foregoing, however, shall not prevent Employees passive ownership of two percent (2%) or less of the equity securities of any publicly traded company.
(e) Agreement Not to Solicit Business Contacts. Employee agrees that, during the Restricted Period, Employee will not directly or indirectly (i) solicit or encourage any client, customer, bona fide prospective client or customer, supplier, licensee, licensor, landlord or other business relation of the Company and/or any of its affiliates (each a Business Contact) to terminate or diminish its relationship with them; or (ii) seek to persuade any such Business Contact to conduct with anyone else the business of the Company that such Business Contact conducts or could conduct with the Company and/or any of its affiliates.
(f) Agreement Not to Solicit or Hire Employees. During the Restricted Period, Employee will not directly or indirectly solicit for employment, employ or induce or attempt to induce any employees, consultants, contractors or representatives of the Company and/or any of its affiliates to stop working for, contracting with or representing the Company and/or its affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall not be in breach or violation hereof in the event Employee shall use any form of industry wide or public media to advertise, seek or solicit employment, consulting, contract or representative services without specifically targeting the employees, consultants, contractors or representatives of the Company.
(g) Non-Disparagement. Employee shall not, during the Term or at any time thereafter, make, directly or indirectly, any public or private statements or other communications that are or could be harmful to or reflect negatively on (or that are otherwise disparaging of) the Company or any of its affiliates or their respective businesses, or any of their past, present or future officers, directors, employees, advisors, agents, policies, procedures, practices, decision-making, conduct, professionalism or compliance with standards, provided that Employee may give truthful testimony under oath if so required. The Company shall cause the Company and its executive officers and directors to not, during the Term or at any time thereafter, make, directly or indirectly, any public or private statements or other communications that are or could be harmful to or reflect negatively on (or that are otherwise disparaging of) Employee or his decision-making, conduct, professionalism or compliance with standards, provided that the Companys and any of its subsidiaries respective executive officers, directors and other employees may give truthful testimony under oath if so required.
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8. Specific Performance. Employee understands that the obligations undertaken by Employee as set forth in this Agreement are unique, and that Company will likely have no adequate remedy at law in the event such obligations are breached. Employee therefore confirms that Company has the right to seek specific performance if Company feels such remedy is essential to protect the rights of Company. Accordingly, in addition to any other remedies which Company might have in law or equity, it shall have the right to have all obligations specifically performed, and to obtain injunctive relief, preliminary or otherwise, to secure performance. Further, Employee acknowledges that he has carefully read and considered all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the restraints imposed upon him pursuant to Section 7. Employee agrees that each of the restraints contained in Section 7 are necessary for the protection of the goodwill, confidential information and other legitimate interests of the Company and its affiliates; that each and every one of these restraints is reasonable in respect to subject matter, length of time and geographic area; and that these restraints, individually or in the aggregate, will not prevent him from obtaining other suitable employment during the period in which Employee is bound by such restraints. Employee further acknowledges that, were he to breach any of the covenants contained in Section 7, the damage to the Company and its affiliates would be irreparable. Employee therefore agrees that the Company, in addition to any other remedies available to it, shall be entitled to injunctive relief against any breach or threatened breach by Employee of any of said covenants, without having to post bond. The parties further agree that, in the event that any provision of Section 7 shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of its being extended over too great a time, too large a geographic area or too great a range of activities, such provision shall be deemed to be modified to permit its enforcement to the maximum extent permitted by law.
9. Arbitration. Except as set forth in Section 8, Employee and Company agree that in the event a dispute arises concerning or relating to the interpretation, application or enforcement of this Agreement, such dispute shall be submitted to binding arbitration in accordance with the employment arbitration rules of American Arbitration Association (AAA) by a single impartial arbitrator experienced in employment law selected as follows: if Company and Employee are unable to agree upon an impartial arbitrator within ten days of a request for arbitration, the parties shall request a panel of employment arbitrators from AAA and alternatively strike names until a single arbitrator remains. The arbitration shall take place in Coeur dAlene, Idaho, and both Employee and Company agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the arbitrator selected in accordance with AAAs rules and procedures. Employee and Company further agree that arbitration as provided for in this section will be the exclusive remedy for any such dispute and will be used instead of any court action, which is hereby expressly waived, except for any request by either Party hereto for temporary or preliminary injunctive relief pending arbitration in accordance with applicable law, or an administrative claim with an administrative agency. The Parties further agree that the award of the arbitrator shall be final and binding on both parties. The arbitrator shall have discretion to award monetary and other damages, or no damages, and to fashion such other relief as the arbitrator deems appropriate. Company will be responsible for paying any filing fees and costs of the arbitration proceeding itself (for example, arbitrators fees, conference room, transcripts), but each Party shall be responsible for its own attorneys fees (except as set forth in Section 10(g) below). COMPANY AND EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGE
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AND AGREE THAT BY AGREEING TO ARBITRATE, THEY ARE WAIVING ANY RIGHT TO BRING AN ACTION AGAINST THE OTHER IN A COURT OF LAW, EITHER STATE OR FEDERAL, AND ARE WAIVING THE RIGHT TO HAVE CLAIMS AND DAMAGES, IF ANY, DETERMINED BY A JURY.
10. Other Items. The parties also agree:
(a) This Agreement shall not be amended or modified in any way unless the amendment or modification is in writing, signed by the parties. There shall be no oral modification of this Agreement.
(b) No provision of this Agreement shall be waived by conduct of the parties or in any other way.
(c) This Agreement and its validity, interpretation, construction and performance shall be governed by the laws of the State of Idaho.
(d) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, of the parties with respect to such subject matter, including, but not limited to, that certain Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective as of December 31, 2008, between the Company and Employee, as amended (the Original Employment Agreement), which Original Employment Agreement shall be of no further force or effect.
(e) Any and all notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be effective when delivered in person, consigned to a reputable national courier service or deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, registered or certified, and addressed to Employee at his last known address on the books of the Company or, in the case of the Company, at its principal place of business, attention of the General Counsel or to such other address as any party may specify by notice to the other actually received.
(f) Employee acknowledges that he previously received a copy of the Companys Insider Trading Policy.
(g) In the event of any arbitration or other litigation between the parties that is based upon or arises out of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the losing party its reasonable attorneys fees and costs (other than the arbitration costs described in Section 9, which will be borne by the Company whether or not it is the prevailing party).
11. Section 409A Compliance. All payments pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 11. This Agreement is intended to be interpreted and operated to the fullest extent possible so that the payments and benefits under this Agreement either shall be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Section 409A) or shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement in no event shall the Company be liable to the Employee for or with respect to any taxes, penalties or interest which
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may be imposed upon the Employee pursuant to Section 409A. For purposes of this Agreement, the date on which a separation from service pursuant to Section 409A (Separation from Service) occurs shall be treated as the termination of employment date for purposes of determining the timing of payments under this Agreement to the extent necessary to have such payments and benefits under this Agreement be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A or comply with the requirements of Section 409A. For purposes of determining whether a Separation from Service has occurred for purposes of Section 409A, a Separation from Service is deemed to include a reasonably anticipated permanent reduction in the level of services performed by the Employee to less than fifty percent (50%) of the average level of services performed by the Employee during the immediately preceding 12-month period (or period of service if less than twelve (12) months).
(a) To the extent that any payment or benefit pursuant to this Agreement constitutes a deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A (after taking into account to the maximum extent possible any applicable exemptions) (a 409A Payment) treated as payable upon a Separation from Service, then, if on the date of the Employees Separation from Service, the Employee is a Specified Employee, then to the extent required for Employee not to incur additional taxes pursuant to Section 409A, no such 409A Payment shall be made to the Employee sooner than the earlier of (i) six (6) months after the Employees Separation from Service; or (ii) the date of Employees death. Should this Section 11 otherwise result in the delay of in-kind benefits, any such benefit shall be made available to the Employee by the Company during such delay period at Employees expense. Should this Section 11 result in payments or benefits to Employee at a later time than otherwise would have been made under this Agreement, on the first day any such payments or benefits may be made without incurring additional tax pursuant to Section 409A (the 409A Payment Date), the Company shall make such payments and provide such benefits as provided for in this Agreement, provided that any amounts that would have been payable earlier but for the application of this Section 11, as well as reimbursement of the amount Employee paid for benefits pursuant to the preceding sentence, shall be paid in lump-sum on the 409A Payment Date along with accrued interest at the Prime Rate quoted by JP Morgan Chase on the date that payments or benefits, as applicable, to Employee should have been made under this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 11, the term Specified Employee shall have the meaning set forth in Section 409A.
(b) For purposes of complying with Section 409A and without extending the payment timing otherwise provided in this Agreement, taxable reimbursements under this Agreement, subject to the following sentence and to the extent required to comply with Section 409A, will be made no later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred. To the extent required to comply with Section 409A, any taxable reimbursements and any in-kind benefits under this Agreement will be subject to the following: (a) payment of such reimbursements or in-kind benefits during one calendar year will not affect the amount of such reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided during any other calendar year (other than for medical reimbursement arrangements as excepted under Treasury Regulations §1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv)(B) solely because the arrangement provides for a limit on the amount of expenses that may be reimbursed under such arrangement over some or all of the period the arrangement remains in effect); (b) such right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another form of compensation to the Employee; and (c) the right to reimbursements under this Agreement will be in effect for the lesser of the time
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specified in this Agreement or ten years plus the lifetime of the Employee. Any taxable reimbursements or in-kind benefits shall be treated as not subject to Section 409A to the maximum extent provided by Section 409A.
(c) No 409A Payment payable under this Agreement shall be subject to acceleration or to any change in the specified time or method of payment, except as otherwise provided under this Agreement and consistent with Section 409A. If under this Agreement, a 409A Payment is to be paid in two or more installments, for purposes of Section 409A, each installment shall be treated as a separate payment.
(d) If the Company or Employee determines that any provision of this Agreement is or might be inconsistent with the requirements of Section 409A, the parties shall attempt in good faith to agree on such amendments to this Agreement as may be necessary or appropriate to avoid subjecting Employee to the imposition of any additional tax under Section 409A without changing the basic economic terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted or construed to transfer any liability for failure to comply with Section 409A from Employee or any other individual to the Company. This Section 11 is not intended to impose any restrictions on payments or benefits to Employee other than those otherwise set forth in this Agreement or required for Employee not to incur additional tax under Section 409A and shall be interpreted and operated accordingly. The Company to the extent reasonably requested by Employee shall modify this Agreement to effectuate the intention set forth in the preceding sentence.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.
Coeur dAlene Mines Corporation | ||
By | /s/ Mitchell J. Krebs | |
Mitchell J. Krebs, President & CEO | ||
/s/ Kelli C. Kast | ||
Employee |
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Exhibit 10.3
COEUR D ALENE MINES CORPORATION
EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE POLICY
SECTION 1
INTRODUCTION
This Coeur d Alene Mines Corporation Severance Policy (the Policy) is effective as of January 1, 2012 (the Effective Date). The purpose of the Policy is to provide for the payment of severance benefits to certain executives of Coeur d Alene Mines Corporation (the Company) or one of its subsidiaries in connection with a termination of employment in certain circumstances. The Policy is intended to be an unfunded plan that is maintained primarily to provide severance compensation and benefits to a select group of management or highly compensated employees within the meaning of Sections 201, 301, and 401 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), and therefore to be exempt from the provisions of Parts 2, 3, and 4 of Title I of ERISA.
SECTION 2
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of the Policy, the terms below are defined as follows:
(a) Administrator means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or any successor thereto or other committee designated by the Board to assume the obligations of the Administrator hereunder.
(b) Base Salary means the annual base salary payable to an Eligible Employee at the time of the Termination Date.
(c) Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) Cause means (a) that the Eligible Employee has failed to perform his or her duties after having received from the Company written documentation that such duties are not being performed, which written documentation shall specify how performance is deficient, and the Eligible Employee then fails to resume satisfactory performance promptly after receipt of such documentation and failure of performance is not satisfactorily rectified; (b) a serious and substantial failure to perform the Eligible Employees duties, which failure is so obvious and so harmful to Company that written documentation and an opportunity to rectify conduct need not be afforded by Company to the Eligible Employee; and (c) conviction of a felony, or engagement in illegal conduct which may not constitute a felony but which is injurious to the Company, in either such case Company need not allow the Eligible Employee to rectify nonperformance. For purposes of this definition, failure to perform duties includes, but is not limited to, misfeasance or nonfeasance of duty which was intended to, or does, injure the Companys reputation or its
business or relationships, including normal working relationships between employees; willful and continued failure of the Eligible Employee to substantially perform his or her duties (except by reason of physical or mental disability); dishonesty in the performance of the Eligible Employees duties and any material breach by the Eligible Employee of any promise to perform his or her duties as set forth in an employment agreement or otherwise.
(e) Change in Control means the occurrence of:
(A) any organization, group or person (Person) (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (the Exchange Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 35% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company; or
(B) during any two-year period, a majority of the members of the Board serving at the Effective Date is replaced by directors who are not nominated and approved by the Board; or
(C) a majority of the members of the Board is represented by, appointed by or affiliated with any Person whom the Board has determined is seeking to effect a Change in Control of the Company; or
(D) the Company shall be combined with or acquired by another company and the Board shall have determined, either before such event or thereafter, by resolution, that a Change in Control will or has occurred.
(f) Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(g) Company means Coeur d Alene Mines Corporation and its subsidiaries.
(h) Disability means inability or incapacity, due to physical or mental illness, of an Eligible Employee to perform his or her duties with the Company for a period of three (3) continuous months. The determination whether an Eligible Employee has suffered a Disability shall be made by the Administrator based upon such evidence as it deems necessary and appropriate. An Eligible Employee shall not be considered disabled unless he or she furnishes such medical or other evidence of the existence of the Disability as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may require.
(i) Eligible Employee means an executive officer or other key employee of Coeur d Alene Mines Corporation or any of its subsidiaries who has been designated by the Administrator as eligible under the Policy.
(j) Good Reason means a termination of employment within sixty (60) days following: (i) a material reduction in the Eligible Employees responsibilities, authorities or duties as compared to those in existence as of the Effective Date; or (ii) material failure of the Company to pay to Eligible Employee any amount otherwise vested and due under any agreement, plan or policy of the Company, which failure in either (i) or (ii) is not cured within thirty (30) days from receipt by the Company of written notice from Eligible Employee which specifies the details of the failure.
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(k) Involuntary Termination means any termination of an Eligible Employees employment with the Company (or its successor) (a) by the Company (or its successor) for any reason other than Cause, or (ii) by the Eligible Employee with Good Reason.
(l) Target Bonus means an Eligible Employees target annual bonus under the Companys Annual Incentive Plan or any similar or successor plan for the year in which the Termination Date occurs.
(m) Target LTIP Award means an Eligible Employees target award opportunity under the Companys Amended and Restated 2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan or any similar or successor plan for the year in which the Termination Date occurs.
(n) Termination Date means (a) for purposes of termination for Good Reason, the date that the Eligible Employee submits his or her written notice of resignation to the Company and (b) for purposes of any other Involuntary Termination, the date specified in the written notice of termination that the Company delivers to the Eligible Employee.
SECTION 3
ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS
Subject to the requirements set forth in this Section 3, the Company will provide the severance benefits described in Section 4 of this Policy to an Eligible Employee whose termination of employment with the Company is an Involuntary Termination that occurs during the Eligible Employees term of employment with the Company. Alternatively, the Company will provide the severance benefits described in Section 5 of this Policy to an Eligible Employee whose termination of employment with the Company is an Involuntary Termination that occurs within the period that begins 90 days prior to and ends two (2) years following a Change in Control. In the case of an Eligible Employees Disability or death, the Company will provide the Accrued Rights described in Section 6 of this Policy.
SECTION 4
POLICY BENEFITS PAYABLE APART FROM A CHANGE IN CONTROL
In the event of an Involuntary Termination that occurs within the Eligible Employees term of employment with the Company, Eligible Employee shall be entitled to the following benefits (subject to Section 8):
(a) Accrued Rights. A payment of the accrued rights due to the Eligible Employee consisting of the sum of (i) Eligible Employees Base Salary through the Termination Date not theretofore paid; (ii) any expenses owed to the Eligible Employee under the Companys expense reimbursement policy; (iii) any accrued vacation pay owed to the Eligible Employee; and (iv) any amount arising from the Eligible Employees participation in, or benefits under, any employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements (including, without limitation, the Companys
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Amended and Restated 2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan, Annual Incentive Plan, and/or any successors thereto), which amounts shall be payable in accordance with the terms and conditions of such employee benefits plans, programs or arrangements (clauses (i)-(iv) collectively shall be the Accrued Rights), which (except for amounts under clause (iv) which shall be paid pursuant to the applicable plan, program or arrangement) shall be paid to the Eligible Employee promptly, but in all events within thirty dates following the Termination Date;
(b) Severance. Severance pay consisting of an amount equal to the sum of the Base Salary, Target Bonus and Target LTIP Award for the full year in which the Termination Date occurs, which amount shall be payable to the Eligible Employee in twelve (12) equal monthly installments commencing on the date that is thirty dates following the Termination Date; and
(c) Benefits Continuation. Continuation of the health care benefits for the Eligible Employee and his dependents until the earlier of (1) the date Eligible Employee becomes eligible for comparable coverage (at a comparable cost) or (2) the first anniversary of the Termination Date, which benefits shall be provided at the same coverage level as in effect as of the Termination Date, and at the same premium cost to the Eligible Employee that was paid by the Eligible Employee as of the Termination Date (subject to the terms and conditions of such benefit plans as in effect from time to time).
SECTION 5
POLICY BENEFITS PAYABLE IN CONNECTION WITH A CHANGE IN CONTROL
In the event of an Involuntary Termination that occurs within the period that begins 90 days prior to and ends two (2) years following a Change in Control, Eligible Employee shall be entitled to the following benefits (subject to Sections 7(a) and 8):
(a) Accrued Rights. A payment of the Accrued Rights, which amounts shall be payable in accordance with the terms and conditions of such employee benefits plans, programs or arrangements, which (except for amounts under clause (iv) which shall be paid pursuant to the applicable plan, program or arrangement) shall be paid to the Eligible Employee promptly, but in all events within thirty dates following the Termination Date;
(b) Severance. A lump sum severance payment in an amount equal to one and one half (1.5) times the sum of the Base Salary and Target Bonus for the year in which the Termination Date occurs; which amount shall be payable to Eligible Employee within sixty (60) days following the Termination Date; and
(c) Benefits Continuation. Continuation of the health care benefits for the Eligible Employee and his dependents until the earlier of (1) the date Eligible Employee becomes eligible for comparable coverage (at a comparable cost) or (2) the eighteen month anniversary of the Termination Date, which benefits shall be provided at the same coverage level as in effect as of the Termination Date, and at the same premium cost to the Eligible Employee that was paid by the Eligible Employee as of the Termination Date (subject to the terms and conditions of such benefit plans as in effect from time to time).
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SECTION 6
POLICY BENEFITS PAYABLE IN THE CASE OF DISABILITY OR DEATH
In the event of the Eligible Employees Disability or death, the Term and Employees employment with the Company will terminate upon Employees death or Disability. Upon termination of Employees employment hereunder by reason of his death or Disability, Employee or Employees estate (as the case may be) shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights as set forth in Section 4(a). Following the termination of Employees employment by reason of Employees Disability or death, Employee shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement, except as set forth in this Section 6.
SECTION 7
LIMITATIONS ON BENEFITS
(a) Excise Taxes. If the severance payments provided for under this Policy, either alone or together with other payments which Eligible Employee would have the right to receive from the Company, would constitute a parachute payment, as defined in Section 280G(a) of the Code as in effect at the time of payment, such payment shall be reduced to the largest amount as will result in no portion being subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or the disallowance of a deduction by Company pursuant to Section 280G of the Code. The determination of the amount of any reduction under this section, and the plan and payment to which such reductions shall apply, shall, to the extent permitted by Section 409A, be made in good faith by the Company and otherwise shall be made in such a manner so as to maximize the value of payments to the Eligible Employee and such determination shall be binding on the Eligible Employee.
(b) Termination of Benefits. In the event an Eligible Employee, at any time, violates any proprietary information of confidentiality obligation to the Company, any of the restrictive covenants set forth in Section 8 of this Policy or any other obligations of the Eligible Employee under an employment or other agreement with the Company, (i) the Eligible Employee will be deemed in material breach of this Policy and (ii) the Company will be relieved of any ongoing obligation to comply with any of the terms of this Policy, including without limitation the obligation to make the payments described in Sections 4 or 5 (other than the Accrued Rights described in 4(a) and 5(a)).
(c) Non-Duplication of Benefits. No Eligible Employee is eligible to receive benefits under the Policy more than one time.
(d) Indebtedness of Eligible Employees. If the Eligible Employee is indebted to the Company or an affiliate of the Company at his or her Termination Date, the Company reserves the right to offset any payments due under the Policy by the amount of such indebtedness.
(e) Section 409A Compliance. All payments pursuant to this Policy shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 7(e). This Policy is intended to be interpreted and operated to the fullest extent possible so that the payments and benefits hereunder either shall be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
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(Section 409A) or shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Policy, in no event shall the Company be liable to the Eligible Employee for or with respect to any taxes, penalties or interest which may be imposed upon the Eligible Employee pursuant to Section 409A. For purposes of this Policy, the date on which a separation from service pursuant to Section 409A (Separation from Service) occurs shall be treated as the termination of employment date for purposes of determining the timing of payments under this Policy to the extent necessary to have such payments and benefits under this Policy be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A or comply with the requirements of Section 409A. For purposes of determining whether a Separation from Service has occurred for purposes of Section 409A, a Separation from Service is deemed to include a reasonably anticipated permanent reduction in the level of services performed by the Eligible Employee to less than fifty percent (50%) of the average level of services performed by the Eligible Employee during the immediately preceding 12-month period (or period of service if less than twelve (12) months).
To the extent that any payment or benefit pursuant to this Policy constitutes a deferral of compensation subject to Section 409A (after taking into account to the maximum extent possible any applicable exemptions) (a 409A Payment) treated as payable upon a Separation from Service, then, if on the date of the Eligible Employees Separation from Service, the Eligible Employee is a Specified Employee, then to the extent required for Eligible Employee not to incur additional taxes pursuant to Section 409A, no such 409A Payment shall be made to the Eligible Employee sooner than the earlier of (i) six (6) months after the Eligible Employees Separation from Service; or (ii) the date of the Eligible Employees death. Should this Section 7(e) otherwise result in the delay of in-kind benefits, any such benefit shall be made available to the Eligible Employee by the Company during such delay period at the Eligible Employees expense. Should this Section 7(e) result in payments or benefits to the Eligible Employee at a later time than otherwise would have been made under this Policy, on the first day any such payments or benefits may be made without incurring additional tax pursuant to Section 409A (the 409A Payment Date), the Company shall make such payments and provide such benefits as provided for in this Policy, provided that any amounts that would have been payable earlier but for the application of this Section 7(e), as well as reimbursement of the amount the Eligible Employee paid for benefits pursuant to the preceding sentence, shall be paid in lump-sum on the 409A Payment Date along with accrued interest at the Prime Rate quoted by JP Morgan Chase on the date that payments or benefits, as applicable, to the Eligible Employee should have been made under this Policy. For purposes of this Section 7(e), the term Specified Employee shall have the meaning set forth in Section 409A.
For purposes of complying with Section 409A and without extending the payment timing otherwise provided in this Policy, taxable reimbursements under this Policy, subject to the following sentence and to the extent required to comply with Section 409A, will be made no later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred. To the extent required to comply with Section 409A, any taxable reimbursements and any in-kind benefits under this Policy will be subject to the following: (a) payment of such reimbursements or in-kind benefits during one calendar year will not affect the amount of such reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided during any other calendar year (other than for medical reimbursement arrangements as excepted under Treasury Regulations §1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv)(B) solely because the arrangement provides for a limit on the amount of expenses that
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may be reimbursed under such arrangement over some or all of the period the arrangement remains in effect); (b) such right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another form of compensation to the Eligible Employee; and (c) the right to reimbursements under this Policy will be in effect for the lesser of the time specified in this Policy or ten years plus the lifetime of the Eligible Employee. Any taxable reimbursements or in-kind benefits shall be treated as not subject to Section 409A to the maximum extent provided by Section 409A.
No 409A Payment payable under this Policy shall be subject to acceleration or to any change in the specified time or method of payment, except as otherwise provided under this Policy and consistent with Section 409A. If under this Policy, a 409A Payment is to be paid in two or more installments, for purposes of Section 409A, each installment shall be treated as a separate payment.
SECTION 8
RELEASE; COVENANTS
(a) Release. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, an Eligible Employee shall be entitled to the payments and benefits provided for in Sections 4 or 5 (other than the Accrued Rights described in 4(a) and 5(a)) if and only if the Eligible Employee executes and delivers to the Company a general release of claims against the Company in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company (the General Release) within twenty-one (21) days following the Termination Date (which General Release shall be provided to the Eligible Employee on or about the Termination Date) and the General Release has become effective and irrevocable in accordance with its terms.
(b) Agreement Not to Compete. As a condition to and in consideration for any benefits provided under this Policy, an Eligible Employee shall not for twelve (12) months following an Involuntary Termination (the Restricted Period), directly or indirectly, whether as owner, partner, investor, consultant, agent, employee, co-venturer or otherwise, compete with the Company or any affiliate (collectively, the Company Group) within any state, province or region in any country in which the Company Group conducts business, or has plans (of which Eligible Employee was aware) to conduct business, as of the Termination Date, or undertake any planning for any business competitive with the Company Group. Specifically, but without limiting the foregoing, an Eligible Employee shall not to engage in any manner in any activity that is directly or indirectly competitive with the business of the Company Group as conducted as of the Termination Date or that otherwise provides services that directly or indirectly competes with services provided to clients by the Company Group, and further agrees not to work or provide services, in any capacity, whether as an employee, independent contractor or otherwise, whether with or without compensation, to any Person who is engaged in any business that is competitive with the business of the Company Group or otherwise provides services that directly or indirectly competes with services provided to clients by the Company Group. For the purposes of this Section 8(b), the business of the Company shall include active exploration and precious metals mining operations. The foregoing, however, shall not prevent an Eligible Employees passive ownership of two percent (2%) or less of the equity securities of any publicly traded company.
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(c) Agreement Not to Solicit Business Contacts. As a condition to and in consideration for any benefits provided under this Policy, an Eligible Employee shall not, during the Restricted Period, directly or indirectly (i) solicit or encourage any client, customer, bona fide prospective client or customer, supplier, licensee, licensor, landlord or other business relation of the Company and/or any of its affiliates (each a Business Contact) to terminate or diminish its relationship with them; or (ii) seek to persuade any such Business Contact to conduct with anyone else the business of the Company that such Business Contact conducts or could conduct with the Company and/or any of its affiliates.
(d) Agreement Not to Solicit or Hire Employees. As a condition to and in consideration for any benefits provided under this Policy, an Eligible Employee shall not, during the Restricted Period, Eligible directly or indirectly solicit for employment, employ or induce or attempt to induce any employees, consultants, contractors or representatives of the Company and/or any of its affiliates to stop working for, contracting with or representing the Company and/or its affiliates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Eligible Employee will not be in breach or violation hereof in the event the Eligible Employee uses any form of industry wide or public media to advertise, seek or solicit employment, consulting, contract or representative services without specifically targeting the employees, consultants, contractors or representatives of the Company.
(e) Non-Disparagement. As a condition to and in consideration for any benefits provided under this Policy, an Eligible Employee shall not, during the Restricted Period or at any time thereafter, make, directly or indirectly, any public or private statements or other communications that are or could be harmful to or reflect negatively on (or that are otherwise disparaging of) the Company or any of its affiliates or their respective businesses, or any of their past, present or future officers, directors, employees, advisors, agents, policies, procedures, practices, decision-making, conduct, professionalism or compliance with standards, provided that an Eligible Employee may give truthful testimony under oath if so required.
SECTION 9
RIGHT TO INTERPRET POLICY; AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
(a) Exclusive Discretion. The Administrator will have the exclusive discretion and authority to establish rules, forms and procedures for the administration of the Policy and to construe and interpret the Policy and to decide any and all questions of fact, interpretation, definition, computation or administration arising in connection with the operation of the Policy, including, but not limited to, the eligibility to participate in the Policy and amount of benefits paid under the Policy. The rules, interpretations, computations and other actions of the Administrator will be binding and conclusive on all persons.
(b) Amendment or Termination.
(i) Prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Board or Administrator may amend or terminate the Policy at any time and from time to time, including the designation of a position or executive as an Eligible Employee. Termination or amendment of the Policy shall not affect any obligation of the Company under the Policy, which has accrued and is unpaid as of the effective date of the termination or amendment.
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(ii) From and after the occurrence of a Change in Control, no provision of the Policy shall be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Eligible Employee and by an authorized officer of the Company (other than the Eligible Employee).
(iii) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Board or the Administrator may amend the Policy (which amendment shall be effective upon its adoption or at such other time designated by the Board or the Administrator, as applicable) at any time as may be necessary to avoid the imposition of any additional taxes or penalties under Section 409A; provided, however, that any such amendment shall be implemented in such a manner as to preserve, to the greatest extent possible, the terms and conditions of the Policy as in existence immediately prior to any such amendment.
SECTION 10
NO RIGHT TO CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE
Nothing herein shall confer upon an Eligible Employee any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any of its affiliates and this Policy shall not be deemed a contract of employment. If an Eligible Employees employment terminates for any reason other than an Involuntary Termination, the Eligible Employee shall not be entitled to any benefits, damages, awards or compensation under this Policy, but may be entitled to payments or benefits in accordance with the Companys other established employee plans and practices or pursuant to other agreements with the Company.
SECTION 11
SUCCESSORS
(a) Companys Successors. Any successor to the Company (whether direct or indirect and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the Companys business and/or assets will assume the obligations under the Policy and agree expressly to perform the obligations under the Policy in the same manner and to the same extent as the Company would be required to perform such obligations in the absence of a succession. For all purposes under the Policy, the term Company will include any successor to the Companys business and/or assets which executes and delivers the assumption agreement described in this Section 11(a) or which becomes bound by the terms of the Policy by operation of law or otherwise.
(b) Eligible Employees Successors. The terms of the Policy and all rights of the Eligible Employee hereunder will inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Eligible Employees personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.
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SECTION 12
LEGAL CONSTRUCTION
The Policy is intended to be governed by and will be construed in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA) and, to the extent not preempted by ERISA, the laws of the State of Idaho.
SECTION 13
CLAIMS, INQUIRIES AND APPEALS
(a) Applications for Benefits and Inquiries. Any application for benefits, inquiries about the Policy or inquiries about present or future rights under the Policy must be submitted to the Administrator in writing.
(b) Denial of Claims. In the event that any application for benefits is denied in whole or in part, the Administrator must notify the applicant, in writing, of the denial of the application, and of the applicants right to review the denial. The written notice of denial will be set forth in a manner designed to be understood by the applicant and will include specific reasons for the denial, specific references to the Policy provision upon which the denial is based, a description of any information or material that the Administrator needs to complete the review and an explanation of the Policys review procedure.
This written notice will be given to the applicant within ninety (90) days after the Administrator receives the application, unless special circumstances require an extension of time, in which case, the Administrator has up to an additional ninety (90) days for processing the application. If an extension of time for processing is required, written notice of the extension will be furnished to the applicant before the end of the initial ninety (90) day period.
This notice of extension will describe the special circumstances necessitating the additional time and the date by which the Administrator is to render its decision on the application. If written notice of denial of the application for benefits is not furnished within the specified time, the application will be deemed to be denied. The applicant will then be permitted to appeal the denial in accordance with the review procedure described below.
(c) Request for a Review. Any person (or that persons authorized representative) for whom an application for benefits is denied (or deemed denied), in whole or in part, may appeal the denial by submitting a request for a review to the Administrator within sixty (60) days after the application is denied (or deemed denied). The Administrator will give the applicant (or his or her representative) an opportunity to review pertinent documents in preparing a request for a review. A request for a review will be in writing and will be addressed to:
Coeur d Alene Mines Corporation
505 Front Avenue
Coeur d Alene, ID 83814
Attn: General Counsel
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A request for review must set forth all of the grounds on which it is based, all facts in support of the request and any other matters that the applicant feels are pertinent. The Administrator may require the applicant to submit additional facts, documents or other material as it may find necessary or appropriate in making its review.
(d) Decision on Review. The Administrator will act on each request for review within sixty (60) days after receipt of the request, unless special circumstances require an extension of time (not to exceed an additional sixty (60) days), for processing the request for a review. If an extension for review is required, written notice of the extension will be furnished to the applicant within the initial sixty (60) day period. The Administrator will give prompt, written notice of its decision to the applicant. In the event that the Administrator confirms the denial of the application for benefits in whole or in part, the notice will outline, in a manner calculated to be understood by the applicant, the specific Policy provisions upon which the decision is based. If written notice of the Administrators decision is not given to the applicant within the time prescribed in this Section 13(d), the application will be deemed denied on review.
(e) Rules and Procedures. The Administrator will establish rules and procedures, consistent with the Policy and with ERISA, as necessary and appropriate in carrying out its responsibilities in reviewing benefit claims. The Administrator may require an applicant who wishes to submit additional information in connection with an appeal from the denial (or deemed denial) of benefits to do so at the applicants own expense.
(f) Exhaustion of Remedies. No legal action for benefits under the Policy may be brought until the claimant (i) has submitted a written application for benefits in accordance with the procedures described by Section 13(a) above, (ii) has been notified by the Administrator that the application is denied (or the application is deemed denied due to the Administrators failure to act on it within the established time period), (iii) has filed a written request for a review of the application in accordance with the appeal procedure described in Section 13(c) above and (iv) has been notified in writing that the Administrator has denied the appeal (or the appeal is deemed to be denied due to the Administrators failure to take any action on the claim within the time prescribed by Section 13(d) above).
SECTION 14
BASIS OF PAYMENTS TO AND FROM POLICY
All benefits under the Policy will be paid by the Company. The Policy will be unfunded, and benefits hereunder will be paid only from the general assets of the Company.
SECTION 15
OTHER POLICY INFORMATION
(a) Employer Identification Numbers. The Employer Identification Number assigned to the Company (which is the Policy Sponsor as that term is used in ERISA) by the Internal Revenue Service is 82-0109423.
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(b) Agent for the Service of Legal Process. The agent for the service of legal process with respect to the Policy is Coeur d Alene Mines Corporation, Attn: General Counsel, 505 Front Avenue, Coeur d Alene, ID 83814.
(c) Policy Sponsor and Administrator. The Policy Sponsor and the Administrator of the Policy is Coeur d Alene Mines Corporation, 505 Front Avenue, Coeur d Alene, ID 83814. The Policy Sponsors and Administrators telephone number is (208) 667-3511. The Administrator is the named fiduciary charged with the responsibility for administering the Policy.
SECTION 16
MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Notice. Any and all notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for by this Policy shall be in writing and shall be effective when delivered in person, consigned to a reputable national courier service or deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, registered or certified, and addressed to the Eligible Employee at his or her last known address on the books of the Company or, in the case of the Company, at its principal place of business, attention of the General Counsel or to such other address as any party may specify by notice to the other actually received.
(b) No Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of the Policy on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver of such partys rights or deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of the Policy.
(c) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions of the Policy shall be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect or to any degree, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of the Policy shall not be affected thereby. The parties intend to give the terms of the Policy the fullest force and effect so that is any provision shall be found to be invalid or unenforceable, the court reaching such conclusion may modify or interpret such provision in a manner that shall carry out the parties intent and shall be valid and enforceable.
(d) Headings. The headings of the sections hereof are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof or to affect the meaning thereof.
(e) Specific Performance. If in the opinion of any court of competent jurisdiction the covenants described in Section 7(b) and Section 8 of the Policy are not reasonable in any respect, such court shall have the right, power and authority to excise or modify such provision or provisions of this covenant as to the court shall appear not reasonable and to enforce the remainder of the covenant as so amended. Any breach of the covenants contained in Section 7(b) and Section 8 would irreparably injure the Company. Accordingly, the Companys remedies at law for a breach or threatened breach of any of the provisions of Section 7(b) and Section 8 would be inadequate and, in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, the Company may, without posting any bond, in addition to pursuing any other remedies it may have
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in law or in equity, obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available against the Eligible Employee from any court having jurisdiction over the matter, restraining any further violation of the Policy by the Eligible Employee.
(f) Creditor Status of Eligible Employees. In the event that any Eligible Employee acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under the Policy such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.
(g) Facility of Payment. If it shall be found that (i) an Eligible Employee entitled to receive any payment under the Policy is physically or mentally incompetent to receive such payment and to give a valid release therefor, and (ii) another person or an institution is then maintaining or has custody of such Eligible Employee, and no guardian, committee, or other representative of the estate of such person has been duly appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction, the payment may be made to such other person or institution referred to in (ii) above, and the release shall be a valid and complete discharge for the payment.
(h) Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under the Policy such federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
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