0001104659-12-000621.txt : 20120105 0001104659-12-000621.hdr.sgml : 20120105 20120105161525 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-12-000621 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 4 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20111229 ITEM INFORMATION: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20120105 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20120105 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SUPREME INDUSTRIES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000350846 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: TRUCK & BUS BODIES [3713] IRS NUMBER: 751670945 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-08183 FILM NUMBER: 12511298 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: P O BOX 237 STREET 2: 2581 EAST KERCHER ROAD CITY: GOSHEN STATE: IN ZIP: 46528 BUSINESS PHONE: 5746423070 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: P O BOX 237 STREET 2: 2581 EAST KERCHER ROAD CITY: GOSHEN STATE: IN ZIP: 46528 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: EXPLORATION SURVEYS INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19850813 8-K 1 a12-2097_18k.htm CURRENT REPORT OF MATERIAL EVENTS OR CORPORATE CHANGES

 

 

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 29, 2011

 

SUPREME INDUSTRIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

1-8183

 

75-1670945

(State of incorporation)

 

(Commission File No.)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

P.O. Box 237

2581 E. Kercher Road

Goshen, Indiana 46528

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (574) 642-3070

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 5.02  Departure of Directors and Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

Employment Agreement

 

On December 29, 2011, Supreme Industries, Inc.  (the “Company” or “Supreme”) entered into an employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) with its Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Assistant Secretary, Matthew W. Long.  Under the Employment Agreement, Mr. Long will receive: (1) a base annual salary of $225,000, less applicable taxes and other legal withholdings; (2) a potential cash bonus of up to $85,000, less applicable taxes and other legal withholdings, subject to the achievement of applicable performance goals for 2011; (3) a sign-on bonus of 15,000 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock of which 10,000 shares were issued fully vested on December 29, 2011 and the remaining 5,000 shares will be issued in January of 2012; and (4) an equity award of restricted stock up to $85,000 provided Supreme’s stockholders approve a new stock incentive plan in 2012 (such equity award subject to the achievement of applicable performance goals for 2012).  Mr. Long’s employment is on an “at-will” basis.  However, he must provide Supreme with 60 days advance notice of his resignation.   In the event that (i) there is a “change of control” of the Company as defined in the Employment Agreement, or change in Supreme’s President, prior to April 17, 2013 that directly results in the involuntary termination of Mr. Long’s employment, or Mr. Long is terminated by Supreme other than for “cause” as defined in the Employment Agreement, or Mr. Long terminates his employment for “good reason” as defined in the Employment Agreement, he will receive an amount equal to one year’s base salary as of the time of termination, less applicable taxes and other legal withholdings (“Severance”).  To receive the Severance, Mr. Long must sign a Termination, Severance and Release Agreement (“Severance Agreement”) substantially in the form attached as Exhibit “A” to Mr. Long’s Employment Agreement and return such Severance Agreement to Supreme within 50 days of Supreme’s provision of the Severance Agreement to him.  The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Employment Agreement, a copy of which is being filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Indemnification Agreement

 

On December 29, 2011, Supreme entered into an indemnification agreement with Mr. Long (the “Indemnification Agreement”).  Under the Indemnification Agreement, in exchange for Mr. Long’s service to Supreme and its affiliates, subject to certain exceptions, Supreme has agreed to indemnify Mr. Long if he is involved, or threatened to be involved, in any threatened, pending, or completed investigation, claim, action, suit, or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative as a result of his service as Supreme’s Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Assistant Secretary, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action.  The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Indemnification Agreement, a copy of the which is being filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

2



 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

 

(d)

Exhibits

 

 

 

10.1

Employment Agreement by and between Supreme Industries, Inc. and Matthew W. Long dated December 29, 2011.

 

 

 

 

10.2.

Indemnification Agreement by and between Supreme Industries, Inc. and Matthew W. Long dated December 29, 2011.

 

3



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

             SUPREME INDUSTRIES, INC.

 

 

 

 

Date:  January 5, 2012

By:

/s/ Kim Korth

 

 

             Kim Korth

 

 

             President and Chief Executive Officer

 

4



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

10.1.

 

Employment Agreement by and between Supreme Industries, Inc. and Matthew W. Long dated December 29, 2011.

 

 

 

10.2

 

Indemnification Agreement by and between Supreme Industries, Inc. and Matthew W. Long dated December 29, 2011.

 

5


 

EX-10.1 2 a12-2097_1ex10d1.htm EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

 

GRAPHIC

 

December 29, 2011

 

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

 

Matthew Long

51235 Ashley Drive

Granger, Indiana 46530

 

Dear Matt:

 

As a follow-up to our previous discussions and to formalize your position as Chief Financial Officer of Supreme Industries, Inc. (“Supreme”), the following outlines the terms of our offer to you:

 

1. Base Salary:  $225,000, if annualized, less applicable taxes and other legal withholdings (“Base Salary”).  The Base Salary will be reviewed annually, consistent with the practice of reviewing the executive team’s performance.

 

2. Annual Incentive:  You are eligible to receive a potential annual bonus of up to $85,000, less applicable taxes and other legal withholdings, (“Bonus”) for 2011.  The factors used to determine whether you are eligible to receive the Bonus and the amount of any such Bonus will be based 50% on company financial performance and 50% on your personal performance, which eligibility and amount determinations shall be made in the reasonable discretion of Supreme.  The Bonus, if any, will be paid on or before March 15, 2012.

 

3. Long Term Incentive:  Supreme intends to adopt a new stock incentive plan for purposes of making equity awards to employees and non-employee directors, subject to the approval of Supreme’s stockholders, which approval is not guaranteed.  In the event such plan is approved by the stockholders, in 2012, you are eligible for a grant of shares of restricted Class A Common Stock in Supreme (“Equity Award”).  The Equity Award shall equal the number of whole shares, using the value model then used by Supreme in its audit report, that have, in the aggregate, a fair market value on the date of grant (as determined in accordance with any applicable new stock incentive plan (“Stock Plan”)) up to $85,000, which shares are subject to all terms of the Stock Plan, if any.  Whether you receive all or any portion of the Equity Award will be based on your achievement of the goals and objectives set forth in your 2012 Performance Plan, which determination of achievement and any Equity Award amount shall be made in the reasonable discretion of Supreme.

 

4. Sign-on Bonus:  You will be granted 15,000 shares of restricted Class A Common Stock in Supreme, which stock shall not vest until you have completed 6 months of employment with Supreme and is subject to all terms of the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Option Plan.  These shares shall be granted in the following manner: (a) 10,000 shares granted to you in 2011; and (b) 5,000 shares granted to you in January, 2012.

 

5. Benefits:  You will be eligible to participate in the Supreme Corporate Benefits program,  subject to the terms and conditions of such program and the applicable plan documents, at the same

 

Supreme Industries, Inc.

2581 East Kercher Road · PO Box 463 · Goshen, IN 46527

 



 

level as other members of Supreme’s executive leadership team.  You will receive the use of a company car or receive a car allowance comparable to such benefits provided to Supreme’s executive leadership team and in accordance with Supreme’s policies concerning such benefits.

 

6. Severance:

 

a.               In the event that (i) there is a Change of Control in Supreme’s ownership, or change in Supreme’s President, prior to April 17, 2013 that directly results in the involuntary termination of your employment, (ii) your employment is terminated by Supreme without Cause, or (iii) you terminate your employment with Supreme for Good Reason, you will receive an amount equal to one year’s Base Salary as of the time of termination, less applicable taxes and other legal withholdings (“Severance”).  The Severance will be paid in accordance with Paragraph 6(c) of this agreement.

 

b.              For purposes of this Agreement:

 

i.                  “Cause” means (i) your breach or violation of a material term hereof or other agreement to which you and Supreme are parties, which you fail to cure within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice from Supreme detailing the allegations, (ii) your material failure or refusal to perform your job duties or responsibilities, which you fail to cure within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice from Supreme, (iii) your gross negligence, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty, dishonesty, fraud, embezzlement or theft, which Supreme, in its sole discretion, considers materially damaging to, or which materially discredits, Supreme, or (iv) your conviction, commission, or plea of nolo contendere to any felony or other crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude.

 

ii.               “Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following circumstances after the date hereof: (A) any “person” (as such term is used in Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”)), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of Supreme or a corporation or other entity owned directly or indirectly by the shareholders of Supreme in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of Supreme, shall have become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of Supreme representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of Supreme’s then outstanding voting securities without prior approval of at least two-thirds of the members of Supreme’s Board of Directors (“Board”) in office immediately prior to such person attaining such percentage interest; (B) Supreme is a party to a merger, consolidation, share exchange, sale of assets or other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a consequence of which members of the Board in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board thereafter; or (C) during any fifteen-month period, individuals

 

2



 

who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board (including for this purpose any new director whose election or nomination for election by Supreme’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board.

 

iii.            “Good Reason” means (i) material diminution in the nature and scope of your responsibilities, duties or authority, (ii) material failure of Supreme to provide you with the Base Salary, incentive payments or benefits (including fringe benefits sponsored by Supreme) in accordance with the terms hereof, or (iii) without your written consent, relocation of your office to an area outside a 50-mile radius of Supreme’s current headquarters; provided that any event described in (i) through (iii) shall not constitute Good Reason unless you deliver to Supreme a written notice of termination for Good Reason within 90 days after you first learn of the existence of the circumstances giving rise to Good Reason, and within 30 days following delivery of such notice, Supreme has failed to cure the circumstances giving rise to Good Reason.

 

c.               To receive the Severance, you must sign a Termination, Severance and Release Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (“Severance Agreement”) and return such Severance Agreement to Supreme within 50 days of Supreme’s provision of the Severance Agreement to you or such shorter time period as specified by Supreme.  The Severance will be paid out in 24 equal semi-monthly installments on Supreme’s regular payroll days, with the first payment starting on the first regular payroll day that is 60 days after your employment terminates (“Severance Start Date”).  If the Severance Agreement allows you to revoke any portion of the Severance Agreement after signing the Severance Agreement and you exercise any such revocation right, you will only receive 1% of the Severance, which will be paid in 1 installment on Supreme’s first regular payroll day after the Severance Start Date.

 

d.              This agreement is intended to comply with or be exempt from the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 409A”) and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with that intent.  Notwithstanding any provision of this agreement to the contrary, any payment hereunder that is subject to the six-month delay under Section 409A(a)(2)(B) for a “specified employee,” if applicable, shall not be paid or commence until the earliest of: (i) the first day of the seventh month after your date of termination, (ii) the date of your death, or (iii) such earlier date as complies with the requirements of Section 409A.  Installment payments hereunder shall be treated as separate payments for purposes of Section 409A.

 

7.               At-Will Employment:  This is an offer of at-will employment and is not an agreement to employ you for any set period of time.  However, you must provide Supreme with 60-days advance notice of any resignation of your employment with Supreme. This agreement also does not state all of the terms and conditions of your employment with Supreme, and you will be required to comply

 

3



 

with Supreme’s procedures and policies, which may change from time to time.  Furthermore, your participation in any of the benefit and other programs referenced herein is governed by company policies and the specific terms of any relevant plan documents, which policies and plans may be amended or revoked at any time.

 

8.     Non-Disclosure: During your employment with Supreme, Supreme will provide you with Confidential Information in a manner and at a time in Supreme’s sole discretion.  “Confidential Information” includes trade secrets or confidential information of Supreme, including without limitation: client, referral source, and/or vendor identity, contact, preferences and/or other information and history; current and prospective client, referral and/or vendor lists and/or databases; contracts; information concerning any potential or actual acquisition of Supreme; processes; technical data; policies; pricing, costs, business and/or other strategies; designs; formulas; programming standards; developmental or experimental work; equipment or product design; discoveries; testing results; marketing, sales and/or business plans and/or practices; market or pricing studies, analysis or strategy; development tools or techniques; software source documents; users’, business and/or training manuals; business information; any other original works of authorship by Supreme; hardware configuration; chemical, mechanical or other formulations or compositions of Supreme’s current or future products; budgets; financial information; product construction, specifications and/or other information; audit processes; management methods and information; information regarding the skills and compensation of employees and contractors of Supreme; or other business information disclosed to you by Supreme, either directly or indirectly, in writing, orally, or by drawings or observation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Confidential Information” shall not include information (i) that is or shall become generally available to the public other than as a result of your unauthorized disclosure, (ii) that was or becomes available to you on a non-confidential basis from a source other than Supreme or any subsidiaries of Supreme and that you can demonstrate through adequate documentation became available to you in such manner, or (iii) that was developed by or for you independently of, and without the use of, any Confidential Information and that you can demonstrate with adequate documentation was developed by you in such a manner. You shall not, during the period of your employment or at any time thereafter, disclose to anyone, publish, use, exploit, or solicit, allow or assist another person to use, disclose, publish or exploit, except for the benefit of Supreme, any Confidential Information and except as: (1) required in the ordinary course of Supreme’s business in connection with your work for Supreme; (2) required by law; or (3) directed and expressly authorized in writing by the President of the Supreme.  However, this confidentiality provision does not prohibit you from discussing employee compensation for authorized purposes under the National Labor Relations Act.  You represent that, to your knowledge, your performance of your job duties for Supreme will not breach any agreement you may have with any of your prior employers or any other entity or individual.  Additionally, during your employment, Supreme will receive from third parties their confidential information, including without limitation nonpublic personal information.  You will hold all such confidential information in the strictest confidence and not use, publish, exploit or disclose it to any person or organization except as necessary in the course of your employment with Supreme and in accordance with any use agreement with such third party.  Furthermore, upon request by Supreme or upon the termination of your employment for any reason, you will immediately return and deliver to Supreme any and all Confidential Information and all other documents and items — whether in hard or digital form — and all copies thereof which belong to

 

4



 

Supreme or relate to Supreme’s business and which are in your possession, custody or control, whether prepared by you or others.  You will also, after you have provided a copy of such information or documents to Supreme, delete any information or documents relating to Supreme’s business from any computer, cellular phone or other digital or electronic device owned by you or in your possession.

 

9.     Non-Competition: During your employment with Supreme, you will not work on any basis (including part-time or as an independent contractor) for a Competing Business or participate in any material way in any other business that is not a Competing Business.  You recognize and agree that:  (i) Supreme has devoted a considerable amount of time, effort, and expense to develop its Confidential Information and business goodwill; (ii) the Confidential Information and Supreme’s business goodwill are valuable assets to Supreme; and (iii) any unauthorized use or disclosure of Supreme’s Confidential Information would cause irreparable harm to Supreme for which there is no adequate remedy at law, including damage to Supreme’s business goodwill.  For these reasons, you agree that to protect Supreme’s Confidential Information and business goodwill, it is necessary to enter into the following restrictive covenants.  During the Non-Competition Period, you, either individually or as a principal, director, officer, partner, manager, contractor, employee, lender, investor, volunteer or in any other manner or capacity whatsoever, shall not, directly or indirectly, without the express prior written consent of the President of Supreme:

 

(a)          Become employed by, invest in, finance, advise, endorse, perform services or otherwise engage in any capacity with a Competing Business in the Restricted Area; provided, that you may own, directly or indirectly, solely as an investment, not more than three percent (3%) of the securities of any Competing Business traded on any national securities exchange.  You shall be deemed to be engaging in business in the Restricted Area if you use any electronic or digital device on behalf or for the benefit of any Competing Business that is physically located in the Restricted Area to communicate with any person, whether or not such other person is physically located in the Restricted Area, or use any telecommunication device located outside the Restricted Area to communicate with any person located in the Restricted Area on behalf or for the benefit of a Competing Business;

 

(b)         Solicit business from, attempt to transact business with, or transact business with any current or prospective client of Supreme with whom Supreme transacted business or solicited within the preceding twenty-four (24) months and which either: (i) you contacted, called on, serviced, or did business with during your employment with Supreme; or (ii) you learned of or obtained Supreme’s Confidential Information about as a result of your employment with Supreme.  This restriction applies only to soliciting or transacting business that is in, or is the same or similar to, the scope of services or products provided by Supreme;

 

(c)          Hire, solicit for employment, induce or encourage to leave the employment of Supreme or otherwise cease their employment with Supreme, on behalf of yourself or any other person or entity, any employee or independent contractor of Supreme or any former contractor or employee of Supreme whose employment or contracting relationship ceased less than three (3) months earlier; provided, that this provision shall not prohibit you from placing general advertisements or conducting any other form of general solicitation that is not specifically

 

5



 

targeted at any such employee, independent contractor, former employee or former contractor or hiring any such person who responds to such advertisement or general solicitation.

 

(d)         “Non-Competition Period” means during your employment with Supreme and for a period of one (1) year after your employment with Supreme ceases for whatever reason.  “Competing Business” means any entity or business that provides the same or similar services and products as Supreme, which includes without limitation, the production, development, distribution and/or selling of goods and services related to specialized commercial vehicles, including, without limitation, truck bodies, shuttle buses, homeland response vehicles, armored vehicles, luxury motorcoaches, and portable storage containers.  “Restricted Area” for purposes of this restriction is and to the extent permitted by applicable law (1) any county, parish or similar political subdivision in which you performed any services for Supreme during your employment with Supreme; (2) any county, parish or similar political subdivision about which you received Supreme’s Confidential Information regarding Supreme’s business during your employment with Supreme; (3) any county, parish or similar political subdivision in which an office of Supreme is located for which you had supervisory or managerial responsibilities during your employment with Supreme; and (4) any county, parish or similar political subdivision in which any Supreme office or location is located that was your primary office or an office from which you regularly worked during your employment with Supreme or for which you provided services.

 

(e)          You agree that the restrictions contained in Paragraphs 8 and 9, in view of the national nature of Supreme’s business and Supreme’s Confidential Information and business goodwill, are reasonable and necessary to protect Supreme’s legitimate business interests and goodwill and that any violation of these restrictions would result in irreparable injury to Supreme for which money damages would not be a sufficient remedy.  Therefore, you agree that Supreme shall be entitled to a temporary restraining order and injunctive relief, without the posting of bond, restraining you from the commission of any breach of Paragraphs 8 and 9 and to recover Supreme’s reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses related to any breach or threatened breach of this agreement.  Nothing contained in this agreement shall be construed as prohibiting Supreme from pursuing any other remedies available to it for any breach or threatened breach, including, without limitation, the recovery of money damages.  If you violate any of the restrictions contained in Paragraph 9, the Non-Competition Period will be suspended and will not run in favor of you until such time that you cure the violation to the satisfaction of Supreme.  If you, in the future, seek or are offered employment, or any other position or capacity with another person or entity, you agree to inform each new entity or individual, before accepting employment or other position, of the existence of the restrictions in Paragraphs 8 and 9.  Further, before taking any employment or other position with any person or entity during the Non-Competition Period, you agree to give prior written notice to Supreme of the name of such person or entity.  Supreme shall be entitled to advise such person or entity of the provisions of Paragraphs 8 and 9 and to otherwise deal with such person to ensure that the provisions of Paragraphs 8 and 9 are enforced and duly discharged.

 

10.   Ownership of Information, Inventions, and Original Works:  You hereby assign to Supreme

 

6



 

any rights you may have or acquire in Proprietary Information and recognize that all Proprietary Information shall be the sole property of Supreme and its assigns and that Supreme and its assigns shall be the sole owner of all trade secret rights, patent rights, copyrights, and all other rights throughout the world (collectively, “Proprietary Rights”) related thereto.  “Proprietary Information” means trade secrets, confidential knowledge, data or any other proprietary information of Supreme.  By way of illustration but not limitation, Proprietary Information includes (a) trade secrets, inventions, ideas, processes, formulas, source and object codes, data, programs, other works of authorship, knowhow, improvements, discoveries, developments, designs and techniques (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Inventions”); and (b) tangible and intangible information relating to formulations, products, processes, know-how, designs, formulas, methods, developmental or experimental work, testing trials, improvements, discoveries, plans for research, new products, marketing and selling, business plans, budgets and unpublished financial statements, licenses, prices and costs, suppliers and customers, and information regarding the skills and compensation of other employees of Supreme.  You further hereby assign to Supreme all of your right, title and interest in and to any and all Inventions (and all Proprietary Rights with respect thereto) whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or similar statutes, made or conceived or reduced to practice or learned by you, either alone or jointly with others, during your employment with Supreme or in conjunction or at the request of any other person or entity and related in any manner to specialized commercial vehicles, including, without limitation, truck bodies, shuttle buses, homeland response vehicles, armored vehicles, luxury motorcoaches, and portable storage containers, prior to the effective date of this agreement (collectively, “Prior Vehicle Inventions”). Inventions and Prior Vehicle Inventions are hereinafter referred to as “Company Inventions.” You recognize that this agreement does not require assignment of any invention which you developed entirely on your own time without using Supreme’s equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secret information, unless that invention (a) relates at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the invention to specialized commercial vehicles, including, without limitation, truck bodies, shuttle buses, homeland response vehicles, armored vehicles, luxury motorcoaches, and portable storage containers, or any other portion of Supreme’s business or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of Supreme; or (b) results from any services performed by you for Supreme.  You also assign to, or as directed by, Supreme all of your right, title and interest in and to any and all Inventions, full title to which is required to be in the United States by a contract between Supreme and the United States or any of its agencies.  You also acknowledge that all original works of authorship which are made by you (solely or jointly with others) within the scope of the services that you provide to Supreme and which are protectable by copyright are “works made for hire,” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act (17 U.S.C., Section 101).  You further agree to assist Supreme, at Supreme’s expense, in every proper way to obtain and from time to time enforce United States and foreign Proprietary Rights relating to Company Inventions in any and all countries. To that end, you will execute, verify and deliver such documents and perform such other acts (including appearances as a witness) as Supreme may reasonably request for use in applying for, obtaining, perfecting, evidencing, sustaining and enforcing such Proprietary Rights and the assignment thereof.  In addition, you will execute, verify and deliver assignments of such Proprietary Rights to Supreme or its designee. You hereby waive and quitclaim to Supreme any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, which you now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assigned hereunder to Supreme.  You agree to keep and maintain adequate and current records (in the form of notes, sketches, drawings and in any other form that may be required

 

7



 

by Supreme) of all Proprietary Information developed by you and all Inventions made by you during your employment with Supreme, which records shall be available to and remain the sole property of Supreme at all times.  Except for the Prior Vehicle Inventions, those Inventions, if any, patented or unpatented, that you made prior to your employment with Supreme are excluded from the scope of this agreement.

 

11.   Non-Disparagement:  You agree that Supreme’s goodwill and reputation are assets of great value to Supreme which were obtained through great costs, time and effort.  Therefore, you agree that during your employment with Supreme and after the termination of your employment for any reason, you will not in any way disparage, libel or defame Supreme, its business or business practices, its products or services, or its employees, officers, directors or owners.  Supreme agrees that, during your employment and after the termination of your employment for any reason, the executive officers of Supreme will not in any way disparage, libel or defame you.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this provision shall not apply to any testimony given by a party pursuant to subpoena or court order or prohibit a party from participating in or otherwise responding to any investigation or inquiry conducted by any governmental agency.

 

12.   No Expectation of Privacy:  You understand and agree that you have no expectation of privacy with respect to Supreme’s telecommunications, networking, or information processing systems (including, without limitation, stored computer files, text messages, e-mail messages accessed or created, internet sites accessed, and voice messages) and that your activity and any files or messages on or use of any such systems may be accessed, monitored, copied and saved by Supreme at any time without notice to you.

 

13.   This agreement is the entire agreement between you and Supreme with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any previous agreements, written or oral, between you and Supreme with regard to the subject matter of this agreement.  This agreement may not be modified or amended orally and any amendment or modification must be in writing and be signed by you and the President of Supreme.  In the event any court of competent jurisdiction holds any provision of this agreement to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalid or unenforceable portion(s) shall be limited or excluded from this agreement to the minimum extent required, and the remaining provisions shall not be affected and shall remain in full force and effect.  You further agree that in the event any of the covenants contained in Paragraph 9 shall be held by any court to be effective in any particular area or jurisdiction only if said covenant is modified to limit its duration or scope, then the court shall have such authority to reform the covenant and the parties hereto shall consider such covenant(s) and/or other provisions of Paragraph 9 to be amended with respect to that particular jurisdiction so as to comply with the order of any such court and, as to all other jurisdictions, the covenants contained herein shall remain in full force and effect as originally written.

 

14.   This agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of you, Supreme and any parents, subsidiaries, affiliated companies, successors or assigns of Supreme.  Your obligations under this agreement shall be binding upon you and your heirs and executors.  The obligations under Paragraphs 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, and 15 of this agreement shall continue in effect after the termination of your employment, regardless of the reason(s) for termination.  Supreme’s waiver of

 

8



 

any provision of this agreement shall not constitute (i) a continuing waiver of that provision, or (ii) a waiver of any other provision of this agreement.

 

15.   Any dispute in the meaning, effect, or validity of this agreement shall be resolved in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana without regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.  Venue of any litigation arising from this agreement shall be in a federal or state court of competent jurisdiction in Elkhart County, Indiana or in any other county in which such litigation may be required by any mandatory venue provision.  Further, the prevailing party in any legal proceeding based upon this agreement shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs, in addition to any other recoveries allowed by law.

 

I look forward to your acceptance of our offer, which you may do by signing below and returning this letter to my attention.

 

Regards,

 

/s/ Kim Korth

 

12/29/11

 

Kim Korth

President and CEO

Supreme Industries, Inc.

 

Accepted:

/s/ Matthew W. Long

 

Date:

12/29/11

 

 

Matthew Long

 

 

 

9



 

Exhibit “A”

 

SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE

 

This Separation Agreement and General Release (“Agreement”) is entered into by Supreme Industries, Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“Employer”) and Matthew Long (“Employee”).  The Employer and Employee are referred to collectively as the “Parties.”

 

WHEREAS, Employee was employed with Employer;

 

WHEREAS, Employee’s employment with Employer terminated effective                                          (“Termination Date”);

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to finally, fully and completely resolve all disputes that now or may exist between them, including, but not limited to those concerning Employee’s employment, the separation of Employee’s employment with the Employer, and any and all disputes over benefits and compensation connected with such employment;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.                                      End of Employee’s Employment.  The Parties acknowledge that the Employee’s employment with Employer terminated on the Termination Date.

 

2.                                      Certain Payments and Benefits.

 

(a)                                        Accrued Obligations.  On the Employer’s next regularly scheduled payday after the Termination Date, the Employer shall pay Employee for all unpaid salary through the Termination Date and, if payable in accordance with the Employer’s policies, procedures and plans in effect, accrued vacation, paid time off benefits, bonuses and business expenses.  All amounts paid shall be subject to applicable payroll withholdings and taxes.

 

(b)                                       Separation Payments.  Subject to Employee’s consent to and fulfillment of Employee’s obligations in this Agreement and provided that Employee does not revoke certain portions of this Agreement under Section 12, the Employer will pay Employee the amount of $                      , minus normal payroll withholdings and taxes (“Separation Payment”), in 24 equal semi-monthly installments on the Employer’s regular payroll days, with the first payment starting on the first regular payroll day that is 60 days after the Termination Date (“Severance Start Date”).  No Separation Payment will be paid until the Employer receives this Agreement executed by Employee and the time period for Employee to revoke certain portions of this Agreement, as specified in Section 12, has expired.  Employer must receive this Agreement executed by Employee on or before                           .  If Employer receives this Agreement executed by Employee and Employee revokes certain portions of this Agreement, as specified in Section 12, Employer shall only pay Employee 1% of the Separation Payment, minus normal payroll withholdings and taxes (Partial Separation Payment”), which payment shall be made in a single lump sum payment on the Employer’s first regular payday after the Severance Start Date.  The period of time commencing on the Termination Date and ending on the date of the last Separation Payment is referred to as the “Separation Period.”  Neither the Separation Payment nor the Partial Separation Payment will be treated as compensation under any

 

1



 

Employer 401(k) Plan or any other retirement plan.  The Employer’s obligations under this Section 2(b) shall cease if it learns that the Employee has violated any provision of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                        Waiver of Additional Compensation or Benefits.  Other than compensation, payments and benefits provided for: in this Agreement; by law; or in any restricted stock plan or benefit program of Employer in which Employee is a participant, Employee shall not be entitled to any additional compensation or benefits.  Any vested interest held by Employee in any Employer 401(k) Plan, retirement plan and any other plans in which Employee participates, if any, shall be distributed in accordance with the terms of the plan and applicable law, if any.

 

(d)                                       To the extent any amount payable under this Section is nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), then (i) for purposes of this Section, “termination of employment” shall mean Employee’s “separation of service”, as defined in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations, including the default presumptions thereunder and (ii) wherever payments to which this Section applies are to be made in installments, each such installment shall be deemed to be a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

 

3.                                      General Release and Waiver.  In consideration of the payments and other consideration provided for in this Agreement, that being good and valuable consideration, the receipt, adequacy and sufficiency of which are acknowledged by Employee, including, without limitation either the Separation Payment or the Partial Separation Payment, Employee, on Employee’s own behalf and on behalf of Employee’s agents, administrators, representatives, executors, successors, heirs, devisees and assigns (collectively, the “Releasing Parties”) hereby fully releases, remises, acquits and forever discharges Employer and all of its affiliates, and each of its respective officers, directors, shareholders, equity holders, members, partners, agents, employees, successors and assigns, (collectively, the “Released Parties”), jointly and severally, from any and all claims, rights, demands, debts, obligations, losses, causes of action, suits, controversies, setoffs, affirmative defenses, counterclaims, third party actions, damages, penalties, costs, expenses, attorneys’ fees, liabilities and indemnities of any kind or nature whatsoever (collectively, the “Claims”), whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, accrued or unaccrued, whether at law, equity, administrative, statutory or otherwise, and whether for injunctive relief, back pay, fringe benefits, reinstatement, reemployment, or compensatory, punitive or any other kind of damages, which any of the Releasing Parties ever have had in the past or presently have against the Released Parties, and each of them, arising from or relating to Employee’s employment with Employer or its affiliates or the separation of that employment or any circumstances related thereto, including without limitation all claims arising under or relating to employment with the Employer, any actions of the Employer or any of the Released Parties during Employee’s employment with the Employer, employment contracts, employee benefits or purported employment discrimination or violations of civil rights of whatever kind or nature, including without limitation all claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the United States Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, the Civil Rights

 

2



 

Act of 1991, the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and/or 1871, the Indiana Code, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the anti-retaliation provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable federal, state or local employment discrimination statute, law or ordinance, including, without limitation, claims for wrongful discharge, breach of express or implied contract or implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and any other claims arising under state, federal or local law, including, but not limited to assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress, as well as any expenses, costs or attorneys’ fees.  Employee further agrees that Employee will not file or permit to be filed on Employee’s behalf any such claim.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence or any other provision of this Agreement, this release is not intended to interfere with Employee’s right to file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (the “EEOC”) or any state or local human rights commission in connection with any claim Employee believes Employee may have against Employer or its affiliates.  However, by executing this Agreement, Employee hereby waives the right to recover in any proceeding Employee may bring before the EEOC or any state or local human rights commission or in any proceeding brought by the EEOC or any state or local human rights commission on Employee’s behalf.  This release shall not apply to any of the Employer’s obligations under this Agreement, or any vested 401(k), retirement plan or COBRA continuation coverage benefits, or any other vested benefits under any stock or benefit plan of Employer in which Employee is a participant.  Additionally, this release shall not operate to waive or bar any claim or right that by law may not be waived or barred.  Employee acknowledges that certain of the payments and benefits provided for in Section 2 of this Agreement constitute good and valuable consideration for the release contained in this Section 3.

 

4.                                      Return of Employer Property.  Within three (3) days of the Termination Date, Employee shall, to the extent not previously returned or delivered: (a) return all equipment, records, files, programs or other materials and property, including, without limitation, any Confidential Information (defined below), in his possession which belong to the Employer or any one or more of its affiliates, including, without limitation, all, computer access codes, passwords, Blackberries, credit cards, keys and access cards; and (b) deliver all original and copies of notes, materials, records, plans, technical data or other documents, files or programs (whether stored in paper form, computer form, digital form, electronically or otherwise) (“Documents”) that relate or refer to (i) the Employer or any one or more of its affiliates, or (ii) the Employer’s business in any way or any one or more of the Employer’s affiliates’ business in any way.  By signing this Agreement, Employee represents and warrants that Employee has not retained and has or will timely return and deliver all the items and all copies of items described or referenced in subsections (a) or (b) above; and, that should Employee later discover additional items described or referenced in subsections (a) or (b) above, Employee will immediately notify Employer and immediately return/deliver such items to Employer.  Employee further agrees that, after Employee provides a copy of such information or documents to Employer, Employee will delete any information or documents relating to the Employer’s business from any computer, cellular phone or other digital or electronic device owned by Employee.

 

5.                                      Confidentiality of Information.  During Employee’s employment with Employer, Employer provided Employee with Confidential Information (defined below), to which Employee has not previously had access.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” includes trade secrets or confidential information of the Employer, including without limitation: client, referral source, and/or vendor identity, contact, preferences and/or

 

3



 

other information and history; current and prospective client, referral and/or vendor lists and/or databases; contracts; information concerning any potential or actual acquisition of the Employer; processes; technical data; policies; pricing, costs, business and/or other strategies; designs; formulas; programming standards; developmental or experimental work; equipment or product design; discoveries; testing results; marketing, sales and/or business plans and/or practices; market or pricing studies, analysis or strategy; development tools or techniques; software source documents; users’, business and/or training manuals; business information; any other original works of authorship by the Employer; hardware configuration; chemical, mechanical or other formulations or compositions of Employer’s current or future products; budgets; financial information; product construction, specifications and/or other information; audit processes; management methods and information; information regarding the skills and compensation of employees and contractors of Employer; or other business information disclosed to Employee by the Employer, either directly or indirectly, in writing, orally, or by drawings or observation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Confidential Information” shall not include information (i) that is or shall become generally available to the public other than as a result of the Employee’s unauthorized disclosure, (ii) that was or becomes available to the Employee on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Employer or any subsidiaries of the Employer and that the Employee can demonstrate through adequate documentation became available to the Employee in such manner, or (iii) that was developed by or for the Employee independently of, and without the use of, any Confidential Information and that the Employee can demonstrate with adequate documentation was developed by the Employee in such a manner. Employee agrees that Employee will not take, disclose to anyone, publish, use, exploit, or solicit, allow or assist another person to take, use, disclose, publish or exploit any Confidential Information, except as: (1) required by law; or (2) directed and expressly authorized in writing by the President of the Employer.

 

6.                                      Breach of Agreement.  In the event (i) Employee fails to fulfill any of Employee’s obligations in this Agreement, or (ii) Employee or anyone acting on Employee’s behalf brings suit against the Employer seeking to declare any term of this Agreement void or unenforceable and if one or more material terms of this Agreement are ruled by a court or arbitrator to be void or unenforceable or subject to reduction or modification, then the Employer shall be entitled to (a) terminate the Agreement, (b) terminate the Separation Payment, (c) recover the Separation Payment already paid to Employee (except for the Partial Separation Payment), (d) recover attorneys’ fees, expenses and costs the Employer incurs in such action, and/or (e) recover any and all other damages to which the Employer may be entitled at law or in equity as a result of a breach of this Agreement.

 

7.                                      Not An Admission of Wrongdoing.  This Agreement shall not in any way be construed as an admission by either Party of any acts of wrongdoing, violation of any statute, law or legal or contractual right.

 

8.                                      Voluntary Execution of the Agreement.  Employee and Employer represent and agree that they have had an opportunity to review all aspects of this Agreement, and that they fully understand all the provisions of the Agreement and are voluntarily entering into this Agreement.

 

9.                                      Confidentiality of Agreement.  Employee agrees to keep confidential the specific terms of this Agreement and shall not disclose same to any person except that Employee

 

4



 

may inform Employee’s spouse and Employee’s financial, tax, professional and legal advisors of the contents or terms of this Agreement.  Before sharing the Agreement or its terms with Employee’s spouse or Employee’s financial, tax and/or legal advisors, Employee agrees to notify them of this confidentiality requirement and obtain a pledge from them not to disclose the terms of this Agreement.  If Employee is required to disclose the Agreement to others by legal process, Employee shall to the extent practical under the circumstances first give notice to the Employer in order that the Employer may have an opportunity to seek a protective order.  Employee shall cooperate with the Employer, should it decide to seek a protective order.

 

10.                               Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall be binding upon the Employer and upon Employee and Employee’s heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors and assigns.  In the event of Employee’s death, this Agreement shall operate in favor of Employee’s estate and all payments, obligations and consideration will continue to be performed in favor of Employee’s estate.

 

11.                               Entire Agreement.  This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the Parties, and fully supersedes any and all prior agreements, understandings, or representations between the Parties pertaining to Employee’s employment with Employer, the subject matter of this Agreement or any other term or condition of the relationship between Employer and Employee, save and except for any non-disparagement, non-disclosure, non-solicitation, non-competition, wage deduction or intellectual property assignment agreements in effect between Employee and Employer, which agreements, if any, shall continue in full force and effect.

 

12.                               Knowing and Voluntary Waiver.  Employee, by Employee’s free and voluntary act of signing below, acknowledges that (i) Employee has been given a period of                              days (“Review Period”) to consider whether to agree to the terms contained herein, (ii) Employee has been advised in writing to consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement, (iii) Employee understands that this Agreement specifically releases and waives all rights and claims Employee may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”)  prior to the date on which Employee signs this Agreement, and (iv) agrees to all of the terms of this Agreement and intends to be legally bound thereby. Furthermore, Employee acknowledges that the Separation Payment provided for in Section 2(b) of this Agreement will be delayed until this Agreement becomes effective, enforceable and irrevocable.  Employer and Employee agree that any changes to this Agreement, whether material or immaterial, will not restart the running of the Review Period.

 

This Agreement will become effective, enforceable and irrevocable as to Employee’s release of any claims the Employee may have under the ADEA on the eighth day after the date on which it is executed by Employee (“Effective Date”).  During the seven-day period prior to the Effective Date, Employee may revoke Employee’s agreement to release any claims the Employee may have under the ADEA, and any amendments thereto, by indicating in writing to Employer the Employee’s intention to revoke, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.  If Employee exercises Employee’s right to revoke hereunder, Employee shall forfeit Employee’s right to receive the Separation Payment provided for in Section 2(b), except for the Partial Separation Payment, and to the extent such payments or benefits have already been made, Employee agrees that Employee will immediately reimburse the Employer for the amounts of such payments and benefits.

 

5



 

13.                               Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder will be in writing.  Any notice or other communication hereunder shall be deemed duly given if it is sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth:

 

If to Employee:

 

Matthew Long

 

 

 

If to Employer:

 

 

Supreme Industries, Inc.

2581 East Kercher Road

Goshen, IN 46527

 

Any party may send any notice or other communication hereunder to the intended recipient at the address set forth using any other means (including personal delivery, expedited courier, messenger services, fax, ordinary mail or electronic mail), but no such notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly given unless and until it is actually received by the intended recipient.  Any party may change the address to which notices and other communications are to be delivered by giving the other party notice.

 

14.                               Governing Law.  This Agreement shall in all respects be interpreted, enforced, and governed under the laws of the State of Indiana.  The Employer and Employee agree that the language in this Agreement shall, in all cases, be construed as a whole, according to its fair meaning, and not strictly for, or against, any of the Parties.  Venue of any litigation arising from this Agreement shall be in a court of competent jurisdiction in Elkhart County, Indiana or in any other county required by any mandatory venue provision.

 

15.                               Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered (which deliveries may be by facsimile) shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

16.                               No Assignment Of Claims.  Employee represents and agrees that Employee has not transferred or assigned, to any person or entity, any claim involving the Employer, or any portion thereof or interest therein.

 

17.                               No Waiver.  This Agreement may not be waived, modified, amended, supplemented, canceled or discharged, except by written agreement of the Parties.  Failure to exercise and/or delay in exercising any right, power or privilege in this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver.  No waiver of any breach of any provision shall be deemed to be a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach of the same or any other provision, nor shall any waiver be implied from any course of dealing between or among the Parties.

 

 

6



 

Agreed to by Employee:

 

Signature:

 

 

Printed Name:

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

7



 

STATE OF INDIANA

 

COUNTY OF ELKHART

 

Before me, a Notary Public, on this day personally appeared Matthew Long, known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, and acknowledges to me that he has executed this Agreement on behalf of himself and his heirs, for the purposes and consideration therein expressed.

 

Given under my hand and seal of office this           day of                             ,               .

 

 

 

 

Notary Public in and for the State of Indiana

(PERSONALIZED SEAL)

 

 

 

 

 

Supreme Industries, Inc.

 

 

 

Signature:

 

 

Printed Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

8


EX-10.2 3 a12-2097_1ex10d2.htm EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

(Supreme Industries, Inc.)

 

THIS AGREEMENT is made this 29th day of December, 2011, between Supreme Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Matthew W. Long (“Indemnitee”).

 

Competent and experienced persons are becoming more reluctant to serve as directors and/or officers of corporations unless they are provided with adequate protection against claims and actions against them for their activities on behalf or at the request of such corporations, generally through insurance and/or indemnification.

 

Uncertainties in the interpretations of the statutes and regulations, laws, and public policies relating to indemnification of corporate directors and officers are such as to make adequate, reliable assessment of the risks to which directors and officers of such corporations may be exposed difficult, particularly in light of the proliferation of lawsuits against directors and officers generally.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company, based upon its business experience, has concluded that the continuation of present trends in litigation against corporate directors and officers will inevitably make it more difficult for the Company to attract and retain directors and officers of the highest degree of competence committed to the active and effective direction and supervision of the business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates and the operation of its and their facilities. In fact, the Board deems such consequence to be so detrimental to the best interests of the Company that it has concluded that the Company should act to provide its directors and officers with enhanced protection against inordinate risks attendant on their positions in order to assure that the most capable persons otherwise available will be attracted to, or will remain in, such positions. In such connection, such directors have further concluded that it is not only reasonable and prudent but necessary for the Company to obligate itself contractually to indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, financial responsibility for expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by such individuals in connection with claims lodged against them for their decisions and actions in such capacities.

 

The General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, under which law the Company is organized, empowers a corporation organized in Delaware to indemnify persons who serve as directors and/or officers of the corporation, or persons who serve at the request of the corporation as directors and/or officers of an affiliated corporation, further specifies that the indemnification provided by law “shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise,” and further empowers a corporation to “purchase and maintain insurance” on behalf of such persons “against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such

 



 

person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this [provision].”

 

The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company permit indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

The Company desires to have the Indemnitee serve or continue to serve as a director and/or officer of the Company, and/or as a director, officer, employee, partner, trustee, agent, and/or fiduciary of such other corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, employee benefit plans, trusts, and/or other enterprises (herein referred to as “Company Affiliate”) of which he or she has been or is serving, or will serve on behalf of or at the request of or for the convenience of, or to represent the interests of the Company, free from undue concern for unpredictable, inappropriate, or unreasonable claims for damages by reason of his or her being, or having been, a director and/or officer of the Company, and/or a director, officer, employee, partner, trustee, agent, and/or fiduciary of a Company Affiliate, or by reason of his or her decisions or actions on their behalf.

 

The Indemnitee is willing to serve, or to continue to serve, or to take on additional service for, the Company and/or the Company Affiliate in such aforesaid capacities on the condition that he or she be indemnified as provided for herein.

 

Accordingly, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and the Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

 

1                                          Services to the Company: The Indemnitee shall serve or continue to serve as a director and/or officer of the Company (in the case of a Company officer at the will of the Company or under separate contract, if any such contract exists or shall hereafter exist), and/or as a director, and/or officer, or fiduciary of a Company Affiliate, faithfully and to the best of his or her ability so long as he or she is duly elected and qualified in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws or other applicable constitutive documents thereof; provided. however that: (a) the Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any contractual obligations which the Indemnitee has assumed apart from this Agreement); and (b) neither the Company nor the Company Affiliate will have any obligation under this Agreement to continue the Indemnitee in any such position.

 

2                                          Right to Indemnification:

 

2.1                                 The Company shall, to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) or other applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than the DGCL or other applicable law permitted the Company to provide prior to such change), indemnify any Indemnitee who is or was involved in any manner

 

2



 

(including, without limitation, as a party or witness), or is threatened to be made so involved, in any threatened, pending, or completed investigation, claim, action, suit, or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (including, without limitation, any action, suit, or proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) (herein referred to as a “Proceeding”) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Company, is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director or officer of any Company Affiliate, and/or or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in any such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such Proceeding; provided. however, that, except as provided in Paragraph 3.4, the foregoing shall not apply to a director or officer of the Company with respect to a Proceeding that was commenced by such director or officer unless such Proceeding was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors of the Company. Such indemnification shall include the right to receive payment in advance of any expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding, consistent with the provisions of applicable law as then in effect.  For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing indemnification obligation includes, without limitation, claims for monetary damages against Indemnitee in respect of an alleged breach of fiduciary duties to the fullest extent permitted under Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL as in existence on the date hereof.

 

2.2                                 Notwithstanding the obligation of the Company to indemnify attorneys’ fees as above provided in Paragraph 2.1, as a condition to being so indemnified the following shall apply. With regard to any “Proceeding” (as above defined), there will be groups the members of which have totally common interests — i.e., their goals are identical and there are no conflicts-of-interest among them. At such time as the determination of these groups has been completed (such determination to be made by “Independent Counsel” [as hereafter defined] if the parties involved cannot make such determination among themselves), each group shall, by majority vote of those comprising such group, select a single attorney or law firm to serve as (exclusive) legal counsel for all of the members of such group. In the event that any member of any such group acts independently by retaining the legal services of any other attorney or law firm to additionally or separately represent him, her, or it, all legal fees and expenses of such independently retained attorney or law firm shall be the (sole) responsibility of such independently acting member of the group.

 

3                                          Advancement of Expenses; Procedures; Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings: Remedies: In furtherance, but not in limitation, of the foregoing provisions, the following procedures, presumptions, and remedies shall apply with respect to advancement of expenses and the right to indemnification hereunder:

 

3



 

3.1                                 Advancement of Expenses: All expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding shall be advanced to the Indemnitee by the Company within twenty (20) calendar days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from the Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the expenses incurred by the Indemnitee (and, if required by law at the time of such advance, shall include or be accompanied by an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay the amounts advanced only if, and to the extent that, it should ultimately be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such expenses hereunder, which undertaking shall be accepted without reference to the financial ability of Indemnitee to make such repayment).  Advances shall be unsecured and interest-free.

 

3.2                                 Procurement for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification:

 

3.2.1                        To obtain indemnification as herein provided, an Indemnitee shall submit to the President or Secretary of the Company a written request, including such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification (herein referred to as the “Supporting Documentation”). The determination of the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be made not later than 60 calendar days after receipt by the Company of the written request for Indemnification together with the Supporting Documentation. The Secretary or President of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that the Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

 

3.2.2                        The Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification hereunder shall (except as provided in Subparagraph 3.2.3 below) be determined in one of the following ways (each of which shall give effect to the presumptions set forth in Paragraph 3.3): (a) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined) if they constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors; (b) by a written opinion of Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined) if a quorum of the Board of Directors consisting of Disinterested Directors is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, a majority of such Disinterested Directors so directs: (c) by the stockholders of the Company (but only if a majority of the Disinterested Directors, if they constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors, presents the issue of entitlement to indemnification to the stockholders for their determination); or (d) as provided in Paragraph 3.3. In the event

 

4



 

that this Subparagraph 3.2.2 applies, stockholder approval will be deemed to have been received if the holders of a majority of the Company’s total common stock outstanding vote in favor of such approval.

 

3.2.3                        Notwithstanding what is stated above, in the event of a Change in Control (see definition contained in Exhibit “A” hereto) the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification shall be determined by a written opinion of Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee. The Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Indemnitee. In the event the Company objects to the Independent Counsel so selected, within seven days after written notice of the selection has been given by the Indemnitee to the Company, the Company may object to such selection by written notification given to the Indemnitee. Such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirement of “Independent Counsel” as hereafter defined, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. If such written objection is made, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until a court has determined that such objection is without merit. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with the performance of his or her responsibilities hereunder, and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses instant to the implementation of the procedures referred to above. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Subparagraph 3.4.1 hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

3.2.4                        In the event of a Potential Change in Control (as hereinafter defined), the Company, upon written request by the Indemnitee, shall create a trust (which shall be a “grantor trust” for federal income tax purposes) for the benefit of the Indemnitee and from time to time upon written request of the Indemnitee shall fund such trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy any and all expenses which at the time of each such request it is reasonably anticipated will be incurred in connection with a Proceeding for which the Indemnitee is entitled to rights of indemnification under Paragraph 2 hereof, and any and all judgments, fines, penalties, and settlement amounts of any and all proceedings for which the Indemnitee is entitled to rights of indemnification under Paragraph 2 from time to time actually paid or claimed, reasonably anticipated, or proposed to be paid. The amount or amounts to be deposited in the trust pursuant

 

5



 

to the foregoing funding obligation shall be determined by the Independent Counsel referred to in Subparagraph 3.2.2 above. The terms of the trust shall provide that upon a Change in Control:  (i) the trust shall ‘not be revoked or the principal thereof invaded, without the written consent of the Indemnitee; (ii) the trustee shall advance, within two (2) business days of a request by the Indemnitee, any and all expenses to the Indemnitee; (iii) the trust shall continue to be funded by the Company in accordance with the funding obligations set forth above; (iv) the trustee shall promptly pay to the Indemnitee all amounts for which the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise; and (v) all unexpended funds in such trust shall revert to the Company upon a final determination by such Independent Counsel that the Indemnitee has been fully indemnified under the terms of this Agreement. The trustee shall be an institutional trustee with a highly regarded reputation chosen by the Indemnitee. Nothing in this Subparagraph 3.2.4 shall relieve the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement. Nothing contained in this Subparagraph 3.2.4. shall prevent the Board of Directors of the Company in its discretion at any time and from time to time, upon request of the Indemnitee, from providing security to the Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable line of credit, funded trust as described above, or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to the Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the Indemnitee’s prior written consent.

 

3.3                                 Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings: Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification hereunder upon submission of a request for indemnification together with the Supporting Documentation in accordance with Subparagraph 3.2.1, and thereafter the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in reaching a contrary determination. In any event, if the person or persons empowered under Paragraph 3.2 to determine entitlement to indemnification have not been appointed or have not made a determination within 60 calendar days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor together with the Supporting Documentation, the Indemnitee shall be deemed to be entitled to indemnification, and the Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification unless the Company establishes as provided in the final sentence of Paragraph 3.4.2 or by written opinion of Independent Counsel that: (a) the Indemnitee misrepresented or failed to disclose a material fact in making the request for indemnification or in the Supporting Documentation; or (b) such indemnification is prohibited by law. The termination of any Proceeding described in Paragraph 2, or of any claim, issue, or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself,

 

6



 

adversely affect the right of the Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

3.4                                 Remedies of Indemnitee:

 

3.4.1                        In the event that a determination is made pursuant to Paragraph 3.2 that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification hereunder: (a) the Indemnitee shall be entitled to seek an adjudication of his or her entitlement to such indemnification either, at the Indemnitee’s option, in (x) an appropriate court of the State of Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction, or (y) an arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator, selected by mutual agreement of the Company and the Indemnitee (or, failing such agreement by the then sitting Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the appropriate jurisdiction), pursuant to the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association, and with respect to any such arbitration, a judgment thereon to be entered by any court of competent jurisdiction; (b) any such judicial proceeding or arbitration shall be de novo, and the Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of such adverse determination; and (c) in any such judicial proceeding or arbitration, the Company shall have the burden of proving that indemnification is prohibited by applicable law. If any such determination is made, the Indemnitee shall be entitled, on five days’ written notice to the Secretary of the Company, to receive the written report of the persons making such determination, which report shall include the reasons and factual findings, if any, upon which such determination was based.

 

3.4.2                        If a determination has been made, or is deemed to have been made, pursuant to Paragraph 3.2 or 3.3, that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be obligated to pay the amounts constituting such indemnification within five days after such determination has been made or deemed to have been made and shall be conclusively bound by such determination unless the Company establishes as provided in the final sentence of this paragraph that: (a) the Indemnitee misrepresented or failed to disclose a material fact in making the request for indemnification or in the Supporting Documentation; or (b) such indemnification is prohibited by law. If either (x) advancement of expenses is not timely made pursuant to Paragraph 3.1, or (y) payment of indemnification is not made within five calendar days after a determination of entitlement to indemnification has been made or deemed to have been made pursuant to Paragraph 3.2 or 3.3, the

 

7



 

Indemnitee shall be entitled to seek judicial enforcement of the Company’s obligation to pay to the Indemnitee such advancement of expenses or indemnification. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may bring an action, in an appropriate court in the State of Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction, contesting the right of the Indemnitee to receive indemnification hereunder due to the occurrence of an event described in subclause (a) or (b) of this Subparagraph 3.4.2 (herein referred to as a “Disqualifying Event”); provided, however, that in any such action the Company will have the burden of proving the occurrence of such Disqualifying Event.

 

3.4.3                        The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Paragraph 3.4 that the procedures and presumptions of this Paragraph 3 are not valid, binding, and enforceable, and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

3.4.4                        If the Indemnitee, pursuant to this Paragraph 3.4, seeks a judicial adjudication of, or an award in arbitration to enforce, his or her rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company against, those expenses (see definition contained in Paragraph 2 above) actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee if the Indemnitee prevails in such judicial adjudication or arbitration. If it shall be determined in such judicial adjudication or arbitration that the Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification or advancement of expenses sought, the expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be prorated accordingly.  Provided, however, notwithstanding what has just been stated:  (1) the amount of expenses for reimbursement during the Indemnitee’s taxable year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year; (2) the reimbursement of an eligible expense must be made on or before ninety (90) days after the date the Indemnitee prevailed in such adjudication or arbitration; (3) the right to reimbursement may not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.  Further, the Indemnitee’s recovery from the Company of any such expenses must take place during the duration of this Agreement (see Paragraph 5.1 which follows).

 

8


 


 

3.5                                 Definitions: For purposes of this Paragraph 3:

 

Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not or was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by the Indemnitee.

 

“Independent Counsel” means a law firm or a member of a law firm that neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (a) the Company or the Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party; or (b) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing under the laws of the State of Delaware would have a conflict of interest in representing either the company or the Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitee’s rights hereunder.

 

“Potential Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if: (i) the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control; (ii) a person (including the Company) publicly announces a legitimate intention to take or to consider taking actions which if consummated would constitute a Change in Control; (iii) any person, other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, who is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 9.5 % or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities, increases his or her beneficial ownership of such securities by five percentage points or more over the percentage so owned by such person; or (iv) the Board of Directors adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has occurred.

 

4                                          Other Rights to Indemnification: The indemnification and advancement of costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) provided by this Agreement shall be in addition to, and shall not be deemed exclusive of, any other rights to which the Indemnitee may now or in the future be entitled under any provision of applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or any Bylaw of the Company or any other agreement, or any vote of directors or stockholders or otherwise, whether as to action in his or her official capacity or in another capacity while occupying any of the positions or having any of the relationships referred to in Paragraph 1 of this Agreement.

 

9



 

5                                          Duration of Agreement:

 

5.1                                 This Agreement shall be effective from and after the date hereof, and shall continue until and terminate upon the later of: (i) the tenth (10th) anniversary after the Indemnitee has ceased to occupy any of the positions or have any of the relationships described in Paragraph 1 of this Agreement; or (ii) (a) the final termination or resolution of all proceedings with respect to the Indemnitee commenced during such ten (10) year period, and (b) either (x) receipt by the Indemnitee of the Indemnification to which he or she is entitled hereunder with respect thereto, or (y) a final adjudication or binding arbitration that the Indemnitee is not entitled to any further indemnification with respect thereto, as the case may be.

 

5.2                                 This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee and his or her heirs, devisees, executors, administrators, or other legal representatives.

 

6.                                       Severability: If any provision or provisions of this Agreement are held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable under any particular circumstances or for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, all other portions of any paragraph or clause of this Agreement that contains any provision that has been found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal, or unenforceable) or the validity, legality, or enforceability under any other circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent possible consistent with applicable law, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, all other portions of any paragraph or clause of this Agreement that contains any such provision that has been found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal, or unenforceable) shall be deemed revised and shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by this Agreement (including the provision held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable).

 

7.                                       Identical Counterparts: This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

 

8.                                       Headings: The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

 

9.                                       Modification and Waiver: No supplement, modification, or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or

 

10



 

shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

10.                                 Notification and Defense of Claim: The Indemnitee agrees to notify the Company promptly in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information, or other document relating to any matter which may be subject to indemnification hereunder, whether civil, criminal, or investigative; provided. however, that the failure of the Indemnitee to give such notice to the Company shall not adversely affect the Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement except to the extent the Company has been materially prejudiced as a direct result of such failure. Nothing in this Agreement shall constitute a waiver of the Company’s right to seek participation at its own expense in any Proceeding which may give rise to indemnification hereunder.

 

11.                                 Notices: All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if: (i) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed; or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, in either case:

 

(a)                                  if to the Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page hereof;

 

(b)                                 if to the Company:

 

Supreme Industries, Inc.

2581 E. Kercher Road

Goshen, IN 46528

 

or to such address as may have been furnished to either party by the other Party.

 

12                                    Governing Law: The parties hereto agree that this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

13.                                 Subsequent Legislation: If there is a change in the DGCL or other applicable law (whether by statute or judicial decision) after adoption of this Agreement to expand further the indemnification permitted to directors or officers, then the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL or other applicable law, as so amended.  Any amendment, alteration or repeal of the DGCL or other applicable law that adversely affects any right of Indemnitee shall be prospective only and shall not limit or eliminate any such right with respect to any Proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place before such amendment or repeal.

 

[Signatures on the following page]

 

11



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

COMPANY:

 

 

 

 

Supreme Industries, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kim Korth

 

 

Kim Korth

 

 

President and CEO

 

 

 

INDEMNITEE:

 

 

 

/s/

Matthew W. Long

 

 

Matthew W. Long

 

 

 

 

Residence Address:

51235 Ashley Drive

 

 

Granger, IN 46530

 

12



 

Exhibit “A”

to

Indemnification Agreement

 

I.                                         Change in the ownership of a corporation

 

(A)  In general.  A change in the ownership of a corporation occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of the corporation that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50 percent of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of such corporation.  However, if any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to own more than 50 percent of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of a corporation, the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or persons is not considered to cause a change in the ownership of the corporation (or to cause a change in the effective control of the corporation).  An increase in the percentage of stock owned by any one person, or persons acting as a group, as a result of a transaction in which the corporation acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated as an acquisition of stock.  This applies only when there is a transfer of stock of a corporation (or issuance of stock of a corporation) and stock in such corporation remains outstanding after the transaction.

 

(B)                                Persons acting as a group.  Persons will not be considered to be acting as a group solely because they purchase or own stock of the same corporation at the same time, or as a result of the same public offering.  However, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase, or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the corporation.  If a person, including an entity, owns stock in both corporations that enter into a merger, consolidation, purchase, or acquisition of stock, or similar transaction, such shareholder is considered to be acting as a group with other shareholders in a corporation prior to the transaction giving rise to the change and not with respect to the ownership interest in the other corporation.

 

II.                                     Change in the effective control of a corporation.

 

(A)                              In general.  Notwithstanding that a corporation has not undergone a change in ownership, (see above), a change in the effective control of a corporation occurs only on the date that either —

 

(1)                                  Any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of the corporation possessing 35 percent or more of the total voting power of the stock of such corporation; or

 

(2)                                  A majority of members of the corporation’s board of directors is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the corporation’s board of directors prior to the election, provided that for purposes of this paragraph the term corporation refers solely to the relevant corporation

 

1



 

for which no other corporation is a majority shareholder for purposes of that paragraph (for example, if Corporation A is a publicly held corporation with no majority shareholder, and Corporation A is the majority shareholder of Corporation B, which is the majority shareholder of Corporation C, the term corporation for purposes of this paragraph would refer solely to Corporation A).

 

(B)                              Multiple change in control events.  A change in effective control also may occur in any transaction in which either of the two corporations involved in the transaction has a change in control event.  Thus, for example, assume Corporation P transfers more than 40 percent of the total gross fair market value of its assets to Corporation O in exchange for 35 percent of O’s stock.  P has undergone a change in ownership of a substantial portion of its asset, and O has a change in effective control.

 

(C)                                Acquisition of additional control.  If any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to effectively control a corporation, the acquisition of additional control of the corporation by the same person or persons is not considered to cause a change in the effective control of the corporation (or to cause a change in the ownership of the corporation).

 

(D)                             Persons acting as a group.  Persons will not be considered to be acting as a group solely because they purchase or own stock of the same corporation at the same time, or as a result of the same public offering.  However, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase, or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the corporation.  If a person, including an entity, owns stock in both corporations that enter into a merger, consolidation, purchase, or acquisition of stock, or similar transaction, such shareholder is considered to be acting as a group with other shareholders in a corporation only with respect to the ownership in that corporation prior to the transaction giving rise to the change and not with respect to the ownership interest in the other corporation.

 

III.                                 Change in the ownership of a substantial portion of a corporation’s assets.

 

(A)                              In general.  Change in the ownership of a substantial portion of a corporation’s assets.  A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of a corporation’s assets occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or person) assets from the corporation that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40 percent of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the corporation immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions.  For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the corporation, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

 

(B)                                Transfers to a related person.

 

(1)                                  There is no change in control event when there is a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the shareholders of the transferring corporation immediately after the

 

2



 

transfer.  A transfer of assets by a corporation is not treated as a change in the ownership of such assets if the assets are transferred to —

 

(i)  A shareholder of the corporation (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to its stock;

 

(ii)  An entity, 50 percent or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation;

 

(iii)  A person, or more than one person acting as a group, that owns, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the corporation; or

 

(iv)  An entity, at least 50 percent of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a person described in “(iii)” immediately preceding.

 

(2)                                  A person’s status is determined immediately after the transfer of the assets.  For example, a transfer to a corporation in which the transferor corporation has no ownership interest before the transaction, but which is a majority-owned subsidiary of the transferor corporation after the transaction is not treated as a change in the ownership of the assets of the transferor corporation.

 

(C)                                Persons acting as a group.  Persons will not be considered to be acting as a group solely because they purchase assets of the same corporation at the same time.  However, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase, or acquisition of assets, or similar business transaction with the corporation.  If a person, including an entity shareholder, owns stock in both corporations that enter into a merger, consolidation, purchase, or acquisition of assets, or similar transaction, such shareholder is considered to be acting as a group with other shareholders in a corporation only to the extent of the ownership in that corporation prior to the transaction giving rise to the change and not with respect to the ownership interest in the other corporation.

 

3


 

GRAPHIC 4 g20971km01i001.jpg GRAPHIC begin 644 g20971km01i001.jpg M_]C_X``02D9)1@`!`0$`8`!@``#_VP!#``H'!P@'!@H("`@+"@H+#A@0#@T- M#AT5%A$8(Q\E)"(?(B$F*S7J#A(6&AXB)BI*3E)66EYB9FJ*CI*6FIZBIJK*SM+6VM[BYNL+#Q,7& MQ\C)RM+3U-76U]C9VN'BX^3EYN?HZ>KQ\O/T]?;W^/GZ_\0`'P$``P$!`0$! M`0$!`0````````$"`P0%!@<("0H+_\0`M1$``@$"!`0#!`<%!`0``0)W``$" M`Q$$!2$Q!A)!40=A<1,B,H$(%$*1H;'!"2,S4O`58G+1"A8D-.$E\1<8&1HF M)R@I*C4V-S@Y.D-$149'2$E*4U155E=865IC9&5F9VAI:G-T=79W>'EZ@H.$ MA8:'B(F*DI.4E9:7F)F:HJ.DI::GJ*FJLK.TM;:WN+FZPL/$Q<;'R,G*TM/4 MU=;7V-G:XN/DY>;GZ.GJ\O/T]?;W^/GZ_]H`#`,!``(1`Q$`/P#V:BBB@`HH MHH`****`"BBB@`IK.J#+,%'J3BH[NY2SLYKF3[L,;.?P&:\8N[F\UR6YO+N[ MRR#?M=CC&?NJ.E3*7*=^#P3Q-VW9(]H^U6X_Y>(O^^Q2?:[;_GXB_P"^Q7@< MH0+U%01027$PB@A>61ONHBEB?P%2IGI/)Z<5>52WR_X)]!_:[;_GXB_[[%'V MNV_Y^(O^^Q7AZ^%=?89&BWG_`'Z(H_X13Q!_T!;S_OW3YC'^SL-_S^_#_@GN M'VNV_P"?B+_OL4?:[;_GXB_[[%>'_P#"*>(/^@)>?]^S1_PBGB#_`*`EY_W[ M-',/^SL-_P`_OP_X)[A]KMO^?B+_`+[%'VNV_P"?B+_OL5X?_P`(IX@_Z`EY M_P!^S1_PBOB#_H"7G_?LT+_ M`+[%>'?\(KX@_P"@)>?]^S1_PBGB$D`:+=C/6SOY.F`?Q3O^@KK?B5?^?K%O8J8*K.RH@RS'`'J:]6\5E="\"6VEQG#.$AX[X&6 M/Z?K36]S+,6ZM2-%?:?X&1>?$75Y9&>SMX8(`<+N0N?Q.<9JM_PL+7_[UM_W MY_\`KUS[7#6^F^6'($[Y(]0.E4);@LN`:CFDSIC@Z"C\"LCJI/B-KR]);7/_ M`%Q_^O4!^)7B+/\`K;7_`+\__7K3^'/ANRU."YU'4+9;A%<1PK(,KG&6.._4 M5V__``BV@?\`0'L_^_(K2*E8\NIBL+2FX>R3MY'FO_"R_$?_`#UM/^_/_P!> MC_A97B/_`)ZVO_?G_P"O7I7_``BV@?\`0'L_^_(H_P"$6T#_`*`]G_WY%.TC M/Z_A?^?*^X\U_P"%E>(_^>MK_P!^?_KUK^%/&7B'7?$-O9226_D\O*5AP=H' MKGUP/QKL_P#A%M`_Z`]G_P!^15FRT;3-.E:6RL(+>1EVEHXPI(]*=F9U<;AY M0:C22?H7:***H\D****`"BBB@`HHHH`*0D`9/`%+61XJO_[-\-WLX.',>Q/] MYN!_.AETX.0S7#R'JS$UHQGR=/N M)NA8"-?QZUE"N==6?>4TH1=MEH;W@K3_`.TO%EE&1E(F\Y_HO(_7%=%\2K[S M]8MK%3D6\>XC_:;_`.L!^=3_``IT_"WVIN.I$*']6_\`9:YO5+P:IXFNKPG, M9E9A_NKP/T`JGI$\>C^\QDI](K\69&IMB=81TB4+^/>J?:GRR&69Y#U8DUI_0&E;2QZU>2IT=3V/PAIW]F>%[&`KAVC\Q_]YN?Z MX_"MJD````&`.@I:W1\).3E)R?4****"0HHHH`****`"HWN(8VVO,BMZ,P!J M2O(_$^D:]JOB"]NDT:ZD1I-L;;/X5X!_3]:3=CKPM"%:34Y\7_?8KP__A$_$/\`T!+O_OBC_A$_$/\`T!;O_OBIYCT/[.PW M_/[\/^">X?:8/^>\?_?8I?M$/_/9/^^A7AW_``B?B'_H"W?_`'Q2_P#"*>(? M^@+>?]\T)(%_""T8;6`WNO<$],_A6=T%;#>%O$;L6;1[QF)R25R35_1?` MFM7^HQ)>6,EI;*P,LDN!\O<`=R:A)VL>E4QE*-*W,CM;%?\`A&OAIYA&V9K< MN?\`?DZ?ED?E7F@;RK*>3/+`1K^/6O5_'&F7NH^'?L^G0^8Z2JQB!P649X'Z M5YD_A/Q(YR=&NOR'^-5)'!EU:E&G*$O$BD$:/=@CN,#^M+J=N)JT<1!PYTCW M*BO$/^$7\4_]`R^_[Z_^O1_PB_BG_H&7W_?7_P!>M.8\?^SJ'_/]?=_P3V^B MO$/^$7\4_P#0+OO^^O\`Z]'_``B_BG_H&7W_`'U_]>CF#^SJ'_/]?=_P3W"B MN6^'^D7>E:'(;^.2.YGF+,DAR54<#^I_&NIIH\JK",)N,7=+J%%%%,S"BBN9 M\=>,$\'Z,MPD2S7=PVRWC8X&<9)/L/ZB@#IJ*\2L;WXB^+-+N];MM:%O:VV[ M*HXB!*C)"@#L/4U:^'/Q`URXUP:=J]R]W:/#)(994PT6U2V<@E45XO-XV\26/P]@U"?5)&O\`4KQA;N8T^2%!AB!CNW%0 M:/JWQ,UW2I]4T_4]]M;EEC?#+Q'?ZKX8OM1UR_\T6\[`RN`H1`@)Z#W-`'=T5X'K?Q0\27FJW- MSIE\]I8>9MAC$:G"]LDCJ<9KHM%\7Z_!\.=7\0:EJ+S3/(+>QW(HVMT+#`YZ M_P#CM`'K5%>#Z'XE^(_B2:6+2=0DN'A4-)\L2@`\#D@5UOANT^)S>(+3^V[I MX]/5]TYW0G<`/N_+SR<"@#TNBBB@`KB?B'X:M/%MC#%#J=M;W]F[>4))!M;. M,JW<=!S7;5\_ZUX,\5:3XIEU!=)EU`B[-Q'-%'YJR?-N&X#D>X-`%)9?%OP[ MU(QDS6+2#-,L-&'VR2RD>6Y0': MTKN!E@#Z8QCTH`RO@OI'VKQ%<+:`#N%^48^IR?QK9\.7GCKPQI=UI>G>&+C=N:[;F)+3]]%:Y#22N.1G'`Y_$F@#F?B%+';ZM::'`P,.C6B6W'0 MOC"--O?%>N-$+JSMW- MK;HVX(Y&`6/3.3@`>MMM7O=V[?:`A`(R".3DCN17LOQ6M=9 MU+0+?3=(T^>[\^;=,8@/E5>0#]21^54/A+X5O]#AU"_U2RDMKB8K%&DF-VP< MD_B2/RH`\T\2^(-7US6$C\3O)$;1C&\,404Q<_-A2>3]371?$-=.T/PYHGAS M2-X@D7[=*9/ON6&%+>_7\A6==>#_`!5K'B:2]O="O(X[N[WRL5'RJ6Y[]A5W MQOX:\4ZYXLO;NWT*[:V5A#;E5&/+48!'/0\G\:`*_A'1?'T6FF_\-(8;:[/+ MB2,%]I(Z-SUS74W=[XMT#P%K5SXINV:ZNMMM:1[D.W<,,G7WQ M4TK3X+"ST=X[>W0)&OV5#@#WS5CQM8>--?T'1+6XTR>ZN%1KBZ,2*JJY.%7& M>H7^=`'&Z+IH?PAXAU1EXACA@C/NTBD_HH_.BU\07$?@T^&+!',U]>EYMHY9 M<*%0?4CGZ#UKNT\(ZK:?!R738]/E;4KNX$TEN`-X^<<'Z*HJ#X;^!+_3;Z?7 M=:TZ6.2S4_9;9@-SOC[V/T'N?:@#B?%5E'HL]MH$1#RV<8:Z9>=\[@%A]`-J MCZ'UKH/B#C1/#7A[PJAP\$'VFY`_OMZ_B7I-#\%^)-5\<6]]K6D7$$$MT;BX MDE`V\'=CKW.!2>-O#GBO7_%U_?QZ%>/"9/+A(48*+P#U[XS^-`$/A+1?'\.F M?;O#:&&UO.2XDC!?:2.C<^M>H^!+7Q7!:7