-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, NSFAY4BSwIqnHzZ3nC7ITT9mSe2XDeoE2iyF8SkXXP+nuy3fYTxtooeW9DyANbXU O8PLWZy0LzS7iA4Dh8kdzw== 0000950135-98-004792.txt : 19980817 0000950135-98-004792.hdr.sgml : 19980817 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950135-98-004792 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 10 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19980703 FILED AS OF DATE: 19980814 SROS: NYSE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: NASHUA CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000069680 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: CONVERTED PAPER & PAPERBOARD PRODS (NO CONTAINERS/BOXES) [2670] IRS NUMBER: 020170100 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-05492 FILM NUMBER: 98689973 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 44 FRANKLIN ST STREET 2: PO BOX 2002 CITY: NASHUA STATE: NH ZIP: 03061-2002 BUSINESS PHONE: 6038802323 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 44 FRANKLIN STREET STREET 2: P O BOX 2002 CITY: NASHUA STATE: NH ZIP: 03061-2002 10-Q 1 NASHUA CORPORATION 10-Q 1 FORM 10-Q ------------------------------- UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20549 ------------------------------- [ X ] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended JULY 3, 1998 or [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from _____ to _____ COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-5492-1 NASHUA CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) DELAWARE 02-0170100 (State of Incorporation) (IRS Employer Identification No.) 44 FRANKLIN STREET 03061-2002 NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE (Zip Code) (Address of principal executive offices) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (603) 880-2323 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES X NO ----- ----- Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of Common Stock, as of the latest practicable date. AS OF AUGUST 4, 1998, THE COMPANY HAD 6,745,303 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, EXCLUDING 24,094 SHARES IN TREASURY, PAR VALUE $1 PER SHARE, OUTSTANDING. 2 PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NASHUA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) July 3, 1998 December 31, ASSETS: (Unaudited) 1997 - ------- ----------- ------------ Cash and cash equivalents $ 43,983 $ 3,736 Accounts receivable 17,934 14,915 Inventories Materials and supplies 4,426 6,196 Work in process 1,894 3,650 Finished goods 7,504 4,791 --------- -------- 13,824 14,637 Other current assets 12,795 12,362 Net current assets of discontinued operations -- 120 --------- -------- Total current assets 88,536 45,770 --------- -------- Plant and equipment 80,439 81,020 Accumulated depreciation (40,679) (40,605) --------- -------- 39,760 40,415 --------- -------- Intangible assets 2,005 2,010 Accumulated amortization (1,323) (1,081) --------- -------- 682 929 --------- -------- Investment in unconsolidated affiliate 4,448 7,524 Other assets 12,382 10,930 Net non-current assets of discontinued operations -- 41,194 --------- -------- Total assets $ 145,808 $146,762 ========= ======== LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY: - ------------------------------------- Current maturities of long-term debt $ 511 $ 511 Accounts payable 8,182 12,595 Accrued expenses 15,087 13,772 Income taxes payable 5,235 -- --------- -------- Total current liabilities 29,015 26,878 --------- -------- Long-term debt 1,277 3,489 Other long-term liabilities 20,880 21,373 --------- -------- Total long-term liabilities 22,157 24,862 --------- -------- Common stock and additional capital 20,459 18,845 Retained earnings 74,935 76,935 Treasury stock, at cost (758) (758) --------- -------- Total shareholders' equity 94,636 95,022 --------- -------- Commitments and contingencies Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 145,808 $146,762 ========= ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements. -2- 3
NASHUA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND RETAINED EARNINGS (UNAUDITED) (In thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended ------------------------ ---------------------- July 3, June 27, July 3, June 27, 1998 1997 1998 1997 ------- -------- ------- ------- Net sales $40,081 $43,226 $84,567 $87,657 Cost of products sold 30,882 32,936 65,617 67,166 ------- ------- ------- ------- Gross margin 9,199 10,290 18,950 20,491 Research, selling, distribution and administrative expenses 10,452 12,018 20,944 23,582 Restructuring and other unusual items - 2,754 - 2,754 Equity in net (income) loss of Cerion Technologies 2,813 (3) 3,076 (28) Interest expense 109 21 222 78 Interest income (669) (87) (677) (264) ------- ------- ------- ------- Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit (3,506) (4,413) (4,615) (5,631) Income taxes (benefit) (1,245) (1,540) (1,711) (1,917) ------- ------- ------- ------- Loss from continuing operations (2,261) (2,873) (2,904) (3,714) Income (loss) from discontinued operation, net of taxes - 932 (148) 380 Gain on disposal of discontinued operation, net of taxes 1,052 - 1,052 - ------- ------- ------- ------- Net loss (1,209) (1,941) (2,000) (3,334) Retained earnings, beginning of period 76,144 84,364 76,935 85,757 ------- ------- ------- ------- Retained earnings, end of period 74,935 82,423 74,935 82,423 ======= ======= ======= ======= Earnings per share: Income (loss) from continuing operations $ (.35) $ (.45) $ (.45) $ (.58) Income (loss) from discontinued operation - .15 (.02) .06 Gain on disposal of discontinued operation .16 - .16 - ------- ------- ------- ------- Net loss per common share $ (.19) $ (.30) $ (.31) $ (.52) ======= ======= ======= ======= Average common shares 6,475 6,411 6,437 6,397 ======= ======= ======= ======= Income (loss) per common share from continuing operations assuming dilution $ (.35) $ (.45) $ (.45) $ (.58) ======= ======= ======= ======= Net income (loss) per common share assuming dilution $ (.19) $ (.30) $ (.31) $ (.52) ======= ======= ======= ======= Average common and potential common shares 6,475 6,411 6,437 6,397 ======= ======= ======= =======
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements. -3- 4
NASHUA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) (In thousands) Six Months Ended ----------------------- July 3, June 27, 1998 1997 ------- -------- Cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations: Net loss $(2,000) $ (3,334) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash provided by (used in) continuing operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 3,473 5,471 Equity in net (income) loss of Cerion Technologies 3,076 (28) Gain on sale of discontinued operation (1,052) -- Net change in working capital and other assets (9,881) (13,793) ------- -------- Cash used in continuing operating activities (6,384) (11,684) ------- -------- Cash flows from investing activities of continuing operations: Investment in plant and equipment (3,042) (2,767) Retirement of fixed assets -- (1,567) ------- -------- Cash used in investing activities of continuing operations (3,042) (4,334) ------- -------- Cash flows from financing activities of continuing operations: Repayment of borrowings (2,212) (405) Proceeds and tax benefits from shares issued under stock option plans 1,614 157 ------- -------- Cash used in financing activities of continuing operations (598) (248) ------- -------- Proceeds from the sale of discontinued operation 49,858 -- Cash provided by activities of discontinued operation 409 7,063 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 4 (57) ------- -------- Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 40,247 (9,260) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 3,736 20,018 ------- -------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $43,983 $ 10,758 ======= ======== Interest paid $ 64 $ 127 ======= ======== Income taxes paid $ 4,267 $ 2,408 ======= ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements. -4- 5 NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS EARNINGS PER COMMON AND COMMON EQUIVALENT SHARE The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings per Share" for the Company's year ended December 31, 1997 financial statements. As the Company has recorded net losses for the three and six month periods ended July 3, 1998 and June 27, 1997, any common stock equivalents would be antidilutive; therefore, Basic Earnings per Share and Diluted Earnings per Share are equivalent under FAS 128. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES In April 1994, Ricoh Company, Ltd. and Ricoh Corporation ("Ricoh") brought a lawsuit in the United States District Court, District of New Hampshire ("District Court"), alleging the Company's infringement of the U.S. patents 4,611,730 and 4,878,603 relating to certain toner cartridges for Ricoh copiers. In March 1997, the District Court decided to enjoin Nashua from manufacturing, using or selling its NT-50 and NT-6750 toner cartridges. Sales of these products in 1996 amounted to one percent of Nashua's total sales. The District Court left the subject of damages, if any, to subsequent proceedings. The Company disagrees with the District Court's decision and has appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ("Court of Appeals"). At the trial, Ricoh alleged that its damages would be approximately $10 million as of the date of the trial, and the Company alleged that such damages should be in the range of $.1 million to $.4 million. Ricoh also is seeking treble damages and attorneys' fees for willful infringement, but the Company believes an award for such damages is unlikely. In June of 1998, the District Court appointed an expert witness to provide expert testimony concerning the issue of damages. The Company expects such expert testimony to be provided to the District Court during the third quarter of 1998. Management believes that damages, if any, will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position. The Company is awaiting the District Court's decision on the issue of damages and the Court of Appeal's decision in respect to the Company's appeal. STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS NO. 133 In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." The statement is effective for years beginning after June 15, 1999. FAS 133 requires that all derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in current earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on whether a derivative is designated as part of a hedge transaction and, if it is, the type of hedge transaction. Management of the Company anticipates that, due to its limited use of derivative instruments, the adoption of FAS 133 will not have a significant effect on the Company's results of operations or its financial position. RECLASSIFICATION Certain amounts from the prior year have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. -5- 6 STOCK OPTIONS At July 3, 1998, options for 682,570 shares of common stock were outstanding. Stock options for an additional 119,523 shares may be awarded under the Company's 1996 Stock Incentive Plan. SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY On June 24, 1998, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase from time to time in the open market of up to one million shares of its common stock, subject to financial and market conditions, Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations and financial covenant limitations with the Company's lender. On June 24, 1998, the Company's Board of Directors amended the Company's Shareholder Rights Plan adopted in July 1996. The amendment increases from 10 percent to 20 percent the beneficial stock ownership and tender offer threshold at which preferred stock purchase rights would detach from the Company's common stock and become exercisable. BUSINESS CHANGES On April 9, 1998, the Company completed the sale of its Photofinishing Group. The Company received net proceeds of $49.9 million for the net assets of the businesses and after recording taxes of $7.9 million, recorded a gain of $1.1 million. For the first six months of 1998, the Photofinishing Group had revenues of $22 million. The gain on the sale and the results of operations are reported as a discontinued operation. On April 6, 1998, the Company transferred certain assets and licensed certain technology related to its United Kingdom-based Microsharp imaging technology. The Company expects to realize a small gain from the transaction upon satisfaction of promissory notes received as part of the transaction and due December 31, 1998. The Company's United States-based projection screen development, now called Nashua Projection Systems, is continuing the process of qualifying its products for rear projection applications. OTHER These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial position as of July 3, 1998, the results of operations for the three and six month periods ended July 3, 1998 and June 27, 1997 and cash flows for the six month period ended July 3, 1998. -6- 7 ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS CORPORATE MATTERS On April 9, 1998, the Company completed the sale of its Photofinishing Group. The Company received net proceeds of $49.9 million for the net assets of the businesses and after recording taxes of $7.9 million, recorded a gain of $1.1 million. For the first six months of 1998, the Photofinishing Group had revenues of $22 million. The gain on the sale and the results of operations are reported as a discontinued operation. On April 6, 1998, the Company transferred certain assets and licensed certain technology related to its United Kingdom-based Microsharp imaging technology. The Company expects to realize a small gain from the transaction upon satisfaction of promissory notes received as part of the transaction and due December 31, 1998. The Company's United States-based projection screen development, now called Nashua Projection Systems, is continuing the process of qualifying its products for rear projection applications. The Company recognized a pretax loss of $2.8 million in the second quarter of 1998 related to the investment in Cerion Technologies, Inc. ("Cerion"). The loss from the investment in Cerion included $2.3 million resulting from Cerion's writedown of certain long-lived assets and the establishment of a reserve for amounts due from one customer. On August 11, 1998, Cerion issued a press release stating that difficult market conditions persisted during the second quarter within the disk drive industry highlighted by product oversupply and severe pricing pressures and further stating that it believes industry uncertainty will continue to affect its financial performance and order volume. In addition, on August 13, 1998, Cerion announced that it is actively seeking a buyer for its business, the outcome of which may also affect the future value of the Company's investment in Cerion. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Sales of $40.1 million for the second quarter of 1998 reflected a 7.3 percent decrease from sales of $43.2 million in the second quarter of 1997. The sales decline resulted primarily from lower toner and paper volumes in the Imaging Supplies Division and to a lesser extent from lower prices in the Label Division, partially offset by increased volume of thermal and dry gummed papers in the Specialty Coated Products Division. The decline in gross margin from the second quarter of 1997 to the current quarter is primarily the result of lower prices in the Label Division resulting from competitive market pressures. Sales of $84.6 million for the first six months of 1998 million were 3.5 percent lower than sales of $87.7 million for the comparable period in 1997, primarily as a result of lower toner and paper volume in the Imaging Supplies Division which were partially offset by increased thermal paper volume in the Specialty Coated Products Division. The volume declines in the Imaging Supplies Division for the second quarter and first six months of 1998, when compared to the same periods of 1997, were largely attributable to the impact of weak Asian markets on several key customers and reduction of volume in the dealer agent channel caused by the delay in introduction of new products. In the second quarter of 1998, the Company reported a net loss from continuing operations of $2.3 million compared to a net loss of $2.9 million in the second quarter of 1997. Excluding the $2.8 million loss from the Company's investment in Cerion recognized in the second quarter of 1998, and the $2.8 million restructuring and other unusual charges recognized in the second quarter of 1997, pretax results improved by $.9 million in 1998 due to reduced expenses related to the Company's development of its Projection System's screen technology and increased interest income from the investment of cash generated by the sale of the Photofinishing Group. Research, selling, distribution and administrative expenses decreased 13.0 percent, or $1.6 million, for the second quarter of 1998 and 11.2 percent, or $2.6 million, for the first six months of 1998 versus the comparable periods in 1997. Research expense decreased as the result of the elimination of projection -7- 8 screen development expenses in the United Kingdom-based Microsharp imaging operation on April 6, 1998 and a reduced workforce. The decrease in selling and distribution expense resulted from lower sales, partially offset by higher freight rates. Reduced administrative costs are largely attributable to the restructuring activities completed during the past twelve months. Net restructuring and other unusual charges of $4.3 million were recorded in the full year of 1997 related to the sale of excess real estate in Nashua, NH and other business unit and functional realignments. Details of the charges related to continuing operations and the activity recorded during the second quarter of 1998 follows:
Balance Current Balance April 3, Period July 3, (In thousands) 1998 Charges 1998 -------- ------- ------- Provisions for severance related to workforce reductions $1,239 $356 $ 883 Provisions for assets to be sold or discarded 576 228 348 Other 247 66 181 ------ ----- ------ Total $2,062 $650 $1,412 ====== ==== ======
All charges, excluding asset writedowns, are principally cash in nature and are expected to be funded from operations or current cash balances. The estimated annual effective income tax benefit of 37 percent for the first six months of 1998 is higher than the U.S. statutory rate principally due to the deductibility of state income taxes. LIQUIDITY, CAPITAL RESOURCES AND FINANCIAL CONDITION Working capital increased $40.6 million from December 31, 1997, primarily from net proceeds generated by the sale of the Photofinishing Group. The Company expects that a portion of the proceeds will be reinvested in its continuing businesses. In addition, on June 24, 1998, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase from time to time in the open market of up to one million shares of its common stock, subject to financial and market conditions, Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations and financial covenant limitations with the Company's lender. OTHER MATTERS The Company is in the process of addressing the Year 2000 compliance issues for both information and non information technology systems including third parties with whom the Company has a material relationship. The Company expects to complete the necessary conversions and implementations by the end of the second quarter of 1999. Testing of conversions already completed began in the second quarter of 1998 and will continue as each material system is completed throughout 1998 and 1999. The Company has made and expects to continue to make substantial progress towards Year 2000 compliance during 1998 and therefore has not developed a contingency plan. The Company does not expect the costs of attaining Year 2000 compliance or the risks of not attaining full compliance to be material to the Company's business, operations or financial condition. On June 24, 1998, the Company's Board of Directors amended the Company's Shareholder Rights Plan adopted in July 1996. The amendment increases from 10 percent to 20 percent the beneficial stock ownership and tender offer threshold at which preferred stock purchase rights would detach from the Company's common stock and become exercisable. -8- 9 PART II - OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS In August and September 1996, two individual plaintiffs initiated lawsuits in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois against the Company, Cerion, certain directors and officers of Cerion, and the Company's underwriter, on behalf of classes consisting of all persons who purchased the common stock of Cerion between May 24, 1996 and July 9, 1996. These two complaints were consolidated. In March 1997, the same individual plaintiffs joined by a third plaintiff filed a Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint (the "Consolidated Complaint"). The Consolidated Complaint alleged that, in connection with Cerion's -9- 10 initial public offering, the defendants issued materially false and misleading statements and omitted the disclosure of material facts regarding, in particular, certain significant customer relationships. In October 1997, the Court, on motion by the defendants, dismissed the Consolidated Complaint. The plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Consolidated Complaint alleging substantially similar claims as the Consolidated Complaint seeking damages and injunctive relief. On May 6, 1998, the Court, on motion by the defendants, dismissed with prejudice the Second Amended Consolidated Complaint. The plaintiffs have filed a notice of appeal of the Court's ruling. The Company continues to believe that this lawsuit is without merit and plans to vigorously defend itself in this matter on appeal. In April 1994, Ricoh Company, Ltd. and Ricoh Corporation ("Ricoh") brought a lawsuit in the United States District Court, District of New Hampshire ("District Court"), alleging the Company's infringement of the U.S. patents 4,611,730 and 4,878,603 relating to certain toner cartridges for Ricoh copiers. In March 1997, the District Court decided to enjoin Nashua from manufacturing, using or selling its NT-50 and NT-6750 toner cartridges. Sales of these products in 1996 amounted to one percent of Nashua's total sales. The District Court left the subject of damages, if any, to subsequent proceedings. The Company disagrees with the District Court's decision and has appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ("Court of Appeals"). At the trial, Ricoh alleged that its damages would be approximately $10 million as of the date of the trial, and the Company alleged that such damages should be in the range of $.1 million to $.4 million. Ricoh also is seeking treble damages and attorneys' fees for willful infringement, but the Company believes an award for such damages is unlikely. In June of 1998, the District Court appointed an expert witness to provide expert testimony concerning the issue of damages. The Company expects such expert testimony to be provided to the District Court during the third quarter of 1998. Management believes that damages, if any, will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position. The Company is awaiting the District Court's decision on the issue of damages and the Court of Appeal's decision in respect to the Company's appeal. ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS For matters submitted to a vote of security holders, see the Company's Proxy Statement dated March 25, 1998 issued in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 24, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference. At such meeting, the stockholders acted as follows: PROPOSAL 1: To elect a Board of Directors for the ensuing year.
Number of Votes --------------------------------- Nominees For Withheld -------- --- -------- Sheldon A. Buckler 5,926,297 184,631 Gerald G. Garbacz 5,923,594 187,334 Charles S. Hoppin 5,925,144 185,784 John M. Kucharski 5,926,561 184,367 David C. Miller, Jr. 5,928,235 182,693 Peter J. Murphy 5,927,935 182,993 James F. Orr III 5,926,502 184,426
The above named individuals were elected Directors of the Company. PROPOSAL 2: Stockholder proposal requesting the Board of Directors to redeem the Company's Shareholder Rights Plan adopted in July 1996.
Number of Votes --------------- Broker For Against Abstain Non-Vote --- ------- ------- -------- 3,256,630 1,817,223 75,439 961,636
The proposal was approved by the affirmative vote of the majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote at the annual meeting. ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS Any proposal that a stockholder wishes the Company to consider for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy card for the Company's 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "1999 Meeting") must be received by the Company on or before November 25, 1998. Such proposals should be directed to Nashua Corporation, 44 Franklin Street, P.O. Box 2002, Nashua, New Hampshire 03061-2002, Attention: Secretary. In addition, the Company's By-Laws require all stockholder proposals to be timely submitted in advance to the Secretary of the Company at the above address (other than proposals submitted for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy as described above). To be timely, the Secretary must receive such notice not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the 1999 Meeting; provided that, if less than 70 days notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the 1999 Meeting is given or made, the notice must be received not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made, whichever occurs first. FACTORS WHICH MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS This report may contain forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this report, the words "believe," "expects," "to be" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements and the Company's future results of operations and financial condition are subject to risks and -10- 11 uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated and from past results. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's future capital needs, stock market conditions, price of the Company's stock, fluctuations in customer demand, intensity of competition from other vendors, timing and acceptance of new product introductions, general economic and industry conditions, delays or difficulties in programs designed to increase sales and return the Company to profitability, the possibility of a final award of material damages in the patent litigation brought against the Company by Ricoh Company, Ltd. and the Cerion securities litigation and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a) Exhibits 10.01 Change of Control and Severance Agreement dated as of June 24, 1998 between the Company and Gerald G. Garbacz. 10.02 Change of Control and Severance Agreement dated as of June 24, 1998 between the Company and John L. Patenaude. 10.03 Change of Control and Severance Agreement dated as of June 24, 1998 between the Company and Bruce T. Wright. 10.04 Change of Control and Severance Agreement dated as of June 24, 1998 between the Company and Joseph R. Matson. 10.05 Change of Control and Severance Agreement dated as of June 24, 1998 between the Company and Eugene P. Pache. 10.06 Change of Control and Severance Agreement dated as of June 24, 1998 between the Company and Peter C. Anastos. 10.07 Change of Control and Severance Agreement dated as of June 24, 1998 between the Company and Joseph I. Gonzalez-Rivas. 10.08 Change of Control and Severance Agreement dated as of June 24, 1998 between the Company and John J. Ireland. 22.01 The Company's Proxy Statement dated March 25, 1998 for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 24, 1998 filed with the SEC on March 25, 1998 and herein incorporated by reference. 27.01 Financial Data Schedule for the period ended July 3, 1998. 27.02 Restated Financial Data Schedule for the period ended June 27, 1998. (b) Reports on Form 8-K On May 18, 1998, the Company filed a Form 8-K to announce the realignment of the Company's senior management team. On July 2, 1998, the Company filed a Form 8-K to revise its Shareholder Rights Plan and to authorize a new stock repurchase program. -11- 12 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 thereunto duly authorized. NASHUA CORPORATION ------------------------------------ (Registrant) Date: August 14, 1998 By: /s/ John L. Patenaude ------------------ ------------------------------------ John L. Patenaude Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (principal financial and duly authorized officer) -12- 13 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibits Description -------- ----------- 10.01 Change of Control and Severance Agreement dated as of June 24, 1998 between the Company and Gerald G. Garbacz. 10.02 Change of Control and Severance Agreement dated as of June 24, 1998 between the Company and John L. Patenaude. 10.03 Change of Control and Severance Agreement dated as of June 24, 1998 between the Company and Bruce T. Wright. 10.04 Change of Control and Severance Agreement dated as of June 24, 1998 between the Company and Joseph R. Matson. 10.05 Change of Control and Severance Agreement dated as of June 24, 1998 between the Company and Eugene P. Pache. 10.06 Change of Control and Severance Agreement dated as of June 24, 1998 between the Company and Peter C. Anastos. 10.07 Change of Control and Severance Agreement dated as of June 24, 1998 between the Company and Joseph I. Gonzalez-Rivas. 10.08 Change of Control and Severance Agreement dated as of June 24, 1998 between the Company and John J. Ireland. 22.01 The Company's Proxy Statement dated March 25, 1998 for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 24, 1998 filed with the SEC on March 25, 1998 and herein incorporated by reference. 27.01 Financial Data Schedule for the period ended July 3, 1998. 27.02 Restated Financial Data Schedule for the period ended June 27, 1998. EX-10.1 2 CHANGE OF CONTROL & SEVERANCE AGREEMENT 1 EXHIBIT 10.01 CHANGE OF CONTROL AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AGREEMENT by and between NASHUA CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and GERALD G. GARBACZ (the "Executive"), dated as of the 24th day of June, 1998. RECITALS: WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company or other reasons of uncertainty; WHEREAS, the Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change of Control and business concerns and to encourage the Executive's full attention and dedication to the Company; and WHEREAS, in order to accomplish these objectives, the Board believes it is in the best interests of the Company to enter into this Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS: 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. (a) The "Effective Date" shall be the first date during the "Change of Control Period" (as defined in Section 1(b)) on which a Change of Control occurs. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated or the Executive ceases to be an officer of the Company prior to the date on which a Change of Control occurs, and it is reasonably demonstrated that such termination of employment (1) was at the request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect the Change of Control or (2) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of the Change of Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the "Effective Date" shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment. (b) The "Change of Control Period" is the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the third anniversary of such date; provided, however, that commencing on the date one year after the date hereof, and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and each annual anniversary thereof is hereinafter referred to as the "Renewal Date"), the Change of Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to terminate three years from such Renewal Date, unless at least 60 days prior to the Renewal Date the Company shall give notice to the Executive that the Change of Control Period shall not be so extended. 2 -2- 2. CHANGE OF CONTROL. For the purpose of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean: (a) The acquisition, other than from the Company, by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of l934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) (a "Person") of 30% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Company Voting Securities"), PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any acquisition by (x) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (y) any corporation with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, shall not constitute a Change of Control; or (b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the Directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act); or (c) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger or consolidation (a "Business Combination"), in each case, with respect to which all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination do not, following such Business Combination, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from Business Combination in substantially the same proportion as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be; or (d) (i) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or of (ii) sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company other than to a corporation with respect to which, following such sale or disposition, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then owned beneficially, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and 3 -3- entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, immediately prior to such sale or disposition. 3. EMPLOYMENT PERIOD. The Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive in its employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company, for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of such date (the "Employment Period"). 4. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT. (a) POSITION AND DUTIES. (i) During the Employment Period, (A) the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B) the Executive's services shall be performed at the location where the Executive was employed immediately preceding the Effective Date or any office or location less than 35 miles from such location. (ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that to the extent that any such activities have been conducted by the Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities to the Company. 4 -4- (b) COMPENSATION. (i) BASE SALARY. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which shall be paid at a monthly rate, at least equal to twelve times the highest monthly base salary paid or payable to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the twelve-month period immediately preceding the month in which the Effective Date occurs. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually and shall be increased at any time and from time to time as shall be substantially consistent with increases in base salary awarded in the ordinary course of business to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased. As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliated companies" includes any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company. (ii) ANNUAL BONUS. In addition to Annual Base Salary, the Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal year beginning or ending during the Employment Period, an annual bonus (the "Annual Bonus") in cash at least equal to the average bonus paid or payable, including by reason of deferral, to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the three fiscal years immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Effective Date occurs (annualized for any fiscal year during the Employment Period consisting of less than twelve full months or with respect to which the Executive has been employed by the Company for less than twelve full months) (the "Recent Annual Bonus"). Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than the end of the third month of the fiscal year next following the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus. (iii) INCENTIVE, SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS. In addition to Annual Base Salary and Annual Bonus payable as hereinabove provided, the Executive shall be entitled to participate during the Employment Period in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with incentive, savings and retirement benefit opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate, than (x) the most favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies for the Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or (y) if more favorable to the Executive, those provided at any time after the Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 5 -5- (iv) WELFARE BENEFIT PLANS. During the Employment Period, the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies (including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, salary continuance, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent generally applicable to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than (x) the most favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or (y) if more favorable to the Executive, those provided at any time after the Effective Date generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (v) EXPENSES. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices and procedures of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (vi) FRINGE BENEFITS. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (vii) OFFICE AND SUPPORT STAFF. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and with furnishings and other appointments, and to exclusive personal secretarial and other assistance, at least equal to the most favorable of the foregoing provided to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as provided generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (viii) VACATION. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its affiliated companies as in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer incentives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 5. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. 6 -6- (a) DEATH OR DISABILITY. The Executive's employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with Section 15(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive's employment. In such event, the Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" means the absence of the Executive from the Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive business days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or Executive's legal representative (such agreement as to acceptability not to be withheld unreasonably). (b) CAUSE. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" means (i) an action taken by the Executive involving willful and wanton malfeasance involving specifically a wholly wrongful and unlawful act, or (ii) the Executive being convicted of a felony. (c) GOOD REASON. The Executive's employment may be terminated during the Employment Period by the Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means: (i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in any respect with the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4(a) of this Agreement, or any other action by the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of Section 4(b) of this Agreement, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any office or location other than that described in Section 4(a)(i)(B) hereof; (iv) any purported termination by the Company of the Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or (v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 14(c) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, any good faith determination of Good Reason made by the Executive shall be conclusive. 7 -7- (d) NOTICE OF TERMINATION. Any termination by the Company for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 15(b) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than fifteen days after the giving of such notice). In the case of a termination of the Executive's employment for Cause, a Notice of Termination shall include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for the purpose (after reasonable notice to the Executive and reasonable opportunity for the Executive, together with the Executive's counsel, to be heard before the Board prior to such vote), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board the Executive was guilty of conduct constituting Cause. No purported termination of the Executive's employment for Cause shall be effective without a Notice of Termination. The failure by the Executive to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason shall not waive any right of the Executive hereunder or preclude the Executive from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive's rights hereunder. (e) DATE OF TERMINATION. "Date of Termination" means the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein, as the case may be; provided, however, that (i) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination and (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be. 6. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION. (a) DEATH. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive's legal representatives under this Agreement, other than the following obligations: (i) payment of the Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (ii) payment of the product of (x) the greater of (A) the Annual Bonus paid or payable, including by reason of deferral, (and annualized for any fiscal year consisting of less than twelve full months or for which the Executive has been employed for less than twelve full months) for the most recently completed fiscal year during the Employment Period, if any, and (B) the Recent Annual Bonus (such greater amount hereafter referred to as the "Highest Annual Bonus") and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365 and (iii) payment of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest thereon) and not yet paid by the Company and any accrued vacation pay not yet paid by the Company (the amounts described in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) are hereafter referred to as "Accrued Obligations"). All Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. In addition, the Executive's estate or designated beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive the Executive's Annual Base Salary for the balance of the Employment Period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such payments of Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by any 8 -8- survivor benefits paid to the Executive's estate or designated beneficiary under the Retirement Plan. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive's estate and family shall be entitled to receive benefits at least equal to the most favorable benefits provided generally by the Company and any of its affiliated companies to the estates and surviving families of peer executives of the Company and such affiliated companies under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to death benefits, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their estates and families at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect on the date of the Executive's death generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. (b) DISABILITY. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations. All Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the Executive's Annual Base Salary for the balance of the Employment Period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such payments of Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by any benefits paid to the Executive under the Retirement Plan by reason of Disability. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date to receive disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable of those generally provided by the Company and its affiliated companies to disabled executives and/or their families in accordance with such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to disability, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their families at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect at any time thereafter generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. (c) CAUSE; OTHER THAN FOR GOOD REASON. If the Executive's employment shall be terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to pay to the Executive Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination plus the amount of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive, in each case to the extent theretofore unpaid. If the Executive terminates employment during the Employment Period other than for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations. In such case, all Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. (d) GOOD REASON; OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE OR DISABILITY. If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive's employment other than for Cause or Disability, or the Executive shall terminate employment during the Employment Period for Good Reason, the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 60 days after the Date of Termination, and subject to receiving an executed irrevocable Release as described in Section 11, the aggregate of the following amounts: A. all Accrued Obligations; and B. the product of (x) three and (y) the sum of (i) Annual Base Salary and (ii) the Highest Annual Bonus; and 9 -9- C. a lump-sum retirement benefit equal to the difference between (a) the actuarial equivalent of the benefit under the Nashua Corporation Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees (the "Retirement Plan") and any supplemental and/or excess retirement plan providing benefits for the Executive (the "SERP") which the Executive would receive if the Executive's employment continued at the compensation level provided for in Sections 4(b)(i) and 4(b)(ii) of this Agreement for the remainder of the Employment Period, assuming for this purpose that all accrued benefits are fully vested, and (b) the actuarial equivalent of the Executive's actual benefit (paid or payable), if any, under the Retirement Plan and the SERP; for purposes of determining the amount payable pursuant to this Section 6(d)(i)C the accrual formulas and actuarial assumptions utilized shall be no less favorable than those in effect with respect to the Retirement Plan and the SERP during the 90-day period immediately prior to the Effective Date. In addition, for the remainder of the Employment Period (if the termination took place during the Employment Period under this Section 6), the Company shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive's family at least equal to those which would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs, practices and policies described in Section 4(b)(iv) of this Agreement if the Executive's employment had not been terminated in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs or policies of the Company and its affiliated companies applicable generally to other peer executives and their families during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. For purposes of determining eligibility of the Executive for retiree benefits pursuant to such plans, practices, programs and policies, the Executive shall be considered to have remained employed until the end of the Employment Period and to have retired on the last day of such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change of Control shall have occurred before the Date of Termination, the aggregate amount of "parachute payments", as defined in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the "Code") payable to the Executive pursuant to all arrangements with the Company shall not exceed one dollar less than three times the Executive's "base amount", as defined in Section 280G of the Code (the "cut back amount"); provided, however, that if Executive would be better off by at least $25,000 on an after-tax basis by receiving the full amount of the parachute payments as opposed to the cut back amount (notwithstanding a 20% excise tax) the Executive shall receive the full amount of the parachute payments. 7. SEVERANCE BENEFITS. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, if, before or after the Employment Period, the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for reason other than misconduct, the Company shall pay to the Executive one year's salary continuation and continue medical and dental benefits during such continuation period. 8. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plans, programs, policies or practices, provided by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and for which the Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any other agreements with the Company or any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of the Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program except as 10 -10- explicitly modified by this Agreement. 9. FULL SETTLEMENT. The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof, plus in each case interest at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of l986, as amended (the "Code"). 10. OTHER AGREEMENTS. The parties agree that this Agreement supersedes and replaces the Retention Agreement between the parties dated as of the 24th day of October, 1997 and any and all other agreements, policies, understandings or letters (including but not limited to employment agreements, severance agreements and job abolishment policies) between the parties related to the subject matter hereof. 11. RELEASE. Prior to receipt of the payment described in Sections 6(d) or 7, the Executive shall execute and deliver a Release to the Company as follows: The Executive hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates, agents and employees from any and all claims, charges, complaints, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, debts, sums of money, costs, accounts, reckonings, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises, doings, omissions, damages, executions, obligations, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys' fees and costs), of every kind and nature which he ever had or now has against the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates, agents and employees, including, but not limited to, all claims arising out of his employment, all employment discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. ss.2000e ET SEQ., the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C., ss.621 ET SEQ., the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C., ss.12101 ET SEQ., the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. ss.354-A:1 ET SEQ. and similar state antidiscrimination laws, damages arising out of all employment discrimination claims, wrongful discharge claims or other common law claims and damages, provided, however, that nothing herein shall release the Company from Executive's Stock Option Agreements or Restricted Stock Agreements. The Release shall also contain, at a minimum, the following language: The Executive acknowledges that he has been given twenty-one (21) days to consider the terms of this Release and that the Company advised him to consult with an attorney of his own choosing prior to signing this Release. The Executive may revoke this Release for a period of seven (7) days after the execution of the Release and the Release shall not be effective or enforceable until the expiration of this seven (7) day revocation period. At the same time, the Company shall execute and deliver a Release to the Executive as follows: The Company hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Executive from any and all claims which it ever had or now has against the Executive, other than for intentional harmful acts. 11 -11- 12. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies, and their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive during the Executive's employment by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it. In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of this Section 12 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement. 13. ARBITRATION. Any controversy or claim arising out of this Agreement shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial rules, policies and procedures of the American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of law having jurisdiction thereof. Arbitration shall take place in Nashua, New Hampshire at a mutually convenient location. 14. SUCCESSORS. (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal representatives. (b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. 12 -12- (c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. 15. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives. (b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: If to the Executive: ------------------- Gerald G. Garbacz 26 The Flume Amherst, NH 03031 If to the Company: ------------------ Nashua Corporation 44 Franklin Street Nashua, New Hampshire 03060 Attention: General Counsel or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee. (c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. (d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. (e) The Executive's failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision hereof or the failure to assert any right the Executive may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c)(i)-(v), shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right thereof. (f) This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the Company and the Executive with 13 -13- respect to the subject matter hereof. The Executive and the Company acknowledge that the employment of the Executive by the Company is "at will" and, prior to the Effective Date, both the Executive's employment and this Agreement may be terminated by either the Company or the Executive at any time. In the event that this Agreement is terminated by the Company prior to the Effective Date and the Executive remains employed by the Company, the Executive would be entitled to the same severance benefits as set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written. NASHUA CORPORATION EXECUTIVE By /s/ Peter C. Anastos /s/ Gerald G. Garbacz ----------------------------------- ---------------------------- Vice President, General Counsel and Name: Gerald G. Garbacz Secretary EX-10.2 3 CHANGE OF CONTROL & SEVERANCE AGREEMENT 1 EXHIBIT 10.02 CHANGE OF CONTROL AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AGREEMENT by and between NASHUA CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and JOHN L. PATENAUDE (the "Executive"), dated as of the 24th day of June, 1998. RECITALS: WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company or other reasons of uncertainty; WHEREAS, the Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change of Control and business concerns and to encourage the Executive's full attention and dedication to the Company; and WHEREAS, in order to accomplish these objectives, the Board believes it is in the best interests of the Company to enter into this Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS: 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. (a) The "Effective Date" shall be the first date during the "Change of Control Period" (as defined in Section 1(b)) on which a Change of Control occurs. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated or the Executive ceases to be an officer of the Company prior to the date on which a Change of Control occurs, and it is reasonably demonstrated that such termination of employment (1) was at the request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect the Change of Control or (2) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of the Change of Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the "Effective Date" shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment. (b) The "Change of Control Period" is the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the third anniversary of such date; provided, however, that commencing on the date one year after the date hereof, and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and each annual anniversary thereof is hereinafter referred to as the "Renewal Date"), the Change of Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to terminate three years from such Renewal Date, unless at least 60 days prior to the Renewal Date the Company shall give notice to the Executive that the Change of Control Period shall not be so extended. 2 -2- 2. CHANGE OF CONTROL. For the purpose of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean: (a) The acquisition, other than from the Company, by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of l934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) (a "Person") of 30% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Company Voting Securities"), PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any acquisition by (x) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (y) any corporation with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, shall not constitute a Change of Control; or (b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the Directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act); or (c) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger or consolidation (a "Business Combination"), in each case, with respect to which all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination do not, following such Business Combination, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from Business Combination in substantially the same proportion as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be; or (d) (i) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or of (ii) sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company other than to a corporation with respect to which, following such sale or disposition, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then owned beneficially, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and 3 -3- entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, immediately prior to such sale or disposition. 3. EMPLOYMENT PERIOD. The Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive in its employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company, for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of such date (the "Employment Period"). 4. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT. (a) POSITION AND DUTIES. (i) During the Employment Period, (A) the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B) the Executive's services shall be performed at the location where the Executive was employed immediately preceding the Effective Date or any office or location less than 35 miles from such location. (ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that to the extent that any such activities have been conducted by the Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities to the Company. 4 -4- (b) COMPENSATION. (i) BASE SALARY. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which shall be paid at a monthly rate, at least equal to twelve times the highest monthly base salary paid or payable to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the twelve-month period immediately preceding the month in which the Effective Date occurs. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually and shall be increased at any time and from time to time as shall be substantially consistent with increases in base salary awarded in the ordinary course of business to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased. As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliated companies" includes any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company. (ii) ANNUAL BONUS. In addition to Annual Base Salary, the Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal year beginning or ending during the Employment Period, an annual bonus (the "Annual Bonus") in cash at least equal to the average bonus paid or payable, including by reason of deferral, to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the three fiscal years immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Effective Date occurs (annualized for any fiscal year during the Employment Period consisting of less than twelve full months or with respect to which the Executive has been employed by the Company for less than twelve full months) (the "Recent Annual Bonus"). Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than the end of the third month of the fiscal year next following the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus. (iii) INCENTIVE, SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS. In addition to Annual Base Salary and Annual Bonus payable as hereinabove provided, the Executive shall be entitled to participate during the Employment Period in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with incentive, savings and retirement benefit opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate, than (x) the most favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies for the Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or (y) if more favorable to the Executive, those provided at any time after the Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 5 -5- (iv) WELFARE BENEFIT PLANS. During the Employment Period, the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies (including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, salary continuance, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent generally applicable to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than (x) the most favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or (y) if more favorable to the Executive, those provided at any time after the Effective Date generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (v) EXPENSES. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices and procedures of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (vi) FRINGE BENEFITS. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (vii) OFFICE AND SUPPORT STAFF. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and with furnishings and othe appointments, and to exclusive personal secretarial and other assistance, at least equal to the most favorable of the foregoing provided to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as provided generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (viii) VACATION. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its affiliated companies as in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer incentives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 5. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. 6 -6- (a) DEATH OR DISABILITY. The Executive's employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with Section 15(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive's employment. In such event, the Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" means the absence of the Executive from the Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive business days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or Executive's legal representative (such agreement as to acceptability not to be withheld unreasonably). (b) CAUSE. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" means (i) an action taken by the Executive involving willful and wanton malfeasance involving specifically a wholly wrongful and unlawful act, or (ii) the Executive being convicted of a felony. (c) GOOD REASON. The Executive's employment may be terminated during the Employment Period by the Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means: (i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in any respect with the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4(a) of this Agreement, or any other action by the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of Section 4(b) of this Agreement, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any office or location other than that described in Section 4(a)(i)(B) hereof; (iv) any purported termination by the Company of the Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or (v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 14(c) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, any good faith determination of Good Reason made by the Executive shall be conclusive. 7 -7- (d) NOTICE OF TERMINATION. Any termination by the Company for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 15(b) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than fifteen days after the giving of such notice). In the case of a termination of the Executive's employment for Cause, a Notice of Termination shall include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for the purpose (after reasonable notice to the Executive and reasonable opportunity for the Executive, together with the Executive's counsel, to be heard before the Board prior to such vote), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board the Executive was guilty of conduct constituting Cause. No purported termination of the Executive's employment for Cause shall be effective without a Notice of Termination. The failure by the Executive to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason shall not waive any right of the Executive hereunder or preclude the Executive from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive's rights hereunder. (e) DATE OF TERMINATION. "Date of Termination" means the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein, as the case may be; provided, however, that (i) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination and (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be. 6. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION. (a) DEATH. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive's legal representatives under this Agreement, other than the following obligations: (i) payment of the Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (ii) payment of the product of (x) the greater of (A) the Annual Bonus paid or payable, including by reason of deferral, (and annualized for any fiscal year consisting of less than twelve full months or for which the Executive has been employed for less than twelve full months) for the most recently completed fiscal year during the Employment Period, if any, and (B) the Recent Annual Bonus (such greater amount hereafter referred to as the "Highest Annual Bonus") and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365 and (iii) payment of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest thereon) and not yet paid by the Company and any accrued vacation pay not yet paid by the Company (the amounts described in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) are hereafter referred to as "Accrued Obligations"). All Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. In addition, the Executive's estate or designated beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive the Executive's Annual Base Salary for the balance of the Employment Period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such payments of Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by any 8 -8- survivor benefits paid to the Executive's estate or designated beneficiary under the Retirement Plan. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive's estate and family shall be entitled to receive benefits at least equal to the most favorable benefits provided generally by the Company and any of its affiliated companies to the estates and surviving families of peer executives of the Company and such affiliated companies under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to death benefits, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their estates and families at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect on the date of the Executive's death generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. (b) DISABILITY. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations. All Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the Executive's Annual Base Salary for the balance of the Employment Period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such payments of Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by any benefits paid to the Executive under the Retirement Plan by reason of Disability. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date to receive disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable of those generally provided by the Company and its affiliated companies to disabled executives and/or their families in accordance with such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to disability, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their families at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect at any time thereafter generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. (c) CAUSE; OTHER THAN FOR GOOD REASON. If the Executive's employment shall be terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to pay to the Executive Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination plus the amount of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive, in each case to the extent theretofore unpaid. If the Executive terminates employment during the Employment Period other than for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations. In such case, all Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. (d) GOOD REASON; OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE OR DISABILITY. If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive's employment other than for Cause or Disability, or the Executive shall terminate employment during the Employment Period for Good Reason, the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 60 days after the Date of Termination, and subject to receiving an executed irrevocable Release as described in Section 11, the aggregate of the following amounts: A. all Accrued Obligations; and B. the product of (x) three and (y) the sum of (i) Annual Base Salary and (ii) the Highest Annual Bonus; and 9 -9- C. a lump-sum retirement benefit equal to the difference between (a) the actuarial equivalent of the benefit under the Nashua Corporation Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees (the "Retirement Plan") and any supplemental and/or excess retirement plan providing benefits for the Executive (the "SERP") which the Executive would receive if the Executive's employment continued at the compensation level provided for in Sections 4(b)(i) and 4(b)(ii) of this Agreement for the remainder of the Employment Period, assuming for this purpose that all accrued benefits are fully vested, and (b) the actuarial equivalent of the Executive's actual benefit (paid or payable), if any, under the Retirement Plan and the SERP; for purposes of determining the amount payable pursuant to this Section 6(d)(i)C the accrual formulas and actuarial assumptions utilized shall be no less favorable than those in effect with respect to the Retirement Plan and the SERP during the 90-day period immediately prior to the Effective Date. In addition, for the remainder of the Employment Period (if the termination took place during the Employment Period under this Section 6), the Company shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive's family at least equal to those which would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs, practices and policies described in Section 4(b)(iv) of this Agreement if the Executive's employment had not been terminated in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs or policies of the Company and its affiliated companies applicable generally to other peer executives and their families during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. For purposes of determining eligibility of the Executive for retiree benefits pursuant to such plans, practices, programs and policies, the Executive shall be considered to have remained employed until the end of the Employment Period and to have retired on the last day of such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change of Control shall have occurred before the Date of Termination, the aggregate amount of "parachute payments", as defined in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the "Code") payable to the Executive pursuant to all arrangements with the Company shall not exceed one dollar less than three times the Executive's "base amount", as defined in Section 280G of the Code (the "cut back amount"); provided, however, that if Executive would be better off by at least $25,000 on an after-tax basis by receiving the full amount of the parachute payments as opposed to the cut back amount (notwithstanding a 20% excise tax) the Executive shall receive the full amount of the parachute payments. 7. SEVERANCE BENEFITS. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, if, before or after the Employment Period, the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for reason other than misconduct, the Company shall pay to the Executive one year's salary continuation and continue medical and dental benefits during such continuation period. 8. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plans, programs, policies or practices, provided by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and for which the Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any other agreements with the Company or any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of the Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program except as 10 -10- explicitly modified by this Agreement. 9. FULL SETTLEMENT. The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof, plus in each case interest at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of l986, as amended (the "Code"). 10. OTHER AGREEMENTS. The parties agree that this Agreement supersedes and replaces the Retention Agreement between the parties dated as of the 24th day of October, 1997 and any and all other agreements, policies, understandings or letters (including but not limited to employment agreements, severance agreements and job abolishment policies) between the parties related to the subject matter hereof. 11. RELEASE. Prior to receipt of the payment described in Sections 6(d) or 7, the Executive shall execute and deliver a Release to the Company as follows: The Executive hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates, agents and employees from any and all claims, charges, complaints, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, debts, sums of money, costs, accounts, reckonings, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises, doings, omissions, damages, executions, obligations, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys' fees and costs), of every kind and nature which he ever had or now has against the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates, agents and employees, including, but not limited to, all claims arising out of his employment, all employment discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. ss.2000e ET SEQ., the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C., ss.621 ET SEQ., the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C., ss.12101 ET SEQ., the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. ss.354-A:1 ET SEQ. and similar state antidiscrimination laws, damages arising out of all employment discrimination claims, wrongful discharge claims or other common law claims and damages, provided, however, that nothing herein shall release the Company from Executive's Stock Option Agreements or Restricted Stock Agreements. The Release shall also contain, at a minimum, the following language: The Executive acknowledges that he has been given twenty-one (21) days to consider the terms of this Release and that the Company advised him to consult with an attorney of his own choosing prior to signing this Release. The Executive may revoke this Release for a period of seven (7) days after the execution of the Release and the Release shall not be effective or enforceable until the expiration of this seven (7) day revocation period. At the same time, the Company shall execute and deliver a Release to the Executive as follows: The Company hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Executive from any and all claims which it ever had or now has against the Executive, other than for intentional harmful acts. 11 -11- 12. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies, and their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive during the Executive's employment by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it. In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of this Section 12 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement. 13. ARBITRATION. Any controversy or claim arising out of this Agreement shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial rules, policies and procedures of the American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of law having jurisdiction thereof. Arbitration shall take place in Nashua, New Hampshire at a mutually convenient location. 14. SUCCESSORS. (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal representatives. (b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. 12 -12- (c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. 15. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives. (b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: IF TO THE EXECUTIVE: John L. Patenaude 11 Derry Lane Hudson, NH 03051 IF TO THE COMPANY: Nashua Corporation 44 Franklin Street Nashua, New Hampshire 03060 Attention: President or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee. (c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. (d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. (e) The Executive's failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision hereof or the failure to assert any right the Executive may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c)(i)-(v), shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right thereof. (f) This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the Company and the Executive with 13 -13- respect to the subject matter hereof. The Executive and the Company acknowledge that the employment of the Executive by the Company is "at will" and, prior to the Effective Date, both the Executive's employment and this Agreement may be terminated by either the Company or the Executive at any time. In the event that this Agreement is terminated by the Company prior to the Effective Date and the Executive remains employed by the Company, the Executive would be entitled to the same severance benefits as set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written. NASHUA CORPORATION EXECUTIVE By /s/ Gerald G. Garbacz /s/ John L. Patenaude ------------------------------------- ----------------------------- President and Chief Executive Officer Name: John L. Patenaude EX-10.3 4 CHANGE OF CONTROL & SEVERANCE AGREEMENT 1 EXHIBIT 10.03 CHANGE OF CONTROL AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AGREEMENT by and between NASHUA CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and BRUCE T. WRIGHT (the "Executive"), dated as of the 24th day of June, 1998. RECITALS: WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company or other reasons of uncertainty; WHEREAS, the Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change of Control and business concerns and to encourage the Executive's full attention and dedication to the Company; and WHEREAS, in order to accomplish these objectives, the Board believes it is in the best interests of the Company to enter into this Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS: 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. (a) The "Effective Date" shall be the first date during the "Change of Control Period" (as defined in Section 1(b)) on which a Change of Control occurs. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated or the Executive ceases to be an officer of the Company prior to the date on which a Change of Control occurs, and it is reasonably demonstrated that such termination of employment (1) was at the request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect the Change of Control or (2) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of the Change of Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the "Effective Date" shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment. (b) The "Change of Control Period" is the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the third anniversary of such date; provided, however, that commencing on the date one year after the date hereof, and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and each annual anniversary thereof is hereinafter referred to as the "Renewal Date"), the Change of Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to terminate three years from such Renewal Date, unless at least 60 days prior to the Renewal Date the Company shall give notice to the Executive that the Change of Control Period shall not be so extended. 2 - 2 - 2. CHANGE OF CONTROL. For the purpose of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean: (a) The acquisition, other than from the Company, by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of l934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) (a "Person") of 30% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Company Voting Securities"), PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any acquisition by (x) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (y) any corporation with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, shall not constitute a Change of Control; or (b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the Directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act); or (c) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger or consolidation (a "Business Combination"), in each case, with respect to which all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination do not, following such Business Combination, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from Business Combination in substantially the same proportion as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be; or (d) (i) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or of (ii) sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company other than to a corporation with respect to which, following such sale or disposition, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then owned beneficially, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and 3 - 3 - entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, immediately prior to such sale or disposition. 3. EMPLOYMENT PERIOD. The Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive in its employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company, for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of such date (the "Employment Period"). 4. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT. (a) POSITION AND DUTIES. (i) During the Employment Period, (A) the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B) the Executive's services shall be performed at the location where the Executive was employed immediately preceding the Effective Date or any office or location less than 35 miles from such location. (ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that to the extent that any such activities have been conducted by the Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities to the Company. 4 - 4 - (b) COMPENSATION. (i) BASE SALARY. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which shall be paid at a monthly rate, at least equal to twelve times the highest monthly base salary paid or payable to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the twelve-month period immediately preceding the month in which the Effective Date occurs. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually and shall be increased at any time and from time to time as shall be substantially consistent with increases in base salary awarded in the ordinary course of business to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased. As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliated companies" includes any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company. (ii) ANNUAL BONUS. In addition to Annual Base Salary, the Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal year beginning or ending during the Employment Period, an annual bonus (the "Annual Bonus") in cash at least equal to the average bonus paid or payable, including by reason of deferral, to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the three fiscal years immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Effective Date occurs (annualized for any fiscal year during the Employment Period consisting of less than twelve full months or with respect to which the Executive has been employed by the Company for less than twelve full months) (the "Recent Annual Bonus"). Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than the end of the third month of the fiscal year next following the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus. (iii) INCENTIVE, SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS. In addition to Annual Base Salary and Annual Bonus payable as hereinabove provided, the Executive shall be entitled to participate during the Employment Period in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with incentive, savings and retirement benefit opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate, than (x) the most favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies for the Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or (y) if more favorable to the Executive, those provided at any time after the Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 5 -5- (iv) WELFARE BENEFIT PLANS. During the Employment Period, the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies (including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, salary continuance, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent generally applicable to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than (x) the most favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or (y) if more favorable to the Executive, those provided at any time after the Effective Date generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (v) EXPENSES. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices and procedures of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (vi) FRINGE BENEFITS. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (vii) OFFICE AND SUPPORT STAFF. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and with furnishings and other appointments, and to exclusive personal secretarial and other assistance, at least equal to the most favorable of the foregoing provided to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as provided generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (viii) VACATION. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its affiliated companies as in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer incentives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 5. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. 6 -6- (a) DEATH OR DISABILITY. The Executive's employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with Section 15(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive's employment. In such event, the Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" means the absence of the Executive from the Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive business days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or Executive's legal representative (such agreement as to acceptability not to be withheld unreasonably). (b) CAUSE. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" means (i) an action taken by the Executive involving willful and wanton malfeasance involving specifically a wholly wrongful and unlawful act, or (ii) the Executive being convicted of a felony. (c) GOOD REASON. The Executive's employment may be terminated during the Employment Period by the Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means: (i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in any respect with the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4(a) of this Agreement, or any other action by the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of Section 4(b) of this Agreement, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any office or location other than that described in Section 4(a)(i)(B) hereof; (iv) any purported termination by the Company of the Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or (v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 14(c) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, any good faith determination of Good Reason made by the Executive shall be conclusive. 7 - 7 - (d) NOTICE OF TERMINATION. Any termination by the Company for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 15(b) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than fifteen days after the giving of such notice). In the case of a termination of the Executive's employment for Cause, a Notice of Termination shall include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for the purpose (after reasonable notice to the Executive and reasonable opportunity for the Executive, together with the Executive's counsel, to be heard before the Board prior to such vote), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board the Executive was guilty of conduct constituting Cause. No purported termination of the Executive's employment for Cause shall be effective without a Notice of Termination. The failure by the Executive to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason shall not waive any right of the Executive hereunder or preclude the Executive from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive's rights hereunder. (e) DATE OF TERMINATION. "Date of Termination" means the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein, as the case may be; provided, however, that (i) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination and (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be. 6. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION. (a) DEATH. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive's legal representatives under this Agreement, other than the following obligations: (i) payment of the Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (ii) payment of the product of (x) the greater of (A) the Annual Bonus paid or payable, including by reason of deferral, (and annualized for any fiscal year consisting of less than twelve full months or for which the Executive has been employed for less than twelve full months) for the most recently completed fiscal year during the Employment Period, if any, and (B) the Recent Annual Bonus (such greater amount hereafter referred to as the "Highest Annual Bonus") and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365 and (iii) payment of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest thereon) and not yet paid by the Company and any accrued vacation pay not yet paid by the Company (the amounts described in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) are hereafter referred to as "Accrued Obligations"). All Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. In addition, the Executive's estate or designated beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive the Executive's Annual Base Salary for the balance of the Employment Period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such payments of Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by any 8 - 8 - survivor benefits paid to the Executive's estate or designated beneficiary under the Retirement Plan. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive's estate and family shall be entitled to receive benefits at least equal to the most favorable benefits provided generally by the Company and any of its affiliated companies to the estates and surviving families of peer executives of the Company and such affiliated companies under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to death benefits, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their estates and families at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect on the date of the Executive's death generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. (b) DISABILITY. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations. All Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the Executive's Annual Base Salary for the balance of the Employment Period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such payments of Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by any benefits paid to the Executive under the Retirement Plan by reason of Disability. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date to receive disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable of those generally provided by the Company and its affiliated companies to disabled executives and/or their families in accordance with such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to disability, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their families at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect at any time thereafter generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. (c) CAUSE; OTHER THAN FOR GOOD REASON. If the Executive's employment shall be terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to pay to the Executive Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination plus the amount of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive, in each case to the extent theretofore unpaid. If the Executive terminates employment during the Employment Period other than for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations. In such case, all Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. (d) GOOD REASON; OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE OR DISABILITY. If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive's employment other than for Cause or Disability, or the Executive shall terminate employment during the Employment Period for Good Reason, the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 60 days after the Date of Termination, and subject to receiving an executed irrevocable Release as described in Section 11, the aggregate of the following amounts: A. all Accrued Obligations; and B. the product of (x) three and (y) the sum of (i) Annual Base Salary and (ii) the Highest Annual Bonus; and 9 - 9 - C. a lump-sum retirement benefit equal to the difference between (a) the actuarial equivalent of the benefit under the Nashua Corporation Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees (the "Retirement Plan") and any supplemental and/or excess retirement plan providing benefits for the Executive (the "SERP") which the Executive would receive if the Executive's employment continued at the compensation level provided for in Sections 4(b)(i) and 4(b)(ii) of this Agreement for the remainder of the Employment Period, assuming for this purpose that all accrued benefits are fully vested, and (b) the actuarial equivalent of the Executive's actual benefit (paid or payable), if any, under the Retirement Plan and the SERP; for purposes of determining the amount payable pursuant to this Section 6(d)(i)C the accrual formulas and actuarial assumptions utilized shall be no less favorable than those in effect with respect to the Retirement Plan and the SERP during the 90-day period immediately prior to the Effective Date. In addition, for the remainder of the Employment Period (if the termination took place during the Employment Period under this Section 6), the Company shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive's family at least equal to those which would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs, practices and policies described in Section 4(b)(iv) of this Agreement if the Executive's employment had not been terminated in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs or policies of the Company and its affiliated companies applicable generally to other peer executives and their families during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. For purposes of determining eligibility of the Executive for retiree benefits pursuant to such plans, practices, programs and policies, the Executive shall be considered to have remained employed until the end of the Employment Period and to have retired on the last day of such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change of Control shall have occurred before the Date of Termination, the aggregate amount of "parachute payments", as defined in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the "Code") payable to the Executive pursuant to all arrangements with the Company shall not exceed one dollar less than three times the Executive's "base amount", as defined in Section 280G of the Code (the "cut back amount"); provided, however, that if Executive would be better off by at least $25,000 on an after-tax basis by receiving the full amount of the parachute payments as opposed to the cut back amount (notwithstanding a 20% excise tax) the Executive shall receive the full amount of the parachute payments. 7. SEVERANCE BENEFITS. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, if, before or after the Employment Period, the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for reason other than misconduct, the Company shall pay to the Executive one year's salary continuation and continue medical and dental benefits during such continuation period. 8. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plans, programs, policies or practices, provided by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and for which the Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any other agreements with the Company or any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of the Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program except as 10 - 10 - explicitly modified by this Agreement. 9. FULL SETTLEMENT. The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof, plus in each case interest at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of l986, as amended (the "Code"). 10. OTHER AGREEMENTS. The parties agree that this Agreement supersedes and replaces the Retention Agreement between the parties dated as of the 24th day of October, 1997 and any and all other agreements, policies, understandings or letters (including but not limited to employment agreements, severance agreements and job abolishment policies) between the parties related to the subject matter hereof. 11. RELEASE. Prior to receipt of the payment described in Sections 6(d) or 7, the Executive shall execute and deliver a Release to the Company as follows: The Executive hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates, agents and employees from any and all claims, charges, complaints, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, debts, sums of money, costs, accounts, reckonings, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises, doings, omissions, damages, executions, obligations, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys' fees and costs), of every kind and nature which he ever had or now has against the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates, agents and employees, including, but not limited to, all claims arising out of his employment, all employment discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. ss.2000e ET SEQ., the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C., ss.621 ET SEQ., the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C., ss.12101 ET SEQ., the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. ss.354-A:1 ET SEQ. and similar state antidiscrimination laws, damages arising out of all employment discrimination claims, wrongful discharge claims or other common law claims and damages, provided, however, that nothing herein shall release the Company from Executive's Stock Option Agreements or Restricted Stock Agreements. The Release shall also contain, at a minimum, the following language: The Executive acknowledges that he has been given twenty-one (21) days to consider the terms of this Release and that the Company advised him to consult with an attorney of his own choosing prior to signing this Release. The Executive may revoke this Release for a period of seven (7) days after the execution of the Release and the Release shall not be effective or enforceable until the expiration of this seven (7) day revocation period. At the same time, the Company shall execute and deliver a Release to the Executive as follows: The Company hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Executive from any and all claims which it ever had or now has against the Executive, other than for intentional harmful acts. 11 - 11 - 12. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies, and their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive during the Executive's employment by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it. In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of this Section 12 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement. 13. ARBITRATION. Any controversy or claim arising out of this Agreement shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial rules, policies and procedures of the American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of law having jurisdiction thereof. Arbitration shall take place in Nashua, New Hampshire at a mutually convenient location. 14. SUCCESSORS. (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal representatives. (b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. 12 - 12 - (c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. 15. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives. (b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: IF TO THE EXECUTIVE: Bruce T. Wright 110 Pokonoket Avenue Sudbury, MA 01776 IF TO THE COMPANY: Nashua Corporation 44 Franklin Street Nashua, New Hampshire 03060 Attention: President or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee. (c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. (d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. (e) The Executive's failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision hereof or the failure to assert any right the Executive may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c)(i)-(v), shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right thereof. (f) This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the Company and the Executive with 13 - 13 - respect to the subject matter hereof. The Executive and the Company acknowledge that the employment of the Executive by the Company is "at will" and, prior to the Effective Date, both the Executive's employment and this Agreement may be terminated by either the Company or the Executive at any time. In the event that this Agreement is terminated by the Company prior to the Effective Date and the Executive remains employed by the Company, the Executive would be entitled to the same severance benefits as set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written. NASHUA CORPORATION EXECUTIVE By /s/ Gerald G. Garbacz /s/ Bruce T. Wright ------------------------------------- ----------------------- President and Chief Executive Officer Name: Bruce T. Wright EX-10.4 5 CHANGE OF CONTROL & SEVERANCE AGREEMENT 1 EXHIBIT 10.04 CHANGE OF CONTROL AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AGREEMENT by and between NASHUA CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and JOSEPH R. MATSON (the "Executive"), dated as of the 24th day of June, 1998. RECITALS: WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company or other reasons of uncertainty; WHEREAS, the Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change of Control and business concerns and to encourage the Executive's full attention and dedication to the Company; and WHEREAS, in order to accomplish these objectives, the Board believes it is in the best interests of the Company to enter into this Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS: 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. (a) The "Effective Date" shall be the first date during the "Change of Control Period" (as defined in Section 1(b)) on which a Change of Control occurs. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated or the Executive ceases to be an officer of the Company prior to the date on which a Change of Control occurs, and it is reasonably demonstrated that such termination of employment (1) was at the request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect the Change of Control or (2) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of the Change of Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the "Effective Date" shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment. (b) The "Change of Control Period" is the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the third anniversary of such date; provided, however, that commencing on the date one year after the date hereof, and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and each annual anniversary thereof is hereinafter referred to as the "Renewal Date"), the Change of Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to terminate three years from such Renewal Date, unless at least 60 days prior to the Renewal Date the Company shall give notice to the Executive that the Change of Control Period shall not be so extended. 2 - 2 - 2. CHANGE OF CONTROL. For the purpose of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean: (a) The acquisition, other than from the Company, by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of l934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) (a "Person") of 30% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Company Voting Securities"), PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any acquisition by (x) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (y) any corporation with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, shall not constitute a Change of Control; or (b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the Directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act); or (c) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger or consolidation (a "Business Combination"), in each case, with respect to which all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination do not, following such Business Combination, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from Business Combination in substantially the same proportion as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be; or (d) (i) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or of (ii) sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company other than to a corporation with respect to which, following such sale or disposition, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then owned beneficially, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and 3 - 3 - entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, immediately prior to such sale or disposition. 3. EMPLOYMENT PERIOD. The Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive in its employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company, for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of such date (the "Employment Period"). 4. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT. (a) POSITION AND DUTIES. (i) During the Employment Period, (A) the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B) the Executive's services shall be performed at the location where the Executive was employed immediately preceding the Effective Date or any office or location less than 35 miles from such location. (ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that to the extent that any such activities have been conducted by the Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities to the Company. 4 - 4 - (b) COMPENSATION. (i) BASE SALARY. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which shall be paid at a monthly rate, at least equal to twelve times the highest monthly base salary paid or payable to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the twelve-month period immediately preceding the month in which the Effective Date occurs. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually and shall be increased at any time and from time to time as shall be substantially consistent with increases in base salary awarded in the ordinary course of business to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased. As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliated companies" includes any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company. (ii) ANNUAL BONUS. In addition to Annual Base Salary, the Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal year beginning or ending during the Employment Period, an annual bonus (the "Annual Bonus") in cash at least equal to the average bonus paid or payable, including by reason of deferral, to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the three fiscal years immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Effective Date occurs (annualized for any fiscal year during the Employment Period consisting of less than twelve full months or with respect to which the Executive has been employed by the Company for less than twelve full months) (the "Recent Annual Bonus"). Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than the end of the third month of the fiscal year next following the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus. (iii) INCENTIVE, SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS. In addition to Annual Base Salary and Annual Bonus payable as hereinabove provided, the Executive shall be entitled to participate during the Employment Period in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with incentive, savings and retirement benefit opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate, than (x) the most favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies for the Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or (y) if more favorable to the Executive, those provided at any time after the Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 5 - 5 - (iv) WELFARE BENEFIT PLANS. During the Employment Period, the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies (including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, salary continuance, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent generally applicable to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than (x) the most favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or (y) if more favorable to the Executive, those provided at any time after the Effective Date generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (v) EXPENSES. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices and procedures of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (vi) FRINGE BENEFITS. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (vii) OFFICE AND SUPPORT STAFF. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and with furnishings and other appointments, and to exclusive personal secretarial and other assistance, at least equal to the most favorable of the foregoing provided to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as provided generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (viii) VACATION. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its affiliated companies as in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer incentives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 5. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. 6 - 6 - (a) DEATH OR DISABILITY. The Executive's employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with Section 15(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive's employment. In such event, the Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" means the absence of the Executive from the Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive business days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or Executive's legal representative (such agreement as to acceptability not to be withheld unreasonably). (b) CAUSE. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" means (i) an action taken by the Executive involving willful and wanton malfeasance involving specifically a wholly wrongful and unlawful act, or (ii) the Executive being convicted of a felony. (c) GOOD REASON. The Executive's employment may be terminated during the Employment Period by the Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means: (i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in any respect with the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4(a) of this Agreement, or any other action by the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of Section 4(b) of this Agreement, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any office or location other than that described in Section 4(a)(i)(B) hereof; (iv) any purported termination by the Company of the Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or (v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 14(c) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, any good faith determination of Good Reason made by the Executive shall be conclusive. 7 - 7 - (d) NOTICE OF TERMINATION. Any termination by the Company for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 15(b) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than fifteen days after the giving of such notice). In the case of a termination of the Executive's employment for Cause, a Notice of Termination shall include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for the purpose (after reasonable notice to the Executive and reasonable opportunity for the Executive, together with the Executive's counsel, to be heard before the Board prior to such vote), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board the Executive was guilty of conduct constituting Cause. No purported termination of the Executive's employment for Cause shall be effective without a Notice of Termination. The failure by the Executive to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason shall not waive any right of the Executive hereunder or preclude the Executive from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive's rights hereunder. (e) DATE OF TERMINATION. "Date of Termination" means the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein, as the case may be; provided, however, that (i) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination and (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be. 6. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION. (a) DEATH. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive's legal representatives under this Agreement, other than the following obligations: (i) payment of the Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (ii) payment of the product of (x) the greater of (A) the Annual Bonus paid or payable, including by reason of deferral, (and annualized for any fiscal year consisting of less than twelve full months or for which the Executive has been employed for less than twelve full months) for the most recently completed fiscal year during the Employment Period, if any, and (B) the Recent Annual Bonus (such greater amount hereafter referred to as the "Highest Annual Bonus") and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365 and (iii) payment of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest thereon) and not yet paid by the Company and any accrued vacation pay not yet paid by the Company (the amounts described in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) are hereafter referred to as "Accrued Obligations"). All Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. In addition, the Executive's estate or designated beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive the Executive's Annual Base Salary for the balance of the Employment Period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such payments of Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by any 8 - 8 - survivor benefits paid to the Executive's estate or designated beneficiary under the Retirement Plan. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive's estate and family shall be entitled to receive benefits at least equal to the most favorable benefits provided generally by the Company and any of its affiliated companies to the estates and surviving families of peer executives of the Company and such affiliated companies under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to death benefits, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their estates and families at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect on the date of the Executive's death generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. (b) DISABILITY. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations. All Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the Executive's Annual Base Salary for the balance of the Employment Period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such payments of Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by any benefits paid to the Executive under the Retirement Plan by reason of Disability. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date to receive disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable of those generally provided by the Company and its affiliated companies to disabled executives and/or their families in accordance with such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to disability, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their families at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect at any time thereafter generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. (c) CAUSE; OTHER THAN FOR GOOD REASON. If the Executive's employment shall be terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to pay to the Executive Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination plus the amount of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive, in each case to the extent theretofore unpaid. If the Executive terminates employment during the Employment Period other than for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations. In such case, all Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. (d) GOOD REASON; OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE OR DISABILITY. If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive's employment other than for Cause or Disability, or the Executive shall terminate employment during the Employment Period for Good Reason, the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 60 days after the Date of Termination, and subject to receiving an executed irrevocable Release as described in Section 11, the aggregate of the following amounts: A. all Accrued Obligations; and B. the product of (x) three and (y) the sum of (i) Annual Base Salary and (ii) the Highest Annual Bonus; and 9 - 9 - C. a lump-sum retirement benefit equal to the difference between (a) the actuarial equivalent of the benefit under the Nashua Corporation Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees (the "Retirement Plan") and any supplemental and/or excess retirement plan providing benefits for the Executive (the "SERP") which the Executive would receive if the Executive's employment continued at the compensation level provided for in Sections 4(b)(i) and 4(b)(ii) of this Agreement for the remainder of the Employment Period, assuming for this purpose that all accrued benefits are fully vested, and (b) the actuarial equivalent of the Executive's actual benefit (paid or payable), if any, under the Retirement Plan and the SERP; for purposes of determining the amount payable pursuant to this Section 6(d)(i)C the accrual formulas and actuarial assumptions utilized shall be no less favorable than those in effect with respect to the Retirement Plan and the SERP during the 90-day period immediately prior to the Effective Date. In addition, for the remainder of the Employment Period (if the termination took place during the Employment Period under this Section 6), the Company shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive's family at least equal to those which would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs, practices and policies described in Section 4(b)(iv) of this Agreement if the Executive's employment had not been terminated in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs or policies of the Company and its affiliated companies applicable generally to other peer executives and their families during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. For purposes of determining eligibility of the Executive for retiree benefits pursuant to such plans, practices, programs and policies, the Executive shall be considered to have remained employed until the end of the Employment Period and to have retired on the last day of such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change of Control shall have occurred before the Date of Termination, the aggregate amount of "parachute payments", as defined in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the "Code") payable to the Executive pursuant to all arrangements with the Company shall not exceed one dollar less than three times the Executive's "base amount", as defined in Section 280G of the Code (the "cut back amount"); provided, however, that if Executive would be better off by at least $25,000 on an after-tax basis by receiving the full amount of the parachute payments as opposed to the cut back amount (notwithstanding a 20% excise tax) the Executive shall receive the full amount of the parachute payments. 7. SEVERANCE BENEFITS. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, if, before or after the Employment Period, the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for reason other than misconduct, the Company shall pay to the Executive one year's salary continuation and continue medical and dental benefits during such continuation period. 8. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plans, programs, policies or practices, provided by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and for which the Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any other agreements with the Company or any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of the Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program except as 10 - 10 - explicitly modified by this Agreement. 9. FULL SETTLEMENT. The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof, plus in each case interest at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of l986, as amended (the "Code"). 10. OTHER AGREEMENTS. The parties agree that this Agreement supersedes and replaces the Retention Agreement between the parties dated as of the 24th day of October, 1997 and any and all other agreements, policies, understandings or letters (including but not limited to employment agreements, severance agreements and job abolishment policies) between the parties related to the subject matter hereof. 11. RELEASE. Prior to receipt of the payment described in Sections 6(d) or 7, the Executive shall execute and deliver a Release to the Company as follows: The Executive hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates, agents and employees from any and all claims, charges, complaints, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, debts, sums of money, costs, accounts, reckonings, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises, doings, omissions, damages, executions, obligations, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys' fees and costs), of every kind and nature which he ever had or now has against the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates, agents and employees, including, but not limited to, all claims arising out of his employment, all employment discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. ss.2000e ET SEQ., the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C., ss.621 ET SEQ., the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C., ss.12101 ET SEQ., the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. ss.354-A:1 ET SEQ. and similar state antidiscrimination laws, damages arising out of all employment discrimination claims, wrongful discharge claims or other common law claims and damages, provided, however, that nothing herein shall release the Company from Executive's Stock Option Agreements or Restricted Stock Agreements. The Release shall also contain, at a minimum, the following language: The Executive acknowledges that he has been given twenty-one (21) days to consider the terms of this Release and that the Company advised him to consult with an attorney of his own choosing prior to signing this Release. The Executive may revoke this Release for a period of seven (7) days after the execution of the Release and the Release shall not be effective or enforceable until the expiration of this seven (7) day revocation period. At the same time, the Company shall execute and deliver a Release to the Executive as follows: The Company hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Executive from any and all claims which it ever had or now has against the Executive, other than for intentional harmful acts. 11 - 11 - 12. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies, and their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive during the Executive's employment by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it. In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of this Section 12 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement. 13. ARBITRATION. Any controversy or claim arising out of this Agreement shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial rules, policies and procedures of the American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of law having jurisdiction thereof. Arbitration shall take place in Nashua, New Hampshire at a mutually convenient location. 14. SUCCESSORS. (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal representatives. (b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. 12 - 12 - (c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. 15. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives. (b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: IF TO THE EXECUTIVE: Joseph R. Matson 4 Pulpit Run Amherst, NH 03031 IF TO THE COMPANY: Nashua Corporation 44 Franklin Street Nashua, New Hampshire 03060 Attention: President or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee. (c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. (d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. (e) The Executive's failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision hereof or the failure to assert any right the Executive may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c)(i)-(v), shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right thereof. (f) This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the Company and the Executive with 13 - 13 - respect to the subject matter hereof. The Executive and the Company acknowledge that the employment of the Executive by the Company is "at will" and, prior to the Effective Date, both the Executive's employment and this Agreement may be terminated by either the Company or the Executive at any time. In the event that this Agreement is terminated by the Company prior to the Effective Date and the Executive remains employed by the Company, the Executive would be entitled to the same severance benefits as set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written. NASHUA CORPORATION EXECUTIVE By /s/ Gerald G. Garbacz /s/ Joseph R. Matson ------------------------------------- ----------------------- President and Chief Executive Officer Name: Joseph R. Matson EX-10.5 6 CHANGE OF CONTROL & SEVERANCE AGREEMENT 1 Exhibit 10.05 CHANGE OF CONTROL AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AGREEMENT by and between NASHUA CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and EUGENE P. PACHE (the "Executive"), dated as of the 24th day of June, 1998. RECITALS: WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company or other reasons of uncertainty; WHEREAS, the Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change of Control and business concerns and to encourage the Executive's full attention and dedication to the Company; and WHEREAS, in order to accomplish these objectives, the Board believes it is in the best interests of the Company to enter into this Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS: 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. (a) The "Effective Date" shall be the first date during the "Change of Control Period" (as defined in Section 1(b)) on which a Change of Control occurs. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated or the Executive ceases to be an officer of the Company prior to the date on which a Change of Control occurs, and it is reasonably demonstrated that such termination of employment (1) was at the request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect the Change of Control or (2) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of the Change of Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the "Effective Date" shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment. (b) The "Change of Control Period" is the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the third anniversary of such date; provided, however, that commencing on the date one year after the date hereof, and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and each annual anniversary thereof is hereinafter referred to as the "Renewal Date"), the Change of Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to terminate three years from such Renewal Date, unless at least 60 days prior to the Renewal Date the Company shall give notice to the Executive that the Change of Control Period shall not be so extended. 2 -2- 2. CHANGE OF CONTROL. For the purpose of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean: (a) The acquisition, other than from the Company, by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of l934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) (a "Person") of 30% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Company Voting Securities"), PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any acquisition by (x) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (y) any corporation with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, shall not constitute a Change of Control; or (b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the Directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act); or (c) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger or consolidation (a "Business Combination"), in each case, with respect to which all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination do not, following such Business Combination, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from Business Combination in substantially the same proportion as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be; or (d) (i) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or of (ii) sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company other than to a corporation with respect to which, following such sale or disposition, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then owned beneficially, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and 3 -3- entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, immediately prior to such sale or disposition. 3. EMPLOYMENT PERIOD. The Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive in its employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company, for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of such date (the "Employment Period"). 4. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT. (a) POSITION AND DUTIES. (i) During the Employment Period, (A) the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B) the Executive's services shall be performed at the location where the Executive was employed immediately preceding the Effective Date or any office or location less than 35 miles from such location. (ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that to the extent that any such activities have been conducted by the Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities to the Company. (b) COMPENSATION. (i) BASE SALARY. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which shall be paid at a monthly rate, at least equal to twelve times the highest monthly base salary paid or payable to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the twelve-month period immediately preceding the month in which the Effective Date occurs. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually and shall be increased at any time and from time to time as shall be substantially consistent with increases in 4 -4- base salary awarded in the ordinary course of business to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased. As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliated companies" includes any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company. (ii) ANNUAL BONUS. In addition to Annual Base Salary, the Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal year beginning or ending during the Employment Period, an annual bonus (the "Annual Bonus") in cash at least equal to the average bonus paid or payable, including by reason of deferral, to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the three fiscal years immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Effective Date occurs (annualized for any fiscal year during the Employment Period consisting of less than twelve full months or with respect to which the Executive has been employed by the Company for less than twelve full months) (the "Recent Annual Bonus"). Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than the end of the third month of the fiscal year next following the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus. (iii) INCENTIVE, SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS. In addition to Annual Base Salary and Annual Bonus payable as hereinabove provided, the Executive shall be entitled to participate during the Employment Period in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with incentive, savings and retirement benefit opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate, than (x) the most favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies for the Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or (y) if more favorable to the Executive, those provided at any time after the Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (iv) WELFARE BENEFIT PLANS. During the Employment Period, the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies (including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, salary continuance, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent generally applicable to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than (x) the most favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or (y) if more favorable to the Executive, those provided at any time after the Effective Date generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 5 -5- (v) EXPENSES. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices and procedures of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (vi) FRINGE BENEFITS. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (vii) OFFICE AND SUPPORT STAFF. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and with furnishings and other appointments, and to exclusive personal secretarial and other assistance, at least equal to the most favorable of the foregoing provided to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as provided generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (viii) VACATION. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its affiliated companies as in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer incentives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 5. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. (a) DEATH OR DISABILITY. The Executive's employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with Section 15(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive's employment. In such event, the Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" means the absence of the Executive from the Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive business days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or Executive's legal representative (such agreement as to acceptability not to be withheld unreasonably). 6 -6- (b) CAUSE. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" means (i) an action taken by the Executive involving willful and wanton malfeasance involving specifically a wholly wrongful and unlawful act, or (ii) the Executive being convicted of a felony. (c) GOOD REASON. The Executive's employment may be terminated during the Employment Period by the Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means: (i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in any respect with the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4(a) of this Agreement, or any other action by the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of Section 4(b) of this Agreement, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any office or location other than that described in Section 4(a)(i)(B) hereof; (iv) any purported termination by the Company of the Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or (v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 14(c) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, any good faith determination of Good Reason made by the Executive shall be conclusive. (d) NOTICE OF TERMINATION. Any termination by the Company for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 15(b) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than fifteen days after the giving of such notice). In the case of a termination of the Executive's employment for Cause, a Notice of Termination shall include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for the purpose (after reasonable notice to the Executive and reasonable opportunity for the Executive, together with the Executive's counsel, to be heard before the Board prior to such vote), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board the Executive was guilty of conduct constituting Cause. No purported termination of the Executive's employment for Cause shall be effective without a 7 -7- Notice of Termination. The failure by the Executive to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason shall not waive any right of the Executive hereunder or preclude the Executive from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive's rights hereunder. (e) DATE OF TERMINATION. "Date of Termination" means the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein, as the case may be; provided, however, that (i) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination and (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be. 6. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION. (a) DEATH. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive's legal representatives under this Agreement, other than the following obligations: (i) payment of the Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (ii) payment of the product of (x) the greater of (A) the Annual Bonus paid or payable, including by reason of deferral, (and annualized for any fiscal year consisting of less than twelve full months or for which the Executive has been employed for less than twelve full months) for the most recently completed fiscal year during the Employment Period, if any, and (B) the Recent Annual Bonus (such greater amount hereafter referred to as the "Highest Annual Bonus") and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365 and (iii) payment of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest thereon) and not yet paid by the Company and any accrued vacation pay not yet paid by the Company (the amounts described in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) are hereafter referred to as "Accrued Obligations"). All Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. In addition, the Executive's estate or designated beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive the Executive's Annual Base Salary for 12 months; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such payments of Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by any survivor benefits paid to the Executive's estate or designated beneficiary under the Retirement Plan. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive's estate and family shall be entitled to receive benefits at least equal to the most favorable benefits provided generally by the Company and any of its affiliated companies to the estates and surviving families of peer executives of the Company and such affiliated companies under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to death benefits, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their estates and families at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect on the date of the Executive's death generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. (b) DISABILITY. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations. All Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the Executive's Annual 8 -8- Base Salary for the balance of the Employment Period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such payments of Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by any benefits paid to the Executive under the Retirement Plan by reason of Disability. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date to receive disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable of those generally provided by the Company and its affiliated companies to disabled executives and/or their families in accordance with such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to disability, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their families at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect at any time thereafter generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. (c) CAUSE; OTHER THAN FOR GOOD REASON. If the Executive's employment shall be terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to pay to the Executive Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination plus the amount of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive, in each case to the extent theretofore unpaid. If the Executive terminates employment during the Employment Period other than for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations. In such case, all Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. (d) GOOD REASON; OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE OR DISABILITY. If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive's employment other than for Cause or Disability, or the Executive shall terminate employment during the Employment Period for Good Reason, the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 60 days after the Date of Termination, and subject to receiving an executed irrevocable Release as described in Section 11, the aggregate of the following amounts: 9 -9- A. all Accrued Obligations; and B. the sum of (i) Annual Base Salary and (ii) the Highest Annual Bonus; and C. a lump-sum retirement benefit equal to the difference between (a) the actuarial equivalent of the benefit under the Nashua Corporation Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees (the "Retirement Plan") and any supplemental and/or excess retirement plan providing benefits for the Executive (the "SERP") which the Executive would receive if the Executive's employment continued at the compensation level provided for in Sections 4(b)(i) and 4(b)(ii) of this Agreement for the remainder of the Employment Period, assuming for this purpose that all accrued benefits are fully vested, and (b) the actuarial equivalent of the Executive's actual benefit (paid or payable), if any, under the Retirement Plan and the SERP; for purposes of determining the amount payable pursuant to this Section 6(d)(i)C the accrual formulas and actuarial assumptions utilized shall be no less favorable than those in effect with respect to the Retirement Plan and the SERP during the 90-day period immediately prior to the Effective Date; and In addition, for the remainder of the Employment Period (if the termination took place during the Employment Period under this Section 6), the Company shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive's family at least equal to those which would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs, practices and policies described in Section 4(b)(iv) of this Agreement if the Executive's employment had not been terminated in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs or policies of the Company and its affiliated companies applicable generally to other peer executives and their families during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. For purposes of determining eligibility of the Executive for retiree benefits pursuant to such plans, practices, programs and policies, the Executive shall be considered to have remained employed until the end of the Employment Period and to have retired on the last day of such period. 7. SEVERANCE BENEFITS. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, if, before or after the Employment Period, the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for reason (i) other than misconduct or (ii) due to the sale of the operation for which the Executive had managing responsibility, the Company shall pay to the Executive one year's salary continuation and continue medical and dental benefits during such continuation period. In the event that the operations for which the Executive had management responsibility are transferred to a joint venture or entity which is 50% or more controlled by the Company and the Executive is employed by such entity, the Executive shall not be deemed terminated by the Company for purposes of this paragraph. 8. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plans, programs, policies or practices, provided by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and for which the Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any other agreements with the Company or any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of the Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program except as explicitly modified by this Agreement. 10 -10- 9. FULL SETTLEMENT. The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof, plus in each case interest at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of l986, as amended (the "Code"). 10. OTHER AGREEMENTS. The parties agree that this Agreement supersedes and replaces the Retention Agreement between the parties dated as of the 24th day of October, 1997 and any and all other agreements, policies, understandings or letters (including but not limited to employment agreements, severance agreements and job abolishment policies) between the parties related to the subject matter hereof. 11. RELEASE. Prior to receipt of the payment described in Section 6(d) the Executive shall execute and deliver a Release to the Company as follows: The Executive hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates, agents and employees from any and all claims, charges, complaints, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, debts, sums of money, costs, accounts, reckonings, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises, doings, omissions, damages, executions, obligations, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys' fees and costs), of every kind and nature which he ever had or now has against the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates, agents and employees, including, but not limited to, all claims arising out of his employment, all employment discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. ss.2000e ET SEQ., the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C., ss.621 ET SEQ., the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C., ss.12101 ET SEQ., the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. ss.354-A:1 ET SEQ. and similar state antidiscrimination laws, damages arising out of all employment discrimination claims, wrongful discharge claims or other common law claims and damages, provided, however, that nothing herein shall release the Company from Executive's Stock Option Agreements. The Release shall also contain, at a minimum, the following language: The Executive acknowledges that he has been given twenty-one (21) days to consider the terms of this Release and that the Company advised him to consult with an attorney of his own choosing prior to signing this Release. The Executive may revoke this Release for a period of seven (7) days after the execution of the Release and the Release shall not be effective or enforceable until the expiration of this seven (7) day revocation period. At the same time, the Company shall execute and deliver a Release to the Executive as follows: The Company hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Executive from any and all claims which it ever had or now has against the Executive, other than for intentional harmful acts. 12. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the 11 -11- Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies, and their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive during the Executive's employment by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it. In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of this Section 12 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement. 13. ARBITRATION. Any controversy or claim arising out of this Agreement shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial rules, policies and procedures of the American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of law having jurisdiction thereof. Arbitration shall take place in Nashua, New Hampshire at a mutually convenient location. 14. SUCCESSORS. (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal representatives. (b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. (c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. 15. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives. (b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: IF TO THE EXECUTIVE: Eugene P. Pache 9729 Fieldcrest Drive 12 -12- Omaha, NE 68114 IF TO THE COMPANY: Nashua Corporation 44 Franklin Street Nashua, New Hampshire 03060 Attention: President or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee. (c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. (d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. (e) The Executive's failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision hereof or the failure to assert any right the Executive may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c)(i)-(v), shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right thereof. (f) This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the Company and the Executive with respect to the subject matter hereof. The Executive and the Company acknowledge that the employment of the Executive by the Company is "at will" and, prior to the Effective Date, both the Executive's employment and this Agreement may be terminated by either the Company or the Executive at any time. In the event that this Agreement is terminated by the Company prior to the Effective Date and the Executive remains employed by the Company, the Executive would be entitled to the same severance benefits as set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement. 13 -13- IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written. NASHUA CORPORATION EXECUTIVE By /s/ Gerald G. Garbacz /s/ Eugene P. Pache ------------------------------------- ------------------------------- President and Chief Executive Officer Name: Eugene P. Pache EX-10.6 7 CHANGE OF CONTROL & SEVERANCE AGREEMENT 1 EXHIBIT 10.06 CHANGE OF CONTROL AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AGREEMENT by and between NASHUA CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and PETER C. ANASTOS (the "Executive"), dated as of the 24th day of June, 1998. RECITALS: WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company or other reasons of uncertainty; WHEREAS, the Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change of Control and business concerns and to encourage the Executive's full attention and dedication to the Company; and WHEREAS, in order to accomplish these objectives, the Board believes it is in the best interests of the Company to enter into this Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS: 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. (a) The "Effective Date" shall be the first date during the "Change of Control Period" (as defined in Section 1(b)) on which a Change of Control occurs. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated or the Executive ceases to be an officer of the Company prior to the date on which a Change of Control occurs, and it is reasonably demonstrated that such termination of employment (1) was at the request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect the Change of Control or (2) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of the Change of Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the "Effective Date" shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment. (b) The "Change of Control Period" is the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the third anniversary of such date; provided, however, that commencing on the date one year after the date hereof, and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and each annual anniversary thereof is hereinafter referred to as the "Renewal Date"), the Change of Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to terminate three years from such Renewal Date, unless at least 60 days prior to the Renewal Date the Company shall give notice to the Executive that the Change of Control Period shall not be so extended. 2 - 2- 2. CHANGE OF CONTROL. For the purpose of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean: (a) The acquisition, other than from the Company, by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of l934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) (a "Person") of 30% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Company Voting Securities"), PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any acquisition by (x) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (y) any corporation with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, shall not constitute a Change of Control; or (b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the Directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act); or (c) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger or consolidation (a "Business Combination"), in each case, with respect to which all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination do not, following such Business Combination, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from Business Combination in substantially the same proportion as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be; or (d) (i) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or of (ii) sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company other than to a corporation with respect to which, following such sale or disposition, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then owned beneficially, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and 3 - 3 - entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, immediately prior to such sale or disposition. 3. EMPLOYMENT PERIOD. The Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive in its employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company, for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of such date (the "Employment Period"). 4. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT. (a) POSITION AND DUTIES. (i) During the Employment Period, (A) the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B) the Executive's services shall be performed at the location where the Executive was employed immediately preceding the Effective Date or any office or location less than 35 miles from such location. (ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that to the extent that any such activities have been conducted by the Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities to the Company. 4 - 4 - (b) COMPENSATION. (i) BASE SALARY. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which shall be paid at a monthly rate, at least equal to twelve times the highest monthly base salary paid or payable to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the twelve-month period immediately preceding the month in which the Effective Date occurs. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually and shall be increased at any time and from time to time as shall be substantially consistent with increases in base salary awarded in the ordinary course of business to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased. As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliated companies" includes any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company. (ii) ANNUAL BONUS. In addition to Annual Base Salary, the Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal year beginning or ending during the Employment Period, an annual bonus (the "Annual Bonus") in cash at least equal to the average bonus paid or payable, including by reason of deferral, to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the three fiscal years immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Effective Date occurs (annualized for any fiscal year during the Employment Period consisting of less than twelve full months or with respect to which the Executive has been employed by the Company for less than twelve full months) (the "Recent Annual Bonus"). Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than the end of the third month of the fiscal year next following the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus. (iii) INCENTIVE, SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS. In addition to Annual Base Salary and Annual Bonus payable as hereinabove provided, the Executive shall be entitled to participate during the Employment Period in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with incentive, savings and retirement benefit opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate, than (x) the most favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies for the Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or (y) if more favorable to the Executive, those provided at any time after the Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 5 - 5 - (iv) WELFARE BENEFIT PLANS. During the Employment Period, the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies (including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, salary continuance, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent generally applicable to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than (x) the most favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or (y) if more favorable to the Executive, those provided at any time after the Effective Date generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (v) EXPENSES. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices and procedures of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (vi) FRINGE BENEFITS. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (vii) OFFICE AND SUPPORT STAFF. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and with furnishings and other appointments, and to exclusive personal secretarial and other assistance, at least equal to the most favorable of the foregoing provided to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as provided generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (viii) VACATION. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its affiliated companies as in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer incentives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 5. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. 6 - 6 - (a) DEATH OR DISABILITY. The Executive's employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with Section 15(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive's employment. In such event, the Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" means the absence of the Executive from the Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive business days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or Executive's legal representative (such agreement as to acceptability not to be withheld unreasonably). (b) CAUSE. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" means (i) an action taken by the Executive involving willful and wanton malfeasance involving specifically a wholly wrongful and unlawful act, or (ii) the Executive being convicted of a felony. (c) GOOD REASON. The Executive's employment may be terminated during the Employment Period by the Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means: (i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in any respect with the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4(a) of this Agreement, or any other action by the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of Section 4(b) of this Agreement, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any office or location other than that described in Section 4(a)(i)(B) hereof; (iv) any purported termination by the Company of the Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or (v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 14(c) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, any good faith determination of Good Reason made by the Executive shall be conclusive. 7 - 7 - (d) NOTICE OF TERMINATION. Any termination by the Company for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 15(b) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than fifteen days after the giving of such notice). In the case of a termination of the Executive's employment for Cause, a Notice of Termination shall include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for the purpose (after reasonable notice to the Executive and reasonable opportunity for the Executive, together with the Executive's counsel, to be heard before the Board prior to such vote), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board the Executive was guilty of conduct constituting Cause. No purported termination of the Executive's employment for Cause shall be effective without a Notice of Termination. The failure by the Executive to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason shall not waive any right of the Executive hereunder or preclude the Executive from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive's rights hereunder. (e) DATE OF TERMINATION. "Date of Termination" means the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein, as the case may be; provided, however, that (i) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination and (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be. 6. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION. (a) DEATH. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive's legal representatives under this Agreement, other than the following obligations: (i) payment of the Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (ii) payment of the product of (x) the greater of (A) the Annual Bonus paid or payable, including by reason of deferral, (and annualized for any fiscal year consisting of less than twelve full months or for which the Executive has been employed for less than twelve full months) for the most recently completed fiscal year during the Employment Period, if any, and (B) the Recent Annual Bonus (such greater amount hereafter referred to as the "Highest Annual Bonus") and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365 and (iii) payment of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest thereon) and not yet paid by the Company and any accrued vacation pay not yet paid by the Company (the amounts described in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) are hereafter referred to as "Accrued Obligations"). All Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. In addition, the Executive's estate or designated beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive the Executive's Annual Base Salary for the balance of the Employment Period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such payments of Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by any 8 - 8 - survivor benefits paid to the Executive's estate or designated beneficiary under the Retirement Plan. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive's estate and family shall be entitled to receive benefits at least equal to the most favorable benefits provided generally by the Company and any of its affiliated companies to the estates and surviving families of peer executives of the Company and such affiliated companies under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to death benefits, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their estates and families at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect on the date of the Executive's death generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. (b) DISABILITY. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations. All Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the Executive's Annual Base Salary for the balance of the Employment Period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such payments of Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by any benefits paid to the Executive under the Retirement Plan by reason of Disability. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date to receive disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable of those generally provided by the Company and its affiliated companies to disabled executives and/or their families in accordance with such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to disability, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their families at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect at any time thereafter generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. (c) CAUSE; OTHER THAN FOR GOOD REASON. If the Executive's employment shall be terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to pay to the Executive Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination plus the amount of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive, in each case to the extent theretofore unpaid. If the Executive terminates employment during the Employment Period other than for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations. In such case, all Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. (d) GOOD REASON; OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE OR DISABILITY. If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive's employment other than for Cause or Disability, or the Executive shall terminate employment during the Employment Period for Good Reason, the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 60 days after the Date of Termination, and subject to receiving an executed irrevocable Release as described in Section 11, the aggregate of the following amounts: A. all Accrued Obligations; and B. the product of (x) three and (y) the sum of (i) Annual Base Salary and (ii) the Highest Annual Bonus; and 9 - 9 - C. a lump-sum retirement benefit equal to the difference between (a) the actuarial equivalent of the benefit under the Nashua Corporation Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees (the "Retirement Plan") and any supplemental and/or excess retirement plan providing benefits for the Executive (the "SERP") which the Executive would receive if the Executive's employment continued at the compensation level provided for in Sections 4(b)(i) and 4(b)(ii) of this Agreement for the remainder of the Employment Period, assuming for this purpose that all accrued benefits are fully vested, and (b) the actuarial equivalent of the Executive's actual benefit (paid or payable), if any, under the Retirement Plan and the SERP; for purposes of determining the amount payable pursuant to this Section 6(d)(i)C the accrual formulas and actuarial assumptions utilized shall be no less favorable than those in effect with respect to the Retirement Plan and the SERP during the 90-day period immediately prior to the Effective Date. In addition, for the remainder of the Employment Period (if the termination took place during the Employment Period under this Section 6), the Company shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive's family at least equal to those which would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs, practices and policies described in Section 4(b)(iv) of this Agreement if the Executive's employment had not been terminated in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs or policies of the Company and its affiliated companies applicable generally to other peer executives and their families during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. For purposes of determining eligibility of the Executive for retiree benefits pursuant to such plans, practices, programs and policies, the Executive shall be considered to have remained employed until the end of the Employment Period and to have retired on the last day of such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change of Control shall have occurred before the Date of Termination, the aggregate amount of "parachute payments", as defined in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the "Code") payable to the Executive pursuant to all arrangements with the Company shall not exceed one dollar less than three times the Executive's "base amount", as defined in Section 280G of the Code (the "cut back amount"); provided, however, that if Executive would be better off by at least $25,000 on an after-tax basis by receiving the full amount of the parachute payments as opposed to the cut back amount (notwithstanding a 20% excise tax) the Executive shall receive the full amount of the parachute payments. 7. SEVERANCE BENEFITS. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, if, before or after the Employment Period, the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for reason other than misconduct, the Company shall pay to the Executive one year's salary continuation and continue medical and dental benefits during such continuation period. 8. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plans, programs, policies or practices, provided by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and for which the Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any other agreements with the Company or any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of the Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program except as 10 - 10 - explicitly modified by this Agreement. 9. FULL SETTLEMENT. The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof, plus in each case interest at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of l986, as amended (the "Code"). 10. OTHER AGREEMENTS. The parties agree that this Agreement supersedes and replaces the Retention Agreement between the parties dated as of the 24th day of October, 1997 and any and all other agreements, policies, understandings or letters (including but not limited to employment agreements, severance agreements and job abolishment policies) between the parties related to the subject matter hereof. 11. RELEASE. Prior to receipt of the payment described in Sections 6(d) or 7, the Executive shall execute and deliver a Release to the Company as follows: The Executive hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates, agents and employees from any and all claims, charges, complaints, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, debts, sums of money, costs, accounts, reckonings, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises, doings, omissions, damages, executions, obligations, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys' fees and costs), of every kind and nature which he ever had or now has against the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates, agents and employees, including, but not limited to, all claims arising out of his employment, all employment discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. ss.2000e ET SEQ., the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C., ss.621 ET SEQ., the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C., ss.12101 ET SEQ., the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. ss.354-A:1 ET SEQ. and similar state antidiscrimination laws, damages arising out of all employment discrimination claims, wrongful discharge claims or other common law claims and damages, provided, however, that nothing herein shall release the Company from Executive's Stock Option Agreements or Restricted Stock Agreements. The Release shall also contain, at a minimum, the following language: The Executive acknowledges that he has been given twenty-one (21) days to consider the terms of this Release and that the Company advised him to consult with an attorney of his own choosing prior to signing this Release. The Executive may revoke this Release for a period of seven (7) days after the execution of the Release and the Release shall not be effective or enforceable until the expiration of this seven (7) day revocation period. At the same time, the Company shall execute and deliver a Release to the Executive as follows: The Company hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Executive from any and all claims which it ever had or now has against the Executive, other than for intentional harmful acts. 11 - 11 - 12. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies, and their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive during the Executive's employment by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it. In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of this Section 12 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement. 13. ARBITRATION. Any controversy or claim arising out of this Agreement shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial rules, policies and procedures of the American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of law having jurisdiction thereof. Arbitration shall take place in Nashua, New Hampshire at a mutually convenient location. 14. SUCCESSORS. (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal representatives. (b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. 12 - 12 - (c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. 15. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives. (b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: IF TO THE EXECUTIVE: Peter C. Anastos 74 Virginia Road Concord, MA 01742 IF TO THE COMPANY: Nashua Corporation 44 Franklin Street Nashua, New Hampshire 03060 Attention: President or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee. (c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. (d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. (e) The Executive's failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision hereof or the failure to assert any right the Executive may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c)(i)-(v), shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right thereof. (f) This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the Company and the Executive with 13 - 13 - respect to the subject matter hereof. The Executive and the Company acknowledge that the employment of the Executive by the Company is "at will" and, prior to the Effective Date, both the Executive's employment and this Agreement may be terminated by either the Company or the Executive at any time. In the event that this Agreement is terminated by the Company prior to the Effective Date and the Executive remains employed by the Company, the Executive would be entitled to the same severance benefits as set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written. NASHUA CORPORATION EXECUTIVE By /s/ Gerald G. Garbacz /s/ Peter C. Anastos ------------------------------------- -------------------------- President and Chief Executive Officer Name: Peter C. Anastos EX-10.7 8 CHANGE OF CONTROL & SEVERANCE AGREEMENT 1 Exhibit 10.07 CHANGE OF CONTROL AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT ----------------------------------------- AGREEMENT by and between NASHUA CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and JOSEPH I. GONZALEZ-RIVAS (the "Executive"), dated as of the 24th day of June, 1998. RECITALS: WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company or other reasons of uncertainty; WHEREAS, the Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change of Control and business concerns and to encourage the Executive's full attention and dedication to the Company; and WHEREAS, in order to accomplish these objectives, the Board believes it is in the best interests of the Company to enter into this Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS: 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. (a) The "Effective Date" shall be the first date during the "Change of Control Period" (as defined in Section 1(b)) on which a Change of Control occurs. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated or the Executive ceases to be an officer of the Company prior to the date on which a Change of Control occurs, and it is reasonably demonstrated that such termination of employment (1) was at the request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect the Change of Control or (2) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of the Change of Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the "Effective Date" shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment. (b) The "Change of Control Period" is the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the third anniversary of such date; provided, however, that commencing on the date one year after the date hereof, and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and each annual anniversary thereof is hereinafter referred to as the "Renewal Date"), the Change of Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to terminate three years from such Renewal Date, unless at least 60 days prior to the Renewal Date the Company shall give notice to the Executive that the Change of Control Period shall not be so extended. 2 -2- 2. CHANGE OF CONTROL. For the purpose of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean: (a) The acquisition, other than from the Company, by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of l934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) (a "Person") of 30% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Company Voting Securities"), PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any acquisition by (x) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (y) any corporation with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, shall not constitute a Change of Control; or (b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the Directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act); or (c) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger or consolidation (a "Business Combination"), in each case, with respect to which all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination do not, following such Business Combination, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from Business Combination in substantially the same proportion as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be; or (d) (i) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or of (ii) sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company other than to a corporation with respect to which, following such sale or disposition, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then owned beneficially, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and 3 -3- entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, immediately prior to such sale or disposition. 3. EMPLOYMENT PERIOD. The Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive in its employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company, for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of such date (the "Employment Period"). 4. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT. (a) POSITION AND DUTIES. (i) During the Employment Period, (A) the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B) the Executive's services shall be performed at the location where the Executive was employed immediately preceding the Effective Date or any office or location less than 35 miles from such location. (ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that to the extent that any such activities have been conducted by the Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities to the Company. (b) COMPENSATION. (i) BASE SALARY. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which shall be paid at a monthly rate, at least equal to twelve times the highest monthly base salary paid or payable to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the twelve-month period immediately preceding the month in which the Effective Date occurs. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually and shall be increased at any time and from time to time as shall be substantially consistent with increases in 4 -4- base salary awarded in the ordinary course of business to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased. As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliated companies" includes any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company. (ii) ANNUAL BONUS. In addition to Annual Base Salary, the Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal year beginning or ending during the Employment Period, an annual bonus (the "Annual Bonus") in cash at least equal to the average bonus paid or payable, including by reason of deferral, to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the three fiscal years immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Effective Date occurs (annualized for any fiscal year during the Employment Period consisting of less than twelve full months or with respect to which the Executive has been employed by the Company for less than twelve full months) (the "Recent Annual Bonus"). Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than the end of the third month of the fiscal year next following the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus. (iii) INCENTIVE, SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS. In addition to Annual Base Salary and Annual Bonus payable as hereinabove provided, the Executive shall be entitled to participate during the Employment Period in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with incentive, savings and retirement benefit opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate, than (x) the most favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies for the Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or (y) if more favorable to the Executive, those provided at any time after the Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (iv) WELFARE BENEFIT PLANS. During the Employment Period, the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies (including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, salary continuance, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent generally applicable to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than (x) the most favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or (y) if more favorable to the Executive, those provided at any time after the Effective Date generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 5 -5- (v) EXPENSES. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices and procedures of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (vi) FRINGE BENEFITS. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (vii) OFFICE AND SUPPORT STAFF. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and with furnishings and other appointments, and to exclusive personal secretarial and other assistance, at least equal to the most favorable of the foregoing provided to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as provided generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (viii) VACATION. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its affiliated companies as in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer incentives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 5. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. (a) DEATH OR DISABILITY. The Executive's employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with Section 15(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive's employment. In such event, the Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" means the absence of the Executive from the Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive business days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or Executive's legal representative (such agreement as to acceptability not to be withheld unreasonably). 6 -6- (b) CAUSE. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" means (i) an action taken by the Executive involving willful and wanton malfeasance involving specifically a wholly wrongful and unlawful act, or (ii) the Executive being convicted of a felony. (c) GOOD REASON. The Executive's employment may be terminated during the Employment Period by the Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means: (i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in any respect with the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4(a) of this Agreement, or any other action by the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of Section 4(b) of this Agreement, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any office or location other than that described in Section 4(a)(i)(B) hereof; (iv) any purported termination by the Company of the Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or (v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 14(c) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, any good faith determination of Good Reason made by the Executive shall be conclusive. (d) NOTICE OF TERMINATION. Any termination by the Company for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 15(b) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than fifteen days after the giving of such notice). In the case of a termination of the Executive's employment for Cause, a Notice of Termination shall include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for the purpose (after reasonable notice to the Executive and reasonable opportunity for the Executive, together with the Executive's counsel, to be heard before the Board prior to such vote), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board the Executive was guilty of conduct constituting Cause. No purported termination of the Executive's employment for Cause shall be effective without a 7 -7- Notice of Termination. The failure by the Executive to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason shall not waive any right of the Executive hereunder or preclude the Executive from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive's rights hereunder. (e) DATE OF TERMINATION. "Date of Termination" means the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein, as the case may be; provided, however, that (i) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination and (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be. 6. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION. (a) DEATH. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive's legal representatives under this Agreement, other than the following obligations: (i) payment of the Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (ii) payment of the product of (x) the greater of (A) the Annual Bonus paid or payable, including by reason of deferral, (and annualized for any fiscal year consisting of less than twelve full months or for which the Executive has been employed for less than twelve full months) for the most recently completed fiscal year during the Employment Period, if any, and (B) the Recent Annual Bonus (such greater amount hereafter referred to as the "Highest Annual Bonus") and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365 and (iii) payment of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest thereon) and not yet paid by the Company and any accrued vacation pay not yet paid by the Company (the amounts described in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) are hereafter referred to as "Accrued Obligations"). All Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. In addition, the Executive's estate or designated beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive the Executive's Annual Base Salary for 12 months; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such payments of Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by any survivor benefits paid to the Executive's estate or designated beneficiary under the Retirement Plan. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive's estate and family shall be entitled to receive benefits at least equal to the most favorable benefits provided generally by the Company and any of its affiliated companies to the estates and surviving families of peer executives of the Company and such affiliated companies under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to death benefits, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their estates and families at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect on the date of the Executive's death generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. (b) DISABILITY. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations. All Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the Executive's Annual 8 -8- Base Salary for the balance of the Employment Period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such payments of Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by any benefits paid to the Executive under the Retirement Plan by reason of Disability. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date to receive disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable of those generally provided by the Company and its affiliated companies to disabled executives and/or their families in accordance with such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to disability, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their families at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect at any time thereafter generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. (c) CAUSE; OTHER THAN FOR GOOD REASON. If the Executive's employment shall be terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to pay to the Executive Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination plus the amount of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive, in each case to the extent theretofore unpaid. If the Executive terminates employment during the Employment Period other than for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations. In such case, all Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. (d) GOOD REASON; OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE OR DISABILITY. If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive's employment other than for Cause or Disability, or the Executive shall terminate employment during the Employment Period for Good Reason, the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 60 days after the Date of Termination, and subject to receiving an executed irrevocable Release as described in Section 11, the aggregate of the following amounts: 9 -9- A. all Accrued Obligations; and B. the product of (x) two and (y) the sum of (i) Annual Base Salary and (ii) the Highest Annual Bonus; and C. a lump-sum retirement benefit equal to the difference between (a) the actuarial equivalent of the benefit under the Nashua Corporation Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees (the "Retirement Plan") and any supplemental and/or excess retirement plan providing benefits for the Executive (the "SERP") which the Executive would receive if the Executive's employment continued at the compensation level provided for in Sections 4(b)(i) and 4(b)(ii) of this Agreement for the remainder of the Employment Period, assuming for this purpose that all accrued benefits are fully vested, and (b) the actuarial equivalent of the Executive's actual benefit (paid or payable), if any, under the Retirement Plan and the SERP; for purposes of determining the amount payable pursuant to this Section 6(d)(i)C the accrual formulas and actuarial assumptions utilized shall be no less favorable than those in effect with respect to the Retirement Plan and the SERP during the 90-day period immediately prior to the Effective Date; and In addition, for the remainder of the Employment Period (if the termination took place during the Employment Period under this Section 6), the Company shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive's family at least equal to those which would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs, practices and policies described in Section 4(b)(iv) of this Agreement if the Executive's employment had not been terminated in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs or policies of the Company and its affiliated companies applicable generally to other peer executives and their families during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. For purposes of determining eligibility of the Executive for retiree benefits pursuant to such plans, practices, programs and policies, the Executive shall be considered to have remained employed until the end of the Employment Period and to have retired on the last day of such period. 7. SEVERANCE BENEFITS. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, (i) if, before or after the Employment Period, the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for reason other than misconduct, the Company shall pay to the Executive one year's salary continuation and continue medical and dental benefits during such continuation period, or (ii) if, before or after the Employment Period, the Executive's employment is terminated due to the sale of the operation for which the Executive had managing responsibility, the Company shall pay to the Executive two year's salary continuation and continue medical and dental benefits during such continuation period. In the event that the operations for which the Executive had management responsibility are transferred to a joint venture or entity which is 50% or more controlled by the Company and the Executive is employed by such entity, the Executive shall not be deemed terminated by the Company for purposes of this paragraph. 10 -10- 8. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plans, programs, policies or practices, provided by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and for which the Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any other agreements with the Company or any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of the Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program except as explicitly modified by this Agreement. 9. FULL SETTLEMENT. The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof, plus in each case interest at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of l986, as amended (the "Code"). 10. OTHER AGREEMENTS. The parties agree that this Agreement supersedes and replaces the Retention Agreement between the parties dated as of the 24th day of October, 1997 and any and all other agreements, policies, understandings or letters (including but not limited to employment agreements, severance agreements and job abolishment policies) between the parties related to the subject matter hereof. 11. RELEASE. Prior to receipt of the payment described in Section 6(d) the Executive shall execute and deliver a Release to the Company as follows: The Executive hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates, agents and employees from any and all claims, charges, complaints, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, debts, sums of money, costs, accounts, reckonings, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises, doings, omissions, damages, executions, obligations, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys' fees and costs), of every kind and nature which he ever had or now has against the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates, agents and employees, including, but not limited to, all claims arising out of his employment, all employment discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. ss.2000e et seq., the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C., ss.621 et seq., the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C., ss.12101 et seq., the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. ss.354-A:1 et seq. and similar state antidiscrimination laws, damages arising out of all employment discrimination claims, wrongful discharge claims or other common law claims and damages, provided, however, that nothing herein shall release the Company from Executive's Stock Option Agreements. The Release shall also contain, at a minimum, the following language: 11 -11- The Executive acknowledges that he has been given twenty-one (21) days to consider the terms of this Release and that the Company advised him to consult with an attorney of his own choosing prior to signing this Release. The Executive may revoke this Release for a period of seven (7) days after the execution of the Release and the Release shall not be effective or enforceable until the expiration of this seven (7) day revocation period. At the same time, the Company shall execute and deliver a Release to the Executive as follows: The Company hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Executive from any and all claims which it ever had or now has against the Executive, other than for intentional harmful acts. 12. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies, and their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive during the Executive's employment by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it. In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of this Section 12 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement. 13. ARBITRATION. Any controversy or claim arising out of this Agreement shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial rules, policies and procedures of the American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of law having jurisdiction thereof. Arbitration shall take place in Nashua, New Hampshire at a mutually convenient location. 14. SUCCESSORS. (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal representatives. (b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. (c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. 15. MISCELLANEOUS. 12 -12- (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives. (b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: If to the Executive: -------------------- Joseph I. Gonzalez-Rivas 19 The Flume Amherst, NH 03031 If to the Company: ------------------ Nashua Corporation 44 Franklin Street Nashua, New Hampshire 03060 Attention: President or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee. (c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. (d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. (e) The Executive's failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision hereof or the failure to assert any right the Executive may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c)(i)-(v), shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right thereof. (f) This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the Company and the Executive with respect to the subject matter hereof. The Executive and the Company acknowledge that the employment of the Executive by the Company is "at will" and, prior to the Effective Date, both the Executive's employment and this Agreement may be terminated by either the Company or the Executive at any time. In the event that this Agreement is terminated by the Company prior to the Effective Date and the Executive remains employed by the Company, the Executive would be entitled to the same severance benefits as set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement. 13 -13- IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written. NASHUA CORPORATION EXECUTIVE By /s/ Gerald G. Garbacz /s/ Joseph I. Gonzalez-Rivas ------------------------------------- ---------------------------- President and Chief Executive Officer Name: Joseph I. Gonzalez-Rivas EX-10.8 9 CHANGE OF CONTROL & SEVERANCE AGREEMENT 1 Exhibit 10.08 CHANGE OF CONTROL AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT ----------------------------------------- AGREEMENT by and between NASHUA CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and JOHN J. IRELAND (the "Executive"), dated as of the 24th day of June, 1998. RECITALS: WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company or other reasons of uncertainty; WHEREAS, the Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change of Control and business concerns and to encourage the Executive's full attention and dedication to the Company; and WHEREAS, in order to accomplish these objectives, the Board believes it is in the best interests of the Company to enter into this Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS: 1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. (a) The "Effective Date" shall be the first date during the "Change of Control Period" (as defined in Section 1(b)) on which a Change of Control occurs. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Executive's employment with the Company is terminated or the Executive ceases to be an officer of the Company prior to the date on which a Change of Control occurs, and it is reasonably demonstrated that such termination of employment (1) was at the request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect the Change of Control or (2) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of the Change of Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the "Effective Date" shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment. (b) The "Change of Control Period" is the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the third anniversary of such date; provided, however, that commencing on the date one year after the date hereof, and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and each annual anniversary thereof is hereinafter referred to as the "Renewal Date"), the Change of Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to terminate three years from such Renewal Date, unless at least 60 days prior to the Renewal Date the Company shall give notice to the Executive that the Change of Control Period shall not be so extended. 2 - 2 - 2. CHANGE OF CONTROL. For the purpose of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean: (a) The acquisition, other than from the Company, by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of l934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) (a "Person") of 30% or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Company Voting Securities"), PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any acquisition by (x) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (y) any corporation with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, shall not constitute a Change of Control; or (b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the Directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act); or (c) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a reorganization, merger or consolidation (a "Business Combination"), in each case, with respect to which all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination do not, following such Business Combination, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from Business Combination in substantially the same proportion as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be; or (d) (i) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or of (ii) sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company other than to a corporation with respect to which, following such sale or disposition, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then owned beneficially, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and 3 - 3 - entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, immediately prior to such sale or disposition. 3. EMPLOYMENT PERIOD. The Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive in its employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company, for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of such date (the "Employment Period"). 4. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT. (a) POSITION AND DUTIES. (i) During the Employment Period, (A) the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B) the Executive's services shall be performed at the location where the Executive was employed immediately preceding the Effective Date or any office or location less than 35 miles from such location. (ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that to the extent that any such activities have been conducted by the Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities to the Company. (b) COMPENSATION. (i) BASE SALARY. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall receive an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary"), which shall be paid at a monthly rate, at least equal to twelve times the highest monthly base salary paid or payable to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the twelve-month period immediately preceding the month in which the Effective Date occurs. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually and shall be increased at any time and from time to time as shall be substantially consistent with increases 4 - 4 - in base salary awarded in the ordinary course of business to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased. As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliated companies" includes any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company. (ii) ANNUAL BONUS. In addition to Annual Base Salary, the Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal year beginning or ending during the Employment Period, an annual bonus (the "Annual Bonus") in cash at least equal to the average bonus paid or payable, including by reason of deferral, to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the three fiscal years immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Effective Date occurs (annualized for any fiscal year during the Employment Period consisting of less than twelve full months or with respect to which the Executive has been employed by the Company for less than twelve full months) (the "Recent Annual Bonus"). Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than the end of the third month of the fiscal year next following the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus. (iii) INCENTIVE, SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS. In addition to Annual Base Salary and Annual Bonus payable as hereinabove provided, the Executive shall be entitled to participate during the Employment Period in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with incentive, savings and retirement benefit opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate, than (x) the most favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies for the Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or (y) if more favorable to the Executive, those provided at any time after the Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (iv) WELFARE BENEFIT PLANS. During the Employment Period, the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies (including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, salary continuance, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent generally applicable to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than (x) the most favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or (y) if more favorable to the Executive, those provided at any time after the Effective Date generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 5 - 5 - (v) EXPENSES. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices and procedures of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (vi) FRINGE BENEFITS. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (vii) OFFICE AND SUPPORT STAFF. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and with furnishings and other appointments, and to exclusive personal secretarial and other assistance, at least equal to the most favorable of the foregoing provided to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as provided generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. (viii) VACATION. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its affiliated companies as in effect at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer incentives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 5. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. (a) DEATH OR DISABILITY. The Executive's employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with Section 15(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive's employment. In such event, the Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" means the absence of the Executive from the Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive business days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or Executive's legal representative (such agreement as to acceptability not to be withheld unreasonably). 6 - 6 - (b) CAUSE. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" means (i) an action taken by the Executive involving willful and wanton malfeasance involving specifically a wholly wrongful and unlawful act, or (ii) the Executive being convicted of a felony. (c) GOOD REASON. The Executive's employment may be terminated during the Employment Period by the Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means: (i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in any respect with the Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4(a) of this Agreement, or any other action by the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of Section 4(b) of this Agreement, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; (iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any office or location other than that described in Section 4(a)(i)(B) hereof; (iv) any purported termination by the Company of the Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or (v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 14(c) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, any good faith determination of Good Reason made by the Executive shall be conclusive. (d) NOTICE OF TERMINATION. Any termination by the Company for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 15(b) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than fifteen days after the giving of such notice). In the case of a termination of the Executive's employment for Cause, a Notice of Termination shall include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for the purpose (after reasonable notice to the Executive and reasonable opportunity for the Executive, together with the Executive's counsel, to be heard before the Board prior to such vote), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board the Executive was guilty of conduct constituting Cause. No purported termination of the Executive's employment for Cause shall be effective without a 7 - 7 - Notice of Termination. The failure by the Executive to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason shall not waive any right of the Executive hereunder or preclude the Executive from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive's rights hereunder. (e) DATE OF TERMINATION. "Date of Termination" means the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein, as the case may be; provided, however, that (i) if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of such termination and (ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be. 6. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION. (a) DEATH. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive's legal representatives under this Agreement, other than the following obligations: (i) payment of the Executive's Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (ii) payment of the product of (x) the greater of (A) the Annual Bonus paid or payable, including by reason of deferral, (and annualized for any fiscal year consisting of less than twelve full months or for which the Executive has been employed for less than twelve full months) for the most recently completed fiscal year during the Employment Period, if any, and (B) the Recent Annual Bonus (such greater amount hereafter referred to as the "Highest Annual Bonus") and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365 and (iii) payment of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest thereon) and not yet paid by the Company and any accrued vacation pay not yet paid by the Company (the amounts described in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) are hereafter referred to as "Accrued Obligations"). All Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. In addition, the Executive's estate or designated beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive the Executive's Annual Base Salary for 12 months; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such payments of Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by any survivor benefits paid to the Executive's estate or designated beneficiary under the Retirement Plan. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive's estate and family shall be entitled to receive benefits at least equal to the most favorable benefits provided generally by the Company and any of its affiliated companies to the estates and surviving families of peer executives of the Company and such affiliated companies under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to death benefits, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their estates and families at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect on the date of the Executive's death generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. (b) DISABILITY. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations. All Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. In addition, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the Executive's Annual 8 - 8 - Base Salary for the balance of the Employment Period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such payments of Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by any benefits paid to the Executive under the Retirement Plan by reason of Disability. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date to receive disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable of those generally provided by the Company and its affiliated companies to disabled executives and/or their families in accordance with such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to disability, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their families at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as in effect at any time thereafter generally with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. (c) CAUSE; OTHER THAN FOR GOOD REASON. If the Executive's employment shall be terminated for Cause during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to pay to the Executive Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination plus the amount of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive, in each case to the extent theretofore unpaid. If the Executive terminates employment during the Employment Period other than for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations. In such case, all Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. (d) GOOD REASON; OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE OR DISABILITY. If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive's employment other than for Cause or Disability, or the Executive shall terminate employment during the Employment Period for Good Reason, the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 60 days after the Date of Termination, and subject to receiving an executed irrevocable Release as described in Section 11, the aggregate of the following amounts: 9 - 9 - A. all Accrued Obligations; and B. the sum of (i) Annual Base Salary and (ii) the Highest Annual Bonus; and C. a lump-sum retirement benefit equal to the difference between (a) the actuarial equivalent of the benefit under the Nashua Corporation Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees (the "Retirement Plan") and any supplemental and/or excess retirement plan providing benefits for the Executive (the "SERP") which the Executive would receive if the Executive's employment continued at the compensation level provided for in Sections 4(b)(i) and 4(b)(ii) of this Agreement for the remainder of the Employment Period, assuming for this purpose that all accrued benefits are fully vested, and (b) the actuarial equivalent of the Executive's actual benefit (paid or payable), if any, under the Retirement Plan and the SERP; for purposes of determining the amount payable pursuant to this Section 6(d)(i)C the accrual formulas and actuarial assumptions utilized shall be no less favorable than those in effect with respect to the Retirement Plan and the SERP during the 90-day period immediately prior to the Effective Date; and In addition, for the remainder of the Employment Period (if the termination took place during the Employment Period under this Section 6), the Company shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive's family at least equal to those which would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs, practices and policies described in Section 4(b)(iv) of this Agreement if the Executive's employment had not been terminated in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs or policies of the Company and its affiliated companies applicable generally to other peer executives and their families during the 90-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families. For purposes of determining eligibility of the Executive for retiree benefits pursuant to such plans, practices, programs and policies, the Executive shall be considered to have remained employed until the end of the Employment Period and to have retired on the last day of such period. 7. SEVERANCE BENEFITS. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, if, before or after the Employment Period, the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for reason (i) other than misconduct or (ii) due to the sale of the operation for which the Executive had managing responsibility, the Company shall pay to the Executive one year's salary continuation and continue medical and dental benefits during such continuation period. In the event that the operations for which the Executive had management responsibility are transferred to a joint venture or entity which is 50% or more controlled by the Company and the Executive is employed by such entity, the Executive shall not be deemed terminated by the Company for purposes of this paragraph. 8. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plans, programs, policies or practices, provided by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and for which the Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any other agreements with the Company or any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of the Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program except as explicitly modified by this Agreement. 10 - 10 - 9. FULL SETTLEMENT. The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof, plus in each case interest at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of l986, as amended (the "Code"). 10. OTHER AGREEMENTS. The parties agree that this Agreement supersedes and replaces the Retention Agreement between the parties dated as of the 24th day of October, 1997 and any and all other agreements, policies, understandings or letters (including but not limited to employment agreements, severance agreements and job abolishment policies) between the parties related to the subject matter hereof. 11. RELEASE. Prior to receipt of the payment described in Section 6(d) the Executive shall execute and deliver a Release to the Company as follows: The Executive hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates, agents and employees from any and all claims, charges, complaints, demands, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, debts, sums of money, costs, accounts, reckonings, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises, doings, omissions, damages, executions, obligations, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys' fees and costs), of every kind and nature which he ever had or now has against the Company, its officers, directors, stockholders, corporate affiliates, agents and employees, including, but not limited to, all claims arising out of his employment, all employment discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. ss.2000e ET SEQ., the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C., ss.621 ET SEQ., the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C., ss.12101 ET SEQ., the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. ss.354-A:1 ET SEQ. and similar state antidiscrimination laws, damages arising out of all employment discrimination claims, wrongful discharge claims or other common law claims and damages, provided, however, that nothing herein shall release the Company from Executive's Stock Option Agreements. The Release shall also contain, at a minimum, the following language: The Executive acknowledges that he has been given twenty-one (21) days to consider the terms of this Release and that the Company advised him to consult with an attorney of his own choosing prior to signing this Release. The Executive may revoke this Release for a period of seven (7) days after the execution of the Release and the Release shall not be effective or enforceable until the expiration of this seven (7) day revocation period. At the same time, the Company shall execute and deliver a Release to the Executive as follows: The Company hereby fully, forever, irrevocably and unconditionally releases, remises and discharges the Executive from any and all claims which it ever had or now has against the Executive, other than for intentional harmful acts. 12. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the 11 - 11 - Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies, and their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive during the Executive's employment by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it. In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of this Section 12 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement. 13. ARBITRATION. Any controversy or claim arising out of this Agreement shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial rules, policies and procedures of the American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of law having jurisdiction thereof. Arbitration shall take place in Nashua, New Hampshire at a mutually convenient location. 14. SUCCESSORS. (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal representatives. (b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. (c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. 15. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives. (b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: IF TO THE EXECUTIVE: John J. Ireland 27 Pine Street 12 - 12 - Exeter, NH 03833 IF TO THE COMPANY: Nashua Corporation 44 Franklin Street Nashua, New Hampshire 03060 Attention: President or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee. (c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. (d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. (e) The Executive's failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision hereof or the failure to assert any right the Executive may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c)(i)-(v), shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right thereof. (f) This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the Company and the Executive with respect to the subject matter hereof. The Executive and the Company acknowledge that the employment of the Executive by the Company is "at will" and, prior to the Effective Date, both the Executive's employment and this Agreement may be terminated by either the Company or the Executive at any time. In the event that this Agreement is terminated by the Company prior to the Effective Date and the Executive remains employed by the Company, the Executive would be entitled to the same severance benefits as set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement. 13 - 13 - IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written. NASHUA CORPORATION EXECUTIVE By /s/ Gerald G. Garbacz /s/ John J. Ireland ------------------------------------- ---------------------------- President and Chief Executive Officer Name: John J. Ireland EX-27.1 10 FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE
5 1 U.S. DOLLARS 6-MOS 6-MOS DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1998 DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1997 JUN-27-1997 JUL-03-1998 1 1 3,736 43,983 0 0 14,915 17,934 0 0 14,637 13,824 45,770 88,536 81,020 80,439 40,605 40,679 146,762 145,808 26,878 29,015 0 0 0 0 0 0 18,845 20,459 76,935 74,935 146,762 145,808 87,657 84,567 87,657 84,567 67,166 65,617 23,582 20,944 2,726 3,076 0 0 78 222 (5,631) (4,615) (1,917) (1,711) (3,714) (2,904) 380 904 0 0 0 0 (3,334) (2,000) (.52) (.31) (.52) (.31)
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