Exhibit 10.14A
JOHN BEAN TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PAY PLAN
Effective, as Amended and Restated, January 1, 2013
Article I
PURPOSE AND TERM OF PLAN
Section 1.1 Purpose of the Plan. The John Bean Technologies Corporation Executive Severance Pay Plan (the “Plan”), as set forth herein, is sponsored by John Bean Technologies Corporation (“Sponsor”) and is intended to ease financial hardships which may be experienced by the CEO or Employees of Sponsor who are direct reports of the CEO and who are party to an Executive Severance Agreement with Sponsor whose employment is terminated involuntarily other than as a result of a Change in Control or pursuant to Section 2.5. The Plan is not intended to be an “employee pension benefit plan” or “pension plan” as those terms are defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA. Rather, the Plan is intended to constitute the type of arrangement identified as a “severance pay arrangement” within the meaning of Section 3(2)(B)(i) of ERISA, as further elaborated by regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Labor at Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, § 2510.3-2(b), which is subject to ERISA. No Employee shall have a vested right to such Benefits. The Benefits paid by the Plan are not intended to constitute deferred compensation and as such, it is intended that the Plan be exempt from Code Section 409A. It is further intended that any benefit paid under the Plan be excluded from the benefit-generating or contribution-generating base of any tax-qualified or nonqualified deferred compensation plan or arrangement sponsored or maintained by Sponsor, unless the documents setting forth such plan or arrangement specifically state otherwise.
Section 1.2 Term of the Plan. The Plan shall be effective, as amended and restated, January 1, 2013, and will continue until Sponsor, acting in its sole discretion, elects to amend, modify, or terminate the Plan.
Article II
DEFINITIONS
Section 2.1 “Base Salary” means the current base salary or wages paid to a Participant, on a monthly basis, as of the Employee’s Employment Termination Date. Base Salary shall not include performance, incentive or other bonuses; commissions; Sponsor contributions to Social Security; benefits payable under, or Sponsor contributions to, any retirement or other plan of deferred compensation; or the value of any fringe benefits provided by Sponsor.
Section 2.2 “Benefit” means the amount that a Participant is entitled to receive pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Plan.
Section 2.3 “Board” means the Board of Directors of John Bean Technologies Corporation.
Section 2.4 “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Section 2.5 “Disqualifying Event” means any reason for terminating an individual from employment with Sponsor which the Plan Administrator determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, would constitute grounds for denying payment of a Benefit under the Plan after termination. Such reasons shall include, but shall not be limited to: (a) termination due to breach of trust, (b) termination due to unauthorized disclosure of proprietary information or trade secrets, or violation of any confidentiality or similar agreement signed by the Employee, (c) unauthorized disclosure of client or prospective client lists developed by Sponsor, (d) attempts to recruit an employee of Sponsor to the service of another, or to interfere with the relationship between Sponsor and any such employee, (e) publication or other utterance of disparaging remarks intended to have, or having, the effect of damaging the reputation of Sponsor or casting aspersions on the quality of services provided by Sponsor (other than testimony compelled by order of a court of other governmental body of competent jurisdiction), (f) acts of dishonesty or (g) engagement by Employee in criminal conduct or other serious misconduct that is likely to be harmful to the business or reputation of Sponsor.
Section 2.6 “Employee” means an individual eligible to participate in the Plan in accordance with section 3.1.
Section 2.7 “EmploymentTermination Date” means the date on which the employment relationship between the Employee and Sponsor is involuntarily terminated and the Employee experiences a “separation from service” as such term is defined under Code Section 409A. In no event shall an Employee be considered to have involuntarily terminated his or her employment or to have experienced an Employment Termination Date for the purposes of the Plan if his or her employment with Sponsor is terminated due to (a) Employee’s voluntary cessation of employment (with or without notice); (b) Employee’s death or Disability (as such term is defined under Code Section 409A); or (c) any of the reasons specified in Section 2.5.
Section 2.8 “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
Section 2.9 “Named Fiduciary” means Sponsor and the Plan Administrator. Each Named Fiduciary shall have only those particular powers, duties, responsibilities and obligations as are specifically given such Named Fiduciary under the Plan. Any Named Fiduciary, if so appointed, may perform in more than one fiduciary capacity.
Section 2.10 “Participant” means any of the individuals described in Section 3.1.
Section 2.11 “Plan” means the John Bean Technologies Corporation Executive Severance Pay Plan.
Section 2.12 “Plan Administrator” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, appointed by Sponsor to administer the Plan.
Section 2.13 “Plan Year” means the period commencing each January 1 and ending on the following December 31.
Section 2.14 “Sponsor” means John Bean Technologies Corporation. The term “Sponsor” shall also include any successor to John Bean Technologies Corporation if such successor adopts the Plan.
Section 2.15 “Target Bonus” means the applicable percentage of annual actual base salary earnings for a Participant as determined by the Plan Administrator.
Section 2.16 “Terminated Employee” means a former Employee who has experienced a termination within the meaning of Section 2.7.
Article III
PARTICIPATION AND
ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS
Section 3.1 Plan Participants. The CEO and Employees of Sponsor who are direct reports of the CEO and who are party to an Executive Severance Agreement with Sponsor shall be eligible to participate in the Plan and to receive Benefits under the Plan, provided that they meet all the requirements stated herein, as determined by the Plan Administrator on a case-by-case basis and, further provided, that the individual has not already satisfied and, as of the individual’s Employment Termination Date, will not satisfy the conditions in order to receive severance benefits under any other arrangement or agreement, including any Executive Severance Agreement executed by and between Employee and Sponsor.
Sponsor reserves the right, in its discretion, to cover any additional positions or individuals under the Plan, under whatever terms and conditions that Sponsor shall elect.
Section 3.2 General Benefits Award Requirement. A Terminated Employee shall be eligible to receive a Benefit under the Plan only upon an involuntary termination employment by Sponsor as provided in Section 2.7, other than as a result of a Change in Control. For purposes herein, a Change in Control shall have such meaning as is set forth in the Executive Severance Agreement executed by and between Employee and Sponsor.
Section 3.3 Execution of a Separation Agreement. In order to be eligible to receive the Benefit under the Plan, the Participant must execute a Separation Agreement in such form and containing such terms as shall be required by the Plan Administrator from time to time, in its sole and absolute discretion, which terms shall include a waiver and release of claims and non-disclosure, non-solicitation and non-competition provisions.
Article IV
CALCULATION OF SEVERANCE BENEFIT
Section 4.1 Amount of Benefit. A Terminated Employee who has satisfied the requirements of Article 3 shall be entitled to receive the following benefits, as determined by the Plan Administrator:
(a) Severance Benefit Amount. The Terminated Employee shall receive an amount equal to fifteen (15) months of Base Salary and Target Bonus (with respect to a Terminated Employee who is the CEO and President, eighteen (18) months of Base Salary and Target Bonus).
(b) Target Bonus. The Terminated Employee shall receive a pro-rated payment of the Terminated Employee’s applicable annual Target Bonus (at target level) for the calendar year in which the Employee’s Employment Termination Date occurs.
(c) COBRA Benefits. For each Terminated Employee who, upon such Employee’s Employment Termination Date, is enrolled in Sponsor’s Medical and Dental Insurance plans and, as a result is entitled to elect continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”), Sponsor will pay to the Terminated Employee an amount equal to the Sponsor’s portion of the monthly premium for medical and dental coverage provided to the Terminated Employee as of his or her Employment Termination Date, multiplied by fifteen (15), which the Terminated Employee may, but is not required to, use to pay for any elected COBRA coverage or other health care coverage.
(d) Vacation Pay. The Terminated Employee shall receive a lump sum payment of the Terminated Employee’s earned and accrued, but unused vacation.
(e) Outplacement Assistance. Sponsor shall reimburse the Terminated Employee for the reasonable cost of outplacement assistance obtained by the Terminated Employee within the twelve (12) month period immediately following the Employee’s Employment Termination Date; provided the maximum amount of outplacement assistance to be reimbursed cannot exceed $50,000; provided further, in order to be eligible to receive reimbursement, the Terminated Employee must submit the invoice for such assistance received within ninety (90) days following the date the Terminated Employee incurs such costs. Sponsor shall make the reimbursement within thirty (30) days following receipt of a timely submitted invoice that is eligible for reimbursement.
(f) Financial Planning/Tax Preparation Assistance. Sponsor shall pay to the Terminated Employee a single lump sum payment of $20,000 LESS any amounts that Sponsor has previously reimbursed the Terminated Employee for financial planning/tax preparation assistance expenses in the calendar year in which the termination of employment occurs. The Terminated Employee may use this payment for financial planning/tax preparation assistance.
(g) Tax Treatment. Terminated Employees shall pay (and Sponsor shall be permitted to withhold) any and all federal, state and local taxes, if any, that are required by law to be paid with respect to the Benefits received.
Section 4.2 Reductions. The Benefit payable hereunder shall be reduced by any and all payments required to be made by Sponsor under federal, state and local law.
Section 4.3 Effect on At-Will Employment Relationship and on Other Benefits. Neither the Plan, nor any of its provisions, alters the at-will employment relationship between Employee and Sponsor. In addition, there shall not be drawn from the continued provision by Sponsor of any Benefit hereunder any implication of continued employment or of any continued right to accrue vacation days, paid holidays, paid sick days or other similar benefits normally associated with employment for any part of the period during or in respect of which a Benefit is payable under the Plan.
Section 4.4 Benefits as Consideration for Waivers, Covenants and Releases. The Benefit provided hereunder, where applicable, shall constitute consideration for the release that a Terminated Employee is required to provide to Sponsor relating to prior employment by Sponsor. The Benefit provided hereunder, where applicable, shall also constitute consideration for any waiver by the terminated Employee, whether full or partial, and whether absolute or conditional, of any rights, claims, entitlement to relief or damages, or entitlement to seek imposition upon Sponsor of penalties, in connection with any contract, express or implied, or under any statute, regulation, rule, order, or similar promulgation by a governmental or quasi-governmental entity. In addition, the Benefit provided hereunder, where applicable, shall constitute consideration for any covenants or agreements contained in the Separation Agreement executed by the Terminated Employee in connection with this Plan.
Article V
METHOD AND DURATION OF BENEFIT PAYMENTS
Section 5.1 Method of Payment. Except as otherwise provided in Article 4, a Participant’s Benefits shall be paid in the form of a single lump sum payment as soon as practicable after both (a) the Participant’s Employment Termination Date and (b) the date the Separation Agreement referenced in Section 3.3 becomes effective (as described below), but in no event beyond thirty (30) days from such date; provided, if any such Benefits constitute deferred compensation under Code Section 409A and are payable within a period that spans two calendar years, such Benefits shall be paid in the later calendar year; provided further that, if the Employee is deemed on the Employee’s Employment Termination Date to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, any such Benefits that constitute deferred compensation under Code Section 409A and would otherwise be payable prior to the earlier of (i) the 6-month anniversary of the Employee’s Employment Termination Date and (ii) the date of the Employee’s death (the “Delay Period”) shall instead be paid in a lump sum immediately upon (and not before) the expiration of the Delay Period. For purposes herein, a Participant’s Separation Agreement shall not become effective unless and until the Participant timely executes the Separation Agreement on or before the date set forth in such agreement and does not subsequently timely revoke the Separation Agreement under applicable law.
Section 5.2 Cessation of Benefit Payments. A Participant shall cease to participate in the Plan, and all Benefit payments shall cease, upon the occurrence of the earliest of:
(a) Completion of the payment to the Participant of the entitled Benefit under Section 4.1;
(b) Termination by the Plan Administrator of the Terminated Employee’s right to be a Participant upon discovery of the occurrence of a Disqualifying Event within the meaning of Section 2.5, whether or not such discovery occurs before the Employment Termination Date; or
(c) The violation by the Terminated Employee of any of the provisions of this Plan, of provisions contained in the Separation Agreement executed by the Terminated Employee, including, but not limited to, obligations with respect to trade secrets and confidential information, and covenants not to solicit Sponsor employees, clients and prospective clients and covenants not to perform same for clients and prospective clients.
Article VI
THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR
Section 6.1 Authority and Duties. It shall be the duty of the Plan Administrator, on the basis of information supplied to it by Sponsor, to determine the eligibility of each Terminated Employee to participate in the Plan, to calculate the Benefit to be paid to each Terminated Employee who has been selected by Sponsor to receive a severance pay award pursuant to Section 3.3, and to determine the manner and time of payment of the Benefit. Sponsor shall make such payments as are certified to it by the Plan Administrator to be due to Participants.
The Plan Administrator shall have the full discretionary power and authority to construe, interpret and administer the Plan, to make Benefit eligibility determinations, to correct deficiencies in the Plan, and to supply omissions. All decisions, actions and interpretations of the Plan Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the parties, subject only to determinations by individuals appointed by the Board to review denied claims for Benefits.
Section 6.2 Records, Reporting and Disclosure. The Plan Administrator shall keep all individual and group records relating to Participants and all other records necessary for the proper operation of the Plan. Such records shall be made available to Sponsor and to each Participant for examination during business hours, except that a Participant shall examine only such records as pertain exclusively to the examining Participant and to the Plan. The Plan Administrator shall prepare and shall file as required by law or regulation all reports, forms, documents and other items required by ERISA, the Code, and every other relevant statute, each as amended, and all regulations thereunder (except that Sponsor, as payor of the Benefits, shall prepare and distribute to the proper recipients all forms relating to withholding of income or wage taxes, Social Security contributions, and other amounts which may be similarly reportable).
Article VII
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
Section 7.1 Amendment, Modification or Termination. The Board retains the right, at any time and from time to time, to amend, modify or terminate the Plan, including amendment or modification of any Appendices hereto, in whole or in part, for any reason, and without either the consent of or the prior notification to any Participant. Any such amendment may not cause the cessation and discontinuance of payments of a Benefit to any person or persons under the Plan. The Board shall have the right to delegate its authority and power hereunder, or any portion thereof, to any committee of the Board, and the right to rescind any such delegation in whole or in part.
Article VIII
DUTIES OF SPONSOR
Section 8.1 Records. Sponsor shall supply to the Plan Administrator all records and information necessary to the performance of the Plan Administrator’s duties.
Section 8.2 Payment. Sponsor shall make payments from its general assets to Participants formerly in its employ in accordance with the terms of the Plan, as directed by the Plan Administrator.
Article IX
CLAIMS PROCEDURES
Section 9.1 Application for Benefits. If a Terminated Employee believes he or she is eligible to receive a Benefit under the Plan he or she may apply for such Benefit by completing and filing with the Plan Administrator an application for Benefits on a form supplied by the Plan Administrator. Before the date on which Benefit payments commence, each such application must be supported by such information as the Plan Administrator deems relevant and appropriate.
Section 9.2 Appeals of Denied Claims for Benefits. In the event that a claim for a Benefit is denied in whole or in part, the Terminated Employee shall be notified of such denial in writing by the Plan Administrator. The notice advising of the denial shall specify the reason or reasons for denial, make specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions, describe any additional material or information necessary for the Terminated Employee to perfect the claim (explaining why such material or information is needed), and shall advise the Terminated Employee of the procedure for the appeal of such denial. All appeals shall be made by the following procedure:
(a) The Terminated Employee shall file with the Plan Administrator a notice appealing the denial. Such notice shall be filed within sixty (60) days of notification by the Plan Administrator of the claim denial, shall be made in writing, and shall set forth all of the facts upon which the appeal is based. Appeals not timely filed shall be barred.
(b) A determination of an appealed claim shall be accompanied by a written statement as to the reason or reasons therefor. The determination so rendered shall be final and binding upon all parties.
Article X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1 Nonalienation of Benefits.
(a) Except as provided in Subsection (b) of this Section 10.1, none of the payments, Benefits or rights of any Participant shall be subject to any claim of any creditor, and, in particular, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all such payments, Benefits and rights shall be free from attachment, garnishment, trustee’s process, or any other legal or equitable process available to any creditor of such Participant. No Participant shall have the right to alienate, anticipate, commute, pledge, encumber or assign any Benefit or any of the payments which he or she may expect to receive, contingently or otherwise, under the Plan.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (a) of this Section, any Benefit hereunder shall be subject to (1) offset by any claims of Sponsor against the Participant; (2) tax liens imposed thereon; and (3) the terms of any valid court order attaching thereto.
Section 10.2 Severability of Provisions. If any provision of the Plan shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.
Section 10.3 Heirs, Assigns, and Personal Representatives. The Plan shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of the parties, including each Participant, present and future (except that no successor to Sponsor shall be considered a Plan Sponsor unless that successor adopts the Plan).
Section 10.4 Headings and Captions. The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of the Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of the Plan.
Section 10.5 Gender and Number. Except where clearly indicated otherwise by context, the masculine form of any word shall include the feminine and the neuter, the feminine form shall include the masculine and the neuter, the singular form shall include the plural, and the plural form shall include the singular.
Section 10.6 Unfunded Plan. The Plan shall not be funded. No Participant shall have any right to, or interest in, any assets of Sponsor which may be applied to the payment of a Benefit hereunder.
Section 10.7 Appendices. From time to time, Sponsor may elect to append provisions of limited duration to the Plan to govern what Sponsor determines to be special circumstances governing a substantial number of Employees. Each such Appendix, during the period stipulated therein, shall be deemed a part of the Plan. Except as otherwise stated in any such Appendix applicable to any Employee or Terminated Employee, the rights of such Employee or Terminated Employee as stated in such Appendix shall supersede the rights provided under the Plan, the Benefit provided under such Appendix shall be in lieu of comparable or stipulated Benefits provided under the Plan, and there shall be no duplication of Benefits.
Section 10.8 Lost Payees. A Benefit shall be deemed forfeited if the Plan Administrator is unable to locate a Participant to whom a Benefit is otherwise due.
Section 10.9 Controlling Law. The Plan shall be construed and enforced according to federal law. In the absence of applicable federal law as to any issue, such issue shall be resolved in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.
Section 10.10 409A Compliance. Notwithstanding any Plan provisions herein to the contrary and, to the extent applicable, the Plan shall be interpreted, construed and administered (including with respect to any amendment, modification or termination of the Plan) in such a manner so as to comply with the provisions of Code Section 409A and any related Internal Revenue Service guidance promulgated thereunder (including its exemptive provisions).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and as evidence of the adoption of the Plan, as amended and restated, effective January 1, 2013, John Bean Technologies Corporation has caused the same to be executed this the 10th day of December, 2013.
| JOHN BEAN TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Mark K. Montague |
|
|
| Its: Vice President, Human Resources |
|
|
|
|
|