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EXHIBIT 10.17
HARMONIC LIGHTWAVES, INC.
CHANGE OF CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
This Change of Control Severance Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered
into by and between Anthony J. Ley (the "Employee") and Harmonic Lightwaves,
Inc. (the "Company"), effective as of the latest date set forth by the
signatures of the parties hereto below.
R E C I T A L S
A. It is expected that the Company from time to time will consider the
possibility of an acquisition by another company or other change of control. The
Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") recognizes that such
consideration can be a distraction to the Employee and can cause the Employee to
consider alternative employment opportunities. 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 and objectivity of the Employee,
notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as
defined below) of the Company.
B. The Board believes that it is in the best interests of the Company and
its shareholders to provide the Employee with an incentive to continue his
employment and to motivate the Employee to maximize the value of the Company
upon a Change of Control for the benefit of its shareholders.
C. The Board believes that it is imperative to provide the Employee with
certain severance benefits upon Employee's termination of employment following a
Change of Control which provides the Employee with enhanced financial security
and provides incentive and encouragement to the Employee to remain with the
Company notwithstanding the possibility of a Change of Control.
D. Certain capitalized terms used in the Agreement are defined in Section
6 below.
The parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate upon the date
that all obligations of the parties hereto with respect to this Agreement have
been satisfied.
2. At-Will Employment. The Company and the Employee acknowledge that
the Employee's employment is and shall continue to be at-will, as defined under
applicable law. If the Employee's employment terminates for any reason,
including (without limitation) any termination prior to a Change of Control, the
Employee shall not be entitled to any payments, benefits, damages, awards or
compensation other than as provided by this Agreement, or as may otherwise be
available in accordance with the Company's established employee plans and
practices or pursuant to other agreements with the Company.
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3. Severance Benefits.
(a) Termination Following A Change of Control. If the Employee's
employment terminates at any time within eighteen (18) months following a Change
of Control, then, subject to Section 5, the Employee shall be entitled to
receive the following severance benefits:
(i) Involuntary Termination. If the Employee's employment is
terminated as a result of Involuntary Termination other than for Cause, then the
Employee shall receive the following severance benefits from the Company:
(1) Severance Payment. A cash payment in an amount equal to
one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the Employee's Annual Compensation;
(2) Continued Employee Benefits. One hundred percent (100%)
Company-paid health, dental and life insurance coverage at the same level of
coverage as was provided to such employee immediately prior to the Change of
Control (the "Company-Paid Coverage"). If such coverage included the Employee's
dependents immediately prior to the Change of Control, such dependents shall
also be covered at Company expense. Company-Paid Coverage shall continue until
the earlier of (i) one and one-half years from the date of the Change of
Control, or (ii) the date that the Employee and his dependents become covered
under another employer's group health, dental or life insurance plans that
provide Employee and his dependents with comparable benefits and levels of
coverage. For purposes of Title X of the Consolidated Budget Reconciliation Act
of 1985 ("COBRA"), the date of the "qualifying event" for Employee and his
dependents shall be the date upon which the Company-Paid Coverage terminates.
(3) Option and Restricted Stock Accelerated Vesting. One
Hundred percent (100%) of the unvested portion of any stock option or restricted
stock held by the Employee shall automatically be accelerated in full so as to
become completely vested; provided, however, that if such potential vesting
acceleration would cause a contemplated Change of Control transaction that was
intended to be accounted for as a "pooling-of-interests" transaction to become
ineligible for such accounting treatment under generally accepted accounting
principles, as determined by the Company's independent public accountants (the
"Accountants") prior to the Change of Control, Employee's stock options and
restricted stock shall not have their vesting so accelerated.
(4) Outplacement Assistance. If desired by Employee,
Company will pay up to five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) for outplacement
assistance selected by Company and approved by Employee.
(b) Timing of Severance Payments. Any payments to which Employee is
entitled under Sections 3(a)(i)(1) and 5 shall be paid by the Company to the
Employee (or to the Employee's successors in interest, pursuant to Section 7(b))
in cash and in full, not later than thirty (30) calendar days following the
Termination Date.
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(c) Voluntary Resignation; Termination For Cause. If the Employee's
employment terminates by reason of the Employee's voluntary resignation (and is
not an Involuntary Termination), or if the Employee is terminated for Cause,
then the Employee shall not be entitled to receive severance or other benefits
except for those (if any) as may then be established under the Company's then
existing severance and benefits plans and practices or pursuant to other
agreements with the Company.
(d) Disability; Death. If the Company terminates the Employee's
employment as a result of the Employee's Disability, or such Employee's
employment is terminated due to the death of the Employee, then the Employee
shall not be entitled to receive severance or other benefits except for those
(if any) as may then be established under the Company's then existing severance
and benefits plans and practices or pursuant to other agreements with the
Company.
(e) Termination Apart from Change of Control. In the event the
Employee's employment is terminated for any reason, either prior to the
occurrence of a Change of Control or after the eighteen (18)-month period
following a Change of Control, then the Employee shall be entitled to receive
severance and any other benefits only as may then be established under the
Company's existing severance and benefits plans and practices or pursuant to
other agreements with the Company.
4. Attorney Fees, Costs and Expenses. The Company shall promptly
reimburse Employee, on a monthly basis, for the reasonable attorney fees, costs
and expenses incurred by the Employee in connection with any action brought by
Employee to enforce his rights hereunder, regardless of the outcome of the
action.
5. Excise Tax Payments. In the event that the severance and other
benefits provided for in this Agreement or otherwise payable to the Employee
constitute "parachute payments" within the meaning of Section 280G of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and will be subject to
the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, then the Employee shall
receive (a) a payment from the Company sufficient to pay such excise tax, and
(b) an additional payment from the Company sufficient to pay the excise tax and
federal and state income taxes arising from the payments made by the Company to
Employee pursuant to this sentence. Unless the Company and the Employee
otherwise agree in writing, the determination of Employee's excise tax liability
and the amount required to be paid under this Section 5 shall be made in writing
by the Accountants. In the event that the excise tax incurred by Employee is
determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be greater or lesser than the
amount so determined by the Accountants, the Company and Employee agree to
promptly make such additional payment, including interest and any tax penalties,
to the other party as the Accountants reasonably determine is appropriate to
ensure that the net economic effect to Employee under this Section 5, on an
after-tax basis, is as if the Code Section 4999 excise tax did not apply to
Employee. For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 5,
the Accountants may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning
applicable taxes and may rely on interpretations of the Code for which there is
a "substantial authority" tax reporting position. The Company and the Employee
shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the
Accountants may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this
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Section. The Company shall bear all costs the Accountants may reasonably incur
in connection with any calculations contemplated by this Section 5.
6. Definition of Terms. The following terms referred to in this Agreement
shall have the following meanings:
(a) Annual Compensation. "Annual Compensation" means an amount equal
to Employee's Company salary for the twelve months preceding the Change of
Control.
(b) Cause. "Cause" shall mean (i) any act of personal dishonesty
taken by the Employee in connection with his responsibilities as an employee and
intended to result in substantial personal enrichment of the Employee, (ii) the
conviction of a felony, (iii) a willful act by the Employee which constitutes
gross misconduct and which is injurious to the Company, and (iv) following
delivery to the Employee of a written demand for performance from the Company
which describes the basis for the Company's belief that the Employee has not
substantially performed his duties, continued violations by the Employee of the
Employee's obligations to the Company which are demonstrably willful and
deliberate on the Employee's part.
(c) Change of Control. "Change of Control" means the occurrence of
any of the following events:
(i) Any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or
more of the total voting power represented by the Company's then outstanding
voting securities;
(ii) A change in the composition of the Board occurring within a
two-year period, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are
Incumbent Directors. "Incumbent Directors" shall mean directors who either (A)
are directors of the Company as of the date hereof, or (B) are elected, or
nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a
majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination
(but shall not include an individual whose election or nomination is in
connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election
of directors to the Company);
(iii) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the
Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which
would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately
prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by
being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) at least fifty
percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of
the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger
or consolidation;
(iv) The consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company
of all or substantially all the Company's assets.
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(d) Disability. "Disability" shall mean that the Employee has been
unable to perform his Company duties as the result of his incapacity due to
physical or mental illness, and such inability, at least 26 weeks after its
commencement, is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by
the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Employee or the Employee's
legal representative (such Agreement as to acceptability not to be unreasonably
withheld). Termination resulting from Disability may only be effected after at
least 30 days' written notice by the Company of its intention to terminate the
Employee's employment. In the event that the Employee resumes the performance of
substantially all of his duties hereunder before the termination of his
employment becomes effective, the notice of intent to terminate shall
automatically be deemed to have been revoked.
(e) Involuntary Termination. "Involuntary Termination" shall mean (i)
without the Employee's express written consent, the significant reduction of the
Employee's duties, authority or responsibilities, relative to the Employee's
duties, authority or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to such
reduction, or the assignment to Employee of such reduced duties, authority or
responsibilities; (ii) without the Employee's express written consent, a
substantial reduction, without good business reasons, of the facilities and
perquisites (including office space and location) available to the Employee
immediately prior to such reduction; (iii) a reduction by the Company in the
base salary of the Employee as in effect immediately prior to such reduction;
(iv) a material reduction by the Company in the kind or level of employee
benefits, including bonuses, to which the Employee was entitled immediately
prior to such reduction with the result that the Employee's overall benefits
package is significantly reduced; (v) the relocation of the Employee to a
facility or a location more than twenty-five (25) miles from the Employee's then
present location, without the Employee's express written consent; (vi) any
purported termination of the Employee by the Company which is not effected for
Disability or for Cause, or any purported termination for which the grounds
relied upon are not valid; (vii) the failure of the Company to obtain the
assumption of this agreement by any successors contemplated in Section 7(a)
below; or (viii) any act or set of facts or circumstances which would, under
California case law or statute constitute a constructive termination of the
Employee.
(f) Termination Date. "Termination Date" shall mean (i) if this
Agreement is terminated by the Company for Disability, thirty (30) days after
notice of termination is given to the Employee (provided that the Employee shall
not have returned to the performance of the Employee's duties on a full-time
basis during such thirty (30)-day period), (ii) if the Employee's employment is
terminated by the Company for any other reason, the date on which a notice of
termination is given, provided that if within thirty (30) days after the Company
gives the Employee notice of termination, the Employee notifies the Company that
a dispute exists concerning the termination or the benefits due pursuant to this
Agreement, then the Termination Date shall be the date on which such dispute is
finally determined, either by mutual written agreement of the parties, or a by
final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (the time
for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having been perfected), or
(iii) if the Agreement is terminated by the Employee, the date on which the
Employee delivers the notice of termination to the Company.
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7. Successors.
(a) Company's Successors. Any successor to the Company (whether
direct or indirect and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, liquidation
or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the Company's business and/or
assets shall assume the obligations under this Agreement and agree expressly to
perform the obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same
extent as the Company would be required to perform such obligations in the
absence of a succession. For all purposes under this Agreement, the term
"Company" shall include any successor to the Company's business and/or assets
which executes and delivers the assumption agreement described in this Section
7(a) or which becomes bound by the terms of this Agreement by operation of law.
(b) Employee's Successors. The terms of this Agreement and all
rights of the Employee hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be
enforceable by, the Employee's personal or legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.
8. Notice.
(a) General. Notices and all other communications contemplated by
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given
when personally delivered or when mailed by U.S. registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested and postage prepaid. In the case of the Employee,
mailed notices shall be addressed to him at the home address which he most
recently communicated to the Company in writing. In the case of the Company,
mailed notices shall be addressed to its corporate headquarters, and all notices
shall be directed to the attention of its Secretary.
(b) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for
Cause or by the Employee as a result of a voluntary resignation or an
Involuntary Termination shall be communicated by a notice of termination to the
other party hereto given in accordance with Section 8(a) of this Agreement. Such
notice shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement
relied upon, shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances
claimed to provide a basis for termination under the provision so indicated, and
shall specify the termination date (which shall be not more than 30 days after
the giving of such notice). The failure by the Employee to include in the notice
any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Involuntary
Termination shall not waive any right of the Employee hereunder or preclude the
Employee from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing his rights
hereunder.
9. Miscellaneous Provisions.
(a) No Duty to Mitigate. The Employee shall not be required to
mitigate the amount of any payment contemplated by this Agreement, nor shall any
such payment be reduced by any earnings that the Employee may receive from any
other source.
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(b) Waiver. No provision of this Agreement shall be modified,
waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to
in writing and signed by the Employee and by an authorized officer of the
Company (other than the Employee). No waiver by either party of any breach of,
or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other
party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the
same condition or provision at another time.
(c) Whole Agreement. No agreements, representations or
understandings (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) which
are not expressly set forth in this Agreement have been made or entered into by
either party with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement
represents the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the
subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior arrangements and understandings
regarding same.
(d) Choice of Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
California.
(e) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of any other provision hereof, which shall remain in full force
and effect.
(f) Withholding. All payments made pursuant to this Agreement
will be subject to withholding of applicable income and employment taxes.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in
the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year
set forth below.
COMPANY HARMONIC LIGHTWAVES, INC.
By:
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Title:
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Date:
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EMPLOYEE
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Anthony J. Ley
Date:
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