UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 2, 2016

 

 

ARMSTRONG FLOORING, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-37589   47-4303305

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation )

 

(Commission

File No.)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

2500 Columbia Avenue P.O. Box 3025  
Lancaster, Pennsylvania   17603
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (717) 672-9611

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 


Section 5 – Corporate Governance and Management

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

(e) Change in Control Severance Agreements with Certain Officers

Armstrong Flooring, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into Change in Control Severance Agreements (the “CIC Agreements”) with the following officers (each, an “Officer”) effective September 1, 2016:

 

Donald R. Maier    President and Chief Executive Officer
John “Jay” W. Thompson    Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Dominic C. Rice    Senior Vice President and North America Commercial
Joseph N. Bondi    Senior Vice President and North America Residential
Christopher S. Parisi   

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and

  Chief Compliance Officer

John C. Bassett    Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Charles E. Grogan    Senior Vice President, Global Operations
Scott W. Hess    Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer

Mr. Maier’s prior Change in Control Agreement dated November 17, 2014 was terminated and replaced by the CIC Agreement.

The initial term (the “Term”) of the CIC Agreements shall continue in effect through August 31, 2018, with an automatic one-year extension of the Term on each September 1 commencing on September 1, 2017, unless the Company or the Officer provides notice not to extend the Term on or before the preceding May 30. In addition, the Term will automatically be extended for twenty-four (24) months following a Change in Control (as defined in the CIC Agreement).

The CIC Agreement provides each Officer with severance payments and certain benefits in the event of the Officer’s termination by the Company without Cause (as defined in the CIC Agreement), or by the Officer for Good Reason (as defined in the CIC Agreement), during the six (6) months prior to, or two (2) years following, a Change in Control, provided that the Officer delivers an effective release of claims in favor of the Company and its affiliates. Such payments and benefits include: (i) in the case of Mr. Maier, a lump sum payment equal to two and one-half (2.5) times the sum of Mr. Maier’s base salary and his target annual bonus under the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan, and in the case of each other Officer, a lump sum payment equal to two (2) times the sum of the Officer’s base salary and target annual bonus under the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan; (ii) a lump sum payment equal to the sum of any unpaid incentive compensation allocated or awarded to the Officer for a completed fiscal year preceding the termination date and a pro rata portion to the termination date of the Officer’s target annual incentive compensation for the year in which the termination date occurs; (iii) continued life, disability, accident and health insurance benefits (including for the Officer’s dependents) for twenty-four (24) months following the Officer’s termination date, less the active employee costs for such benefits; (iv) eventual participation in the Company’s post-retirement health and life insurance plans if the Officer would have become eligible for participation in such plans within twenty-four (24) months following the Officer’s termination date; (v) up to $30,000 in outplacement fees assistance; and (vi) immediate vesting of all unvested equity awards, including the lapse of all restrictions on such awards and the determination that all performance-based awards shall have been earned, and options shall remain exercisable for five (5) years or the end of the applicable option term, if earlier. The grant agreements for the 2016 performance-based stock unit grants to the Officers provide that the double trigger vesting of the 2016 performance-based stock units supersedes the vesting terms of any CIC Agreement upon a Change in Control. Any amounts paid to the Officer under the CIC Agreement shall be reduced to the maximum amount that could be paid without being subject to the excise tax imposed under Internal Revenue Code Sections 280G and 4999, but only if the after-tax benefit of the reduced amount is higher than the after-tax benefit of the unreduced amount.

The CIC Agreement contains restrictive covenants, including non-competition and non-solicitation covenants for the twelve (12) month period following the Officer’s termination date, and confidentiality and non-disparagement covenants.

The foregoing summary of the CIC Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the CIC Agreement. A copy of the complete form of CIC Agreement is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and the terms of the CIC Agreement are incorporated herein by reference.


(e) Severance Pay Plan for Executive Employees

The Company adopted the Severance Pay Plan for Executive Employees of Armstrong Flooring, Inc. (the “Plan”), effective September 1, 2016. Each Officer who has a CIC Agreement in effect at the date of the Officer’s termination of employment and who does not have any other written severance agreement or employment agreement with the Company is eligible to participate in the Plan. The Plan supersedes all prior separation pay policies, practices, agreements and plans of the Company applicable to the Officers, other than the CIC Agreements.

The Plan provides each Officer with severance payments and benefits in the event of the Officer’s termination of employment by the Company without Cause (as defined in the Plan) (1) due to a reduction in force, (2) due to the elimination of the Officer’s position or (3) for any reason approved by the Plan administrator; provided that the Officer is not provided with reasonable alternative employment. For this purpose, reasonable alternative employment means an offer of employment in which the Officer’s base salary is at least 90% of the Officer’s current base salary and the distance between the Officer’s residence or current place of employment and the new place of employment is within 50 miles, or the Officer’s current commute, whichever is greater.

An Officer is not eligible to receive severance payments or benefits under the Plan if (a) the Officer is entitled to receive severance payments and benefits under the Officer’s CIC Agreement, (b) termination of employment is by the Company on account of death, disability or Cause, (c) termination of employment is by the Officer for any reason, (d) the Officer refuses to accept an offer of reasonable alternative employment or (e) termination is by the Company in connection with a sale or transfer of a plant, unit, division or subsidiary of the Company to a successor and the Officer continues in employment with the successor or is offered reasonable alternative employment by the successor, regardless of whether the Officer accepts the offer.

Severance payments and benefits under the Plan include the following, provided that the Officer delivers an effective release of claims in favor of the Company and its affiliates and executes a restrictive covenants agreement containing non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality and non-disparagement covenants:

 

    In the case of the Chief Executive Officer, a lump sum payment equal to two (2) times the sum of the Chief Executive Officer’s base salary and target annual bonus under the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan, and in the case of each other Officer, a lump sum payment equal to one and one-half (1.5) times the sum of the Officer’s base salary and target annual bonus under the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan. The lump sum payment will paid within 60 days following the Officer’s termination date.

 

    A lump sum payment equal to six (6) times the Officer’s monthly COBRA premium under the applicable health, dental and vision plans as of the Officer’s termination date, less the active monthly employee rate for the same period. The lump sum payment will paid within 60 days following the Officer’s termination date.

 

    A lump sum prorated annual cash bonus for the fiscal year in which the Officer’s termination date occurs, calculated based on actual Company performance through the end of the fiscal year and the period that the Officer was employed with the Company during such fiscal year. The prorated annual cash bonus, if any, will be paid at the same time annual bonuses are paid to active employees under the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan.

 

    Up to twelve (12) months of outplacement services, not to exceed $20,000 in cost.

Severance payments and benefits provided under the Plan must be repaid to the Company in certain events, including in the event that an Officer breaches the covenants in the restrictive covenants agreement. Under the restrictive covenants agreement, the non-competition and non-solicitation covenants continue for twenty-four (24) months following the termination of employment for the Chief Executive Officer and eighteen (18) months following the termination of employment for all other Officers.

The Board of Directors of the Company may terminate or amend the Plan at any time, provided that no amendment or termination of the Plan may adversely affect the amount, type or timing of payment of severance pay and benefits due under the Plan with respect to an Officer who has been terminated.

The foregoing summary of the Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Plan. A copy of the complete Plan is attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and the terms of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference.


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

99.1    Form of Change in Control Severance Agreement
99.2    Severance Pay Plan for Executive Employees of Armstrong Flooring, Inc.


SIGNATURE

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

 

ARMSTRONG FLOORING, INC.
By:  

/s/ Christopher S. Parisi

Christopher S. Parisi
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

Date: September 2, 2016


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

99.1    Form of Change in Control Severance Agreement
99.2    Severance Pay Plan for Executive Employees of Armstrong Flooring, Inc.

Exhibit 99.1

CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT, effective September 1, 2016, is made by and between Armstrong Flooring, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [                 ] (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Company considers it essential to the best interests of its stockholders to foster the continued employment of key management personnel; and

WHEREAS, the Board recognizes that, as is the case with many publicly held corporations, the possibility of a Change in Control exists and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it may raise among management, may result in the departure or distraction of management personnel to the detriment of the Company and its stockholders; and

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of members of the Company’s management, including the Executive, to their assigned duties without distraction in the face of potentially disturbing circumstances arising from the possibility of a Change in Control;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

1. Defined Terms . The definitions of capitalized terms used in this Agreement are provided in the last Section hereof.

2. Term of Agreement . The Term of this Agreement shall commence on the date hereof and shall continue in effect through August 31, 2018; provided, however, that commencing on September 1, 2017 and each September 1 thereafter, the Term shall automatically be extended for one additional year unless, not later than the preceding May 30, the Company or the Executive shall have given notice not to extend the Term; and further provided, however, that if a Change in Control shall have occurred during the Term, the Term shall expire twenty four (24) months following the date on which such Change in Control occurred.

3. Company’s Covenants Summarized . In order to induce the Executive to remain in the employ of the Company and in consideration of the Executive’s covenants set forth in Section 4 hereof, the Company agrees, under the conditions described herein, to pay the Executive the Severance Payments and the other payments and benefits described herein. No Severance Payments shall be payable under this Agreement unless there shall have been (or, under the terms of the second sentence of Section 6.1 hereof, there shall be deemed to have been) a termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company following a Change in Control and during


the Term. This Agreement shall not be construed as creating an express or implied contract of employment and, except as otherwise agreed in writing between the Executive and the Company, the Executive shall not have any right to be retained in the employ of the Company.

4. The Executive’s Covenants . The Executive agrees that, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in the event of a Potential Change in Control during the Term, the Executive will remain in the employ of the Company until the earliest of (i) a date which is six (6) months from the date of such Potential Change in Control, (ii) the date of a Change in Control, or (iii) the date of termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason.

5. Compensation Other Than Severance Payments .

5.1 Following a Change in Control and during the Term, during any period that the Executive fails to perform the Executive’s full-time duties with the Company as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness, the Company shall pay the Executive’s full salary to the Executive at the rate in effect at the commencement of any such period, together with all compensation and benefits payable to the Executive under the terms of any compensation or benefit plan, program or arrangement maintained by the Company during such period (other than any disability plan), until the Executive experiences a separation from service from the Company by reason of the Executive’s Disability.

5.2 If the Executive’s employment shall be terminated for any reason following a Change in Control and during the Term, the Company shall pay the Executive’s full salary to the Executive through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if higher, the rate in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason, together with all compensation and benefits payable to the Executive through the Date of Termination under the terms of the Company’s compensation and benefit plans, programs or arrangements as in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason.

5.3 If the Executive’s employment shall be terminated for any reason following a Change in Control and during the Term, the Company shall pay to the Executive the Executive’s normal post-termination compensation and benefits as such payments become due. Such post-termination compensation and benefits shall be determined under, and paid in accordance with, the Company’s retirement, insurance and other compensation or benefit plans, programs and arrangements as in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect immediately prior to the occurrence of the first event or circumstance constituting Good Reason.

 

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6. Severance Payments .

6.1 Subject to Section 6.2 hereof, if the Executive’s employment is terminated following a Change in Control and during the Term, other than (A) by the Company for Cause, (B) by reason of death or Disability, or (C) by the Executive without Good Reason, then the Company shall pay the Executive the amounts, and provide the Executive the benefits, described in this Section 6.1 (“Severance Payments”), in addition to any payments and benefits to which the Executive is entitled under Section 5 hereof; provided , however , that, in the case of clauses (A), (B), (C), (D) and (F) below, Executive shall have executed a release of claims substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto and such release shall become effective within sixty (60) days following the Date of Termination (or the date of the Change in Control in the case of such a termination of employment described in the next sentence). For purposes of this Agreement, the Executive’s employment shall be deemed to have been terminated following a Change in Control by the Company without Cause or by the Executive with Good Reason, if (i) the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause prior to a Change in Control (but only if a Change in Control occurs no later than six (6) months following the Executive’s termination of employment) and such termination was at the request or direction of a Person who has entered into an agreement with the Company the consummation of which would constitute a Change in Control, (ii) the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason prior to a Change in Control (but only if a Change in Control occurs no later than six (6) months following the Executive’s termination of employment) and the circumstance or event which constitutes Good Reason occurs at the request or direction of such Person, or (iii) the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason and such termination or the circumstance or event which constitutes Good Reason is otherwise in connection with or in anticipation of a Change in Control (but only if a Change in Control occurs no later than six (6) months following the Executive’s termination of employment).

(A) In lieu of any further salary payments to the Executive for periods subsequent to the Date of Termination and in lieu of any severance benefit otherwise payable to the Executive, the Company shall pay to the Executive a lump sum severance payment, in cash, equal to [ ] times the sum of (i) the Executive’s base salary as in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if higher, in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason, and (ii) the Executive’s target annual bonus under the Annual Incentive Plan or any other annual incentive compensation plan adopted by the Company in which the Executive participates in respect of the fiscal year in which occurs the Date of Termination or, if higher, such target annual bonus in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason.

(B) For the twenty four (24) month period immediately following the Date of Termination, the Company shall arrange to provide the Executive and his dependents life, disability, accident and health insurance

 

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benefits substantially similar to those provided to the Executive and his dependents immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if more favorable to the Executive, those provided to the Executive and his dependents immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason, at no greater after-tax cost to the Executive than the after-tax cost to the Executive immediately prior to such date or occurrence; provided , however , that (i) the Executive’s and his qualified dependents’ COBRA eligibility period shall include the period during which the Company is providing benefits under this subsection (B); (ii) unless the Executive consents to a different method (or elects COBRA coverage at applicable COBRA rates), such health insurance benefits shall be provided through a third-party insurer; and (iii) the Executive shall be responsible for the payment of premiums for such benefits in the same amount as active employees of the Company. Benefits otherwise receivable by the Executive pursuant to this Section 6.1(B) shall be reduced to the extent benefits of the same type are received by or made available to the Executive during the twenty four (24) month period following the Executive’s termination of employment (and any such benefits received by or made available to the Executive shall be reported to the Company by the Executive); provided , however , that the Company shall reimburse the Executive for the excess, if any, of the after tax cost of such benefits to the Executive over such cost immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if more favorable to the Executive, the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Executive’s employment is terminated under circumstances described in the second sentence of Section 6.1, on the sixtieth (60th) day following the Change in Control the Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for any amounts or benefits it would have been required to pay or provide to the Executive under this Section 6.1(C) during the period prior to the Change in Control, determined as if the Change in Control occurred on the Date of Termination.

(C) Notwithstanding any provision of any annual incentive plan to the contrary, the Company shall pay to the Executive an amount, in cash, equal to the sum of (i) any unpaid incentive compensation which has been allocated or awarded to the Executive for a completed fiscal year preceding the Date of Termination under any such plan and which, as of the Date of Termination, is contingent only upon the continued employment of the Executive to a subsequent date, and (ii) a pro rata portion to the Date of Termination of Executive’s target bonus for the year in which the Date of Termination occurs (or the target in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason), calculated by multiplying such target bonus by the fraction obtained by dividing the number of full months and any fractional portion of a month during such year through the Date of Termination by twelve (12).

(D) If the Executive would have become entitled to benefits under the Company’s post-retirement health care or life insurance plans (as in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination (or, if more favorable to the

 

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Executive, such plans as in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason)) had the Executive’s employment terminated at any time during the period of twenty four (24) months after the Date of Termination, the Company shall provide such post-retirement health care or life insurance benefits to the Executive (subject to any employee contributions required under the terms of such plans in the same amounts as active employees of the Company) commencing on the later of (i) the date that such coverage would have first become available or (ii) the date that benefits described in subsection (B) of this Section 6.1 terminate.

(E) The Company shall pay the Executive, no later than thirty (30) days following the Date of Termination, at a daily salary rate based upon the Executive’s annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination (or immediately prior to any reduction resulting in a termination for Good Reason, if applicable), a lump sum amount equal to all earned but unused vacation days through the Date of Termination.

(F) The Company shall pay, no later than the last day of the calendar year in which they are incurred, the reasonable fees and expenses of a full service nationally recognized executive outplacement firm until the earlier of the date the Executive secures new employment or the date which is twenty four (24) months following the Executive’s Date of Termination; provided that in no event shall the aggregate amount of such payments exceed $30,000.

(G) All unvested equity awards held by the Executive on the Date of Termination (or the date of the Change in Control in the event of the Executive’s termination under circumstances described in the second sentence of Section 6.1) shall immediately vest, all restrictions thereon shall lapse, and any performance-based awards shall be deemed to have been earned at the target level set forth in the applicable award agreement for any performance period not then completed and all earned but unvested performance-based awards, including those deemed to be earned pursuant to this sentence, shall immediately vest. All such equity awards other than options (addressed in the immediately following sentence) shall be settled and paid to the Executive within five (5) days following the Executive’s Date of Termination. Any option, including those that become vested and exercisable pursuant to this Section 6.1(G), held by the Executive shall remain exercisable for a period ending on the later of (x) the fifth anniversary of the Date of Termination (or the fifth anniversary of the Change in Control in the event of the Executive’s termination under circumstances described in the second sentence of Section 6.1) or (y) the last date that such option otherwise would be exercisable under the terms of the option agreement or the plan pursuant to which such option was granted; provided, that in no event shall any option be exercisable after the expiration of the original term of such option. If any of the Executive’s equity awards were forfeited prior to a Change in Control following the Executive’s termination under circumstances described in the second sentence of Section 6.1 but prior to the date of a Change in Control, the Company shall,

 

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within thirty (30) days following the date of the Change in Control, make a lump sum cash payment to the Executive in respect of such Executive’s equity awards that have not previously vested in an amount equal to (A) in the case of restricted shares, performance restricted shares, restricted stock units or performance restricted stock units, the aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Company stock underlying the applicable award and (B) in the case of an option, the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of the Company’s stock over the exercise price of such option, in each case determined as of the date of the Change in Control without taking into account any restrictions thereon. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any equity awards constitute “non-qualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, such awards shall be settled on the earliest date that would be permitted under Section 409A of the Code without incurring penalty or accelerated taxes thereunder.

6.2 (A) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by the Executive (including any payment or benefit received in connection with a Change in Control or the termination of the Executive’s employment, whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement) (all such payments and benefits, including the Severance Payments, being hereinafter referred to as the “Total Payments”) would be subject (in whole or part), to the Excise Tax, then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the portion of the Total Payments that does not constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of section 409A of the Code shall first be reduced and the portion of the Total Payments that does constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of section 409A of the Code shall thereafter be reduced, to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if (A) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (B) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which the Executive would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments).

(B) For purposes of determining whether and the extent to which the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, (i) no portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which the Executive shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to constitute a “payment” within the meaning of section 280G(b) of the Code shall be taken into account, (ii) no portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of tax counsel (“Tax Counsel”) reasonably acceptable to the Executive and selected by the accounting firm (the “Auditor”) which was, immediately prior to the Change in Control, the Company’s independent auditor, does not constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Code

 

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(including by reason of section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code) and, in calculating the Excise Tax, no portion of such Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of Tax Counsel, constitutes reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in excess of the Base Amount allocable to such reasonable compensation, and (iii) the value of any non-cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments shall be determined by the Auditor in accordance with the principles of sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

(C) At the time that payments are made under this Agreement, the Company shall provide the Executive with a written statement setting forth the manner in which such payments were calculated and the basis for such calculations including, without limitation, any opinions or other advice the Company has received from Tax Counsel, the Auditor or other advisors or consultants (and any such opinions or advice which are in writing shall be attached to the statement). If the Executive objects to the Company’s calculations, the Company shall pay to the Executive such portion of the Severance Payments (up to 100% thereof) as the Executive determines is necessary to result in the proper application of subsection A of this Section 6.2.

6.3 Subject to the provisions of Section 17 hereof, the payments provided for in subsections (A) and (C) of Section 6.1 hereof shall be made on the sixtieth (60th) day following the Date of Termination; and in the event the Executive becomes entitled to Severance Payments due to a termination described in the second sentence of Section 6.1, such payments shall be made on the sixtieth (60th) day following the Change in Control. Notwithstanding the above, to the extent the Executive is terminated (i) following a Change in Control but prior to a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company (within the meaning of section 409A of the Code) or (ii) prior to a Change in Control in a manner described in the second sentence of Section 6.1, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under section 409A of the Code, amounts payable to the Executive hereunder, to the extent not in excess of the amount that the Executive would have received under any other pre-Change in Control severance plan or arrangement with the Company had such plan or arrangement been applicable, shall be paid at the time and in the manner provided by such plan or arrangement and the remainder shall be paid to the Executive in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.3.

6.4 The Company also shall pay to the Executive all legal fees and expenses incurred by the Executive in disputing in good faith any issue hereunder relating to the termination of the Executive’s employment, in seeking in good faith to obtain or enforce any benefit or right provided by this Agreement or in connection with any tax audit or proceeding to the extent attributable to the application of section 4999 of the Code to any payment or benefit provided hereunder. Such payments shall be made within five (5) business days after delivery of the Executive’s written requests for payment accompanied with such evidence of fees and expenses incurred as the Company reasonably may require; provided that in no event will payment be made for requests that are submitted later than December 15 th of the year following the year in which the expense is incurred.

 

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7. Termination Procedures and Compensation During Dispute .

7.1 Notice of Termination . After a Change in Control and during the Term, any purported termination of the Executive’s employment (other than by reason of death) shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination from one party hereto to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 12 hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set 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. Further, a Notice of Termination for Cause is required to include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters (3/4) of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board which was called and held for the purpose of considering such termination (after reasonable notice to the Executive and an opportunity for the Executive, together with the Executive’s counsel, to be heard before the Board) finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive was guilty of conduct set forth in clause (i) or (ii) of the definition of Cause herein, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

7.2 Date of Termination . “Date of Termination,” with respect to any purported termination of the Executive’s employment after a Change in Control and during the Term, shall mean (i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is given (provided that the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of the Executive’s duties during such thirty (30) day period), and (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated for any other reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination (which, in the case of a termination by the Company, shall not be less than thirty (30) days (except in the case of a termination for Cause) and, in the case of a termination by the Executive, shall not be less than fifteen (15) days nor more than sixty (60) days, respectively, from the date such Notice of Termination is given).

8. Restrictive Covenants

8.1 During the Executive’s employment with the Company and for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter:

(A) the Executive shall not, directly for the Executive or any third party, become engaged in any business or activity which is directly in competition with any services or products sold by, or any business or activity engaged in by, the Company or any of its affiliates; provided, however, that this provision shall not restrict the Executive from owning or investing in publicly traded securities, so long as the Executive’s aggregate holdings in such company do not exceed 2% of the outstanding equity of such company and such investment is passive;

 

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(B) the Executive shall not solicit any person who was a customer of the Company or any of its affiliates during the period of the Executive’s employment hereunder, or solicit potential customers who are or were identified through leads developed during the course of employment with the Company, or otherwise divert or attempt to divert any existing business of the Company or any of its affiliates; and

(C) the Executive shall not, directly for the Executive or any third party, solicit, induce, recruit or cause another person in the employment of the Company or any of its affiliates to terminate such employee’s employment for the purposes of joining, associating, or becoming employed with any business or activity which is in competition with any services or products sold, or any business or activity engaged in, by the Company or any of its affiliates.

8.2 The Executive agrees that he will not, while employed with the Company or at any time thereafter for any reason, in any fashion, form or manner, either directly or indirectly, divulge, disclose or communicate to any person, firm, corporation or other business entity, in any manner whatsoever, any confidential information or trade secrets concerning the business of the Company, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any customer lists or other customer identifying information, the techniques, methods or systems of the Company’s operation or management, any information regarding its financial matters, or any other material information concerning the business of the Company, its manner of operation, its plans or other material data. The provisions of this Section 8.2 shall not apply to (i) information that is public knowledge other than as a result of disclosure by the Executive in breach of this Section 8.2; (ii) information disseminated by the Company to third parties in the ordinary course of business; (iii) information lawfully received by the Executive from a third party who, based upon inquiry by the Executive, is not bound by a confidential relationship to the Company, or (iv) information disclosed under a requirement of law or as directed by applicable legal authority having jurisdiction over the Executive.

8.3 The Executive agrees that he will not, while employed with the Company or at any time thereafter for any reason, in any fashion, form or manner, either directly or indirectly, disparage or criticize the Company, or otherwise speak of the Company, in any negative or unflattering way to anyone with regard to any matters relating to the Executive’s employment by the Company or the business or employment practices of the Company. The Company agrees that it will not, in any fashion, form or manner, either directly or indirectly, disparage or criticize the Executive or otherwise speak of the Executive in any negative or unflattering way to anyone with regard to any matters relating to the Executive’s employment with the Company. This Section shall not operate as a bar to (i) statements reasonably necessary to be made in any judicial, administrative or arbitral proceeding, or (ii) internal communications between and among the employees of the Company with a job-related need to know about this Agreement or matters related to the administration of this Agreement.

8.4 The Executive understands that in the event of a violation of any provision of Section 8, the Company shall have the right to (i) seek injunctive relief, in

 

9


addition to any other existing rights provided in this Agreement or by operation of law, without the requirement of posting bond and (ii) stop making any future payments or providing benefits under this Agreement. The remedies provided in this Section 8.4 shall be in addition to any legal or equitable remedies existing at law or provided for in any other agreement between the Executive and the Company or any of its affiliates, and shall not be construed as a limitation upon, or as an alternative or in lieu of, any such remedies. If any provisions of Section 8 shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable in part by reason of it being too great a period of time or covering too great a geographical area, it shall be in full force and effect as to that period of time or geographical area determined to be reasonable by the court.

8.5 The Executive acknowledges that the provisions of Section 8 shall extend to any business that becomes an affiliate of or successor to the Company or any of its affiliates on account of a Change in Control or otherwise.

9. Requirement of Release . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Executive’s entitlement to any payments other than the Executive’s accrued but unpaid base compensation and any accrued but unpaid or otherwise vested benefits under any benefit or incentive plan determined at the time of the Executive’s termination of employment shall be contingent upon the Executive having executed a release substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto and such release becoming effective within sixty (60) days after the Date of Termination (or the date of the Change in Control in the event of a termination described in the second sentence of Section 6.1). If such release does not become effective within the time period prescribed above, the Company’s obligations under Section 6.1 (other than Section 6.1(E)) shall cease immediately.

10. No Mitigation . The Company agrees that the Executive is not required to seek other employment or to attempt in any way to reduce any amounts payable to the Executive by the Company pursuant to Section 6 hereof. Further, except as specifically provided in Section 6.1(B) hereof, no payment or benefit provided for in this Agreement shall be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer, by retirement benefits, by offset against any amount claimed to be owed by the Executive to the Company, or otherwise.

11. Successors; Binding Agreement .

11.1 In addition to any obligations imposed by law upon any successor to the Company, 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 expressly assume 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.

11.2 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors,

 

10


heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive shall die while any amount would still be payable to the Executive hereunder (other than amounts which, by their terms, terminate upon the death of the Executive) if the Executive had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the executors, personal representatives or administrators of the Executive’s estate.

12. Notices . For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed, if to the Executive, to the most recent address shown in the personnel records of the Company and, if to the Company, to the address set forth below, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon actual receipt:

 

To the Company:   Armstrong Flooring, Inc.
  2500 Columbia Avenue
  Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17604
  Attention: General Counsel

13. Miscellaneous; Amendment of Related Agreements .

13.1 No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and such officer as may be specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or of any lack of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. This Agreement supersedes any other agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof which have been made by either party; provided , however , that this Agreement shall supersede any agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of the Executive’s employment with the Company only in the event that, following a Change in Control, the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Pennsylvania. All references to sections of the Exchange Act or the Code shall be deemed also to refer to any successor provisions to such sections. Any payments provided for hereunder shall be paid net of any applicable withholding required under federal, state or local law and any additional withholding to which the Executive has agreed. The obligations of the Company and the Executive under this Agreement which by their nature may require either partial or total performance after the expiration of the Term (including, without limitation, those under Sections 6 hereof) shall survive such expiration.

 

11


14. Validity . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

15. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

16. Settlement of Disputes; Arbitration .

16.1 All claims by the Executive for benefits under this Agreement shall be directed to and determined by the Board and shall be in writing. Any denial by the Board of a claim for benefits under this Agreement shall be delivered to the Executive in writing and shall set forth the specific reasons for the denial and the specific provisions of this Agreement relied upon. The Board shall afford a reasonable opportunity to the Executive for a review of the decision denying a claim and shall further allow the Executive to appeal to the Board a decision of the Board within sixty (60) days after notification by the Board that the Executive’s claim has been denied. Notwithstanding the above, in the event of any dispute, any decision by the Board hereunder shall be subject to a de novo review by the arbitrator.

16.2 Any further dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect; provided , however , that the evidentiary standards set forth in this Agreement shall apply. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction.

17. Section 409A . The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with section 409A of the Code to the extent subject thereto or be exempt therefrom, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted and administered to be in compliance therewith. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required to avoid the application of an accelerated or additional tax under section 409A of the Code, the Executive shall not be considered to have terminated employment with the Company for purposes of this Agreement until such time as the Executive is considered to have incurred a “separation from service” from the Company within the meaning of section 409A of the Code. Each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided under this Agreement shall be construed as a separately identified payment for purposes of section 409A of the Code, and any payments that are due within the “short term deferral period” as defined in section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless applicable law requires otherwise. To the extent required to avoid the application of an accelerated or additional tax under section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to this Agreement during the six-month period immediately following the Executive’s termination of employment shall instead be paid on the first business day after the date

 

12


that is six months following the Executive’s termination of employment (or upon the Executive’s death, if earlier). The Company is entitled to determine whether any amounts under this Agreement are to be suspended or delayed pursuant to the foregoing sentence, and the Company shall have no liability to the Executive for any such determination or any errors made by the Company in identifying the Executive as a specified employee. Any amounts so suspended shall earn interest thereon, if applicable, calculated based upon the then prevailing monthly short-term applicable federal rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the foregoing applies to the provision of any ongoing welfare benefits to the Executive that would not be required to be delayed if the premiums therefor were paid by the Executive, the Executive shall pay the full cost of premiums for such welfare benefits during the six-month period and the Company shall pay the Executive an amount equal to the amount of such premiums paid by the Executive during such six-month period on the first business day of the month following the expiration of the six-month period referred to above. To the extent required to avoid an accelerated or additional tax under section 409A of the Code, amounts reimbursable to Executive under this Agreement shall be paid to Executive on or before the last day of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred and the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement (and in-kind benefits provided to Executive) during any one year may not effect amounts reimbursable or provided in any subsequent year.

18. Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

(A) “Affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

(B) “Auditor” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2 hereof.

(C) “Base Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in section 280G(b)(3) of the Code.

(D) “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

(E) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

(F) “Cause” for termination by the Company of the Executive’s employment shall mean (i) the deliberate and continued failure by the Executive to devote substantially all the Executive’s business time and best efforts to the performance of the Executive’s duties (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such actual or anticipated failure after the issuance of a Notice of Termination for Good Reason by the Executive pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof) after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes the Executive has not substantially performed such duties; (ii) the deliberate engaging by the Executive in gross misconduct which is demonstrably and

 

13


materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise; or (iii) the Executive’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or any criminal charge involving moral turpitude. For the purposes of this Agreement, no act, or failure to act, on the part of the Executive shall be considered “deliberate” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that such action or omission was in the best interests of the Company.

(G) A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if the event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs shall have occurred:

(I) any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates) representing 35% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities, excluding any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction described in clause (i) of paragraph (III) below; or

(II) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving: individuals who, on the date hereof, constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the date hereof or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended; or;

(III) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company with any other corporation, other than (i) a merger or consolidation immediately following which the individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the Company, the entity surviving such merger or consolidation or, if the Company or the entity surviving such merger is then a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof, or (ii) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities Beneficially Owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates) representing 35% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or

 

14


(IV) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets immediately following which the individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the entity to which such assets are sold or disposed or any parent thereof.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change in Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the common stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Company immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

(H) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

(I) “Company” shall mean Armstrong Flooring, Inc. and, except in determining under Section 18(G) hereof whether or not any Change in Control of the Company has occurred, shall include any successor to its business and/or assets which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

(J) “Date of Termination” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2 hereof.

(K) “Disability” shall be deemed the reason for the termination by the Company of the Executive’s employment, if, as a result of the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness, the Executive shall have been absent from the full-time performance of the Executive’s duties with the Company for a period of six (6) consecutive months, the Company shall have given the Executive a Notice of Termination for Disability, and, within thirty (30) days after such Notice of Termination is given, the Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of the Executive’s duties.

(L) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

(M) “Excise Tax” shall mean any excise tax imposed under section 4999 of the Code.

(N) “Executive” shall mean the individual named in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

 

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(O) “Fair Market Value” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Company’s 2011 Long-Term Incentive Plan or its successor plan.

(P) “Good Reason” for termination by the Executive of the Executive’s employment shall mean the occurrence (without the Executive’s express written consent which specifically references this Agreement) after any Change in Control, or prior to a Change in Control under the circumstances described in the second sentence of Section 6.1 hereof (treating all references in paragraphs (I) through (VII) below to a “Change in Control” as references to a “Potential Change in Control”), of any one of the following acts by the Company, or failures by the Company to act, unless, in the case of any act or failure to act described below, such act or failure to act is corrected prior to the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination given in respect thereof:

(I) a material diminution in the Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities or the assignment to the Executive of duties or responsibilities that are materially inconsistent with those in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control; including, without limitation, if the Executive was, immediately prior to the Change in Control, an executive officer of a public company, any such alteration attributable to the Executive ceasing to be an executive officer of a public company;

(II) a reduction of ten percent (10%) or more by the Company in the Executive’s annual base salary as in effect on the date hereof or as the same may be increased from time to time except for across-the-board salary reductions similarly affecting all senior executive officers of the Company;

(III) the relocation of the Executive’s principal place of employment to a location more than fifty (50) miles from the Executive’s principal place of employment immediately prior to the Change in Control or the Company’s requiring the Executive to be based anywhere other than such principal place of employment (or permitted relocation thereof) except for required travel on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with the Executive’s present business travel obligations;

(IV) the failure by the Company to continue in effect any compensation plan in which the Executive participates immediately prior to the Change in Control which is material to the Executive’s total compensation, unless an equitable arrangement (embodied in an ongoing substitute or alternative plan) has been made with respect to such plan, or the failure by the Company to continue the Executive’s participation therein (or in such substitute or alternative plan) on a basis not materially less favorable in terms of compensation opportunity (“materially less favorable” shall be a reduction of ten percent (10%) or more in the

 

16


compensation opportunity), as existed immediately prior to the Change in Control except for across-the-board compensation plan reductions similarly affecting all senior executive officers of the Company;

(V) the failure by the Company to continue to provide the Executive with benefits substantially similar to those enjoyed by the Executive under any of the Company’s retirement, life insurance, medical, health and accident, or disability plans in which the Executive was participating immediately prior to the Change in Control, the taking of any action by the Company which would directly or indirectly materially reduce any of such benefits (a “material reduction” shall be a reduction of ten percent (10%) or more in the value of the aggregate benefits), or deprive the Executive of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by the Executive at the time of the Change in Control except for (i) across-the-board benefit reductions similarly affecting all senior executive officers of the Company or (ii) reduction or elimination of Executive’s annual comprehensive “executive” physical examinations, financial planning or other perquisites;

(VI) a material breach by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement; or

(VII) any purported termination of the Executive’s employment which is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirements of Section 7.1 hereof; for purposes of this Agreement, no such purported termination shall be effective; or

(VIII) failure of the Company to obtain assumption and agreement by a successor of the Company to perform this Agreement as provided in Section 11.1

The Executive’s right to terminate the Executive’s employment for Good Reason shall not be affected by the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness. The Executive’s continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any act or failure to act constituting Good Reason hereunder. In no event will the Executive have Good Reason to terminate employment unless such act or failure to act results in a material negative change to the Executive’s employment that has not been cured within 30 days after a Notice of Termination is delivered by the Executive to the Company. The Executive must also provide notice to the Company of the Good Reason condition within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of such condition.

(Q) “Notice of Termination” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 hereof.

(R) “Person” shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such

 

17


term shall not include (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

(S) “Potential Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if the event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs shall have occurred:

(I) the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control;

(II) the Company or any Person publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions which, if consummated, would constitute a Change in Control;

(III) any Person becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of either the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its affiliates); or

(IV) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of this Agreement, a Potential Change in Control has occurred.

(T) “Severance Payments” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1 hereof.

(U) “Tax Counsel” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.2 hereof.

(V) “Term” shall mean the period of time described in Section 2 hereof (including any extension, continuation or termination described therein).

(W) “Total Payments” shall mean those payments so described in Section 6.2 hereof.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

ARMSTRONG FLOORING, INC.
By:  

 

[Name]
[Title]

 

[EXECUTIVE]

 

19


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF RELEASE AGREEMENT

THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT (the “Release”) is made as of this                  day of                 ,                 , by and between (“Executive”) and Armstrong Flooring, Inc. (the “Company”).

 

1.

FOR AND IN CONSIDERATION of the payments and benefits provided in the Change in Control Severance Agreement between Executive and the Company dated as of September 1, 2016, (the “Change in Control Agreement”), Executive, for himself or herself, his or her successors and assigns, executors and administrators, now and forever hereby releases and discharges the Company, together with all of its past and present parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates, together with each of their officers, directors, stockholders, partners, employees, agents, representatives and attorneys, and each of their subsidiaries, affiliates, estates, predecessors, successors, and assigns (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Releasees ”) from any and all rights, claims, charges, actions, causes of action, complaints, sums of money, suits, debts, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises, obligations, damages, demands or liabilities of every kind whatsoever, in law or in equity, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which Executive or Executive’s executors, administrators, successors or assigns ever had, now has or may hereafter claim to have by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever; arising from the beginning of time up to the date of the Release: (i) relating in any way to Executive’s employment relationship with the Company or any of the Releasees, or the termination of Executive’s employment relationship with the Company or any of the Releasees; (ii) arising under or relating to the Change in Control Agreement; (iii) arising under any federal, local or state statute or regulation, including, without limitation, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and/or the applicable state law against discrimination, each as amended; (iv) relating to wrongful employment termination or breach of contract; or (v) arising under or relating to any policy, agreement, understanding or promise, written or oral, formal or informal, between the Company and any of the Releasees and Executive; provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in the Release shall in any way diminish or impair: (i) the Executive’s ability to enforce the provisions of Sections 6.1(B), (D) and (F) of the Change in Control Agreement, (ii) any direct or indirect holdings of equity in Armstrong Flooring, Inc. or any vested awards (or awards which may vest) which Executive has under any equity, equity-based, stock option or similar plan, agreement or program, which equity and awards shall be subject to all the terms and conditions of such documents; (iii) any claims for accrued and vested benefits under any of the Company’s employee retirement and welfare benefit plans; and (iv) any rights or claims Executive may have that cannot be waived under applicable law; (collectively, the “ Excluded Claims ”). Executive further

 

A-1


  acknowledges and agrees that, except with respect to Excluded Claims, the Company and the Releasees have fully satisfied any and all obligations whatsoever owed to Executive arising out of Executive’s employment with the Company or any of the Releasees, and that no further payments or benefits are owed to Executive by the Company or any of the Releasees.

 

2. Executive understands and agrees that, except for the Excluded Claims, Executive has knowingly relinquished, waived and forever released any and all rights to any personal recovery in any action or proceeding that may be commenced on Executive’s behalf arising out of the aforesaid employment relationship or the termination thereof, including, without limitation, claims for back pay, front pay, liquidated damages, compensatory damages, general damages, special damages, punitive damages, exemplary damages, costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees.

 

3. Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive has been advised to consult with an attorney of Executive’s choosing prior to signing the Release. Executive understands and agrees that Executive has the right and has been given the opportunity to review the Release with an attorney of Executive’s choice should Executive so desire. Executive also agrees that Executive has entered into the Release freely and voluntarily. Executive further acknowledges and agrees that Executive has had at least forty-five (45) calendar days to consider the Release, although Executive may sign it sooner if Executive wishes. In addition, once Executive has signed the Release, Executive shall have seven (7) additional days from the date of execution to revoke Executive’s consent and may do so only by writing to: Armstrong Flooring, Inc., 2500 Columbia Avenue, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17604, Attention: General Counsel. The Release shall not be effective until the eighth (8th) day after Executive shall have executed the Release and returned it to the Company, assuming that Executive had not revoked Executive’s consent to the Release prior to such date. No payments shall be due under Section 6 of the Change in Control Agreement unless this Release has become effective, and no such amounts shall be paid until the times set forth therein.

 

4. It is understood and agreed by Executive that the payment made to Executive is not to be construed as an admission of any liability whatsoever on the part of the Company or any of the other Releasees, by whom liability is expressly denied.

 

5. The Release is executed by Executive voluntarily and is not based upon any representations or statements of any kind made by the Company or any of the other Releasees as to the merits, legal liabilities or value of Executive’s claims. Executive further acknowledges that Executive has had a full and reasonable opportunity to consider the Release and that Executive has not been pressured or in any way coerced into executing the Release.

 

6.

The exclusive venue for any disputes arising hereunder shall be the state or federal courts located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any

 

A-2


  objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each of the parties hereto also agrees that any final and unappealable judgment against a party hereto in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction, either within or outside of the United States. A certified or exemplified copy of such award or judgment shall be conclusive evidence of the fact and amount of such award or judgment.

 

7. The Release and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania If any provision hereof is unenforceable or is held to be unenforceable, such provision shall be fully severable, and this document and its terms shall be construed and enforced as if such unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof, the remaining provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect, and the court construing the provisions shall add as a part hereof a provision as similar in terms and effect to such unenforceable provision as may be enforceable, in lieu of the unenforceable provision.

 

8. The Release shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive and the Company have executed the Release as of the date and year first written above.

 

ARMSTRONG FLOORING, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

A-3

Exhibit 99.2

SEVERANCE PAY PLAN FOR EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES

OF

ARMSTRONG FLOORING, INC.

The Severance Pay Plan for Executive Employees of Armstrong Flooring, Inc. (the “Plan”) has been authorized by the Board of Directors of Armstrong Flooring, Inc. to be effective as of September 1, 2016. This Plan supersedes all prior separation pay policies, practices, agreements and plans of the Corporation applicable to Participants (as defined below), whether in writing or otherwise, other than the Participants’ Change in Control Agreements (as defined below). Participants in this Plan are not eligible to participate in the Severance Pay Plan for Salaried Employees of Armstrong Flooring, Inc.

This Plan document is also intended to serve as the summary plan description for the Plan and is provided to inform Participants and beneficiaries of their rights and obligations under the Plan.

 

1. DEFINITIONS

1.01 “Affiliate” shall mean any company which is a member of a controlled group of corporations with the Corporation pursuant to Section 414(b) of the Code, any trade or business under common control with the Corporation pursuant to Section 414(c) of the Code, any other entity to the extent it is required to be treated as an affiliated company with the Corporation pursuant to Section 414(o) of the Code, or any organization which is part of an affiliated service group with the Corporation pursuant to Section 414(m) of the Code. For purposes of determining whether an individual is an Employee and the period of employment of such individual, each entity shall be considered an Affiliate only for the period or periods during which such entity is a member of the controlled group or under common control.

1.02 “AIP” shall mean the Company’s Annual Incentive Plan or such other annual incentive compensation plan of the Company in which the Participant participates as of the Date of Termination.

1.03 “Base Salary” shall mean the Employee’s annual base salary in effect as of the date of determination.

1.04 “Cause” shall mean any of the following conduct by an Employee, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee: (a) conviction of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; (b) fraud, dishonesty, misrepresentation, theft or misappropriation of funds with respect to the Company; (c) violation of the Company’s Code of Conduct or employment policies, as in effect from time to time; (d) breach of any written noncompetition, confidentiality or nonsolicitation covenant of the Participant with respect to the Company; or (e) gross misconduct in the performance of the Participant’s duties with the Company.

1.05 “Change in Control Agreement” shall mean a Change in Control Severance Agreement between the Participant and the Corporation or an Affiliate that provides severance benefits in the event of a change in control of the Corporation.

1.06 “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.


1.07 “Committee” shall mean the Management Development and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

1.08 “Company” shall mean the Corporation and its Affiliates.

1.09 “Corporation” shall mean Armstrong Flooring, Inc.

1.10 “Date of Termination” shall mean the date on which an eligible Participant terminates employment with the Company pursuant to Section 2.01(a) hereof.

1.11 “Disability” shall mean such incapacity due to illness or other physical or mental disability of the Participant, resulting in the Participant’s inability to substantially perform the essential functions of the Participant’s employment, with or without reasonable accommodation, for more than 180 calendar days in the aggregate during any 365-day period.

1.12 “Participant” shall mean a senior executive employee of the Company who (i) has a Change in Control Agreement in effect as of the Date of Termination and (ii) does not have any other written severance agreement or employment agreement with the Corporation or an Affiliate.

1.13 “Plan” shall mean the Severance Pay Plan for Executive Employees of Armstrong Flooring, Inc.

1.14 “Reasonable Alternative Employment” shall mean an offer of employment where (i) the Base Salary is equal to at least 90% of the Participant’s current Base Salary, and (ii) the distance between the Participant’s residence or current place of employment and the new place of employment is within 50 miles, or the distance of the employee’s current commute, whichever is greater.

1.15 “Target Annual Bonus” shall mean the Participant’s target annual cash bonus under the AIP for the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs.

 

2. ELIGIBILITY FOR SEVERANCE BENEFITS

2.01 Eligibility .

 

  (a) Any Participant who is involuntarily terminated by the Company without Cause (1) due to a reduction in the workforce, (2) due to the elimination of the Employee’s position, or (3) for any other reason approved in the Committee’s sole discretion, where Reasonable Alternative Employment is not provided, will be eligible for severance benefits, provided the Participant is not excluded from receiving benefits under Paragraph (b) below.

 

  (b) Any Participant whose employment with the Company is terminated for any of the reasons listed below shall not be eligible for benefits under the Plan:

(1) Any termination that entitles the Participant to receive severance benefits under the Participant’s Change in Control Agreement;

(2) Termination because of the death or Disability of the Employee;

(3) Termination by the Company for Cause;

(4) Termination by the Employee for any reason;

 

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(5) Termination by the Company in connection with the sale or transfer of a plant, unit, division, or subsidiary of the Company to a successor (whether by reason of a sale of stock or assets or a spinoff), and the Employee (i) continues employment with the successor organization or (ii) is offered Reasonable Alternative Employment by the successor, regardless of whether the Employee accepts or rejects the employment offer;

(6) Termination by the Company and the Employee refuses to accept an offer of Reasonable Alternative Employment with the Corporation or any Affiliate.

2.02 Effect of Participant’s Eligibility to Retire . No eligible Participant will be denied severance benefits solely because such Participant is also eligible for retirement benefits under another plan of the Company.

 

3. BENEFITS

3.01 Amount and Schedule of Benefit Payments . The Company will provide the benefits described in paragraphs (a) through (e) below to a Participant eligible for benefits under this Plan, if the requirements of Section 3.03 and other terms and conditions of the Plan are met.

 

  (a) Accrued Salary . Any accrued salary not yet paid to the Participant for services performed prior to the Date of Termination shall be paid in compliance with state law, but not later than 20 calendar days following the Date of Termination.

 

  (b) Vacation Pay . The Participant will be reimbursed for vacation pay to the Date of Termination in accordance with Company policy.

 

  (c) Severance Benefits . If the Participant signs and does not revoke a release as described in Section 3.03 below, the Participant shall be paid or provided with the following severance benefits:

(1) The Participant shall receive a severance amount related to the Participant’s position as follows:

 

Position

  

Severance Pay

Chief Executive Officer

  

200% of Base Salary and Target Annual Bonus

Other Participants

  

150% of Base Salary and Target Annual Bonus

(2) The Participant shall receive a severance amount equal to six times the monthly COBRA premium in effect under the Company’s health, dental and vision plans applicable to the Participant and his dependents as of the Date of Termination, less the monthly premium cost then in effect for such coverage for active employees.

(3) The Participant shall receive a prorated annual cash bonus for the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs, based on Company performance through the end of the fiscal year, calculated pursuant to the AIP. The prorated bonus shall be equal to

 

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the annual cash bonus that the Participant would have received under the AIP had the Participant not terminated employment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days before the Date of Termination in the fiscal year and the denominator of which is the number of days in the fiscal year.

(4) The Participant shall be eligible for executive outplacement services, for up to 12 months after the Termination Date, not to exceed a maximum of $20,000 in cost. The Company will pay the cost of these services directly to the outplacement provider.

 

  (d) Mode of Payment . After the eligible Participant has satisfied all conditions precedent to receive severance benefits, (i) the severance benefits described in Paragraphs (1) and (2) above will be paid to the Participant in a lump sum within 60 days following the Date of Termination, and (ii) the prorated annual bonus, if any, described in Paragraph (3) above will be paid to the Participant at the same time as annual bonuses, if any, are paid to active employees under the AIP, but not later than March 15 of the year following the year in which the Date of Termination occurs.

 

  (e) Insurance Benefits . An eligible Participant’s insurance benefits shall be determined in accordance with the applicable insurance benefit plan.

3.02 Other Circumstances that Can Result in Disqualification, Forfeiture, Reduction or Suspension of Severance Benefits .

 

  (a) Legally Required Deductions . Appropriate federal, state and local taxes will be withheld from all severance payments.

 

  (b) Effect of Sale or Spinoff of Portion of Business Assets . Any Participant whose employment with the Company is terminated during or in anticipation of a sale or spinoff of some, but not all, assets of the Company is not entitled to severance benefits under this Plan if the purchaser of such assets (or other successor) offers Reasonable Alternative Employment to the Participant, and such offer of employment is made by the purchaser (or other successor) within no later than eight weeks after the termination of the Participant’s employment by the Company. Any severance benefits paid to the Participant under this Plan shall be repaid to the Company.

 

  (e) Effect of Participant Misconduct . Any Participant who accepts severance benefits under this Plan is obligated to reimburse the Company for the full amount of such payments if the Participant breaches any of the restrictive covenants in the Non-Compete Agreement described below or in any other written agreement between the Company and the Participant, or engages in conduct with respect to the Company that constitutes Cause (before or after the Date of Termination). Likewise, a Participant who engages in such conduct shall forfeit any right to any unpaid severance benefits under this Plan.

 

  (f) Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality Covenants . A Participant whose employment has been involuntarily terminated shall be required to execute a Non-Compete Agreement as a condition of receiving severance benefits under this Plan. The Non-Compete Agreement shall be provided by the Company and shall include non-competition and non-solicitation covenants continuing for 24 months after the Date of Termination for the Chief Executive Officer and 18 months after the Date of Termination for other Participants, as well as confidentiality and non-disparagement covenants. The Non-Compete Agreement must be signed and returned to the Company within a period of time specified by the Company after the Participant’s Date of Termination in order for the Participant to receive any severance benefits under this Plan.

 

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  (g) Effect of Adverse Economic Conditions . The Company may permanently suspend benefits under severance allowances in pay status (1) in the event of the Company’s insolvency, liquidation, or bankruptcy reorganization or (2) in the event the cost of providing such benefits would lead to the Company’s insolvency, liquidation, or bankruptcy reorganization.

 

  (h) Effect of Other Severance Pay Laws . Any severance benefits provided by the Company under this Plan shall be reduced dollar-for-dollar by any severance, separation, or any other termination pay benefit that the Corporation or any Affiliate is required to pay to an eligible Participant under any federal or state law.

3.03 Condition Precedent to Severance Benefits . For a Participant who becomes eligible for severance benefits under the Plan, severance benefits under Section 3.01(c) will not be paid or provided under any circumstances until the eligible Participant executes a Company approved release of the Participant’s then existing rights and claims against the Company and affiliated persons, in a form provided by the Company. The release must be signed and returned to the Company within a period of time specified by the Company after the Participant’s Date of Termination in order for the Participant to receive benefits under this Plan.

 

4. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION.

The Board of Directors of the Corporation may by written resolution terminate or amend this Plan at any time, provided that no amendment or termination of the Plan may adversely affect the amount, type, or timing of payment of benefits due and payable hereunder with respect to Participants whose employment has been terminated, except as provided in Section 3.02 of this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors has delegated the authority to amend the Plan to the Committee; provided, however, that the Board of Directors reserves the right to rescind or modify such delegation at any time and for any reason and retains the right to amend the Plan itself at any time.

 

5. ADMINISTRATION

5.01 Responsibility for administration of the Plan shall be vested in the Committee, which shall have the sole and exclusive discretionary authority to determine conclusively all questions arising in connection with the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan, either by general rules or by particular decisions, including (but not limited to) questions regarding eligibility for benefits hereunder and the amount, form and timing of payments thereof, and any other matter (including any question of fact) raised by a claimant or identified by the Committee. Any such determination by the Committee shall be binding and conclusive upon all persons. The Committee may correct any defect, supply any information, or reconcile any inconsistency in such manner and to such extent as shall be deemed necessary or advisable by it to carry out the purpose of this Plan. The Committee may delegate administrative tasks as necessary to persons who are not Committee members.

5.02 All expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company. No member of the Committee shall receive any remuneration for service in such capacity. However, expenses of the Committee or its members paid or incurred in connection with administering the Plan shall be reimbursed by the Company.

 

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5.03 The Company may purchase insurance to cover potential liability of the Plan’s fiduciaries. The Plan may purchase insurance for its fiduciaries and/or for itself to cover liability and losses occurring by reason of the act or omission of a fiduciary.

5.04 The Plan is unfunded and all severance payments under the Plan shall be made from the general assets of the Company.

 

6. SUCCESSORS; BINDING AGREEMENT

6.01 In the event of a sale or transfer of a plant, unit, division, or subsidiary of the Company to a successor (whether by reason of a sale of stock or assets) by means of which any employee continues employment with the successor organization or is offered employment with the successor organization, the Company shall not be obliged to negotiate with the successor organization over whether to establish any severance pay plan, policy, or practice with respect to such employees or whether to cover such employees under any existing severance pay plan, policy, or practice already maintained by the successor organization.

6.02 All rights of an eligible employee hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by such employee’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If an eligible employee should die after having satisfied all conditions precedent to the receipt of such benefits, but prior to receiving all amounts of benefits payable hereunder, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in a lump sum in accordance with the terms of this Plan to the employee’s devisee, legatee, or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to the employee’s estate.

 

7. ARBITRATION.

Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Plan shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction.

 

8. MISCELLANEOUS

8.01 No amount payable under the Plan shall be subject to assignment, transfer, sale, pledge, encumbrance, alienation or change by an eligible employee or the beneficiary of such employee except as may be required by law.

8.02 Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed either (a) as giving any individual employed by the Company any right to receive severance benefits of a type or in any amount similar to the benefits described in Section 3.01 above, unless the individual qualifies for benefits under this Plan; or (b) as giving any employee any right to be retained in the employ of the Company.

8.03 Payments of benefits under this Plan shall be made in lieu of payments of any severance benefits of a type similar to the benefits described in Section 3.01 above that may be offered under any written or unwritten severance pay policy maintained by the Company or any employment or severance agreement between a Participant and the Company (including a Change in Control Agreement), and there shall be no duplication of benefits payable under any such policy or agreement.

 

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8.04 This Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania except to the extent preempted by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or any other federal law.

8.05 The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Plan shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Plan, which shall remain in full force and effect. If any court determines that any of the restrictive covenants are excessive in duration or scope or unreasonable or unenforceable, such restriction may be modified or amended by the court to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.

8.06 The Plan benefits are intended to meet the requirements of the short-term deferral and separation pay plan exemptions under Section 409A of the Code, to the maximum extent applicable. If and to the extent that any payment under this Plan is deemed to be deferred compensation subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the Plan will be operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and its corresponding regulations. Any payment from the Plan that is subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code may only be made in a manner and upon an event permitted by Section 409A of the Code, including the requirement that deferred compensation payable to a “specified employee” of a publicly traded company be postponed for six months after separation from service. Payments upon termination of employment may only be made upon a “separation from service” under Section 409A of the Code. Each payment under the Plan will be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. In no event may an employee, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment to be made under the Plan. If the severance benefits are deferred compensation and the maximum period during which an employee has the ability to consider and revoke a waiver/release hereunder would span two taxable years of the employee, then, regardless of when the employee signs the waiver/release and the revocation period expires, payment of severance benefits hereunder will be made or commence no earlier than the beginning of the second of such taxable years. If any benefit under this Plan is required by Section 409A of the Code to be paid in the same form that a similar benefit is paid under a Change in Control Agreement, then such benefit shall be paid in the same form as the similar benefit under the Change in Control Agreement, consistent with Section 409A of the Code, notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary. All reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under the Plan shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of section 409A of the Code.

8.07 Any notice or other communication provided for in this Plan shall be in writing and, unless otherwise expressly stated herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid addressed in the case of an employee to the employee’s office at the Company with a copy to the employee’s residence and in the case of the Company to its principal executive offices, attention of the Committee.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Plan to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of this        day of              2016.

 

ARMSTRONG FLOORING, INC.
By:  

 

Title:  

 

 

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GENERAL INFORMATION

 

1.   Plan Name:    Severance Pay Plan for Executive Employees of Armstrong Flooring, Inc.
2.   Plan Number:    504
3.   Employer/Plan Sponsor:   Armstrong Flooring, Inc.
       2500 Columbia Avenue
       Lancaster, PA 17603
4.   Employer Identification Number:  

47-4303305

5.   Type of Plan:    Welfare Benefit – Severance Pay Plan
6.   Plan Administrator:   Management Development and Compensation Committee
       Armstrong Flooring, Inc.
       2500 Columbia Avenue
       Lancaster, PA 17603
       866-321-7788
7.   Agent for Service of Legal Process:
       Corporate Secretary, Armstrong Flooring, Inc.
       2500 Columbia Avenue
       Lancaster, PA 17603
8.   Sources of Contributions:   The Plan is unfunded and all benefits are paid from the general assets of the Company.
9.   Type of Administration:   The Plan is administered by the Plan Administrator.
10.   Plan Year:    The Plan’s records are kept on a January 1 to December 31 year.

CLAIMS PROCEDURE

Adverse Benefit Determinations

A terminated employee does not need to apply for benefits under the Plan. However, if the terminated employee (or his or her duly authorized representative) wishes to file a claim for benefits, the claim must be in writing and filed with the Plan Administrator, and must be received by the Plan Administrator within 90 days after the effective date of employment termination, or, if benefits have commenced, within 90 days of any reduction or cessation of benefits. If the Plan Administrator denies a claim in whole or in part, the Plan Administrator will provide notice to the terminated employee, in writing, within 90 days after the claim is filed, unless the Plan Administrator determines that an extension of time for processing is required. In the event that the Plan Administrator determines that such an extension is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the terminated employee prior to the termination of the initial 90-day period. The extension shall not exceed a period of 90 days from the end of the initial period of time and the extension notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render the benefit decision.

The written notice of a denial of a claim shall set forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the terminated employee:


  1. the specific reason or reasons for the denial;

 

  2. reference to the specific Plan provisions on which the denial is based;

 

  3. a description of any additional material or information necessary for the terminated employee to perfect the claim and an explanation as to why such information is necessary; and

 

  4. an explanation of the Plan’s claims procedure and the time limits applicable to such procedures, including a statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination on appeal.

Appeal of Adverse Benefit Determinations

The terminated employee (or his or her duly authorized representative) shall have an opportunity to appeal a claim denial to the “Named Appeals Fiduciary” (as defined below) for a full and fair review. The terminated employee or his or her duly authorized representative may:

 

  1. request a review upon written notice to the Plan Administrator within sixty (60) days after receipt of a notice of the denial of a claim for benefits;

 

  2. submit written comments, documents, records, and other information relating to the claim for benefits; and

 

  3. examine the Plan and obtain, upon request and without charge, copies of all documents, records, and other information relevant to the terminated employee’s claim for benefits.

The Named Appeals Fiduciary’s review shall take into account all comments, documents, records, and other information submitted by the terminated employee relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered by the Plan Administrator in the initial benefit determination. A determination on the review by the Named Appeals Fiduciary will be made not later than 60 days after receipt of a request for review, unless the Named Appeals Fiduciary determines that an extension of time for processing is required. In the event that the Named Appeals Fiduciary determines that such an extension is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the terminated employee prior to the termination of the initial 60-day period. The extension shall not exceed a period of 120 days from the receipt of the terminated employee’s notice of appeal, and the extension notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date on which the Named Appeals Fiduciary expects to render the determination on review.

The written determination of the Named Appeals Fiduciary shall set forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the terminated employee:

 

  1. the specific reason or reasons for the decision;

 

  2. reference to the specific Plan provisions on which the decision is based;

 

  3. the terminated employee’s right to receive, upon request and without charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant to the claim for benefits; and

 

  4. a statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under section 502(a) of ERISA.

No person may bring an action for any alleged wrongful denial of Plan benefits in a court of law unless the claims procedures set forth above are exhausted and a final determination is made by the Named Appeals Fiduciary. If the terminated employee or other interested person challenges a decision of the


Named Appeals Fiduciary, a review by the court of law will be limited to the facts, evidence and issues presented to the Named Appeals Fiduciary during the claims procedure set forth above. Facts and evidence that become known to the terminated employee or other interested person after having exhausted the claims procedure must be brought to the attention of the Named Appeals Fiduciary for reconsideration of the claims determination. Issues not raised with the Named Appeals Fiduciary will be deemed waived. If the terminated employee or other duly authorized person has followed this entire claims procedure and at the end of the process the claim is denied by the Named Appeals Fiduciary, and if the terminated employee or other duly authorized person then wishes to file a legal action concerning the claim for benefits, the terminated employee or other duly authorized person must commence the legal action within 180 days after the date of the Named Appeals Fiduciary’s final decision on the claim (i.e., 180 days after the date of the final denial under this claims procedure).

The Named Appeals Fiduciary shall be the person or persons named as such by the Company, or, if no such person or persons be named, then the person or persons named by the Plan Administrator as the Named Appeals Fiduciary. Named Appeals Fiduciaries may at any time be removed by the Company, and any Named Appeals Fiduciary named by the Plan Administrator may be removed by the Plan Administrator. All such removals may be with or without cause and shall be effective on the date stated in the notice of removal. The Named Appeals Fiduciary shall be a “Named Fiduciary” within the meaning of ERISA, and unless appointed to other fiduciary responsibilities, shall have no authority, responsibility or liability with respect to any matter other than the proper discharge of the functions of the Named Appeals Fiduciary as set forth herein.

ERISA RIGHTS STATEMENT

As a participant in the Plan, you are entitled to certain rights and protections under ERISA. ERISA provides that all Plan participants shall be entitled to:

Receive Information about Your Plan and Benefits

 

    Examine, without charge, at the Plan Administrator’s office and at other specified locations, such as worksites and union halls, all documents governing the plan, including insurance contracts and collective bargaining agreements, and a copy of the latest annual report (Form 5500 Series), if any, filed by the plan with the U.S. Department of Labor and available at the Public Disclosure Room of the Employee Benefits Security Administration

 

    Obtain, upon written request to the Plan Administrator, copies of documents governing the operation of the Plan, including insurance contracts and collective bargaining agreements, and copies of the latest annual report (Form 5500 Series), if any, and updated summary plan description. The Plan Administrator may make a reasonable charge for the copies.

Prudent Actions by Plan Fiduciaries

In addition to creating rights for Plan participants, ERISA imposes duties upon the people who are responsible for the operation of the employee benefit plan. The people who operate your Plan, called “fiduciaries” of the plan, have a duty to do so prudently and in the interest of you and other Plan participants and beneficiaries. No one, including your employer, your union, or any other person, may fire you or otherwise discriminate against you in any way to prevent you from obtaining a welfare benefit or exercising your rights under ERISA.


Enforce Your Rights

If your claim for a benefit is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you have a right to know why this was done, to obtain copies of documents relating to the decision without charge, and to appeal any denial, all within certain time schedules.

Under ERISA, there are steps you can take to enforce the above rights. For instance, if you request materials from the Plan and do not receive them within 30 days, you may file suit in a federal court. In such a case, the court may require the Plan Administrator to provide the materials and pay you up to $110 a day until you receive the materials, unless the materials were not sent because of reasons beyond the control of the administrator. If you have a claim for benefits which is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you may file suit in a state or federal court. If it should happen that the Plan fiduciaries misuse the Plan’s money or if you are discriminated against for asserting your rights, you may seek assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, or you may file suit in a federal court. The court will decide who should pay court costs and legal fees. If you are successful the court may order the person you have sued to pay these costs and fees. If you lose, the court may order you to pay these costs and fees, for example, if it finds your claim is frivolous.

Assistance with Your Questions

If you have any questions about your Plan, you should contact the Plan Administrator. If you have any questions about this statement or about your rights under ERISA, you should contact the nearest office of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, listed in your telephone directory or the Division of Technical Assistance and Inquiries, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20210. You may also obtain certain publications about your rights and responsibilities under ERISA by calling the publication hotline of the Employee Benefits Security Administration.