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): October 8, 2020
Vontier Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
001-39483 | 84-2783455 | |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
5420 Wade Park Boulevard, Suite 206 Raleigh, NC |
27607 | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
(984) 247-8308
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
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)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
||
Common stock, $0.0001 par value | VNT | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
ITEM 1.01 |
ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT |
Agreements with Fortive Corporation
On October 8, 2020, Fortive Corporation (“Fortive”) entered into definitive agreements with Vontier Corporation (“Vontier”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortive at that time, that, among other things, set forth the terms and conditions of the separation of Vontier from Fortive (the “Separation”) and the distribution of 80.1% of Vontier’s outstanding common stock to holders of Fortive common stock (provided that fractional Fortive shares that holders of Fortive common stock would otherwise have been entitled to receive were aggregated and are being sold in the public market by the distribution agent, with the proceeds to be distributed ratably to such holders of Fortive common stock) (the “Distribution”). The agreements provide a framework for Fortive’s relationship with Vontier from and after the Separation, including the allocation between Vontier and Fortive of Fortive’s and Vontier’s assets, employees, services, liabilities and obligations attributable to periods prior to, at and after the Separation. In connection with the Separation, Fortive and Vontier entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement (the “Separation Agreement”), an Employee Matters Agreement (the “Employee Matters Agreement”), a Tax Matters Agreement (the “Tax Matters Agreement”), a Transition Services Agreement (the “Transition Services Agreement”), an Intellectual Property Matters Agreement (the “Intellectual Property Matters Agreement”), an FBS License Agreement (the “FBS License Agreement”) and a Stockholder’s and Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), each dated as of October 8, 2020. A summary of certain material features of the Separation Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement, the Transition Services Agreement, the Intellectual Property Matters Agreement, the FBS License Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, all of which are referenced below, can be found in the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Agreements with Fortive” in Vontier’s Information Statement, which is included as Exhibit 99.1 to Amendment No. 1 to Vontier’s Registration Statement on Form 10-12B (File No. 001-39483) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 21, 2020 (the “Information Statement”). These summaries are incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01 in their entirety.
Separation Agreement
The Separation Agreement sets forth, among other things, the agreements between Vontier and Fortive regarding the principal transactions necessary to effect the Separation and the Distribution. It also sets forth other agreements that govern certain aspects of Vontier’s ongoing relationship with Fortive after the completion of the Separation and the Distribution. The description of the Separation Agreement set forth under this Item 1.01 is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete terms and conditions of the Separation Agreement filed as Exhibit 2.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Employee Matters Agreement
The Employee Matters Agreement sets forth, among other things, the allocation of assets, liabilities and responsibilities relating to employee compensation and benefit plans and programs and other related matters in connection with the Separation, including the treatment of outstanding equity and other incentive awards and certain retirement and welfare benefit obligations. The description of the Employee Matters Agreement set forth under this Item 1.01 is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete terms and conditions of the Employee Matters Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Tax Matters Agreement
The Tax Matters Agreement governs Vontier’s and Fortive’s respective rights, responsibilities and obligations after the Distribution with respect to tax liabilities (including taxes, if any, incurred as a result of any failure of the Distribution or certain related transactions to qualify for tax-free treatment for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and benefits, tax attributes, the preparation and filing of tax returns, the control of audits and other tax proceedings and other matters regarding taxes. The description of the Tax Matters Agreement set forth under this Item 1.01 is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete terms and conditions of the Tax Matters Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Transition Services Agreement
The Transition Services Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which Fortive and its subsidiaries and Vontier and its subsidiaries will provide to each other various services. The charges for the transition services generally are expected to allow the providing company to fully recover all out-of-pocket costs and expenses it actually incurs in connection with providing the service, plus, in some cases, the allocated indirect costs of providing the services, generally without profit. The description of the Transition Services Agreement set forth under this Item 1.01 is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete terms and conditions of the Transition Services Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.3 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Intellectual Property Matters Agreement
The Intellectual Property Matters Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which Fortive has granted to Vontier a non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully paid-up, irrevocable, sublicenseable (subject to the restrictions below) license to use certain intellectual property rights retained by Fortive. Fortive will be able to sublicense its rights in connection with activities relating to Vontier’s and its affiliates’ business, but not for independent use by third parties.
Vontier has also granted back to Fortive non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully paid-up, irrevocable, sublicenseable (subject to the restrictions below) license to continue to use certain transferred intellectual property rights owned by Fortive or transferred to Vontier. Fortive will be able to sublicense its rights in connection with activities relating to Fortive’s and its affiliates’ retained business, but not for independent use by third parties. This license-back will permit Fortive to continue to use certain of Vontier’s intellectual property rights in the conduct of its remaining businesses. The description of the Intellectual Property Matters Agreement set forth under this Item 1.01 is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete terms and conditions of the Intellectual Property Matters Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.4 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
FBS License Agreement
The FBS License Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which Fortive has granted Vontier a perpetual, non-exclusive, worldwide and non-transferable license to use FBS solely in support of Vontier’s business. Vontier will be able to sublicense such license to direct and indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries (but only as long as such entities remain direct and indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries) and subject to customary restrictions, to third parties as necessary to support Vontier’s business. In addition, Vontier and Fortive each licensed to the other party improvements made by such party to FBS during the first two years of the term of the FBS License Agreement. The description of the FBS License Agreement set forth under this Item 1.01 is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete terms and conditions of the FBS License Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.5 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Registration Rights Agreement
The Registration Rights Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which Vontier has granted Fortive and its affiliates certain registration rights with respect to the share of Vontier common stock owned by them. Upon the request of Fortive or certain subsequent transferees as further defined in the Registration Rights Agreement, Vontier will use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration under applicable federal and state securities laws of any shares of Vontier common stock retained by Fortive. Under the Registration Rights Agreement, Fortive has agreed to vote any shares of Vontier common stock retained by Fortive in proportion to the votes cast by Vontier’s other stockholders. In connection with such agreement, Fortive granted Vontier a proxy to vote the shares of Vontier common stock retained by Fortive in such proportion. The proxy will be automatically revoked as to a particular share upon any sale or transfer of such share from Fortive to a person other than Fortive, and neither the Registration Rights Agreement nor the proxy limits or prohibits any such sale or transfer. The description of the Registration Rights Agreement set forth under this Item 1.01 is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.6 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 2.03 |
CREATION OF A DIRECT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OR AN OBLIGATION UNDER AN OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENT OF A REGISTRANT |
As previously reported, on September 29, 2020, Vontier entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of banks, consisting of a three-year, $800 million senior unsecured delayed draw term loan facility (the “Three-Year Term Loans”), a two-year, $1 billion senior unsecured delayed draw term loan facility (the “Two-Year Term Loans” and together with the Three-Year Term Loans, the “Term Loans”) and a three-year, $750 million senior unsecured multi-currency revolving credit facility, including a $25 million sublimit for swingline loans and a $75 million sublimit for the issuance of letters of credit (the “Revolving Credit Facility” and, together with the Term Loans, the “Credit Facilities”). At the closing of the Credit Agreement, Vontier did not borrow any funds under the Credit Agreement. On October 9, 2020, Vontier drew down the full $1.8 billion available under the Term Loans. Vontier used the proceeds from the Term Loans to make payments to Fortive, with $1.6 billion used as part of the consideration for the contribution of certain assets and liabilities to Vontier by Fortive in connection with the Separation and with $200 million used as a preliminary adjustment for excess cash balances remaining with Vontier.
The description of the Credit Agreement is set forth under Item 1.01 in Vontier’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 30, 2020 (the “Prior 8-K”), which description is incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the Credit Agreement was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Prior 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 3.03 |
MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS |
The information included under Item 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K regarding the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 5.01 |
CHANGES IN CONTROL OF REGISTRANT |
Immediately prior to the Distribution, Vontier was a 100% owned subsidiary of Fortive. The Distribution was completed effective as of 12:01 a.m. on October 9, 2020. Following the completion of the Distribution, Vontier is now an independent public company trading under the symbol “VNT” on the New York Stock Exchange, and Fortive retained a 19.9% ownership interest in Vontier. The Distribution was made to holders of Fortive common stock of record as of the close of business on September 25, 2020 (the “Record Date”), who received two shares of Vontier common stock for every five shares of Fortive common stock held as of the Record Date. Fortive did not issue fractional shares of Vontier common stock in the Distribution. Fractional shares that holders of Fortive common stock would otherwise have been entitled to receive were aggregated and are being sold in the public market by the distribution agent. The aggregate net cash proceeds of these sales will be distributed ratably to those holders of Fortive common stock who would otherwise have been entitled to receive fractional shares.
ITEM 5.02 |
DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS |
On October 9, 2020, the size of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Vontier was expanded from two directors to five directors, and Gloria R. Boyland, Andrew D. Miller and Mark D. Morelli were appointed to the Board, with such expansion to be effective as of, and the terms of such directorships commencing, immediately prior to the Distribution.
Martin Gafinowitz and Karen C. Francis previously served as directors of Vontier prior to the Distribution and will continue to serve as a directors of Vontier after the Distribution.
Biographical information for each member of the Board can be found in Vontier’s Information Statement under the section entitled “Management,” which is incorporated herein by reference.
The Board is comprised of three classes, as follows:
• |
Class I: Ms. Francis and Mr. Morelli are class I directors, whose terms expire at the first annual meeting of Vontier’s stockholders following the Distribution; |
• |
Class II: Messrs. Gafinowitz and Miller are class II directors, whose terms expire at the second annual meeting of Vontier’s stockholders following the Distribution; and |
• |
Class III: Ms. Boyland is the class III director, whose term expires at the third annual meeting of Vontier’s stockholders following the Distribution. |
Effective as of October 9, 2020:
• |
Ms. Boyland and Mr. Miller were appointed as additional members of the Audit Committee of the Board. Mr. Miller was appointed the Chair of the Audit Committee of the Board; |
• |
Ms. Boyland and Mr. Gafinowitz were appointed as members of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board. Ms. Boyland was appointed the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee; and |
• |
Ms. Francis and Mr. Miller were appointed as members of the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board. Ms. Francis was appointed the Chair of the Compensation and Management Development Committee. |
Each of the non-employee directors of Vontier will receive compensation for their service as a director or committee member, including any additional compensation for services as Chair of the Board or a committee, in accordance with plans and programs more fully described in the Information Statement under the heading “Director Compensation,” which is incorporated herein by reference.
There are no arrangements or understandings between any of the individuals listed above and any other person pursuant to which such individuals were selected as directors.
There are no other transactions involving any of the individuals listed above that would be required to be reported under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Compensation Plans
2020 Stock Incentive Plan and Sub-Plans
The Vontier Corporation 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”), including a sub-plan, the Vontier Corporation Non-Employee Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Non-Employee Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan”), became effective as of immediately prior to the Distribution on October 9, 2020. The purpose of the 2020 Plan is to assist in the recruitment and retention of key employees, directors and consultants and to motivate them to contribute to the growth and profitability of Vontier. The 2020 Plan provides for the issuance of 17,000,000 shares of Vontier common stock, including the number of shares of Vontier common stock issuable in connection with the equitable adjustment of awards previously granted by Fortive. A description of the material terms of the 2020 Plan can be found in the Information Statement under the section entitled “Executive and Director Compensation – Vontier Corporation 2020 Plan,” which is incorporated herein by reference. The description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2020 Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.7 hereto and incorporated herein by reference. The Non-Employee Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan is filed as Exhibit 10.8 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
The forms of award agreements under the 2020 Plan, which are filed as Exhibits 10.9-10.13 hereto and incorporated herein by reference, became effective as of immediately prior to the Distribution on October 9, 2020.
Executive Incentive Compensation Plan
The Vontier Corporation Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (the “EICP”) became effective as of immediately prior to the Distribution on October 9, 2020. The purpose of the EICP is to motivate and reward certain employees of Vontier, including its executive officers, by providing annual cash bonuses based on the achievement of annual performance measures relating to Vontier’s business and the employee’s personal performance. The description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the EICP, which is filed as Exhibit 10.14 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Vontier Corporation Severance and Change-In-Control Plan for Officers
The Vontier Corporation Severance and Change-In-Control Plan for Officers (the “Severance and Change-In-Control Plan”) became effective as of immediately prior to the Distribution on October 9, 2020. The Severance and Change-In-Control Plan generally provides for severance benefits upon (i) a termination without cause (as defined in
the Severance and Change-in-Control Plan) prior to or more than 24 months after a change-in-control of Vontier and (ii) a termination without cause, or good reason resignation (as defined in the Severance and Change-in-Control Plan), within 24 months following a change-in-control of Vontier. Upon a termination without cause not in connection with a change-in-control, subject to the execution and nonrevocation of a release agreement, the executive will receive a severance benefit equal to one times base salary (two times for the chief executive officer), a pro-rata annual cash bonus based on actual performance, pro-rata vesting of equity awards granted at least six months prior to the date of termination (with performance awards paid based on actual performance) and 12 months of continued health benefits (24 months for the chief executive officer). Upon a termination without cause or good reason resignation within 24 months following a change-in-control, the executive would receive the benefits described above, except that the severance benefit would be equal to one times the sum of base salary plus the target annual incentive bonus opportunity (two times for the chief executive officer), the pro-rata annual cash bonus would be paid based on target performance, and any equity awards would vest in full without pro-ration (with performance awards paid at target level). The description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Severance and Change-In-Control Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.15 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Executive Deferred Incentive Plan
The Vontier Corporation Executive Deferred Incentive Plan (the “EDIP”) became effective as of immediately prior to the Distribution on October 9, 2020. The EDIP is a non-qualified deferred compensation program for selected members of Vontier management. The EDIP provides that each participant may defer a portion of his or her annual base salary and non-equity incentive compensation until a later date. This deferred compensation is an unsecured obligation of Vontier. The description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the EDIP, which is filed as Exhibit 10.16 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Distribution Adjustment Awards
In accordance with the previously disclosed terms of the Employee Matters Agreement, Vontier’s executive officers were entitled to receive equity compensation awards relating to shares of Vontier common stock in replacement of previously outstanding awards of stock options (“Options”) and time-based restricted stock units (“Time-Based RSUs”) that were granted to them under Fortive’s stock incentive plans prior to the Distribution.
Upon completion of the Distribution and in accordance with the Employee Matters Agreement, Vontier’s executive officers received replacement Vontier Options and Vontier Time-Based RSUs in respect of their existing Fortive Options and Fortive Time-Based RSUs.
ITEM 5.03 |
AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OR BYLAWS; CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR |
Effective as of October 9, 2020, immediately prior to the Distribution, the Certificate of Incorporation of Vontier was amended and restated (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) and the Bylaws of Vontier were amended and restated (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”). A description of the material provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Bylaws can be found in the section entitled “Description of Capital Stock” in Vontier’s Information Statement, and such section is incorporated herein by reference. The description set forth under this Item 5.03 is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Bylaws, which are filed as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 hereto, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 5.05 |
AMENDMENTS TO THE REGISTRANT’S CODE OF ETHICS, OR WAIVER OF A PROVISION OF THE CODE OF ETHICS |
In connection with the Distribution, the Board adopted Vontier’s Code of Conduct effective as of October 9, 2020. A copy of Vontier’s Code of Conduct is available under the Investor Relations—Corporate Governance section of Vontier’s website at www.vontier.com.
ITEM 8.01 |
OTHER EVENTS |
In connection with the Distribution, the Board adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines effective as of October 9, 2020. A copy of Vontier’s Corporate Governance Guidelines is available under the Investor Relations—Corporate Governance section of Vontier’s website at www.vontier.com.
ITEM 9.01 |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS |
(d) Exhibits.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
VONTIER CORPORATION | ||||||
Date: October 13, 2020 | By: |
/s/ Courtney Kamlet |
||||
Name: | Courtney Kamlet | |||||
Title: |
Vice President, Associate General Counsel and
Corporate Secretary |
Exhibit 2.1
EXECUTION VERSION
SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
by and between
FORTIVE CORPORATION
and
VONTIER CORPORATION
Dated as of October 8, 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I | ||||||
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION | ||||||
Section 1.1 |
General |
2 | ||||
Section 1.2 |
References; Interpretation |
22 | ||||
ARTICLE II | ||||||
THE SEPARATION | ||||||
Section 2.1 |
General |
23 | ||||
Section 2.2 |
Restructuring: Transfer of Assets; Assumption of Liabilities |
23 | ||||
Section 2.3 |
Treatment of Shared Contracts |
25 | ||||
Section 2.4 |
Intercompany Accounts, Loans and Agreements |
26 | ||||
Section 2.5 |
Limitation of Liability; Intercompany Contracts |
27 | ||||
Section 2.6 |
Transfers Not Effected at or Prior to the Effective Time; Transfers Deemed Effective as of the Effective Time |
27 | ||||
Section 2.7 |
Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments |
29 | ||||
Section 2.8 |
Further Assurances; Ancillary Agreements |
30 | ||||
Section 2.9 |
Novation of Liabilities; Indemnification |
31 | ||||
Section 2.10 |
Guarantees; Credit Support Instruments |
32 | ||||
Section 2.11 |
Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties |
34 | ||||
Section 2.12 |
Vontier Financing Arrangements |
35 | ||||
Section 2.13 |
Cash Management; Consideration; Cash Adjustment |
35 | ||||
ARTICLE III | ||||||
THE DISTRIBUTION AND ACTIONS PENDING THE DISTRIBUTION; | ||||||
OTHER TRANSACTIONS | ||||||
Section 3.1 |
Distribution |
37 | ||||
Section 3.2 |
Fractional Shares |
37 | ||||
Section 3.3 |
Actions in Connection with the Distribution |
38 | ||||
Section 3.4 |
Sole Discretion of Fortive |
39 | ||||
Section 3.5 |
Conditions to Distribution |
39 | ||||
Section 3.6 |
Organizational Documents |
40 | ||||
Section 3.7 |
Directors |
40 | ||||
Section 3.8 |
Officers |
41 | ||||
Section 3.9 |
Resignations and Removals |
41 | ||||
Section 3.10 |
Sole Discretion of Fortive; Cooperation Regarding the Distribution, Subsequent Disposition |
41 |
i
ARTICLE IV | ||||||
CERTAIN COVENANTS | ||||||
Section 4.1 |
Cooperation |
42 | ||||
Section 4.2 |
Retained Names |
42 | ||||
Section 4.3 |
No Restriction on Competition |
43 | ||||
Section 4.4 |
No Hire and No Solicitation of Employees |
43 | ||||
Section 4.5 |
Corporate Opportunities |
44 | ||||
ARTICLE V | ||||||
INDEMNIFICATION | ||||||
Section 5.1 |
Release of Pre-Effective Time Claims |
44 | ||||
Section 5.2 |
Indemnification by Fortive |
47 | ||||
Section 5.3 |
Indemnification by Vontier |
48 | ||||
Section 5.4 |
Procedures for Indemnification |
48 | ||||
Section 5.5 |
Cooperation in Defense and Settlement |
50 | ||||
Section 5.6 |
Indemnification Payments |
51 | ||||
Section 5.7 |
Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds and Other Amounts |
52 | ||||
Section 5.8 |
Contribution |
53 | ||||
Section 5.9 |
Additional Matters; Survival of Indemnities |
53 | ||||
Section 5.10 |
Environmental Matters |
53 | ||||
ARTICLE VI | ||||||
PRESERVATION OF RECORDS; ACCESS TO INFORMATION; | ||||||
CONFIDENTIALITY; PRIVILEGE | ||||||
Section 6.1 |
Preservation of Corporate Records |
54 | ||||
Section 6.2 |
Access to Information |
55 | ||||
Section 6.3 |
Witness Services |
57 | ||||
Section 6.4 |
Reimbursement; Other Matters |
57 | ||||
Section 6.5 |
Confidentiality |
58 | ||||
Section 6.6 |
Privilege Matters |
60 | ||||
Section 6.7 |
Ownership of Information |
61 | ||||
Section 6.8 |
Personal Data |
62 | ||||
Section 6.9 |
Other Agreements |
62 | ||||
ARTICLE VII | ||||||
DISPUTE RESOLUTION | ||||||
Section 7.1 |
Negotiation |
62 | ||||
Section 7.2 |
Arbitration |
63 |
ii
Section 7.3 |
Specific Performance |
64 | ||||
Section 7.4 |
Treatment of Arbitration |
64 | ||||
Section 7.5 |
Continuity of Service and Performance |
64 | ||||
Section 7.6 |
Consolidation |
65 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII | ||||||
INSURANCE | ||||||
Section 8.1 |
Insurance Matters |
65 | ||||
Section 8.2 |
Certain Matters Relating to Fortives Organizational Documents |
68 | ||||
Section 8.3 |
Indemnitor of First Resort |
68 | ||||
ARTICLE IX | ||||||
MISCELLANEOUS | ||||||
Section 9.1 |
Entire Agreement; Construction |
69 | ||||
Section 9.2 |
Ancillary Agreements |
69 | ||||
Section 9.3 |
Counterparts |
69 | ||||
Section 9.4 |
Survival of Agreements |
69 | ||||
Section 9.5 |
Expenses |
70 | ||||
Section 9.6 |
Notices |
71 | ||||
Section 9.7 |
Waivers |
71 | ||||
Section 9.8 |
Assignment |
71 | ||||
Section 9.9 |
Successors and Assigns |
72 | ||||
Section 9.10 |
Termination and Amendment |
72 | ||||
Section 9.11 |
Payment Terms |
72 | ||||
Section 9.12 |
Subsidiaries |
72 | ||||
Section 9.13 |
Third Party Beneficiaries |
73 | ||||
Section 9.14 |
Title and Headings |
73 | ||||
Section 9.15 |
Exhibits and Schedules |
73 | ||||
Section 9.16 |
Governing Law |
73 | ||||
Section 9.17 |
Severability |
73 | ||||
Section 9.18 |
Public Announcements |
73 | ||||
Section 9.19 |
Interpretation |
74 | ||||
Section 9.20 |
No Duplication; No Double Recovery |
74 | ||||
Section 9.21 |
Tax Treatment of Payments |
74 | ||||
Section 9.22 |
No Waiver |
74 | ||||
Section 9.23 |
No Admission of Liability |
74 | ||||
Section 9.24 |
Advisors |
75 |
iii
List of Exhibits
Exhibit A | Employee Matters Agreement | |
Exhibit B | Tax Matters Agreement | |
Exhibit C | Transition Services Agreement | |
Exhibit D | Intellectual Property Matters Agreement | |
Exhibit E | FBS License Agreement | |
Exhibit F | Stockholders and Registration Rights Agreement | |
Exhibit G | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Vontier Corporation | |
Exhibit H | Amended and Restated Bylaws of Vontier Corporation |
iv
SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
This SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of October 8, 2020, is entered into by and between Fortive Corporation, a Delaware corporation (Fortive), and Vontier Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortive (Vontier). Party or Parties means Fortive or Vontier, individually or collectively, as the case may be. Capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Fortive, acting through its direct and indirect Subsidiaries, currently conducts the Fortive Retained Business and the Vontier Business;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Fortive, together with the Separation Committee thereof (the Fortive Board), has determined that it is appropriate, desirable and in the best interests of Fortive and its stockholders to separate Fortive into two separate, publicly traded companies, one for each of (i) the Fortive Retained Business, which shall be owned and conducted, directly or indirectly, by Fortive and its Subsidiaries (other than Vontier and its Subsidiaries) and (ii) the Vontier Business, which shall be owned and conducted, directly or indirectly, by Vontier and its Subsidiaries;
WHEREAS, in order to effect such separation, the Fortive Board has determined that it is appropriate, desirable and in the best interests of Fortive and its stockholders for Fortive to undertake the Internal Reorganization and, in connection therewith, effect the Contribution to Vontier and that, in exchange therefor, Vontier shall (i) issue to Fortive shares of Vontier Common Stock and (ii) pay Fortive an amount of cash equal to the Vontier Contribution Payment (as defined herein), each as more fully described herein;
WHEREAS, following the completion of the Internal Reorganization, Fortive shall cause the Distribution Agent to distribute, on a pro rata basis, to the Record Holders, in accordance with the Distribution Ratio, an aggregate of 80.1% of the issued and outstanding shares of Vontier Common Stock (such distribution, the Distribution) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, following the Distribution, Fortive may retain up to 19.9% of the outstanding Vontier Common Stock (the Retained Stock) and intends to, within 12 months of the Distribution, effect distributions of the Retained Stock to Fortive stockholders as dividends or in exchange for outstanding shares of Fortive common stock or through one or more subsequent exchanges of Vontier Common Stock for Fortive debt held by Fortive creditors (a Subsequent Disposition);
WHEREAS, if any portion of the Retained Stock has not been disposed of pursuant to a Subsequent Distribution within the 12-month period, Fortive will dispose of such Retained Stock in all events within five years of the Distribution (a Remaining Disposition);
WHEREAS, (i) the Fortive Board has (x) determined that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements have a valid business purpose, are in furtherance of and consistent with its business strategy and are in the best interests of Fortive and its stockholders and (y) approved this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements and (ii) the Board of Directors of Vontier, together with the Separation Committee thereof (the Vontier Board), has approved this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements (to the extent Vontier is a party thereto);
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to set forth the principal corporate transactions required to effect the Contribution, the Internal Reorganization and the Distribution, and certain other agreements relating to the relationship of Fortive and Vontier and their respective Subsidiaries following the Effective Time;
WHEREAS, it is the intention of the Parties that the Contribution and the Distribution (except to the extent of any cash received in lieu of fractional shares of Vontier Common Stock) taken together, will qualify as a transaction that is tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 355 and Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code); and
WHEREAS, this Agreement is intended to be a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.368-2(g).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
Section 1.1 General. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) AAA shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2.
(2) Action shall mean any demand, action, claim, suit, countersuit, arbitration, inquiry, subpoena, case, litigation, proceeding or investigation (whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative) by or before any court or grand jury, any Governmental Entity or any arbitration or mediation tribunal.
(3) Affiliate shall mean, when used with respect to a specified Person and at a point in, or with respect to a period of, time, a Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person at such point in or during such period of time. For the purposes of this definition, control, when used with respect to any specified Person shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or other interests, by Contract or otherwise. It is expressly agreed that, from and after the Effective Time, solely for purposes of this Agreement, (i) no member of the Vontier Group shall be deemed an Affiliate of any member of the Fortive Group and (ii) no member of the Fortive Group shall be deemed an Affiliate of any member of the Vontier Group.
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(4) Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in in the Preamble.
(5) Ancillary Agreements shall mean the Transition Services Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement, the Intellectual Property Matters Agreement, the FBS License Agreement, the Stockholders and Registration Rights Agreement, the lease agreements for the sites set forth in Schedule 1.1(5), any Continuing Arrangements, any and all Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments, and any other agreements to be entered into by and between any member of the Fortive Group, on one hand, and any member of the Vontier Group, on the other hand, at, prior to or after the Effective Time in connection with the Distribution, Subsequent Disposition or Remaining Disposition, if effected.
(6) Arbitral Tribunal shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).
(7) Asset Transferors shall mean the entities (including Fortive and Vontier, as applicable) transferring Assets to Vontier or Fortive, as the case may be, or one of their respective Subsidiaries in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(8) Assets shall mean all rights (including Intellectual Property), title and ownership interests in and to all properties, claims, Contracts, businesses, entities or assets (including goodwill and all direct or indirect interests in the capital stock of, or any other equity interests in, any Person), wherever located (including in the possession of vendors or other third parties or elsewhere), of every kind, character and description, whether real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible, whether accrued, contingent or otherwise, in each case, whether or not recorded or reflected on the books and records or financial statements of any Person. Except as otherwise specifically set forth herein or in the Tax Matters Agreement, the rights and obligations of the Parties with respect to Taxes shall be governed by the Tax Matters Agreement and, therefore, Taxes (including any Tax items, attributes or rights to receive any Tax Refunds (as defined in the Tax Matters Agreement)) shall not be treated as Assets.
(9) Assume shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c); and the terms Assumed and Assumption shall have their correlative meanings.
(10) Beneficially Own shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(11) Business shall mean the Fortive Retained Business or the Vontier Business, as applicable.
(12) Business Day shall mean any day other than Saturday or Sunday and any other day on which commercial banking institutions located in New York, New York are required, or authorized by Law, to remain closed.
(13) Business Entity shall mean any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other entity which may legally hold title to Assets.
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(14) Bylaws shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.
(15) Cash Adjustment shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13(c)(i)(2).
(16) Cash Equivalents shall mean (i) cash and (ii) checks, certificates of deposit having a maturity of less than one year, money orders, marketable securities, money market funds, commercial paper, short-term instruments and other cash equivalents, funds in time and demand deposits or similar accounts, and any evidence of indebtedness issued or guaranteed by any Governmental Entity, minus the amount of any outbound checks, plus the amount of any deposits in transit. For the purposes of Section 2.13 (including the definition of Distribution Date Cash Amount), Cash Equivalents shall not include any (x) cash in jurisdictions set forth on Schedule 1.1(16) (the Restricted Jurisdictions) and (y) cash in transit at the Effective Time.
(17) Charter shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.
(18) Code shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(19) Commission shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
(20) Company Policies shall mean all insurance policies, insurance contracts and claim administration contracts of any kind of any member of the Fortive Group, which are in effect at the Effective Time, except all insurance policies, insurance contracts and claim administration contracts established in contemplation of the Distribution to cover any member of the Vontier Group after the Effective Time.
(21) Confidential Information shall mean all non-public, confidential or proprietary Information to the extent concerning a Party, its Group and/or its Subsidiaries or with respect to Vontier, the Vontier Business, any Vontier Assets or any Vontier Liabilities or with respect to Fortive, the Fortive Retained Business, any Fortive Retained Assets or any Fortive Liabilities, including any such Information that was acquired by any Party after the Effective Time pursuant to Article VI or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement, or that was provided to a Party by a third party in confidence, including (a) any and all technical information relating to the design, operation, testing, test results, development, and manufacture of any Partys product (including product specifications and documentation; engineering, design, and manufacturing drawings, diagrams, and illustrations; formulations and material specifications; laboratory studies and benchmark tests; quality assurance policies procedures and specifications; evaluation and/validation studies; assembly code, software, firmware, programming data, databases, and all information referred to in the same); product costs, margins and pricing; as well as product marketing studies and strategies; all other methodologies, procedures, techniques and Know-How related to research, engineering, development and manufacturing; (b) information, documents and materials relating to the Partys financial condition, management and other business conditions, prospects, plans, procedures, infrastructure, security, information technology procedures and systems, and other business or operational affairs; (c) pending unpublished patent applications and trade secrets; and (d) any other data or documentation
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resident, existing or otherwise provided in a database or in a storage medium, permanent or temporary, intended for confidential, proprietary and/or privileged use by a Party; except for any Information that is (i) in the public domain or known to the public through no fault of the receiving Party or its Subsidiaries, (ii) lawfully acquired after the Effective Time by such Party or its Subsidiaries from other sources not known to be subject to confidentiality obligations with respect to such Information or (iii) independently developed by the receiving Party after the Effective Time without reference to any Confidential Information. As used herein, by example and without limitation, Confidential Information shall mean any information of a Party intended or marked as confidential, proprietary and/or privileged.
(22) Consents shall mean any consents, waivers, notices, reports or other filings to be obtained from or made, including with respect to any Contract, or any registrations, licenses, permits, authorizations to be obtained from, or approvals from, or notification requirements to, any third parties, including any third party to a Contract and any Governmental Entity.
(23) Consideration shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13(b).
(24) Continuing Arrangements shall mean:
(i) those arrangements set forth on Schedule 1.1(24)(i);
(ii) this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (and each other Contract expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to be entered into or continued by any of the Parties or any of the members of their respective Groups);
(iii) any Contracts or intercompany accounts solely between or among members of the Vontier Group;
(iv) any Contracts between: (i) a Subsidiary of Fortive that is in the business of selling or buying products or services to or from third parties; and (ii) a member of the Vontier Group, and which Contract is related primarily to the provision or purchase of such products or services and was or is entered into in the ordinary course of business and on arms-length terms; and
(v) such other commercial arrangements among the Parties that are intended to survive and continue following the Effective Time; provided that none of the intercompany Contracts set forth on Schedule 1.1(24)(v) shall be deemed to be Continuing Arrangements, it being understood that Schedule 1.1(24)(v) is not intended to be an exclusive list of arrangements that are to be terminated at the Effective Time; provided, however, that for the avoidance of doubt, Continuing Arrangements shall not be Third Party Agreements.
(25) Contract shall mean any agreement, contract, subcontract, obligation, binding understanding, note, indenture, instrument, option, lease, promise, arrangement, release, warranty, license, sublicense, insurance policy, benefit plan, purchase order or legally binding commitment or undertaking of any nature (whether written or oral and whether express or implied).
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(26) Contribution shall mean, subject to Section 2.6, the Transfer, directly or indirectly, of all of Fortives or its Subsidiaries right, title and interest in the Vontier Assets, from Fortive or its Subsidiaries to Vontier or its Subsidiaries and the Assumption of all of the Vontier Liabilities, directly or indirectly, by Vontier or its Subsidiaries, pursuant to the Internal Reorganization or otherwise relating to, arising out of or resulting from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(27) Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments shall mean, collectively, the various Contracts, including the related local asset transfer agreements and local stock transfer agreements, and other documents entered into prior to the Effective Time and to be entered into to effect the Transfer of Assets and the Assumption of Liabilities in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, or otherwise relating to, arising out of or resulting from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in such form or forms as the applicable Parties thereto agree.
(28) Credit Support Instruments shall mean any letters of credit, performance bonds, surety bonds (including, with respect to the surety bonds, letters of credit and performance bonds set forth on Schedule 1.1(28), the allocable portion of the surety bonds, letters of credit and performance bonds as set forth on Schedule 1.1(28)), bankers acceptances, or other similar arrangements.
(29) Data Controller shall have the meaning of the term controller set forth in the GDPR.
(30) Data Protection Laws shall mean any and all Laws concerning the privacy, protection and security of personal information Laws throughout the world, including the GDPR and any national law supplementing the GDPR (such as, in the United Kingdom, the Data Protection Act 2018) or any successor laws arising out of the withdrawal of a member state from the European Union, the California Consumer Privacy Act, California Civil Code Title 1.81.5 (including all amendments and implementing regulations), and any regulations, or regulatory requirements, guidance and codes of practice applicable to the Processing of Personal Data (as amended and/or replaced from time to time).
(31) Decision on Interim Relief shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(d).
(32) Deferred Assets shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a).
(33) Deferred Liabilities shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a).
(34) Dispute Notice shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
(35) Disputes shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
(36) Distribution shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
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(37) Distribution Agent shall mean Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
(38) Distribution Date shall mean the date, as shall be determined by the Fortive Board, on which the Distribution occurs.
(39) Distribution Date Cash Amount shall mean Fortives good faith calculation of the amount of Cash Equivalents of the Vontier Group as of the Effective Time (after giving effect to the payment by Vontier of the Consideration to Fortive pursuant to Section 2.13(b)).
(40) Distribution Disclosure Documents shall mean the Form 10 and all exhibits thereto (including the Information Statement), any current reports on Form 8-K and the registration statement on Form S-8 related to securities to be offered under Vontiers employee benefit plans, in each case as filed or furnished by Vontier with or to the Commission in connection with the Distribution or filed or furnished by Fortive with or to the Commission solely to the extent such documents relate to Vontier or the Distribution.
(41) Distribution Ratio shall mean two shares of Vontier Common Stock for every five shares of Fortive Common Stock.
(42) Effective Time shall mean 12:01 a.m., New York time, on the Distribution Date.
(43) Emergency Arbitrator shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(d).
(44) Employee Matters Agreement shall mean the Employee Matters Agreement by and between Fortive and Vontier, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(45) Environmental Laws shall mean all Laws relating to pollution or protection of human health or safety or the environment, including Laws relating to the exposure to, or Release, threatened Release or the presence of Hazardous Substances, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, transport or handling of Hazardous Substances and all Laws with regard to recordkeeping, notification, disclosure and reporting requirements respecting Hazardous Substances, and all laws relating to endangered or threatened species of fish, wildlife and plants and the management or use of natural resources.
(46) Environmental Liabilities shall mean Liabilities relating to Environmental Law or the Release or threatened Release of or exposure to Hazardous Substances, including the following: (i) actual or alleged violations of or non-compliance with any Environmental Law, including a failure to obtain, maintain or comply with any Environmental Permits; (ii) obligations arising under or pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law or Environmental Permit; (iii) the presence of Hazardous Substances or the introduction of Hazardous Substances to the environment at, in, on, under or migrating from any of the building, facility, structure or real property, including Liabilities relating to, resulting from or arising out of the investigation, remediation, or monitoring of such Hazardous Substances; (iv) natural resource damages, property damages, personal or bodily injury or wrongful death relating to the presence of or exposure to Hazardous Substances (including asbestos-containing materials), at, in, on, under or migrating to or from any building, facility, structure or real
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property; (v) the transport, disposal, recycling, reclamation, treatment or storage, Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Substances at Off-Site Locations; and (vi) any agreement, decree, judgment, or order relating to the foregoing. The term Environmental Liabilities does not include Liabilities arising in connection with claims for injuries to persons or property from products sold by or services provided by the Vontier Group, the Fortive Group or their predecessors, including claims related to exposure to asbestos with respect to such products or services.
(47) Environmental Permit shall mean any permit, license, approval or other authorization under any applicable Law or of any Governmental Entity relating to Environmental Laws or Hazardous Substances.
(48) Exchange Act shall mean the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(49) Excluded Environmental Liabilities shall mean any and all Environmental Liabilities whether arising before, at or after the Effective Time, to the extent relating to, resulting from, or arising out of the past, present or future operation, conduct or actions of the Fortive Retained Business.
(50) FBS shall mean the Fortive Business System in existence as of the Effective Time, which is a proprietary set of growth, lean and leadership tools and processes used to continuously improve business performance in the critical areas of innovation, product development and commercialization, global supply chain, sales and marketing and leadership development.
(51) FBS License Agreement shall mean the FBS License Agreement by and between Fortive and Vontier, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E.
(52) Final Determination shall have the meaning set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.
(53) Former Business shall mean any corporation, partnership, entity, division, business unit or business (in each case, including any assets and liabilities comprising the same) that has been sold, conveyed, assigned, transferred, spun-off, split-off or otherwise disposed of or divested (in whole or in part) to a Person or Persons that is not a member of the Vontier Group or the Fortive Group or the operations, activities or production of which has been discontinued, abandoned, completed or otherwise terminated (in whole or in part), in each case, prior to the Effective Time.
(54) Fortive shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
(55) Fortive Asset Transferee shall mean any Business Entity that is or will be a member of the Fortive Group or Fortive Subsidiary to which Fortive Retained Assets shall be or have been transferred, directly or indirectly, at or prior to the Effective Time, or which is contemplated by the Internal Reorganization or this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements to occur after the Effective Time, by an Asset Transferor in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
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(56) Fortive Board shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(57) Fortive Common Stock shall mean the common stock of Fortive, par value $0.01 per share.
(58) Fortive CSIs shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(d).
(59) Fortive D&O Indemnitees shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.
(60) Fortive Former Business shall mean any Former Business (other than the Vontier Business or the Vontier Former Businesses) that, at the time of sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, disposition, divestiture (in whole or in part) or discontinuation, abandonment, completion or termination of the operations, activities or production thereof, was primarily managed by or associated with the Fortive Retained Business as then conducted.
(61) Fortive Group shall mean (i) Fortive, the Fortive Retained Business and each Person that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Fortive as of immediately following the Effective Time and (ii) each Business Entity that becomes a Subsidiary of Fortive after the Effective Time.
(62) Fortive Indemnitees shall mean each member of the Fortive Group and each of their respective Affiliates from and after the Effective Time and each member of the Fortive Groups and such Affiliates respective current, former and future directors, officers, employees and agents (solely in their respective capacities as current, former and future directors, officers, employees or agents of any member of the Fortive Group or their respective Affiliates) and each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing, except, for the avoidance of doubt, the Vontier Indemnitees.
(63) Fortive Indemnitors shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.
(64) Fortive Personal Data shall mean Personal Data of the Fortive Group that is used in or by, or otherwise related to, any Fortive Retained Business.
(65) Fortive Released Liabilities shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(a)(i).
(66) Fortive Retained Assets shall mean:
(i) the Assets listed or described on Schedule 1.1(66)(i) and any and all Assets that are expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Assets to be retained by Fortive or any other member of the Fortive Group, including for the avoidance of doubt all Fortive Retained IP;
(ii) any and all Assets that are owned, leased or licensed, at or prior to the Effective Time, by Fortive and/or any of its Subsidiaries, that are not Vontier Assets; and
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(iii) any and all Assets that are acquired or otherwise becomes an Asset of the Fortive Group after the Effective Time.
(67) Fortive Retained Business shall mean (i) those businesses operated by the Fortive Group prior to the Effective Time other than the Vontier Business, (ii) those Business Entities or businesses acquired or established by or for any member of the Fortive Group after the Effective Time, and (iii) any Fortive Former Business; provided that Fortive Retained Business shall not include any Vontier Former Business or Vontier Former Real Property.
(68) Fortive Retained IP shall mean (i) all Intellectual Property of the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group other than Vontier Intellectual Property, (ii) any Intellectual Property licensed to Vontier pursuant to the Ancillary Agreements, including the FBS License Agreement, and (iii) the Fortive Retained Names.
(69) Fortive Retained Liabilities shall mean:
(i) any and all Liabilities that are expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Liabilities to be retained or assumed by Fortive or any other member of the Fortive Group, and all agreements, obligations and other Liabilities of Fortive or any member of the Fortive Group under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;
(ii) any and all Liabilities of a member of the Fortive Group to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Fortive Retained Assets (other than Liabilities arising under any Shared Contracts to the extent such Liabilities relate to the Vontier Business);
(iii) the Liabilities listed on Schedule 1.1(69)(iii); and
(iv) any and all Liabilities of Fortive and each of its Subsidiaries that are not Vontier Liabilities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fortive Retained Liabilities shall not include any Liabilities for Taxes that are governed by the Tax Matters Agreement.
(70) Fortive Retained Names shall mean the names and marks set forth in Schedule 1.1(70), and any Trademarks containing or comprising any of such names or marks, and any Trademarks derivative thereof or confusingly similar thereto, or any telephone numbers or other alphanumeric addresses or mnemonics containing any of the foregoing names or marks.
(71) GDPR shall mean the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679.
(72) Governmental Approvals shall mean any notices or reports to be submitted to, or other registrations or filings to be made with, or any consents, approvals, licenses, permits or authorizations to be obtained from, any Governmental Entity.
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(73) Governmental Entity shall mean any nation or government, any state, municipality or other political subdivision thereof and any entity, body, agency, commission, department, board, bureau or court, whether domestic, foreign, multinational, or supranational exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, self-regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government and any executive official thereof.
(74) Governmental Filing shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(c).
(75) Group shall mean (i) with respect to Fortive, the Fortive Group and (ii) with respect to Vontier, the Vontier Group.
(76) Hazardous Substances shall mean (a) any substances defined, listed, classified or regulated as hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, hazardous materials, extremely hazardous wastes, restricted hazardous wastes, toxic substances, toxic pollutants, contaminants, pollutants, wastes, radioactive materials, petroleum, oils or designations of similar import under any Environmental Law, or (b) any other chemical, material or substance that is regulated or for which liability can be imposed under any Environmental Law.
(77) Indebtedness shall mean, with respect to any Person, (i) the principal amount, prepayment and redemption premiums and penalties (if any), unpaid fees and other monetary obligations in respect of any indebtedness for borrowed money, whether short term or long term, and all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, other debt securities or similar instruments, (ii) any indebtedness arising under any capital leases (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any real estate leases), whether short term or long term, (iii) all liabilities secured by any Security Interest on any assets of such Person, (iv) all liabilities under any interest rate, currency, commodity or other swap, collar, cap or other hedging or similar agreements or arrangements, (v) all liabilities under any interest rate protection agreement, interest rate future agreement, interest rate option agreement, interest rate swap agreement or other similar agreement designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates, (vi) all interest bearing indebtedness for the deferred purchase price of property or services, (vii) all liabilities under any Credit Support Instruments, (viii) all interest, fees and other expenses owed with respect to indebtedness described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (vii), and (ix) without duplication, all guarantees of indebtedness referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (viii).
(78) Indemnifiable Loss and Indemnifiable Losses shall mean any and all damages, losses, deficiencies, Liabilities, obligations, penalties, judgments, settlements, claims, payments, fines, interest, costs and expenses (including the costs and expenses of any and all Actions and demands, assessments, judgments, settlements and compromises relating thereto and the costs and expenses of attorneys, accountants, consultants and other professionals fees and expenses incurred in the investigation or defense thereof or the enforcement of rights hereunder).
(79) Indemnifying Party shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(a).
(80) Indemnitee shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(a).
(81) Indemnity Payment shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.7(a).
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(82) Information shall mean information, content and data (including Personal Data) in written, oral, electronic, computerized, digital or other tangible or intangible media, including (i) books and records, whether accounting, legal or otherwise, ledgers, studies, reports, surveys, designs, specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models, prototypes, samples, flow charts, marketing plans, customer names and information (including prospects), technical information relating to the design, operation, testing, test results, development, and manufacture of any Partys or its Groups products or facilities (including product or facility specifications and documentation; engineering, design and manufacturing drawings, diagrams, layouts, maps and illustrations; formulations and material specifications; laboratory studies and benchmark tests; quality assurance policies procedures and specifications; evaluation and/validation studies; process control and/or shop-floor control strategy, logic or algorithms; assembly code, software, firmware, programming data, databases, and all information referred to in the same); product costs, margins and pricing; as well as product marketing studies and strategies; all other methodologies, procedures, techniques and Know-How related to research, engineering, development and manufacturing; communications, correspondence, materials, product literature, artwork, files, documents; and (ii) financial and business information, including earnings reports and forecasts, macro-economic reports and forecasts, all cost information (including supplier records and lists), sales and pricing data, business plans, market evaluations, surveys, credit-related information, and other such information as may be needed for reasonable compliance with reporting, disclosure, filing or other requirements, including under applicable securities laws or regulations of securities exchanges.
(83) Information Statement shall mean the Information Statement attached as Exhibit 99.1 to the Form 10, to be distributed to the holders of shares of Fortive Common Stock in connection with the Distribution, including any amendment or supplement thereto.
(84) Insurance Proceeds shall mean those monies (i) received by an insured from an insurance carrier (excluding any captive insurance maintained by Fortive or its Subsidiaries) or (ii) paid by an insurance carrier (excluding any captive insurance maintained by Fortive or its Subsidiaries) on behalf of an insured, in either case net of any applicable deductible or retention.
(85) Insured Claims shall mean those Liabilities that, individually or in the aggregate, are covered within the terms and conditions of any of the Company Policies, whether or not subject to deductibles, co-insurance, uncollectability or retrospectively-rated premium adjustments, but only to the extent that such Liabilities are within applicable Company Policy limits, including aggregates.
(86) Intellectual Property shall mean all U.S. and foreign: (i) trademarks, trade dress, service marks, certification marks, logos, slogans, design rights, names, corporate names, trade names, Internet domain names, social media accounts and addresses and other similar designations of source or origin, together with the goodwill symbolized by any of the foregoing (collectively, Trademarks); (ii) patents and patent applications, and any and all related national or international counterparts thereto, including any divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, reexaminations, substitutions and extensions thereof (collectively, Patents); (iii) copyrights and copyrightable subject matter, excluding Know-How; (iv) trade secrets, and all other confidential or proprietary information, know-how, inventions, processes, formulae, models, and methodologies, excluding Patents (collectively, Know-How); (v) all applications and registrations for any of the foregoing; and (vi) all rights and remedies against past, present, and future infringement, misappropriation, or other violation of any of the foregoing.
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(87) Intellectual Property Matters Agreement shall mean the Intellectual Property Matters Agreement by and between Fortive and Vontier, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.
(88) Interim Relief shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(d).
(89) Internal Reorganization shall mean the allocation and transfer or assignment of Assets and Liabilities (including entities holding Assets and/or Liabilities), including by means of the Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments, resulting in (i) the Vontier Group owning and operating the Vontier Business, and (ii) the Fortive Group continuing to own and operate the Fortive Retained Business, as described in the plan of reorganization provided to Vontier by Fortive prior to the date hereof, as updated from time to time by Fortive at its sole discretion prior to the Effective Time (the Separation Plan).
(90) IT Assets shall mean all software, computer systems, telecommunications equipment, databases, Internet Protocol addresses, data rights and documentation, reference, resource and training materials relating thereto, and all Contracts (including Contract rights) relating to any of the foregoing (including software license agreements, source code escrow agreements, support and maintenance agreements, electronic database access contracts, domain name registration agreements, website hosting agreements, software or website development agreements, outsourcing agreements, service provider agreements, interconnection agreements, governmental permits, radio licenses and telecommunications agreements).
(91) Law shall mean any applicable U.S. or non-U.S. federal, national, supranational, state, provincial, local or similar statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, income tax treaty, order, requirement or rule of law (including common law) or other binding directives promulgated, issued, entered into or taken by any Governmental Entity.
(92) Liabilities shall mean any and all Indebtedness, liabilities, costs, expenses, interest and obligations, whether accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, known or unknown, reserved or unreserved, or determined or determinable, including those arising under any Law (including Environmental Law), Action, whether asserted or unasserted, or order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any Governmental Entity and those arising under any Contract or any fines, damages or equitable relief which may be imposed and including all costs and expenses related thereto. Except as otherwise specifically set forth herein or in the Tax Matters Agreement, the rights and obligations of the Parties with respect to Taxes shall be governed by the Tax Matters Agreement and, therefore, Taxes shall not be treated as Liabilities governed by this Agreement other than for purposes of indemnification related to the Distribution Disclosure Documents.
(93) Liable Party shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(b).
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(94) Negotiation Period shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.
(95) Off-Site Location shall mean any third party location that is not now nor has ever been owned, leased or operated by the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group or any of their respective predecessors. Off-Site Location does not include any property that is adjacent to or neighboring any property formerly, currently or in the future owned, leased or operated by the Fortive Group, the Vontier Group, or their respective predecessors that has been impacted by Hazardous Substances released from such properties.
(96) Other Party shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a).
(97) Party and Parties shall have the meanings set forth in the Preamble.
(98) Person shall mean any natural person, firm, individual, corporation, business trust, joint venture, association, bank, land trust, trust company, company, limited liability company, partnership, or other organization or entity, whether incorporated or unincorporated, or any Governmental Entity.
(99) Personal Data shall have the meaning set forth in the GDPR.
(100) Policies shall mean insurance policies and insurance contracts of any kind (other than life and benefits policies or contracts), including primary, excess and umbrella policies, commercial general liability policies, fiduciary liability, directors and officers liability, automobile, property and casualty, workers compensation and employee dishonesty insurance policies and bonds, together with the rights, benefits and privileges thereunder.
(101) Prime Rate shall mean the rate last quoted as of the time of determination by The Wall Street Journal as the Prime Rate in the United States or, if the Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the bank prime loan rate as of such time, or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by Fortive) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by Fortive).
(102) Privilege shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.6(a).
(103) Privileged Information shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.6(a).
(104) Processing (and its cognates) shall have the meaning set forth in the GDPR.
(105) Record Date shall mean the date determined by the Fortive Board as the record date for determining the holders of Fortive Common Stock entitled to receive Vontier Common Stock in the Distribution.
(106) Record Holders shall mean holders of Fortive Common Stock on the Record Date.
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(107) Release shall mean any release, spill, emission, discharge, leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal, dispersal, leaching or migration into the indoor or outdoor environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater and surface or subsurface strata) or into or out of any property, including the movement of Hazardous Substances through or in the air, soil, surface water, groundwater or property.
(108) Released Insurance Matters shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(k).
(109) Remaining Disposition shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(110) Retained Stock shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
(111) Restricted Jurisdiction shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(16).
(112) Restricted Jurisdiction Cash Amount shall mean, with respect to each Restricted Jurisdiction, as of the Effective Time, the total amount of (i) cash and (ii) checks, certificates of deposit having a maturity of less than one year, money orders, marketable securities, money market funds, commercial paper, short-term instruments and other cash equivalents, funds in time and demand deposits or similar accounts, and any evidence of indebtedness issued or guaranteed by any Governmental Entity. Restricted Jurisdiction Cash Amount shall not include any cash in transit at the Effective Time.
(113) Restricted Jurisdiction Target Cash Amount shall mean, for each of the Restricted Jurisdictions, the amount set forth opposite such Restricted Jurisdiction on Schedule 1.1(113).
(114) Rules shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2.
(115) Securities Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(116) Security Interest shall mean any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien, charge, claim, option, right to acquire, voting or other restriction, right-of-entry, covenant, condition, easement, encroachment, restriction on transfer, or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever, excluding restrictions on transfer under securities Laws.
(117) Separation Plan shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(89).
(118) Shared Contract shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).
(119) Stockholders and Registration Rights Agreement shall mean the Stockholders and Registration Rights Agreement by and between Fortive and Vontier, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F.
(120) Subsequent Disposition shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
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(121) Subsidiary shall mean with respect to any Person (i) a corporation, fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting or capital stock of which is, as of the time in question, directly or indirectly owned by such Person and (ii) any other Person in which such Person, directly or indirectly, owns fifty percent (50%) or more of the equity or economic interest thereof or has the power to elect or direct the election of fifty percent (50%) or more of the members of the governing body of such entity. It is expressly agreed that, from and after the Effective Time, solely for purposes of this Agreement, neither Vontier nor any other member of the Vontier Group shall be deemed a Subsidiary of Fortive or any other member of the Fortive Group.
(122) Target Cash Amount shall mean $145,200,000.00.
(123) Tax or Taxes shall have the meaning set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.
(124) Tax Contest shall have the meaning as set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.
(125) Tax Matters Agreement shall mean the Tax Matters Agreement by and between Fortive and Vontier, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
(126) Tax Records shall have the meaning set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.
(127) Tax Returns shall have the meaning set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.
(128) Taxing Authority shall have the meaning set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.
(129) Third Party Agreements shall mean any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings between or among a Party (or any member of its Group) and any other Persons (other than either Party or any member of its respective Groups) (it being understood that to the extent that the rights and obligations of the Parties and the members of their respective Groups under any such Contracts constitute Vontier Assets or Vontier Liabilities, or Fortive Retained Assets or Fortive Retained Liabilities, such Contracts shall be assigned or retained pursuant to Article II).
(130) Third Party Claim shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.4(b).
(131) Third Party Proceeds shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.7(a).
(132) Transaction-related Expenses shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.5(a).
(133) Transfer shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b)(i); and the term Transferred shall have its correlative meaning.
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(134) Transition Services Agreement shall mean the Transition Services Agreements by and between Fortive and Vontier, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
(135) Vontier shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
(136) Vontier Asset Transferees shall mean any Business Entity that is or will be a member of the Vontier Group or any Vontier Subsidiary to which Vontier Assets shall be or have been transferred at or prior to the Effective Time, or which is contemplated by the Internal Reorganization or this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements to occur after the Effective Time, by an Asset Transferor in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(137) Vontier Assets shall mean, without duplication:
(i) all interests in the capital stock of, or any other equity interests in, the members of the Vontier Group (other than Vontier), including those entities set forth on Schedule 1.1(137)(i), held, directly or indirectly, by Fortive immediately prior to the Effective Time;
(ii) the Assets set forth on Schedule 1.1(137)(ii) (which for the avoidance of doubt is not a comprehensive listing of all Vontier Assets and is not intended to limit other clauses of this definition of Vontier Assets);
(iii) any and all Assets that are expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Assets which have been or are to be Transferred to or retained by any member of the Vontier Group;
(iv) any and all Assets (other than Cash Equivalents, which shall be governed solely by Section 2.13, and Assets listed on Schedule 1.1(137)(iv)) reflected on the Vontier Balance Sheet or the accounting records supporting such balance sheet and any Assets acquired by or for Vontier or any member of the Vontier Group subsequent to the date of the Vontier Balance Sheet which, had they been so acquired on or before such date and owned as of such date, would have been reflected on the Vontier Balance Sheet if prepared on a consistent basis, subject to any dispositions of any of such Assets subsequent to the date of the Vontier Balance Sheet;
(v) all rights, title and interest in and to the owned real property set forth on Schedule 1.1(137)(v) and other real property primarily related to the Vontier Business, including all land and land improvements, structures, buildings and building improvements, other improvements and appurtenances located thereon (the Vontier Owned Real Property);
(vi) all rights, title and interest in, and to and under the leases or subleases of the real property set forth on Schedule 1.1(137)(vi) and other leases primarily related to Vontier Business, including, to the extent provided for in the Vontier leases, any land and land improvements, structures, buildings and building improvements, other improvements and appurtenances (the Vontier Leased Real Property);
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(vii) all Contracts primarily related to the Vontier Business and any rights or claims arising thereunder, including any Contracts set forth on Schedule 1.1(137)(vii) (the Vontier Contracts);
(viii) Intellectual Property exclusively related to the Vontier Business, including the Intellectual Property applications and registrations set forth on Schedule 1.1(137)(viii) (the Vontier Intellectual Property), subject to the Intellectual Property Matters Agreement;
(ix) all licenses, permits, registrations, approvals and authorizations which have been issued by any Governmental Entity and are held by a member of the Vontier Group, or to the extent transferable, relate primarily to or are used primarily in the Vontier Business (other than to the extent that any member of the Fortive Group benefits from such licenses, permits, registrations, approvals and authorizations in connection with the Fortive Retained Business);
(x) all Information exclusively related to, or exclusively used in, the Vontier Business;
(xi) excluding any Intellectual Property (which is addressed in Section 1.1(137)(viii) above), the IT Assets that are primarily used or primarily held for use in the Vontier Business, including the IT Assets listed on Schedule 1.1(137)(xi) (Vontier IT Assets);
(xii) all office equipment and furnishings located at the physical site of which the ownership or a leasehold or sub leasehold interest is being transferred to or retained by a member of the Vontier Group, and which as of the Effective Time is not subject to a lease or sublease back to a member of the Fortive Group (excluding any office equipment and furnishings owned by persons other than Fortive and its Subsidiaries);
(xiii) subject to Article VIII, any rights of any member of the Vontier Group under any insurance policies held solely by one or more members of the Vontier Group and which provide coverage solely to one or more members of the Vontier Group (excluding any insurance policies issued by any captive insurance company of the Fortive Group); and
(xiv) all other Assets (other than any Assets relating to the Intellectual Property, Vontier Owned Real Property, Vontier Group Landlord Property, Vontier Leased Real Property, or Assets that are of the type that would be listed in clauses (vi), (vii) and (ix) through (xiii)) that are held by the Vontier Group or the Fortive Group immediately prior to the Effective Time and that are primarily used and primarily held for use in the Vontier Business as conducted immediately prior to the Effective Time (the intention of this clause (xiv) is only to rectify an inadvertent omission of transfer or assignment of any Asset that, had the Parties given specific consideration to such Asset as of the date of this Agreement, would have otherwise been classified as a Vontier Asset based on the principles of Section 1.1(137)); provided that no Asset shall be a Vontier Asset solely as a result of this clause (xiv) unless a written claim with respect thereto is made by Vontier on or prior to the date that is eighteen (18) months after the Effective Time.
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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Vontier Assets shall not include (i) any Assets that are expressly contemplated by this Agreement or by any Ancillary Agreement (or the Schedules hereto or thereto) as Assets to be retained by or Transferred to any member of the Fortive Group (including all Fortive Retained Assets), (ii) any Assets governed by the Tax Matters Agreement or (iii) any Assets that are expressly listed on Schedule 1.1(66)(i).
(138) Vontier Balance Sheet shall mean Vontiers unaudited pro forma combined condensed balance sheet, including the notes thereto, as of June 26, 2020, as included in the Distribution Disclosure Documents.
(139) Vontier Board shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(140) Vontier Business shall mean the businesses comprising of Fortives Industrial Technologies segment (other than Fortives Hengstler and Dynapar businesses), including the businesses and operations conducted prior to the Effective Time by any member of the Vontier Group and any other businesses or operations conducted primarily through the use of the Vontier Assets, as such businesses are described in the Distribution Disclosure Documents, or established by or for Vontier or any of its Subsidiaries after the Effective Time and shall include the Vontier Former Businesses; provided that, other than any Vontier Former Businesses listed on Schedule 1.1(147), the Vontier Business shall not include any Fortive Former Business.
(141) Vontier Common Stock shall mean shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Vontier.
(142) Vontier Contribution Payment shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13(b).
(143) Vontier Disclosure shall mean (i) any form, statement, schedule or other material (other than the Distribution Disclosure Documents) filed with or furnished to the Commission, including in connection with Vontiers obligations under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, any other Governmental Entity, or holders of any securities of any member of the Vontier Group, in each case, on or after the Distribution Date by or on behalf of any member of the Vontier Group in connection with the registration, sale, or distribution of securities or disclosure related thereto (including periodic disclosure obligations) and (ii) any Vontier Financing Documents.
(144) Vontier Environmental Liabilities shall mean any and all Environmental Liabilities, whether arising before, at or after the Effective Time, to the extent relating to or resulting from or arising out of (i) the past, present or future operation, conduct or actions of the Vontier Group, Vontier Business or the past, present or future use of the Vontier Assets or (ii) the Vontier Former Businesses or Vontier Former Real Property, including any agreement, decree, judgment, or order relating to the foregoing entered into by Fortive or any Affiliate of Fortive prior to the Effective Time, but in any event excluding the Excluded Environmental Liabilities.
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(145) Vontier Financing Arrangements shall mean the financing arrangements described on Schedule 1.1(145).
(146) Vontier Financing Documents shall mean any documents relating to any debt issuance of Vontier on or prior to the Distribution Date or otherwise relating to the Vontier Financing Arrangements, including any offering memorandum, confidential information memorandum, lender presentation, credit agreement or other bank financing arrangement, exchange agreement, purchase agreement, indenture or notes (including, in each case, the representations, warranties and covenants contained therein), and any other agreements or arrangements entered into in connection with the foregoing.
(147) Vontier Former Businesses shall mean (i) any Former Business that, at the time of sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, disposition, divestiture (in whole or in part) or discontinuation, abandonment, completion or termination of the operations, activities or production thereof, was (a) primarily managed by or associated with the Vontier Business as then conducted or (b) part of a business the majority of which as of the Distribution Date is or was transferred to Vontier and (ii) the Former Businesses set forth on Schedule 1.1(147), whether or not such Former Business would meet the standard set forth in sub-clause (i) of this definition.
(148) Vontier Former Real Property shall mean any real property that at the time of sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, disposition, divestiture (in whole or in part) or discontinuation, abandonment, completion or termination of the operations, activities or production thereof, was primarily owned, leased or operated in connection with the Vontier Business or any of the Vontier Former Businesses.
(149) Vontier Group shall mean Vontier and each Person that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Vontier as of the Effective Time (but after giving effect to the Internal Reorganization), and each Person that becomes a Subsidiary of Vontier after the Effective Time.
(150) Vontier Group Landlord Property shall mean the Vontier Owned Real Property as to which the Fortive Group will enter into a lease or other agreement to conduct business operations after the Effective Time. A non-exclusive list of the Vontier Group Landlord Property is set forth on Schedule 1.1(150).
(151) Vontier Indemnitees shall mean each member of the Vontier Group and each of their respective Affiliates from and after the Effective Time and each member of the Vontier Groups and such respective Affiliates respective current, former and future directors, officers, employees and agents (solely in their respective capacities as current, former and future directors, officers, employees or agents of any member of the Vontier Group or their respective Affiliates) and each of the heirs, administrators, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing, except, for the avoidance of doubt, the Fortive Indemnitees.
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(152) Vontier Liabilities shall mean:
(i) any and all Liabilities to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from (a) the operation or conduct of the Vontier Business, as conducted at any time prior to, at or after the Effective Time (including any Liability relating to, arising out of or resulting from any act or failure to act by any director, officer, employee, agent or representative (whether or not such act or failure to act is or was within such Persons authority) of the Vontier Group and any and all Liability relating to, arising out of or resulting from any unclaimed property); (b) the operation or conduct of any business conducted by any member of the Vontier Group at any time after the Effective Time (including any Liability relating to, arising out of or resulting from any act or failure to act by any director, officer, employee, agent or representative (whether or not such act or failure to act is or was within such Persons authority) of the Vontier Group and any and all Liability relating to, arising out of or resulting from any unclaimed property); or (c) any Vontier Asset, whether arising before, at or after the Effective Time (including any Liability relating to, arising out of or resulting from Vontier Contracts, Shared Contracts (to the extent such Liability relates to the Vontier Business) and any real property and leasehold interests):
(ii) the Liabilities set forth on Schedule 1.1(152)(ii) and any and all other Liabilities that are expressly provided by this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements as Liabilities to be assumed by Vontier or any other member of the Vontier Group, and all agreements, obligations and Liabilities of Vontier or any other member of the Vontier Group under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;
(iii) any and all Liabilities reflected on the Vontier Balance Sheet (other than those in Schedule 1.1(152)(iii)) or the accounting records supporting such balance sheet and any Liabilities incurred by or for Vontier or any member of the Vontier Group subsequent to the date of the Vontier Balance Sheet which, had they been so incurred on or before such date, would have been reflected on the Vontier Balance Sheet if prepared on a consistent basis, subject to any discharge of any of such Liabilities subsequent to the date of the Vontier Balance Sheet;
(iv) any and all Liabilities to the extent relating to, arising out of, or resulting from, whether prior to, at or after the Effective Time, any infringement, misappropriation or other violation of any Intellectual Property of any other Person related to the conduct of the Vontier Business;
(v) any and all Vontier Environmental Liabilities;
(vi) any and all Liabilities (including under applicable federal and state securities Laws) relating to, arising out of or resulting from (A) the Distribution Disclosure Documents or (B) any Vontier Disclosure;
(vii) for the avoidance of doubt, and without limiting any other matters that may constitute Vontier Liabilities, any Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Action primarily related to the Vontier Business, including all Actions listed on Schedule 1.1(152)(vii);
(viii) any product liability claims or other claims of third parties, including any and all product liabilities, whether such product liabilities are known or unknown, contingent or accrued, relating to loss of life or injury to persons due to exposure to asbestos prior to, at or after the Effective Time, primarily relating to, arising out of or resulting from any product developed, designed, manufactured, marketed, distributed, leased or sold by the Vontier Business;
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(ix) all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Indebtedness of any member of the Vontier Group or any Indebtedness secured exclusively by any of the Vontier Assets; and
(x) any and all other Liabilities that are held by the Vontier Group or the Fortive Group immediately prior to the Effective Time that were inadvertently omitted or assigned that, had the parties given specific consideration to such Liability as of the date of this Agreement, would have otherwise been classified as a Vontier Liability based on the principles set forth in Section 1.1(152); provided, that no Liability shall be a Vontier Liability solely as a result of this clause (x) unless a claim with respect thereto is made by Fortive on or prior to the date that is eighteen (18) months after the Effective Time.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Vontier Liabilities shall not include any Liabilities that are (A) expressly contemplated by this Agreement or by any Ancillary Agreement (or the Schedules hereto or thereto) as Liabilities to be Assumed by any member of the Fortive Group, (B) expressly discharged pursuant to Section 2.4(c) of this Agreement or (C) Fortive Retained Liabilities.
(153) Vontier Personal Data shall mean Personal Data of the Vontier Group that is used in or by, or otherwise related to, any Vontier Business.
(154) Vontier Released Liabilities shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(a)(ii).
(155) Vontier Voting Stock shall mean all classes and series of the capital stock of Vontier entitled to vote generally with respect to the election of directors.
Section 1.2 References; Interpretation. References in this Agreement to any gender include references to all genders, and references to the singular include references to the plural and vice versa. Unless the context otherwise requires, the words include, includes and including when used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Agreement to Articles, Sections, Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules shall be deemed references to Articles and Sections of, and Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement. Unless the context otherwise requires, the words hereof, hereby and herein and words of similar meaning when used in this Agreement refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular Article, Section or provision of this Agreement. The word or shall have the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase and/or. Any reference to any agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and by this Agreement. Any reference to any Law (including statutes and ordinances) means such law (including all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) as amended, modified, codified or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in
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effect at the time of determining compliance or applicability. The words written request when used in this Agreement shall include email. Reference in this Agreement to any time shall be to New York City, New York time unless otherwise expressly provided herein. Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this Agreement to Fortive shall also be deemed to refer to the applicable member of the Fortive Group, references to Vontier shall also be deemed to refer to the applicable member of the Vontier Group and, in connection therewith, any references to actions or omissions to be taken, or refrained from being taken, as the case may be, by Fortive or Vontier shall be deemed to require Fortive or Vontier, as the case may be, to cause the applicable members of the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group, respectively, to take, or refrain from taking, any such action. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, whenever Fortives consent is required under this Agreement, such consent may be withheld, delayed or conditioned by Fortive in its sole and absolute discretion, and whenever any action hereunder is at Fortives discretion, such action shall be at Fortives sole and absolute discretion. In the event of any inconsistency or conflict which may arise in the application or interpretation of any of the definitions set forth in Section 1.1, for the purpose of determining what is and is not included in such definitions, any item explicitly included on a Schedule referred to in any such definition shall take priority over any provision of the text thereof.
ARTICLE II
THE SEPARATION
Section 2.1 General. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Parties shall use, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to use, their respective commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the completion of the Internal Reorganization, a portion of which may have already been implemented prior to the date hereof.
Section 2.2 Restructuring: Transfer of Assets; Assumption of Liabilities.
(a) Internal Reorganization. At or prior to the Effective Time, except for Transfers contemplated by the Internal Reorganization or this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements to occur after the Effective Time, the Parties shall complete the Internal Reorganization, including by taking the actions referred to in Sections 2.2(b) and 2.2(c) below.
(b) Transfer of Assets. At or prior to the Effective Time (it being understood that some of such Transfers may occur following the Effective Time in accordance with Section 2.2(a) and Section 2.6), subject to Section 2.6 and pursuant to the Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments and in connection with the Contribution:
(i) Vontier and Fortive shall, and shall cause the applicable other Asset Transferors to, transfer, contribute, distribute, assign and/or convey or cause to be transferred, contributed, distributed, assigned and/or conveyed (Transfer) to (A) the respective Fortive Asset Transferees, all of the applicable Asset Transferors direct or indirect right, title and interest in and to the applicable Fortive Retained Assets, including all of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other ownership interests that are included in the Fortive Retained Assets, and the applicable Fortive Asset Transferees shall accept
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from such applicable Asset Transferors such applicable Asset Transferors respective direct or indirect right, title and interest in and to the applicable Fortive Retained Assets, and (B) Vontier and/or the respective Vontier Asset Transferees, all of the applicable Asset Transferors right, title and interest in and to the applicable Vontier Assets, including all of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other ownership interests that are included in the Vontier Assets, and the applicable Vontier Asset Transferees shall accept from such applicable Asset Transferors such applicable Asset Transferors respective direct or indirect right, title and interest in and to the applicable Vontier Assets.
(ii) Any costs and expenses incurred after the Effective Time to effect any Transfer contemplated by this Section 2.2(b) (including any transfer effected pursuant to Section 2.6) shall be paid by the Parties as set forth in Section 9.5(b) and (c). Other than costs and expenses incurred in accordance with the foregoing sentence, nothing in this Section 2.2(b) shall require any member of any Group to incur any material obligation or grant any material concession for the benefit of any member of any other Group in order to effect any transaction contemplated by this Section 2.2(b).
(c) Assumption of Liabilities. Except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, in connection with the Internal Reorganization and the Contribution or, if applicable, from and after the Effective Time, in each case pursuant to this Agreement or the applicable Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments, (i) Fortive shall, or shall cause a member of the Fortive Group to, accept, assume (or, as applicable, retain) and perform, discharge and fulfill, in accordance with their respective terms (Assume), all of the Fortive Retained Liabilities and (ii) Vontier shall, or shall cause a member of the Vontier Group to, Assume all of the Vontier Liabilities, in each case, regardless of (A) when or where such Liabilities arose or arise, (B) whether the facts upon which they are based occurred prior to, at or subsequent to the Effective Time, (C) whether accruals for such Liabilities have been transferred to Vontier or included on a combined balance sheet of the Vontier Business or whether any such accruals are sufficient to cover such Liabilities, (D) where or against whom such Liabilities are asserted or determined, (E) whether arising from or alleged to arise from negligence, gross negligence, recklessness, violation of Law, fraud or misrepresentation by any member of the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group, as the case may be, or any of their past or present respective directors, officers, employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates, (F) which entity is named in any Action associated with any Liability, or (G) any benefits, or lack thereof, that have been or may be obtained by the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group in respect of such Liabilities.
(d) Consents. The Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the Consents required to Transfer any Assets, Contracts, licenses, permits and authorizations issued by any Governmental Entity or parts thereof as contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Contract or other Asset shall be transferred if it would violate applicable Law or, in the case of any Contract, the rights of any third party to such Contract; provided that Section 2.6, to the extent provided therein, shall apply thereto.
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(e) It is understood and agreed by the Parties that certain of the Transfers referenced in Section 2.2(b) or Assumptions referenced in Section 2.2(c) have occurred prior to the date hereof and, as a result, no additional Transfers or Assumptions by any member of the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group, as applicable, shall be deemed to occur upon the execution of this Agreement with respect thereto. Moreover, to the extent that any member of the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group, as applicable, is liable for any Fortive Retained Liability or Assumed Liability, respectively, by operation of law immediately following any Transfer in accordance with this Agreement or any Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments, there shall be no need for any other member of the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group, as applicable, to Assume such Liability in connection with the operation of Section 2.2(c) and, accordingly, no other member of such Group shall Assume such Liability in connection with Section 2.2(c).
Section 2.3 Treatment of Shared Contracts. Without limiting the generality of the obligations set forth in Sections 2.2(a) and (b):
(a) Unless the Parties otherwise agree or the benefits of any Contract described in this Section 2.3 are expressly conveyed to the applicable Party pursuant to an Ancillary Agreement, any Contract that is listed on Schedule 2.3(a) (a Shared Contract) shall be assigned in part to the applicable member(s) of the applicable Group, if so assignable, or appropriately amended prior to, at or after the Effective Time, so that each Party or the members of their respective Groups as of the Effective Time shall be entitled to the rights and benefits, and shall Assume the related portion of any Liabilities, inuring to their respective Businesses; provided, however, that (x) in no event shall any member of any Group be required to assign (or amend) any Shared Contract in its entirety or to assign a portion of any Shared Contract (including any Policy) which is not assignable (or cannot be amended) by its terms (including any terms imposing consents or conditions on an assignment where such consents or conditions have not been obtained or fulfilled, subject to Section 2.2(d)), and (y) if any Shared Contract cannot be so partially assigned by its terms or otherwise, cannot be amended or has not for any other reason been assigned or amended, or if such assignment or amendment would impair the benefit the parties thereto derive from such Shared Contract, (A) at the reasonable request of the Party (or the member of such Partys Group) to which the benefit of such Shared Contract inures in part, the Party for which such Shared Contract is, as applicable, a Fortive Retained Asset or Vontier Asset shall, and shall cause each of its respective Subsidiaries to, for a period ending not later than eighteen (18) months after the Distribution Date (unless the term of a Shared Contract (excluding any extensions thereof) ends at a later date, in which case for a period ending on such date), take such other reasonable and permissible actions to cause such member of the Vontier Group or the Fortive Group, as the case may be, to receive the benefit of that portion of each Shared Contract that relates to the Vontier Business or the Fortive Retained Business, as the case may be (in each case, to the extent so related) as if such Shared Contract had been assigned to (or amended to allow) a member of the applicable Group pursuant to this Section 2.3 and to bear the burden of the corresponding Liabilities (including any Liabilities that may arise by reason of such arrangement) as if such Liabilities had been Assumed by a member of the applicable Group pursuant to this Section 2.3; provided that the Party for which such Shared Contract is a Fortive Retained Asset or a Vontier Asset, as applicable, shall be indemnified for all Indemnifiable Losses or other Liabilities arising out of any actions (or omissions to act) of such retaining Party taken at the direction of the other Party (or relevant member of its Group) in connection with and relating to such Shared Contract, as the case may be, and (B) the Party to which the benefit of
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such Shared Contract inures in part shall use commercially reasonable efforts to enter into a separate contract pursuant to which it procures such rights and obligations as are necessary such that it no longer needs to avail itself of the arrangements provided pursuant to this Section 2.3(a); provided that, the Party for which such Shared Contract is, as applicable, a Fortive Retained Asset or Vontier Asset, and such Partys applicable Subsidiaries shall not be liable for any actions or omissions taken in accordance with clause (y) of this Section 2.3(a).
(b) Unless otherwise determined by Fortive in its sole discretion, each of Fortive and Vontier shall, and shall cause the members of its Group to, (A) treat for all Tax purposes the portion of each Shared Contract inuring to its respective Businesses as Assets owned by, and/or Liabilities of, as applicable, such Party as of the Effective Time and (B) neither report nor take any Tax position (on a Tax Return or otherwise) inconsistent with such treatment (unless required by applicable Law or good faith resolution of a Tax Contest).
Section 2.4 Intercompany Accounts, Loans and Agreements.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 5.1(b), all intercompany receivables and payables (other than (x) intercompany loans (which shall be governed by Section 2.4(c)), (y) receivables or payables otherwise specifically provided for on Schedule 2.4(a), and (z) payables created or required by this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or any Continuing Arrangements) and intercompany balances, including in respect of any cash balances, any cash balances representing deposited checks or drafts or any cash held in any centralized cash management system between any member of the Fortive Group, on the one hand, and any member of the Vontier Group, on the other hand, which exist and are reflected in the accounting records of the relevant Parties immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall continue to be outstanding after the Effective Time and thereafter (i) shall be an obligation of the relevant Party (or the relevant member of such Partys Group), each responsible for fulfilling its (or a member of such Partys Groups) obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions applicable to such obligation or if such terms and conditions are not set forth in writing, such obligation shall be satisfied within 30 days of a written request by the beneficiary of such obligation given to the corresponding obligor thereunder, and (ii) shall be for each relevant Party (or the relevant member of such Partys Group) an obligation to a third party and shall no longer be an intercompany account.
(b) As between the Parties (and the members of their respective Group), all payments and reimbursements received after the Effective Time by one Party (or member of its Group) that relate to a Business, Asset or Liability of the other Party (or member of its Group), shall be held by such Party in trust for the use and benefit of the Party entitled thereto (at the expense of the Party entitled thereto) and, promptly upon receipt by such Party of any such payment or reimbursement, such Party shall pay or shall cause the applicable member of its Group to pay over to the Party entitled thereto the amount of such payment or reimbursement without right of set-off.
(c) Except as set forth on Schedule 2.4(c), each of Fortive or any member of the Fortive Group, on the one hand, and Vontier or any member of the Vontier Group, on the other hand, will settle with the other Party, as the case may be, all intercompany loans, including any promissory notes, owned or owed by the other Party on or prior to the Distribution Date, except as otherwise agreed to in good faith by the Parties in writing on or after the date hereof, it being understood and agreed by the Parties that all guarantees and Credit Support Instruments shall be governed by Section 2.10.
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Section 2.5 Limitation of Liability; Intercompany Contracts. No Party nor any Subsidiary thereof shall be liable to the other Party or any Subsidiary of the other Party based upon, arising out of or resulting from any Contract, arrangement, course of dealing or understanding between or among it and the other Party existing at or prior to the Effective Time (other than as set forth on Schedule 2.5, pursuant to this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement, any Continuing Arrangements, any Third Party Agreements, as set forth in Section 2.4 or Section 5.1(b) or pursuant to any other Contract entered into in connection herewith or in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby) and each Party hereby terminates any and all Contracts, arrangements, courses of dealing or understandings between or among it and the other Party effective as of the Effective Time (other than as set forth on Schedule 2.5, this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement, any Continuing Arrangements, any Third Party Agreements, as set forth in Section 2.4 or Section 5.1(b) or pursuant to any Contract entered into in connection herewith or in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby), provided, however, that with respect to any Contract, arrangement, course of dealing or understanding between or among the Parties or any Subsidiaries thereof discovered after the Effective Time, the Parties agree that such Contract, arrangement, course of dealing or understanding shall nonetheless be deemed terminated as of the Effective Time with the only liability of the Parties in respect thereof to be the obligations incurred between the Parties pursuant to such Contract, arrangement, course of dealing or understanding between the Effective Time and the time of discovery or later termination of any such Contract, arrangement, course of dealing or understanding.
Section 2.6 Transfers Not Effected at or Prior to the Effective Time; Transfers Deemed Effective as of the Effective Time.
(a) To the extent that any Transfers of any Assets (including the capital stock or equity interest of any members of the Vontier Group and/or the Fortive Group) or Assumptions of any Liabilities contemplated by this Article II shall not have been consummated at or prior to the Effective Time (such Assets subject to such delayed Transfer, the Deferred Assets and such Liabilities subject to such delayed Assumptions, the Deferred Liabilities), the Parties shall, except (i) as set forth on Schedule 2.6(a) or (ii) as contemplated by the Internal Reorganization, use commercially reasonable efforts to effect such Transfers or Assumptions as promptly as shall be practicable following the Effective Time. Nothing herein shall be deemed to require or constitute the Transfer of any Assets or the Assumption of any Liabilities which by their terms or operation of Law cannot be Transferred or Assumed; provided, however, that the Parties and their respective Subsidiaries shall cooperate and use commercially reasonable efforts to seek to obtain, in accordance with applicable Law, any necessary Consents or Governmental Approvals for the Transfer of all Assets and Assumption of all Liabilities contemplated to be Transferred and Assumed pursuant to this Article II to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law. In the event that any such Transfer of Assets or Assumption of Liabilities has not been consummated by the Effective Time, from and after the Effective Time, except as set forth on Schedule 2.6(a), (i) the Party (or relevant member in its Group) retaining such Deferred Assets shall thereafter, insofar as reasonably possible and to the
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extent permitted by applicable Law, hold (or shall cause such member in its Group to hold) such Deferred Assets in trust for the use and benefit of the Party entitled thereto (at the expense of the Party entitled thereto), and (ii) the Party intended to Assume such Deferred Liabilities shall, or shall cause the applicable member of its Group to, pay or reimburse the Party retaining such Deferred Liabilities for all amounts paid or incurred in connection with the retention of such Deferred Liabilities. To the extent the foregoing applies to any Contracts (other than Shared Contracts, which shall be governed solely by Section 2.3) to be assigned for which any necessary Consents or Governmental Approvals are not received prior to the Effective Time, the treatment of such Contracts shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be subject to Section 2.8 and Section 2.9, to the extent applicable. In addition, the Party retaining such Deferred Assets or Deferred Liabilities (or relevant member of its Group) shall (or shall cause such member in its Group to) treat or operate, insofar as reasonably possible and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, such Deferred Assets or Deferred Liabilities in the ordinary course of business and take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the Party to which such Deferred Assets are to be Transferred or the Party to be Assuming such Deferred Liabilities, in order to place such Party, insofar as reasonably possible and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, in the same position as if such Deferred Assets or Deferred Liabilities had been Transferred or Assumed as contemplated hereby and so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such Deferred Assets or Deferred Liabilities, including possession, use, risk of loss, potential for income and gain, and dominion, control and command over such Deferred Assets or Deferred Liabilities, are to inure from and after the Effective Time to the relevant member or members of the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group entitled to the receipt of such Deferred Assets or required to Assume such Deferred Liabilities. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Parties agree that, as of the Effective Time, except as set forth on Schedule 2.6(a) and subject to Section 2.2(c) and Section 2.9(b), each Party shall be deemed to have acquired complete and sole beneficial ownership over all of the Deferred Assets, together with all rights, powers and privileges incident thereto, and shall be deemed to have Assumed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement all of the Deferred Liabilities, and all duties, obligations and responsibilities incident thereto, which such Party is entitled to acquire or required to Assume pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
(b) If and when the Consents, Governmental Approvals and/or conditions, the absence or non-satisfaction of which caused the deferral of Transfer of any Asset or deferral of Assumption of any Liability pursuant to Section 2.6(a), are obtained or satisfied, the Transfer, assignment, Assumption or novation of the applicable Asset or Liability shall be effected without further consideration in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement (including Section 2.2) and/or the applicable Ancillary Agreement, and shall, to the extent possible without the imposition of any undue cost on any Party, be deemed to have become effective as of the Effective Time.
(c) The Party (or relevant member of its Group) retaining any Deferred Assets or Deferred Liabilities pursuant to Section 2.6(a) or otherwise, except as set forth in Schedule 2.6(c), shall (i) not be obligated, in connection with the foregoing, to expend any money unless the necessary funds are advanced, assumed, or agreed in advance to be reimbursed by the Party (or relevant member of its Group) entitled to such Deferred Assets or the Person
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intended to be subject to such Deferred Liabilities, other than reasonable attorneys fees and recording or similar or other incidental fees, all of which shall be promptly reimbursed by the Party (or relevant member of its Group) entitled to such Deferred Assets or the Person intended to be subject to such Deferred Liabilities and (ii) be indemnified for all Indemnifiable Losses or other Liabilities arising out of any actions (or omissions to act) of such retaining Party taken at the direction of the other Party (or relevant member of its Group) in connection with and relating to such retained Deferred Assets or Deferred Liabilities, as the case may be.
(d) After the Effective Time, each Party (or any member of its Group) may receive mail, packages, electronic mail and any other written communications properly belonging to another Party (or any member of its Group). Accordingly, at all times after the Effective Time, each Party is hereby authorized to receive and, if reasonably necessary to identify the proper recipient in accordance with this Section 2.6(d), open all mail, packages, electronic mail and any other written communications received by such Party that belongs to such other Party, and to the extent that they do not relate to the business of the receiving Party, the receiving Party shall promptly deliver such mail, packages, electronic mail or any other written communications (or, in case the same also relates to the business of the receiving Party or another Party, copies thereof) to such other Party as provided for in Section 9.6; it being understood that if a Party receives a telephone call that relates to the business of the other Party, then the receiving Party shall inform the person making such telephone call to contact the other Party. The provisions of this Section 2.6(d) are not intended to, and shall not, be deemed to constitute an authorization by any Party to permit the other to accept service of process on its behalf and no Party is or shall be deemed to be the agent of any other Party for service of process purposes.
(e) With respect to Assets and Liabilities described in Section 2.6(a), each of Fortive and Vontier shall, and shall cause the members of its respective Group to, (i) treat for all Tax purposes (A) the Deferred Assets as Assets having been Transferred to and owned by the Party entitled to such Deferred Assets not later than the Effective Time and (B) the Deferred Liabilities as liabilities having been Assumed and owned by the Person intended to be subject to such Liabilities not later than the Effective Time and (ii) neither report nor take any Tax position (on a Tax Return or otherwise) inconsistent with such treatment (unless required by a change in applicable Law or good faith resolution of a Tax Contest).
Section 2.7 Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments. In connection with, and in furtherance of, the Transfers of Assets and the Assumptions of Liabilities contemplated by this Agreement, the Parties shall execute or cause to be executed, on or after the date hereof by the appropriate entities to the extent not executed prior to the date hereof, any Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments necessary to evidence the valid Transfer to the applicable Party or member of such Partys Group of all right, title and interest in and to its accepted Assets and the valid and effective Assumption by the applicable Party of its Assumed Liabilities for Transfers and Assumptions to be effected pursuant to Delaware Law or the Laws of one of the other states of the United States or, if not appropriate for a given Transfer or Assumption, and for Transfers or Assumptions to be effected pursuant to non-U.S. Laws, in such form as the Parties shall reasonably agree, including the Transfer of real property by mutually acceptable conveyance deeds as may be appropriate and in form and substance as may be required by the jurisdiction in which the real property is located. The Transfer of capital stock shall be effected by means of executed stock powers and notation on the stock record books of the corporation or other legal entities involved, or by such other means as may be required in any non-U.S. jurisdiction to Transfer title to stock and, only to the extent required by applicable Law, by notation on public registries.
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Section 2.8 Further Assurances; Ancillary Agreements.
(a) In addition to and without limiting the actions specifically provided for elsewhere in this Agreement and subject to the limitations expressly set forth in this Agreement, including Section 2.6, each of the Parties shall cooperate with each other and use (and shall cause its respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates to use) commercially reasonable efforts, at and after the Effective Time, to take, or to cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or to cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary on its part under applicable Law or contractual obligations to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
(b) Without limiting the foregoing, at and after the Effective Time, each Party shall cooperate with the other Party, and without any further consideration, but at the expense of the requesting Party (except as provided in Sections 2.2(b)(ii) and 2.6(c)) from and after the Effective Time, to execute and deliver, or use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be executed and delivered, all instruments, including instruments of Transfer or title, and to make all filings with, and to obtain all Consents and/or Governmental Approvals, any permit, license, Contract, indenture or other instrument (including any Consents or Governmental Approvals), and to take all such other actions as such Party may reasonably be requested to take by any other Party from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, in order to effectuate the provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the Transfers of the applicable Assets and the assignment and Assumption of the applicable Liabilities and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Without limiting the foregoing, each Party shall, at the reasonable request, cost and expense of any other Party (except as provided in Sections 2.2(b)(ii) and 2.6(c)), take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to vest in such other Party such title and such rights as possessed by the transferring Party to the Assets allocated to such other Party under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, free and clear of any Security Interest.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, in the event that any Party (or member of such Partys Group) receives any Assets (including the receipt of payments made pursuant to Contracts and proceeds from accounts receivable with respect to such Asset) or is liable for any Liability that is otherwise allocated to any Person that is a member of the other Group pursuant to this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, such Party agrees to promptly Transfer, or cause to be Transferred such Asset or Liability to the other Party so entitled thereto (or member of such other Partys Group as designated by such other Party) at such other Partys expense. Prior to any such Transfer, such Asset or Liability, as the case may be, shall be held in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.6.
(d) At or prior to the Effective Time, each of Fortive and Vontier shall enter into, and/or (where applicable) shall cause a member or members of their respective Group to enter into, the Ancillary Agreements and any other Contracts reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
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(e) On or prior to the Distribution Date, Fortive and Vontier in their respective capacities as direct or indirect stockholders of their respective Subsidiaries, shall each ratify any actions that are reasonably necessary or desirable to be taken by any Subsidiary of Fortive or Subsidiary of Vontier, as the case may be, to effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
Section 2.9 Novation of Liabilities; Indemnification.
(a) Each Party, at the request of any member of the other Partys Group (such other Party, the Other Party), shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any Consent, Governmental Approval, substitution or amendment required to novate or assign to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law all obligations under Contracts (other than Shared Contracts, which shall be governed by Section 2.3) and Liabilities (other than with regard to guarantees or Credit Support Instruments, which shall be governed by Section 2.10), but solely to the extent that the Parties are jointly or each severally liable with regard to any such Contracts or Liabilities and such Contracts or Liabilities have been, in whole, but not in part, allocated to the first Party, or, if permitted by applicable Law, to obtain in writing the unconditional release of the applicable Other Party so that, in any such case, the members of the applicable Group shall be solely responsible for such Contracts or Liabilities; provided, however, that no Party shall be obligated to pay any consideration therefor to any third party from whom any such Consent, Governmental Approval, substitution or amendment is requested (unless such Party is fully reimbursed by the requesting Party). In addition, with respect to any Action where any Party hereto is a defendant, when and if requested by such Party, the Other Party at its own cost will use commercially reasonable efforts to remove the requesting Party as a defendant to the extent that such Action relates solely to Assets or Liabilities that the Other Party (or any member of such requesting Partys Group) has been allocated pursuant to this Article II, and the Other Party will cooperate and assist in any required communication with any plaintiff or other related third party.
(b) If the Parties are unable to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any such required Consent, Governmental Approval, release, substitution or amendment referenced in Section 2.9(a), the Other Party or a member of such Other Partys Group shall continue to be bound by such Contract, license or other obligation that does not constitute a Liability of such Other Party and, unless not permitted by Law or the terms thereof, as agent or subcontractor for such Party, the Party or member of such Partys Group who Assumed or retained such Liability as set forth in this Agreement (the Liable Party) shall, or shall cause a member of its Group to, pay, perform and discharge fully all the obligations or other Liabilities of such Other Party or member of such Other Partys Group thereunder from and after the Effective Time. For the avoidance of doubt, in furtherance of the foregoing, the Liable Party or a member of such Liable Partys Group, as agent or subcontractor of the Other Party or a member of such Other Partys Group, to the extent reasonably necessary to pay, perform and discharge fully any Liabilities, or retain the benefits (including pursuant to Section 2.6) associated with such Contract or license, is hereby granted the right to, among other things, (i) prepare, execute and submit invoices under such Contract or license in the name of the Other Party (or the applicable member of such Other Partys Group), (ii) send correspondence relating to matters under such Contract or license in the name of the Other Party (or the applicable member of such Other Partys Group), (iii) file Actions in the name of the Other Party (or the applicable member of such Other Partys Group)
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in connection with such Contract or license and (iv) otherwise exercise all rights in respect of such Contract or license in the name of the Other Party (or the applicable member of such Other Partys Group); provided that (y) such actions shall be taken in the name of the Other Party (or the applicable member of such Other Partys Group) only to the extent reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with the foregoing and (z) to the extent that there shall be a conflict between the provisions of this Section 2.9(b) and the provisions of any more specific arrangement between a member of such Liable Partys Group and a member of such Other Partys Group, such more specific arrangement shall control. The Liable Party shall indemnify each Other Party and hold each of them harmless against any Liabilities (other than Liabilities of such Other Party) arising in connection therewith; provided, that the Liable Party shall have no obligation to indemnify the Other Party with respect to any matter to the extent that such Liabilities arise from such Other Partys willful breach, knowing violation of Law, fraud, misrepresentation or gross negligence in connection therewith, in which case such Other Party shall be responsible for such Liabilities; it being understood that any exercise of rights under this Agreement by such Other Party shall not be deemed to be willful breach, knowing violation of Law, fraud, misrepresentation or gross negligence. The Other Party shall, without further consideration, promptly pay and remit, or cause to be promptly paid or remitted, to the Liable Party or, at the direction of the Liable Party, to another member of the Liable Partys Group, all money, rights and other consideration received by it or any member of its Group in respect of such performance by the Liable Party (unless any such consideration is an Asset of such Other Party pursuant to this Agreement). If and when any such Consent, Governmental Approval, release, substitution or amendment shall be obtained or such agreement, lease, license or other rights or obligations shall otherwise become assignable or able to be novated, the Other Party shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, promptly Transfer or cause the Transfer of all rights, obligations and other Liabilities thereunder of such Other Party or any member of such Other Partys Group to the Liable Party or to another member of the Liable Partys Group without payment of any further consideration and the Liable Party, or another member of such Liable Partys Group, without the payment of any further consideration, shall Assume such rights and Liabilities to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law. Each of the applicable Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to, take all actions and do all things reasonably necessary on its part, or such Subsidiaries part, under applicable Law or contractual obligations to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.9.
Section 2.10 Guarantees; Credit Support Instruments.
(a) Except as otherwise specified in any Ancillary Agreement or on Schedule 2.10(a), at or prior to the Effective Time or as soon as practicable thereafter, (i) Fortive shall (with the reasonable cooperation of the applicable member of the Vontier Group) use its commercially reasonable efforts to have each member of the Vontier Group removed as guarantor of or obligor for any Fortive Retained Liability to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, including in respect of those guarantees set forth on Schedule 2.10(a)(i), to the extent that they relate to Fortive Retained Liabilities and (ii) Vontier shall (with the reasonable cooperation of the applicable member of the Fortive Group) use commercially reasonable efforts to have each member of the Fortive Group removed as guarantor of or obligor for any Vontier Liability, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, including in respect of those guarantees set forth on Schedule 2.10(a)(ii), to the extent that they relate to Vontier Liabilities.
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(b) At or prior to the Effective Time, to the extent required to obtain a release from a guaranty:
(i) of any member of the Fortive Group, Vontier shall execute a guaranty agreement substantially in the form of the existing guaranty or such other form as is agreed to by the relevant parties to such guaranty agreement, except to the extent that such existing guaranty contains representations, covenants or other terms or provisions either (A) with which Vontier would be reasonably unable to comply or (B) which would be reasonably expected to be breached; and
(ii) of any member of the Vontier Group, Fortive shall execute a guaranty agreement substantially in the form of the existing guaranty or such other form as is agreed to by the relevant parties to such guaranty agreement, except to the extent that such existing guaranty contains representations, covenants or other terms or provisions either (A) with which Fortive would be reasonably unable to comply or (B) which would be reasonably expected to be breached.
(c) If Fortive or Vontier is unable to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any such required removal as set forth in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 2.10, (i) Fortive, to the extent a member of the Fortive Group has assumed the underlying Liability with respect to such guaranty or Vontier, to the extent a member of the Vontier Group has assumed the underlying Liability with respect to such guaranty, as the case may be, shall indemnify and hold harmless the guarantor or obligor for any Indemnifiable Loss arising from or relating thereto (in accordance with the provisions of Article V) and shall or shall cause one of its Subsidiaries, as agent or subcontractor for such guarantor or obligor to pay, perform and discharge fully all the obligations or other Liabilities of such guarantor or obligor thereunder, (ii) Vontier shall reimburse the applicable member of the Fortive Group for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it arising out of or related to any such guaranty; and (iii) each of Fortive and Vontier, on behalf of themselves and the members of their respective Groups, agree not to renew or extend the term of, increase its obligations under, or Transfer to a third party, any loan, guaranty, lease, contract or other obligation for which another Party or member of such Partys Group is or may be liable without the prior written consent of such other Party, unless all obligations of such other Party and the other members of such Partys Group with respect thereto are thereupon terminated by documentation reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to such Party.
(d) Fortive and Vontier shall cooperate and Vontier shall use commercially reasonable efforts to replace all Credit Support Instruments issued by Fortive or other members of the Fortive Group on behalf of or in favor of any member of the Vontier Group or the Vontier Business (the Fortive CSIs) as promptly as practicable with Credit Support Instruments from Vontier or a member of the Vontier Group as of the Effective Time. With respect to any Fortive CSIs that remain outstanding after the Effective Time, (i) Vontier shall, and shall cause the members of the Vontier Group to, jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless the Fortive Indemnitees for any Liabilities arising from or relating to such Credit Support Instruments, including any fees in connection with the issuance and maintenance thereof and any funds drawn by (or for the benefit of), or disbursements made to, the beneficiaries of such Fortive CSIs in accordance with the terms thereof, (ii) Vontier shall reimburse the applicable member of the Fortive Group for all out of pocket expenses incurred by it arising out
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of or related to any such Credit Support Instrument, and (iii) without the prior written consent of Fortive, Vontier shall not, and shall not permit any member of the Vontier Group to, enter into, renew or extend the term of, increase its obligations under, or transfer to a third party, any loan, lease, Contract or other obligation in connection with which Fortive or any member of the Fortive Group has issued any Credit Support Instruments which remain outstanding. Neither Fortive nor any member of the Fortive Group will have any obligation to renew any Credit Support Instruments issued on behalf of or in favor of any member of the Vontier Group or the Vontier Business after the expiration of any such Credit Support Instrument.
Section 2.11 Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties.
(a) EACH OF FORTIVE (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH MEMBER OF THE FORTIVE GROUP) AND VONTIER (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH MEMBER OF THE VONTIER GROUP) UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THAT, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN, IN ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT OR IN ANY CONTINUING ARRANGEMENT, NO PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT OR DOCUMENT CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS OR OTHERWISE, IS REPRESENTING OR WARRANTING IN ANY WAY, AND HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, AS TO THE ASSETS, BUSINESSES OR LIABILITIES CONTRIBUTED, TRANSFERRED OR ASSUMED AS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, AS TO ANY CONSENTS OR GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS REQUIRED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH, AS TO THE VALUE OR FREEDOM FROM ANY SECURITY INTERESTS OF, AS TO NONINFRINGEMENT, VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OR ANY OTHER MATTER CONCERNING, ANY ASSETS OR BUSINESS OF SUCH PARTY, OR AS TO THE ABSENCE OF ANY DEFENSES OR RIGHT OF SETOFF OR FREEDOM FROM COUNTERCLAIM WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION OR OTHER ASSET, INCLUDING ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, OF ANY PARTY, OR AS TO THE LEGAL SUFFICIENCY OF ANY CONTRIBUTION, ASSIGNMENT, DOCUMENT, CERTIFICATE OR INSTRUMENT DELIVERED HEREUNDER TO CONVEY TITLE TO ANY ASSET OR THING OF VALUE UPON THE EXECUTION, DELIVERY AND FILING HEREOF OR THEREOF. EXCEPT AS MAY EXPRESSLY BE SET FORTH HEREIN OR IN ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT, ALL SUCH ASSETS ARE BEING TRANSFERRED ON AN AS IS, WHERE IS BASIS (AND, IN THE CASE OF ANY REAL PROPERTY, BY MEANS OF A QUITCLAIM OR SIMILAR FORM DEED OR CONVEYANCE) AND THE RESPECTIVE TRANSFEREES SHALL BEAR THE ECONOMIC AND LEGAL RISKS THAT (I) ANY CONVEYANCE SHALL PROVE TO BE INSUFFICIENT TO VEST IN THE TRANSFEREE GOOD TITLE, FREE AND CLEAR OF ANY SECURITY INTEREST AND (II) ANY NECESSARY CONSENTS OR GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS ARE NOT OBTAINED OR THAT ANY REQUIREMENTS OF LAWS OR JUDGMENTS ARE NOT COMPLIED WITH.
(b) Each of Fortive (on behalf of itself and each member of the Fortive Group) and Vontier (on behalf of itself and each member of the Vontier Group) further understands and agrees that if the disclaimer of express or implied representations and warranties contained in Section 2.11(a) is held unenforceable or is unavailable for any reason under the Laws of any jurisdiction outside the United States or if, under the Laws of a jurisdiction outside
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the United States, both Fortive or any member of the Fortive Group, on the one hand, and Vontier or any member of the Vontier Group, on the other hand, are jointly or severally liable for any Fortive Liability or any Vontier Liability, respectively, then, the Parties intend that, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary under the Laws of such foreign jurisdictions, the provisions of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (including the disclaimer of all representations and warranties, allocation of Liabilities among the Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, releases, indemnification and contribution of Liabilities) shall prevail for any and all purposes among the Parties and their respective Subsidiaries.
(c) Fortive hereby waives compliance by itself and each and every member of the Fortive Group with the requirements and provisions of any bulk-sale or bulk transfer Laws of any jurisdiction that may otherwise be applicable with respect to the transfer or sale of any or all of the Fortive Assets to Fortive or any member of the Fortive Group.
(d) Vontier hereby waives compliance by itself and each and every member of the Vontier Group with the requirements and provisions of any bulk-sale or bulk transfer Laws of any jurisdiction that may otherwise be applicable with respect to the transfer or sale of any or all of the Vontier Assets to Vontier or any member of the Vontier Group.
Section 2.12 Vontier Financing Arrangements. On or prior to the Distribution Date, Vontier shall enter into the Vontier Financing Arrangements, on such terms and conditions as determined by Fortive in its sole discretion (including the amount that shall be borrowed pursuant to the Vontier Financing Arrangements and the terms and interest rates for such borrowings) and the Vontier Financing Arrangements shall have been consummated in accordance therewith. Fortive and Vontier shall participate in the preparation of all materials and presentations as may be reasonably necessary to secure funding pursuant to the Vontier Financing Arrangements, including rating agency presentations necessary to obtain the requisite ratings needed to secure the financing under any of the Vontier Financing Arrangements.
Section 2.13 Cash Management; Consideration; Cash Adjustment.
(a) Cash Management. From the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time, Fortive and its Subsidiaries shall be entitled to use, retain or otherwise dispose of all cash and cash equivalents generated by the Vontier Business and the Vontier Assets in Fortives sole discretion. Subject to any adjustment in accordance with this Section 2.13, all cash and cash equivalents held by any member of the Vontier Group as of the Effective Time shall be a Vontier Asset and all cash and cash equivalents held by any member of the Fortive Group as of the Effective Time shall be a Fortive Retained Asset. To the extent that following the Effective Time any cash and cash equivalents are required to be transferred from any member of the Fortive Group to any member of the Vontier Group or from any member of the Vontier Group to any member of the Fortive Group to make effective the Internal Reorganization or the Contribution pursuant to this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (including if required by Law or regulation to effect the foregoing, but excluding for the avoidance of doubt, the transfer of cash and cash equivalents contemplated by Section 2.13(b)), the Party receiving such cash and cash equivalents shall promptly transfer an amount in cash equal to such transferred cash and cash equivalents back to the transferring Party so as not to override the allocations of Assets, Liabilities and expenses related to the Internal Reorganization and the Contribution contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
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(b) Consideration. In exchange for the Contribution, Vontier agrees to, on or prior to the Distribution Date, (i) issue to Fortive fully paid and non-assessable shares of Vontier Common Stock pursuant to a 168,378.946-for-one stock split to be effected by Vontier and (ii) subject to any adjustment in accordance with Section 2.13(c), pay to Fortive all of the net proceeds of the Vontier Financing Arrangements received by Vontier at or prior to the consummation of the Distribution (the Vontier Contribution Payment) (such issuances and payment, collectively, the Consideration). Each applicable payment made by Vontier to Fortive pursuant to this Section 2.13(b) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Fortive to Vontier in writing.
(c) Cash Adjustment.
(i) Non-Restricted Jurisdictions.
(1) As promptly as practicable following the Distribution Date, Fortive shall calculate the Distribution Date Cash Amount. The calculation of the Distribution Date Cash Amount shall be made by Fortive in good faith and shall be final and binding on Vontier.
(2) If Fortive determines that (A) the Distribution Date Cash Amount exceeds the Target Cash Amount, the amount of such excess, plus any interest accrued in accordance with Section 2.13(c)(iii), shall be paid by Vontier to Fortive in accordance with Section 2.13(c)(i)(3), or (B) the Target Cash Amount exceeds the Distribution Date Cash Amount, the amount of such excess, plus any interest accrued in accordance with Section 2.13(c)(iii), shall be paid by Fortive to Vontier in accordance with Section 2.13(c)(i)(3) (the amount of any such payment under clause (A) or (B), as the case may be, the Cash Adjustment).
(3) If payment is required to be made by Vontier in accordance with Section 2.13(c)(i)(2)(A), Vontier shall, within five (5) Business Days after the determination of the Distribution Date Cash Amount pursuant to this Section 2.13, make payment to Fortive by wire transfer in immediately available funds of the amount payable by Vontier in an amount equal to the Cash Adjustment. If payment is required to be made by Fortive in accordance with Section 2.13(c)(i)(2)(B), Fortive shall, within five (5) Business Days after the determination of the Distribution Date Cash Amount pursuant to this Section 2.13, make payment to Vontier by wire transfer in immediately available funds of the amount payable by Fortive in an amount equal to the Cash Adjustment.
(ii) Restricted Jurisdictions.
(1) As promptly as practicable following the Distribution Date, Fortive shall calculate the Restricted Jurisdiction Cash Amount for each of the Restricted Jurisdictions. The calculation of the Restricted Jurisdiction Cash Amounts shall be made by Fortive in good faith and shall be final and binding on Vontier.
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(2) If Fortive determines that the Restricted Jurisdiction Target Cash Amount for any Restricted Jurisdiction exceeds the Restricted Jurisdiction Cash Amount for that Restricted Jurisdiction, the amount of such excess, plus any interest accrued in accordance with Section 2.13(c)(iii), shall be paid by Fortive to Vontier within five (5) Business Days after the determination of the Restricted Jurisdiction Cash Amount pursuant to this Section 2.13, by wire transfer in immediately available funds.
(iii) Any payments made by Vontier or Fortive with respect to the Cash Adjustment and any payment made by Fortive to Vontier pursuant to Section 2.13(c)(ii)(2) shall accrue interest from the Distribution Date to the date of payment at a rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate, from time to time in effect. Such interest shall be calculated based on a year of 365 days and the number of days elapsed since the Distribution Date. Any payment made in accordance with this Section 2.13 shall be treated in accordance with the terms of Section 9.21.
(iv) The Parties agree that if the working capital of the Vontier Business is managed outside the ordinary course of business in any significant respect during the period from December 31, 2019 through the Distribution Date, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith an adjustment to the Cash Adjustment that puts Fortive in the same position it would have been had the working capital of the Vontier Business been managed in the ordinary course of business during such period.
ARTICLE III
THE DISTRIBUTION AND ACTIONS PENDING THE DISTRIBUTION;
OTHER TRANSACTIONS
Section 3.1 Distribution. At or prior to the Effective Time, in connection with the Distribution, including the transfer of the Vontier Assets to the Vontier Group in the Internal Reorganization whenever made, Vontier shall pay the Consideration to Fortive (or Fortive and Vontier shall take or cause to be taken such other appropriate actions to ensure that Fortive has the requisite number of shares of Vontier Common Stock) and take any other action as may be requested by Fortive in order to effect the Distribution. Subject to the conditions and other terms set forth in this Article III, Fortive shall cause the Distribution Agent on the Distribution Date to make the Distribution, including by crediting the appropriate number of shares of Vontier Common Stock to book-entry accounts for each Record Holder or designated transferee or transferees of such Record Holder. For Record Holders who own Fortive Common Stock through a broker or other nominee, their shares of Vontier Common Stock will be credited to their respective accounts by such broker or nominee. No action by any Record Holder (or such Record Holders designated transferee or transferees) shall be necessary to receive the applicable number of shares of Vontier Common Stock (and, if applicable, cash in lieu of any fractional shares) such stockholder is entitled to in the Distribution.
Section 3.2 Fractional Shares. Record Holders who, after aggregating the number of shares of Vontier Common Stock (or fractions thereof) to which such stockholder would be entitled on the Record Date, would be entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Vontier Common Stock in the Distribution, will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares.
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Fractional shares of Vontier Common Stock will not be distributed in the Distribution nor credited to book-entry accounts. The Distribution Agent shall, as soon as practicable after the Distribution Date (a) determine the number of whole shares and fractional shares of Vontier Common Stock allocable to each Record Holder, (b) aggregate all such fractional shares into whole shares and sell the whole shares obtained thereby in open market transactions at then prevailing trading prices on behalf of holders who would otherwise be entitled to fractional share interests, and (c) distribute to each such holder, or for the benefit of each such beneficial owner, such holders or owners ratable share of the net proceeds of such sale, based upon the average gross selling price per share of Vontier Common Stock after making appropriate deductions for any amount required to be withheld for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Fortive shall bear the cost of brokerage fees and transfer Taxes incurred in connection with these sales of fractional shares, which such sales shall occur as soon after the Distribution Date as practicable and as determined by the Distribution Agent. None of Fortive, Vontier or the applicable Distribution Agent will guarantee any minimum sale price for the fractional shares of Vontier Common Stock. Neither Fortive nor Vontier will pay any interest on the proceeds from the sale of fractional shares. The Distribution Agent will have the sole discretion to select the broker-dealers through which to sell the aggregated fractional shares and to determine when, how and at what price to sell such shares. Neither the Distribution Agent nor the selected broker-dealers will be Affiliates of Fortive or Vontier.
Section 3.3 Actions in Connection with the Distribution.
(a) Prior to the Distribution Date, Vontier shall file such amendments and supplements to the Form 10 as Fortive may reasonably request, and such amendments as may be necessary in order to cause the same to become and remain effective as required by Law, including filing such amendments and supplements to the Form 10 as may be required by the Commission or federal, state or foreign securities Laws. Fortive shall, or at Fortives election, Vontier shall, mail (or deliver by electronic means where not prohibited by Law) to the holders of Fortive Common Stock, at such time on or prior to the Distribution Date as Fortive shall determine, the Information Statement (or a Notice of Internet Availability of the Information Statement). Promptly after receiving a request from Fortive, Vontier shall prepare and, in accordance with applicable Law, file with the Commission any such documentation that Fortive reasonably determines is necessary or desirable to effectuate the Distribution, and Fortive and Vontier shall each use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all necessary approvals from the Commission with respect thereto as soon as practicable.
(b) Vontier shall use commercially reasonable efforts in preparing, filing with the Commission and causing to become effective, as soon as reasonably practicable (but in any case on or prior to the Distribution Date), a registration statement or amendments thereof which are required in connection with the establishment of, or amendments to, any employee benefit plans of Vontier.
(c) To the extent not already approved and effective, Vontier shall use commercially reasonable efforts to have approved and made effective, the application for the original listing on the NYSE of the Vontier Common Stock to be distributed in the Distribution, the Vontier Common Stock to be retained by Fortive, and the shares of Vontier Common Stock to be reserved for issuance pursuant to any director or employee benefit plan or arrangement on the NYSE, subject to official notice of distribution.
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(d) To the extent not already completed, Vontier shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take all actions to effectuate the transactions contemplated by the Vontier Financing Arrangements, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the agreements governing the foregoing.
(e) Nothing in this Section 3.3 shall be deemed to shift or otherwise impose Liability for any portion of Vontiers Form 10 or Information Statement to Fortive.
Section 3.4 Sole Discretion of Fortive. Fortive, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall be entitled to determine the Distribution Date, the Effective Time and all other terms of the Distribution, including the form, structure and terms of any transactions to effect the Distribution and the timing of and conditions to the consummation thereof. In addition, Fortive may, in accordance with Section 9.10, at any time and from time to time until the completion of the Distribution decide to abandon the Distribution or modify or change the terms of the Distribution, including by accelerating or delaying the timing of the consummation of all or part of the Distribution. Without limiting the foregoing, Fortive shall have the right not to complete the Distribution if, at any time prior to the Effective Time, the Fortive Board shall have determined, in its sole discretion, that the Distribution is not in the best interests of Fortive or its stockholders, that a sale or other alternative is in the best interests of Fortive or its stockholders or that it is not advisable at that time for Vontier Business to separate from Fortive.
Section 3.5 Conditions to Distribution. Subject to Section 3.4, the obligation of Fortive to consummate the Distribution is subject to the prior or simultaneous satisfaction, or, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, waiver by Fortive, in its sole and absolute discretion, of the following conditions. None of Vontier, any other member of the Vontier Group, or any third party shall have any right or claim to require the consummation of the Distribution, which shall be effected at the sole discretion of the Fortive Board. Any determination made by Fortive prior to the Distribution concerning the satisfaction or waiver of any or all of the conditions set forth in this Section 3.5 shall be conclusive and binding on the Parties hereto. The conditions are for the sole benefit of Fortive and shall not give rise to or create any duty on the part of Fortive or the Fortive Board to waive or not waive any such condition. Each Party will use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the other Party apprised of its efforts with respect to, and the status of, each of the following conditions:
(a) the Commission shall have declared effective the Form 10, of which the Information Statement forms a part, and no stop order relating to the registration statement will be in effect, no proceedings seeking such stop order shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission, and the Information Statement (or the Notice of Internet Availability of the Information Statement) shall have been distributed to holders of Fortive Common Stock;
(b) the Vontier Common Stock to be distributed in the Distribution shall have been approved and accepted for listing by the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance;
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(c) Fortive shall have received the opinion of Fortive tax counsel, in form and substance acceptable to Fortive, substantially to the effect that the Contribution and Distribution (except to the extent of any cash received in lieu of fractional shares of Vontier Common Stock), taken together and based upon and subject to the assumptions, representations and qualifications set forth therein, will qualify as a tax-free reorganization under Section 355 and Section 368(a)(1)(D) of Code;
(d) all registrations, consents and filings required under the securities or blue sky laws of states or other political subdivisions of the United States or of other foreign jurisdictions in connection with the Distribution shall have been received or made;
(e) no order, injunction or decree issued by any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction, or other legal restraint or prohibition, preventing the consummation of the Distribution or any of the related transactions shall be pending, threatened, issued or in effect, and no other event outside of Fortives control shall have occurred or failed to occur that prevents the consummation of all or any portion of the Distribution or any related transactions contemplated hereby, including the Internal Reorganization;
(f) the Internal Reorganization shall have been effectuated prior to the Distribution, except for such steps (if any) as Fortive in its sole discretion shall have determined need not be completed or may be completed after the Effective Time;
(g) the Fortive Board shall have declared the Distribution and approved all related transactions (and such declaration or approval shall not have been withdrawn);
(h) Vontier and Fortive shall have executed and delivered all Ancillary Agreements contemplated by this Agreement to be entered into prior to or concurrently with the Distribution;
(i) the Vontier Financing Arrangements shall have been consummated and the Vontier Contribution Payment shall have been paid to Fortive; and
(j) no events or developments shall have occurred or shall exist that, in the sole and absolute judgment of the Fortive Board, make it inadvisable to effect the Internal Reorganization, Distribution and other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or would result in the Internal Reorganization, Distribution and other transactions contemplated by this Agreement not being in the best interest of Fortive or its stockholders.
Section 3.6 Organizational Documents. On or prior to the Distribution Date, Fortive and Vontier shall each take all actions that may be required to provide for the adoption by Vontier of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Vontier substantially in the form attached as Exhibit G (the Charter) and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of Vontier substantially in the form attached as Exhibit H (the Bylaws), to be effective as of or prior to the Distribution Date.
Section 3.7 Directors. On or prior to the Distribution Date, Fortive and Vontier shall each take all necessary action to cause the Vontier Board to include, as of the Distribution Date, the individuals identified in the Distribution Disclosure Documents as directors of Vontier upon completion of the Distribution.
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Section 3.8 Officers. On or prior to the Distribution Date, Fortive and Vontier shall each take all necessary action to cause the individuals identified as officers of Vontier in the Distribution Disclosure Documents to be officers of Vontier as of the Distribution Date.
Section 3.9 Resignations and Removals.
(a) Except as provided in Section 3.9(b), on or prior to the Distribution Date or as soon thereafter as practicable, (i) Fortive shall cause all its employees and any employees of its Subsidiaries (excluding any employees of any member of the Vontier Group) to resign or be removed, effective as of the Effective Time, from all positions as officers or directors of any member of the Vontier Group in which they serve, and (ii) Vontier shall cause all its employees and any employees of its Subsidiaries to resign, effective as of the Effective Time, from all positions as officers or directors of any members of the Fortive Group in which they serve.
(b) No Person shall be required by any Party to resign or be removed from any position or office with another Party if such Person is disclosed in the Distribution Disclosure Documents as a Person who is to hold such position or office following the Effective Time.
Section 3.10 Sole Discretion of Fortive; Cooperation Regarding the Distribution, Subsequent Disposition or Remaining Disposition.
(a) Fortive shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, determine (i) whether to proceed with all or part of the Distribution, Subsequent Disposition or Remaining Disposition and (ii) all terms of the Distribution, Subsequent Disposition or Remaining Disposition, as applicable, including the form, structure and terms of any transaction(s) and/or offering(s) to effect the Distribution, Subsequent Disposition or Remaining Disposition and the timing of and conditions to the consummation of the Distribution, Subsequent Disposition or Remaining Disposition. In addition, in the event that Fortive determines to proceed with the Distribution, Subsequent Disposition or Remaining Disposition, Fortive may at any time and from time to time until the completion of the Distribution, Subsequent Disposition or Remaining Disposition abandon, modify or change any or all of the terms of the Distribution, Subsequent Disposition or Remaining Disposition, including by accelerating or delaying the timing of the consummation of all or part of the Distribution, Subsequent Disposition or Remaining Disposition.
(b) Vontier shall cooperate with Fortive in all respects to accomplish the Distribution, Subsequent Disposition or Remaining Disposition and shall, at Fortives direction, promptly take any and all actions necessary or desirable to effect the Distribution, Subsequent Disposition or Remaining Disposition, including the registration under the Securities Act of the offering of the Vontier Common Stock on an appropriate registration form or forms to be designated by Fortive and the filing of any necessary documents pursuant to the Exchange Act and the prompt provision of such financial and other information that may be requested by
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Fortive pursuant to Section 6.2(b) of this Agreement. Fortive shall select any investment bank(s), manager(s), underwriter(s) or dealer-manager(s) in connection with the Distribution, Subsequent Disposition or Remaining Disposition, as well as any financial printer, solicitation and/or exchange agent and financial, legal, accounting, tax and other advisors and service providers in connection with the Distribution, Subsequent Disposition or Remaining Disposition, as applicable. Vontier and Fortive, as the case may be, will provide to the exchange or distribution agent all share certificates (to the extent certificated) or book-entry authorizations (to the extent not certificated) and Vontier will provide to Fortive and the exchange or distribution agent (as directed by Fortive) any information required in order to complete the Distribution, Subsequent Disposition or Remaining Disposition.
ARTICLE IV
CERTAIN COVENANTS
Section 4.1 Cooperation. From and after the Effective Time, and subject to the terms of and limitations contained in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, each Party shall, and shall cause each of its respective Affiliates and employees to, (i) provide reasonable cooperation and assistance to the other Party (and any member of its respective Group) in connection with the completion of the transactions contemplated herein and in each Ancillary Agreement, (ii) reasonably assist the other Party in the orderly and efficient transition in becoming a separate company to the extent set forth in the Transition Services Agreement or as otherwise set forth herein (including, but not limited to, complying with Articles V, VI and VIII) and (iii) reasonably assist the other Party to the extent such Party is providing or has provided services, as applicable, pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement in connection with requests for information from, audits or other examinations of, such other Party by a Governmental Entity; in each case, except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement or may otherwise be agreed to by the Parties in writing, at no additional cost to the Party requesting such assistance other than for the actual out-of-pocket costs (which shall not include the costs of salaries and benefits of employees of such Party or any pro rata portion of overhead or other costs of employing such employees which would have been incurred by such employees employer regardless of the employees service with respect to the foregoing) incurred by any such Party, if applicable.
Section 4.2 Retained Names.
(a) No later than twenty (20) days following the Distribution Date, Vontier shall, and shall cause the members of the Vontier Group, to change their names and cause their certificates of incorporation and bylaws (or equivalent organizational documents), as applicable, to be amended to remove any reference to the Fortive Retained Names. Following the Distribution Date, unless otherwise directed by Fortive, Vontier shall, and shall cause the members of the Vontier Group, to (i) immediately cease to hold themselves out as having any affiliation with Fortive or any members of the Fortive Group (provided that this obligation shall not apply to inventory of printed materials of the Vontier Group existing as of the Distribution Date), and (ii) as soon as practicable, but in no event later than sixty (60) days following the Distribution Date, cease to make any use of any Fortive Retained Names. In furtherance thereof, as soon as practicable but in no event later than six (6) months following the Distribution Date,
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Vontier shall, and shall cause the members of the Vontier Group, to remove, strike over, or otherwise obliterate all Fortive Retained Names from all assets and other materials owned by or in the possession of any member of the Vontier Group, including any vehicles, business cards, schedules, stationery, packaging materials, displays, signs, promotional materials, manuals, forms, websites, email, computer software and other materials and systems; provided, however, that Vontier shall promptly after the Distribution Date post a disclaimer in a form and manner reasonably acceptable to Fortive on the www.vontier.com website informing its customers that Vontier, and not Fortive, is responsible for the operation of the Vontier Business, including such website and any applicable services. Any use by the members of the Vontier Group of any of the Fortive Retained Names as permitted in this Section 4.2(a) is subject to their use of the Fortive Retained Names in a form and manner, and with standards of quality, of that in effect for the Fortive Retained Names as of the Distribution Date. Vontier and the members of the Vontier Group shall not use the Fortive Retained Names in a manner that may reflect negatively on such name and marks or on Fortive or any member of the Fortive Group. Upon expiration or termination of the rights granted to the Vontier Group pursuant to this Section, Vontier hereby assigns, and shall cause the other members of the Vontier Group to assign, to Fortive their rights (if any) to any Trademarks forming a part of or associated with the Fortive Retained Names. Fortive shall have the right to terminate the foregoing license, effective immediately, if any member of the Vontier Group fails to comply with the foregoing terms and conditions or otherwise fails to comply with any reasonable direction of Fortive in relation to use of the Fortive Retained Names. Vontier shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Fortive and the members of the Fortive Group from and against any and all Indemnifiable Losses arising from or relating to the use by any member of the Vontier Group of the Fortive Retained Names pursuant to this Section 4.2(a).
(b) Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that the remedy at Law for any breach of the requirements of this Section 4.2 would be inadequate and agrees and consents that without intending to limit any additional remedies that may be available, Fortive and the members of the Fortive Group shall be entitled to a temporary or permanent injunction, without proof of actual damage or inadequacy of legal remedy, and without posting any bond or other undertaking, in any Action which may be brought to enforce any of the provisions of this Section 4.2.
Section 4.3 No Restriction on Competition. It is the explicit intent of each of the Parties that the provisions of this Agreement shall not include any non-competition or other similar restrictive arrangements with respect to the range of business activities which may be conducted by the Parties. Accordingly, each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that nothing set forth in this Agreement shall be construed to create any explicit or implied restriction or other limitation on (i) the ability of any party hereto to engage in any business or other activity which competes with the business of any other Party hereto or (ii) the ability of any party to engage in any specific line of business or engage in any business activity in any specific geographic area.
Section 4.4 No Hire and No Solicitation of Employees. From and after the Distribution Date until the date that is 6 months from Distribution Date, none of Fortive, Vontier or any member of their respective Groups will, without the prior written consent of the other applicable Party, either directly or indirectly, on their own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, agree to an employment, contractual or other relationship or otherwise hire, retain or
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employ any employee of any other Partys respective Group. Until the date that is 18 months from the Distribution Date, none of Fortive, Vontier or any member of their respective Groups will, without the prior written consent of the other applicable Party, either directly or indirectly, on their own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, solicit, aid, induce or encourage any employee of any other Partys respective Group to leave his or her employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 4.4 shall restrict or preclude Fortive, Vontier or any member of their respective Groups from soliciting or hiring (i) during the nonsolicitation period referenced above, any employee who responds to a general solicitation or advertisement or contact by a recruiter, whether in-house or external, that is not specifically targeted or focused on the employees employed by any other Partys respective Group (and nothing shall prohibit such generalized searches for employees through various means, including, but not limited to, the use of advertisements in the media (including trade media) or the engagement of search firms to engage in such searches); provided that the applicable Party has not encouraged or advised such firm to approach any such employee; (ii) any employee whose employment has been terminated by the other Partys respective Group; or (iii) any employee whose employment has been terminated by such employee after sixty (60) days from the date of termination of such employees employment.
Section 4.5 Corporate Opportunities.
(a) From and after the Effective Time and for so long as the Fortive Group Beneficially Owns any shares of Vontier Common Stock or has any directors, officers or employees who serve on the Vontier Board, the Vontier Board will, in accordance with Section 122(17) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, renounce any interest or expectancy of Vontier in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any corporate opportunities of any member of the Vontier Group that are presented to any member of the Fortive Group or any of its directors, officers or employees.
(b) For the purposes of this Section 4.5, corporate opportunities of a Group shall include, but not be limited to, business opportunities which the Vontier Group is financially able to undertake, which are, from their nature, in the line of the Vontier Groups business, are of practical advantage to it and are ones in which the Vontier Group would have an interest or a reasonable expectancy, and in which, by embracing the opportunities or allowing such opportunities to be embraced by the Fortive Group or its directors, officers or employees, the self-interest of the Fortive Group or any of its directors, officers or employees will or could be brought into conflict with that of the Vontier Group.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 5.1 Release of Pre-Effective Time Claims.
(a) Except (i) as provided in Section 5.1(b), (ii) as may be otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement and (iii) for any matter for which any Party is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article V:
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(i) Fortive, for itself and each member of the Fortive Group, its Affiliates as of the Effective Time and, to the extent permitted by Law, all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time were directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the Fortive Group (in their respective capacities as such), in each case, together with their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, does hereby remise, release and forever discharge Vontier and the other members of the Vontier Group, its Affiliates and all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time were stockholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the Vontier Group (in their respective capacities as such), in each case, together with their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, from any and all Fortive Retained Liabilities, whether at Law or in equity (including any right of contribution), whether arising under any Contract, by operation of Law or otherwise, in each case, existing or arising from any acts or events occurring or failing to occur or alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur or any conditions existing or alleged to have existed on or before the Distribution Date, including in connection with the Internal Reorganization and the Distribution and any of the other transactions contemplated hereunder and under the Ancillary Agreements (such liabilities, the Fortive Released Liabilities) and in any event shall not, and shall cause its respective Subsidiaries not to, bring any Action against any member of the Vontier Groups in respect of any Fortive Released Liabilities; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 5.1(a)(i) shall relieve any Person released in this Section 5.1(a)(i) who, after the Effective Time, is a director, officer or employee of any member of the Vontier Group and is no longer a director, officer or employee of any member of the Fortive Group from Liabilities arising out of, relating to or resulting from his or her service as a director, officer or employee of any member of the Vontier Group after the Effective Time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to limit Fortive, any member of the Fortive Group, or their respective Affiliates from commencing any Actions against any Vontier officer, director, agent or employee, or their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns with regard to matters arising from, or relating to, (i) theft of Fortive Know-How or (ii) intentional criminal acts by any such officers, directors, agents or employees.
(ii) Vontier, for itself and each member of the Vontier Group, its Affiliates as of the Effective Time and, to the extent permitted by Law, all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time were directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the Vontier Group (in their respective capacities as such), in each case, together with their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, does hereby remise, release and forever discharge Fortive and the other members of the Fortive Group, its Affiliates and all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time were stockholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the Fortive Group (in their respective capacities as such), in each case, together with their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, from any and all Vontier Liabilities, whether at Law or in equity (including any right of contribution), whether arising under any Contract, by operation of Law or otherwise, in each case, existing or arising from any acts or events occurring or failing to occur or alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur or any conditions existing or alleged to have existed on or before the Distribution Date, including in connection with the Internal Reorganization
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and the Distribution and any of the other transactions contemplated hereunder and under the Ancillary Agreements (such liabilities, the Vontier Released Liabilities) and in any event shall not, and shall cause its respective Subsidiaries not to, bring any Action against any member of the Fortive Group in respect of any Vontier Released Liabilities; provided, however that for purposes of this Section 5.1(a)(ii), the members of the Vontier Group shall also release and discharge any officers or other employees of any member of the Fortive Group, to the extent any such officers or employees served as a director or officer of any members of the Vontier Group prior to the Effective Time, from any and all Liability, obligation or responsibility for any and all past actions or failures to take action, in each case in their capacity as a director or officer of any such member of the Vontier Group, prior to the Effective Time, including actions or failures to take action that may be deemed to have been negligent or grossly negligent.
(b) Nothing contained in this Agreement, including Section 5.1(a), Section 2.4(a) or Section 2.5, shall impair or otherwise affect any right of any Party and, as applicable, a member of such Partys Group, as well as their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, to enforce this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings contemplated in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement to continue in effect after the Effective Time. In addition, nothing contained in Section 5.1(a) shall release any person from:
(i) any Liability Assumed, Transferred or allocated to a Party or a member of such Partys Group pursuant to or as contemplated by, or any other Liability of any member of such Group under, this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, including (A) with respect to Fortive, any Fortive Retained Liability and (B) with respect to Vontier, any Vontier Liability;
(ii) any Liability provided for in or resulting from any other Contract or arrangement that is entered into after the Effective Time between any Party (and/or a member of such Partys or Parties Group), on the one hand, and any other Party or Parties (and/or a member of such Partys or Parties Group), on the other hand;
(iii) any Liability with respect to any Continuing Arrangements;
(iv) any Liability that the Parties may have with respect to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise for Actions brought against the Parties by third Persons, which Liability shall be governed by the provisions of this Agreement and, in particular, this Article V and, if applicable, the appropriate provisions of the Ancillary Agreements; and
(v) any Liability the release of which would result in a release of any Person other than the Persons released in Section 5.1(a); provided that the Parties agree not to bring any Action or permit any other member of their respective Group to bring any Action against a Person released in Section 5.1(a) with respect to such Liability.
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In addition, nothing contained in Section 5.1(a) shall release: (i) Fortive from indemnifying any director, officer or employee of the Vontier Group who was a director, officer or employee of Fortive or any of its Affiliates prior to the Distribution Date, as the case may be, to the extent such director, officer or employee is or becomes a named defendant in any Action with respect to which he or she was entitled to such indemnification pursuant to then-existing obligations; it being understood that if the underlying obligation giving rise to such Action is a Vontier Liability, Vontier shall indemnify Fortive for such Liability (including Fortives costs to indemnify the director, officer or employee) in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Article V; and (ii) Vontier from indemnifying any director, officer or employee of the Fortive Group who was a director, officer or employee of Vontier or any of its Affiliates prior to the Distribution Date, as the case may be, to the extent such director, officer or employee is or becomes a named defendant in any Action with respect to which he or she was entitled to such indemnification pursuant to then-existing obligations; it being understood that if the underlying obligation giving rise to such Action is a Fortive Retained Liability, Fortive shall indemnify Vontier for such Liability (including Vontiers costs to indemnify the director, officer or employee) in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Article V.
(c) Each Party shall not, and shall not permit any member of its Group to, make any claim for offset, or commence any Action, including any claim of contribution or any indemnification, against any other Party or any member of any other Partys Group, or any other Person released pursuant to Section 5.1(a), with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 5.1(a).
(d) If any Person associated with a Party (including any director, officer or employee of a Party) initiates any Action with respect to claims released by this Section 5.1, the Party with which such Person is associated shall be responsible for the fees and expenses of counsel of the other Party (and/or the members of such Partys Group, as applicable) and such other Party shall be indemnified for all Liabilities incurred in connection with such Action in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Article V.
Section 5.2 Indemnification by Fortive. In addition to any other provisions of this Agreement requiring indemnification and except as otherwise specifically set forth in any provision of this Agreement or of any Ancillary Agreement, following the Effective Time, Fortive shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Vontier Indemnitees from and against any and all Indemnifiable Losses of the Vontier Indemnitees to the extent relating to, arising out of, by reason of or otherwise in connection with (a) the Fortive Retained Liabilities, including the failure of any member of the Fortive Group or any other Person to pay, perform or otherwise discharge any Fortive Retained Liability in accordance with its respective terms, whether arising prior to, at or after the Effective Time, (b) any Fortive Retained Asset or Fortive Retained Business, whether arising prior to, at or after the Effective Time, or (c) any breach by Fortive of any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement unless such Ancillary Agreement expressly provides for separate indemnification therein, in which case any such indemnification claims shall be made thereunder.
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Section 5.3 Indemnification by Vontier. In addition to any other provisions of this Agreement requiring indemnification and except as otherwise specifically set forth in any provision of this Agreement or of any Ancillary Agreement, following the Effective Time, Vontier shall and shall cause the other members of the Vontier Group to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Fortive Indemnitees from and against any and all Indemnifiable Losses of the Fortive Indemnitees to the extent relating to, arising out of, by reason of or otherwise in connection with (a) the Vontier Liabilities, including the failure of any member of the Vontier Group or any other Person to pay, perform or otherwise discharge any Vontier Liability in accordance with its respective terms, whether prior to, at or after the Effective Time, (b) any Vontier Asset or Vontier Business, whether arising prior to, at or after the Effective Time, (c) any breach by Vontier of any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement unless such Ancillary Agreement expressly provides for separate indemnification therein, in which case any such indemnification claims shall be made thereunder, or (d) any Liabilities of the Fortive Group under any of the agreements listed on Schedule 5.3.
Section 5.4 Procedures for Indemnification.
(a) Other than with respect to Third Party Claims, which shall be governed by Section 5.4(b), each Fortive Indemnitee and Vontier Indemnitee (each, an Indemnitee) shall notify in writing, with respect to any matter that such Indemnitee has determined has given or could give rise to a right of indemnification under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, the Party which is or may be required pursuant to this Article V or pursuant to any Ancillary Agreement to make such indemnification (the Indemnifying Party), within forty-five (45) days of such determination, stating in such written notice the amount of the Indemnifiable Loss claimed, if known, and, to the extent practicable, method of computation thereof, and referring to the provisions of this Agreement in respect of which such right of indemnification is claimed by such Indemnitee or arises; provided, however, that the failure to provide such written notice shall not release the Indemnifying Party from any of its obligations except and solely to the extent the Indemnifying Party shall have been actually materially prejudiced as a result of such failure. The Indemnifying Party will have a period of forty-five (45) days after receipt of a notice under this Section 5.4(a) within which to respond thereto. If the Indemnifying Party fails to respond within such period, the Liability specified in such notice from the Indemnitee shall be conclusively determined to be a Liability of the Indemnifying Party hereunder. If such Indemnifying Party responds within such period and rejects such claim in whole or in part, the disputed matter shall be resolved in accordance with Article VII.
(b) If a claim or demand is made against an Indemnitee by any Person who is not a party to this Agreement (a Third Party Claim) as to which such Indemnitee is or may be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, such Indemnitee shall notify the Indemnifying Party in writing (which notice obligation may be satisfied by providing copies of all notices and documents received by the Indemnitee relating to the Third Party Claim), and in reasonable detail, of the Third Party Claim promptly (and in any event within the earlier of (x) forty-five (45) days or (y) two (2) Business Days prior to the final date of the applicable response period under such Third Party Claim) after receipt by such Indemnitee of written notice of the Third Party Claim; provided, however, that the failure to provide notice of any such Third Party Claim pursuant to this or the preceding sentence shall not release the Indemnifying Party from any of its obligations except and solely to the extent the Indemnifying Party shall have been actually materially prejudiced as a result of such failure. Thereafter, the Indemnitee shall deliver to the Indemnifying Party, promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) after the Indemnitees receipt thereof, copies of all notices and documents (including court papers) received by the Indemnitee relating to the Third Party Claim. For all purposes of this Section 5.4(b), each Party shall be deemed to have notice of the matters set forth on Schedule 1.1(152)(vii).
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(c) Other than in the case of (i) Taxes addressed in the Tax Matters Agreement, which shall be addressed as set forth therein or (ii) indemnification by a beneficiary Party of a guarantor Party pursuant to Section 2.10(c) (the defense of which shall be controlled by the beneficiary Party), the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled, if it so chooses, to assume the defense thereof, and if it does not assume the defense of such Third Party Claim, to participate in the defense of any Third Party Claim in accordance with the terms of Section 5.5 at such Indemnifying Partys own cost and expense and by such Indemnifying Partys own counsel, that is reasonably acceptable to the Indemnitee, within thirty (30) days of the receipt of an indemnification notice from such Indemnitee; provided, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Third Party Claim to the extent such Third Party Claim (x) is an Action by a Governmental Entity, (y) involves an allegation of a criminal violation or (z) seeks injunctive relief against the Indemnitee. In connection with the Indemnifying Partys defense of a Third Party Claim, such Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in (but not control) the defense, compromise, or settlement thereof, at its own expense and, in any event, shall cooperate with the Indemnifying Party in such defense and make available to the Indemnifying Party, at the Indemnifying Partys expense, all witnesses, pertinent Information, materials and information in such Indemnitees possession or under such Indemnitees control relating thereto as are reasonably required by the Indemnifying Party; provided, however, that in the event of a conflict of interest between the Indemnifying Party and the applicable Indemnitee(s), or in the event that any Third Party Claim seeks equitable relief which would restrict or limit the future conduct of the Indemnitees business or operations, such Indemnitee(s) shall be entitled to retain, at the Indemnifying Partys expense, separate counsel as required by the applicable rules of professional conduct with respect to such matter; provided, further, that if the Indemnifying Party has assumed the defense of the Third Party Claim but has specified, and continues to assert, any reservations or exceptions to such defense or to its liability therefor, then, in any such case, the reasonable fees and expenses of one separate counsel for all Indemnitees shall be borne by the Indemnifying Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to compromise or settle a Third Party Claim the defense of which it shall have assumed pursuant to this Section 5.4(c) and any such settlement or compromise made or caused to be made of a Third Party Claim in accordance with this Article V shall be binding on the Indemnitee, in the same manner as if a final judgment or decree had been entered by a court of competent jurisdiction in the amount of such settlement or compromise. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the Indemnifying Party shall not settle any such Third Party Claim without the written consent of the Indemnitee unless such settlement (A) completely and unconditionally releases the Indemnitee in connection with such matter, (B) provides relief consisting solely of money damages borne by the Indemnifying Party and (C) does not involve any admission by the Indemnitee of any wrongdoing or violation of Law.
(d) If an Indemnifying Party fails for any reason to assume responsibility for defending a Third Party Claim within the period specified in this Section 5.4, such Indemnitee may defend such Third Party Claim at the cost and expense of the Indemnifying Party. If an Indemnifying Party has failed to assume the defense of the Third Party Claim within the time period specified in clause (c) above, it shall not be a defense to any obligation to pay
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any amount in respect of such Third Party Claim that the Indemnifying Party was not consulted in the defense thereof, that such Indemnifying Partys views or opinions as to the conduct of such defense were not accepted or adopted, that such Indemnifying Party does not approve of the quality or manner of the defense thereof or that such Third Party Claim was incurred by reason of a settlement rather than by a judgment or other determination of liability.
(e) Except as otherwise set forth in Section 6.5 and Section 7.3, or to the extent set forth in any Ancillary Agreement, absent fraud or willful misconduct by an Indemnifying Party, the indemnification provisions of this Article V shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of an Indemnitee for any monetary or compensatory damages or losses resulting from any breach of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement and each Indemnitee expressly waives and relinquishes any and all rights, claims or remedies such Person may have with respect to the foregoing other than under this Article V against any Indemnifying Party. For the avoidance of doubt, all disputes in respect of this Article V shall be resolved in accordance with Article VII.
(f) Each Party hereby covenants and agrees that none of it, its Subsidiaries or any Person claiming through it shall bring suit or otherwise assert any claim against any Indemnitee, or assert a defense against any claim asserted by any Indemnitee, before any court, arbitrator, mediator or administrative agency anywhere in the world, alleging that: (a) the assumption of any Fortive Liabilities by the Vontier Group the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements is void or unenforceable for any reason; (b) the retention of any Fortive Liabilities by the Fortive Group on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements is void or unenforceable for any reason, or (c) the provisions of this Article V are void or unenforceable for any reason.
(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any Ancillary Agreement provides procedures for indemnification that differ from the provisions set forth in this Section 5.4, the terms of the Ancillary Agreement will govern.
(h) The provisions of this Article V shall apply to Third Party Claims that are already pending or asserted as well as Third Party Claims brought or asserted after the date of this Agreement. There shall be no requirement under this Section 5.4 to give a notice with respect to any Third Party Claim that exists as of the Effective Time. The Parties acknowledge that Liabilities for Actions (regardless of the parties to the Actions) may be partly Fortive Liabilities and partly Vontier Liabilities. If the Parties cannot agree on the allocation of any such Liabilities for Actions, they shall resolve the matter pursuant to the procedures set forth in Article VII. Neither Party shall, nor shall either Party permit its Subsidiaries to, file Third Party Claims or cross-claims against the other Party or its Subsidiaries in an Action in which a Third Party Claim is being resolved.
Section 5.5 Cooperation in Defense and Settlement.
(a) With respect to any Third Party Claim that implicates both Parties in any material respect due to the allocation of Liabilities, responsibilities for management of defense and related indemnities pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, the Parties agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate fully and maintain a joint
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defense (in a manner that, to the extent reasonably practicable, will preserve for all Parties any Privilege with respect thereto). The Party that is not responsible for managing the defense of any such Third Party Claim shall, upon reasonable request, be consulted with respect to significant matters relating thereto and may, if necessary or helpful, retain counsel to assist in the defense of such claims. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 5.5(a) shall derogate from any Partys rights to control the defense of any Action in accordance with Section 5.4.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, with respect to any Action (i) by a Governmental Entity against Vontier relating to matters involving anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, export control and similar laws, where the facts and circumstances giving rise to the Action occurred prior to the Effective Time or (ii) where the resolution of such Action by order, judgment, settlement or otherwise, could include any condition, limitation or other stipulation that could, in the reasonable judgment of Fortive, adversely impact the conduct of the Fortive Retained Businesses, Fortive shall have, at Fortives expense, the reasonable opportunity to consult, advise and comment in all preparation, planning and strategy regarding any such Action, including with regard to any drafts of notices and other conferences and communications to be provided or submitted by Vontier to any third party involved in such Action (including any Governmental Entity), to the extent that Fortives participation does not affect any privilege in a material and adverse manner; provided that to the extent that any such action requires the submission by Vontier of any content relating to any current or former officer or director of Fortive, such content will only be submitted in a form approved by Fortive in its reasonable discretion. With regard to the matters specified in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), Fortive shall have a right to consent to any compromise or settlement related thereto.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, with respect to any notices or reports to be submitted to, or reporting, disclosure, filing or other requirements to be made with, any Governmental Entity by Vontier or its Subsidiaries (Governmental Filing) where the Governmental Filing requires disclosure of facts, information or data that relate, in whole or in part, to periods prior to the Effective Time, Fortive shall have the reasonable opportunity to consult, advise and comment on the preparation and content of any such Governmental Filing in advance of its submission to a Governmental Entity, and Vontier shall in good faith consider and take into account any comments so provided by Fortive with respect to such Governmental Filing.
(d) Each of Fortive and Vontier agrees that at all times from and after the Effective Time, if an Action is commenced by a third party naming two (2) or more Parties (or any member of such Parties respective Groups) as defendants and with respect to which one or more named Parties (or any member of such Partys respective Group) is a nominal defendant and/or such Action is otherwise not a Liability allocated to such named Party under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, then the other Party or Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts at its own expense to cause such nominal defendant to be removed from such Action, as soon as reasonably practicable.
Section 5.6 Indemnification Payments. Indemnification required by this Article V shall be made by periodic payments of the amount of Indemnifiable Losses in a timely fashion during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or an Indemnifiable Loss incurred.
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Section 5.7 Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds and Other Amounts.
(a) Any recovery by any Indemnitee for any Indemnifiable Loss subject to indemnification pursuant to this Article V shall be calculated (i) net of Insurance Proceeds actually received by such Indemnitee with respect to any Indemnifiable Loss (which such proceeds shall be reduced by the present value, based on that Partys then cost of short-term borrowing, of future premium increases known at such time) and (ii) net of any proceeds actually received by the Indemnitee from any unaffiliated third party with respect to any such Liability corresponding to the Indemnifiable Loss (Third Party Proceeds). Accordingly, the amount which any Indemnifying Party is required to pay pursuant to this Article V to any Indemnitee pursuant to this Article V shall be reduced by any Insurance Proceeds or Third Party Proceeds theretofore actually recovered by or on behalf of the Indemnitee corresponding to the related Indemnifiable Loss. If an Indemnitee receives a payment required by this Agreement from an Indemnifying Party corresponding to any Indemnifiable Loss (an Indemnity Payment) and subsequently receives Insurance Proceeds or Third Party Proceeds, then the Indemnitee shall pay to the Indemnifying Party an amount equal to the excess of the Indemnity Payment received over the amount of the Indemnity Payment that would have been due if the Insurance Proceeds or Third Party Proceeds had been received, realized or recovered before the Indemnity Payment was made.
(b) Any Indemnity Payment shall be increased as necessary so that after making all payments corresponding to Taxes imposed on or attributable to such Indemnity Payment, the Indemnitee receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such Taxes been imposed.
(c) The Parties hereby agree that an insurer or other third party that would otherwise be obligated to pay any amount shall not be relieved of the responsibility with respect thereto or have any subrogation rights with respect thereto by virtue of any provision contained in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, and that no insurer or any other third party shall be entitled to a windfall (e.g., a benefit they would not otherwise be entitled to receive, or the reduction or elimination of an insurance coverage obligation that they would otherwise have, in the absence of the indemnification or release provisions) by virtue of any provision contained in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement. Each Party shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, use commercially reasonable efforts to collect or recover, or allow the Indemnifying Party to collect or recover, or cooperate with each other in collecting or recovering, any Insurance Proceeds that may be collectible or recoverable respecting the Liabilities for which indemnification may be available under this Article V. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Indemnifying Party may not delay making any indemnification payment required under the terms of this Agreement, or otherwise satisfying any indemnification obligation, pending the outcome of any Actions to collect or recover Insurance Proceeds, and an Indemnitee need not attempt to collect any Insurance Proceeds prior to making a claim for indemnification or receiving any Indemnity Payment otherwise owed to it under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.
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Section 5.8 Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Article V is unavailable for any reason to an Indemnitee (other than failure to provide notice with respect to any Third Party Claims in accordance with Section 5.4(b)) in respect of any Indemnifiable Loss, then the Indemnifying Party shall, in accordance with this Section 5.8, contribute to the Indemnifiable Losses incurred, paid or payable by such Indemnitee as a result of such Indemnifiable Loss in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of Vontier and each other member of the Vontier Group, on the one hand, and Fortive and each other member of the Fortive Group, on the other hand, in connection with the circumstances which resulted in such Indemnifiable Loss. With respect to any Indemnifiable Losses arising out of or related to information contained in the Distribution Disclosure Documents or other securities law filing, the relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact relates to information supplied by the Vontier Business of a member of the Vontier Group, on the one hand, or the Fortive Retained Business or a member of the Fortive Group, on the other hand.
Section 5.9 Additional Matters; Survival of Indemnities.
(a) The indemnity agreements contained in this Article V shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Indemnitee; and (ii) the knowledge by the Indemnitee of Indemnifiable Losses for which it might be entitled to indemnification hereunder. The indemnity agreements contained in this Article V shall survive the Distribution.
(b) The rights and obligations of any member of the Fortive Group or any member of the Vontier Group, in each case, under this Article V shall survive (i) the sale or other Transfer by any Party or its Affiliates of any Assets or businesses or the assignment by it of any Liabilities and (ii) any merger, consolidation, business combination, restructuring, recapitalization, reorganization or similar transaction involving either Party or any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 5.10 Environmental Matters.
(a) Exchange of Information. Without limiting any other provision of this Agreement, each of Fortive and Vontier agrees to provide, or cause to be provided, at any time before, at, or after the Effective Time, as soon as reasonably practicable after written request therefore, reasonable access to any non-privileged information in the possession or under the control of such respective Group and reasonable access to its employees to the extent that (i) such information relates to, or such employees have relevant knowledge regarding, specific alleged Environmental Liabilities, including the requesting partys alleged or potential link to environmental contamination at an Off-Site Location or real property that was allegedly owned or operated by the Fortive Group and any operating group, business unit, division, Subsidiary, line of business or investment of Fortive or any of its Subsidiaries (including any member of the Vontier Group) prior to the Effective Time; or (ii) such information relates to, or such employees have relevant knowledge regarding, the impact that any alleged Environmental Liability could have on the operations, activities or liability exposure of the requesting party; and (iii) the information and access to employees can be provided without significant disruption to the Groups business or operations.
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(b) Substitution.
(i) Vontier shall use its best efforts to obtain any consents, transfers, assignments, assumptions, waivers, or other legal instruments necessary to cause Vontier or the appropriate Subsidiary of Vontier to be fully substituted for Fortive or other member of the Fortive Group with respect to: (i) any order, decree, judgment, agreement or Action with respect to Vontier Environmental Liabilities that are in effect as of the Effective Time; or (ii) Environmental Permits, financial assurance obligations or instruments, or other environmental approvals or filings associated with the Vontier Assets. Vontier shall inform the applicable Governmental Entity about its assumption of the Environmental Liabilities associated with the matters listed on this Section 5.10(b) and request that the Governmental Entities direct all communications, requirements, notifications and/or official letters related to such matters to Vontier. Fortive shall use its best efforts to provide necessary assistance or signatures to Vontier to achieve the purposes of this section.
(ii) Until such time as Vontier and Fortive complete the substitutions outlined in Section 5.10(b)(i) above, Vontier shall comply with all applicable Environmental Laws, including all reporting obligations, and the terms and conditions of all orders, decrees, judgments, agreements, actions, Environmental Permits, financial assurances, obligations, instruments or other environmental approvals or filings that remain in Fortives name relating to the Vontier Assets and the Vontier Environmental Liabilities.
ARTICLE VI
PRESERVATION OF RECORDS; ACCESS TO INFORMATION;
CONFIDENTIALITY; PRIVILEGE
Section 6.1 Preservation of Corporate Records. Except as otherwise required or agreed in writing, or as otherwise provided in any Ancillary Agreement, with regard to any Information referenced in Section 6.2, each Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, at such Partys sole cost and expense, to retain, until the latest of, as applicable, (i) the date on which such Information is no longer required to be retained pursuant to the applicable record retention policy of Fortive or such other member of the Fortive Group, respectively, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, including pursuant to any litigation hold issued by Fortive or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time, (ii) the concluding date of any period as may be required by any applicable Law, (iii) the concluding date of any period during which such Information relates to a pending or threatened Action which is known to the members of the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group, as applicable, in possession of such Information at the time any retention obligation with regard to such Information would otherwise expire, and (iv) the concluding date of any period during which the destruction of such Information could interfere with a pending or threatened investigation by a Governmental Entity which is known to the members of the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group, as applicable, in
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possession of such Information at the time any retention obligation with regard to such Information would otherwise expire; provided that with respect to any pending or threatened Action arising after the Effective Time, clause (iii) of this sentence applies only to the extent that whichever member of the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group, as applicable, is in possession of such Information has been notified in writing pursuant to a litigation hold by the other Party of the relevant pending or threatened Action. The Parties agree that upon written request from the other that certain Information relating to the Vontier Business, the Fortive Retained Businesses or the transactions contemplated hereby be retained in connection with an Action, the Parties shall use reasonable efforts to preserve and not to destroy or dispose of such Information without the consent of the requesting Party.
Section 6.2 Access to Information. Other than in circumstances in which indemnification is sought pursuant to Article V (in which event the provisions of such Article V shall govern) or for matters related to provision of Tax Records (in which event the provisions of the Tax Matters Agreement shall govern) and subject to appropriate restrictions for Privileged Information or Confidential Information:
(a) After the Effective Time, and subject to compliance with the terms of the Ancillary Agreements, upon the prior written reasonable request by, and at the expense of, Vontier for specific and identified Information:
(i) that (x) relates to Vontier or the Vontier Business, as the case may be, prior to the Effective Time or (y) is necessary for Vontier to comply with the terms of, or otherwise perform under, any Ancillary Agreement to which Fortive and/or Vontier are parties, Fortive shall provide, as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt of such request, appropriate copies of such Information (or the originals thereof if Vontier has a reasonable need for such originals) in the possession or control of Fortive or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries, but only to the extent such items so relate and are not already in the possession or control of Vontier; provided that, to the extent any originals are delivered to Vontier pursuant to this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, Vontier shall, at its own expense, return them to Fortive within a reasonable time after the need to retain such originals has ceased; provided, further that, such obligation to provide any requested Information shall terminate and be of no further force and effect on the date that is the first anniversary of the date of this Agreement; provided, further that, in the event that Fortive, in its sole discretion, determines that any such access or the provision of any such Information would violate any Law or Contract with a third party or could reasonably result in the waiver of any Privilege, Fortive shall not be obligated to provide such Information requested by Vontier;
(ii) that (x) is required by Vontier with regard to reasonable compliance with reporting, disclosure, filing or other requirements imposed on Vontier (including under applicable securities laws) by a Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over Vontier, or (y) is for use in any other judicial, regulatory, administrative or other proceeding or in order to satisfy audit, accounting, claims, regulatory, litigation, Action or other similar requirements, as applicable, Fortive shall provide, as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt of such request, appropriate copies of such Information (or the originals thereof if Vontier has a reasonable need for such originals) in the
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possession or control of Fortive or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries, but only to the extent such items so relate and are not already in the possession or control of Vontier; provided that, to the extent any originals are delivered to Vontier pursuant to this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, Vontier shall, at its own expense, return them to Fortive within a reasonable time after the need to retain such originals has ceased; provided, further that, in the event that Fortive, in its sole discretion, determines that any such access or the provision of any such Information would violate any Law or Contract with a third party or waive any Privilege, Fortive shall not be obligated to provide such Information requested by Vontier; or
(b) After the Effective Time, and subject to compliance with the terms of the Ancillary Agreements, upon the prior written reasonable request by, and at the expense of, Fortive for specific and identified Information:
(i) that (x) relates to matters prior to the Effective Time, (y) is necessary for Fortive to comply with the terms of, or otherwise perform under, any Ancillary Agreement to which Fortive and/or Vontier are parties or (z) is requested by Fortive in connection with its consideration of the timing or manner in which it will effect the Subsequent Disposition or the Remaining Disposition, Vontier shall provide, as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt of such request, appropriate copies of such Information (or the originals thereof if Fortive has a reasonable need for such originals) in the possession or control of Vontier or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries, but only to the extent such items so relate and are not already in the possession or control of Fortive; provided that, to the extent any originals are delivered to Fortive pursuant to this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, Fortive shall, at its own expense, return them to Vontier within a reasonable time after the need to retain such originals has ceased; provided, further that, in the event any such access or the provision of any such Information would violate any Law or Contract with a third party or waive any Privilege, Vontier shall not be obligated to provide such Information requested by Fortive.
(ii) that (x) is required by Fortive with regard to reasonable compliance with reporting, disclosure, filing or other requirements imposed on Fortive (including under applicable securities laws) by a Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over Fortive, or (y) is for use in any other judicial, regulatory, administrative or other proceeding or in order to satisfy audit, accounting, claims, regulatory, litigation, Action or other similar requirements, as applicable, Vontier shall provide, as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt of such request, appropriate copies of such Information (or the originals thereof if Fortive has a reasonable need for such originals) in the possession or control of Vontier or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries, but only to the extent such items so relate and are not already in the possession or control of Fortive; provided that, to the extent any originals are delivered to Fortive pursuant to this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, Fortive shall, at its own expense, return them to Vontier within a reasonable time after the need to retain such originals has ceased.
(c) Each of Fortive and Vontier shall inform their respective officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors, authorized accountants, counsel and other designated representatives who have or have access to the other Partys Confidential Information or other information provided pursuant to this Article VI of their obligation to hold such information confidential in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
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(d) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, until the first Vontier fiscal year end occurring during the year in which the Distribution occurs (and for a reasonable period of time afterwards as required for each of Fortive and Vontier to prepare consolidated financial statements or complete a financial statement audit for the fiscal year during which the Distribution occurs), each of Fortive and Vontier shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the other Partys Information requests to enable (i) the other Party to meet its timetable for dissemination of its earnings releases, financial statements and managements assessment of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures and its internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Items 307 and 308, respectively, of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act; and (ii) the other Partys accountants to timely complete their review of the quarterly financial statements and audit of the annual financial statements, including, to the extent applicable to such Party, its auditors audit of its internal control over financial reporting and managements assessment thereof in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Commissions and Public Company Accounting Oversight Boards rules and auditing standards thereunder and any other applicable Laws.
(e) On the Distribution Date, Vontier shall deliver to Fortive an electronic copy of any and all databases in the possession of any member of the Vontier Group that exist as of such date and were established at or prior to the Effective Time to retain records relating to the organizational structure, business or operations of the Vontier Business or as otherwise may be requested by Fortive.
Section 6.3 Witness Services. At all times from and after the Effective Time, each of Fortive and Vontier shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to make available to the other, upon reasonable written request, its and its Subsidiaries officers, directors, employees and agents (taking into account the business demands of such individuals) as witnesses to the extent that (i) such Persons may reasonably be required to testify in connection with the prosecution or defense of any Action in which the requesting Party may from time to time be involved (except for claims, demands or Actions in which one or more members of one Group is adverse to one or more members of the other Group) and (ii) there is no conflict in the Action between the requesting Party and the other Party. A Party providing a witness to the other Party under this Section 6.3 shall be entitled to receive from the recipient of such witness services, upon the presentation of invoices therefor, payments for such amounts, relating to supplies, disbursements and other out-of-pocket expenses (which shall not include the costs of salaries and benefits of employees who are witnesses or any pro rata portion of overhead or other costs of employing such employees which would have been incurred by such employees employer regardless of the employees service as witnesses), as may be reasonably incurred and properly paid under applicable Law.
Section 6.4 Reimbursement; Other Matters. Except to the extent otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, a Party providing Information or access to Information to the other Party under this Article VI shall be entitled to receive from the recipient, upon the presentation of invoices therefor, payments for such amounts, relating to
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supplies, disbursements and other out-of-pocket expenses (which shall not include the costs of salaries and benefits of employees of such Party or any pro rata portion of overhead or other costs of employing such employees which would have been incurred by such employees employer regardless of the employees service with respect to the foregoing), as may be reasonably incurred in providing such Information or access to such Information.
Section 6.5 Confidentiality.
(a) Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, and except as otherwise provided in the Ancillary Agreements, each of Fortive and Vontier shall hold, and shall cause their respective Affiliates and their officers, employees, agents, consultants and advisors to hold, in strict confidence (and not to disclose or release or, except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, use, including for any ongoing or future commercial purpose, without the prior written consent of the Party to whom the Confidential Information relates (which may be withheld in such Partys sole and absolute discretion, except where disclosure is required by applicable Law)), any and all Confidential Information concerning or belonging to the other Party or its Affiliates; provided that each Party may disclose, or may permit disclosure of, Confidential Information (i) to its respective auditors, attorneys, financial advisors, bankers and other appropriate consultants and advisors who have a need to know such Information for auditing and other non-commercial purposes and are informed of the obligation to hold such Information confidential and in respect of whose failure to comply with such obligations, the applicable Party will be responsible, (ii) if any Party or any of its respective Subsidiaries is required or compelled to disclose any such Confidential Information by judicial or administrative process or by other requirements of Law or stock exchange rule or is advised by outside counsel in connection with a proceeding brought by a Governmental Entity that it is advisable to do so, (iii) as required in connection with any legal or other proceeding by one Party against the other Party or in respect of claims by one Party against the other Party brought in a proceeding, (iv) as necessary in order to permit a Party to prepare and disclose its financial statements in connection with any regulatory filings or Tax Returns, (v) as necessary for a Party to enforce its rights or perform its obligations under this Agreement (including pursuant to Section 2.3) or an Ancillary Agreement, (vi) to Governmental Entities in accordance with applicable procurement regulations and contract requirements or (vii) to other Persons in connection with their evaluation of, and negotiating and consummating, a potential strategic transaction, to the extent reasonably necessary in connection therewith, provided an appropriate and customary confidentiality agreement has been entered into with the Person receiving such Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any demand or request for disclosure of Confidential Information is made by a third party pursuant to clause (ii), (iii), (v) or (vi) above, each Party, as applicable, shall promptly notify (to the extent permissible by Law) the Party to whom the Confidential Information relates of the existence of such request, demand or disclosure requirement and shall provide such affected Party a reasonable opportunity to seek an appropriate protective order or other remedy, which such Party will cooperate in obtaining to the extent reasonably practicable. In the event that such appropriate protective order or other remedy is not obtained, the Party which faces the disclosure requirement shall furnish only that portion of the Confidential Information that is required to be disclosed and shall take commercially reasonable steps to ensure that confidential treatment is accorded such Confidential Information.
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(b) Each Party acknowledges that it and the other members of its Group may have in its or their possession confidential or proprietary Information of third parties that was received under confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements with such third party while such Party and/or members of its Group were part of the Fortive Group. Each Party shall comply, and shall cause the other members of its Group to comply, and shall cause its and their respective officers, employees, agents, consultants and advisors (or potential buyers) to comply, with all terms and conditions of any such third-party agreements entered into prior to the Effective Time, with respect to any confidential and proprietary Information of third parties to which it or any other member of its Group has had access.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (i) the Parties shall be deemed to have satisfied their obligations hereunder with respect to Confidential Information if they exercise at least the same degree of care that applies to Fortives confidential and proprietary information pursuant to policies in effect as of the Effective Time and (ii) confidentiality obligations provided for in any Contract between each Party or its Subsidiaries and their respective employees shall remain in full force and effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, Confidential Information of any Party in the possession of and used by any other Party as of the Effective Time may continue to be used by such Party in possession of the Confidential Information in and only in the operation of the Vontier Business (in the case of the Vontier Group) or the Fortive Retained Business (in the case of the Fortive Group); provided that such Confidential Information may only be used by such Party and its officers, employees, agents, consultants and advisors in the specific manner and for the specific purposes for which it is used as of the date of this Agreement, and may only be shared with additional officers, employees, agents, consultants and advisors of such Party on a need-to-know basis exclusively with regard to such specified use; provided, further that such Confidential Information may be used only so long as the Confidential Information is maintained in confidence and not disclosed in violation of Section 6.5(a).
(d) The Parties agree that irreparable damage may occur in the event that the provisions of this Section 6.5 were not performed in accordance with their specific terms. Accordingly, it is hereby agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
(e) For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.5, (i) the disclosure and sharing of Privileged Information shall be governed solely by Section 6.6, and (ii) Information that is subject to any confidentiality provision or other disclosure restriction in any Ancillary Agreement shall be governed by the terms of such Ancillary Agreement.
(f) For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.5, following the Distribution Date, the confidentiality obligations under this Agreement shall continue to apply to any and all Confidential Information concerning or belonging to each Party or its Affiliates that is shared or disclosed with the other Party or its Affiliates, whether or not such Confidential Information is shared pursuant to this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or otherwise.
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Section 6.6 Privilege Matters.
(a) Pre-Effective Time Services. The Parties recognize that legal and other professional services that have been and will be provided prior to the Effective Time have been and will be rendered for the collective benefit of each of the members of the Fortive Group and the Vontier Group, and that each of the members of the Fortive Group and the Vontier Group should be deemed to be the client with respect to such pre-Effective Time services for the purposes of asserting all privileges, immunities, or other protections from disclosure which may be asserted under applicable Law, including attorney-client privilege, business strategy privilege, joint defense privilege, common interest privilege, and protection under the work-product doctrine (Privilege). The Parties shall have a shared Privilege with respect to all Information subject to Privilege (Privileged Information) which relates to such pre-Effective Time services. For the avoidance of doubt, Privileged Information within the scope of this Section 6.6 includes, but is not limited to, services rendered by legal counsel retained or employed by any Party (or any member of such Partys respective Group), including outside counsel and in-house counsel.
(b) Post-Effective Time Services. The Parties recognize that legal and other professional services will be provided following the Effective Time to each of Fortive and Vontier. The Parties further recognize that certain of such post-Effective Time services will be rendered solely for the benefit of Fortive or Vontier, as the case may be, while other such post-Effective Time services may be rendered with respect to claims, proceedings, litigation, disputes, or other matters which involve both Fortive and Vontier. With respect to such post-Effective Time services and related Privileged Information, the Parties agree as follows:
(i) All Privileged Information relating to any claims, proceedings, litigation, disputes or other matters which involve both Fortive and Vontier shall be subject to a shared Privilege among the Parties involved in the claims, proceedings, litigation, disputes, or other matters at issue; and
(ii) Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.6(c)(i), Privileged Information relating to post-Effective Time services provided solely to one of Fortive or Vontier shall not be deemed shared between the Parties, provided, that the foregoing shall not be construed or interpreted to restrict the right or authority of the Parties (x) to enter into any further agreement, not otherwise inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, concerning the sharing of Privileged Information or (y) otherwise to share Privileged Information without waiving any Privilege which could be asserted under applicable Law.
(c) The Parties agree as follows regarding all Privileged Information with respect to which the Parties shall have a shared Privilege under Section 6.6(a) or (b):
(i) Subject to Section 6.6(c)(iii) and (iv), Vontier may not waive, allege or purport to waive, any Privilege which could be asserted under any applicable Law, and in which Fortive has a shared Privilege, without the consent of Fortive, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Consent shall be in writing, or shall be deemed to be granted unless written objection is made within fifteen (15) days after written notice by Vontier to Fortive. Fortive shall be entitled, in its sole discretion to waive, allege or purport to waive, any Privilege in connection with any Privileged Information, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of any member of the Fortive Group or any member of the Vontier Group;
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(ii) If a dispute arises between or among the Parties or their respective Subsidiaries regarding whether a Privilege should be waived to protect or advance the interest of any Party, each Party agrees that it shall negotiate in good faith, and shall endeavor to minimize any prejudice to the rights of the other Party. Fortive shall not unreasonably withhold consent to any request for waiver by Vontier and specifically agrees that it shall not withhold consent to waive for any purpose except to protect its own legitimate interests;
(iii) If, within fifteen (15) days of receipt by Vontier of written objection, the Parties have not succeeded in negotiating a resolution to any dispute regarding whether a Privilege should be waived, and Vontier determines that a Privilege should nonetheless be waived to protect or advance its interest, Vontier shall provide Fortive fifteen (15) days written notice prior to effecting such waiver. Each Party specifically agrees that failure within fifteen (15) days of receipt of such notice to commence proceedings in accordance with Section 7.2 to enjoin such disclosure under applicable Law shall be deemed full and effective consent to such disclosure, and any such Privilege shall not be waived by Vontier under the final determination of such dispute in accordance with Section 7.2; and
(iv) In the event of any litigation or dispute between the Parties, or any members of their respective Groups, either such Party may waive a Privilege in which the other Party or member of such Group has a shared Privilege, without obtaining the consent of the other Party; provided that such waiver of a shared Privilege shall be effective only as to the use of Privileged Information with respect to the litigation or dispute between the Parties and/or the applicable members of their respective Groups, and shall not operate as a waiver of the shared Privilege with respect to third parties.
(d) The transfer of all Information pursuant to this Agreement is made in reliance on the agreement of Fortive or Vontier as set forth in Section 6.5 and this Section 6.6, to maintain the confidentiality of Privileged Information and to assert and maintain any applicable Privilege. The access to Information being granted pursuant to Section 5.5, Section 6.1 and Section 6.2, the agreement to provide witnesses and individuals pursuant to Section 5.5 and Section 6.3, the furnishing of notices and documents and other cooperative efforts contemplated by Section 5.5, and the transfer of Privileged Information between the Parties and their respective Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of any Privilege that has been or may be asserted under this Agreement or otherwise.
Section 6.7 Ownership of Information. Any Information owned by one Party or any of its Subsidiaries that is provided to a requesting Party pursuant to this Article VI shall be deemed to remain the property of the providing Party. Unless expressly set forth herein, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as granting a license or other rights to any Party with respect to any such Information, whether by implication, estoppel or otherwise.
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Section 6.8 Personal Data.
(a) The Parties acknowledge that (i) Fortive is a Data Controller with respect to the Processing of the Fortive Personal Data prior to and after the Effective Time, (ii) Fortive and Vontier are separate Data Controllers with respect to the Processing of Vontier Personal Data prior to the Effective Time, and (iii) Vontier remains a Data Controller with respect to the Processing of the Vontier Personal Data from and after the Effective Time. As such, from and after the Effective Time, Vontier shall comply with the requirements of Data Protection Laws applicable to Data Controllers in connection with the Vontier Personal Data and this Agreement and shall not knowingly do anything or permit anything to be done which might lead to a breach by Fortive or its Affiliates of the Data Protection Laws.
(b) Both Parties shall cooperate to ensure that their Processing of Personal Data hereunder does and will comply with all applicable Data Protection Laws and take all reasonable precautions to avoid acts that place the other Party in breach of its obligations under any applicable Data Protection Laws. Nothing in this Section 6.8 shall be deemed to prevent any Party from taking the steps it reasonably deems necessary to comply with any applicable Data Protection Laws.
Section 6.9 Other Agreements. The rights and obligations granted under this Article VI are subject to any specific limitations, qualifications or additional provisions on the sharing, exchange or confidential treatment of Information set forth in any Ancillary Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Section 7.1 Negotiation. In the event of a controversy, dispute or Action arising out of, in connection with, or in relation to the interpretation, performance, nonperformance, validity or breach of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or otherwise arising out of, or in any way related to, this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or the transactions contemplated hereby, including any Action based on contract, tort, statute or constitution (collectively, Disputes), the general counsels of the Parties (or such other individuals designated by the respective general counsels) and/or the executive officers designated by the Parties shall negotiate for a reasonable period of time to settle such Dispute; provided, that such reasonable period shall not, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties in writing, exceed sixty (60) days (the Negotiation Period) from the time of receipt by a Party of written notice of such Dispute (Dispute Notice) and settlement of such Dispute pursuant to this Section 7.1 shall be confidential, and no written or oral statements or offers made by the Parties during such settlement negotiations shall be admissible for any purpose in any subsequent proceedings, including any arbitration proceeding pursuant to Section 7.2; provided, further, that in the event of any arbitration in accordance with Section 7.2 hereof, the Parties shall not assert the defenses of statute of limitations and laches arising during the period beginning after the date of receipt of the Dispute Notice, and any contractual time period or deadline under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to which such Dispute relates occurring after the Dispute Notice is received shall not be deemed to have passed until such Dispute has been resolved.
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Section 7.2 Arbitration. If the Dispute has not been resolved for any reason after the Negotiation Period, such Dispute shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration administered in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) then in effect (the Rules), except as modified herein.
(a) The arbitration shall be conducted by a three-member arbitral tribunal (the Arbitral Tribunal). The claimant shall nominate one arbitrator in accordance with the Rules, and the respondent shall nominate one arbitrator in accordance with the Rules within twenty-one days (21) after the appointment of the first arbitrator. The third arbitrator, who shall serve as chair of the Arbitral Tribunal, shall be jointly nominated by the two party-nominated arbitrators within twenty-one (21) days of the confirmation of the appointment of the second arbitrator. If any arbitrator is not appointed within the time limit provided herein, such arbitrator shall be appointed by the AAA in accordance with the listing, striking and ranking procedure in the Rules.
(b) The arbitration shall be held, and the award shall be rendered, in New York, New York, in the English language.
(c) For the avoidance of doubt, by submitting their dispute to arbitration under the Rules, the Parties expressly agree that all issues of arbitrability, including all issues concerning the propriety and timeliness of the commencement of the arbitration (including any defense based on a statute of limitation, if applicable), the jurisdiction of the Arbitral Tribunal, and the procedural conditions for arbitration, shall be finally and solely determined by the Arbitral Tribunal.
(d) Without derogating from Section 7.2(e) below, the Arbitral Tribunal shall have the full authority to grant any pre-arbitral injunction, pre-arbitral attachment, interim or conservatory measure or other order in aid of arbitration proceedings (Interim Relief). The Parties shall exclusively submit any application for Interim Relief to only: (A) the Arbitral Tribunal; or (B) prior to the constitution of the Arbitral Tribunal, an emergency arbitrator appointed in the manner provided for in the Rules (the Emergency Arbitrator). Any Interim Relief so issued shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be deemed a final arbitration award for purposes of enforceability, and, moreover, shall also be deemed a term and condition of this Agreement subject to specific performance in Section 7.3 below. The foregoing procedures shall constitute the exclusive means of seeking Interim Relief, provided, however, that (i) the Arbitral Tribunal shall have the power to continue, review, vacate or modify any Interim Relief granted by an Emergency Arbitrator; (ii) in the event an Emergency Arbitrator or the Arbitral Tribunal issues an order granting, denying or otherwise addressing Interim Relief (a Decision on Interim Relief), any Party may apply to enforce or require specific performance of such Decision on Interim Relief in any court of competent jurisdiction; and (iii) either Party shall retain the right to apply for freezing orders to prevent the improper dissipation of transfer of assets to a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) The Arbitral Tribunal shall have the power to grant any remedy or relief that it deems just and equitable and that is in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, including specific performance and temporary or final injunctive relief, provided, however, that the Arbitral Tribunal shall have no authority or power to limit, expand, alter, amend, modify, revoke or suspend any condition or provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, nor any right or power to award punitive, exemplary or treble damages.
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(f) The Arbitral Tribunal shall have the power to allocate the costs and fees of the arbitration, including reasonable attorneys fees and costs as well as those costs and fees addressed in the Rules, between the Parties in the manner it deems fit.
(g) Arbitration under this Article VII shall be the sole and exclusive remedy for any Dispute, and any award rendered thereby shall be final and binding upon the Parties as from the date rendered. Judgment on the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof, including any court having jurisdiction over the relevant Party or its Assets.
Section 7.3 Specific Performance. From and after the Distribution Date, in the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, the Parties agree that the Party or Parties to this Agreement or such Ancillary Agreement who are or are to be thereby aggrieved shall, subject and pursuant to the terms of this Article VII (including for the avoidance of doubt, after compliance with all notice and negotiation provisions herein), have the right to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief of its or their rights under this Agreement or such Ancillary Agreement, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative. The Parties agree that, from and after the Distribution Date, the remedies at law for any breach or threatened breach of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, including monetary damages, are inadequate compensation for any Indemnifiable Loss, that any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate is hereby waived, and that any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with such remedy are hereby waived.
Section 7.4 Treatment of Arbitration. The Parties agree that any arbitration hereunder shall be kept confidential, and that the existence of the proceeding and all of its elements (including any pleadings, briefs or other documents submitted or exchanged, any testimony or other oral submissions, and any awards) shall be deemed confidential, and shall not be disclosed beyond the Arbitral Tribunal, the Parties, their counsel, and any Person necessary to the conduct of the proceeding, except as and to the extent required by law and to defend or pursue any legal right. In the event any Party makes application to any court in connection with this Section 7.4 (including any proceedings to enforce a final award or any Interim Relief), that party shall take all steps reasonably within its power to cause such application, and any exhibits (including copies of any award or decisions of the Arbitral Tribunal or Emergency Arbitrator) to be filed under seal, shall oppose any challenge by any third party to such sealing, and shall give the other Party immediate notice of such challenge.
Section 7.5 Continuity of Service and Performance. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Parties shall continue to provide service and honor all other commitments under this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement during the course of dispute resolution pursuant to the provisions of this Article VII with respect to all matters not subject to such dispute resolution.
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Section 7.6 Consolidation. The arbitrator may consolidate an arbitration under this Agreement with any arbitration arising under or relating to the Ancillary Agreements or any other agreement between the Parties entered into pursuant hereto, as the case may be, if the subject of the Disputes thereunder arises out of or relates essentially to the same set of facts or transactions. Such consolidated arbitration shall be determined by the arbitrator appointed for the arbitration proceeding that was commenced first in time.
ARTICLE VIII
INSURANCE
Section 8.1 Insurance Matters.
(a) Vontier acknowledges and agrees that, from and after the Effective Time, neither Vontier nor any member of the Vontier Group shall have any rights to or under any Policies of Fortive, including the Company Policies, other than (x) any insurance policies acquired prior to the Effective Time directly by and in the name of Vontier or a member of the Vontier Group and that provide coverage solely for one or more members of the Vontier Group, or (y) as expressly provided in Section 5.7 or this Article VIII.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 8.1(a), from and after the Effective Time, with respect to any Liability accrued and/or incurred by Vontier or its predecessors prior to the Effective Time, Fortive may, at its sole discretion, provide Vontier with access to, and, if and to the extent determined by Fortive in its discretion, Vontier and Fortive may jointly make claims under, the Company Policies if and solely to the extent that the terms of such policies provide for such coverage to Vontier or its predecessors with respect to any Vontier Liabilities accrued and/or incurred prior to the Effective Time, and subject to the terms and conditions of such insurance policies, including any limits on coverage or scope, any deductibles and other fees and expenses, and subject to the following additional conditions:
(i) Vontier shall inform Fortive of any potential claim under any of the Company Policies with regard to any Vontier Liability and Fortive shall determine whether and at what time to report any such claims under such Company Policies directly to the applicable insurance company, and to submit a claim for coverage thereunder, and Fortive shall provide a copy of all such claim reports and submissions to Vontier; provided, that with respect to any such claims, Vontier shall provide Fortive with the information regarding the claims and provide recommendations with regard to the reporting and submission of such claims, and Fortive shall consult with Vontier with regard to the timing thereof;
(ii) If and to the extent that Vontier is the sole entity recovering insurance proceeds under one or more of the Company Policies in respect of a particular claim for coverage, Vontier shall exclusively bear and be responsible for (and Fortive shall have no obligation to repay or reimburse Vontier for) and pay the applicable insurers as required under the applicable Company Policies for any and all costs as a result of having access to, or making claims under, such Policies, including any amounts of deductibles and self-insured retention associated with such claims, claim handling and
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administrative costs, collateral requirements and costs, Taxes, surcharges, additional premiums, state assessments, reinsurance costs, and other related costs, relating to all open, closed or re-opened claims covered by the applicable Policies, whether such claims are made by Vontier, its employees or third parties, and Vontier shall indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse Fortive for any such amounts incurred by Fortive to the extent resulting from any access to, any claims made by Vontier under, any Company Policies provided pursuant to this Section 8.1. If Fortive and Vontier jointly make a claim for coverage under the Company Policies for amounts that have been or may in the future be incurred partially by Fortive and partially by Vontier, at the sole discretion of Fortive, any insurance recovery resulting therefrom may first be allocated to reimburse Fortive and/or Vontier for their respective costs, legal and consulting fees, and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in pursuing such insurance recovery, with the remaining net proceeds from the insurance recovery to be allocated as between Fortive and Vontier in a manner at the sole discretion of Fortive at or near the time of such recovery;
(iii) Vontier shall exclusively bear (and Fortive shall have no obligation to repay or reimburse Vontier for) and shall be liable for all uninsured, uncovered, unavailable or uncollectible amounts, incurred from and after the Effective Time, of all such claims pursued by Vontier under the Company Policies as provided for in this Section 8.1(b); and
(iv) in connection with making any joint claim under any Company Policies pursuant to this Section 8.1(b), Fortive shall control the administration of all such claims, including the timing of any assertion and pursuit of coverage, and Vontier shall not take any action that would be reasonably likely to: (A) have an adverse impact on the then-current relationship between Fortive and the applicable insurance company; (B) result in the applicable insurance company terminating or reducing coverage to Fortive or Vontier, or increasing the amount of any premium owed by Fortive under the applicable Company Policies; (C) otherwise compromise, jeopardize or interfere with the rights of Fortive under the applicable Company Policies or (D) otherwise compromise or impair Fortives ability to enforce its rights with respect to any indemnification under or arising out of this Agreement, and Fortive shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to cause Vontier to desist from any action that Fortive determines, in its sole discretion, would compromise or impair Fortives rights in accordance with this clause (D).
At all times, Fortive and Vontier shall, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6.5, cooperate with reasonable requests for information by the other Party or the insurance companies regarding any such insurance policy claim.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 8.1(b), from and after the Effective Time, any director or officer of Vontier or any member of the Vontier Group who served as a director or officer of Fortive or any member of the Fortive Group prior to the Effective Time shall be entitled to pursue coverage under the director and officer liability insurance policies maintained by Fortive or any member of the Fortive Group to the extent that such policies provide coverage for such directors or officers acts and omissions in his or her respective capacity as director or officer of Fortive or any member of the Fortive Group prior to the Effective Time, subject to the terms and conditions of such policies (including but not limited to any limits on coverage or scope, any deductibles or retention amounts and other fees and expenses).
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(d) Any payments, costs and adjustments required pursuant to Section 8.1(b) shall at Fortives election either be billed by Fortive to Vontier on a monthly basis and Vontier shall pay such billed payments, costs and adjustments to Fortive within sixty (60) days from receipt of invoice, or billed directly by the applicable third party to Vontier. If Fortive incurs costs to enforce Vontiers obligations under this Section 8.1, Vontier agrees to indemnify Fortive for such enforcement costs, including reasonable attorneys fees.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, from and after the Effective Time, neither Vontier nor any member of the Vontier Group shall have any rights or claims against or with respect to any self-insurance or captive insurance company arrangement of Fortive or any member of the Fortive Group. In addition, as of the Effective Time, Vontier, for itself and each member of the Vontier Groups does hereby remise, release and forever discharge Fortive and the other members of the Fortive Group of any rights or claims against or with respect to any self-insurance or captive insurance company arrangement of Fortive or any member of the Fortive Group.
(f) At the Effective Time, Vontier shall have in effect all insurance programs required to comply with Vontiers statutory obligations.
(g) This Agreement shall not be considered as an attempted assignment of any policy of insurance in its entirety, nor is it considered to be itself a contract of insurance, and further this Agreement shall not be construed to waive any right or remedy of Fortive under or with respect to any of the Company Policies and programs or any other contract or policy of insurance, and Fortive reserves all of its rights under such Policies.
(h) Fortive shall not be liable to Vontier for claims not reimbursed by insurers for any reason not within the control of Fortive, including coinsurance provisions, deductibles, quota share deductibles, exhaustion of aggregates, self-insured retentions, bankruptcy or insolvency of an insurance carrier, Company Policy limitations or restrictions, any coverage disputes, any failure to timely claim by Fortive or any defect in such claim or its processing.
(i) In the event that Insured Claims of more than one Party exist relating to the same occurrence, the relevant Parties shall jointly defend and waive any conflict of interest to the extent necessary to the conduct of the joint defense. Nothing in this Section 8.1(i) shall be construed to limit or otherwise alter in any way the obligations of the Parties, including those obligations under Article V, including those created by this Agreement, by operation of law or otherwise.
(j) In the event of any Action by any Party (or both of the Parties) to recover or obtain insurance proceeds, or to defend against any Action by an insurance carrier to deny any Policy benefits, both Parties may join in any such Action and be represented by joint counsel and both Parties shall waive any conflict of interest to the extent necessary to conduct any such Action. Nothing in this Section 8.1(j) shall be construed to limit or otherwise alter in any way the obligations of the Parties, including those created under Article V of this Agreement or otherwise, by operation of Law, or otherwise.
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(k) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 8.1, to the extent Fortive has entered into or agrees to enter into, whether on its own or with respect to the any arrangement provided for under this Section 8.1, any settlement agreement or other arrangement with any insurance provider regarding coverage under any Company Policy that provides for any limitation of coverage or release of such insurance provider with regard to any coverage thereunder, whether in whole or in part (collectively, the Released Insurance Matters), Vontier agrees that it shall (i) abide by the terms of and, to the extent required, consent to, any such settlement or arrangement relating to the Released Insurance Matters as a condition to receiving any coverage under any Company Policy related thereto, (ii) have no rights to any such coverage under the Company Policies with respect to any Released Insurance Matters and (iii) make no claims under any Company Policies with respect to any Released Insurance Matters.
(l) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 8.1, from and after the Effective Time, Vontier shall maintain the insurance policies set forth in Schedule 8.1(l).
Section 8.2 Certain Matters Relating to Fortives Organizational Documents. From the Effective Time until six (6) years from the Distribution Date, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Vontier shall contain provisions no less favorable with respect to indemnification of directors and officers than those set forth in the Charter or Bylaws, which provisions shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified for such period in any manner that would affect adversely the rights thereunder of individuals who, at or prior to the Effective Time, were indemnified under the Charter or Bylaws, unless such amendment, repeal, or other modification shall be required by Law and then only to the minimum extent required by Law or approved by Vontiers stockholders.
Section 8.3 Indemnitor of First Resort. As a result of agreements or obligations arising outside of this Agreement, certain of the directors and officers of Vontier and its Subsidiaries designated by Fortive or its Affiliates (the Fortive D&O Indemnitees) have or will have rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by Fortive or certain of its Affiliates (collectively, the Fortive Indemnitors) in connection with their service as directors or officers of Vontier or its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding any such rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by any Fortive Indemnitor, (a) Vontier is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., Vontiers obligations to the Fortive D&O Indemnitees are primary, and any obligation of the Fortive Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by any Fortive D&O Indemnitee are secondary), (b) Vontier shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by the Fortive D&O Indemnitees and shall be liable for the full amount of all expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of this Agreement, any other agreement between Vontier and the Fortive D&O Indemnitees or the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Vontier and (c) Vontier hereby irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases each of the Fortive Indemnitors from any and all claims against any of the Fortive Indemnitors for contribution,
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subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. In addition, notwithstanding any advancement or payment by the Fortive Indemnitors to or on behalf of any Fortive D&O Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which a Fortive D&O Indemnitee has sought or may seek indemnification from Vontier, (i) Vontiers obligations hereunder shall not be affected, (ii) the Fortive Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of such Fortive D&O Indemnitee, as applicable, against Vontier and (iii) for the avoidance of doubt, all damages, costs losses and other Liabilities incurred by any Fortive D&O Indemnitee in connection with his or her service as a director or officer of Vontier or any of its Subsidiaries shall constitute Vontier Liabilities.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1 Entire Agreement; Construction. This Agreement, including the Exhibits and Schedules, and the Ancillary Agreements shall constitute the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all previous negotiations, commitments, course of dealings and writings with respect to such subject matter. In the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement and any Schedule hereto, the Schedule shall prevail. In the event and to the extent that there shall be a conflict between the provisions of (a) this Agreement and the provisions of any Ancillary Agreement or Continuing Arrangement, such Ancillary Agreement or Continuing Arrangement shall control (except with respect to any Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments, in which case this Agreement shall control) and (b) this Agreement and any agreement which is not an Ancillary Agreement, this Agreement shall control unless specifically stated otherwise in such agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments are intended to be ministerial in nature and only to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the applicable local jurisdiction and shall not expand or modify the rights and obligations of the Parties or their Affiliates under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements that are not Conveyancing and Assumption Instruments. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement: (i) all matters relating to Taxes and Tax Returns of the Parties and their respective Subsidiaries shall be governed exclusively by the Tax Matters Agreement; and (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, in the event of any conflict between this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, on the one hand, and the Tax Matters Agreement, on the other hand, with respect to such matters, the terms and conditions of the Tax Matters Agreement shall govern.
Section 9.2 Ancillary Agreements. Except as expressly set forth herein, this Agreement is not intended to address, and should not be interpreted to address, the matters specifically and expressly covered by the Ancillary Agreements.
Section 9.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in more than one counterpart, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more such counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to each of the Parties.
Section 9.4 Survival of Agreements. Except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, all covenants and agreements of the Parties contained in this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement shall survive the Effective Time and remain in full force and effect in accordance with their applicable terms.
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Section 9.5 Expenses.
(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, or as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Parties, all out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred at or prior to the Effective Time by any member of the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group that Fortive determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, are in connection with, or as required by, the preparation, execution, delivery and implementation of this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement and the Distribution Disclosure Documents and the consummation of the Internal Reorganization, the Contribution and the Distribution (the Transaction-related Expenses) shall be borne and paid by Fortive; provided, that all costs and expenses, other than the Transaction-related Expenses incurred at or prior to the Effective Time, with respect to any third party vendors or services provided to or for the benefit of any member of the Vontier Group shall be borne and paid by Vontier; provided, further, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all costs and expenses incurred with respect to the services listed on Schedule 9.5(a) shall not be deemed Transaction-related Expenses and shall be borne and paid by Vontier.
(b) The Fortive Group shall have no responsibility for, and Vontier shall indemnify the Fortive Group in respect of, any out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred following the Effective Time in connection with, or as required by, the preparation, execution, delivery and implementation of this Agreement any Ancillary Agreement and the Distribution Disclosure Documents and the consummation of the Internal Reorganization, the Contribution and the Distribution (except to the extent such fees and expenses were incurred in connection with services expressly requested by Fortive in writing following the Effective Time).
(c) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, or as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Parties, any costs and expenses incurred in obtaining any Consents or novation from a third party in connection with the assignment to or assumption by a Party or its Subsidiary of any Contracts in connection with the Internal Reorganization, the Contribution or the Distribution shall be borne by the Party or its Subsidiary to which such Contract is being assigned.
(d) Except as set forth in Section 9.5(b), with respect to any expenses incurred pursuant to a request for further assurances granted under Section 2.8, the Parties agree that any and all fees and expenses incurred by either Party shall be borne and paid by the requesting Party; it being understood that no Party shall be obliged to incur any third party accounting, consulting, advisor, banking or legal fees, costs or expenses, and the requesting Party shall not be obligated to pay such fees, costs or expenses, unless such fee, cost or expense shall have had the prior written approval of the requesting Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Party shall be responsible for paying its own internal fees, costs and expenses (e.g., salaries of personnel). With respect to any fees, costs and expenses incurred by either Party in satisfying its obligations under Section 7.1 or Section 7.2, the requesting Party shall be responsible for the other Partys fees, costs and expenses.
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Section 9.6 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under this Agreement and, to the extent applicable and unless otherwise provided therein, under each of the Ancillary Agreements shall be in English, shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, by email (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) or by facsimile with receipt confirmed (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 9.6):
To Fortive:
Fortive Corporation
6920 Seaway Blvd.
Everett, WA 98203
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (425) 446-5007
E-mail: Peter.Underwood@fortive.com
To Vontier:
Vontier Corporation
5420 Wade Park Boulevard, Suite 206
Raleigh, NC 27607
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (336) 292-8871
E-mail: Katie.rowen@vontier.com
Section 9.7 Waivers. Any consent required or permitted to be given by any Party to the other Party under this Agreement shall be in writing and signed by the Party giving such consent and shall be effective only against such Party (and its Group).
Section 9.8 Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by any party hereto without the prior written consent of the other Party, and any attempt to assign any rights or obligations arising under this Agreement without such consent shall be void. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall be assignable to (i) with respect to Fortive, an Affiliate of Fortive, or (ii) a bona fide third party in connection with a merger, reorganization, consolidation or the sale of all or substantially all the assets of a party hereto so long as the resulting, surviving or transferee entity assumes all the obligations of the relevant party hereto by operation of law or pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the other Party to this Agreement; provided however that in the case of each of the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), no assignment permitted by this Section 9.8 shall release the assigning Party from liability for the full performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
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Section 9.9 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement and the obligations and rights hereunder shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by (and against) the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Section 9.10 Termination and Amendment. This Agreement (including Article V hereof) may be terminated, modified or amended at any time prior to the Effective Time by and in the sole discretion of Fortive without the approval of Vontier or the stockholders of Fortive. In the event of such termination, no Party shall have any liability of any kind to the other Party or any other Person. After the Effective Time, this Agreement may not be terminated, modified or amended except by an agreement in writing signed by Fortive and Vontier.
Section 9.11 Payment Terms.
(a) Except as set forth in Article V or as otherwise expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, any amount to be paid or reimbursed by a Party (and/or a member of such Partys Group), on the one hand, to the other Party (and/or a member of such Partys Group), on the other hand, under this Agreement shall be paid or reimbursed hereunder within sixty (60) days after presentation of an invoice or a written demand therefor and setting forth, or accompanied by, reasonable documentation or other reasonable explanation supporting such amount.
(b) Except as set forth in Article V or as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, any amount not paid when due pursuant to this Agreement (and any amount billed or otherwise invoiced or demanded and properly payable that is not paid within sixty (60) days of such bill, invoice or other demand) shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate, from time to time in effect, calculated for the actual number of days elapsed, accrued from the date on which such payment was due up to the date of the actual receipt of payment.
(c) Unless otherwise consented to by the Party receiving any payment under this Agreement specifying otherwise, all payments to be made by either Fortive or Vontier under this Agreement shall be made in US Dollars. Except as expressly provided herein, any amount which is not expressed in US Dollars shall be converted into US Dollars by using the exchange rate published on Bloomberg at 5:00 pm Eastern Standard time (EST) on the day before the relevant date or in the Wall Street Journal on such date if not so published on Bloomberg. Except as expressly provided herein, in the event that any indemnification payment required to be made hereunder or under any Ancillary Agreement may be denominated in a currency other than US Dollars, the amount of such payment shall be converted into US Dollars on the date in which notice of the claim is given to the Indemnifying Party.
Section 9.12 Subsidiaries. Each of the Parties shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by any Subsidiary of such Party or by any entity that becomes a Subsidiary of such Party at and after the Effective Time, to the extent such Subsidiary remains a Subsidiary of the applicable Party.
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Section 9.13 Third Party Beneficiaries. Except (i) as provided in Article V relating to Indemnitees and for the release under Section 5.1 of any Person provided therein and (ii) as specifically provided in any Ancillary Agreement, this Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Parties and should not be deemed to confer upon third parties any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement, claim of Action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement.
Section 9.14 Title and Headings. Titles and headings to sections herein are inserted for the convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 9.15 Exhibits and Schedules.
(a) The Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed with and as an integral part of this Agreement to the same extent as if the same had been set forth verbatim herein. Nothing in the Exhibits or Schedules constitutes an admission of any liability or obligation of any member of the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group or any of their respective Affiliates to any third party, nor, with respect to any third party, an admission against the interests of any member of the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group or any of their respective Affiliates. The inclusion of any item or liability or category of item or liability on any Exhibit or Schedule is made solely for purposes of allocating potential liabilities among the Parties and shall not be deemed as or construed to be an admission that any such liability exists.
(b) Subject to the prior written consent of the other Party (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), each Party shall be entitled to update the Schedules from and after the date hereof until the Effective Time.
Section 9.16 Governing Law. This Agreement and any dispute arising out of, in connection with or relating to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.
Section 9.17 Severability. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The Parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
Section 9.18 Public Announcements. From and after the Effective Time, Fortive and Vontier shall consult with each other before issuing, and give each other the opportunity to review and comment upon, that portion of any press release or other public statements that relates to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except (a) as may be required by applicable Law, court process or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities exchange; (b) for disclosures made that are substantially consistent with disclosure contained in any Distribution Disclosure Document; or (c) as may pertain to disputes between one Party or any member of its Group, on one hand, and the other Party or any member of its Group, on the other hand.
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Section 9.19 Interpretation. The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the Party drafting or causing any instrument to be drafted.
Section 9.20 No Duplication; No Double Recovery. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer to or impose upon any Party a duplicative right, entitlement, obligation or recovery with respect to any matter arising out of the same facts and circumstances (including with respect to the rights, entitlements, obligations and recoveries that may arise out of one or more of the following Sections: Section 5.2; Section 5.3; and Section 5.4).
Section 9.21 Tax Treatment of Payments. Unless otherwise required by a Final Determination, this Agreement or the Tax Matters Agreement or otherwise agreed to among the Parties, for U.S. federal Tax purposes, any payment made pursuant to this Agreement (other than any payment of interest pursuant to Section 9.11) by: (i) Vontier to Fortive shall be treated for all Tax purposes as a distribution by Vontier to Fortive with respect to stock of Vontier occurring on or immediately before the Distribution Date; or (ii) Fortive to Vontier shall be treated for all Tax purposes as a tax-free contribution by Fortive to Vontier with respect to its stock occurring on or immediately before the Distribution Date; and in each case, no Party shall take any position inconsistent with such treatment. In the event that a Taxing Authority asserts that a Partys treatment of a payment pursuant to this Agreement should be other than as set forth in the preceding sentence, such Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to contest such challenge. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Fortive shall notify Vontier if it determines that any payment made pursuant to this Agreement is to be treated, for any Tax purposes, as a payment made by one Party acting as an agent of one of such Partys Subsidiaries to the other Party acting as an agent of one of such other Partys Subsidiaries, and the Parties agree to treat any such payment accordingly.
Section 9.22 No Waiver. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of any Party, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under the other Ancillary Agreements shall operate as a waiver hereof or thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or thereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.
Section 9.23 No Admission of Liability. The allocation of Assets and Liabilities herein (including on the Schedules hereto) is solely for the purpose of allocating such Assets and Liabilities between Fortive and Vontier and is not intended as an admission of liability or responsibility for any alleged Liabilities vis-à-vis any third party, including with respect to the Liabilities of any non-wholly owned subsidiary of Fortive or Vontier.
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Section 9.24 Advisors. It is acknowledged and agreed by each of the Parties that Fortive, on behalf of itself and the other members of the Fortive Group, has retained each of the Persons identified on Schedule 9.24 to act as counsel in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, the Internal Reorganization, the Contribution, the Distribution and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and that the Persons listed on Schedule 9.24 have not acted as counsel for Vontier or any other member of the Vontier Group in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, the Internal Reorganization, the Contribution, the Distribution and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and that none of Vontier or any member of the Vontier Group has the status of a client of the Persons listed on Schedule 9.24 for conflict of interest or any other purposes as a result thereof. Vontier hereby agrees, on behalf of itself and each other member of the Vontier Group that, in the event that a dispute arises after the Effective Time in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, the Internal Reorganization, the Contribution, the Distribution and/or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby between Fortive and Vontier or any of the members of their respective Groups, each of the Persons listed on Schedule 9.24 may represent any or all of the members of the Fortive Group in such dispute even though the interests of the Fortive Group may be directly adverse to those of the Vontier Group. Vontier further agrees, on behalf of itself and each other member of the Vontier Group that, with respect to this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, the Internal Reorganization, the Contribution, the Distribution and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, the attorney-client privilege and the expectation of client confidence belongs to Fortive or the applicable member of the Fortive Group and may be controlled by Fortive or such member of the Fortive Group and shall not pass to or be claimed by Vontier or any member of the Vontier Group. Without limiting the foregoing, Vontier acknowledges and agrees that each of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP and DLA Piper is representing Fortive, and not Vontier, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
FORTIVE CORPORATION | ||||
By: |
/s/ Rajesh Yadava |
|||
Name: | Rajesh Yadava | |||
Title: | Vice President, Treasurer | |||
VONTIER CORPORATION | ||||
By: |
/s/ Kathryn K. Rowen |
|||
Name: | Kathryn K. Rowen | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President, General Counsel |
[Separation and Distribution Agreement Signature Page]
Exhibit 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
VONTIER CORPORATION
(a Delaware corporation)
Vontier Corporation (the Corporation), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL), hereby certifies as follows:
1. The name of the Corporation is Vontier Corporation. The Corporation was originally incorporated under the name Gilford Global Corporation. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 5, 2019 (the COI), and it was amended by a Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 26, 2019 (as amended, the Amended COI), changing the Corporations name from Gilford Global Corporation to TTF Holdings Corp., and the Amended COI was further amended by a Certificate of Amendment to the Amended COI filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 15, 2020, changing the Corporations name from TTF Holdings Corp. to Vontier Corporation.
2. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which restates and amends the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the DGCL by the board of directors and sole stockholder of the Corporation, acting by written consent in lieu of a meeting in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL.
3. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective as of October 9, 2020 at 12:00 a.m., New York City time.
4. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
ARTICLE I
NAME
Section 1.01 Name. The name of the corporation is Vontier Corporation (the Corporation).
ARTICLE II
REGISTERED OFFICE AND REGISTERED AGENT
Section 2.01 Registered Address. The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation is The Corporation Trust Company.
ARTICLE III
CORPORATE PURPOSE
Section 3.01 Corporate Purpose. The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL STOCK
Section 4.01 Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 2,000,000,000, consisting of: (i) 1,985,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the Common Stock), and (ii) 15,000,000 shares of preferred stock, with no par value (the Preferred Stock).
Section 4.02 Common Stock. The powers, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the Common Stock are as follows:
(a) Ranking. The voting, dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of the Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock of any series as may be designated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Board) upon any issuance of the Preferred Stock of any series.
(b) Voting. Each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote in person or by proxy for each share on all matters on which such stockholders are entitled to vote. Except as expressly set forth in the applicable Certificate of Designations with respect to any such series of Preferred Stock, the holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designations) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together as a class with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon.
(c) Dividends. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive ratably such dividends and other distributions in cash, stock or property of the Corporation when, as and if declared thereon by the Board in its sole discretion from time to time out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor, subject to any preferential rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock and any other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, as may be amended from time to time.
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(d) Liquidation. Upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them and subject to any preferential rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock. For purposes of this paragraph, unless otherwise provided with respect to any then outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the voluntary sale, conveyance, lease, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation or a consolidation or merger of the Corporation with one or more other corporations (whether or not the Corporation is the corporation surviving such consolidation or merger) shall not be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, either voluntary or involuntary.
(e) No Preemptive or Subscription Rights. No holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to preemptive or subscription rights.
Section 4.03 Preferred Stock. The Board is hereby expressly authorized to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for the issuance of all or any of the shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and, with respect to each such series, to fix the number of shares constituting such series and the designation of such series, the voting powers, full or limited, if any, of the shares of such series, and the preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of preferred stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.
The authority of the Board with respect to each series of Preferred Stock shall include, but not be limited to, the determination of the following:
(a) the designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;
(b) the number of shares of the series, which number the Board may thereafter increase or decrease, but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding;
(c) the entitlement to receive dividends (which may be cumulative or non-cumulative) at such rates, on such conditions, and at such times and payable in preference to, or in such relation to, the dividends payable on any other class or classes or any other series of capital stock;
(d) the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;
(e) the terms and amount of any sinking fund, if any, provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;
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(f) the amounts payable on, and the preferences, if any, of shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation;
(g) whether the shares of the series shall be convertible into or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or series, or any other security, of the Corporation or any other corporation, and, if so, the specification of such other class or series or such other security, the conversion or exchange price or prices or rate or rates, any adjustments thereof, the date or dates at which such shares shall be convertible or exchangeable and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange may be made;
(h) restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or any other class or series;
(i) the voting rights, if any, of the holders of shares of the series generally or upon specified events; and
(j) any other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such shares,
all as may be determined from time to time by the Board and stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such Preferred Stock.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the resolutions providing for issuance of any series of Preferred Stock may provide that such series shall be superior or rank equally or be junior to any other series of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted by law.
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.01 Election of Directors. Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so require.
Section 5.02 Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such date, time and place, if any, as shall be determined solely by the resolution of the Board in its sole and absolute discretion.
Section 5.03 Number of Directors. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. Subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, if any, the Board shall consist of not less than three (3) nor greater than fifteen (15) directors, the exact number of which shall be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board, and subject to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock, if any, the exact number may be increased or decreased by such a resolution (but not to less than three (3) nor greater than fifteen (15)).
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Section 5.04 Classes of Directors. Other than those directors, if any, elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the Board shall be and is divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, designated as: Class I, Class II and Class III. In case of any increase or decrease, from time to time, in the number of directors, the number of directors in each class shall be apportioned as nearly equal as possible. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 5.05 Terms of Office. Except for the terms of such additional directors, if any, as elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting at which the director was elected. The term of the initial Class I directors shall terminate at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2021; the term of the initial Class II directors shall terminate on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2022; and the term of the initial Class III directors shall terminate on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2023 or, in each case, upon such directors earlier death, resignation or removal. At each succeeding annual meeting of stockholders beginning with the first annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2021, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election and until his or her respective successor has been duly elected and qualified. If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any additional director of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in such class or from the removal from office, death, disability, resignation or disqualification of a director or other cause shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case will a decrease in the number of directors have the effect of removing or shortening the term of any incumbent director.
Section 5.06 Vacancies. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, vacancies on the Board by any reason, including by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office, or otherwise, and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors, shall be filled solely by a majority of the directors then in office, in their sole discretion, even though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, in his or her sole discretion, and shall not be filled by the stockholders. A director elected to fill a vacancy or a newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen, subject to the election and qualification of a successor and to such directors earlier death, resignation or removal.
Section 5.07 Authority. In addition to the powers and authority hereinbefore or by statute expressly conferred upon them, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Certificate of Incorporation, and any Bylaws of the Corporation adopted by the stockholders; provided, however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the directors which would have been valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
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Section 5.08 Advance Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors shall be given in the manner and to the extent provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VI
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 6.01 Cumulative Voting. No holder of Common Stock of the Corporation shall be entitled to exercise any right of cumulative voting.
Section 6.02 Stockholder Action. Subject to the terms of any series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.
Section 6.03 Special Meetings. Unless otherwise required by law or the terms of any resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board providing for the issuance of a class or series of the Preferred Stock, special meetings of stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called by the Secretary upon a written request delivered to the Secretary by (i) the Board as set forth in the Corporations Bylaws, (ii) the Chairman of the Board or (iii) the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The ability of the stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders is hereby specifically denied. At a special meeting of stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall be specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto).
ARTICLE VII
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND TRANSACTIONS
Section 7.01 General. In recognition and anticipation that (i) the Corporation will not be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fortive (as defined below) and that Fortive will be a minority stockholder of the Corporation, (ii) directors, officers and/or employees of Fortive may serve as directors, officers and/or employees of the Corporation, (iii) Fortive may engage in the same, similar or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, (iv) Fortive may have an interest in the same areas of corporate opportunity as the Corporation and Affiliated Companies, and (v) as a consequence of the foregoing, it is in the best interests of the Corporation that the respective rights and obligations of the Corporation and of Fortive, and the duties of any directors, officers and/or employees of the Corporation who are also directors, officers and/or employees of Fortive, be determined and delineated in respect of any transactions between, or opportunities that may be suitable for both, the Corporation and Affiliated Companies, on the one hand, and Fortive, on the other hand, the sections of this Article VII shall to the fullest extent permitted by law regulate and define the conduct of certain of the business and affairs of the Corporation in relation to Fortive and the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation as they may involve Fortive and its directors, officers and/or employees, and the power, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its director, officers, employees and stockholders in connection therewith.
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As used in this Certificate of Incorporation, (i) Fortive shall mean Fortive Corporation, a Delaware corporation, any and all successors to Fortive Corporation by way of merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of its assets or equity, and any and all corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies, associations and other entities (A) in which Fortive Corporation owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock, voting power, partnership interests or similar ownership interests, (B) of which Fortive Corporation otherwise directly or indirectly controls or directs the policies or operations or (C) that would be considered subsidiaries of Fortive Corporation within the meaning of Regulation S-K or Regulation S-X of the general rules and regulations under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, now or hereafter existing; provided, however, that the term Fortive shall not include the Corporation or any entities (A) in which the Corporation owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock, voting power, partnership interests or similar ownership interests, (B) of which the Corporation otherwise directly or indirectly controls or directs the policies or operations or (C) that would be considered subsidiaries of the Corporation within the meaning of Regulation S-K or Regulation S-X of the general rules and regulations under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, now or hereafter existing (such entities, Affiliated Companies) and (ii) the term Beneficially Own shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
For purposes of this Article VII, corporate opportunities shall include, but not be limited to, business opportunities which the Corporation or Affiliated Companies are financially able to undertake, which are, from their nature, in the line of the Corporations or Affiliated Companies business, are of practical advantage to it and are ones in which the Corporation or Affiliated Companies would have an interest or a reasonable expectancy, and in which, by embracing the opportunities or allowing such opportunities to be embraced by Fortive, the self-interest of Fortive or its directors, officers and/or employees will be brought into conflict with that of the Corporation or Affiliated Companies.
Nothing in this Article VII creates or is intended to create any fiduciary duty on the part of Fortive, the Corporation, any Affiliated Company, or any stockholder, director, officer or employee of any of them that does not otherwise exist under Delaware law and nothing in this Article VII expands any such duty of any such person that may now or hereafter exist under Delaware law.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any shares of capital stock of the Corporation, or any interest therein, shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of this Article VII.
Section 7.02 Certain Agreements and Transactions Permitted. The Corporation may from time to time enter into and perform, and cause or permit any Affiliated Company to enter into and perform, one or more agreements (or modifications or supplements to pre-existing agreements) with Fortive pursuant to which the Corporation or an Affiliated Company, on the one hand, and Fortive, on the other hand, agree to engage in transactions of any kind or nature with each other and/or agree to compete, or to refrain from competing or to limit or restrict their competition, with each other, including to allocate, and to cause their respective directors, officers and/or employees (including any who are directors, officers and/or employees of both) to
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allocate opportunities between them or to refer opportunities to each other. Subject to Section 7.04, no such agreement, or the performance thereof by the Corporation or any Affiliated Company, or Fortive, shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be considered contrary to any fiduciary duty that any director, officer or employee of the Corporation or any Affiliated Company who is also a director, officer or employee of Fortive may owe or be alleged to owe to the Corporation or any such Affiliated Company, or to any stockholder thereof, or any legal duty or obligation Fortive may be alleged to owe on any basis, notwithstanding the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation stipulating to the contrary. Subject to Section 7.04, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no director, officer or employee of the Corporation who is also a director, officer or employee of Fortive shall have or be under any fiduciary duty to the Corporation or any Affiliated Company to refer any corporate opportunity to the Corporation or any Affiliated Company or to refrain from acting on behalf of the Corporation or any Affiliated Company or of Fortive in respect of any such agreement or transaction or performing any such agreement in accordance with its terms.
Section 7.03 Authorized Business Activities. Without limiting the other provisions of this Article VII, Fortive shall have no duty to communicate information regarding a corporate opportunity to the Corporation or to refrain from (i) engaging in the same or similar activities or lines of business as the Corporation, (ii) doing business with any client, customer or vendor of the Corporation or (iii) employing or otherwise engaging any director, officer or employee of the Corporation. To the fullest extent permitted by law, except as provided in Section 7.04, no officer, director or employee of the Corporation who is also a director, officer or employee of Fortive shall be deemed to have breached his or her fiduciary duties, if any, to the Corporation solely by reason of Fortives engaging in any such activity.
Section 7.04 Corporate Opportunities. Except as otherwise agreed in writing between the Corporation and Fortive, for so long as Fortive Beneficially Owns any shares of capital stock of the Corporation or otherwise has one or more directors, officers or employees serving as a director, officer or employee of the Corporation, in the event that a director, officer or employee of the Corporation who is also a director, officer or employee of Fortive acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter that may be a corporate opportunity for both the Corporation and Fortive, such director, officer or employee shall to the fullest extent permitted by law have fully satisfied and fulfilled his or her fiduciary duty, if any, with respect to such corporate opportunity, and the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law renounces any interest or expectancy in such business opportunity and waives any claim that such business opportunity constituted a corporate opportunity that should have been presented to the Corporation or any Affiliated Company, if such director, officer or employee acts in a manner consistent with the following policy: such a corporate opportunity offered to any person who is a director or an officer or employee of the Corporation and who is also a director, officer or employee of Fortive shall belong to the Corporation only if such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation and otherwise shall belong to Fortive.
The foregoing policy, and the action of any director, officer or employee of Fortive, the Corporation or any Affiliated Company taken in accordance with, or in reliance upon, the foregoing policy or in entering into or performing any agreement, transaction or arrangement is deemed and presumed to be fair to the Corporation.
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Except as otherwise agreed in writing between the Corporation and Fortive, if a director, officer or employee of the Corporation, who also serves as a director, officer or employee of Fortive, acquires knowledge of a potential corporate opportunity for both the Corporation and Fortive in any manner not addressed by this Article VII, such director, officer or employee shall have no duty to communicate or present such corporate opportunity to the Corporation and shall to the fullest extent permitted by law not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, officer or employee of the Corporation by reason of the fact that Fortive pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, directs such corporate opportunity to another person or does not present such corporate opportunity to the Corporation, and the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law renounces any interest or expectancy in such business opportunity and waives any claim that such business opportunity constituted a corporate opportunity that should be presented to the Corporation.
Section 7.05 Delineation of Indirect Interests. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no director, officer or employee of the Corporation or any Affiliated Company shall be deemed to have an indirect interest in any matter, transaction or corporate opportunity that may be received or exploited by, or allocated to, Fortive, merely by virtue of being a director, officer or employee of Fortive, unless such director, officer or employees role with Fortive involves direct responsibility for such matter, in his or her role with Fortive, such director, officer or employee exercises supervision over such matter, or the compensation of such director, officer or employee is materially affected by such matter. Such director, officer or employees compensation shall not be deemed to be materially affected by such matter if it is only affected by virtue of its effect on the value of Fortive capital stock generally or on Fortives results or performance on an enterprise-wide basis.
Section 7.06 Special Approval Procedures. If, notwithstanding the provisions of this Article VII, it is deemed desirable by Fortive, the Corporation or an Affiliated Company or any other party that the Corporation take action with specific regard to a particular transaction, corporate opportunity or a type or series of transactions or corporate opportunities to ensure, out of an abundance of caution, that such transaction or transactions are not voidable, or that such an opportunity or opportunities are effectively disclaimed, the Corporation may employ any of the following procedures:
(a) the material facts of the transaction and the directors, officers or employees interest are disclosed or known to the Board or a duly appointed committee of the Board and the Board or such committee authorizes, approves, or ratifies the transaction by the affirmative vote or consent of a majority of the directors (or committee members) who have no direct or indirect interest in the transaction and, in any event, of at least two directors (or committee members); or
(b) the material facts of the transaction and the directors interest are disclosed or known to the stockholders entitled to vote and they authorize, approve or ratify such transaction.
The interested director or directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at such meeting. The presence of, or a vote cast by, a director with a direct or indirect interest in the transaction does not affect the validity of any actions taken under clause (a) above.
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One or more matters, transactions or corporate opportunities approved pursuant to any of the foregoing procedures are not void or voidable and shall not give rise to any equitable relief or damages or other sanctions against any director, officer, employee or stockholder (including Fortive) of the Corporation on the ground that the matter, transaction or corporate opportunity should have first been offered to the Corporation. Nothing in this Article VII requires any matter to be considered by the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation and, in all cases, directors, officers and employees of the Corporation are authorized to refrain from bringing a matter otherwise addressed in this Article VII before the Board or the stockholders for consideration unless such matter is required to be considered by the Board or stockholders, as applicable, under Delaware law. This Article VII shall not be construed to invalidate any contract or other transaction which would otherwise be valid under the common, equitable, or statutory law applicable thereto.
ARTICLE VIII
LIMITATION ON LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.01 Limitation on Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as it now exists and as it may hereafter be amended, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of a fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability of a director (a) for any breach of the directors duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (d) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit; provided that if the DGCL shall be amended or modified to provide for exculpation for any director in any circumstances where exculpation is prohibited pursuant to any of the preceding clauses (a) through (d), then such directors shall be entitled to exculpation to the maximum extent permitted by such amendment or modification. No amendment to, modification of or repeal of this Section 8.01 shall apply to or have any adverse effect on any right or protection of, or any limitation of the liability of, a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment, modification or repeal.
Section 8.02 Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify to the full extent authorized or permitted by law any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to any action or proceeding (whether civil or criminal or otherwise) by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or by reason of the fact that such director or officer, at the request of the Corporation, is or was serving any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, in any capacity. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which employees other than directors and officers may be entitled by law.
The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation, or is or was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, manager, officer, employee, trustee or agent of, or in a fiduciary capacity with respect to, another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such persons status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Section 8.02.
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The right of indemnification provided in this Section 8.02 shall not be exclusive, and shall be in addition to any other right to which any person may otherwise be entitled by law, statue, under the Bylaws of the Corporation, or under any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. Any amendment, repeal or modification of this Section 8.02 shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
ARTICLE IX
FORUM SELECTION
Section 9.01 Forum Selection. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum (an Alternative Forum Consent), the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporations stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided, however, that, in the event that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction over any such action or proceeding, the sole and exclusive forum for such action or proceeding shall be another state or federal court located within the State of Delaware, in each such case, unless the Court of Chancery (or such other state or federal court located within the State of Delaware, as applicable) has dismissed a prior action by the same plaintiff asserting the same claims because such court lacked personal jurisdiction over an indispensable party named as a defendant therein. Unless the Corporation gives an Alternative Forum Consent, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 9.01. Failure to enforce the foregoing provisions would cause the Corporation irreparable harm and the Corporation shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunction and specific performance, to enforce the forgoing provisions. The existence of any prior Alternative Forum Consent shall not act as a waiver of the Corporations ongoing consent right as set forth above in this Section 9.01 with respect to any current or future actions or claims.
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ARTICLE X
AMENDMENT
Section 10.01 Certificate of Incorporation. The Corporation shall have the right, from time to time, to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation in any manner now or hereafter provided by this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws of the Corporation or the DGCL, and all rights, preferences, privileges and powers of any kind conferred upon any director or stockholder of the Corporation by this Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment thereof are conferred subject to such right. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary (and in addition to any vote required by law), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of all classes of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter, change, or repeal or to adopt any provision inconsistent with Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article VIII and this Article X.
Section 10.02 Bylaws. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law, the Board is expressly authorized and empowered, without the assent or vote of the stockholders, to adopt, amend and repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the Board shall require the approval by the majority of the entire Board. The stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of all classes of capital stock entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class, shall be required to amend, repeal or adopt any provision of the Bylaws of the Corporation.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as of this 8th day of October, 2020.
VONTIER CORPORATION |
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By: |
/s/ Courtney Kamlet |
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Name: Courtney Kamlet | ||
Title: VP, Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.01 |
Registered Office |
1 | ||||
Section 1.02 |
Other Offices |
1 | ||||
ARTICLE II | ||||||
MEETINGS OF THE STOCKHOLDERS | ||||||
Section 2.01 |
Place of Meetings |
1 | ||||
Section 2.02 |
Annual Meeting |
1 | ||||
Section 2.03 |
Special Meetings |
1 | ||||
Section 2.04 |
Record Date |
2 | ||||
Section 2.05 |
Notice of Meetings |
2 | ||||
Section 2.06 |
List of Stockholders |
2 | ||||
Section 2.07 |
Quorum |
3 | ||||
Section 2.08 |
Adjournments |
3 | ||||
Section 2.09 |
Conduct of Meetings |
3 | ||||
Section 2.10 |
Voting; Proxy |
3 | ||||
Section 2.11 |
Advance Notice of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals |
4 | ||||
Section 2.12 |
Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting |
8 | ||||
Section 2.13 |
Inspectors at Meetings of Stockholders |
8 | ||||
ARTICLE III | ||||||
BOARD OF DIRECTORS | ||||||
Section 3.01 |
General Powers |
8 | ||||
Section 3.02 |
Number; Term of Office |
8 | ||||
Section 3.03 |
Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies |
9 | ||||
Section 3.04 |
Resignation and Removal of Directors |
9 | ||||
Section 3.05 |
Compensation |
10 | ||||
Section 3.06 |
Regular Meetings |
10 | ||||
Section 3.07 |
Special Meetings |
10 | ||||
Section 3.08 |
Telephone Meetings |
10 | ||||
Section 3.09 |
Adjourned Meetings |
10 | ||||
Section 3.10 |
Notices |
10 | ||||
Section 3.11 |
Waiver of Notice |
10 | ||||
Section 3.12 |
Organization |
11 | ||||
Section 3.13 |
Quorum of Directors |
11 | ||||
Section 3.14 |
Action By Majority Vote |
11 | ||||
Section 3.15 |
Action Without Meeting |
11 |
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Section 3.16 |
Interested Directors; Quorum |
11 | ||||
Section 3.17 |
Committees of the Board |
12 | ||||
ARTICLE IV | ||||||
OFFICERS | ||||||
Section 4.01 |
Positions and Election |
12 | ||||
Section 4.02 |
Term |
13 | ||||
Section 4.03 |
Resignation |
13 | ||||
Section 4.04 |
Vacancies |
13 | ||||
Section 4.05 |
Chief Executive Officer; President |
13 | ||||
Section 4.06 |
Vice Presidents |
13 | ||||
Section 4.07 |
Secretary; Assistant Secretary |
13 | ||||
Section 4.08 |
Treasurer; Assistant Treasurer |
13 | ||||
Section 4.09 |
Delegation of Authority |
14 | ||||
Section 4.10 |
Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation |
14 | ||||
Section 4.11 |
Chair of the Board |
14 | ||||
ARTICLE V | ||||||
STOCK CERTIFICATES AND THEIR TRANSFER | ||||||
Section 5.01 |
Certificates Representing Shares |
14 | ||||
Section 5.02 |
Transfers of Stock |
14 | ||||
Section 5.03 |
Transfer Agents and Registrars |
15 | ||||
Section 5.04 |
Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates |
15 | ||||
Section 5.05 |
Dividend Record Date |
15 | ||||
Section 5.06 |
Record Owners |
15 | ||||
ARTICLE VI | ||||||
GENERAL PROVISIONS | ||||||
Section 6.01 |
Corporate Seal |
15 | ||||
Section 6.02 |
Fiscal Year |
15 | ||||
Section 6.03 |
Contracts |
15 | ||||
Section 6.04 |
Checks, Notes, Drafts, Etc. |
15 | ||||
Section 6.05 |
Dividends |
16 | ||||
Section 6.06 |
Conflict With Applicable Law or Certificate of Incorporation |
16 | ||||
ARTICLE VII | ||||||
INDEMNIFICATION | ||||||
Section 7.01 |
Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings other Than Those by or in the Right of the Corporation |
16 |
ii
Section 7.02 |
Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation |
16 | ||||
Section 7.03 |
Authorization of Indemnification |
17 | ||||
Section 7.04 |
Good Faith Defined |
17 | ||||
Section 7.05 |
Indemnification by a Court |
18 | ||||
Section 7.06 |
Expenses Payable in Advance |
18 | ||||
Section 7.07 |
Non-exclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses |
18 | ||||
Section 7.08 |
Insurance |
18 | ||||
Section 7.09 |
Certain Definitions for Purposes of Article VII |
18 | ||||
Section 7.10 |
Limitations |
19 | ||||
Section 7.11 |
Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses |
19 | ||||
Section 7.12 |
Savings Clause |
19 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII | ||||||
AMENDMENTS | ||||||
Section 8.01 |
Amendments |
19 |
iii
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
VONTIER CORPORATION
(a Delaware corporation)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.01 Registered Office. The address of the registered office of Vontier Corporation (the Corporation) in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation is The Corporation Trust Company.
Section 1.02 Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places within or without the State of Delaware as the board of directors of the Corporation (the Board) may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may from time to time require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF THE STOCKHOLDERS
Section 2.01 Place of Meetings. All meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board and stated in the notice of meeting.
Section 2.02 Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such date, time and place, if any, as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the notice of the meeting. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting previously scheduled by the Board.
Section 2.03 Special Meetings. Unless otherwise required by law or by the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and restated from time to time (the Certificate of Incorporation), and subject to the rights of the holders of preferred stock, a special meeting of stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called by the Secretary upon a written request delivered to the Secretary by (a) the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board, (b) the Chairman of the Board or (c) the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The ability of the stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders is hereby specifically denied. At a special meeting of stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall be specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto). The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board. Business transacted at all special meetings shall be limited to the matters specifically stated in the Corporations notice of special meeting (or any supplement thereto). Nothing herein shall prohibit the Board from submitting additional matters to stockholders at any such special meeting. Special meetings shall be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board shall designate.
Section 2.04 Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of the stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
Section 2.05 Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a notice of the place, if any, date, hour, and means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting shall be given by the Corporation not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting (unless otherwise required by law) to every stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting. Notices of special meetings shall also specify the purpose or purposes for which the meeting has been called. Except as otherwise provided herein or permitted by applicable law, notice to stockholders shall be in writing and delivered personally or mailed (including by electronic transmission in accordance with applicable law) to the stockholders at their address appearing on the books of the Corporation. Notice by mail is deemed given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholders address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, and notice by electronic transmission shall be deemed given pursuant Section 232(b) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL). Any stockholder may waive notice of any meeting, either before or after the meeting. The attendance of any stockholder at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Any stockholder so waiving notice of the meeting shall be bound by the proceedings of the meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had been given.
Section 2.06 List of Stockholders. The Secretary shall prepare, or have prepared, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class of capital stock of the Corporation registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting the whole time thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as provided by applicable law, the stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger and the list of stockholders or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
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Section 2.07 Quorum. Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at each meeting of the stockholders, a majority in voting power of the shares of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the chair of the meeting shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, in the manner provided in Section 2.08, until a quorum shall be present or represented.
Section 2.08 Adjournments. Any meeting of the stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, if any, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof and the means of remote communication, if any, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.05 shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 2.09 Conduct of Meetings. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of the stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. At every meeting of the stockholders, the Chair of the Board, or in his or her absence or inability to act, the Chief Executive Officer, or, in his or her absence or inability to act, the person whom the Board shall appoint, shall act as chair of, and preside at, the meeting. The Secretary or, in his or her absence or inability to act, the person whom the chair of the meeting shall appoint secretary of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the chair of any meeting of the stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chair, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chair of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) the determination of when the polls shall open and close for any given matter to be voted on at the meeting; (c) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (d) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chair of the meeting shall determine; (e) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (f) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The chair shall have the power to adjourn any meeting of the stockholders from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.
Section 2.10 Voting; Proxy. Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any question brought before any meeting of the stockholders, other than the election of directors, shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of votes of the Corporations capital stock represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on such question, voting as a single class. Unless otherwise provided in the
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Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to Section 2.04, each stockholder represented at a meeting of the stockholders shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote for each share of the capital stock entitled to vote thereat held by such stockholder. Such votes may be cast in person or by proxy as provided in this Section 2.10. The Board, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at a meeting of the stockholders, in such officers discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.
Except as provided in Section 3.03, directors shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting of stockholders. Directors need not be stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast for properly nominated and qualified candidates at any meeting of stockholders for which the number of nominees for director standing for election at such meeting exceeds the number of directors to be elected at such meeting. If directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, stockholders shall not be permitted to vote against a nominee. For purposes of this Section 2.10, a majority of the votes cast shall mean that the number of votes cast for a directors election exceeds the number of votes cast against such directors election. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not counted as votes cast either for or against a directors election. For purposes of this Section 2.10, a plurality of the votes cast shall mean that the individuals with the highest number of votes are elected as directors up to the maximum number of directors to be elected. In the event that a director nominee fails to receive a majority of the votes cast in an election where the number of nominees is less than or equal to the number of directors to be elected, the Board, within its powers, may take any appropriate action, including decreasing the number of directors or filling a vacancy.
Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of the stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy filed with the Secretary before or at the time of the meeting, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period.
Section 2.11 Advance Notice of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals.
(a) Timely Notice. At a meeting of the stockholders, only such nominations of persons for the election of directors and such other business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, nominations or such other business must be: (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder who: (A) is a stockholder of record of the Corporation at the time such notice of meeting is delivered and at the time the notice required hereunder is delivered to the Secretary, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (C) complies with the notice procedures and disclosure requirements set forth in this Section 2.11. In addition, any proposal of business (other than the nomination of persons for election to the Board) must be a proper matter for stockholder action. For business (including, but not limited to, director nominations) to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder or stockholders of record intending to propose the business (the Proposing Stockholder) must have given timely notice thereof pursuant to this Section 2.11(a) or Section 2.11(c) below, as applicable, in writing to the Secretary even if such matter is already the subject of any notice to the stockholders or Public Disclosure from the Board. To be timely, a
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Proposing Stockholders notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation: (x) not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day, nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day in advance of the anniversary of the previous years annual meeting if such meeting is to be held on a day that is within thirty (30) days before or after the anniversary of the previous years annual meeting; and (y) with respect to any other annual meeting of stockholders, not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the date of Public Disclosure of the date of such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting, or the Public Disclosure thereof, commence a new notice time period (or extend any notice time period). For purposes of timely notice at the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, a Proposing Stockholders notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the date of Public Disclosure of the date of such meeting.
(b) Stockholder Nominations. For the nomination of any person or persons for election to the Board whether at an annual meeting or a properly called special meeting of stockholders, a Proposing Stockholders notice to the Secretary shall set forth (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of each nominee proposed in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of each such nominee, (iii) (A) the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned of record and beneficially by each such nominee and any affiliates or associates of such nominee (if any) and (B) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding of the type described in clause (vi)(C) or (vi)(D) of this section, but as it relates to each such nominee rather than the Proposing Stockholder, (iv) (A) if any such nominee is a party to any compensatory, payment or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation, or has received any compensation or other payment from any person or entity other than the Corporation, in each case in connection with candidacy or service as a director of the Corporation, a detailed description of such agreement, arrangement or understanding and its terms or of any such compensation received and (B) such other information concerning each such nominee as would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of such nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved) or that is otherwise required to be disclosed, under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (v) the consent of the nominee to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected and a representation by the nominee to the effect that, if elected, the nominee will agree to and abide by all policies of the Board (including corporate governance guidelines) and, to the extent applicable to Directors, all policies and ethics codes of the Corporation, in each case, as may be in place at any time and from time to time, (vi) that the nominee is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to who such nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a Voting Commitment) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, or any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such nominees ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such persons fiduciary duties under applicable law, and (vii) as to the Proposing Stockholder: (A) the name and address of the Proposing Stockholder as they appear on the Corporations books and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, (B) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned by the Proposing Stockholder (beneficially and of record) and owned by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made,
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as of the date of the Proposing Stockholders notice, (C) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to such nomination between or among the Proposing Stockholder and any of its affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing, (D) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the Proposing Stockholders notice by, or on behalf of, the Proposing Stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of the Proposing Stockholder or any of its affiliates or associates with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, (E) a representation that the Proposing Stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice, (F) a representation whether the Proposing Stockholder intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporations outstanding capital stock required to approve the election of the nominee and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such election and (G) and, with respect to (B), (C) and (D) above, a representation that the Proposing Stockholder will promptly notify the Corporation in writing of the same as of the record date for the meeting within five days following the later of the record date or the date of the first Public Disclosure of the record date. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholders understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.
(c) Other Stockholder Proposals. For all business other than director nominations, a Proposing Stockholders notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the Proposing Stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting or properly called special meeting, as the case may be: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, (ii) the text of any proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the language of such proposed amendment), (iii) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the proposal and pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, (iv) a description of all agreements, arrangements, or understandings between or among such Proposing Stockholder, or any affiliates or associates of such Proposing Stockholder, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business and any material interest of such Proposing Stockholder or any affiliates or associates of such Proposing Stockholder, in such business, including any anticipated benefit therefrom to such Proposing Stockholder, or any affiliates or associates of such Proposing Stockholder and (v) the information required by Section 2.11(b)(vii) above.
(d) Proxy Rules. The foregoing notice requirements of Section 2.11(c) shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to inclusion in the proxy statement referenced below of a proposal with respect to business other than a nomination if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present such proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and such stockholders proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.
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(e) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting (x) by or at the direction of the Board or any committee thereof or (y) provided that the Board has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this Section 2.11 is delivered to the Secretary, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.11. If the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporations notice of meeting, if the stockholders notice required by this Section 2.10 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which notice of the date of the special meeting was mailed or Public Disclosure of the date of the special meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a special meeting, or the Public Disclosure thereof, commence a new time period (or extend any notice time period).
(f) Effect of Noncompliance. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary: (i) no nominations shall be made or business shall be conducted at any annual meeting or special meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.11, and (ii) unless otherwise required by law, if a Proposing Stockholder intending to propose business or make nominations at an annual meeting or special meeting pursuant to this Section 2.11 does not provide the information required under this Section 2.11 to the Corporation in accordance with the applicable timing requirements set forth in these Bylaws, or the Proposing Stockholder (or a qualified representative of the Proposing Stockholder) does not appear at the meeting to present the proposed business or nominations, such business or nominations shall not be considered, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such business or nominations may have been received by the Corporation.
(g) For purposes of this Section 2.11:
(i) Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(ii) Public Disclosure shall mean a disclosure made in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Services, The Associated Press or a comparable national news service or in a document filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
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Section 2.12 Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the terms of any series of preferred stock permitting the holders of such series of preferred stock to act by written consent, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.
Section 2.13 Inspectors at Meetings of Stockholders. The Board, by resolution, the Chair or Chief Executive Officer, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, shall appoint one or more inspectors, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and make a written report thereof. The Board may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by law, and shall (a) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, (b) determine the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum and the validity of proxies and ballots, (c) count all votes and ballots, (d) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors and (e) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of their duties. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting. No ballot, proxies, votes or any revocation thereof or change thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware upon application by a stockholder shall determine otherwise. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 3.01 General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
Section 3.02 Number; Term of Office. The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board but shall not be less than three (3) nor more than fifteen (15). The directors shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board. The term of the initial Class I directors shall terminate on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2021; the term of the initial Class II
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directors shall terminate on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2022; and the term of the initial Class III directors shall terminate on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2023 or, in each case, upon such directors earlier death, resignation or removal. At each succeeding annual meeting of stockholders beginning with the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2021, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election and until his or her respective successor has been duly elected and qualified. If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any additional director of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in such class or from the removal from office, death, disability, resignation or disqualification of a director or other cause shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case will a decrease in the number of directors have the effect of removing or shortening the term of any incumbent director.
If an incumbent director is not reelected, the director shall offer his or her resignation promptly to the Board. Within 90 days following certification of the election results, the Board shall act on the offered resignation. In determining whether to accept the offered resignation, the Board shall consider any recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee, the factors considered by that committee and any additional information and factors that the Board believes to be relevant. Any director who tenders his or her resignation pursuant to this provision shall not participate in the Nominating and Governance Committee recommendation or Boards action regarding whether to accept the offered resignation.
Section 3.03 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to the terms of any one or more series of preferred stock entitled to elect directors, any newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors and any vacancies occurring in the Board shall be filled solely by a majority of the remaining members of the Board, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. A director appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board shall hold office until the earlier of the expiration of the term of office of the director whom he or she has replaced, a successor is duly elected and qualified or the earlier of such directors death, resignation or removal.
Section 3.04 Resignation and Removal of Directors. Any director may resign from the Board or any committee thereof at any time by notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of Corporation and, in the case of any committee, to the chair of such committee. Such resignation shall take effect at the date of receipt of such notice by the Corporation or at such later time as is therein specified, and acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Except as otherwise required by applicable law and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of shares of preferred stock then outstanding, any director or the entire Board may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the total voting power of the Corporations then outstanding capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. Any director serving on a committee of the Board may be removed from such committee at any time by the Board.
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Section 3.05 Compensation. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or a stated salary for services as a director, payable in cash or securities. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for services as committee members.
Section 3.06 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such times and at such places as may be determined from time to time by the Board or its chair.
Section 3.07 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be held at such times and at such places as may be determined by the chair or the Chief Executive Officer at least twenty-four (24) hours notice to each director given by one of the means specified in Section 3.10 hereof other than by mail or on at least three (3) days notice if given by mail. Special meetings shall be called by the chair or the Chief Executive Officer in like manner and on like notice on the written request of a majority of the directors.
Section 3.08 Telephone Meetings. Unless otherwise provided in the Certification of Incorporation or the Bylaws, the Board or Board committee meetings may be held by means of telephone conference or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and be heard. Participation by a director in a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.08 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 3.09 Adjourned Meetings. A majority of the directors present at any meeting of the Board, including an adjourned meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn and reconvene such meeting to another time and place. At least twenty-four (24) hours notice of any adjourned meeting of the Board shall be given to each director whether or not present at the time of the adjournment, if such notice shall be given by one of the means specified in Section 3.10 hereof other than by mail, or at least three (3) days notice if by mail. Any business may be transacted at an adjourned meeting that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.
Section 3.10 Notices. Subject to Section 3.07, Section 3.09 and Section 3.11 hereof, whenever notice is required to be given to any director by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, such notice shall be deemed given effectively if given in person or by telephone, mail addressed to such director at such directors address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, facsimile, e-mail or by other means of electronic transmission.
Section 3.11 Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice to directors is required by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof, in writing signed by, or by electronic transmission by, the director entitled to the notice, whether before or after such notice is required, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance by a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except when the director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special Board or committee meeting need be specified in any waiver of notice.
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Section 3.12 Organization. At each meeting of the Board, or any committee thereof, the chair, or in his or her absence, another director selected by the Board or the committee, as applicable, shall preside. Except as provided below, the Secretary shall act as secretary at each meeting of the Board and of each committee thereof. If the Secretary is absent from any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof, an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of secretary at such meeting; and in the absence from any such meeting of the Secretary and Assistant Secretaries, the person presiding at the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the members of each committee of the Board may appoint any person to act as secretary of any meeting of such committee and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation may, but need not if such committee so elects, serve in such capacity.
Section 3.13 Quorum of Directors. The presence of a majority of the Board or any Board committee shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board or committee, as applicable.
Section 3.14 Action By Majority Vote. Except as otherwise expressly required by these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board.
Section 3.15 Action Without Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all directors or members of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee in accordance with applicable law.
Section 3.16 Interested Directors; Quorum.
(a) No contract or other transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of the directors of the Corporation is a director or officer, or has a financial interest, shall be void or voidable, because the director is present at or participates in the meeting of the board or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because such directors vote is counted for such purpose, if:
(i) the material facts as to such directors relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board or the committee, and the Board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested Directors be less than a quorum;
(ii) the material facts as to such directors relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or
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(iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board, a committee thereof, or the stockholders; and
(b) Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.
Section 3.17 Committees of the Board. The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Subject to the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the securities of the Corporation are listed for trading, if a member of a committee shall be absent from any meeting, or disqualified from voting thereat, the remaining member or members present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by applicable law and provided in the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it to the extent so authorized by the Board. Unless the Board provides otherwise, at all meetings of such committee, a majority of the then authorized members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority of the members of the committee present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the committee. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings. Unless the Board provides otherwise, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter and repeal rules and procedures for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules and procedures each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board conducts its business pursuant to this Article III. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article III, any resolution of the Board establishing or directing any committee of the Board or establishing or amending the charter of any such committee may establish requirements or procedures relating to the governance and/or operation of such committee that are different from, or in addition to, those set forth in these Bylaws and, to the extent that there is any inconsistency between these Bylaws and any such resolution or charter, the terms of such resolution or charter shall be controlling.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.01 Positions and Election. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers with such other titles as the Board shall determine, including one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries. The Board may appoint such other officers as it may deem appropriate. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. Officers may, but need not, be directors or stockholders of the Corporation. The salaries of all officers shall be shall be fixed by the Board.
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Section 4.02 Term. Each officer of the Corporation shall hold office until such officers successor is duly elected and qualified or until such officers earlier death, resignation or removal. The Board may remove any officer at any time with or without cause by the majority vote of the members of the Board.
Section 4.03 Resignation. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice of his or her resignation to the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless such notice provides that the resignation is effective at some later time or upon the occurrence of some later event.
Section 4.04 Vacancies. A vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled in the same manner as provided for the election or appointment to such office.
Section 4.05 Chief Executive Officer; President. Unless the Board has designated another person as the Corporations Chief Executive Officer, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general charge and supervision of the business of the Corporation subject to the direction of the Board, and shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of chief executive or that are delegated to such officer by the Board. The President shall perform such other duties and shall have such other powers as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer (if the President is not the Chief Executive Officer) may from time to time prescribe.
Section 4.06 Vice Presidents. Each Vice President shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer (or the President if there is no Chief Executive Officer). The Board may assign to any Vice President the title of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or any other title selected by the Board.
Section 4.07 Secretary; Assistant Secretary. The Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall attend all sessions of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall perform like duties for committees when required. He or she shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and meetings of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board. The Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Corporation and have authority to affix the seal to all documents requiring it and attest to the same.
Section 4.08 Treasurer; Assistant Treasurer. The Treasurer, or an Assistant Treasurer, shall have the custody of the corporate funds and other property of the Corporation, except as otherwise provided by the Board, and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer, or an Assistant Treasurer, shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and whenever requested by the Board, shall render an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board.
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Section 4.09 Delegation of Authority. The Board may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding the provisions herein.
Section 4.10 Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation. Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chief Executive Officer, any President, any Vice President or any other officer authorized to do so by the Board and any such officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed if present. The Board may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
Section 4.11 Chair of the Board. The Board, in its discretion, may choose a Chair (who shall be a director but need not be elected as an officer). The Chair of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board. In the absence of the Chair, the Chief Executive Officer (if then serving as a director) shall preside at such meetings. The Chair of the Board shall perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned by these Bylaws or by the Board.
ARTICLE V
STOCK CERTIFICATES AND THEIR TRANSFER
Section 5.01 Certificates Representing Shares. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates; provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any class or series shall be uncertificated shares that may be evidenced by a bookentry system maintained by the registrar of such stock. If shares are represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in the form, other than bearer form, approved by the Board. The certificates representing shares of stock of each class shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Corporation by the chair, any vice chair, the president or any vice president, and by the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer. Any or all such signatures may be facsimiles. Although any officer, transfer agent or registrar whose manual or facsimile signature is affixed to such a certificate ceases to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate has been issued, it may nevertheless be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such officer, transfer agent or registrar were still such at the date of its issue.
Section 5.02 Transfers of Stock. Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of record thereof, by such persons attorney lawfully constituted in writing and, in the case of certificated shares, upon the surrender of the certificate thereof, which shall be cancelled before a new certificate or uncertificated shares shall be issued. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred.
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Section 5.03 Transfer Agents and Registrars. The Board may appoint, or authorize any officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars.
Section 5.04 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate or uncertificated shares in place of any previously issued certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon such terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, including the presentation of reasonable evidence of such loss, theft or destructions and the giving of such indemnity and posting of such bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation or the transfer agent or registrar against any claim that may be made against them.
Section 5.05 Dividend Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 5.06 Record Owners. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by law.
ARTICLE VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 6.01 Corporate Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words Corporate Seal, Delaware. The seal of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise, as may be prescribed by law or custom or by the Board.
Section 6.02 Fiscal Year. Except as from time to time otherwise designated by the Board, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31.
Section 6.03 Contracts. Except as otherwise provide in these Bylaws, the Board may authorize any officer or officers to enter into any contract or to execute or deliver any instrument on behalf of the Corporation and such authority may be general or limited to specific instances. Any officer so authorized may, unless the authorizing resolution otherwise provides, delegate such authority to one or more subordinate officers, employees or agents, and such delegation may provide for further delegation.
Section 6.04 Checks, Notes, Drafts, Etc. All checks, notes, drafts or other orders for the payment of money of the Corporation shall be signed, endorsed or accepted in the name of the Corporation by such officer, officers, person or persons as from time to time may be designated by the Board or by an officer or officers authorized by the Board to make such designation.
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Section 6.05 Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the requirements of the DGCL and the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board (or any action by written consent in lieu thereof in accordance with Section 3.15), and may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the Corporations capital stock. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board from time to time, in its absolute discretion, deems proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for purchasing any of the shares of capital stock, warrants, rights, options, bonds, debentures, notes, scrip or other securities or evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for any proper purpose, and the Board may modify or abolish any such reserve.
Section 6.06 Conflict With Applicable Law or Certificate of Incorporation. These Bylaws are adopted subject to any applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation. Whenever these Bylaws may conflict with any applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, such conflict shall be resolved in favor of such law or the Certificate of Incorporation.
ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 7.01 Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings other Than Those by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to Section 7.03, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
Section 7.02 Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to Section 7.03, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
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Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 7.03 Authorization of Indemnification. Any indemnification under this Article VII (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director or officer is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.02, as the case may be. Such determination shall be made (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders. To the extent, however, that a present or former director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case. Any person seeking indemnification from the Corporation under this Article VII must notify the Corporation in writing as soon as practicable of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving such person for which indemnity will or could be sought.
Section 7.04 Good Faith Defined. For purposes of any determination under Section 7.03, to the extent permitted by law, a person shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, if his or her action is based on the records or books of account of the Corporation or another enterprise, or on information supplied to him or her by the officers of the Corporation or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Corporation or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or another enterprise. The term another enterprise as used in this Section 7.04 shall mean any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer. The provisions of this Section 7.04 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.02, as the case may be.
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Section 7.05 Indemnification by a Court. Notwithstanding any contrary determination in the specific case under Section 7.03, and notwithstanding the absence of any determination thereunder, any director or officer may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Delaware for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under Section 7.01 and Section 7.02. The basis of such indemnification by a court shall be a determination by such court that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standards of conduct set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.02, as the case may be. Notice of any application for indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.05 shall be given to the Corporation promptly upon the filing of such application.
Section 7.06 Expenses Payable in Advance. Expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article VII (which undertaking shall be accepted without reference to the financial ability of the person to make such repayment); provided, however, that, with respect to persons who are not directors, no advancement of expenses shall be made under this Article VII if the Corporation shall determine that (i) such person did not act in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation, or (ii) with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, such person had reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. A director or officer seeking advancement of expenses shall submit to the Corporation a written request.
Section 7.07 Non-exclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Article VII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any Bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, it being the policy of the Corporation that indemnification of the persons specified in Section 7.01 and Section 7.02 shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions of this Article VII shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in Section 7.01 or Section 7.02 but whom the Corporation has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or otherwise.
Section 7.08 Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, manager, officer, employee, trustee or agent of, or in a fiduciary capacity with respect to, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this Article VII.
Section 7.09 Certain Definitions for Purposes of Article VII. Terms used in this Article VII and defined in Section 145(h) or Section 145(i) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in such Section 145(h) or Section 145(i).
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Section 7.10 Limitations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VII, the Corporation shall not be required to indemnify any person pursuant to this Article VII in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by that person unless (1) the initiation thereof was approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or (2) the initiation thereof was in connection with successfully establishing that persons right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article VII. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VII, the Corporation shall not indemnify a person to the extent such person has been reimbursed from the proceeds of insurance, and in the event the Corporation makes any indemnification payments to a person and such person is subsequently reimbursed from the proceeds of insurance, such person shall promptly refund indemnification payments to the Corporation to the extent of such insurance reimbursement.
Section 7.11 Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VII shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. A right to indemnification and to advancement of expenses arising under this Article VII shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to such provision after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought.
Section 7.12 Savings Clause. If this Article VII or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each director or officer to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article VII that shall not have been invalidated.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
Section 8.01 Amendments. These Bylaws may be amended, altered, changed, adopted and repealed or new bylaws adopted by the Board or by the stockholders as expressly provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
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Exhibit 10.1
EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT
by and between
FORTIVE CORPORATION
And
VONTIER CORPORATION
Dated as of October 8, 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I |
||||||
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
||||||
Section 1.1 |
General |
4 | ||||
Section 1.2 |
References; Interpretation |
8 | ||||
ARTICLE II |
||||||
GENERAL PRINCIPLES |
||||||
Section 2.1 |
Nature of Liabilities |
9 | ||||
Section 2.2 |
Transfers of Employees and Independent Contractors Generally |
9 | ||||
Section 2.3 |
Assumption and Retention of Liabilities Generally |
10 | ||||
Section 2.4 |
Treatment of Compensation and Benefit Arrangements; Terms of Employment |
11 | ||||
Section 2.5 |
Participation in Fortive Benefit Arrangements |
11 | ||||
Section 2.6 |
Service Recognition |
12 | ||||
Section 2.7 |
Collective Bargaining Agreements |
12 | ||||
Section 2.8 |
Information and Consultation |
12 | ||||
Section 2.9 |
WARN |
13 | ||||
ARTICLE III |
||||||
CERTAIN BENEFIT PLAN PROVISIONS |
||||||
Section 3.1 |
Health and Welfare Benefit Plans |
13 | ||||
Section 3.2 |
U.S. Savings Plans |
14 | ||||
Section 3.3 |
Supplemental Retirement Plan |
15 | ||||
Section 3.4 |
Deferred Compensation Plans |
15 | ||||
Section 3.5 |
Non-U.S. Plans |
15 | ||||
Section 3.6 |
Chargeback of Certain Costs |
16 |
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ARTICLE IV |
||||||
EQUITY INCENTIVE AWARDS |
||||||
Section 4.1 |
Treatment of Fortive Stock Options |
16 | ||||
Section 4.2 |
Treatment of Fortive Time-Based Restricted Stock Units |
16 | ||||
Section 4.3 |
Vontier Stock Plan |
16 | ||||
Section 4.4 |
General Terms |
17 | ||||
ARTICLE V |
||||||
ADDITIONAL MATTERS |
||||||
Section 5.1 |
Cash Incentive Programs |
17 | ||||
Section 5.2 |
Time-Off Benefits |
18 | ||||
Section 5.3 |
Workers Compensation Liabilities |
18 | ||||
Section 5.4 |
COBRA Compliance in the United States |
18 | ||||
Section 5.5 |
Retention Bonuses |
18 | ||||
Section 5.6 |
Code Section 409A |
18 | ||||
Section 5.7 |
Payroll Taxes and Reporting |
19 | ||||
Section 5.8 |
Regulatory Filings |
19 | ||||
Section 5.9 |
Disability |
19 | ||||
Section 5.10 |
Certain Requirements |
20 | ||||
ARTICLE VI |
||||||
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE |
||||||
Section 6.1 |
Employer Rights |
20 | ||||
Section 6.2 |
Effect on Employment |
20 | ||||
Section 6.3 |
Consent of Third Parties |
20 | ||||
Section 6.4 |
Access to Employees |
21 | ||||
Section 6.5 |
Beneficiary Designation/Release of Information/Right to Reimbursement |
21 | ||||
Section 6.6 |
No Third Party Beneficiaries |
21 | ||||
Section 6.7 |
No Acceleration of Benefits |
21 | ||||
Section 6.8 |
Employee Benefits Administration |
21 | ||||
ARTICLE VII |
||||||
MISCELLANEOUS |
||||||
Section 7.1 |
Entire Agreement |
21 | ||||
Section 7.2 |
Counterparts |
22 | ||||
Section 7.3 |
Survival of Agreements |
22 | ||||
Section 7.4 |
Notices |
22 | ||||
Section 7.5 |
Waivers |
22 | ||||
Section 7.6 |
Assignment |
22 | ||||
Section 7.7 |
Successors and Assigns |
23 | ||||
Section 7.8 |
Termination and Amendment |
23 | ||||
Section 7.9 |
Subsidiaries |
23 | ||||
Section 7.10 |
Title and Headings |
23 | ||||
Section 7.11 |
Governing Law |
23 | ||||
Section 7.12 |
Severability |
23 | ||||
Section 7.13 |
Interpretation |
23 | ||||
Section 7.14 |
No Duplication; No Double Recovery |
23 | ||||
Section 7.15 |
No Waiver |
24 | ||||
Section 7.16 |
No Admission of Liability |
24 | ||||
Section 7.17 |
Tax Matters |
24 |
ii
EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT
This EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of October 8, 2020, is entered into by and between Fortive Corporation, a Delaware corporation (Fortive), and Vontier Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortive (Vontier). Party or Parties means Fortive or Vontier, individually or collectively, as the case may be. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement, but not otherwise defined in this Agreement or the Separation Agreement, shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Fortive, acting through its direct and indirect Subsidiaries, currently conducts the Fortive Retained Business and the Vontier Business;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Fortive (the Board) has determined that it is appropriate, desirable and in the best interests of Fortive and its stockholders to separate Fortive into two separate, publicly traded companies, one for each of (i) the Fortive Retained Business, which shall be owned and conducted, directly or indirectly, by Fortive and its Subsidiaries (other than Vontier and its Subsidiaries) and (ii) the Vontier Business, which shall be owned and conducted, directly or indirectly, by Vontier and its Subsidiaries, in the manner contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement by and between the Parties, dated as of October 8, 2020 (the Separation Agreement);
WHEREAS, the Separation Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions applicable to the Distribution;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Separation Agreement, Fortive and Vontier have agreed to enter into this Agreement for the purpose of allocating Assets, Liabilities and responsibilities with respect to certain employee matters and employee compensation and benefit plans and programs between them and to address certain other employment-related matters.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
Section 1.1 General. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) Accrued Incentive Amount shall mean the aggregate amount accrued by Fortive in respect of Vontier Employees under any cash incentive compensation and sales commission programs applicable to such Vontier Employees and unpaid as of the date on which the employment or services of such Vontier Employees are transferred to Vontier.
(2) Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
(3) Automatic Transfer Employees shall mean any Vontier Employee, where local employment Laws, including the Transfer Regulations, provide for an automatic transfer of such employees to a member of the Vontier Group by operation of Law upon the transfer of a business as a going concern and such business transfer occurs as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Separation Agreement.
(4) Benefit Arrangement shall mean, with respect to an entity, each compensation or employee benefit plan, program, policy, agreement or other arrangement, whether or not employee benefit plans (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA), including any benefit plan, program, policy, agreement or arrangement providing cash- or equity-based compensation or incentives, health, medical, dental, vision, disability, accident or life insurance benefits or vacation, paid or unpaid leave, severance, retention, change in control, termination, deferred compensation, individual employment or consulting, retirement, pension or savings benefits, supplemental income, retiree benefit or other fringe benefit (whether or not taxable), or employee loans, that are sponsored or maintained by such entity (or to which such entity contributes or is required to contribute or in which it participates), and excluding workers compensation plans, policies, programs and arrangements.
(5) Board shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(6) Collective Bargaining Agreement shall mean all agreements with the collective bargaining representatives, employee representatives, trade unions, labor or management organizations, groups of employees, or works councils or similar representative bodies of Vontier Employees, including all national or sector specific collective agreements which are applicable to Vontier Employees, in each case in effect immediately prior to the date on which the applicable Vontier Employees become employed by a member of the Vontier Group, that set forth terms and conditions of employment of Vontier Employees, and all modifications of, or amendments to, such agreements and any rules, procedures, awards or decisions of competent jurisdiction interpreting or applying such agreements.
(7) Delayed Transfer Fortive Employee shall mean any Fortive Employee whose employment is determined by Fortive to not be eligible to be transferred from a member of the Vontier Group to a member of the Fortive Group at or prior to the Effective Time as a result of (i) requirements under applicable Law, (ii) participation in a long-term disability plan or similar arrangement or (iii) a delay in setting up Fortive Business operations in a particular jurisdiction sufficient to employ such Fortive Employee.
(8) Delayed Transfer Date shall mean the date on which it is determined by Fortive that either (i) a Delayed Transfer Vontier Employee or Delayed Transfer Fortive Employee is permitted to transfer from the Fortive Group to the Vontier Group or from the Vontier Group to the Fortive Group, respectively, in accordance with applicable Law, or (ii) the necessary business operations are set up in the relevant jurisdiction to enable employment of the Vontier Employee or Fortive Employee by the Vontier Group or Fortive Group, as applicable.
(9) Delayed Transfer Vontier Employee shall mean any Vontier Employee whose employment is determined by Fortive to not be eligible to be transferred to a member of the Vontier Group at or prior to the Effective Time as a result of (i) requirements under applicable Law, (ii) participation in a long-term disability plan or similar arrangement or (iii) a delay in setting up Vontier Business operations in a particular jurisdiction sufficient to employ such Vontier Employee.
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(10) Employee Representative shall mean any works council, employee representative, trade union, labor or management organization, group of employees or similar representative body for Vontier Employees.
(11) Equity Award Adjustment Ratio shall mean the adjustment ratio adopted by the Fortive Board or the Compensation Committee of the Fortive Board in its sole and absolute discretion for purposes of making equitable adjustments to the awards held by Vontier Employees under the Fortive Stock Plan.
(12) ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
(13) Foreign Retirement Plans shall mean the Gilbarco Superannuation Fund (Australia), the Pension Plan for Employees of Gilbarco Canada Corporation, the Internal Gilbarco Retirement Plan (Germany) and the Gilbarco (Trattamento di fine Rapporto TFR) (Italy).
(14) Former Vontier Service Provider shall mean (i) any individual who would qualify as a Vontier Employee or Vontier Independent Contractor, but whose employment or service with Fortive or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates terminated for any reason prior to the date on which such individuals employment or service would otherwise have transferred to Vontier pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) any former employee, independent contractor or consultant of Fortive or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates who was exclusively or primarily engaged in a Vontier Former Business (A) at the time either (x) such business was sold, conveyed, assigned, transferred, spun-off, split-off or otherwise disposed of or divested (in whole or in part) to a Person that is not a member of the Vontier Group or the Fortive Group or (y) the operations, activities or production of which were discontinued, abandoned, completed or otherwise terminated (in whole or in part), or (B) at any other time, but in such case only to the extent relating to his or her service with such Vontier Former Business and (iii) any individual who is currently employed by Fortive or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates who was exclusively or primarily engaged in the Vontier Business, but whose employment was transferred to a member of the Fortive Group that is not a part of the Vontier Business prior to the date on which such individuals employment or service would otherwise have transferred to Vontier pursuant to this Agreement, but in such case only to the extent relating to his or her service with the Vontier Business.
(15) Fortive shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
(16) Fortive Benefit Arrangement shall mean any Benefit Arrangement sponsored, maintained or contributed to by any member of the Fortive Group.
(17) Fortive EDIP shall mean the Fortive Corporation & Subsidiaries Executive Deferred Incentive Program, as amended.
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(18) Fortive Employee shall mean each employee of Fortive or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates who does not qualify as a Vontier Employee.
(19) Fortive Option shall mean an option to purchase shares of Fortive Common Stock granted pursuant to the Fortive Stock Plan.
(20) Fortive Stock Plan shall mean the Fortive Corporation 2016 Stock Incentive Plan, as Amended and Restated.
(21) Fortive Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit shall mean an award granted by Fortive pursuant to the Fortive Stock Plan, as amended and restated, that was denominated as a Restricted Stock Unit under the terms of such plan and the related award agreement and as of the Distribution Date vests solely based on the continued employment or service of the recipient.
(22) Fortive U.S. Savings Plans shall mean (i) the Fortive Retirement Savings Plan, (ii) the Fortive Union Retirement Savings Plan and (iii) any other defined contribution retirement plan maintained by Fortive or any of its Affiliates (other than a member of the Vontier Group) that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code.
(23) Fortive Welfare Plans shall mean any Welfare Plan maintained by Fortive or any member of the Fortive Group.
(24) Gilbarco SERP shall mean the Gilbarco Inc. Supplemental Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees.
(25) Non-Automatic Transfer Employees shall mean any Vontier Employee who is not an Automatic Transfer Employee.
(26) Non-U.S. Plans shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.5.
(27) Party and Parties shall have the meanings set forth in the Preamble.
(28) Plan Transition Date shall mean the date that is the earlier to occur of (i) the Distribution Date or (ii) such earlier date as agreed between the Parties.
(29) Separation Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(30) Transfer Regulations shall mean (i) all Laws of any EU Member State implementing the EU Council Directive 2001/23/EC of 12 March 2001 on the approximation of the Laws of the Member States relating to the safeguarding of employees rights in the event of transfers of undertakings, businesses or parts of undertakings or businesses (the Acquired Rights Directive) and legislation and regulations of any EU Member State implementing such Acquired Rights Directive, and (ii) any similar Laws in any jurisdiction providing for an automatic transfer, by operation of Law, of employment in the event of a transfer of business.
(31) Vontier shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
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(32) Vontier Benefit Arrangement shall mean any Benefit Arrangement sponsored, maintained or contributed to exclusively by any member of the Vontier Group.
(33) Vontier EDIP shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).
(34) Vontier Employee shall mean each individual who is employed by Fortive or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates as of the date on which Fortive determines to transfer the employment of applicable individuals to Vontier and who Fortive determines as of such date is either (i) exclusively or primarily engaged in the Vontier Business or (ii) necessary for the ongoing operation of the Vontier Business following the Effective Time, in each case regardless of whether any such employee is actively at work or is not actively at work as a result of disability or illness, an approved leave of absence (including military leave with reemployment rights under federal Law and leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993), vacation, personal day or similar short- or long-term absence.
(35) Vontier Independent Contractor shall mean each individual who is engaged as an independent contractor or consultant by Fortive or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates as of the date on which Fortive determines to transfer the contracts of service of applicable individuals to Vontier and who Fortive determines as of such date is either (i) exclusively or primarily engaged in the Vontier Business or (ii) necessary for the ongoing operation of the Vontier Business following the Effective Time.
(36) Vontier Option shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
(37) Vontier Stock Plan shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.
(38) Vontier Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.
(39) Vontier U.S. Savings Plans shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).
(40) Vontier Welfare Plans shall mean any Welfare Plan maintained by Vontier or any member of the Vontier Group.
(41) Welfare Plan shall mean, where applicable, a welfare plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA and in 29 C.F.R. §2510.3-1) or a cafeteria plan under Section 125 of the Code, and any benefits offered thereunder, and any other plan offering health benefits (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision and mental health and substance use disorder), disability benefits, or life, accidental death and disability, pre-tax premium conversion benefits, dependent care assistance programs, employee assistance programs, contribution funding toward a health savings account, flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement or adoption assistance programs or cashable credits.
Section 1.2 References; Interpretation. References in this Agreement to any gender include references to all genders, and references to the singular include references to the plural and vice versa. Unless the context otherwise requires, the words include, includes and including when used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without
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limitation. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Agreement to Articles, Sections, Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules shall be deemed references to Articles and Sections of, and Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement. Unless the context otherwise requires, the words hereof, hereby and herein and words of similar meaning when used in this Agreement refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular Article, Section or provision of this Agreement. The words written request when used in this Agreement shall include email. Reference in this Agreement to any time shall be to New York City, New York time unless otherwise expressly provided herein. Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this Agreement to Fortive shall also be deemed to refer to the applicable member of the Fortive Group, references to Vontier shall also be deemed to refer to the applicable member of the Vontier Group and, in connection therewith, any references to actions or omissions to be taken, or refrained from being taken, as the case may be, by Fortive or Vontier shall be deemed to require Fortive or Vontier, as the case may be, to cause the applicable members of the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group, respectively, to take, or refrain from taking, any such action. In the event of any inconsistency or conflict which may arise in the application or interpretation of any of the definitions set forth in Section 1.1, for the purpose of determining what is and is not included in such definitions, any item explicitly included on a Schedule referred to in any such definition shall take priority over any provision of the text thereof.
ARTICLE II
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Section 2.1 Nature of Liabilities. All Liabilities assumed or retained by a member of the Fortive Group under this Agreement shall be Fortive Retained Liabilities for purposes of the Separation Agreement. All Liabilities assumed or retained by a member of the Vontier Group under this Agreement shall be Vontier Liabilities for purposes of the Separation Agreement.
Section 2.2 Transfers of Employees and Independent Contractors Generally.
(a) Subject to the requirements of applicable Law, through and until immediately before the Effective Time, Fortive shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) cause the employment of any Vontier Employee and the contract of services of any Vontier Independent Contractor to be transferred to a member of the Vontier Group and (ii) cause the employment of any Fortive Employee who is employed by a member of the Vontier Group and the contract of services between any independent contractor or consultant that does not qualify as a Vontier Independent Contractor and a member of the Vontier Group to be transferred to a member of the Fortive Group.
(b) Fortive shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause each Automatic Transfer Employee to be employed by a member of the Vontier Group no later than the Effective Time in accordance with applicable Law, or as of the applicable Delayed Transfer Date, if applicable, and Vontier agrees to take all actions reasonably necessary to cause the Vontier Employees to be so employed. If an Automatic Transfer Employee objects to the transfer of employment to a member of the Vontier Group as permitted under applicable law and consequently does not become an employee of the Vontier Group and is terminated by Fortive as a result, then Vontier shall reimburse Fortive in accordance with Section 2.3(c) for any severance or termination costs incurred by Fortive in connection with such termination of employment.
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(c) Vontier shall make a qualifying offer of employment in accordance with Section 2.4 to each Non-Automatic Transfer Employee prior to the Effective Time to become employed by a member of the Vontier Group effective as of no later than the Effective Time, or as of the applicable Delayed Transfer Date, if applicable; provided that (i) if Vontier fails to make such a qualifying offer of employment to a Non-Automatic Transfer Employee or (ii) such Non-Automatic Transfer Employee does not accept such qualifying offer of employment, and in each case such Non-Automatic Transfer does not become employed by Vontier and is terminated by Fortive as a result, then Vontier shall reimburse Fortive in accordance with Section 2.3(c) for any severance or termination costs incurred by Fortive in connection with such termination of employment.
(d) The Fortive Group and Vontier Group agree to execute, and to seek to have the applicable Vontier Employees execute, such documentation, if any, as may be necessary to reflect the transfer of employment described in this Section 2.2.
Section 2.3 Assumption and Retention of Liabilities Generally.
(a) Except as pursuant to this Agreement, in connection with the Internal Reorganization and the Contribution, or, if applicable, from and after the Effective Time, Fortive shall, or shall cause one or more members of the Fortive Group to, accept, assume (or, as applicable, retain) and perform, discharge and fulfill (i) all Liabilities under all Fortive Benefit Arrangements, whenever incurred; (ii) all Liabilities with respect to the employment, service, termination of employment or termination of service of all Fortive Employees and their respective dependents and beneficiaries (and any alternate payees in respect thereof), whenever incurred; and (iii) all other Liabilities or obligations expressly assigned to or assumed by a member of the Fortive Group under this Agreement.
(b) Except as pursuant to this Agreement, in connection with the Internal Reorganization and the Contribution, or, if applicable, from and after the Effective Time, Vontier shall, or shall cause one or more members of the Vontier Group to, accept, assume (or, as applicable, retain) and perform, discharge and fulfill (i) all Liabilities under all Vontier Benefit Arrangements, whenever incurred; (ii) all Liabilities with respect to the employment, service, termination of employment or termination of service of all Vontier Employees, Former Vontier Service Providers and Vontier Independent Contractors and their respective dependents and beneficiaries (and any alternate payees in respect thereof), whenever incurred; and (iii) all other Liabilities or obligations expressly assigned to or assumed by a member of the Vontier Group under this Agreement.
(c) The Parties shall promptly reimburse one another, upon reasonable request of the Party requesting reimbursement and the presentation by such Party of such substantiating documentation as the other Party shall reasonably request, for the cost of any obligations or Liabilities satisfied or assumed by the Party requesting reimbursement or its Affiliates that are, or that have been made pursuant to this Agreement, the responsibility of the other Party or any of its Affiliates.
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(d) Notwithstanding that a Delayed Transfer Vontier Employee or Delayed Transfer Fortive Employee shall not become employed by a member of the Vontier Group or Fortive Group, respectively, until the Delayed Transfer Date applicable to such employee, (i) Vontier or Fortive shall be responsible for, and shall timely reimburse the other for, all Liabilities incurred by Fortive or Vontier, respectively, with regard to each such Delayed Transfer Vontier Employee or Delayed Transfer Fortive Employee from the Effective Time to the Delayed Transfer Date applicable to such employee and (ii) the Parties shall use their reasonable efforts to effect the provisions of this Agreement with respect to the compensation and benefits of such Delayed Transfer Vontier Employees and Delayed Transfer Fortive Employees following the Delayed Transfer Date applicable to such employee, it being understood that it may not be possible to replicate the effect of such provisions under such circumstances.
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or the Separation Agreement to the contrary, Vontier shall, or shall cause one or more members of the Vontier Group to, accept, assume (or, as applicable, retain) and perform, discharge and fulfill all Liabilities that have been accepted, assumed or retained under this Agreement irrespective of whether accruals for such Liabilities have been transferred to Vontier or a member of the Vontier Group or included on a combined balance sheet of the Vontier Business or whether any such accruals are sufficient to cover such Liabilities.
Section 2.4 Treatment of Compensation and Benefit Arrangements; Terms of Employment. Except as otherwise (i) required by a Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Transfer Regulations or applicable Law, or (ii) expressly provided for in this Agreement, for a period of twelve (12) months following the Distribution Date (or if shorter, during the period of employment), Vontier shall, or shall cause a member of the Vontier Group to provide or cause to be provided to each Vontier Employee (A) a base salary or hourly wage rate, as applicable, that is at least equal to the base salary or hourly wage rate provided to such Vontier Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time, (B) subject to Section 5.1, a cash incentive or sales commission opportunity no less favorable than the cash incentive or sales commission opportunity in effect for such Vontier Employee, if any, immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (C) health, welfare and retirement benefits that are substantially similar to those provided to such Vontier Employee as a participant in any Fortive Benefit Arrangement. Notwithstanding the foregoing and except as otherwise set forth in Section 3.4 or Article IV, nothing contained in this Agreement shall require Vontier to make any grants of equity awards relating to shares of Vontier Common Stock to Vontier Employees following the Effective Time.
Section 2.5 Participation in Fortive Benefit Arrangements. Except as provided in this Agreement or the Transition Services Agreement, effective no later than the Plan Transition Date, (i) Vontier and each member of the Vontier Group, to the extent applicable, shall cease to be a participating company in any Fortive Benefit Arrangement and (ii) each Vontier Employee shall cease to participate in, be covered by, accrue benefits under, be eligible to contribute to or have any rights under any Fortive Benefit Arrangement (except to the extent of previously accrued obligations that remain a Liability of any member of the Fortive Group pursuant to this Agreement).
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Section 2.6 Service Recognition.
(a) From and after the Effective Time, and in addition to any applicable obligations under the Transfer Regulations or other applicable Law, Vontier shall, and shall cause each member of the Vontier Group to, give each Vontier Employee full credit for purposes of eligibility, vesting, and determination of level of benefits under any Vontier Benefit Arrangement for such Vontier Employees prior service with any member of the Fortive Group or Vontier Group or any predecessor thereto, to the same extent such service was recognized by the applicable Fortive Benefit Arrangement; provided, that, such service shall not be recognized to the extent it would result in the duplication of benefits.
(b) Except to the extent prohibited by applicable Law, as soon as administratively practicable on or after the Plan Transition Date: (i) Vontier shall waive or cause to be waived all limitations as to preexisting conditions or waiting periods with respect to participation and coverage requirements applicable to each Vontier Employee under any Vontier Welfare Plan in which Vontier Employees participate (or are eligible to participate) to the same extent that such conditions and waiting periods were satisfied or waived under an analogous Fortive Welfare Plan, and (ii) Vontier shall provide or cause each Vontier Employee to be provided with credit for any co-payments, deductibles or other out-of-pocket amounts paid during the plan year in which the Vontier Employees become eligible to participate in the Vontier Welfare Plans in satisfying any applicable co-payments, deductibles or other out-of-pocket requirements under any such plans for such plan year.
Section 2.7 Collective Bargaining Agreements.
(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Fortive and Vontier shall, to the extent required by applicable Law, take or cause to be taken all actions that are necessary (if any) for Vontier or a member of the Vontier Group to continue to maintain or to assume and honor any Collective Bargaining Agreements and any pre-existing collective bargaining relationships (in each case including obligations that arise in respect of the period both before and after the date of employment by the Vontier Group) in respect of any Vontier Employees and any Employee Representatives.
(b) Effective no later than the Effective Time, Vontier shall, or shall cause a member of the Vontier Group to, continue to maintain or to assume and honor, to the extent required by applicable Law, all Collective Bargaining Agreements and pre-existing collective bargaining relationships (in each case including obligations that arise in respect of the period both before and after the date of a Vontier Employees employment by the Vontier Group) that are applicable to any Vontier Employee.
(c) Nothing in this Agreement is intended to alter the provisions of any Collective Bargaining Agreement or modify in any way the obligations of the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group to any Employee Representative or any other Person as described in such agreement.
Section 2.8 Information and Consultation. The Parties shall comply with all requirements and obligations to inform, consult or otherwise notify any Vontier or Fortive Employees or Employee Representatives in relation to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Separation Agreement, whether required pursuant to any Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Transfer Regulations or other applicable Law.
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Section 2.9 WARN. Notwithstanding anything set forth in this Agreement to the contrary, none of the transactions contemplated by or undertaken by this Agreement is intended to and shall not constitute or give rise to an employment loss or employment separation within the meaning of the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, or any other federal, state, or local law or legal requirement addressing mass employment separations.
ARTICLE III
CERTAIN BENEFIT PLAN PROVISIONS
Section 3.1 Health and Welfare Benefit Plans.
(a) (i) Effective as of the Plan Transition Date, the participation of each Vontier Employee who is a participant in a Fortive Welfare Plan shall automatically cease and (ii) Vontier shall or shall cause a member of the Vontier Group (A) to have in effect, no later than the Business Day immediately prior to the Plan Transition Date, Vontier Welfare Plans providing health and welfare benefits for the benefit of each Vontier Employee with terms that are substantially similar to those provided to the applicable Vontier Employee immediately prior to the date on which such Vontier Welfare Plans become effective; and (B) effective on and after the date of cessation described in subsection (i) above, to fully perform, pay and discharge all claims of Vontier Employees or Former Vontier Service Providers, including but not limited to any claims incurred under any Fortive Welfare Plan on or prior to the date on which such Vontier Welfare Plans become effective, that remain unpaid as of the date on which such Vontier Welfare Plans become effective, regardless of whether any such claim was presented for payment prior to, on or after such date.
(b) The applicable member of the Vontier Group shall reimburse the applicable Fortive Welfare Plan for any claims related to Vontier Employees or Former Vontier Service Providers paid by a Fortive Welfare Plan (whether prior to or after the Effective Time) and not charged back to the appropriate and applicable member of the Vontier Group prior to the Plan Transition Date.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.1, Vontier Employees will continue to be considered to be participants in any Fortive Welfare Plan that is either a health care flexible spending account program or a dependent-care flexible spending account program for the duration of any calendar-year 2021 grace period and/or claims run-out period (in either case, solely as provided under the terms of such Fortive Welfare Plans), provided that such Vontier Employees will be considered to be participants solely for purposes of utilizing such grace period and/or claims run-out period; will not be allowed to make any deferral or contribution elections under such Fortive Welfare Plans for calendar year 2021 or beyond; and will cease to be participants in such Fortive Welfare Plans upon the expiration of any grace period and/or claims run-out period.
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Section 3.2 U.S. Savings Plans.
(a) (i) Effective no later than the Plan Transition Date, Fortive shall cause a member of the Vontier Group to have in effect one or more defined contribution savings plans and related trusts that satisfy the requirements of Sections 401(a) and 401(k) of the Code in which each Vontier Employee who participated in the Fortive Retirement Savings Plan immediately prior thereto shall be eligible to participate (the Vontier U.S. Savings Plans), with terms that are substantially similar to those provided by the Fortive Retirement Savings Plan immediately prior to the date on which such Vontier U.S. Savings Plans become effective (other than the ability to make additional investments in an investment fund invested primarily in Fortive Common Stock), (ii) the participation of each Vontier Employee who is a participant in the Fortive Retirement Savings Plan shall automatically cease effective upon the date on which the Vontier U.S. Savings Plans become effective, (iii) as soon as practicable after the Vontier U.S. Savings Plans become effective, Fortive shall cause the accounts (including any outstanding participant loan balances) in the Fortive Retirement Savings Plan attributable to Vontier Employees and all of the Assets in the Fortive Retirement Savings Plan related thereto to be transferred in-kind to the applicable Vontier U.S. Savings Plan and (iv) effective as of the Plan Transition Date, the Vontier U.S. Savings Plans (including all applicable accounts and underlying Assets) shall be transferred to Vontier and Vontier shall thereafter fully pay, perform and discharge, all obligations thereunder.
(b) Effective no later than the Plan Transition Date, Fortive shall transfer to Vontier the Fortive Union Retirement Savings Plan and Vontier shall thereafter fully pay, perform and discharge all obligations thereunder, including for those obligations associated with the Assets and Liabilities under the Fortive Union Retirement Savings Plan in respect of any Former Vontier Service Provider whose account balance remained in the Fortive Union Retirement Savings Plan prior to its transfer to Vontier.
(c) The respective investment committees and other fiduciaries of the Vontier U.S. Savings Plans and the Fortive U.S. Savings Plans shall determine (i) the period of time, if any, following the adoption of the Vontier U.S. Savings Plans and following the transfer of the Fortive Union Retirement Savings Plan from Fortive to Vontier, during which Vontier Employees and Fortive Employees may receive distributions in kind from, respectively, the Vontier U.S. Savings Plans and the Fortive U.S. Savings Plans, if, and to the extent, investments under such plans are comprised of Vontier Common Stock or Fortive Common Stock, and (ii) the extent to which and when Fortive Common Stock (in the case of the Vontier U.S. Savings Plans and the Fortive Union Retirement Savings Plan following its transfer to Vontier) and Vontier Common Stock (in the case of the Fortive Retirement Savings Plan) shall cease to be investment alternatives of the respective plans.
(d) Fortive shall retain all accounts and all Assets and Liabilities relating to the Fortive Retirement Savings Plan in respect of each Former Vontier Service Provider; provided that if any Vontier Employee whose account balance is transferred from the Fortive Retirement Savings Plan to the applicable Vontier U.S. Savings Plan as set forth in Section 3.2(a) thereafter terminates employment prior to the Plan Transition Date, such individuals account balance shall nonetheless continue to be held in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the applicable Vontier U.S. Savings Plan.
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Section 3.3 Supplemental and Foreign Retirement Plans. From and after the Effective Time, Vontier shall, or shall cause one or more members of the Vontier Group to, accept, assume (or, as applicable, retain) and perform, discharge and fulfill all Liabilities under the Gilbarco SERP and the Foreign Retirement Plans, in each case, whenever incurred.
Section 3.4 Deferred Compensation Plans.
(a) (i) Effective as of the Plan Transition Date, Vontier shall or shall cause a member of the Vontier Group to have in effect a non-qualified deferred compensation plan for the benefit of each Vontier Employee that is eligible to participate in the Fortive EDIP immediately prior to the Plan Transition Date (each, a Vontier EDIP) with terms that are substantially similar to those provided to the applicable Vontier Employee under the Fortive EDIP immediately prior to the date on which the Vontier EDIP becomes effective, (ii) the participation of each Vontier Employee who is a participant in the Fortive EDIP shall cease effective upon the date on which the Vontier EDIP becomes effective and (iii) each such Vontier Employee shall become a participant in the Vontier EDIP and all contributions that otherwise would have been made to the Fortive EDIP on or after the Plan Transition Date shall instead be applied to the Vontier EDIP.
(b) Effective as of the Plan Transition Date, (i) the account balances of each Vontier Employee under the Fortive EDIP shall be transferred to the Vontier EDIP and Vontier shall or shall cause a member of the Vontier Group to fully perform, pay and discharge all obligations of the Fortive EDIP relating to such account balances, (ii) any such account balances that are payable in shares of Fortive Common Stock shall be payable in shares of Vontier Common Stock in accordance with the terms applicable to such account balances, (iii) any such account balances that were credited with earnings based on a rate of return relating to notional shares of Fortive Common Stock shall instead be credited with earnings based on a rate of return relating to notional shares of Vontier Common Stock and (iv) notional shares of Fortive Common Stock and any shares of Fortive Common Stock in a deferred share account shall be adjusted in the same manner as set forth in Section 4.2 as if such shares or notional shares of Fortive Common Stock were Fortive Time-Based Restricted Stock Units.
(c) Fortive shall retain (i) all Assets relating to the Fortive EDIP in respect of Fortive Employees, Vontier Employees and Former Vontier Service Providers (including any Assets relating to corporate owned life insurance policies) and (ii) all Liabilities in respect of each Former Vontier Service Provider in respect of the Fortive EDIP.
Section 3.5 Non-U.S. Plans. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary other than as set forth in this Section 3.5 or Section 1.1, the treatment of each Fortive Benefit Arrangement and Vontier Benefit Arrangement that is maintained primarily in respect of individuals who are located outside of the United States (together, the Non-U.S. Plans) shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable Conveyancing and Assumption Instrument; provided that if the treatment of any such Non-U.S. Plan is not specifically covered by such Conveyancing and Assumption Instrument, then unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, (i) Vontier shall fully perform, pay and discharge all obligations of the Non-U.S. Plans relating to Vontier Employees, Vontier Independent Contractors and Former Vontier Service Providers, whenever incurred, (ii) Fortive shall fully perform, pay and discharge all obligations of the Non-U.S. Plans relating to Fortive Employees, whenever incurred, and (iii) the Parties shall agree on the extent to which any Assets held in respect of such Non-U.S. Plans shall be transferred to Vontier.
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Section 3.6 Chargeback of Certain Costs. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall limit Fortives ability to charge back any Liabilities that it incurs in respect of any Fortive Benefit Arrangement to any of its operating companies in the ordinary course of business consistent with its past practices.
ARTICLE IV
EQUITY INCENTIVE AWARDS
Section 4.1 Treatment of Fortive Stock Options. Each Fortive Option that is outstanding immediately prior to the Distribution Date and that is held by a Vontier Employee who continues in employment through the Distribution Date, whether vested or unvested, shall automatically be assumed by Vontier at the Distribution Date (each, a Vontier Option) and shall continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms and conditions (including the term, exercisability and vesting schedule) as were applicable to the corresponding Fortive Option immediately prior to the Distribution Date, except that each Vontier Option shall (i) relate to a number of shares of Vontier Common Stock (with each discrete grant rounded down to the nearest whole share) equal to the product of (x) the number of shares of Fortive Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the corresponding Fortive Option immediately prior to the Distribution Date and (y) the Equity Award Adjustment Ratio and (ii) have a per-share exercise price (rounded up to the nearest whole cent, subject to Section 4.4(a)) equal to the quotient determined by dividing (x) the per share exercise price of the corresponding Fortive Option by (y) the Equity Award Adjustment Ratio.
Section 4.2 Treatment of Fortive Time-Based Restricted Stock Units. Each Fortive Restricted Stock Unit that is outstanding immediately prior to the Distribution Date and that is held by a Vontier Employee who continues in employment through the Distribution Date, whether vested or unvested, shall automatically be assumed by Vontier at the Distribution Date (each, a Vontier Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit) and shall continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms and conditions (including vesting schedule) as were applicable to the corresponding Fortive Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit immediately prior to the Distribution Date, except that each grant of Vontier Time-Based Restricted Stock Units shall (i) relate to that number of shares of Vontier Common Stock (with each discrete grant rounded up to the nearest whole share, subject to Section 4.4(a)) equal to the product of (x) the number of shares of Fortive Common Stock that were issuable upon the vesting of such Fortive Time-Based Restricted Stock Units immediately prior to the Distribution Date and (y) the Equity Award Adjustment Ratio and (ii) be subject to vesting solely based upon the satisfaction of any applicable continued employment requirements that apply to the corresponding Fortive Time-Based Restricted Stock Units immediately prior to the Distribution Date.
Section 4.3 Vontier Stock Plan. Effective as of the Effective Time, Vontier shall have adopted the Vontier Corporation 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the Vontier Stock Plan), which shall permit the grant and issuance of equity incentive awards denominated in Vontier Common Stock as described in this Article IV.
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Section 4.4 General Terms.
(a) All of the adjustments described in this Article IV shall be effected in accordance with Sections 424 and 409A of the Code, in each case to the extent applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if the treatment set forth in this Article IV would cause adverse Tax consequences to any Vontier Employee located outside of the United States, the Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause the treatment to be conformed in a manner that does not give rise to such adverse Tax consequences, to the extent practicable; and (ii) each discrete grant of Vontier Time-Based Restricted Stock Units held by a Vontier Employee located in Canada or France shall in all events be rounded down to the nearest whole share.
(b) The Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to maintain effective registration statements with the Securities Exchange Commission with respect to the awards described in this Article IV, to the extent any such registration statement is required by applicable Law.
(c) The Parties hereby acknowledge that the provisions of this Article IV are intended to achieve certain tax, legal and accounting objectives and, in the event such objectives are not achieved, the Parties agree to negotiate in good faith regarding such other actions that may be necessary or appropriate to achieve such objectives.
ARTICLE V
ADDITIONAL MATTERS
Section 5.1 Cash Incentive Programs. For any Fortive cash incentive or sales commission performance period that has not concluded as of the date on which the employment of the applicable Vontier Employees is transferred to Vontier (the Open Incentive Obligations), Vontier shall provide that each applicable Vontier Employee shall continue to be eligible to receive a cash incentive bonus or sales commission payment in accordance with the same terms and conditions as applied to such Vontier Employee under the corresponding Fortive incentive or sales commission program as in effect immediately prior to the date of such transfer, as equitably adjusted (if applicable) by the Compensation Committee of the Fortive Board of Directors to the extent necessary to reflect the transactions contemplated by the Separation Agreement; provided that in no event shall the aggregate incentive amounts paid to the applicable Vontier Employees in respect of such applicable period be less than the Accrued Incentive Amount. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or the Separation Agreement to the contrary, (i) Fortive shall not transfer assets in respect of the Accrued Incentive Amount or the Open Incentive Obligations and (ii) effective as of the date on which the employment of the applicable Vontier Employees is transferred to Vontier, Vontier shall assume all Liabilities and obligations in respect of the Accrued Incentive Amount and the Open Incentive Obligations.
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Section 5.2 Time-Off Benefits. Unless otherwise required in a Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Transfer Regulations or applicable Law, Vontier shall (i) credit each Vontier Employee with the amount of accrued but unused vacation time, paid time-off and other time-off benefits as such Vontier Employee had with the Fortive Group as of immediately before the date on which the employment of the Vontier Employee transfers to Vontier and (ii) permit each such Vontier Employee to use such accrued but unused vacation time, paid time off and other time-off benefits in the same manner and upon the same terms and conditions as the Vontier Employee would have been so permitted under the terms and conditions of the applicable Fortive policies in effect for the year in which such transfer of employment occurs, up to and including full exhaustion of such transferred unused vacation time, paid-time off and other time-off benefits (if such full exhaustion would be permitted under the applicable Fortive policies in effect for that year in which the transfer of employment occurs).
Section 5.3 Workers Compensation Liabilities. Effective no later than the Effective Time, Vontier shall assume all Liabilities for Vontier Employees, Vontier Independent Contractors and Former Vontier Service Providers related to any and all workers compensation injuries, incidents, conditions, claims or coverage, whenever incurred (including claims incurred prior to the Effective Time but not reported until after the Effective Time), and Vontier shall be fully responsible for the administration, management and payment of all such claims and satisfaction of all such Liabilities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Vontier is unable to assume any such Liability or the administration, management or payment of any such claim solely because of the operation of applicable Law, Fortive shall retain such Liabilities and Vontier shall reimburse and otherwise fully indemnify Fortive for all such Liabilities, including the costs of administering the plans, programs or arrangements under which any such Liabilities have accrued or otherwise arisen.
Section 5.4 COBRA Compliance in the United States. Effective as of the Plan Transition Date, Vontier shall assume and be responsible for administering compliance with the health care continuation requirements of COBRA, in accordance with the provisions of the Vontier Welfare Plans, with respect to Vontier Employees or Vontier Former Service Providers who incurred a COBRA qualifying event under a Vontier Welfare Plan at any time on or before the Plan Transition Date and/or any COBRA qualifying event in connection with the transactions described in the Separation Agreement. Vontier shall also be responsible for administering compliance with the health care continuation requirements of COBRA, and the corresponding provisions of the Vontier Welfare Plans with respect to Vontier Employees and their covered dependents who incur a COBRA qualifying event or loss of coverage under the Vontier Welfare Plans at any time after the Plan Transition Date.
Section 5.5 Retention Bonuses. Any retention bonuses payable to any Vontier Employees that relate to the transactions contemplated by the Separation Agreement and become payable after the date on which the employment of the Vontier Employee transfers to Vontier shall be assumed by Vontier as of the date of such transfer and Vontier shall pay all amounts payable thereunder to the applicable Vontier Employees in accordance with the terms thereof.
Section 5.6 Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith regarding the need for any treatment different from that otherwise provided herein with respect to the payment of compensation to ensure that the treatment of such compensation does not cause the imposition of a Tax under Section 409A of the Code. In no event, however, shall any Party be liable to another in respect of any Taxes imposed under, or any other costs or Liabilities relating to, Section 409A of the Code.
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Section 5.7 Payroll Taxes and Reporting; CARES Act.
(a) The Parties shall, to the extent practicable, (i) treat Vontier or a member of the Vontier Group as a successor employer and Fortive (or the appropriate member of the Fortive Group) as a predecessor, within the meaning of Sections 3121(a)(1) and 3306(b)(1) of the Code, with respect to Vontier Employees for purposes of Taxes imposed under the United States Federal Unemployment Tax Act or the United States Federal Insurance Contributions Act, and (ii) cooperate with each other to avoid, to the extent possible, the filing of more than one IRS Form W-2 with respect to each Vontier Employee for the calendar year in which the Effective Time occurs.
(b) Effective as of the Effective Time (or, if later, the applicable Delayed Transfer Date), Vontier shall, or shall cause one or more members of the Vontier Group to, assume all Liabilities in respect of the payment of any employment taxes that have been delayed pursuant to Section 2302 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act) with respect to any Vontier Employee or Former Vontier Service Provider, and, if applicable, shall timely reimburse Fortive in accordance with Section 2.3(c) for any such amounts that are required to be paid by Fortive in accordance with applicable Law. Fortive shall retain the benefit of any tax credit allowed pursuant to Section 2301 of the CARES Act with respect to any qualified wages (as defined in the CARES Act) paid to any Vontier Employee or Former Vontier Service Provider after March 12, 2020 and prior to the Effective Time (or, if later, the applicable Delayed Transfer Date).
Section 5.8 Regulatory Filings. Subject to applicable Law and the Tax Matters Agreement, Fortive shall retain responsibility for all employee-related regulatory filings for reporting periods ending at or prior to the Effective Time, except for Equal Employment Opportunity Commission EEO-1 reports and affirmative action program (AAP) reports and responses to Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) submissions, for which Fortive shall provide data and information (to the extent permitted by applicable Laws) to Vontier, which shall be responsible for making such filings in respect of Vontier Employees.
Section 5.9 Disability.
(a) To the extent any Vontier Employee is, as of the Plan Transition Date, receiving payments as part of any short-term disability program that is part of a Fortive Welfare Plan, such Vontier Employees rights to continued short-term disability benefits (a) will end under any Fortive Welfare Plan as of the Plan Transition Date; and (b) all remaining rights will be recognized under a Vontier Welfare Plan as of the Plan Transition Date, and the remainder (if any) of such Vontier Employees short-term disability benefits will be paid by a Vontier Welfare Plan. In the event that any Vontier Employee described above shall have any dispute with the short-term disability benefits they are receiving under a Vontier Welfare Plan, any and all appeal rights of such employees shall be realized through the Vontier Welfare Plan (and any appeal rights such Vontier Employee may have under any Fortive Welfare Plan will be limited to benefits received and time periods occurring prior to the Plan Transition Date).
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(b) For any Former Vontier Service Provider who is, as of the Effective Time, receiving payments as part of any long-term disability program that is part of a Fortive Welfare Plan, and has been receiving payments from such plan for twelve (12) months or fewer before the Effective Time, to the extent such Former Vontier Service may have any return to work rights under the terms of such Fortive Welfare Plan, such Former Vontier Service Providers eligibility for re-employment shall be with Vontier or a member of the Vontier Group, subject to availability of a suitable position (with such availability to be determined in the sole discretion by Vontier or the applicable member of the Vontier Group), provided however that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no Former Vontier Service Provider described in this subsection will be eligible for re-employment as described in this subsection after the first anniversary of the Effective Time.
Section 5.10 Certain Requirements. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Transfer Regulations, the terms of a Collective Bargaining Agreement or applicable Law require that any assets or Liabilities be retained by the Fortive Group or transferred to or assumed by the Vontier Group in a manner that is different from that set forth in this Agreement, such retention, transfer or assumption shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Collective Bargaining Agreement or applicable Law and shall not be made as otherwise set forth in this Agreement.
ARTICLE VI
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
Section 6.1 Employer Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to be an amendment to any Fortive Benefit Arrangement or Vontier Benefit Arrangement or to prohibit any member of the Fortive Group or Vontier Group, as the case may be, from amending, modifying or terminating any Fortive Benefit Arrangement or Vontier Benefit Arrangement at any time within its sole discretion.
Section 6.2 Effect on Employment. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall confer upon any employee or former employee of Fortive, Vontier or any of their respective Affiliates any right to continued employment, or any recall or similar rights to any such individual on layoff or any type of approved leave.
Section 6.3 Consent of Third Parties. If any provision of this Agreement is dependent on the Consent of any third party and such Consent is withheld, the Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to implement the applicable provisions of this Agreement to the fullest extent practicable. If any provision of this Agreement cannot be implemented due to the failure of such third party to consent, the Parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to implement the provision (as applicable) in a mutually satisfactory manner.
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Section 6.4 Access to Employees. On and after the Effective Time, Fortive and Vontier shall, or shall cause each of their respective Affiliates to, make available to each other those of their employees who may reasonably be needed in order to defend or prosecute any legal or administrative action (other than a legal action between Fortive and Vontier) to which any employee or director of the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group or any Fortive Benefit Arrangement or Vontier Benefit Arrangement is a party and which relates to a Fortive Benefit Arrangement or Vontier Benefit Arrangement. The Party to whom an employee is made available in accordance with this Section 6.4 shall pay or reimburse the other Party for all reasonable expenses which may be incurred by such employee in connection therewith, including all reasonable travel, lodging, and meal expenses, but excluding any amount for such employees time spent in connection herewith.
Section 6.5 Beneficiary Designation/Release of Information/Right to Reimbursement. To the extent permitted by applicable Law and except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement, all beneficiary designations, authorizations for the release of Information and rights to reimbursement made by or relating to Vontier Employees under Fortive Benefit Arrangements shall be transferred to and be in full force and effect under the corresponding Vontier Benefit Arrangements until such beneficiary designations, authorizations or rights are replaced or revoked by, or no longer apply, to the relevant Vontier Employee.
Section 6.6 No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Parties and, except to the extent otherwise expressly provided herein, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer any rights, benefits, remedies, obligations or Liabilities under this Agreement upon any Person, including any Vontier Employee or other current or former employee, officer, director or contractor of the Fortive Group or Vontier Group, other than the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.
Section 6.7 No Acceleration of Benefits. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no provision of this Agreement shall be construed to create any right, or accelerate vesting or entitlement, to any compensation or benefit whatsoever on the part of any Vontier Employee or other former, current or future employee of the Fortive Group or Vontier Group under any Benefit Arrangement of the Fortive Group or Vontier Group.
Section 6.8 Employee Benefits Administration. At all times following the date hereof, the Parties will cooperate in good faith as necessary to facilitate the administration of employee benefits and the resolution of related employee benefit claims with respect to Vontier Employees, Former Vontier Service Providers and employees and other service providers of Fortive, as applicable, including with respect to the provision of employee level information necessary for the other Party to manage, administer, finance and file required reports with respect to such administration.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Separation Agreement, including the Exhibits and Schedules thereto, shall constitute the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all previous negotiations, commitments, course of dealings and writings with respect to such subject matter.
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Section 7.2 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in more than one counterpart, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more such counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to each of the Parties.
Section 7.3 Survival of Agreements. Except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, all covenants and agreements of the Parties contained in this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time and remain in full force and effect in accordance with their applicable terms.
Section 7.4 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in English, shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, by email (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) or by facsimile with receipt confirmed (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 7.4):
To Fortive:
Fortive Corporation
6920 Seaway Blvd.
Everett, WA 98203
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (425) 446-5007
E-mail: Peter.Underwood@fortive.com
To Vontier:
Vontier Corporation
5420 Wade Park Boulevard, Suite 206
Raleigh, NC 27607
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (336) 292-8871
E-mail: Katie.rowen@vontier.com
Section 7.5 Waivers. Any consent required or permitted to be given by any Party to the other Party under this Agreement shall be in writing and signed by the Party giving such consent and shall be effective only against such Party (and its Group).
Section 7.6 Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by any Party hereto without the prior written consent of the other Party, and any attempt to assign any rights or obligations arising under this Agreement without such consent shall be void. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall be assignable to (i) with respect to Fortive, an Affiliate of Fortive, or (ii) a bona fide third party in connection with a merger, reorganization, consolidation or the sale of all or substantially all the assets of a party hereto so long as the resulting, surviving or transferee entity assumes all the obligations of
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the relevant party hereto by operation of Law or pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the other Party to this Agreement; provided however that in the case of each of the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), no assignment permitted by this Section 7.6 shall release the assigning Party from liability for the full performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
Section 7.7 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement and the obligations and rights hereunder shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by (and against) the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Section 7.8 Termination and Amendment. This Agreement may be terminated, modified or amended at any time prior to the Distribution Date by and in the sole discretion of Fortive without the approval of Vontier or the stockholders of Fortive. In the event of such termination, no Party shall have any liability of any kind to the other Party or any other Person. After the Distribution Date, this Agreement may not be terminated, modified or amended except by an agreement in writing signed by Fortive and Vontier.
Section 7.9 Subsidiaries. Each of the Parties shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by any Subsidiary of such Party or by any entity that becomes a Subsidiary of such Party at and after the Effective Time, to the extent such Subsidiary remains a Subsidiary of the applicable Party.
Section 7.10 Title and Headings. Titles and headings to sections herein are inserted for the convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 7.11 Governing Law. This Agreement and any dispute arising out of, in connection with or relating to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.
Section 7.12 Severability. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The Parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
Section 7.13 Interpretation. The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the Party drafting or causing any instrument to be drafted.
Section 7.14 No Duplication; No Double Recovery. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer to or impose upon any Party a duplicative right, entitlement, obligation or recovery with respect to any matter arising out of the same facts and circumstances.
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Section 7.15 No Waiver. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of any Party, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver hereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.
Section 7.16 No Admission of Liability. The allocation of Assets and Liabilities herein is solely for the purpose of allocating such Assets and Liabilities between Fortive and Vontier and is not intended as an admission of liability or responsibility for any alleged Liabilities vis-à-vis any third party, including with respect to the Liabilities of any non-wholly owned subsidiary of Fortive or Vontier.
Section 7.17 Tax Matters. The Parties agree that any payment made among the Parties pursuant to this Agreement shall be treated, to the extent permitted by Law, for all U.S. federal income tax purposes as either (i) a non-taxable contribution by Fortive to Vontier or (ii) a distribution by Vontier to Fortive, and, with respect to any payment made among the Parties pursuant to this Agreement after the Distribution, such payment shall be treated as having been made immediately prior to the Distribution.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
FORTIVE CORPORATION | ||
By: |
/s/ Rajesh Yadava |
|
Name: Rajesh Yadava | ||
Title: Vice President, Treasurer | ||
VONTIER CORPORATION | ||
By: |
/s/ Kathryn K. Rowen |
|
Name: Kathryn K. Rowen | ||
Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel |
[Employee Matters Agreement Signature Page]
Exhibit 10.2
EXECUTION VERSION
TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT
by and between
FORTIVE CORPORATION
and
VONTIER CORPORATION
Dated as of October 8, 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
ii
TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT
This TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT (this Agreement), is entered into as of October 8, 2020 between Fortive Corporation, a Delaware corporation (Fortive), and Vontier Corporation, a Delaware corporation (Vontier and, together with Fortive, the Parties). Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between the Parties (the Separation Agreement).
R E C I T A L S
WHEREAS, the board of directors of Fortive has determined that it is appropriate, desirable and in the best interests of Fortive and its stockholders to separate Fortives industrial technologies segment from its other businesses, creating Vontier as a new subsidiary company to which Fortive will transfer, directly or indirectly, the assets and liability of its industrial technologies segment (the Separation) and, following the Separation, to undertake the Distribution;
WHEREAS, Vontier has been incorporated for these purposes and has not engaged in activities except those incidental to its formation and in preparation for the Distribution;
WHEREAS, Fortive will effect certain restructuring transactions described in the Separation Plan for the purpose of aggregating the industrial technologies segment in the Vontier Group prior to the Distribution (collectively, the Reorganization) and in connection therewith, undertake the Contribution to Vontier which, in exchange therefor, Vontier shall (i) issue to Fortive shares of Vontier Common Stock and (ii) pay to Fortive the Vontier Contribution Payment;
WHEREAS, following the Distribution, Fortive may retain up to 19.9% of the outstanding Vontier Common Stock (the Retained Stock) and distribute such Retained Stock to Fortive stockholders as dividends or in exchange for outstanding shares of Fortive common stock (any such distribution, a Subsequent Distribution) or transfer such Retained Stock to Fortive creditors in satisfaction of certain Fortive debt (any such transfer, a Debt-for-Equity Exchange) within 12 months of the Distribution;
WHEREAS, Fortive intends to effect the Distribution in a transaction, that, taken together with the Contribution, any Subsequent Distribution and any Debt-for-Equity Exchange, is intended to qualify as tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Sections 368(a)(1)(D), 355 and 361(c) of the Code;
WHEREAS, certain members of the Fortive Group, on the one hand, and certain members of the Vontier Group, on the other hand, file certain Tax Returns on a consolidated, combined or unitary basis for certain federal, state, local and foreign Tax purposes; and
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to (a) provide for the payment of Tax liabilities and entitlement to refunds thereof, allocate responsibility for, and cooperation in, the filing of Tax Returns, and provide for certain other matters relating to Taxes and (b) set forth certain covenants and indemnities relating to the preservation of the tax-free status of the Transactions.
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 General. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Adjustment shall mean an adjustment of any item of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit or any other item affecting Taxes of a taxpayer pursuant to a Final Determination.
Affiliate shall mean, with respect to a Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the specified Person. For this purpose, control of a Person means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Ancillary Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Business Day shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Controlling Party shall mean, with respect to a Tax Contest, the Party entitled to control such Tax Contest pursuant to Sections 6.2 and 6.3 of this Agreement.
Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Contribution shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Debt-for-Equity Exchange shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Distribution shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Distribution Date shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Distribution Taxes means any Taxes incurred solely as a result of the failure of the Transactions to qualify for the Tax-Free Status of the Transactions.
Effective Time shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Employee Matters Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
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Employment Tax shall mean those Liabilities (as defined in the Separation Agreement) for Taxes which are allocable pursuant to the provisions of the Employee Matters Agreement.
Federal Income Tax shall mean any Tax imposed by Subtitle A of the Code other than an Employment Tax, and any interest, penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts in respect of the foregoing.
Final Determination shall mean the final resolution of liability for any Tax for any taxable period, by or as a result of (a) a final decision, judgment, decree or other order by any court of competent jurisdiction that can no longer be appealed, (b) a final settlement with the IRS, a closing agreement or accepted offer in compromise under Sections 7121 or 7122 of the Code, or a comparable agreement under the Laws of other jurisdictions, which resolves the entire Tax liability for any taxable period, (c) any allowance of a refund or credit in respect of an overpayment of Tax, but only after the expiration of all periods during which such refund or credit may be recovered by the jurisdiction imposing the Tax, or (d) any other final resolution, including by reason of the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations or the execution of a pre-filing agreement with the IRS or other Taxing Authority.
Foreign Tax shall mean any Tax imposed by any foreign country or any possession of the United States, or by any political subdivision of any foreign country or United States possession, and any interest, penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts in respect of the foregoing.
Fortive shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Fortive Affiliated Group shall mean an affiliated group (as that term is defined in Section 1504 of the Code and the regulations thereunder) of which a member of the Fortive Group is a member.
Fortive Common Stock shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Fortive Federal Consolidated Income Tax Return shall mean any U.S. federal income Tax Return for a Fortive Affiliated Group.
Fortive Group shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Fortive Retained Business shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Fortive Separate Return shall mean any Tax Return of or including any member of the Fortive Group (including any consolidated, combined, or unitary return) that does not include any member of the Vontier Group.
Group shall mean either the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group, as the context requires.
Indemnifying Party shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2.
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Indemnitee shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2.
IRS shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Service or any successor thereto, including, but not limited to its agents, representatives, and attorneys.
IRS Ruling means any U.S. federal income Tax ruling and any supplements thereto, issued to Fortive by the IRS in connection with the Transactions.
IRS Ruling Request means the letter filed by Fortive with the IRS requesting a ruling regarding certain tax consequences of the Transactions and any amendment or supplement to such ruling request letter.
Joint Return shall mean any Tax Return that includes, by election or otherwise, one or more members of the Fortive Group together with one or more members of the Vontier Group.
Law shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Non-Controlling Party shall mean, with respect to a Tax Contest, the Party that is not entitled to control such Tax Contest pursuant to Sections 6.2 and 6.3 of this Agreement.
Parties shall mean the parties to this Agreement.
Past Practices shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.5.
Person shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Post-Distribution Period shall mean any taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Distribution Date, including for the avoidance of doubt, the portion of any Straddle Period with respect to the Distribution Date beginning after the Distribution Date.
Pre-Distribution Period shall mean any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or before the Distribution Date, including for the avoidance of doubt, the portion of any Straddle Period with respect to the Distribution Date ending at the end of the day on the Distribution Date.
Prohibited Acts shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2.
Proposed Acquisition Transaction shall mean a transaction or series of transactions (or any agreement, understanding or arrangement, within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-7, or any other regulations promulgated thereunder, to enter into a transaction or series of transactions), whether such transaction is supported by Vontier management or shareholders, is a hostile acquisition, or otherwise, as a result of which Vontier (or any successor thereto) would merge or consolidate with any other Person or as a result of which one or more Persons would (directly or indirectly) acquire, or have the right to acquire, from Vontier (or any successor thereto) and/or one or more holders of Vontier Common Stock, respectively, any amount of stock of Vontier, that would, when combined with any other direct or indirect changes in ownership of the stock of Vontier pertinent for purposes of Section 355(e) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, comprise fifty percent (50%) or more of (i) the value of all outstanding shares of Vontier as of the date of such
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transaction, or in the case of a series of transactions, the date of the last transaction of such series, or (ii) the total combined voting power of all outstanding shares of voting stock of Vontier as of the date of the such transaction, or in the case of a series of transactions, the date of the last transaction of such series. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Proposed Acquisition Transaction shall not include (i) the adoption by Vontier of a shareholder rights plan or (ii) issuances by Vontier that satisfy Safe Harbor VIII (relating to acquisitions in connection with a persons performance of services) or Safe Harbor IX (relating to acquisitions by a retirement plan of an employer) of Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-7(d). For purposes of determining whether a transaction constitutes an indirect acquisition, any recapitalization resulting in a shift of voting power or any redemption of shares of stock shall be treated as an indirect acquisition of shares of stock by the non-exchanging shareholders. This definition and the application thereof is intended to monitor compliance with Section 355(e) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder and shall be interpreted accordingly. Any clarification of, or change in, the statute or regulations promulgated under Section 355(e) of the Code shall be incorporated in this definition and its interpretation.
Reasonable Basis shall mean reasonable basis within the meaning of Section 6662(d)(2)(B)(ii)(II) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (or such other level of confidence required by the Code at that time to avoid the imposition of penalties).
Refund shall mean any refund, reimbursement, offset, credit, or other similar benefit in respect of Taxes (including any overpayment of Taxes that can be refunded or, alternatively, applied against other Taxes payable), including any interest paid on or with respect to such refund of Taxes; provided, however, that the amount of any refund of Taxes shall be net of any Taxes imposed by any Taxing Authority on, related to, or attributable to, the receipt of or accrual of such refund, including any Taxes imposed by way of withholding or offset.
Reorganization shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Responsible Party shall mean, with respect to any Tax Return, the Party having responsibility for preparing and filing such Tax Return pursuant to this Agreement.
Restricted Period shall mean the period which begins with the Distribution Date and ends two (2) years thereafter.
Retained Stock shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Separate Return shall mean a Fortive Separate Return or a Vontier Separate Return, as the case may be.
Separation shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Separation Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Separation Plan shall mean have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Straddle Period shall mean with respect to any date, the taxable year or other taxable period that begins on or before such date and ends after such date.
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State Tax means any Tax imposed by any State of the United States or by any political subdivision of any such State, and any interest, penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts in respect of the foregoing.
Subsequent Distribution shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Subsidiary shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Tax or Taxes shall mean (i) all taxes, charges, fees, duties, levies, imposts, rates or other assessments or governmental charges of any kind imposed by any federal, state, local or non-United States Taxing Authority, including, without limitation, income, gross receipts, employment, estimated, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental, custom duties, property, sales, use, license, capital stock, transfer, franchise, registration, payroll, withholding, social security, unemployment, disability, value added, alternative or add-on minimum or other taxes, whether disputed or not, and including any interest, penalties, charges or additions attributable thereto, (ii) liability for the payment of any amount of the type described in clause (i) above arising as a result of being (or having been) a member of any group or being (or having been) included or required to be included in any Tax Return related thereto, and (iii) liability for the payment of any amount of the type described in clauses (i) or (ii) above as a result of any express or implied obligation to indemnify or otherwise assume or succeed to the liability of any other Person.
Tax Attribute shall mean net operating losses, capital losses, research and experimentation credit carryovers, investment tax credit carryovers, earnings and profits, foreign tax credit carryovers, overall foreign losses, overall domestic losses, previously taxed earnings and profits, separate limitation losses and any other losses, deductions, credits or other comparable items that could affect a Tax liability for a past or future taxable period.
Tax Certificates shall mean any certificates of officers of Fortive and Vontier, provided to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP or any other Law or accounting firm in connection with any Tax Opinion issued in connection with the Transactions.
Tax Contest shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.
Tax-Free Status of the Transactions shall mean the qualification of (i) the Contribution (and Fortives receipt of the Vontier Common Stock and Vontier Contribution Payment in connection therewith), the Distribution and any Subsequent Distributions, taken together, as a reorganization described in Sections 368(a)(1)(D) and 355(a) of the Code, with each of Fortive and Vontier being a party to the reorganization, in which no income or gain is recognized by Fortive, Vontier or the holders of Fortive Common Stock pursuant to Sections 355, 361 and 1032 of the Code, other than, in the case of Fortive and Vontier, intercompany items or excess loss accounts taken into account pursuant to the Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 1502 of the Code, (ii) any Debt-for-Equity Exchange as a transfer of qualified property to creditors of Fortive in connection with the reorganization within the meaning of Section 361(c) of the Code and (iii) the transactions described on Schedule A as being free from Tax to the extent set forth therein.
Tax Item shall mean any item of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit.
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Tax Law shall mean the law of any Taxing Authority or political subdivision thereof relating to any Tax.
Tax Materials shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a).
Tax Opinion shall mean any written opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP or any other Law or accounting firm, regarding certain tax consequences of certain transactions executed as part of the Transactions.
Tax Records shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.
Tax-Related Losses shall mean with respect to any Taxes, (i) all accounting, legal and other professional fees, and court costs incurred in connection with such Taxes, as well as any other out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with such Taxes; and (ii) all costs, expenses and damages associated with stockholder litigation or controversies and any amount paid by Fortive (or any of its Affiliates) or Vontier (or any of its Affiliates) in respect of the liability of shareholders, whether paid to shareholders or to the IRS or any other Taxing Authority, in each case, resulting from the failure of the Transactions to qualify for the Tax-Free Status of the Transactions.
Tax Return shall mean any return, report, certificate, form or similar statement or document (including any related supporting information or schedule attached thereto and any information return, amended tax return, claim for refund or declaration of estimated tax) supplied to or filed with, or required to be supplied to or filed with, a Taxing Authority, or any bill for or notice related to ad valorem or other similar Taxes received from a Taxing Authority, in each case, in connection with the determination, assessment or collection of any Tax or the administration of any laws, regulations or administrative requirements relating to any Tax.
Taxing Authority shall mean any governmental authority or any subdivision, agency, commission or entity thereof or any quasi-governmental or private body having jurisdiction over the assessment, determination, collection or imposition of any Tax (including the IRS).
Transactions means the Separation, the Distribution, any Subsequent Distribution, any Debt-for-Equity Exchange and any related transactions.
Transaction Taxes shall mean all Taxes (including Taxes imposed on any member of the Fortive Group under Sections 951 or 951A of the Code, as determined by Fortive in its reasonable discretion) imposed on or with respect to the Transactions other than any Taxes resulting from the failure of the Transactions to qualify for the Tax-Free Status of the Transactions; provided, however, that Transaction Taxes shall not include any amounts for which Vontier has an indemnification obligation pursuant to Article V.
Treasury Regulations shall mean the regulations promulgated from time to time under the Code as in effect for the relevant tax period.
Unqualified Tax Opinion shall mean a will opinion, without substantive qualifications, of a nationally recognized Law or accounting firm, to the effect that a transaction will not affect the Tax-Free Status of the Transactions.
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Vontier shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Vontier Business shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Vontier Common Stock shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Vontier Contribution Payment shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Vontier Disqualifying Action means (a) any action (or the failure to take any action) by any member of the Vontier Group after the Distribution (including entering into any agreement, understanding or arrangement or any negotiations with respect to any transaction or series of transactions), (b) any event (or series of events) after the Distribution involving the capital stock of Vontier or any assets of any member of the Vontier Group or (c) any breach by any member of the Vontier Group after the Distribution of any representation, warranty or covenant made by them in this Agreement, that, in each case, would adversely affect the Tax-Free Status of the Transactions; provided, however, that the term Vontier Disqualifying Action shall not include any action entered into pursuant to any Ancillary Agreement (other than this Agreement) or that is undertaken pursuant to the Separation or the Distribution.
Vontier Group shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.
Vontier Separate Return shall mean any Tax Return of or including any member of the Vontier Group (including any consolidated, combined, or unitary return) that does not include any member of the Fortive Group.
ARTICLE II
PAYMENTS AND TAX REFUNDS
2.1 U.S. Federal Income Tax Relating to Joint Returns.
(a) Fortive shall pay and be responsible for any and all Federal Income Taxes due with respect to or required to be reported on any Joint Return (including any increase in such Tax as a result of a Final Determination) for all Pre-Distribution Periods.
(b) Vontier shall pay and be responsible for any and all Federal Income Taxes due with respect to or required to be reported on any Joint Return (including any increase in such Tax as a result of a Final Determination) which Taxes are attributable to the Vontier Business for all Post-Distribution Periods.
(c) Fortive shall pay and be responsible for any and all Federal Income Taxes due with respect to or required to be reported on any Joint Return (including any increase in such Tax as a result of a Final Determination) other than those Federal Income Taxes described in Section 2.1(b) for all Post-Distribution Periods.
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2.2 U.S. Federal Income Tax Relating to Separate Returns.
(a) Fortive shall pay and be responsible for any and all Federal Income Taxes due with respect to or required to be reported on any Fortive Separate Return (including any increase in such Tax as a result of a Final Determination) for all Tax periods.
(b) Vontier shall pay and be responsible for any and all Federal Income Taxes due with respect to or required to be reported on any Vontier Separate Return (including any increase in such Tax as a result of a Final Determination) for all Tax periods.
2.3 U.S. State Tax Relating to Joint Returns.
(a) Fortive shall pay and be responsible for any and all State Taxes due with respect to or required to be reported on any Joint Return (including any increase in such Tax as a result of a Final Determination) for all Pre-Distribution Periods.
(b) Vontier shall pay and be responsible for any and all State Taxes due with respect to or required to be reported on any Joint Return (including any increase in such Tax as a result of a Final Determination) which Taxes are attributable to the Vontier Business for all Post-Distribution Periods.
(c) Fortive shall pay and be responsible for any and all State Taxes due with respect to or required to be reported on any Joint Return (including any increase in such Tax as a result of a Final Determination) other than those State Taxes described in Section 2.3(b) for all Post-Distribution Periods.
2.4 U.S. State Tax Relating to Separate Returns.
(a) Fortive shall pay and be responsible for any and all State Taxes due with respect to or required to be reported on any Fortive Separate Return (including any increase in such Tax as a result of a Final Determination) for all Tax periods.
(b) Vontier shall pay and be responsible for any and all State Taxes due with respect to or required to be reported on any Vontier Separate Return (including any increase in such Tax as a result of a Final Determination) for all Tax periods.
2.5 Foreign Tax Relating to Joint Returns.
(a) Fortive shall pay and be responsible for any and all Foreign Taxes due with respect to or required to be reported on any Joint Return (including any increase in such Tax as a result of a Final Determination) for all Pre-Distribution Periods.
(b) Vontier shall pay and be responsible for any and all Foreign Taxes due with respect to or required to be reported on any Joint Return (including any increase in such Tax as a result of a Final Determination) which Taxes are attributable to the Vontier Business for all Post-Distribution Periods.
(c) Fortive shall pay and be responsible for any and all Foreign Taxes due with respect to or required to be reported on any Joint Return (including any increase in such Tax as a result of a Final Determination) other than those Foreign Taxes described in Section 2.5(b) for all Post-Distribution Periods.
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2.6 Foreign Tax Relating to Separate Returns.
(a) Fortive shall pay and be responsible for any and all Foreign Taxes due with respect to or required to be reported on any Fortive Separate Return (including any increase in such Tax as a result of a Final Determination) for all Tax periods.
(b) Vontier shall pay and be responsible for any and all Foreign Taxes due with respect to or required to be reported on any Vontier Separate Return (including any increase in such Tax as a result of a Final Determination) for all Tax periods.
2.7 Transaction Taxes. Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6, Fortive and Vontier each shall pay and be responsible for fifty percent (50%) of any Transaction Taxes, as reasonably determined by Fortive.
2.8 Determination of Tax Attributable to the Vontier Business.
(a) For purposes of Section 2.1(b), the amount of Federal Income Taxes attributable to the Vontier Business shall be reasonably determined by Fortive on a pro forma Vontier Group consolidated return prepared:
(i) including only Tax Items of members of the Vontier Group that were included in the relevant Fortive Federal Consolidated Income Tax Return;
(ii) except as provided in Section 2.8(a)(iv) hereof, using all elections, accounting methods and conventions used on the relevant Fortive Federal Consolidated Income Tax Return for such period;
(iii) applying the highest statutory marginal corporate income Tax rate in effect for such taxable period; and
(iv) assuming that the Vontier Group elects not to carry back any net operating losses.
(b) The amount of State Taxes and Foreign Taxes shall be as reasonably determined by Fortive in a manner consistent with the principles of Section 2.8(a), to the extent relevant.
2.9 Allocation of Employment Taxes. Liability for Employment Taxes shall be determined pursuant to the Employee Matters Agreement.
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2.10 Tax Refunds.
(a) Fortive shall be entitled to all Refunds related to Taxes the liability for which is allocated to Fortive pursuant to this Agreement. Vontier shall be entitled to all Refunds related to Taxes the liability for which is allocated to Vontier pursuant to this Agreement.
(b) Vontier shall pay to Fortive any Refund received by Vontier or any member of the Vontier Group that is allocable to Fortive pursuant to this Section 2.10 no later than five (5) Business Days after the receipt of such Refund. Fortive shall pay to Vontier any Refund received by Fortive or any member of the Fortive Group that is allocable to Vontier pursuant to this Section 2.10 no later than five (5) Business Days after the receipt of such Refund. For purposes of this Section 2.10, any Refund that arises as a result of an offset, credit, or other similar benefit in respect of Taxes other than a receipt of cash shall be deemed to be received on the earlier of (i) the date on which a Tax Return is filed claiming such offset, credit, or other similar benefit and (ii) the date on which payment of the Tax which would have otherwise been paid absent such offset, credit, or other similar benefit is due (determined without taking into account any applicable extensions).
2.11 Tax Benefits. If Fortive determines, in its reasonable discretion, that: (i) one Party is responsible for a Tax pursuant to this Agreement or under applicable Law and (ii) the other Party is entitled to a deduction, credit or other Tax benefit relating to such Tax, then the Party entitled to such deduction, credit or other Tax benefit shall pay to the Party responsible for such Tax the amount of the Tax benefit arising from such deduction, credit or other Tax benefit, as determined by Fortive in its good faith discretion.
2.12 Prior Agreements. Except as set forth in this Agreement and in consideration of the mutual indemnities and other obligations of this Agreement, any and all prior Tax sharing or allocation agreements or practices between any member of the Fortive Group and any member of the Vontier Group shall be terminated with respect to the Vontier Group and the Fortive Group as of the Distribution Date. No member of either the Vontier Group or the Fortive Group shall have any continuing rights or obligations under any such agreement.
ARTICLE III
PREPARATION AND FILING OF TAX RETURNS
3.1 Fortives Responsibility. Fortive shall prepare and file when due (taking into account any applicable extensions), or shall cause to be prepared and filed, all Joint Returns, all Tax Returns pursuant to which there is a claim to group relief by one or more members of the Vontier Group in respect of losses generated by one or more members of the Fortive Group, and all Fortive Separate Returns, including any amendments to such Tax Returns. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Joint Return, to the extent that any expenses related to a previously filed Joint Return for similar Taxes were customarily paid by a member of the Vontier Group, as determined by Fortive in its discretion, then any similar expenses shall be borne by Vontier, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any expenses related to the preparation of transfer pricing documentation.
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3.2 Vontiers Responsibility. Vontier shall prepare and file when due (taking into account any applicable extensions), or shall cause to be prepared and filed, all Tax Returns, including any amended Tax Returns, required to be filed by or with respect to members of the Vontier Group other than those Tax Returns which Fortive is required to prepare and file under Section 3.1. The Tax Returns required to be prepared and filed by Vontier under this Section 3.2 shall include any Vontier Separate Returns and any amended Vontier Separate Returns. For the avoidance of doubt, Vontier shall prepare any transfer pricing documentation required to be prepared with respect to a Tax Return required to be prepared and filed under this Section 3.2 and Fortive shall be entitled to review and comment on any such transfer pricing documentation in a manner consistent with Section 3.3.
3.3 Right To Review Tax Returns. To the extent that the positions taken on any Tax Return would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the Tax position of the Party other than the Party that is required to prepare and file any such Tax Return pursuant to Section 3.1 or 3.2 (the Reviewing Party), the Party required to prepare and file such Tax Return (the Preparing Party) shall prepare the portions of such Tax Return that relates to the business of the Reviewing Party (the Fortive Retained Business or the Vontier Business, as the case may be), shall provide a draft of such portion of such Tax Return to the Reviewing Party for its review and comment at least thirty (30) days prior to the due date for such Tax Return, and shall modify such portion of such Tax Return before filing to include the Reviewing Partys reasonable comments.
3.4 Cooperation. The Parties shall provide, and shall cause their Affiliates to provide, assistance and cooperation to one another in accordance with Article VII with respect to the preparation and filing of Tax Returns, including providing information required to be provided under Article VIII. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Fortive shall not be required to disclose to Vontier any consolidated, combined, unitary, or other similar Joint Return of which a member of the Fortive Group is the common parent or any information related to such a Joint Return other than information relating solely to the Vontier Group; provided, that Fortive shall provide such additional information that is reasonably required in order for Vontier to determine the Taxes attributable to the Vontier Business. If an amended Separate Return for State Taxes for which Vontier is responsible under this Article III is required to be filed as a result of an amendment made to a Joint Return for Federal Income Tax pursuant to an audit adjustment, then the Parties shall cooperate to ensure that such amended Separate Return can be prepared and filed in a manner that preserves confidential information including through the use of third party preparers.
3.5 Tax Reporting Practices. Except as provided in Section 3.6, with respect to any Tax Return for any taxable period that begins on or before the second anniversary of the Distribution Date with respect to which Vontier is the Responsible Party, such Tax Return shall be prepared in a manner (i) consistent with past practices, accounting methods, elections and conventions (Past Practices) used with respect to the Tax Returns in question (unless there is no Reasonable Basis for the use of such Past Practices), and to the extent any items are not covered by Past Practices (or in the event that there is no Reasonable Basis for the use of such Past Practices), in accordance with reasonable Tax accounting practices selected by Vontier; and (ii) that, to the extent consistent with clause (i), minimizes the overall amount of Taxes due and payable on such Tax Return for all of the Parties by cooperating in making such elections or applications for group or other relief or allowances available in the taxing jurisdiction in which such Tax Return is filed. Vontier shall not take any action inconsistent with the assumptions
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made (including with respect to any Tax Item) in determining all estimated or advance payments of Taxes on or prior to the Distribution Date. In addition, Vontier shall not be permitted, and shall not permit any member of the Vontier Group, without Fortives prior written consent, to make a change in any of its methods of accounting for Tax purposes until all applicable statutes of limitations for all Pre-Distribution Periods have expired.
3.6 Reporting of Separation. The Tax treatment of any step in or portion of the Transactions shall be reported on each applicable Tax Return consistently with the Tax-Free Status of the Transactions, taking into account the jurisdiction in which such Tax Returns are filed, unless there is no Reasonable Basis for such Tax treatment. In the event that a Party shall determine that there is no Reasonable Basis for such Tax treatment, such Party shall notify the other Party no later than twenty (20) Business Days prior to filing the relevant Tax Return and the Parties shall attempt in good faith to agree on the manner in which the relevant portion of the Transactions shall be reported. If Fortive determines, in its sole discretion, that a protective election under Section 336(e) of the Code shall be made with respect to the Distribution, Vontier agrees to take any such action that is necessary to effect such election, including any corresponding election with respect to any of its Subsidiaries, as determined by Fortive. If such a protective election is made, this Agreement shall be amended in such a manner as is determined by Fortive in its good faith discretion to compensate Fortive for any Tax benefits realized by Vontier as a result of such election.
3.7 Payment of Taxes.
(a) With respect to any Tax Return required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement, the Responsible Party shall remit or cause to be remitted to the applicable Taxing Authority in a timely manner any Taxes due in respect of any such Tax Return.
(b) In the case of any Tax Return for which the Party that is not the Responsible Party is obligated pursuant to this Agreement to pay all or a portion of the Taxes reported as due on such Tax Return, the Responsible Party shall notify the other Party, in writing, of its obligation to pay such Taxes and, in reasonably sufficient detail, its calculation of the amount due by such other Party and the Party receiving such notice shall pay such amount to the Responsible Party upon the later of five (5) Business Days prior to the date on which such payment is due and fifteen (15) Business Days after the receipt of such notice.
(c) With respect to any estimated Taxes, the Party that is or will be the Responsible Party with respect to any Tax Return that will reflect (or otherwise give credit for) such estimated Taxes shall remit or cause to be remitted to the applicable Taxing Authority in a timely manner any estimated Taxes due. In the case of any estimated Taxes for which the Party that is not the Responsible Party is obligated pursuant to this Agreement to pay all or a portion of the Taxes that will be reported as due on any Tax Return that will reflect (or otherwise give credit for) such estimated Taxes, the Responsible Party shall notify the other Party, in writing, of its obligation to pay such estimated Taxes and, in reasonably sufficient detail, its calculation of the amount due by such other Party and the Party receiving such notice shall pay such amount to the Responsible Party upon the later of five (5) Business Days prior to the date on which such payment is due and fifteen (15) Business Days after the receipt of such notice.
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3.8 Amended Returns and Carrybacks.
(a) Vontier shall not, and shall not permit any member of the Vontier Group to, file or allow to be filed any request for an Adjustment for any Pre-Distribution Period without the prior written consent of Fortive, such consent to be exercised in Fortives sole discretion.
(b) Vontier shall, and shall cause each member of the Vontier Group to, make any available elections to waive the right to carry back any Tax Attribute from a Post-Distribution Period to a Pre-Distribution Period.
(c) Vontier shall not, and shall cause each member of the Vontier Group not to, without the prior written consent of Fortive, make any affirmative election to carry back any Tax Attribute from a Post-Distribution Period to a Pre-Distribution Period, such consent to be exercised in Fortives sole discretion.
(d) Receipt of consent by Vontier or a member of the Vontier Group from Fortive pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.8 shall not limit or modify Vontiers continuing indemnification obligation pursuant to Article V.
3.9 Tax Attributes. Fortive shall in good faith advise Vontier in writing of the amount (if any) of any Tax Attributes, which Fortive determines, in its good faith discretion, shall be allocated or apportioned to the Vontier Group under applicable Law. Vontier and all members of the Vontier Group shall prepare all Tax Returns in accordance with such written notice. Vontier agrees that it shall not dispute Fortives determination of Tax Attributes. For the avoidance of doubt, Fortive shall not be required in order to comply with this Section 3.9 to create or cause to be created any books and records or reports or other documents based thereon (including, without limitation, earnings & profits studies, basis studies or similar determinations) that it does not maintain or prepare in the ordinary course of business.
ARTICLE IV
TAX-FREE STATUS OF THE DISTRIBUTION
4.1 Representations and Warranties.
(a) Fortive, on behalf of itself and all other members of the Fortive Group, hereby represents and warrants that (i) it has examined the IRS Ruling Request, the Tax Opinion, the Tax Certificates and any other materials delivered or deliverable in connection with the issuance of any IRS Ruling and the rendering of the Tax Opinion, in each case, as they exist as of the date hereof (collectively, the Tax Materials) and (ii) the facts presented and representations made therein, to the extent descriptive of or otherwise relating to Fortive or any member of the Fortive Group or the Fortive Retained Business, were, at the time presented or represented and from such time until and including the Distribution Date, true, correct, and complete in all material respects. Fortive, on behalf of itself and all other members of the Fortive Group, hereby confirms and agrees to comply with any and all covenants and agreements in the Tax Materials applicable to Fortive or any member of the Fortive Group or the Fortive Retained Business.
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(b) Vontier, on behalf of itself and all other members of the Vontier Group, hereby represents and warrants that (i) it has examined the Tax Materials and (ii) the facts presented and representations made therein, to the extent descriptive of or otherwise relating to Vontier or any member of the Vontier Group or the Vontier Business, were or will be, at the time presented or represented and from such time until and including the Distribution Date, true, correct, and complete in all material respects. Vontier, on behalf of itself and all other members of the Vontier Group, hereby confirms and agrees to comply with any and all covenants and agreements in the Tax Materials applicable to Vontier or any member of the Vontier Group or the Vontier Business.
(c) Each of Fortive, on behalf of itself and all other members of the Fortive Group, and Vontier, on behalf of itself and all other members of the Vontier Group, represents and warrants that it knows of no fact (after due inquiry) that may cause the Tax treatment of the Transactions to be other than the Tax-Free Status of the Transactions.
(d) Each of Fortive, on behalf of itself and all other members of the Fortive Group, and Vontier, on behalf of itself and all other members of the Vontier Group represents and warrants that it has no plan or intent to take any action which is inconsistent with any statements or representations made in the Tax Materials.
4.2 Restrictions Relating to the Distribution.
(a) Vontier, on behalf of itself and all other members of the Vontier Group, hereby covenants and agrees that no member of the Vontier Group will take, fail to take, or permit to be taken: (i) any action where such action or failure to act would be inconsistent with or cause to be untrue any statement, information, covenant or representation in the Tax Materials or (ii) any action which constitutes a Vontier Disqualifying Action.
(b) During the Restricted Period, Vontier:
(i) shall continue and cause to be continued the active conduct of the Vontier Business for purposes of Section 355(b)(2) of the Code, taking into account Section 355(b)(3) of the Code, as conducted immediately prior to the Distribution,
(ii) shall not voluntarily dissolve or liquidate itself or any of its Affiliates (including any action that is a liquidation for U.S. federal income tax purposes),
(iii) shall not (1) enter into any Proposed Acquisition Transaction or, to the extent Vontier has the right to prohibit any Proposed Acquisition Transaction, permit any Proposed Acquisition Transaction to occur, (2) redeem or otherwise repurchase (directly or through an Affiliate) any stock, or rights to acquire stock except to the extent such repurchases satisfy Section 4.05(1)(b) of Revenue Procedure 96-30 (as in effect prior to the amendment of such Revenue Procedure by Revenue Procedure 2003-48), (3) amend its certificate of incorporation (or other organizational documents), or take any other action, whether through a stockholder vote or otherwise, affecting the relative
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voting rights of its capital stock (including through the conversion of any capital stock into another class of capital stock), (4) merge or consolidate with any other Person or (5) take any other action or actions (including any action or transaction that would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with any representation made in the Tax Materials) which in the aggregate would, when combined with any other direct or indirect changes in ownership of Vontier capital stock pertinent for purposes of Section 355(e) of the Code, have the effect of causing or permitting one or more Persons (whether or not acting in concert) to acquire directly or indirectly stock representing a fifty percent (50%) or greater interest in Vontier or would reasonably be expected to result in a failure to preserve the Tax-Free Status of the Transactions; and
(iv) shall not and shall not permit any member of the Vontier Group, to sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of or agree to, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose (including in any transaction treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a sale, transfer or disposition) of assets (including, any shares of capital stock of a Subsidiary) that, in the aggregate, constitute more than twenty (20%) of the consolidated gross assets of Vontier or the Vontier Group. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (1) sales, transfers, or dispositions of assets in the ordinary course of business, (2) any cash paid to acquire assets from an unrelated Person in an arms-length transaction, (3) any assets transferred to a Person that is disregarded as an entity separate from the transferor for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (4) any mandatory or optional repayment (or pre-payment) of any indebtedness of Vontier or any member of the Vontier Group. The percentages of gross assets or consolidated gross assets of Vontier or the Vontier Group, as the case may be, sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of, shall be based on the fair market value of the gross assets of Vontier and the members of the Vontier Group as of the Distribution Date. For purposes of this Section 4.2(b)(iv), a merger of Vontier or one of its Subsidiaries with and into any Person that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary of Vontier shall constitute a disposition of all of the assets of Vontier or such Subsidiary.
(c) Notwithstanding the restrictions imposed by Section 4.2(a) and (b), Vontier or a member of the Vontier Group may take any of the actions or transactions described therein if Vontier either (i) obtains an Unqualified Tax Opinion in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Fortive or (ii) obtains the prior written consent of Fortive waiving the requirement that Vontier obtain an Unqualified Tax Opinion, such waiver to be provided in Fortives sole and absolute discretion. Fortives evaluation of an Unqualified Tax Opinion may consider, among other factors, the appropriateness of any underlying assumptions, representations, and covenants made in connection with such opinion. Vontier shall bear all costs and expenses of securing any such Unqualified Tax Opinion and shall reimburse Fortive for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that Fortive or any of its Affiliates may incur in good faith in seeking to obtain or evaluate any such Unqualified Tax Opinion. Neither the delivery of an Unqualified Tax Opinion nor Fortives waiver of Vontiers obligation to deliver an Unqualified Tax Opinion shall limit or modify Vontiers continuing indemnification obligation pursuant to Article V.
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ARTICLE V
INDEMNITY OBLIGATIONS
5.1 Indemnity Obligations.
(a) Fortive shall indemnify and hold harmless Vontier from and against, and will reimburse Vontier for, (i) all liability for Taxes allocated to Fortive pursuant to Article II, (ii) all Taxes and Tax-Related Losses arising out of, based upon, or relating or attributable to any breach of or inaccuracy in, or failure to perform, as applicable, any representation, covenant, or obligation of any member of the Fortive Group pursuant to this Agreement and (iii) the amount of any Refund received by any member of the Fortive Group that is allocated to Vontier pursuant to Section 2.10(a).
(b) Without regard to whether an Unqualified Tax Opinion may have been provided or whether any action is permitted or consented to hereunder and notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained herein, Vontier shall indemnify and hold harmless Fortive from and against, and will reimburse Fortive for, (i) all liability for Taxes allocated to Vontier pursuant to Article II, (ii) all Taxes and Tax-Related Losses arising out of, based upon, or relating or attributable to any breach of or inaccuracy in, or failure to perform, as applicable, any representation, covenant, or obligation of any member of the Vontier Group pursuant to this Agreement, (iii) the amount of any Refund received by any member of the Vontier Group that is allocated to Fortive pursuant to Section 2.10(a), (iv) any Distribution Taxes and Tax-Related Losses attributable to a Vontier Disqualifying Action (regardless of whether the conditions set forth in Section 4.2(c) are satisfied) and (v) any Taxes incurred by one or more members of the Fortive Group arising from or attributable to the disallowance of losses generated by one or more members of the Vontier Group in respect of which one or more members of the Fortive Group has made a claim to group relief.
(c) To the extent that any Tax or Tax-Related Loss is subject to indemnity pursuant to both Sections 5.1(a) and 5.1(b), responsibility for such Tax or Tax-Related Loss shall be shared by Fortive and Vontier according to relative fault as determined by Fortive in its good faith discretion.
5.2 Indemnification Payments.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, if either Party (the Indemnitee) is required to pay to a Taxing Authority a Tax or to another Person a payment in respect of a Tax that the other Party (the Indemnifying Party) is liable for under this Agreement, including as the result of a Final Determination, the Indemnitee shall notify the Indemnifying Party, in writing, of its obligation to pay such Tax and, in reasonably sufficient detail, its calculation of the amount due by such Indemnifying Party to the Indemnitee, including any Tax-Related Losses attributable thereto. The Indemnifying Party shall pay such amount, including any Tax-Related Losses attributable thereto, to the Indemnitee no later than the later of (i) five (5) Business Days prior to the date on which such payment is due to the applicable Taxing Authority or (ii) fifteen (15) Business Days after the receipt of notice from the other Party.
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(b) If, as a result of any change or redetermination, any amount previously allocated to and borne by one Party pursuant to the provisions of Article II is thereafter allocated to the other Party, then, no later than five (5) Business Days after such change or redetermination, such other Party shall pay to such Party the amount previously borne by such Party which is allocated to such other Party as a result of such change or redetermination.
5.3 Payment Mechanics.
(a) All payments under this Agreement shall be made by Fortive directly to Vontier and by Vontier directly to Fortive; provided, however, that if the Parties mutually agree with respect to any such indemnification payment, any member of the Fortive Group, on the one hand, may make such indemnification payment to any member of the Vontier Group, on the other hand, and vice versa. All indemnification payments shall be treated in the manner described in Section 5.4.
(b) In the case of any payment of Taxes made by a Responsible Party or Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement for which such Responsible Party or Indemnitee, as the case may be, has received a payment from the other Party, such Responsible Party or Indemnitee shall provide to the other Party a copy of any official government receipt received with respect to the payment of such Taxes to the applicable Taxing Authority (or, if no such official governmental receipts are available, executed bank payment forms or other reasonable evidence of payment).
5.4 Treatment of Payments. The Parties agree that any payment made among the Parties pursuant to this Agreement shall be treated, to the extent permitted by Law, for all U.S. federal income tax purposes as either (i) a non-taxable contribution by Fortive to Vontier or (ii) a distribution by Vontier to Fortive, and, with respect to any payment made among the Parties pursuant to this Agreement after the Distribution, such payment shall be treated as having been made immediately prior to the Distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Fortive shall notify Vontier if it determines that any payment made pursuant to this Agreement is to be treated, for any Tax purposes, as a payment made by one Party acting as an agent of one of such Partys Subsidiaries to the other Party acting as an agent of one of such other Partys Subsidiaries, and the Parties agree to treat any such payment accordingly.
ARTICLE VI
TAX CONTESTS
6.1 Notice. Each Party shall notify the other Party in writing within ten (10) days after receipt by such Party or any member of its Group of a written communication from any Taxing Authority with respect to any pending or threatened audit, claim, dispute, suit, action, proposed assessment or other proceeding (a Tax Contest) concerning any Taxes for which the other Party may be liable pursuant to this Agreement, and thereafter shall promptly forward or make available to such Party copies of notices and communications relating to such Tax Contest.
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6.2 Separate Returns. In the case of any Tax Contest with respect to any Separate Return, the Party having the liability for the Tax pursuant to Article II hereof shall have the sole responsibility and right to control the prosecution of such Tax Contest, including the exclusive right to communicate with agents of the applicable Taxing Authority and to control, resolve, settle, or agree to any deficiency, claim or adjustment proposed, asserted or assessed in connection with or as a result of such Tax Contest.
6.3 Joint Return. In the case of any Tax Contest with respect to any Joint Return, Fortive shall have the sole responsibility and right to control the prosecution of such Tax Contest, including the exclusive right to communicate with agents of the applicable Taxing Authority and to control, resolve, settle or agree to any deficiency, claim or adjustment proposed, asserted, or assessed in connection with or as a result of such Tax Contest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent a portion of any such Tax Contest with respect to a Joint Return with respect to Foreign Taxes relates to a matter which was customarily controlled by a member of the Vontier Group, as determined by Fortive in its sole discretion, then Fortive may elect that Vontier shall be responsible for conduct of such portion of such Tax Contest and any expenses related thereto, including expenses relating to supporting transfer pricing analysis.
6.4 Obligation of Continued Notice. During the pendency of any Tax Contest or threatened Tax Contest, each of the Parties shall provide prompt notice to the other Party of any written communication received by it or a member of its respective Group from a Taxing Authority regarding any Tax Contest for which it is indemnified by the other Party hereunder or for which it may be required to indemnify the other Party hereunder. Such notice shall attach copies of the pertinent portion of any written communication from a Taxing Authority and contain factual information (to the extent known) describing any asserted Tax liability in reasonable detail and shall be accompanied by copies of any notice and other documents received from any Taxing Authority in respect of any such matters. Such notice shall be provided in a reasonably timely fashion; provided, however, that in the event that timely notice is not provided, a Party shall be relieved of its obligation to indemnify the other Party only to the extent that such delay results in actual increased costs or actual prejudice to such other Party.
6.5 Settlement Rights. Unless waived by the Parties in writing, in connection with any potential adjustment in a Tax Contest as a result of which adjustment the Non-Controlling Party may reasonably be expected to become liable to make any indemnification payment to the Controlling Party under this Agreement: (i) the Controlling Party shall keep the Non-Controlling Party informed in a timely manner of all actions taken or proposed to be taken by the Controlling Party with respect to such potential adjustment in such Tax Contest; (ii) the Controlling Party shall timely provide the Non-Controlling Party with copies of any correspondence or filings submitted to any Tax Authority or judicial authority in connection with such potential adjustment in such Tax Contest; and (iii) the Controlling Party shall defend such Tax Contest diligently and in good faith. The failure of the Controlling Party to take any action specified in the preceding sentence with respect to the Non-Controlling Party shall not relieve the Non-Controlling Party of any liability and/or obligation which it may have to the Controlling Party under this Agreement, and in no event shall such failure relieve the Non-Controlling Party from any other liability or obligation which it may have to the Controlling Party.
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ARTICLE VII
COOPERATION
7.1 General.
(a) Each Party shall fully cooperate, and shall cause all members of such Partys Group to fully cooperate, with all reasonable requests in writing from the other Party, or from an agent, representative or advisor to such Party, in connection with the preparation and filing of any Tax Return, claims for Refunds, the conduct of any Tax Contest, and calculations of amounts required to be paid pursuant to this Agreement, in each case, related or attributable to or arising in connection with Taxes of either Party or any member of either Partys Group covered by this Agreement and the establishment of any reserve required in connection with any financial reporting (a Tax Matter). Such cooperation shall include the provision of any information reasonably necessary or helpful in connection with a Tax Matter and shall include, without limitation, at each Partys own cost:
(i) the provision of any Tax Returns of either Party or any member of either Partys Group, books, records (including information regarding ownership and Tax basis of property), documentation and other information relating to such Tax Returns, including accompanying schedules, related work papers, and documents relating to rulings or other determinations by Taxing Authorities;
(ii) the execution of any document (including any power of attorney) in connection with any Tax Contest of either Party or any member of either Partys Group, or the filing of a Tax Return or a Refund claim of either Party or any member of either Partys Group;
(iii) the use of the Partys reasonable best efforts to obtain any documentation in connection with a Tax Matter; and
(iv) the use of the Partys reasonable best efforts to obtain any Tax Returns (including accompanying schedules, related work papers, and documents), documents, books, records or other information in connection with the filing of any Tax Returns of any of either Party or any member of either Partys Group.
Each Party shall make its employees and facilities available, without charge, on a mutually convenient basis to facilitate such cooperation.
7.2 Consistent Treatment. Unless and until there has been a Final Determination to the contrary, each Party agrees not to take any position on any Tax Return, in connection with any Tax Contest or otherwise that is inconsistent with (a) the treatment of payments between the Fortive Group and the Vontier Group as set forth in Section 5.4, (b) the Tax Materials or (c) the Tax-Free Status of the Transactions.
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ARTICLE VIII
RETENTION OF RECORDS; ACCESS
8.1 Retention of Records. For so long as the contents thereof may become material in the administration of any matter under applicable Tax Law, but in any event until the later of (i) sixty (60) days after the expiration of any applicable statutes of limitation (including any waivers or extensions thereof) and (ii) seven (7) years after the Distribution Date, the Parties shall retain records, documents, accounting data and other information (including computer data) necessary for the preparation and filing of all Tax Returns (collectively, Tax Records) in respect of Taxes of any member of either the Fortive Group or the Vontier Group for any Pre-Distribution Period or Post-Distribution Period or for any Tax Contests relating to such Tax Returns. At any time after the Distribution Date when the Fortive Group proposes to destroy any Tax Records, Fortive shall first notify Vontier in writing and the Vontier Group shall be entitled to receive such records or documents proposed to be destroyed. At any time after the Distribution Date when the Vontier Group proposes to destroy any Tax Records, Vontier shall first notify Fortive in writing and the Fortive Group shall be entitled to receive such records or documents proposed to be destroyed. The Parties will notify each other in writing of any waivers or extensions of the applicable statute of limitations that may affect the period for which the foregoing records or other documents must be retained.
8.2 Access to Tax Records. The Parties and their respective Affiliates shall make available to each other for inspection and copying during normal business hours upon reasonable notice all Tax Records (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any pertinent underlying data accessed or stored on any computer program or information technology system) in their possession and shall permit the other Party and its Affiliates, authorized agents and representatives and any representative of a Taxing Authority or other Tax auditor direct access, during normal business hours upon reasonable notice to any computer program or information technology system used to access or store any Tax Records, in each case to the extent reasonably required by the other Party in connection with the preparation of Tax Returns or financial accounting statements, audits, litigation, or the resolution of items pursuant to this Agreement. The Party seeking access to the records of the other Party shall bear all costs and expenses associated with such access, including any professional fees.
ARTICLE IX
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
9.1 Dispute Resolution. In the event of any dispute between the Parties as to any matter covered by this Agreement, the Parties shall appoint a nationally recognized independent public accounting firm (the Accounting Firm) to resolve such dispute. In this regard, the Accounting Firm shall make determinations with respect to the disputed items based solely on representations made by Fortive, Vontier and their respective representatives, and not by independent review, and shall function only as an expert and not as an arbitrator and shall be required to make a determination in favor of one Party only. The Parties shall require the Accounting Firm to resolve all disputes no later than thirty (30) days after the submission of such dispute to the Accounting Firm, but in no event later than the due date for the payment of Taxes
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or the filing of the applicable Tax Return, if applicable, and agree that all decisions by the Accounting Firm with respect thereto shall be final and conclusive and binding on the Parties. The Accounting Firm shall resolve all disputes in a manner consistent with this Agreement and, to the extent not inconsistent with this Agreement, in a manner consistent with the Past Practices of Fortive and its Subsidiaries, except as otherwise required by applicable Law. The Parties shall require the Accounting Firm to render all determinations in writing and to set forth, in reasonable detail, the basis for such determination. The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne equally by the Parties.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
10.1 Conflicting Agreements. In the event and to the extent that there shall be a conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the Separation Agreement, this Agreement shall control with respect to the subject matter thereof.
10.2 Interest on Late Payments. With respect to any payment between the Parties pursuant to this Agreement not made by the due date set forth in this Agreement for such payment, the outstanding amount will accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate in effect for underpayments under Section 6621 of the Code from such due date to and including the payment date.
10.3 Successors. This Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of any successor by merger, acquisition of assets, or otherwise, to any of the parties hereto, to the same extent as if such successor had been an original party to this Agreement.
10.4 Application to Present and Future Subsidiaries. This Agreement is being entered into by Fortive and Vontier on behalf of themselves and the members of their respective Group. This Agreement shall constitute a direct obligation of each such Party and shall be deemed to have been readopted and affirmed on behalf of any entity that becomes a Subsidiary of Fortive or Vontier in the future.
10.5 Assignability. This Agreement shall not be assigned by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Party hereto, except that each Party may assign its respective rights or delegate its respective obligations under this Agreement to any Affiliate of such Party; provided, however, that in connection with each such assignment or delegation, the assigning Party provides a guarantee to the non-assigning Party for any liability or obligation assigned or delegated pursuant to this Section 10.5; provided, further, that Vontier shall only be entitled to assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Agreement with the prior written consent of Fortive.
10.6 No Fiduciary Relationship. The duties and obligations of the Parties, and their respective successors and permitted assigns, contained herein are the extent of the duties and obligations contemplated by this Agreement; nothing in this Agreement is intended to create a fiduciary relationship between the Parties hereto, or any of their successors and permitted assigns, or create any relationship or obligations other than those explicitly described.
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10.7 Further Assurances. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Parties hereto shall make, execute, acknowledge and deliver such other instruments and documents, and take all such other actions, as may be reasonably required in order to effectuate the purposes of this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
10.8 Survival. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, all representations, covenants and obligations contained in this Agreement shall survive until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations with respect to any such matter (including extensions thereof).
10.9 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands or other communications under this Agreement shall be in English, shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, by email (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) or by facsimile with receipt confirmed (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10.9):
If to Fortive, to:
Fortive Corporation
6920 Seaway Blvd.
Everett, WA 98203
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (425) 446-5007
E-mail: Peter.Underwood@fortive.com
with a copy to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
One Manhattan West
New York, NY 10001
Attn: Gavin A. White
Facsimile: (917) 777-3418
Email: Gavin.White@skadden.com
If to Vontier, to:
Vontier Corporation
5420 Wade Park Boulevard, Suite 206
Raleigh, NC 27607
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (336) 292-8871
E-mail: Katie.rowen@vontier.com
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Any Party may, by notice to the other Party, change the address to which such notices are to be given.
10.10 Distribution Date. This Agreement shall become effective only upon the Distribution Date.
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
FORTIVE CORPORATION | ||
By: |
/s/ Rajesh Yadava |
|
Name: Rajesh Yadava | ||
Title: Vice President, Treasurer | ||
VONTIER CORPORATION | ||
By: |
/s/ Kathryn K. Rowen |
|
Name: Kathryn K. Rowen | ||
Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel |
[Tax Matters Agreement Signature Page]
Exhibit 10.3
EXECUTION VERSION
TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT
by and between
FORTIVE CORPORATION
and
VONTIER CORPORATION
Dated as of October 8, 2020
This TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of October 8, 2020, is entered into by and between Fortive Corporation (Fortive), a Delaware corporation, and Vontier Corporation (Vontier), a Delaware corporation. Party or Parties means Fortive or Vontier, individually or collectively, as the case may be.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Parties have entered into that certain Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the Separation Agreement); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Separation Agreement, certain services are to continue to be provided by the Fortive Group to the Vontier Group and by the Vontier Group to the Fortive Group after the Distribution Date upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Certain Defined Terms.
(a) Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein shall have the same meanings as in the Separation Agreement.
(b) The following capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth below:
Force Majeure means, with respect to a Party, an event beyond the reasonable control of such Party, including acts of God, storms, floods, pandemics, riots, fires, sabotage, civil commotion or civil unrest, interference by civil or military authorities, acts of war (declared or undeclared) or armed hostilities or other national or international calamity or one or more acts of terrorism or failure or interruption of networks or energy sources.
Fortive Provider means Fortive or a Provider that is a member of the Fortive Group.
Prime Rate means the rate last quoted as of the time of determination by The Wall Street Journal as the Prime Rate in the United States or, if the Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the bank prime loan rate as of such time, or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by Fortive) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by Fortive).
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Provider means the Party or its Affiliates providing a Service or access to a Facility under this Agreement.
Recipient means the Party to whom a Service or access to a Facility is being provided under this Agreement.
Virus(es) means any computer instructions (i) that have a material adverse effect on the operation, security or integrity of a computing telecommunications or other digital operating or processing system or environment, including other programs, data, databases, computer libraries and computer and communications equipment, by altering, destroying, disrupting or inhibiting such operation, security or integrity; (ii) that without functional purpose, self-replicate without manual intervention; or (iii) that purport to perform a useful function but which actually perform either a destructive or harmful function, or perform no useful function and utilize substantial computer, telecommunications or memory resources.
Vontier Provider means Vontier or a Provider that is a member of the Vontier Group.
ARTICLE II
SERVICES, ACCESS TO FACILITIES AND DURATION
Section 2.01 Services. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Fortive shall provide (or cause to be provided) to the Vontier Group all of the services listed in Schedule 2.01-1 attached hereto (as such Schedule may be amended pursuant to Section 2.04, the Fortive Provided Services). Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Vontier shall provide (or cause to be provided) to the Fortive Group all of the services listed in Schedule 2.01-2 attached hereto (as such Schedule may be amended pursuant to Section 2.04, the Vontier Provided Services, and collectively with the Fortive Provided Services and any Additional Services, the Services).
Section 2.02 Access to Facilities. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Fortive shall provide (or cause to be provided) to the Vontier Group access to the facilities, equipment and software listed in Schedule 2.02-1 attached hereto (as such Schedule may be amended pursuant to Section 2.04, the Fortive Provided Facilities). Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Vontier shall provide (or cause to be provided) to the Fortive Group access to the facilities, equipment and software listed in Schedule 2.02-2 attached hereto (as such Schedule may be amended pursuant to Section 2.04, the Vontier Provided Facilities, and collectively with the Fortive Provided Facilities and any Additional Facilities, the Facilities).
Section 2.03 Duration of Services and Access to Facilities. Subject to Section 6.01 hereof, each of Fortive and Vontier shall provide or cause to be provided to the respective Recipients each Service or access to each Facility until the expiration of the period set forth next to such Service or Facility on the applicable Schedules hereto or, if no such period is provided with respect to a particular Service or Facility on such Schedules, on the second (2nd) anniversary of the Distribution Date (the Term); provided, however, to the extent that a Fortive Providers
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ability to provide a Fortive Provided Service or access to a Fortive Provided Facility, as the case may be, is dependent on the continuation of either a Vontier Provided Service or access to a Vontier Provided Facility, as the case may be, Fortives obligation to provide, or cause to be provided, such Fortive Provided Service or access to such Fortive Provided Facility shall terminate automatically with the termination of such supporting Vontier Provided Service or access to such supporting Vontier Provided Facility; provided, further, to the extent that a Vontier Providers ability to provide a Vontier Provided Service or access to a Vontier Provided Facility, as the case may be, is dependent on the continuation of either a Fortive Provided Service or access to a Fortive Provided Facility, as the case may be, Vontiers obligation to provide, or cause to be provided, such Vontier Provided Service or access to such Vontier Provided Facility shall terminate automatically with the termination of such supporting Fortive Provided Service or access to such supporting Fortive Provided Facility.
Section 2.04 Additional Services and Access to Additional Facilities. If, within four (4) months after the Distribution Date, Fortive or Vontier (or the Fortive Transition Manager or Vontier Transition Manager, as applicable) identifies a service that (a) the Fortive Group provided to the Vontier Group during the one (1)-year period prior to the Distribution Date that the Vontier Group reasonably needs in order for the Vontier Business to continue to operate in substantially the same manner in which the Vontier Business operated prior to the Distribution Date, and such service was not included in Schedule 2.01-1 (other than because the Parties agreed such services shall not be provided), or (b) the Vontier Group provided to the Fortive Group prior to the Distribution Date that the Fortive Group reasonably needs in order for the Fortive Group to continue to operate their businesses other than the Vontier Business (the Fortive Business) in substantially the same manner in which such businesses operated prior to the Distribution Date, and such service was not included in Schedule 2.01-2 (other than because the Parties agreed such services shall not be provided), and in each case (i) such service is not an Excluded Service and (ii) the proposed Recipient of such service is unable to reasonably obtain such service from a Third Party, then, in each case, Vontier and Fortive shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide, or cause to be provided, such requested services (such additional services, the Additional Services). If, within four (4) months after the Distribution Date, Fortive or Vontier identifies access to additional facilities, equipment or software that (x) the Fortive Group provided to the Vontier Group during the one (1)-year period prior to the Distribution Date that the Vontier Group reasonably needs in order for the Vontier Business to continue to operate in substantially the same manner in which the Vontier Business operated prior to the Distribution Date, and such access was not included in Schedule 2.02-1 (other than because the Parties agreed such access shall not be provided), or (y) the Vontier Group provided to Fortive or its Affiliates prior to the Distribution Date that the Fortive Group reasonably needs in order for the Fortive Business to continue to operate in substantially the same manner in which the Fortive Business operated prior to the Distribution Date, and such access was not included in Schedule 2.02-2 (other than because the Parties agreed such access shall not be provided), and in each case the proposed Recipient of such facilities, equipment or software is unable to reasonably obtain such service from a Third Party, then, in each case, Vontier and Fortive shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide such requested access (such additional facilities, equipment and software, the Additional Facilities). Unless specifically agreed in writing to the contrary, the Parties shall amend the appropriate Schedule in writing to include such Additional Services or access to Additional Facilities (including the termination date with respect to such services, which, for clarity, shall be no later than the end of the Term) and such Additional
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Services or access to Additional Facilities shall be deemed Services or access to Facilities, respectively, hereunder, and accordingly, the Party requested to provide such Additional Services or access to Additional Facilities shall provide such Additional Services or access to Additional Facilities, or cause such Additional Services or access to Additional Facilities to be provided, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Section 2.05 Exception to Obligation to Provide Services or Access to Facilities; Excluded Services.
(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, including Fortives and Vontiers obligations set forth in Section 2.01 hereof, the relevant Providers shall not be obligated to (and neither Fortive nor Vontier shall be obligated to cause any Provider to) provide any Services or access to any Facilities if the provision of such Services or access to such Facilities would violate any Law or any Contract to which Fortive, Vontier, any of Fortives or Vontiers Affiliates or any of the Providers are subject; provided, however, that Fortive and Vontier shall comply with Section 7.02 in obtaining any Consents necessary to provide such Services or access to such Facilities.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Services shall in no event include those services set forth on Schedule 2.05(b) (the Excluded Services).
Section 2.06 Standard of the Provision of Services or Access to Facilities. The provision of Services and access to Facilities shall be provided in the manner and at a level substantially consistent with that provided by the Providers immediately preceding the Distribution Date. All of the Fortive Provided Services and Fortive Provided Facilities shall be for the sole use and benefit of Vontier Group, and all of the Vontier Provided Services and Vontier Provided Facilities shall be for the sole use and benefit of the Fortive Group; provided that nothing in this Section 2.06 is intended to limit a Providers access to or use of its own Facilities except as may be set forth in the applicable Schedule 2.02.
Section 2.07 Change in Services or Access to Facilities. The Providers may from time to time reasonably supplement, modify, substitute or otherwise alter the Services provided and access to the Facilities in a manner that does not materially adversely affect the quality or availability of Services or access to the Facilities or increase the cost of using such Services or accessing such Facilities.
Section 2.08 Subcontractors. A Provider may subcontract any of the Services or portion thereof to any other Person, including any Affiliate of the Provider; provided, however, that such other Person shall be subject to service standards and confidentiality provisions at least equivalent to those set forth herein, and such Provider shall in all cases remain primarily responsible for all of its obligations hereunder with respect to the Services provided by such subcontractor.
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Section 2.09 Electronic Access.
(a) To the extent that the performance or receipt of Services or access to Facilities hereunder requires access to a Groups intranet or other internal systems by the other Group (the Accessing Group), the Party whose Group intranet or other internal systems is being accessed shall provide or cause to be provided limited access to such systems, subject to policies, procedures and limitations to be determined by such Party. From and after the Distribution Date, a Party shall cause its Accessing Group to comply with all security guidelines (including physical security, network access, internet security, confidentiality and personal data security guidelines) of the other Party, copies of which shall be made available to the Accessing Group upon reasonable request.
(b) While Services and access to Facilities are being provided hereunder, the Parties shall take commercially reasonable measures to ensure that no Virus or similar items are coded or introduced into the Services or Facilities. With respect to Services or access to Facilities provided by third parties, compliance with the applicable agreement with such third party shall be deemed sufficient commercially reasonable measures. If a Virus is found to have been introduced into such Services or Facilities, the Parties hereto shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate and to diligently work together and with each Provider providing the Services or access to Facilities to eliminate the effects of the Virus.
(c) The Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Providers to, exercise reasonable care in providing, accessing and using the Services and Facilities to prevent access to the Services and Facilities by unauthorized Persons.
ARTICLE III
COSTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
Section 3.01 Costs and Disbursements.
(a) Each Party (or its designee) shall pay to the other Party providing, or causing to be provided, the applicable Service or Facility a monthly fee for such Service or access to such Facility as set forth therefor in the applicable Schedule hereto, and with respect to an Additional Service or Additional Facility, the monthly fee shall be the applicable Providers internal and external costs and expenses of providing such Additional Services or access to such Additional Facilities, plus any costs associated with migrating data or otherwise preparing any Additional Services or access to any Additional Facilities to be provided under this Agreement (each aggregate fee calculated in accordance with this provision constituting a Service Charge and, collectively, the Service Charges); provided, however, that a fee for a Service or Facility not provided or made available hereunder for a full month shall be pro-rated for the portion of such month provided or made available. During the Term, the amount of a Service Charge for any Services or access to Facilities shall not increase, except to the extent that there is an increase after the Distribution Date in the costs actually incurred by the Provider in providing such Services or access to Facilities, including as a result of (i) an increase in the amount of such Services or access to Facilities being provided to the Recipient (as compared to the amount of the Services or access to Facilities underlying the determination of a Service Charge), (ii) an increase in the rates or charges imposed by any third-party provider that is providing goods or services used by the Provider in providing the Services or access to Facilities (as compared to the rates or charges underlying a Service Charge), (iii) an increase in the payroll or benefits for any personnel used by the Provider in providing the Services or access to Facilities, or (iv) any increase in costs relating to any changes requested by the Recipient in the nature of the Services or access to Facilities provided (including relating to newly installed products or equipment or any upgrades to existing products or equipment).
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(b) As of or prior to the Distribution Date, the Parties shall mutually agree on a form of invoice to be issued for the aggregate of Service Charges by each Party. Each of Fortive and Vontier (or their designees), as applicable, shall deliver invoices to the other Party (or its designees) in accordance with the terms hereof, beginning on or prior to the tenth (10th) day following the first fiscal month end following the Distribution Date and, thereafter, on or prior to the tenth (10th) day following the fiscal month end for each succeeding month or week (in accordance with the terms hereof) for the duration of this Agreement (or at such other frequency as is consistent with the basis on which the Service Charges are determined and, if applicable, charged to Affiliates of each Party) in arrears for the Service Charges due under this Agreement. Each of Fortive or Vontier (or their designees) shall pay, or cause to be paid, the amount of such invoice by wire transfer or check to the other Party (or its designees) within fifteen (15) days of the date of such invoice; provided that (i) any Contracts that prescribe other payment terms for any other individual Service or access to a Facility shall continue to govern; and (ii) to the extent consistent with past practice with respect to Services or access to Facilities rendered outside the United States, payments may be required in local currency. If Fortive or Vontier (or their designees), as applicable, fails to pay such amount by such date, such Party shall be obligated to pay to the other Party providing, or causing to be provided, the Services and access to the Facilities, in addition to the amount due, interest on such amount at a rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate, from time to time in effect, calculated for the actual number of days elapsed, accrued from the date on which such payment was due up to the date of the actual receipt of payment.
Section 3.02 Right of Set-Off. Each of Fortive or Vontier, as applicable, shall pay the full amount of Service Charges and shall not set-off, counterclaim or otherwise withhold any amount owed to the other Party under this Agreement, on account of any obligation owed by the other Party to Fortive or Vontier, as applicable, under this Agreement, the Separation Agreement or any other Ancillary Agreement that has not been finally adjudicated, settled or otherwise agreed upon by the Parties in writing; provided, however, that Fortive or Vontier, as applicable, shall be permitted to assert a set-off right with respect to any obligation that has been so finally adjudicated, settled or otherwise agreed upon by the Parties in writing against amounts owed by the other Party under this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
WARRANTIES AND COMPLIANCE; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Section 4.01 Disclaimer of Warranties. Except as expressly set forth herein, the Parties acknowledge and agree that (a) the Services and Facilities are provided as-is, (b) the Recipients assume all risks and Liability arising from or relating to their use of and reliance upon the Services and the Facilities and (c) each Party and their respective Providers make no representation or warranty with respect thereto. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN, EACH PARTY AND THEIR RESPECTIVE PROVIDERS HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE
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SERVICES AND THE FACILITIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY IN REGARD TO QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, NONINFRINGEMENT, MISAPPROPRIATION, COMMERCIAL UTILITY, OR MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS OF THE SERVICES AND FACILITIES FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Section 4.02 Compliance with Laws and Regulations. Each Party hereto shall be responsible for its own compliance with any and all Laws applicable to its performance under this Agreement. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT AND NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, EACH PARTY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED OBLIGATION OR WARRANTY WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES THAT COULD BE CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE PROVIDER TO DELIVER SERVICES HEREUNDER IN SUCH A MANNER TO ALLOW A RECIPIENT TO ITSELF COMPLY WITH ANY LAW APPLICABLE TO THE ACTIONS OR FUNCTIONS OF SUCH RECIPIENT (OR ITS AFFILIATES).
Section 4.03 Limitations of Liability.
(a) NEITHER PARTY SHALL HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO THE OTHER PARTY HERETO OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, MORAL, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOSS OF DATA, LOSS OF USE, CLAIMS OF THIRD PARTIES OR LOST PROFITS, REVENUES OR OPPORTUNITIES OR LOST OR DELAYED GENERATION OR DIMINUTION IN VALUE OF ASSETS OR SECURITIES OR ANY LOSSES CALCULATED BASED ON A MULTIPLE OF REVENUES, EARNINGS OR OTHER ECONOMIC OR FINANCIAL MEASURE BY THE OTHER PARTY OR ANY THIRD PARTY), ARISING IN ANY MANNER OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, ITS PERFORMANCE OR BREACH HEREOF, OR INCIDENT TO ANY RECIPIENTS OR THIRD PARTYS USE OF (OR ANY INABILITY TO USE) THE SERVICES OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION OR MATERIALS PROVIDED TO THE RECIPIENTS HEREUNDER, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE AND STRICT LIABILITY) OR OTHERWISE, AND WHETHER OR NOT THE PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF OR OTHERWISE MIGHT HAVE ANTICIPATED THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSSES.
(b) In no event will either Partys maximum aggregate liability to the other Party or any of its Affiliates or Representatives for any and all claims arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, its termination, or expiration, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, be greater than an amount equal to the aggregate Service Charges received by the Parties in the preceding three (3) months as of the time of calculation, (or (i) if, as of the time of calculation, this Agreement has been in effect for less than three (3) months, the period from the Distribution Date until the time of calculation, or (ii) if, as of the time of calculation, this Agreement has been terminated pursuant to Section 6.01, the three (3) months prior to such termination).
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ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 5.01 Indemnification by Recipient. Each Party as Recipient shall indemnify, defend, save and hold harmless the Providers and any of their personnel, successors and assigns (collectively, the Provider Indemnified Parties), from and against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, claims, costs and expenses (collectively, Losses) to the extent resulting from or arising out of any third party claim to the extent resulting from or arising out of the subject matter of this Agreement or any operations or activities of the Recipient affected by the Services provided to it, including the use of (or inability to use) the Services, except to the extent resulting from or arising out of the Providers gross negligence or intentional misconduct in the provision of Services by the Provider hereunder.
Section 5.02 Indemnification by Provider. Each Party as Provider shall indemnify, defend, save and hold harmless the Recipients and any of their personnel, successors and assigns (collectively, the Recipient Indemnified Parties and, together with the Provider Indemnified Parties, the Indemnified Parties), from and against any and all Losses to the extent resulting from or arising out of any third party claim to the extent resulting from or arising out of the Providers gross negligence or intentional misconduct in the provision of Services by the Provider hereunder.
Section 5.03 Indemnification Procedures. The Indemnified Party shall provide the Party providing indemnification (the Indemnifying Party) with reasonably prompt notice concerning the existence of the indemnifiable event, grant authority to the Indemnifying Party to defend or settle any related action or claim, and provide, at the Indemnifying Partys expense, such information, cooperation and assistance to the Indemnifying Party as may be reasonably necessary for the Indemnifying Party to defend or settle the claim or action; provided that failure to comply with the foregoing shall not constitute a waiver of the right to indemnification and shall affect the Indemnifying Partys indemnification obligations only to the extent that it is prejudiced by such failure or delay. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Indemnified Party (a) may participate, at its own expense, in any defense and settlement directly or through counsel of its choice and (b) will not enter into any settlement agreement on terms that would impact the Indemnifying Partys rights or obligations, without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party.
ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION
Section 6.01 Termination.
(a) Notwithstanding Section 2.03, this Agreement may be terminated earlier by Fortive: (i) if Vontier, any Vontier Provider or any of the Vontier Group are in material breach of the terms of this Agreement and such breach is not corrected within thirty (30) days of a written notice from Fortive or the Fortive Transition Manager of such breach; (ii) immediately upon written notice from Fortive or the Fortive Transition Manager, with respect to any Fortive
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Provided Service or access to any Fortive Provided Facility, if the continued performance of such Fortive Provided Service or the provision of access to such Fortive Provided Facility would be a violation of any Law or any Contract in effect prior to the Distribution Date; or (iii) upon any failure of Vontier to pay any outstanding Service Charge due to Fortive, except to the extent any part of an outstanding Service Charge is not paid due to a good faith dispute of such Service Charge by Vontier.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 2.03, this Agreement may be terminated earlier by Vontier: (i) if Fortive or any Fortive Provider is in material breach of the terms of this Agreement and such breach is not corrected within thirty (30) days of a written notice from Vontier or the Vontier Transition Manager of such breach; (ii) immediately upon written notice from Vontier or the Vontier Transition Manager, with respect to any Vontier Provided Service or access to any Vontier Provided Facility, if the continued performance of such Vontier Provided Service or the provision of access to such Vontier Provided Facility would be a violation of any Law or any Contract in effect prior to the Distribution Date; or (iii) upon the failure of Fortive to pay any outstanding Service Charge due to Vontier, except to the extent any part of an outstanding Service Charge is not paid due to a good faith dispute of such Service Charge by Fortive.
(c) Without prejudice to any rights with respect to a Force Majeure: (i) a Recipient may from time to time terminate this Agreement with respect to any Service or access to Facility, in whole but not in part: (A) for any reason or no reason upon providing at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Providers Vontier Transition Manager or Fortive Transition Manager, as applicable, of such termination (unless a longer notice period is specified in the Schedules attached hereto or in a third party Contract to provide Services or access to Facilities); (B) if the Provider of such Service or Facilities has failed to perform any of its material obligations under this Agreement with respect to such Service or access to Facility, and such failure shall continue to exist thirty (30) days after receipt by the Providers Vontier Transition Manager or Fortive Transition Manager, as applicable, of written notice of such failure from the Recipients Vontier Transition Manager or Fortive Transition Manager, as applicable; or (C) immediately upon mutual written agreement of the Parties; and (ii) a Provider may terminate this Agreement with respect to one or more Services or access to Facilities, in whole but not in part, at any time upon prior written notice to the Recipients Vontier Transition Manager or Fortive Transition Manager, as applicable, if the Recipient has failed to perform any of its material obligations under this Agreement relating to such Services or access to Facilities, and such failure shall be continued uncured for a period of thirty (30) days after receipt by the Recipients Vontier Transition Manager or Fortive Transition Manager, as applicable, of a written notice of such failure from the Providers Vontier Transition Manager or Fortive Transition Manager, as applicable. The relevant Schedule shall be updated to reflect any terminated Service. In the event that the effective date of the termination of any Service or access to Facility is a day other than at the end of a month, the Service Charge associated with such Service or access to Facility shall be pro-rated appropriately.
(d) A Recipient may from time to time request a reduction in part of the scope or amount of any Service or access to Facility. If requested to do so by the Recipients Vontier Transition Manager or Fortive Transition Manager, as applicable, the other Party, through its Vontier Transition Manager or Fortive Transition Manager, as applicable, agrees to
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discuss in good faith appropriate reductions to the relevant Service Charges in light of all relevant factors including the costs and benefits to the Provider of any such reductions. The relevant Schedule shall be updated to reflect any reduced Service agreed to in writing by the Parties. In the event that any Service or access to Facility is so reduced other than at the end of a month, the Service Charge associated with such Service or access to Facility for the month in which such Service or access to Facility is reduced shall be pro-rated appropriately.
(e) To the extent that a Recipient is not in compliance with Section 7.01(b) and such non-compliance remains unremedied for a period of ten (10) days, the Provider may terminate the provision of any Services or access to Facilities provided under such third party Contract.
Section 6.02 Effect of Termination.
(a) Upon termination of any Service or access to any Facility pursuant to this Agreement, the Provider of the terminated Service or access to the Facility or its Affiliate shall have no further obligation to provide the terminated Service or access to the Facility, and Fortive or Vontier, as applicable, shall have no obligation to pay any Service Charges relating to any such Service or access to such Facility; provided that Fortive or Vontier, as applicable shall remain obligated to the other Party for the Service Charges owed and payable in respect of Services or access to Facilities provided prior to the effective date of termination. In connection with termination of any Service or access to any Facility, the provisions of this Agreement not relating solely to such terminated Service or access to such Facility shall survive any such termination.
(b) In connection with a termination of this Agreement, Article IV, Article V, this Section 6.02, Article VIII, and Liability for all due and unpaid Service Charges shall continue to survive indefinitely.
Section 6.03 Force Majeure.
(a) No Party (or any Person acting on its behalf) shall have any Liability or responsibility for failure to fulfill any obligation (other than a payment obligation) under this Agreement so long as and to the extent to which the fulfillment of such obligation is prevented, frustrated, hindered or delayed as a consequence of circumstances of Force Majeure; provided that (i) such Party (or such Person) shall have exercised commercially reasonable efforts to minimize the effect of Force Majeure on its obligations; and (ii) the nature, quality and standard of care that the Provider shall provide in delivering a Service or providing access to a Facility after a Force Majeure shall be substantially the same as the nature, quality and standard of care that the Provider provides prior to the Force Majeure. In the event of an occurrence of a Force Majeure, the Party whose performance is affected thereby shall give notice of suspension as soon as reasonably practicable to the other stating the date and extent of such suspension and the cause thereof, and such Party shall resume the performance of such obligations as soon as reasonably practicable after the removal of the cause, and if the Provider is the Party so prevented then the Recipient shall not be obligated to pay the Service Charge for a Service or Facility to the extent and for so long as such Service or Facility is not made available to the Recipient hereunder as a result of such Force Majeure.
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(b) During the period of a Force Majeure, the Recipient shall be entitled to seek an alternative service provider at its own cost with respect to such Services or access to such Facilities and Fortive or Vontier, as applicable, shall be entitled to permanently terminate such Services or access to such Facilities (and shall be relieved of the obligation to pay Service Charges for the provision of such Services or access to such Facilities throughout the duration of such Force Majeure or, in the event of such permanent termination, thereafter) if a Force Majeure shall continue to exist for more than fifteen (15) consecutive days.
ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL
Section 7.01 Cooperation.
(a) During the Term, each Party shall, and shall cause its Affiliate Recipients to, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the relevant Provider and its Affiliates with respect to such Provider providing the Services and access to the Facilities and responding to such Providers reasonable requests for information related to the functionality or operation of the Services and Facilities. Neither Party nor any of its Affiliates shall knowingly take any action which would substantially interfere with or substantially increase the cost of the other Party providing (or causing to be provided) any of the Services or access to the Facilities. After the Distribution Date, each Party and its Affiliates shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to enable the other Party or its Affiliates to provide the Services and access the Facilities as soon as possible after the Distribution Date. Without limiting the foregoing, each Party shall provide the relevant Provider with reasonable access (during reasonable business hours) to (i) records related to the provision of the Services and access to the Facilities; and (ii) the relevant Partys personnel and facilities for the purpose of training and consultation with respect to the Services and access to Facilities.
(b) To the extent the Parties or a member of their respective Group have entered into any third party Contracts in connection with any of the Services or access to the Facilities, the Recipients shall comply with the terms of such Contract to the extent the Recipients or their Vontier Transition Manager or Fortive Transition Manager, as applicable, have been informed of such terms.
Section 7.02 Required Consents. Each Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any and all third party Consents necessary or advisable to allow the relevant Provider to provide the Services and access to the Facilities (the Required Consents); provided, however, that the costs of such third party Consents shall be paid by the Recipient of the provision of such Services and access to such Facilities. Each Party shall provide written evidence of receipt of Required Consents to the other Party upon such other Partys request.
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Section 7.03 Primary Points of Contact for Agreement.
(a) Appointment and Responsibilities. Each Party shall appoint an individual to act as the primary point of operational contact for the administration and operation of this Agreement, as follows:
(i) The individual appointed by Vontier as the primary point of operational contact pursuant to this Section 7.03(a) (the Vontier Transition Manager) shall have overall responsibility for coordinating, on behalf of Vontier, all activities undertaken by Vontier and its Providers, Affiliates and Representatives hereunder, including the performance of Vontiers obligations hereunder, the coordinating of the provision of the Vontier Provided Services and access to the Vontier Provided Facilities with Fortive, acting as a day-to-day contact with Fortive Transition Manager and making available to Fortive the data, facilities, resources and other support services from Vontier required for Fortive Providers to be able to provide the Fortive Provided Services and access to the Fortive Provided Facilities in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement. Vontier may change Vontier Transition Manager from time to time upon written notice to Fortive. Vontier shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of any such change.
(ii) The individual appointed by Fortive as the primary point of operational contact pursuant to this Section 7.03(a) (the Fortive Transition Manager) shall have overall operational responsibility for coordinating, on behalf of Fortive, all activities undertaken by Fortive and its Providers, Affiliates and Representatives hereunder, including the performance of Fortives obligations hereunder, the coordinating of the provision of the Fortive Provided Services and access to the Fortive Provided Facilities with Vontier, acting as a day-to-day contact with Vontier Transition Manager and making available to Vontier the data, facilities, resources and other support services from Fortive required for Vontier Providers to be able to provide the Vontier Provided Services and access to the Vontier Provided Facilities in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement. Fortive may change Fortive Transition Manager from time to time upon written notice to Vontier. Fortive shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of any such change.
(b) Review Meetings. Fortive Transition Manager and Vontier Transition Manager shall meet either in-person at a mutually acceptable location or via telephone or video conference at least monthly to review Fortives and Vontiers provision of the Services and access to the Facilities as required under this Agreement.
Section 7.04 Steering Committee.
(a) Size and Composition. Fortive shall appoint three (3) members of its management staff, and Vontier shall appoint three (3) members of its management staff to serve on a steering committee (the Steering Committee). Either Party may change its Steering Committee members from time to time upon written notice to the other Party; provided, however, that Fortive Transition Manager and Vontier Transition Manager shall at all times remain as members of the Steering Committee. In addition, the Parties may mutually agree to increase or decrease the size, purpose or composition of the Steering Committee in an effort for the Providers to better provide, and for the Recipients to better utilize, the Services and access to the Facilities.
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(b) Responsibilities. The Steering Committees responsibilities include:
(i) generally overseeing the performance of each Partys obligations under this Agreement; and
(ii) making, and providing continuity for making, decisions for the Recipients with respect to the establishment, prioritization and use of the Services and access to the Facilities.
(c) Meetings. The Steering Committee shall meet once a month or at such other frequency as mutually agreed by the Parties. Each Steering Committee meeting shall be either in-person at a mutually acceptable location or via telephone or video conference.
Section 7.05 Personnel.
(a) The Provider of any Service or access to any Facility shall make available to the Recipient of such Service or access to such Facility such personnel as may be reasonably necessary to provide such Service, in accordance with such Providers standard business practices. The Provider shall have the right, in its reasonable discretion, to (i) designate which personnel it will assign to perform such Service, and (ii) remove and replace such personnel at any time.
(b) The Provider of any Service or Facility shall be solely responsible for all salary, employment and other benefits of and Liabilities relating to the employment of persons employed by such Provider. In performing their respective duties hereunder, all such employees and representatives of any Provider shall be under the direction, control and supervision of such Provider, and such Provider shall have the sole right to exercise all authority with respect to the employment (including termination of employment), assignment and compensation of such employees and representatives.
Section 7.06 No Agency. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed in any way or for any purpose to constitute any Party or its Affiliates acting as an agent of another unaffiliated Person in the conduct of such other Persons business. A Provider of any Service or access to any Facility hereunder shall act as an independent contractor and not as the agent of the Recipient or its Affiliates in performing such Service or providing access to such Facility.
Section 7.07 Data Processing. The provisions of the Addenda attached hereto as Exhibit A and Exhibit B, as applicable, shall govern the Processing of the Personal Data of the other Party in connection with the provision of Services hereunder.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.01 Treatment of Confidential Information.
(a) The provisions of Section 6.5 of the Separation Agreement shall govern the treatment of Confidential Information hereunder.
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(b) Each Party shall comply with all applicable state, federal and foreign privacy and data protection Laws that are or that may in the future be applicable to the provision of Services hereunder.
Section 8.02 Entire Agreement; Construction. This Agreement, including the Exhibits and Schedules shall constitute the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all previous negotiations, commitments, course of dealings and writings with respect to such subject matter. In the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement and any Schedule hereto, the Schedule shall prevail. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and the Tax Matters Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Tax Matters Agreement shall govern.
Section 8.03 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in more than one counterpart, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more such counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to each of the Parties.
Section 8.04 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in English, shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, by email (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) or by facsimile with receipt confirmed (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 8.04):
To Fortive:
Fortive Corporation
6920 Seaway Blvd.
Everett, WA 98203
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (425) 446-5007
E-mail: Peter.Underwood@fortive.com
To Vontier:
Vontier Corporation
5420 Wade Park Boulevard, Suite 206
Raleigh, NC 27607
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (336) 292-8871
E-mail: Katie.rowen@vontier.com
Section 8.05 Waivers. Any consent required or permitted to be given by any Party to the other Party under this Agreement shall be in writing and signed by the Party giving such consent and shall be effective only against such Party (and its Group). No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of any Party, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver hereof or thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or thereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.
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Section 8.06 Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by any Party hereto without the prior written consent of the other Party (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and any attempt to assign any rights or obligations arising under this Agreement without such consent shall be void. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall be assignable to (i) an Affiliate of a Party or (ii) a bona fide third party in connection with a merger, reorganization, consolidation or the sale of all or substantially all the assets of a Party hereto so long as the resulting, surviving or transferee entity assumes all the obligations of the relevant Party hereto by operation of law or pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the other Party; provided, however, that in the case of each of the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), no assignment permitted by this Section 8.06 shall release the assigning Party from Liability for the full performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
Section 8.07 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement and the obligations and rights hereunder shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by (and against) the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Section 8.08 Payment Terms. Without the consent of the Party receiving any payment under this Agreement specifying otherwise, all payments to be made by either Fortive or Vontier under this Agreement shall be made in US Dollars. Except as expressly provided herein, any amount which is not expressed in US Dollars shall be converted into US Dollars by using the exchange rate published on Bloomberg at 5:00 pm Eastern Standard time (EST) on the day before the relevant date or in the Wall Street Journal on such date if not so published on Bloomberg.
Section 8.09 Subsidiaries . Each of the Parties shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by any Subsidiary of such Party or by any entity that becomes a Subsidiary of such Party at and after the Distribution Date, to the extent such Subsidiary remains a Subsidiary of the applicable Party.
Section 8.10 Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Parties and should not be deemed to confer upon third parties any remedy, claim, Liability, reimbursement, claim of Action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement.
Section 8.11 Titles and Headings. Titles and headings to Articles and Sections herein are inserted for the convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 8.12 Exhibits and Schedules. The Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed with and as an integral part of this Agreement to the same extent as if the same had been set forth verbatim herein.
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Section 8.13 Governing Law. This Agreement and any dispute arising out of, in connection with or relating to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.
Section 8.14 Dispute Resolution. The provisions of Article VIII of the Separation Agreement shall govern any Dispute under or in connection with this Agreement.
Section 8.15 Severability. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The Parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
Section 8.16 Interpretation.
(a) The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the Party drafting or causing any instrument to be drafted.
(b) When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section or Exhibit such reference shall be to an Article or Section of, or Exhibit to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Wherever the words include, includes or including are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words without limitation. References to dollar or $ contained herein are to United States Dollars (unless otherwise specified). The words hereof, herein, hereto and hereunder and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.
[Signature page follows]
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EXECUTION VERSION
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed on the date first written above by their respective duly authorized officers.
FORTIVE CORPORATION | ||
By: |
/s/ Rajesh Yadava |
|
Name: Rajesh Yadava | ||
Title: Vice President, Treasurer | ||
VONTIER CORPORATION | ||
By: |
/s/ Kathryn K. Rowen |
|
Name: Kathryn K. Rowen | ||
Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel |
Exhibit 10.4
EXECUTION VERSION
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MATTERS AGREEMENT
by and between
FORTIVE CORPORATION
and
VONTIER CORPORATION
Dated as of October 8, 2020
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MATTERS AGREEMENT
This INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MATTERS AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of October 8, 2020, is entered into by and between Fortive Corporation (Fortive), a Delaware corporation, and Vontier Corporation (Vontier), a Delaware corporation. Party or Parties means Fortive or Vontier, individually or collectively, as the case may be.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Parties have entered into that certain Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the Separation Agreement); and
WHEREAS, as of the Distribution Date, the Fortive Group may own certain Patents, Copyrights and Know-How that are necessary or used in the Vontier Business as of the Distribution Date, and the Vontier Group may own certain Patents, Copyrights and Know-How that are necessary or used in the Fortive Retained Businesses as of the Distribution Date, and Fortive wishes to grant to Vontier, and Vontier wishes to grant to Fortive, a license to such Intellectual Property in accordance with the terms hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Definitions.
(a) Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein shall have the same meanings as in the Separation Agreement.
(b) The following capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth below:
Copyrights shall mean copyrights and copyrightable subject matter, excluding Know-How.
FBS shall have the meaning set forth in the FBS License Agreement.
FBS License Agreement shall mean the FBS License Agreement of even date herewith by and between Fortive and Vontier.
Fortive Field of Use shall mean (a) all fields outside of the Vontier Business and (b) natural evolutions or extensions thereof.
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Fortive Licensed Copyrights shall mean the Copyrights that are (a) owned or Licensable by the Fortive Group as of the Distribution Date and (b) used in the Vontier Business as of the Distribution Date.
Fortive Licensed IP shall mean the Fortive Licensed Copyrights, Fortive Licensed Know-How and Fortive Licensed Patents, excluding FBS (as licensed under the FBS License Agreement).
Fortive Licensed Know-How shall mean the Know-How that is (a) owned or Licensable by the Fortive Group as of the Distribution Date and (b) used in the Vontier Business as of the Distribution Date.
Fortive Licensed Patents shall mean (a) the Patents that are (i) owned or Licensable by the Fortive Group as of the Distribution Date and (ii) used in the Vontier Business as of the Distribution Date, and (b) all Valid Claims of other Patents that are owned by the Fortive Group that claim priority to the Patents described in clause (a) to the extent such Valid Claims are fully supported by such Patents.
Know-How shall mean trade secrets, and all other confidential or proprietary information, know-how, inventions, processes, formulae, models, and methodologies, but in each case excluding Patents.
Licensable means, with respect to any Intellectual Property, the right to grant sublicenses to a Person within the scope of the licenses set forth in Section 2.01 or Section 2.02, as applicable, without (i) the requirement to obtain consent from, give notice to, or take any other action with respect to any Third Party or (ii) incurring fees, royalties, Liabilities or other costs in connection with such sublicense.
Licensed IP shall mean (a) the Vontier Licensed IP, as licensed to Fortive hereunder and (b) the Fortive Licensed IP, as licensed to Vontier hereunder.
Licensee shall mean (a) Vontier, with respect to the Fortive Licensed IP and (b) Fortive, with respect to the Vontier Licensed IP.
Licensee Field of Use shall mean (a) with respect to Vontier, the Vontier Field of Use, and (b) with respect to Fortive, the Fortive Field of Use.
Licensor shall mean (a) Vontier, with respect to the Vontier Licensed IP, and (b) Fortive, with respect to the Fortive Licensed IP.
Licensor IP shall mean (a) with respect to Vontier, the Vontier Licensed IP and (b) with respect to Fortive, the Fortive Licensed IP.
Patents shall mean patents and patent applications, and any and all related national or international counterparts thereto, including any divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, reexaminations, substitutions and extensions thereof.
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Third Party means any Person other than Fortive, Vontier, and their respective Affiliates.
Valid Claim means a claim of an issued and unexpired Patent that (i) has not been revoked or held unenforceable or invalid by a decision of a court or other Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction from which no appeal can be taken or has been taken within the time allowed for appeal and (ii) has not been abandoned, disclaimed, denied, or admitted to be invalid or unenforceable through reissue or disclaimer or otherwise in such country.
Vontier Field of Use shall mean (a) the field of the Vontier Business and (b) natural evolutions or extensions thereof.
Vontier Licensed Copyrights shall mean the Copyrights that are (a) owned or Licensable by the Vontier Group as of the Distribution Date and (b) used in the Fortive Retained Business as of the Distribution Date.
Vontier Licensed IP shall mean the Vontier Licensed Copyrights, Vontier Licensed Know-How and Vontier Licensed Patents.
Vontier Licensed Know-How shall mean the Know-How that is (a) owned or Licensable by the Vontier Group as of the Distribution Date and (b) used in the Fortive Retained Business as of the Distribution Date.
Vontier Licensed Patents shall mean (a) the Patents that are (i) owned or Licensable by the Vontier Group as of the Distribution Date and (ii) used in the Fortive Retained Business as of the Distribution Date, and (b) all Valid Claims of other Patents that are owned by the Vontier Group that claim priority to the Patents described in clause (a) to the extent such Valid Claims thereof are fully supported by such Patents.
ARTICLE II
GRANTS OF RIGHTS
Section 2.01 License to Vontier of Fortive Licensed IP. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Fortive hereby grants, and shall cause its Affiliates to grant, to Vontier a non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully paid-up, irrevocable, sublicensable (in connection with activities in the Vontier Field of Use by Vontier and its Affiliates but not for the independent use of Third Parties), and worldwide license to the Fortive Licensed IP in the Vontier Field of Use (Vontier License). Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Vontier License shall include the right to exercise any and all rights in the Fortive Licensed IP in the Vontier Field of Use, including the right to use, practice, copy, perform, render, develop, modify, and make derivative works of the Fortive Licensed IP within the Vontier Field of Use and to make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale, export and import any products, services or technologies, in each case with respect to the Vontier Field of Use.
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Section 2.02 License to Fortive of Vontier Licensed IP. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Vontier hereby grants, and shall cause its Affiliates to grant, to Fortive a non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully paid-up, irrevocable, sublicensable (in connection with activities in the Fortive Field of Use by Fortive and its Affiliates but not for the independent use of Third Parties), and worldwide license to the Vontier Licensed IP solely within the Fortive Field of Use (Fortive License). Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the foregoing license shall include the right to exercise any and all rights in the Vontier Licensed IP in the Fortive Field of Use, including the right to use, practice, copy, perform, render, develop, modify, and make derivative works of the Vontier Licensed IP within the Fortive Field of Use and to make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale, export and import any products, services or technologies, in each case with respect to the Fortive Field of Use.
Section 2.03 Limitations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the licenses hereunder are subject to any rights of or obligations owed to any Third Party under any Contracts existing as of the Distribution Date between Licensor or its Affiliates and any such Third Party.
Section 2.04 Reservation of Rights. Each Party reserves its and its Affiliates rights in and to all Intellectual Property that is not expressly licensed hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, this Agreement and the licenses and rights granted herein do not, and shall not be construed to, confer any rights upon either Party, its Affiliates, or its sublicensees by implication, estoppel, or otherwise as to any of the other Partys or its Affiliates Intellectual Property, except as otherwise expressly set forth herein.
Section 2.05 FBS. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no rights under or with respect to FBS are granted pursuant to this Agreement.
ARTICLE III
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OWNERSHIP
Section 3.01 Ownership.
(a) As between the Parties, Licensee acknowledges and agrees that (i) Licensor owns the Licensor IP, (ii) none of Licensee, its Affiliates or its sublicensees, will acquire any rights in the Licensor IP, except for the licenses and sublicenses granted pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.02, and (iii) Licensee shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates and its sublicensees to not, represent that they have an ownership interest in any of the Licensor IP.
(b) As between the Parties, each Party shall own all improvements and modifications made by or on behalf of such Party with respect to the Licensed IP; provided that, with respect to Licensee, such improvements and modifications shall not include, and shall be subject to the provisions of this Agreement as they concern, the Licensed IP to which such improvements or modifications are made.
ARTICLE IV
PROSECUTION, MAINTENANCE AND ENFORCEMENT
Section 4.01 Responsibility. Subject to Section 4.02, Licensor shall be solely responsible for filing, prosecuting, and maintaining all Patents within the Licensor IP, in Licensors sole discretion. Licensor shall be responsible for any costs associated with filing, prosecuting, and maintaining such Patents.
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Section 4.02 Defense and Enforcement. Licensor shall have the sole right, but not the obligation, to elect to bring an Action or enter into settlement agreements regarding the Licensor IP, at Licensors sole cost and expense.
Section 4.03 No Additional Obligations. This Agreement shall not obligate either Party to disclose or deliver to the other Party, or maintain, register, prosecute, pay for, enforce, or otherwise manage any Intellectual Property except as expressly set forth herein.
ARTICLE V
DISCLAIMERS; LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY AND REMEDIES
Section 5.01 Disclaimer of Warranties. Except as expressly set forth herein, the Parties acknowledge and agree that (a) the Licensor IP is provided as-is, (b) the Licensee assumes all risks and Liability arising from or relating to its use of and reliance upon the Licensor IP and (c) each Party makes no representation or warranty with respect thereto. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN, EACH PARTY HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE LICENSOR IP, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY IN REGARD TO QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, NONINFRINGEMENT, MISAPPROPRIATION, COMMERCIAL UTILITY, OR MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Section 5.02 Compliance with Laws and Regulations. Each Party hereto shall be responsible for its own compliance with any and all Laws applicable to its performance under this Agreement. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT AND NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, EACH PARTY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED OBLIGATION OR WARRANTY WITH RESPECT TO THE LICENSOR IP THAT COULD BE CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE LICENSOR TO PROVIDE LICENSOR IP HEREUNDER IN SUCH A MANNER TO ALLOW LICENSEE TO ITSELF COMPLY WITH ANY LAW APPLICABLE TO THE ACTIONS OR FUNCTIONS OF SUCH LICENSEE (OR ITS AFFILIATES).
ARTICLE VI
LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
Section 6.01 Procedures. The provisions of Article V of the Separation Agreement shall govern any and all Liabilities or indemnification (including any Indemnifiable Losses) under or in connection with this Agreement, whether arising from statute, principle of common or civil law, principles of strict liability, tort, contract or otherwise under or in connection with this Agreement.
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ARTICLE VII
CONFIDENTIALITY
Section 7.01 Disclosure and Use Restrictions.
(a) Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, each of Fortive and Vontier shall hold, and shall cause their Affiliates and its and their respective officers, employees, agents, consultants and advisors to hold, in strict confidence (and not to disclose or release or use, including for any ongoing or future commercial purpose, without the prior written consent of the Party to whom the Confidential Information relates (which may be withheld in such Partys sole and absolute discretion, except where disclosure is required by applicable Law)), any and all Confidential Information concerning or belonging to the other Party or its Affiliates; provided that each Party may disclose, or may permit disclosure of, such Confidential Information (i) to its respective auditors, attorneys, financial advisors, bankers and other appropriate consultants and advisors who have a need to know such Information for auditing and other non-commercial purposes and are informed of the obligation to hold such Information confidential and in respect of whose failure to comply with such obligations, the applicable Party will be responsible, (ii) if any Party or any of its respective Affiliates is required or compelled to disclose any such Confidential Information by judicial or administrative process or by other requirements of Law or stock exchange rule or is advised by outside counsel in connection with a proceeding brought by a Governmental Entity that it is advisable to do so, (iii) as required in connection with any legal or other proceeding by one Party against any other Party or in respect of claims by one Party against the other Party brought in a proceeding, (iv) as necessary in order to permit a Party to prepare and disclose its financial statements in connection with any regulatory filings or Tax Returns, (v) as necessary for a Party to enforce its rights or perform its obligations under this Agreement, (vi) to Governmental Entities in accordance with applicable procurement regulations and contract requirements or (vii) to other Persons in connection with their evaluation of, and negotiating and consummating, a potential strategic transaction, to the extent reasonably necessary in connection therewith, provided an appropriate and customary confidentiality agreement has been entered into with the Person receiving such Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any demand or request for disclosure of Confidential Information is made by a Third Party pursuant to clause (ii), (iii), (v) or (vi) above, each Party, as applicable, shall promptly notify (to the extent permissible by Law) the Party to whom the Confidential Information relates of the existence of such request, demand or disclosure requirement and shall provide such affected Party a reasonable opportunity to seek an appropriate protective order or other remedy, which such Party will cooperate in obtaining to the extent reasonably practicable. In the event that such appropriate protective order or other remedy is not obtained, the Party which faces the disclosure requirement shall furnish only that portion of the Confidential Information that is required to be disclosed and shall take commercially reasonable steps to ensure that confidential treatment is accorded such Confidential Information.
(b) Each Party acknowledges that it and the other members of its Group may have in its or their possession confidential or proprietary Information of Third Parties that was received under confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements with such Third Party while such Party and/or members of its Group were part of the Fortive Group. Each Party shall comply,
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and shall cause the other members of its Group to comply, and shall cause its and their respective officers, employees, agents, consultants and advisors (or potential buyers) to comply, with all terms and conditions of any such third-party agreements entered into prior to the Distribution Date, with respect to any confidential and proprietary Information of Third Parties to which it or any other member of its Group has had access.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (i) the Parties shall be deemed to have satisfied their obligations hereunder with respect to the Confidential Information of the other Party if they exercise at least the same degree of care that applies to Fortives confidential and proprietary information pursuant to policies in effect as of the Distribution Date and (ii) confidentiality obligations provided for in any Contract between each Party or its Affiliates and their respective employees shall remain in full force and effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, Confidential Information of any Party in the possession of and used by the other Party as of the Distribution Date may continue to be used by such Party in possession of the Confidential Information in and only in the operation of the Vontier Business (in the case of the Vontier Group) or the Fortive Retained Business (in the case of the Fortive Group).
(d) The Parties agree that irreparable damage may occur in the event that the provisions of this Section 7.01 were not performed in accordance with their specific terms. Accordingly, it is hereby agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
Section 7.02 Survival. The confidentiality and nondisclosure obligations of this Article VII shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
TERM
Section 8.01 Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence as of the Distribution Date and shall continue in perpetuity, provided that, (a) the license granted to Vontier in Section 2.01 with respect to the Fortive Licensed Patents expires upon expiration of the last-to-expire of the Valid Claims included in the Fortive Licensed Patents, and (b) the license granted to Fortive in Section 2.02 with respect to the Vontier Licensed Patents expires upon expiration of the last-to-expire of the Valid Claims included in the Vontier Licensed Patents. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in Section 8.02, this Agreement may not be terminated unless agreed to in writing by the Parties.
Section 8.02 Effect of Expiration and Termination; Accrued Rights; Survival.
(a) Accrued Rights. Upon the earlier of expiration or termination of this Agreement, in part or in its entirety, all licenses and rights granted to Licensee with respect to the Intellectual Property to which such expiration or termination relates shall immediately cease. Expiration and termination of this Agreement, in part or in its entirety, shall be without prejudice to any rights which shall have accrued to the benefit of either Party prior to such expiration and termination (as applicable).
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(b) Termination of Sublicenses. Any sublicenses that have been granted by a Licensee to a sublicensee with respect to the Intellectual Property subject to expiration or termination of this Agreement, in part or in its entirety, shall automatically terminate upon such expiration or termination.
(c) Return/Destruction of Materials. Upon termination of this Agreement, Licensee shall, and shall ensure that its sublicensees, within fifteen (15) Business Days of any request by Licensor, return to Licensor, or at Licensors election destroy, all of such Licensors Know-How licensed hereunder that is in their possession or control as of the date of termination.
(d) Surviving Obligations. Expiration and termination of this Agreement, in part or in its entirety, shall not terminate Licensees obligation to pay the Pass-Through Royalties and all other amounts for which Licensee is obligated to reimburse Licensor hereunder that have accrued prior to the effective date of such expiration or termination (as applicable). The following provisions of this Agreement, together with all other provisions of this Agreement that expressly specify that they survive, shall survive expiration and termination of this Agreement, in part or in its entirety: Section 2.04, Section 5.01, this Section 8.02, and Articles III, VI, VII and IX.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.01 Entire Agreement; Construction. This Agreement, including the Exhibits and Schedules, shall constitute the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all previous negotiations, commitments, course of dealings and writings with respect to such subject matter. In the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement and any Schedule hereto, the Schedule shall prevail. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and the Tax Matters Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Tax Matters Agreement shall govern.
Section 9.02 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in more than one counterpart, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more such counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to each of the Parties.
Section 9.03 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in English, shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, by email (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) or by facsimile with receipt confirmed (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 9.03):
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If to Fortive:
Fortive Corporation
6920 Seaway Blvd.
Everett, WA 98203
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (425) 446-5007
E-mail: Peter.Underwood@fortive.com
If to Vontier:
Vontier Corporation
5420 Wade Park Boulevard, Suite 206
Raleigh, NC 27607
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (336) 292-8871
E-mail: Katie.rowen@vontier.com
Section 9.04 Waivers. Any consent required or permitted to be given by any Party to the other Party under this Agreement shall be in writing and signed by the Party giving such consent and shall be effective only against such Party (and its Group). No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of any Party, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver hereof or thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or thereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.
Section 9.05 Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by any Party hereto without the prior written consent of the other Party (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and any attempt to assign any rights or obligations arising under this Agreement without such consent shall be void. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement shall be assignable, in whole or in part, to (i) an Affiliate of a Party or (ii) a bona fide Third Party in connection with a merger, reorganization, consolidation or the sale of assets of a Party or its Affiliates related to this Agreement so long as the resulting, surviving or transferee entity assumes all the obligations of the relevant Party.
Section 9.06 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement and the obligations and rights hereunder shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by (and against) the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Section 9.07 Subsidiaries. Each of the Parties shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by any Subsidiary of such Party or by any entity that becomes a Subsidiary of such Party at and after the Distribution Date, to the extent such Subsidiary remains a Subsidiary of the applicable Party.
Section 9.08 Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Parties and should not be deemed to confer upon Third Parties any remedy, claim, Liability, reimbursement, claim of Action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement.
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Section 9.09 Titles and Headings. Titles and headings to Articles and Sections herein are inserted for the convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 9.10 Exhibits and Schedules. The Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed with and as an integral part of this Agreement to the same extent as if the same had been set forth verbatim herein.
Section 9.11 Governing Law. This Agreement and any dispute arising out of, in connection with or relating to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.
Section 9.12 Dispute Resolution. The provisions of Article VIII of the Separation Agreement shall govern any Dispute under or in connection with this Agreement.
Section 9.13 Severability. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The Parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
Section 9.14 Interpretation.
(a) The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the Party drafting or causing any instrument to be drafted.
(b) When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section or Exhibit, such reference shall be to an Article or Section of, or an Exhibit to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Wherever the words include, includes or including are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words without limitation. The words hereof, herein, hereto and hereunder and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed on the date first written above by their respective duly authorized officers.
FORTIVE CORPORATION | ||
By: |
/s/ Rajesh Yadava |
|
Name: Rajesh Yadava | ||
Title: Vice President, Treasurer | ||
VONTIER CORPORATION | ||
By: |
/s/ Kathryn K. Rowen |
|
Name: Kathryn K. Rowen | ||
Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel |
[Intellectual Property Matters Agreement Signature Page]
Exhibit 10.5
EXECUTION VERSION
FBS LICENSE AGREEMENT
by and between
FORTIVE CORPORATION
and
VONTIER CORPORATION
Dated as of October 8, 2020
FBS LICENSE AGREEMENT
This FBS LICENSE AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of October 8, 2020, is entered into by and between Fortive Corporation (Fortive), a Delaware corporation, and Vontier Corporation (Vontier), a Delaware corporation. Party or Parties means Fortive or Vontier, individually or collectively, as the case may be.
WHEREAS, the Parties have entered into that certain Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the Separation Agreement);
WHEREAS, Fortive owns the FBS (as defined below), which is used in the Vontier Business and in the other businesses of Fortive as of the date hereof;
WHEREAS, the FBS includes certain trade secrets, know-how and other Intellectual Property of the Fortive Group; and
WHEREAS, Vontier desires to obtain a license to use the FBS for its own business purposes on the terms set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Certain Defined Terms.
(a) Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein shall have the same meanings as in the Separation Agreement.
(b) The following capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth below:
Change of Control means, with respect to a Person, the occurrence, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events: (i) any third party immediately prior to such transaction becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of such Person representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of such Person; (ii) there is consummated a merger, consolidation, or similar transaction involving such Person and, immediately after the consummation of such merger, consolidation, or similar transaction, the stockholders of such Person immediately prior to the consummation of such merger, consolidation, or similar transaction do not beneficially own, directly or indirectly, outstanding voting securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the surviving entity in such merger, consolidation, or similar transaction or more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the parent of the surviving entity in such merger, consolidation, or similar transaction; or (iii) a sale of all or substantially all of such Persons assets or business to a third party.
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FBS means the Fortive Business System in existence as of the Distribution Date, which is a set of proprietary tools, processes, methodologies, practices and related training materials developed by or for and owned by the Fortive Group that are designed to continuously improve business management and performance in the critical areas of quality, delivery, cost, growth and innovation.
FBS Confidential Information means all Confidential Information and materials (i) with respect to Fortive, forming part of the FBS or Fortive Improvements, or (ii) with respect to Vontier, forming part of Vontier Improvements.
Fortive Improvements means any material modification, enhancement or improvement to the FBS made by the Fortive Group within two (2) years following the Distribution Date.
Vontier Improvements means any material modification, enhancement or improvement to the FBS made by the Vontier Group within two (2) years following the Distribution Date.
ARTICLE II
LICENSE GRANT
Section 2.01 License to Vontier. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Fortive hereby grants to Vontier a worldwide, non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free, fully paid-up, perpetual license to use, modify, enhance and improve, the FBS and Fortive Improvements solely for the business purposes of the Vontier Group with respect to the Vontier Business. The foregoing license shall be sublicenseable solely (i) to other members of the Vontier Group (for clarity, for only so long as such Persons remain Affiliates of Vontier), and (ii) to third parties to the extent reasonably necessary to support the business of the Vontier Group and subject to appropriate confidentiality and non-use obligations.
Section 2.02 License to Fortive. Vontier hereby grants to Fortive a worldwide, non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free, fully paid-up, irrevocable, perpetual license to use, modify, enhance and improve Vontier Improvements. The foregoing license shall be sublicenseable solely (i) to other members of the Fortive Group, (ii) to third parties to the extent reasonably necessary to support the business of the Fortive Group and subject to appropriate confidentiality and non-use obligations, and (iii) to members of the Fortive Group in connection with the business or assets of such member, that, on or after the Distribution Date are sold, spun-off, split-off, merged or otherwise transferred to a third party (for clarity, which sublicense shall continue after such sale, spin-off, merger or other transfer).
Section 2.03 Provision of Improvements. Upon reasonable, written request of a Party, the other Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the requesting Party with any Fortive Improvement or Vontier Improvement, as applicable. In no event may either Party make such a request more frequently than once per quarter. Neither Party shall be obligated to provide any information to the other Party to the extent such information would have a reasonable likelihood of disclosing such Partys or its Affiliates material and sensitive non-public business, product or project plans.
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ARTICLE III
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
Section 3.01 Fortive Ownership. The Parties acknowledge and agree that, as between the Parties, Fortive is the owner of all right, title and interest in the Intellectual Property rights in the FBS and Fortive Improvements. Fortive shall retain the entire right, title and interest in and to the FBS and any improvements, enhancements and modifications thereof made by Fortive or its Affiliates (including, for clarity, any Fortive Improvements), and all Intellectual Property rights therein. For the avoidance of doubt, Fortive shall have the sole right to defend and enforce any and all Intellectual Property rights covering the FBS and any Fortive Improvements.
Section 3.02 Vontier Ownership. Vontier shall retain the entire right, title and interest in and to any Vontier Improvements, and all Intellectual Property rights therein. For the avoidance of doubt, Vontier shall have the sole right to defend and enforce any and all Intellectual Property rights covering any Vontier Improvements.
ARTICLE IV
FBS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
Section 4.01 Treatment of FBS Confidential Information. Each Party shall (and shall cause each member of its respective Group to) maintain the FBS Confidential Information of the other Party in confidence, and shall not (and shall cause each member of the its respective Group not to) disclose, divulge or otherwise communicate such FBS Confidential Information to any person who is not employed by or a director of a member of its Group, or use it for any purpose, except pursuant to, and in order to carry out, the terms and objectives of this Agreement (including the granting of sublicenses in accordance with Article II, subject to confidentiality obligations at least as strict as those set forth herein), and hereby agrees to exercise (and cause each member of its respective Group to exercise) every reasonable precaution to prevent and restrain the unauthorized disclosure of such FBS Confidential Information by any directors, officers or employees of its respective Group. In addition, each Party shall (and shall cause each member of its respective Group to) treat the FBS Confidential Information of the other Party that is not in the public domain as trade secrets, and without limiting the foregoing shall take all actions required by applicable Law to preserve such FBS Confidential Information of the other Party as trade secrets.
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ARTICLE V
COMPENSATION
Section 5.01 Compensation. The Parties agree that in light of the substantial contributions of the Vontier Group to the development of the FBS, no further consideration is payable by Vontier for the FBS license set forth in Section 2.01. The Parties further agree that (a) the consideration for the license to Vontier of the Fortive Improvements is the license to Fortive of the Vontier Improvements and (b) the consideration for the license to Fortive of the Vontier Improvements is the license to Vontier of the Fortive Improvements.
ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION
Section 6.01 Term. This Agreement shall remain in effect from the Distribution Date until terminated in accordance with the provisions of this Article VI.
Section 6.02 Termination for Breach. Fortive shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement immediately by providing written notice to Vontier upon material breach of this Agreement by Vontier or any member of the Vontier Group and failure to cure such breach within ten (10) days of written notice thereof. Upon termination of this Agreement, Vontier and each member of the Vontier Group shall cease any and all use of the FBS (including any Fortive Improvements).
Section 6.03 Termination Upon Change of Control. Upon any Change of Control of Vontier or any member of the Vontier Group, Fortives obligations under Section 2.03 shall automatically terminate.
Section 6.04 Use of the Fortive Business System Name. Within six (6) months following the Distribution Date, Vontier and each member of the Vontier Group shall cease using the name Fortive Business System or FBS or any term similar thereto to describe the rights licensed hereunder or for any other purpose.
Section 6.05 Survival of Obligations; Return of Confidential Information. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the obligations of the Parties under Articles III, IV, VII and VIII as well as Sections 6.04 and this 6.05, shall survive and continue to be enforceable. Upon any termination of this Agreement, Vontier shall promptly (and in any event within thirty (30) days) return to Fortive or destroy (at Fortives option) all written FBS Confidential Information of Fortive, and all copies thereof then in Vontiers possession.
ARTICLE VII
WARRANTIES AND COMPLIANCE
Section 7.01 Disclaimer of Warranties. Except as expressly set forth herein, the Parties acknowledge and agree that (a) the FBS, Fortive Improvements and Vontier Improvements, as applicable, are provided as-is, (b) each Party assumes all risks and Liability arising from or relating to its use of and reliance upon the FBS, Fortive Improvements and Vontier Improvements, as applicable, and (c) each Party makes no representation or warranty with respect thereto. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN, EACH PARTY HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE FBS, FORTIVE IMPROVEMENTS AND VONTIER IMPROVEMENTS, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY IN REGARD TO QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, NONINFRINGEMENT, MISAPPROPRIATION, COMMERCIAL UTILITY, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
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Section 7.02 Compliance with Laws and Regulations. Each Party hereto shall be responsible for its own compliance with any and all Laws applicable to its performance under this Agreement. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT AND NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, EACH PARTY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED OBLIGATION OR WARRANTY WITH RESPECT TO ANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, TECHNOLOGY OR SERVICES THAT COULD BE CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE SUCH PARTY TO DELIVER ANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, TECHNOLOGY OR SERVICES HEREUNDER IN SUCH A MANNER TO ALLOW THE RECEIVING PARTY THEREOF TO ITSELF COMPLY WITH ANY LAW APPLICABLE TO THE ACTIONS OR FUNCTIONS OF SUCH RECEIVING PARTY (OR ITS AFFILIATES).
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 8.01 Entire Agreement; Construction. This Agreement, including the Exhibits and Schedules, shall constitute the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all previous negotiations, commitments, course of dealings and writings with respect to such subject matter. In the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement and any Schedule hereto, the Schedule shall prevail. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and the Tax Matters Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Tax Matters Agreement shall govern.
Section 8.02 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in more than one counterpart, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more such counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to each of the Parties.
Section 8.03 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in English, shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, by email (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) or by facsimile with receipt confirmed (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 8.03:
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If to Fortive:
Fortive Corporation
6920 Seaway Blvd.
Everett, WA 98203
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (425) 446-5007
E-mail: Peter.Underwood@fortive.com
If to Vontier:
Vontier Corporation
5420 Wade Park Boulevard, Suite 206
Raleigh, NC 27607
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (336) 292-8871
E-mail: Katie.rowen@vontier.com
Section 8.04 Waivers. Any consent required or permitted to be given by any Party to the other Party under this Agreement shall be in writing and signed by the Party giving such consent and shall be effective only against such Party (and its Group). No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of any Party, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver hereof or thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or thereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.
Section 8.05 Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by any Party hereto without the prior written consent of the other Party (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and any attempt to assign any rights or obligations arising under this Agreement without such consent shall be void. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to Section 6.03, this Agreement shall be assignable to a bona fide third party in connection with a merger, reorganization, consolidation or the sale of all or substantially all the assets of a Party hereto so long as the resulting, surviving or transferee entity assumes all the obligations of the relevant Party hereto by operation of law or pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the other Party; provided, however, that in the case of each of the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), no assignment permitted by this Section 8.05 shall release the assigning Party from Liability for the full performance of its obligations under this Agreement.
Section 8.06 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement and the obligations and rights hereunder shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by (and against) the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Section 8.07 Subsidiaries. Each of the Parties shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by any Subsidiary of such Party or by any entity that becomes a Subsidiary of such Party at and after the Distribution Date, to the extent such Subsidiary remains a Subsidiary of the applicable Party.
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Section 8.08 Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Parties and should not be deemed to confer upon third parties any remedy, claim, Liability, reimbursement, claim of Action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement.
Section 8.09 Titles and Headings. Titles and headings to Articles and Sections herein are inserted for the convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 8.10 Exhibits and Schedules. The Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed with and as an integral part of this Agreement to the same extent as if the same had been set forth verbatim herein.
Section 8.11 Governing Law. This Agreement and any dispute arising out of, in connection with or relating to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.
Section 8.12 Dispute Resolution. The provisions of Article VIII of the Separation Agreement shall govern any Dispute under or in connection with this Agreement.
Section 8.13 Severability. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The Parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
Section 8.14 Interpretation.
(a) The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the Party drafting or causing any instrument to be drafted.
(b) When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section or Exhibit, such reference shall be to an Article or Section of, or an Exhibit to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Wherever the words include, includes or including are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words without limitation. The words hereof, herein, hereto and hereunder and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed on the date first written above by their respective duly authorized officers.
FORTIVE CORPORATION | ||
By: |
/s/ Rajesh Yadava |
|
Name: Rajesh Yadava | ||
Title: Vice President, Treasurer | ||
VONTIER CORPORATION | ||
By: |
/s/ Kathryn K. Rowen |
|
Name: Kathryn K. Rowen | ||
Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel |
[FBS License Agreement Signature Page]
Exhibit 10.6
EXECUTION VERSION
STOCKHOLDERS AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This STOCKHOLDERS AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of October 8, 2020 (this Agreement), is by and between Vontier Corporation, a Delaware corporation (Vontier), and Fortive Corporation, a Delaware corporation (Fortive).
WHEREAS, Fortive currently owns all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Vontier (Vontier Common Stock);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of October 8, 2020, by and between Fortive and Vontier, Fortive will distribute 80.1% of the issued and outstanding shares of Vontier Common Stock to holders of shares of Fortive common stock, on a pro rata basis (the Distribution);
WHEREAS, Fortive intends for the Distribution to take place pursuant to a registration statement on Form 10 (the Distribution Registration Statement);
WHEREAS, following the Distribution, Fortive may effect distributions of any shares of Vontier Common Stock that are not distributed in the Distribution (such shares not distributed in the Distribution, the Retained Shares) to Fortive stockholders as dividends or in exchange for outstanding shares of Fortive common stock or through one or more subsequent exchanges of Vontier Common Stock for Fortive debt held by Fortive creditors, including pursuant to one or more transactions Registered under the Securities Act (as such terms are defined below);
WHEREAS, Vontier desires to grant to Fortive the Registration Rights (as defined below) for the Registrable Securities (as defined below), subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Fortive desires to grant to Vontier a proxy to vote the Retained Shares in proportion to the votes cast by Vontiers other stockholders, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual promises, covenants and agreements of the parties hereto, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Action means any demand, action, suit, countersuit, arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before any federal, state, local, foreign or international Governmental Authority or any arbitration or mediation tribunal.
Affiliate means, when used with respect to a specified Person, another Person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Person specified; provided, however, that, for purposes of this Agreement, Vontier and its Subsidiaries shall not be considered to be Affiliates of Fortive and its Subsidiaries (other than Vontier and its Subsidiaries), and Fortive and its Subsidiaries (other than Vontier and its Subsidiaries) shall not be considered to be Affiliates of Vontier or its Subsidiaries. As used herein, control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or other interests, by contract or otherwise.
Agreement has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
Ancillary Filings has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a)(i).
Business Day means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions doing business in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or required by executive order to be closed.
Convertible or Exchange Registration has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.
Debt means any indebtedness of any member of the Fortive Group, including debt securities, notes, credit facilities, credit agreements and other debt instruments, including, in each case, any amounts due thereunder.
Demand Registration has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
Distribution has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
Distribution Registration Statement has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
Exchange Act means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor thereto, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.
Exchange Offer means an exchange offer of Registrable Securities for outstanding securities of a Holder.
Exchanges means one or more Public Exchanges or Private Exchanges.
Fortive has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement and shall include its successors, by merger, acquisition, reorganization or otherwise.
Fortive Group means Fortive and each Person that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Fortive as of immediately following the Distribution, and each Person that becomes a Subsidiary of Fortive after the Distribution (in each case other than any member of the Vontier Group).
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Governmental Authority means any nation or government, any state, municipality or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity, body, agency, commission, department, board, bureau, court, tribunal or other instrumentality, whether federal, state, local, domestic, foreign or multinational, exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative or other similar functions of, or pertaining to, government and any executive official thereof.
Holder means Fortive or any of its Subsidiaries, so long as such Person holds any Registrable Securities, and any Person owning Registrable Securities who is a Permitted Transferee of rights under Section 4.3.
Initiating Holder has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
Loss or Losses has the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a).
Participating Banks means such investment banks or other Persons that are not part of the Fortive Group that engage, directly or indirectly, in any Exchange with one or more members of the Fortive Group.
Permitted Transferee means any Transferee and any Subsequent Transferee.
Person means any individual, firm, limited liability company or partnership, joint venture, corporation, joint stock company, trust or unincorporated organization, incorporated or unincorporated association, government (or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
Piggyback Registration has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
Private Exchange means a private exchange pursuant to which one or more members of the Fortive Group shall Sell some or all of their Registrable Securities to one or more Participating Banks in exchange, directly or indirectly, for any equity interest of Fortive or the satisfaction of Debt, in a transaction or series of transactions not required to be registered under the Securities Act.
Prospectus means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, all amendments and supplements to such prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all other material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
Public Exchange means a public exchange pursuant to which one or more members of the Fortive Group shall Sell some or all of their Registrable Securities to one or more Participating Banks in exchange, directly or indirectly, for any equity interest of Fortive or the satisfaction of Debt, in a transaction or series of transactions registered under the Securities Act.
Registrable Securities means any Retained Shares and any securities issued or issuable directly or indirectly with respect to, in exchange for, upon the conversion of or in replacement of the Retained Shares, whether by way of a dividend or distribution or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange or other reorganization. The term Registrable Securities excludes any security (i) the offering
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and Sale of which has been effectively Registered under the Securities Act and which has been Sold in accordance with a Registration Statement, (ii) that has been Sold pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor provision) under the Securities Act, (iii) that may be Sold pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor provision) under the Securities Act without being subject to the volume limitations in subsection (e) of such rule or (iv) that has been sold by a Holder in a transaction in which such Holders rights under this Agreement are not, or cannot be, assigned.
Registration means a registration with the SEC of the offer and Sale to the public of any Vontier Common Stock under a Registration Statement. The terms Register, Registered and Registering shall have a correlative meaning.
Registration Expenses means all expenses incident to Vontiers performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including all (i) registration, qualification and filing fees; (ii) expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any issuer free writing prospectus and the distribution thereof; (iii) the fees and expenses of Vontiers counsel and independent accountants (including the expenses of any comfort letters or costs associated with the delivery by Vontier Group members independent certified public accountants of comfort letters customarily requested by underwriters); (iv) the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one firm of attorneys acting as legal counsel for all of the Holders in the relevant Registration and Sale; (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Shares under the state or foreign securities or blue sky laws and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel); (vi) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar; (vii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of an offering by, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; (viii) expenses incurred in connection with any road show presentation to potential investors; (ix) printing expenses, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses; (x) internal expenses of Vontier (including all salaries and expenses of employees of Vontier performing legal or accounting duties); and (xi) fees and expenses of listing any Registrable Securities on any securities exchange on which shares of Vontier Common Stock are then listed; but excluding any internal expenses of the Holder, any underwriting discounts or commissions attributable to the Sale of any Registrable Securities and any stock transfer taxes.
Registration Period has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c).
Registration Rights means the rights of the Holders to cause Vontier to Register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement.
Registration Statement means any registration statement of Vontier filed with, or to be filed with, the SEC under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, including the related Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, and all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
Retained Shares has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
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Sale means the direct or indirect transfer, sale, assignment or other disposition of a security. The terms Sell and Sold have correlative meanings.
SEC means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor thereto, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.
Shares means all shares of Vontier Common Stock that are beneficially owned by Fortive or any Permitted Transferee from time to time, whether or not held immediately following the Distribution.
Shelf Registration means a Registration Statement of Vontier for an offering to be made on a delayed or continuous basis of Vontier Common Stock pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or similar provisions then in effect).
Subsequent Transferee has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(b).
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, joint venture or partnership of which such Person (i) beneficially owns, either directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of (A) the total combined voting power of all classes of voting securities of such Person, (B) the total combined equity interests or (C) the capital or profit interests, in the case of a partnership, or (ii) otherwise has the power to vote, either directly or indirectly, sufficient securities to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar governing body.
Takedown Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f).
Transferee has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(b).
Underwritten Offering means a Registration in which securities of Vontier are sold to an underwriter or underwriters on a firm commitment basis for reoffering to the public.
Vontier has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement and shall include its successors, by merger, acquisition, reorganization or otherwise.
Vontier Common Stock has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
Vontier Group means Vontier and each Person that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Vontier as of immediately following the Distribution, and each Person that becomes a Subsidiary of Vontier after the Distribution (in each case other than any member of the Fortive Group).
Vontier Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
Vontier Public Sale has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
Vontier Takedown Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f).
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1.2 General Interpretive Principles. Whenever used in this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, any noun or pronoun shall be deemed to include the plural as well as the singular and to cover all genders. Whenever the words include, includes or including are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words without limitation. Unless otherwise specified, the terms hereof, herein, hereunder and similar terms refer to this Agreement as a whole (including the exhibits hereto), and references herein to Articles, Sections and Exhibits refer to Articles, Sections and Exhibits of this Agreement. The word or shall have the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase and/or. Except as otherwise indicated, all periods of time referred to herein shall include all Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; provided, however, that if the date to perform the act or give any notice with respect to this Agreement shall fall on a day other than a Business Day, such act or notice may be performed or given timely if performed or given on the next succeeding Business Day. References to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns. The titles to Articles and headings of Sections contained in this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as jointly drafted by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
2.1 Registration.
(a) Request. Any Holder(s) of Registrable Securities (collectively, the Initiating Holder) shall have the right (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with its rights pursuant to Section 2.7) to request that Vontier file a Registration Statement with the SEC on the appropriate registration form for all or part of the Registrable Securities held by such Initiating Holder by delivering a written request to Vontier specifying the number of shares of Registrable Securities such Initiating Holder wishes to Register (a Demand Registration). Vontier shall (i) within five (5) days of the receipt of such request, give written notice of such Demand Registration to all Holders of Registrable Securities (the Vontier Notice), (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to prepare and file a Registration Statement as expeditiously as possible in respect of such Demand Registration and in any event within thirty (30) days of receipt of the request, and (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as expeditiously as possible. Vontier shall include in such Registration all Registrable Securities that the Holders request to be included within the ten (10) days following their receipt of the Vontier Notice.
(b) Limitations of Demand Registrations. There shall be no limitation on the number of Demand Registrations pursuant to Section 2.1(a); provided, however, that the Holder(s) may not require Vontier to effect a Demand Registration within sixty (60) days after the effective date of a previous registration by Vontier, other than a Shelf Registration, effected pursuant to this Section 2.1 (it being understood that the Distribution Registration Statement
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shall not be treated as a Demand Registration). In the event that any Person shall have received rights to Demand Registrations pursuant to Section 2.7 or Section 4.3, and such Person shall have made a Demand Registration request, such request shall be treated as having been made by the Holder(s). The Registrable Securities requested to be Registered pursuant to Section 2.1(a) must represent (i) an aggregate offering price of Registrable Securities that is reasonably expected to equal at least $10,000,000 (or its equivalent if the Registrable Securities are to be offered in an Exchange Offer) or (ii) all of the remaining Registrable Securities owned by the requesting Holder and its Affiliates.
(c) Effective Registration. Vontier shall be deemed to have effected a Registration for purposes of Section 2.1(a) if the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC or becomes effective upon filing with the SEC, and remains effective until the earlier of (i) the date when all Registrable Securities thereunder have been sold and (ii) ninety (90) days from the effective date of the Registration Statement (the Registration Period). No Registration shall be deemed to have been effective if the conditions to closing specified in the underwriting agreement or dealer-manager agreement, if any, entered into in connection with such Registration are not satisfied by reason of any member of the Vontier Group. If, during the Registration Period, such Registration is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or other Governmental Authority or the need to update or supplement the Registration Statement, the Registration Period shall be extended on a day-for-day basis for any period the Holder is unable to complete an offering as a result of such stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or other Governmental Authority.
(d) Underwritten Offering; Exchange Offer. If the Initiating Holder so indicates at the time of its request pursuant to Section 2.1(a), such offering of Registrable Securities shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering or an Exchange Offer and Vontier shall include such information in the Vontier Notice. In the event that the Initiating Holder intends to Sell the Registrable Securities by means of an Underwritten Offering or Exchange Offer, the right of any Holder to include Registrable Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon such Holders participation in such Underwritten Offering or Exchange Offer and the inclusion of such Holders Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Offering or Exchange Offer.
(e) Priority of Securities in an Underwritten Offering. If the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering, including an Underwritten Offering from a Shelf Registration, pursuant to this Section 2.1 informs the Holders with Registrable Securities in the proposed Underwritten Offering in writing that, in its or their opinion, the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering exceeds the number that can be sold in such Underwritten Offering without being likely to have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Registrable Securities offered or the market for the Registrable Securities offered, then the number of Registrable Securities to be included in such Underwritten Offering shall be reduced to such number that can be sold without such adverse effect and the Registrable Securities to be included in such Underwritten Offering shall be: (i) first, Registrable Securities requested by Fortive to be included in such Underwritten Offering; (ii) second, Registrable Securities requested by all other Holders to be included in such Underwritten Offering on a pro rata basis calculated based on the number of shares requested to be registered; and (iii) third, all other Registrable Securities requested and
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otherwise eligible to be included in such Underwritten Offering (including Registrable Securities to be sold for the account of Vontier) on a pro rata basis calculated based on the number of shares requested to be registered. In the event the Initiating Holder notifies Vontier that such Registration Statement shall be abandoned or withdrawn, such Holder shall not be deemed to have requested a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1(a), and Vontier shall not be deemed to have made a Demand Registration request pursuant to Section 2.1(a) and Section 2.1(c).
(f) Shelf Registration. At any time after the date hereof when Vontier is eligible to Register the applicable Registrable Securities on Form S-3 (or a successor form) and the Holder may request Demand Registrations, the requesting Holders may request Vontier to effect a Demand Registration as a Shelf Registration. There shall be no limitations on the number of Underwritten Offerings pursuant to a Shelf Registration. Any Holder of Registrable Securities included on a Shelf Registration shall have the right to request that Vontier cooperate in a shelf takedown at any time, including an Underwritten Offering, by delivering a written request thereof to Vontier specifying the number of shares of Registrable Securities such Holder wishes to include in the shelf takedown (Takedown Notice). Vontier shall (i) within five (5) days of the receipt of a Takedown Notice for an Underwritten Offering, give written notice of such Takedown Notice to all Holders of Registrable Securities included on such Shelf Registration (Vontier Takedown Notice), and (ii) take all actions reasonably requested by such Holder, including the filing of a Prospectus supplement and the other actions described in Section 2.4, in accordance with the intended method of distribution set forth in the Takedown Notice as expeditiously as possible. If the takedown is an Underwritten Offering, Vontier shall include in such Underwritten Offering all Registrable Securities that that the Holders request to be included within the two (2) days following their receipt of the Vontier Takedown Notice. If the takedown is an Underwritten Offering, the Registrable Securities requested to be included in a shelf takedown must represent (i) an aggregate offering price of Registrable Securities that is reasonably expected to equal at least $10,000,000 or (ii) all of the remaining Registrable Securities owned by the requesting Holder and its Affiliates. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this Agreement, the requirement to deliver a Takedown Notice and the piggyback rights described in this Section 2.1(f) shall not apply to an Underwritten Offering that constitutes a block trade.
(g) SEC Form. Except as set forth in the next sentence, Vontier shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause Demand Registrations to be Registered on Form S-3 (or any successor form), and if Vontier is not then eligible under the Securities Act to use Form S-3, Demand Registrations shall be Registered on Form S-1 (or any successor form) or Form S-4 (in the case of an Exchange Offer). If a Demand Registration is a Convertible or Exchange Registration, Vontier shall effect such Registration on the appropriate Form under the Securities Act for such Registrations. Vontier shall use its reasonable best efforts to become eligible to use Form S-3 and, after becoming eligible to use Form S-3, shall use its reasonable best efforts to remain so eligible. All Demand Registrations shall comply with applicable requirements of the Securities Act and, together with each Prospectus included, filed or otherwise furnished by Vontier in connection therewith, shall not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
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2.2 Piggyback Registrations.
(a) Participation. If Vontier proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to any offering of Vontier Common Stock for its own account and/or for the account of any other Persons (other than a Registration (i) under Section 2.1 hereof, (ii) pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 or Form S-4 or similar form that relates to a transaction subject to Rule 145 under the Securities Act, (iii) pursuant to any form that does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a Registration Statement covering the Sale of Registrable Securities, (iv) in connection with any dividend reinvestment or similar plan, (v) for the sole purpose of offering securities to another entity or its security holders in connection with the acquisition of assets or securities of such entity or any similar transaction or (vi) in which the only Vontier Common Stock being Registered is Vontier Common Stock issuable upon conversion of debt securities that are also being Registered) (a Vontier Public Sale), then, as soon as practicable (but in no event less than fifteen (15) days prior to the proposed date of filing such Registration Statement), Vontier shall give written notice of such proposed filing to each Holder, and such notice shall offer such Holders the opportunity to Register under such Registration Statement such number of Registrable Securities as each such Holder may request in writing (a Piggyback Registration). Subject to Section 2.2(a) and Section 2.2(c), Vontier shall include in such Registration Statement all such Registrable Securities that are requested to be included therein within fifteen (15) days after the receipt of any such notice; provided, however, that if, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to Register any securities and prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement filed in connection with such Registration, Vontier shall determine for any reason not to Register or to delay Registration of such securities, Vontier may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to each such Holder and, thereupon, (i) in the case of a determination not to Register, shall be relieved of its obligation to Register any Registrable Securities in connection with such Registration, without prejudice, however, to the rights of any Holder to request that such Registration be effected as a Demand Registration under Section 2.1, and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay Registration, shall be permitted to delay Registering any Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in Registering such other shares of Vontier Common Stock. No Registration effected under this Section 2.2 shall relieve Vontier of its obligation to effect any Demand Registration under Section 2.1. If the offering pursuant to a Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2.2 is to be an Underwritten Offering, then each Holder making a request for a Piggyback Registration pursuant to this Section 2.2(a) shall, and Vontier shall use reasonable best efforts to coordinate arrangements with the underwriters so that each such Holder may, participate in such Underwritten Offering. If the offering pursuant to such Registration Statement is to be on any other basis, then each Holder making a request for a Piggyback Registration pursuant to this Section 2.2(a) shall, and Vontier shall use reasonable best efforts to coordinate arrangements so that each such Holder may, participate in such offering on such basis. Vontiers filing of a Shelf Registration shall not be deemed to be a Vontier Public Sale; provided, however, that the proposal to file any Prospectus supplement filed pursuant to a Shelf Registration with respect to an offering of Vontier Common Stock for its own account and/or for the account of any other Persons will be a Vontier Public Sale unless such offering qualifies for an exemption from the Vontier Public Sale definition in this Section 2.2(a); provided, further that if Vontier files a Shelf Registration for its own account and/or for the account of any other Persons, Vontier agrees that it shall use its reasonable best efforts to include in such Registration Statement such disclosures as may be required by Rule 430B under the Securities Act in order to ensure that the Holders may be added to such Shelf Registration at a later time through the filing of a Prospectus supplement rather than a post-effective amendment.
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(b) Right to Withdraw. Each Holder shall have the right to withdraw such Holders request for inclusion of its Registrable Securities in any Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 2.2 at any time prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement with respect thereto by giving written notice to Vontier of such Holders request to withdraw and, subject to the preceding clause, each Holder shall be permitted to withdraw all or part of such Holders Registrable Securities from a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effective date thereof.
(c) Priority of Piggyback Registration. If the managing underwriter or underwriters of any proposed Underwritten Offering of a class of Registrable Securities included in a Piggyback Registration informs Vontier and the Holders in writing that, in its or their opinion, the number of securities of such class which such Holder and any other Persons intend to include in such Underwritten Offering exceeds the number which can be sold in such Underwritten Offering without being likely to have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the securities offered or the market for the securities offered, then the securities to be included in such Underwritten Offering shall be reduced to such number that can be sold without such adverse effect and the securities to be included in the Underwritten Offering shall be (i) first, all securities of Vontier or any other Persons for whom Vontier is effecting the Underwritten Offering, as the case may be, proposes to Sell; (ii) second, Registrable Securities requested by Fortive to be included in such Underwritten Offering; (iii) third, Registrable Securities requested by all other Holders to be included in such Underwritten Offering on a pro rata basis calculated based on the number of shares requested to be registered; and (iv) fourth, all other securities requested and otherwise eligible to be included in such Underwritten Offering (including securities to be sold for the account of Vontier) on a pro rata basis calculated based on the number of shares requested to be registered.
2.3 Selection of Underwriter(s), Etc. In any Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2 that is not an Vontier Public Sale, Fortive, in the event Fortive is participating in such Underwritten Offering, or the Holders of a majority of the outstanding Registrable Securities being included in the Underwritten Offering or Exchange Offer, in the event Fortive is not participating in such Underwritten Offering or Exchange Offer, shall select the underwriter(s), dealer-manager(s), financial printer, solicitation and/or exchange agent (if any) and Holders counsel for such Underwritten Offering or Exchange Offer. In any Vontier Public Sale, Vontier shall select the underwriter(s), dealer-manager(s), financial printer, solicitation and/or exchange agent (if any) and Fortive, in the event Fortive is participating in such Underwritten Offering or Exchange Offer, or the Holders of a majority of the outstanding Registrable Securities being included in the Vontier Public Sale, in the event Fortive is not participating in such Underwritten Offering or Exchange Offer, shall select counsel to the Holder(s).
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2.4 Registration Procedures.
(a) In connection with the Registration and/or Sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, through an Underwritten Offering or otherwise, Vontier shall use reasonable best efforts to effect or cause the Registration and the Sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended methods of Sale thereof and:
(i) prepare and file the required Registration Statement including all exhibits and financial statements and, in the case of an Exchange Offer, any document required under Rule 425 or Rule 165 with respect to such Exchange Offer (collectively, the Ancillary Filings) required under the Securities Act to be filed therewith, and before filing with the SEC a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, (A) furnish to the underwriters or dealer-managers, if any, and to the Holders, copies of all documents prepared to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review and comment of such underwriters or dealer-managers and such Holders and their respective counsel, and provide such underwriters or dealers managers, if any, and such Holders and their respective counsel reasonable time to review and comment thereon and (B) not file with the SEC any Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendments or supplements thereto or any Ancillary Filing to which the Holders or the underwriters or dealer-managers, if any, shall reasonably object;
(ii) except in the case of a Shelf Registration or Convertible or Exchange Registration, prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the Sale of all of the Shares Registered thereon until the earlier of (A) such time as all of such Shares have been Sold in accordance with the intended methods of Sale set forth in such Registration Statement or (B) the expiration of nine (9) months after such Registration Statement becomes effective;
(iii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the Sale of all Shares subject thereto for a period ending thirty-six (36) months after the effective date of such Registration Statement;
(iv) in the case of a Convertible or Exchange Registration, prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the Sale of all of the Shares subject thereto until such time as the rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities Act and the terms of any applicable convertible securities no longer require such Shares to be Registered under the Securities Act;
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(v) notify the participating Holders and the managing underwriter or underwriters or dealer-managers, if any, and (if requested) confirm such advice in writing and provide copies of the relevant documents, as soon as reasonably practicable after notice thereof is received by Vontier (A) when the applicable Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed or becomes effective, when the applicable Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Prospectus has been filed, or any Ancillary Filing has been filed, (B) of any written comments by the SEC or any request by the SEC or any other Governmental Authority for amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or any Ancillary Filing or for additional information, (C) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary or final Prospectus or any Ancillary Filing or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for such purposes, (D) if, at any time, the representations and warranties of Vontier in any applicable underwriting agreement or dealer-manager agreements cease to be true and correct in all material respects, and (E) of the receipt by Vontier of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for offering or Sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose;
(vi) promptly notify each selling Holder and the managing underwriter or underwriters or dealer-managers, if any, when Vontier becomes aware of the occurrence of any event as a result of which the applicable Registration Statement or the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (as then in effect) or any Ancillary Filing contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of such Prospectus and any preliminary Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such time period to amend or supplement such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any Ancillary Filing in order to comply with the Securities Act and, in either case as promptly as reasonably practicable thereafter, prepare and file with the SEC, and furnish without charge to the selling Holder and the managing underwriter or underwriters or dealer-managers, if any, an amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any Ancillary Filing which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;
(vii) use its reasonable best efforts to prevent or obtain the withdrawal of any stop order or other order suspending the use of any preliminary or final Prospectus;
(viii) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriters or dealer-managers, if any, and the Holders may reasonably request in order to permit the intended method of distribution of the Registrable Securities; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
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(ix) furnish to each selling Holder and each underwriter or dealer-manager, if any, without charge, as many conformed copies as such Holder or underwriter or dealer-manager may reasonably request of the applicable Registration Statement and any amendment or post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits (including those incorporated by reference);
(x) deliver to each selling Holder and each underwriter or dealer-manager, if any, without charge, as many copies of the applicable Prospectus (including each preliminary Prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder or underwriter or dealer-manager may reasonably request (it being understood that Vontier consents to the use of such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each selling Holder and the underwriters or dealer-managers, if any, in connection with the offering and Sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto) and such other documents as such selling Holder or underwriter or dealer-manager may reasonably request in order to facilitate the Sale of the Registrable Securities by such Holder or underwriter or dealer-manager;
(xi) on or prior to the date on which the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective or becomes effective, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify, and cooperate with each selling Holder, the managing underwriter or underwriters or dealer-managers, if any, and their respective counsel, in connection with the registration or qualification of such Registrable Securities for offer and Sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of each state and other jurisdiction of the United States as any selling Holder or managing underwriter or underwriters or dealer-managers, if any, or their respective counsel reasonably request, and in any foreign jurisdiction mutually agreeable to Vontier and the participating Holders, in writing and do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary or advisable to keep such registration or qualification in effect for so long as such Registration Statement remains in effect and so as to permit the continuance of Sales and dealings in such jurisdictions of the United States for so long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement; provided that Vontier will not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to taxation or general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;
(xii) in connection with any Sale of Registrable Securities that will result in such securities no longer being Registrable Securities, cooperate with each participating Holder and the managing underwriter or underwriters or dealer-managers, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive Securities Act legends; and to register such Registrable Securities in such denominations and such names as such selling Holder or the underwriters or dealer-managers, if any, may request at least two (2) Business Days prior to such Sale of Registrable Securities; provided that Vontier may satisfy its obligations hereunder without issuing physical stock certificates through the use of the Depository Trust Companys Direct Registration System;
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(xiii) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and each securities exchange, if any, on which any of Vontiers securities are then listed or quoted and on each inter-dealer quotation system on which any of Vontiers securities are then quoted, and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter or dealer-manager (including any qualified independent underwriter) that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of each such exchange, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter or underwriters or dealer-managers, if any, to consummate the Sale of such Registrable Securities;
(xiv) not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement, provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities and provide the applicable transfer agent with printed certificates for the Registrable Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company; provided that Vontier may satisfy its obligations hereunder without issuing physical stock certificates through the use of the Depository Trust Companys Direct Registration System;
(xv) obtain for delivery to and addressed to each selling Holder and to the underwriter or underwriters or dealer-managers, if any, opinions from outside counsel and the general counsel for Vontier, in each case dated the effective date of the Registration Statement or, in the event of an Underwritten Offering, the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement or, in the event of an Exchange Offer, the date of the closing under the dealer-manager agreement or similar agreement or otherwise, and in each such case in customary form and content for the type of Underwritten Offering or Exchange Offer, as applicable;
(xvi) in the case of an Underwritten Offering or Exchange Offer, obtain for delivery to and addressed to Vontier and the underwriter or underwriters or dealer-managers and, to the extent requested, each participating Holder, a comfort letter from Vontiers or other applicable independent certified public accountants in customary form and content for the type of Underwritten Offering or Exchange Offer, dated the date of execution of the underwriting agreement or dealer-manager agreement, or, if none, the date of commencement of the Exchange Offer, and brought down to the closing, whether under the underwriting agreement or dealer-manager agreement, if applicable, or otherwise;
(xvii) in the case of an Exchange Offer that does not involve a dealer-manager, provide to each participating Holder such customary written representations and warranties or other covenants or agreements as may be requested by any participating Holder comparable to those that would be included in an underwriting agreement or dealer-manager agreement;
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(xviii) use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make generally available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than ninety (90) days after the end of the twelve (12)-month period beginning with the first day of Vontiers first quarter commencing after the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement, an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and covering the period of at least twelve (12) months, but not more than eighteen (18) months, beginning with the first month after the effective date of the Registration Statement;
(xix) provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
(xx) cause all Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange on which any of Vontiers securities are then listed or quoted and on each inter-dealer quotation system on which any of Vontiers securities are then quoted;
(xxi) provide (A) each Holder participating in the Registration, (B) the underwriters (which term, for purposes of this Agreement, shall include a Person deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act), if any, of the Registrable Securities to be Registered, (C) the Sale or placement agent therefor, if any, (D) the dealer-manager therefor, (E) counsel for such underwriters or agent or dealer-manager, and (F) any attorney, accountant or other agent or representative retained by such Holder or any such underwriter or dealer-manager, as selected by such Holder, the opportunity to participate in the preparation of such Registration Statement, each Prospectus included therein or filed with the SEC, and each amendment or supplement thereto, and to require the insertion therein of material, furnished to Vontier in writing, which in the reasonable judgment of such Holder(s) and their counsel should be included; and for a reasonable period prior to the filing of such Registration Statement, upon receipt of such confidentiality agreements as Vontier may reasonably request, make available upon reasonable notice at reasonable times and for reasonable periods for inspection by the parties referred to in (A) through (F) above, all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent corporate and other documents and properties of Vontier that are available to Vontier, and cause all of Vontiers officers, directors and employees and the independent public accountants who have certified its financial statements to make themselves available at reasonable times and for reasonable periods to discuss the business of Vontier and to supply all information available to Vontier reasonably requested by any such Person in connection with such Registration Statement as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, subject to the foregoing;
(xxii) to cause the executive officers of Vontier to participate in customary road show presentations that may be reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters or dealer-managers in any Underwritten Offering or Exchange Offer and otherwise to facilitate, cooperate with, and participate in each proposed offering contemplated herein and customary selling efforts related thereto; and
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(xxiii) take all other customary steps reasonably necessary to effect the Registration, offering and Sale of the Registrable Securities.
(b) As a condition precedent to any Registration hereunder, Vontier may require each Holder as to which any Registration is being effected to furnish to Vontier such information regarding the distribution of such securities and such other information relating to such Holder, its ownership of Registrable Securities and other matters as Vontier may from time to time reasonably request in writing. Each such Holder agrees to furnish such information to Vontier and to cooperate with Vontier as reasonably necessary to enable Vontier to comply with the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) Fortive agrees, and any other Holder agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Securities, that, upon receipt of any written notice from Vontier of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 2.4(a)(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue the Sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement until such Holders receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 2.4(a)(vi), or until such Holder is advised in writing by Vontier that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and if so directed by Vontier, such Holder will deliver to Vontier (at Vontiers expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holders possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event Vontier shall give any such notice, the period during which the applicable Registration Statement is required to be maintained effective shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement either receives the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 2.4(a)(vi) or is advised in writing by Vontier that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed.
2.5 Holdback Agreements. To the extent requested in writing by the managing underwriter or underwriters of any Underwritten Offering, Vontier agrees not to, and shall exercise reasonable best efforts to obtain agreements (in the underwriters customary form) from its directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of five percent (5%) or more of Vontier Common Stock not to, directly or indirectly offer, Sell, pledge, contract to Sell (including any short Sale), grant any option to purchase or otherwise Sell any equity securities of Vontier or enter into any hedging transaction relating to any equity securities of Vontier during the ninety (90) days beginning on pricing date of such Underwritten Offering (except as part of such Underwritten Offering or any Distribution or pursuant to registrations on Form S-8 or S-4 or any successor forms thereto) unless the managing underwriter or underwriters otherwise agree to a shorter period.
2.6 Underwritten Offerings; Exchange Offers. If requested by the managing underwriters for any Underwritten Offering or dealer-managers for any Exchange Offer, Vontier shall enter into an underwriting agreement or dealer-manager agreement with such underwriters or dealer-managers for such offering; provided, however, that no Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties to Vontier or the underwriters or dealer-managers (other than representations and warranties regarding such Holder and such Holders intended method of distribution) or to undertake any indemnification obligations to Vontier or the underwriters or dealer-managers with respect thereto, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.9 hereof.
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2.7 Convertible or Exchange Registration; Registration Rights with Participating Banks.
(a) If any Holder of Registrable Securities offers any options, rights, warrants or other securities issued by it or any other Person that are offered with, convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any Registrable Securities, the Registrable Securities underlying such options, rights, warrants or other securities shall be eligible for Registration pursuant to Section 2.1 and Section 2.2 hereof (a Convertible or Exchange Registration).
(b) If one or more members of the Fortive Group decides to engage, directly or indirectly, in an Exchange with one or more Participating Banks, Vontier shall, upon Fortives request, enter into a registration rights agreement with the Participating Banks in connection with such Exchange, as applicable, on terms and conditions consistent with this Agreement (other than the voting provisions contained in Article III hereof) and reasonably satisfactory to Vontier and the Fortive Group.
2.8 Registration Expenses Paid By Vontier. In the case of any Registration of Registrable Securities required pursuant to this Agreement (including any Registration that is delayed or withdrawn) or proposed Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Agreement, Vontier shall pay all Registration Expenses regardless of whether the Registration Statement becomes effective or the Underwritten Offering is completed.
2.9 Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by Vontier. Vontier agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, each Holder, such Holders Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, advisors, and agents and each Person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) such Persons from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (or actions in respect thereof, whether or not such indemnified party is a party thereto) and expenses, joint or several (including reasonable costs of investigation and legal expenses) (each, a Loss and collectively Losses) arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the Sale of such Registrable Securities was Registered under the Securities Act (including any final or preliminary Prospectus contained therein or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any documents incorporated by reference therein), or any such statement made in any free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that Vontier has filed or is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or (ii) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a Prospectus, preliminary Prospectus or free writing prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading; provided, however, that Vontier shall not be liable to any particular indemnified party in any such case to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any such Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to Vontier by such indemnified party expressly for use in the preparation thereof. This indemnity shall be in addition to any liability Vontier may otherwise have. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Holder or any indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Holder.
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(b) Indemnification by the Selling Holder. Each selling Holder agrees (severally and not jointly) to indemnify and hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, Vontier, its directors, officers, employees, advisors, and agents and each Person who controls Vontier (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) from and against any Losses arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the Sale of such Registrable Securities was Registered under the Securities Act (including any final or preliminary Prospectus contained therein or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any documents incorporated by reference therein), or any such statement made in any free writing prospectus that Vontier has filed or is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, or (ii) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a Prospectus, preliminary Prospectus or free writing prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading to the extent, but, in each case (i) or (ii), only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information furnished in writing by such selling Holder to Vontier specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, preliminary Prospectus or free writing prospectus. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder under the Sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation. This indemnity shall be in addition to any liability the selling Holder may otherwise have. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of Vontier or any indemnified party.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder will (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that any delay or failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder only to the extent that it is materially prejudiced by reason of such delay or failure) and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided, however, that any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to select and employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Person unless (i) the indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees or expenses, (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim within a reasonable time after receipt of notice of such claim from the Person entitled to indemnification hereunder and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Person, (iii) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, or (iv) in the reasonable judgment of any such Person, based upon advice of its counsel, a conflict of interest may exist between such Person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if the Person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such Person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such Person). If such defense is not assumed by the indemnifying
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party, the indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its consent, but such consent may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. If the indemnifying party assumes the defense, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to settle such action without the consent of the indemnified party, which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. No indemnifying party shall consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of an unconditional release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time from all such indemnified party or parties unless (x) the employment of more than one counsel has been authorized in writing by the indemnified party or parties, (y) an indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the other indemnified parties or (z) a conflict or potential conflict exists or may exist (based on advice of counsel to an indemnified party) between such indemnified party and the other indemnified parties, in each of which cases the indemnifying party shall be obligated to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such additional counsel or counsels.
(d) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provided for in Section 2.9(a) or Section 2.9(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold it harmless as contemplated by Section 2.9(a) or Section 2.9(b), then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such Loss in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other hand. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or the indemnified party and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.9(d) to the contrary, no indemnifying party (other than Vontier) shall be required pursuant to this Section 2.9(d) to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such indemnifying party from the Sale of Registrable Securities in the offering to which the Losses of the indemnified parties relate (before deducting expenses, if any) exceeds the amount of any damages which such indemnifying party has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 2.9(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 2.9(d). No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party hereunder shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 2.9(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding. If indemnification is available under this Section 2.9, the indemnifying parties shall indemnify each indemnified party to the full extent provided in Section 2.9(a) and Section 2.9(b) hereof without regard to the relative fault of said indemnifying parties or indemnified party.
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2.10 Reporting Requirements; Rule 144. Until the expiration or termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, Vontier shall be and remain in compliance with the periodic filing requirements imposed under the SECs rules and regulations, including the Exchange Act, and any other applicable laws or rules, and shall timely file such information, documents and reports as the SEC may require or prescribe under Section 13 or 15(d) (whichever is applicable) of the Exchange Act. If Vontier is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder, make publicly available such necessary information for so long as necessary to permit Sales pursuant to Rule 144 or Regulation S under the Securities Act, and it will take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to Sell Registrable Securities without Registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144 or Regulation S under the Securities Act, as such Rules may be amended from time to time, or (b) any rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. From and after the date hereof through the first anniversary of the date upon which no Holder owns any Registrable Securities, Vontier shall forthwith upon request furnish any Holder (i) a written statement by Vontier as to whether it has complied with such requirements and, if not, the specifics thereof, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of Vontier, and (iii) such other reports and documents filed by Vontier with the SEC as such Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of an exemption for the Sale of Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act.
2.11 Other Registration Rights. Vontier shall not grant to any Persons the right to request Vontier to Register any equity securities of Vontier, or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such securities, whether pursuant to demand, piggyback, or other rights, unless such rights are subject and subordinate to the rights of the Holders under this Agreement.
ARTICLE III
VOTING RESTRICTIONS
3.1 Voting of Vontier Common Stock.
(a) From the date of the Distribution until the date that the Fortive Group ceases to own any Retained Shares, Fortive shall, and shall cause each member of the Fortive Group to (in each case, to the extent that they own any Retained Shares), be present, in person or by proxy, at each and every Vontier stockholder meeting, and otherwise to cause all Retained Shares owned by them to be counted as present for purposes of establishing a quorum at any such meeting, and to vote or consent on any matter (including waivers of contractual or statutory rights), or cause to be voted or consented on any such matter, all such Retained Shares in proportion to the votes cast by the other holders of Vontier Common Stock on such matter.
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(b) From the date of the Distribution until the date that the Fortive Group ceases to own any Retained Shares, Fortive hereby grants, and shall cause each member of the Fortive Group (in each case, to the extent that they own any Retained Shares) to grant, an irrevocable proxy, which shall be deemed coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable proxy to Vontier or its designees, to vote, with respect to any matter (including waivers of contractual or statutory rights), all Retained Shares owned by them, in proportion to the votes cast by the other holders of Vontier Common Stock on such matter; provided that (i) such proxy shall automatically be revoked as to a particular Retained Share upon any Sale of such Retained Share from a member of the Fortive Group to a Person other than a member of the Fortive Group and (ii) nothing in this Section 3.1(b) shall limit or prohibit any such Sale.
(c) Fortive acknowledges and agrees (on behalf of itself and each member of the Fortive Group) that Vontier will be irreparably damaged in the event any of the provisions of this Article III are not performed by Fortive in accordance with their terms or are otherwise breached. Accordingly, it is agreed that Vontier shall be entitled to an injunction to prevent breaches of this Article III and to specific enforcement of the provisions of this Article III in any action instituted in any court of the United States or any state having subject matter jurisdiction over such action.
ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS
4.1 Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon such time as there are no Registrable Securities, except for the provisions of Section 2.8 and Section 2.9 and all of this Article IV, which shall survive any such termination.
4.2 Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in English, shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, by email (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) or by facsimile with receipt confirmed (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service) to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 4.2):
To Fortive:
Fortive Corporation
6920 Seaway Blvd.
Everett, WA 98203
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (425) 446-5007
E-mail: Peter.Underwood@fortive.com
To Vontier:
Vontier Corporation
5420 Wade Park Boulevard, Suite 206
Raleigh, NC 27607
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (336) 292-8871
E-mail: Katie.rowen@vontier.com
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4.3 Successors, Assigns and Transferees.
(a) The provisions of this Agreement and the obligations and rights hereunder shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by (and against) the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Vontier may assign this Agreement at any time in connection with a Sale or acquisition of Vontier, whether by merger, consolidation, Sale of all or substantially all of Vontiers assets, or similar transaction, without the consent of the Holders; provided that the successor or acquiring Person agrees in writing to assume all of Vontiers rights and obligations under this Agreement. Fortive may assign this Agreement to any member of the Fortive Group or at any time in connection with a sale or acquisition of Fortive, whether by merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of Fortives assets, or similar transaction, without the consent of Vontier.
(b) In connection with the Sale of Registrable Securities, Fortive may assign its Registration-related rights and obligations under this Agreement relating to such Registrable Securities to the following transferees in such Sale: (i) a member of the Fortive Group to which Registrable Securities are Sold, (ii) one or more Participating Banks to which Registrable Securities are Sold, (iii) any other transferee to which Registrable Securities are Sold, if Vontier provides prior written consent to the transfer of such Registration-related rights and obligations along with the Sale of Registrable Securities or (iv) any other transferee that acquires at least five percent (5%) of the number of Registrable Securities beneficially owned by Fortive immediately following the completion of the Distribution; provided, that in the case of clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), (x) Vontier is given written notice prior to or at the time of such Sale stating the name and address of the transferee and identifying the securities with respect to which the Registration-related rights and obligations are being Sold and (y) the transferee executes a counterpart in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and delivers the same to Vontier (any such transferee in such Sale, a Transferee). In connection with the Sale of Registrable Securities, a Transferee or Subsequent Transferee (as defined below) may assign its Registration-related rights and obligations under this Agreement relating to such Registrable Securities to the following subsequent transferees: (A) an Affiliate of such Transferee to which Registrable Securities are Sold, (B) any subsequent transferee to which Registrable Securities are Sold, if Vontier provides prior written consent to the transfer of such Registration-related rights and obligations along with the Sale of Registrable Securities or (C) any other subsequent transferee that acquires at least five percent (5%) of the number of Registrable Securities beneficially owned by Fortive immediately following the completion of the Distribution; provided, that in the case of clauses (A), (B) or (C), (x) Vontier is given written notice prior to or at the time of such Sale stating the name and address of the subsequent transferee and identifying the securities with respect to which the Registration-related rights and obligations are being assigned and (y) the subsequent transferee executes a counterpart in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and delivers the same to Vontier (any such subsequent transferee, a Subsequent Transferee).
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4.4 GOVERNING LAW; NO JURY TRIAL.
(a) This Agreement and any dispute arising out of, in connection with or relating to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.
(b) In the event of a controversy, dispute or Action arising out of, in connection with, or in relation to the interpretation, performance, nonperformance, validity or breach of this Agreement or otherwise arising out of, or in any way related to, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, including any Action based on contract, tort, statute or constitution (collectively, Disputes), the general counsels of the parties (or such other individuals designated by the respective general counsels) and/or the executive officers designated by the parties shall negotiate for a reasonable period of time to settle such Dispute; provided, that such reasonable period shall not, unless otherwise agreed by the parties in writing, exceed sixty (60) days (the Negotiation Period) from the time of receipt by a party of written notice of such Dispute (Dispute Notice) and settlement of such Dispute pursuant to this Section 4.4 shall be confidential, and no written or oral statements or offers made by the parties during such settlement negotiations shall be admissible for any purpose in any subsequent proceedings, including any arbitration proceeding pursuant to Section 4.4(c); provided further, that in the event of any arbitration in accordance with Section 4.4(c) hereof, the parties shall not assert the defenses of statute of limitations and laches arising during the period beginning after the date of receipt of the Dispute Notice, and any contractual time period or deadline under this Agreement to which such Dispute relates occurring after the Dispute Notice is received shall not be deemed to have passed until such Dispute has been resolved.
(c) If the Dispute has not been resolved for any reason after the Negotiation Period, such Dispute shall be submitted to final and binding arbitration administered in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) then in effect (the Rules), except as modified herein.
(i) The arbitration shall be conducted by a three-member arbitral tribunal (the Arbitral Tribunal). The claimant shall nominate one arbitrator in accordance with the Rules, and the respondent shall nominate one arbitrator in accordance with the Rules within twenty-one days (21) after the appointment of the first arbitrator. The third arbitrator, who shall serve as chair of the Arbitral Tribunal, shall be jointly nominated by the two party-nominated arbitrators within twenty-one (21) days of the confirmation of the appointment of the second arbitrator. If any arbitrator is not appointed within the time limit provided herein, such arbitrator shall be appointed by the AAA in accordance with the listing, striking and ranking procedure in the Rules.
(ii) The arbitration shall be held, and the award shall be rendered, in New York, New York, in the English language.
(iii) For the avoidance of doubt, by submitting their dispute to arbitration under the Rules, the parties expressly agree that all issues of arbitrability, including all issues concerning the propriety and timeliness of the commencement of the arbitration (including any defense based on a statute of limitation, if applicable), the jurisdiction of the Arbitral Tribunal, and the procedural conditions for arbitration, shall be finally and solely determined by the Arbitral Tribunal.
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(iv) Without derogating from Section 4.4(c)(v) below, the Arbitral Tribunal shall have the full authority to grant any pre-arbitral injunction, pre-arbitral attachment, interim or conservatory measure or other order in aid of arbitration proceedings (Interim Relief). The parties shall exclusively submit any application for Interim Relief to only: (A) the Arbitral Tribunal; or (B) prior to the constitution of the Arbitral Tribunal, an Emergency Arbitrator appointed in the manner provided for in the Rules. Any Interim Relief so issued shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be deemed a final arbitration award for purposes of enforceability, and, moreover, shall also be deemed a term and condition of this Agreement subject to specific performance in Section 4.5 below. The foregoing procedures shall constitute the exclusive means of seeking Interim Relief, provided, however, that (i) the Arbitral Tribunal shall have the power to continue, review, vacate or modify any Interim Relief granted by an Emergency Arbitrator; (ii) in the event an Emergency Arbitrator or the Arbitral Tribunal issues an order granting, denying or otherwise addressing Interim Relief (a Decision on Interim Relief), any party may apply to enforce or require specific performance of such Decision on Interim Relief in any court of competent jurisdiction; and (iii) either party shall retain the right to apply for freezing orders to prevent the improper dissipation of transfer of assets to a court of competent jurisdiction.
(v) The Arbitral Tribunal shall have the power to grant any remedy or relief that it deems just and equitable and that is in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, including specific performance and temporary or final injunctive relief, provided, however, that the Arbitral Tribunal shall have no authority or power to limit, expand, alter, amend, modify, revoke or suspend any condition or provision of this Agreement, nor any right or power to award punitive, exemplary or treble damages.
(vi) The Arbitral Tribunal shall have the power to allocate the costs and fees of the arbitration, including reasonable attorneys fees and costs as well as those costs and fees addressed in the Rules, between the parties in the manner it deems fit.
(vii) Arbitration under this Section 4.4 shall be the sole and exclusive remedy for any Dispute, and any award rendered thereby shall be final and binding upon the parties as from the date rendered. Judgment on the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof, including any court having jurisdiction over the relevant Party or its Assets.
4.5 Specific Performance. In the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement, the parties agree that the party or parties to this Agreement who are or are to be thereby aggrieved shall, subject and pursuant to the terms of this Section 4.5 (including for the avoidance of doubt, after compliance with all notice and negotiation provisions herein), have the right to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief of its or their rights under this Agreement, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be
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cumulative. The parties agree that the remedies at law for any breach or threatened breach of this Agreement, including monetary damages, are inadequate compensation for any loss, that any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate is hereby waived, and that any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with such remedy are hereby waived.
4.6 Headings. The article, section and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for the convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
4.7 Severability. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
4.8 Amendment; Waiver.
(a) This Agreement may not be amended or modified and waivers and consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, except by an instrument or instruments in writing making specific reference to this Agreement and signed by Vontier and the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities; provided that if Fortive or any of its Affiliates owns Registrable Securities, no amendment to or waiver of any provision in this Agreement will be effected without the written consent of Fortive if such amendment or waiver adversely affects the rights of Fortive or such Affiliates of Fortive.
(b) No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of any party, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver hereof or thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or thereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.
4.9 Registrations, Exchanges, etc. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary that may be contained in this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to (a) any shares of Vontier Common Stock, now or hereafter authorized to be issued, (b) any and all securities of Vontier into which the shares of Vontier Common Stock are converted, exchanged or substituted in any recapitalization or other capital reorganization by Vontier and (c) any and all securities of any kind whatsoever of Vontier or any successor or permitted assign of Vontier (whether by merger, consolidation, Sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued on or after the date hereof in respect of, in conversion of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the shares of Vontier Common Stock, and shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividends, or other distributions, stock splits or reverse stock splits, combinations, recapitalizations, mergers, consolidations, exchange offers or other reorganizations occurring after the date hereof.
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4.10 Further Assurances. In addition to and without limiting the actions specifically provided for elsewhere in this Agreement and subject to the limitations expressly set forth in this Agreement each of the parties shall cooperate with each other and use (and shall cause its respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates to use) commercially reasonable efforts to take, or to cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or to cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary on its part under applicable law or contractual obligations to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
4.11 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party. Execution of this Agreement or any other documents pursuant to this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic copy of a signature shall be deemed to be, and shall have the same effect as, executed by an original signature.
[The remainder of page intentionally left blank. Signature page follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
FORTIVE CORPORATION | ||||
By: |
/s/ Rajesh Yadava |
|||
Name: | Rajesh Yadava | |||
Title: | Vice President, Treasurer | |||
VONTIER CORPORATION | ||||
By: |
/s/ Kathryn K. Rowen |
|||
Name: | Kathryn K. Rowen | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President, General Counsel |
[Signature Page to Stockholders and Registration Rights Agreement]
Exhibit 10.7
VONTIER CORPORATION
2020 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
1. |
Purpose of the Plan. Vontier Corporation, a Delaware corporation, wishes to recruit and retain key Employees, Directors and Consultants and to motivate them to contribute to the growth and profitability of the Company. To further these objectives, the Company established the Vontier Corporation 2020 Stock Incentive Plan. Under the Plan, the Company may make grants of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Grants, Restricted Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards and Conversion Awards. The Company may also make direct grants of Common Stock in the form of Restricted Stock Grants to Participants as a bonus or other incentive or grant such stock in lieu of Company obligations to pay cash under other plans or compensatory arrangements, including any deferred compensation plans. |
2. |
Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply: |
Administrator means the Compensation & Management Development Committee of the Board, unless the Board specifies another committee or the Board elects to act in such capacity.
Award means an award of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Grants, Restricted Stock Units, Other Stock-Based Awards or Conversion Awards (each as defined below).
Award Agreement means any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award, including through electronic medium, which shall contain such terms and conditions with respect to an Award as the Administrator shall determine, consistent with the Plan.
Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
Code means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time and the regulations issued with respect thereof.
Committee means the Compensation & Management Development Committee of the Board.
Common Stock means the common stock of the Company.
Company means Vontier Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
Consultant means any person engaged as a consultant or advisor of the Company or an Eligible Subsidiary for whom a Form S-8 Registration Statement is available for the issuance of securities.
Conversion Award means an Award granted pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan.
Date of Grant means the date as of which the Administrator grants an Award to a person.
Disability means a Participant, as determined by the Administrator (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Participants employer.
Early Retirement means an employee voluntarily ceases to be an Employee and the Administrator determines (either initially or subsequent to the grant of the relevant Award) that the cessation constitutes Retirement for purposes of this Plan. In deciding whether a termination of employment is an Early Retirement, the Administrator need not consider the definition under any other Company benefit plan.
Eligible Director (or Director) means a non-employee director of the Company or one of its Eligible Subsidiaries.
Eligible Subsidiary means each of the Companys Subsidiaries, except as the Administrator otherwise specifies.
Employee means any person employed as an employee of the Company or an Eligible Subsidiary.
Exchange Act means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exercise Price means, in the case of an Option, the value of the consideration that an Optionee must provide in exchange for one share of Common Stock. In the case of a SAR, Exercise Price, means an amount which is subtracted from the Fair Market Value in determining the amount payable upon exercise of such SAR.
Fair Market Value means, as of any date, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock for purposes of the Plan which will be determined as follows:
(i) If the Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange or other national securities exchange, the closing sale price on that date or, if the given date is not a trading day, the closing sale price for the immediately preceding trading day; or
(ii) If the Common Stock is not traded on the New York Stock Exchange or other national securities exchange, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Administrator and in compliance with Code Section 409A.
Fortive shall mean Fortive Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
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Gross Misconduct means the Participant has:
(i) Committed fraud, misappropriation, embezzlement, willful misconduct or gross negligence with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, or any other action in willful disregard of the interests of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof;
(ii) Been convicted of, or pled guilty or no contest to, (i) a felony, (ii) any misdemeanor (other than a traffic violation) with respect to his/her employment, or (iii) any other crime or activity that would impair his/her ability to perform his/her duties or impair the business reputation of the Company or any Subsidiary;
(iii) Refused or willfully failed to adequately perform any duties assigned to him/her; or
(iv) Refused or willfully failed to comply with standards, policies or procedures of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, including without limitation the Companys Standards of Conduct as amended from time to time.
Incentive Stock Option or ISO means a stock option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Code Section 422.
Normal Retirement means an employee voluntarily ceases to be an Employee at or after reaching age sixty-five (65).
Option means a stock option granted pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan that is not an ISO, entitling the Optionee to purchase Shares at a specified price.
Optionee means an Employee, Consultant, or Director who has been granted an Option under this Plan or, where appropriate, a person authorized to exercise an Option in place of the intended original Optionee.
Other Stock-Based Awards are Awards (other than Options, SARs, RSUs and Restricted Stock Grants) granted under Section 10 of the Plan that are denominated in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Common Stock.
Participant means Optionees and Recipients, collectively. The term Participant also includes, where appropriate, a person authorized to exercise an Option or hold or receive another Award in place of the intended original Optionee or Recipient.
Performance Objectives means one or more objective or subjective performance factors as determined by the Administrator with respect to each Performance Period.
Performance Period means a period for which Performance Objectives are set and during which performance is to be measured to determine whether a Participant is entitled to payment in respect of an Award under the Plan. A Performance Period may coincide with one or more complete or partial calendar or fiscal years of the Company. Unless otherwise designated by the Administrator, the Performance Period will be based on the calendar year.
Plan means this 2020 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
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Recipient means an Employee, Consultant, or Director who has been granted an Award other than an Option under this Plan or, where appropriate, a person authorized to hold or receive such an Award in place of the intended original Recipient.
Restricted Stock Grant means a direct grant of Common Stock, as awarded under Section 8 of the Plan.
Restricted Stock Unit or RSU means a bookkeeping entry representing an unfunded right to receive (if conditions are met) one share of Common Stock, as awarded under Section 9 of the Plan.
Retirement means both Early Retirement and Normal Retirement, as defined herein.
Section 16 Persons means those officers, directors or other persons who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
Securities Act means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Stock Appreciation Right or SAR means any right granted under Section 7 of the Plan.
Subsidiary means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain beginning with the Company if, at the time an Award is granted to a Participant under the Plan, each of such entities (other than the last entity in the unbroken chain) owns stock or other equity possessing twenty percent (20%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or equity in one of the other entities in such chain.
Substantial Corporate Change has the meaning set forth in Section 17(a) of the Plan.
3. |
Eligibility. All Employees, Consultants, and Directors are eligible for Awards under this Plan. Eligible Employees, Consultants, and Directors become Optionees or Recipients when the Administrator grants them, respectively, an Option or one of the other Awards under this Plan. |
4. |
Administration of the Plan. |
(a) The Administrator. The Administrator of the Plan is the Compensation & Management Development Committee of the Board, unless the Board specifies another committee or the Board elects to act in such capacity. The Administrator is responsible for the general operation and administration of the Plan and for carrying out its provisions and has full discretion in interpreting and administering the provisions of the Plan. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Administrator may exercise such powers and authority of the Board as the Administrator may find necessary or appropriate to carry out its functions. The Administrator may delegate its functions to Employees (other than the power to grant awards to Eligible Directors or Section 16 Persons), to the extent permitted under applicable Delaware corporate law.
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(b) Rule 16b-3 Compliance. Awards to Section 16 Persons shall be made only by either (i) a Committee (or a subcommittee of the Committee) consisting solely of two or more non-employee Directors or (ii) the Board, in either case in accordance with Rule 16b-3.
(c) Powers of the Administrator. The Administrators powers will include, but not be limited to, the power to: construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan (including the power to remedy any ambiguity, inconsistency, or omission); amend, waive, or extend any provision or limitation of any Award (except as limited by the terms of the Plan); in order to fulfill the purposes of the Plan and without amending the Plan, vary the terms of or modify Awards to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside of the United States in order to recognize differences in local law, tax policies or customs; and adopt such procedures as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the foregoing.
(d) Granting of Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator will, in its sole discretion, determine the Optionees and the Recipients of other Awards and will determine either initially or subsequent to the grant of the relevant Award:
(i) the terms of such Awards;
(ii) the schedule for exercisability and nonforfeitability, including any requirements that the Participant or the Company satisfy performance criteria or Performance Objectives, and the acceleration of the exercisability or nonforfeitability of the Awards (for the avoidance of doubt, the Administrator shall have discretion to accelerate the vesting of all or a portion of any performance-based vesting conditions or Performance Objectives);
(iii) the time and conditions for expiration of the Awards; and
(iv) the form of payment due upon exercise or grant of Awards.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, the Administrator may in its sole discretion reduce or eliminate a Participants unvested Award or Awards if he or she changes classification from a full-time Employee to a part-time Employee.
(e) Substitutions. The Administrator may also grant Awards in conversion or replacement of or substitution for options or other equity awards or interests held by individuals who become Employees of the Company or of an Eligible Subsidiary as a result of the Companys acquiring or merging with the individuals employer. If necessary to conform the Awards to the awards or interests for which they are substitutes, the Administrator may grant substitute Awards under terms and conditions that vary from those the Plan otherwise requires. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, any Award to any Participant who is a U.S. taxpayer will be adjusted appropriately pursuant to Code Section 409A.
(f) Effect of Administrators Decision. The Administrators determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and need not consider whether actual or potential Participants are similarly situated. All decisions, determinations and interpretations of the Administrator shall be final and binding on all holders of any Award.
5
(g) Minimum Vesting Schedule. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, each Award granted under this Plan shall be subject to a minimum vesting schedule or performance period, as applicable, of not less than one (1) year; provided, however, that up to five percent (5%) of the shares authorized for grant under this Plan may be issued without regard to the foregoing minimum vesting period and that, for purposes of Awards granted to Directors, one (1) year may mean the period of time from one annual stockholders meeting to the next annual stockholders meeting as long as such period of time is not less than fifty (50) weeks, and provided, further, that the Administrator may waive the restrictions set forth in this sentence in its sole discretion (i) in the event of death, Disability, Retirement, a Substantial Corporate Change or as otherwise determined by the Administrator on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate and (ii) for Awards granted in settlement of an obligation to pay cash under the Companys compensatory plans and deferred compensation arrangements.
5. |
Stock Subject to the Plan. |
(a) Share Limits; Shares Available. Except as adjusted below in the event of a Substantial Corporate Change or as provided under Section 16 of the Plan, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Awards (including Conversion Awards) may not exceed seventeen million (17,000,000) shares. The Common Stock may come from treasury shares, authorized but unissued shares, or previously issued shares that the Company reacquires, including shares it purchases on the open market. If any Award (including any Conversion Award) expires, is canceled, or terminates for any other reason, the shares of Common Stock available under that Award will again be available for the granting of new Awards. Any such returning shares of Common Stock shall be credited to the share reserve set forth above on the same basis as the original Award was debited. Any shares of Common Stock surrendered for the payment of the Exercise Price under Options or SARs or for withholding taxes, and shares of Common Stock repurchased in the open market with the proceeds of an Option exercise, may not again be made available for issuance under the Plan. Shares of Common Stock issued to convert, replace or adjust outstanding Options or other equity-compensation awards in connection with a merger or acquisition, as permitted by NYSE Listed Company Manual Section 303A.08 or any successor provision, shall not reduce the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan.
(b) Director Share Limits. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 16 of the Plan, the total value of any Awards granted to such Director in such calendar year (calculating the value of any such Awards based on the grant date fair value of such Awards for the Companys financial reporting purposes), when aggregated with such Directors cash fees with respect to such calendar year, shall not exceed seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) in the aggregate. The Administrator may make exceptions to increase such limit to one million dollars ($1,000,000) for individual Directors in extraordinary circumstances, such as where a Director serves as the non-executive chairman of the Board or as a member of a special litigation or transactions committee of the Board, as the Board may determine in its discretion, provided that the Director receiving such additional compensation may not participate in the decision to award such compensation involving such Director.
(c) Stockholder Rights; Dividend and Dividend Equivalent. Except for Restricted Stock Grants, the Participant will have no rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to an Award except to the extent that the Company has issued certificates for, or
6
otherwise confirmed ownership of, such shares upon the exercise or, as applicable, the grant or nonforfeitability, of an Award. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date precedes the date of exercise or nonforfeitability, as applicable. For the sake of clarity, no dividends or dividend equivalents corresponding to an Award may be delivered prior to the vesting of such Award. Any dividends or dividend equivalents that have accrued or are credited shall be delivered if and only to the same extent the Award to which such dividend or dividend equivalent relates vests.
(d) Fractional Shares. The Company will not issue fractional shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise or vesting of an Award. Any fractional share will be rounded up and issued to the Participant in a whole share, except to the extent that such rounding would result in the imposition of any individual tax and penalty interest charges imposed under Code Section 409A, in which case fractional shares will be rounded down.
6. |
Terms and Conditions of Options. |
(a) General. Options granted to Employees, Consultants, and Directors are not intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options. Other than as provided under Section 16 of the Plan and except in connection with a merger, acquisition, spinoff, or other similar corporate transaction, the Administrator may not (1) reduce the Exercise Price of any outstanding Option, (2) cancel and re-grant any outstanding Option under the Plan with a lower exercise price, or (3) cancel underwater options for cash, unless in each case the Companys stockholders have approved such action. Subject to the foregoing, the Administrator may set whatever conditions it considers appropriate for the Options, including time-based and/or performance-based vesting conditions.
(b) Exercise Price. The Administrator will determine the Exercise Price under each Option and may set the Exercise Price without regard to the Exercise Price of any other Options granted at the same or any other time. The Exercise Price per share for the Options may not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant, except in the event of an Option substitution as contemplated by Section 4(e) of the Plan, as provided under Section 16 of the Plan or in connection with the issuance of Conversion Awards. The Company may use the consideration it receives from the Optionee for general corporate purposes.
(c) Exercisability. The Administrator will determine the times and conditions for exercise of each Option but may not extend the period for exercise of an Option beyond the tenth anniversary of its Date of Grant. Options will become exercisable at such times and in such manner as the Administrator determines (either initially or subsequent to the grant of the relevant Award); provided, however, that the Administrator may, on such terms and conditions as it determines appropriate, accelerate the time at which the Optionee may exercise any portion of an Option. If the Administrator does not specify otherwise at the Date of Grant, Options for Employees will become exercisable as to one-fifth of the covered shares of Common Stock on each of the first five anniversaries of the Date of Grant, and Options for Eligible Directors will be exercisable in full as of the Date of Grant.
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(d) Method of Exercise. To exercise any exercisable portion of an Option, the Optionee must:
(i) Deliver a written notice of exercise to the Secretary of the Company (or to whomever the Administrator designates), in a form complying with any rules the Administrator may issue and specifying the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the portion of the Option the Optionee is exercising;
(ii) Pay the full Exercise Price by cashiers or certified check or wire transfer of immediately available funds for the shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Option is being exercised, unless the Administrator consents to another form of payment (which could include the use of Common Stock); and
(iii) Deliver to the Secretary of the Company (or to whomever the Administrator designates) such representations and documents as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may consider necessary or advisable.
Payment in full of the Exercise Price need not accompany the written notice of exercise provided the notice directs that the shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise be delivered, either in certificate form or in book entry form, to a licensed broker acceptable to the Company as the agent for the individual exercising the Option and at the time the shares are delivered to the broker, either in certificate form or in book entry form, the broker will tender to the Company cash or cash equivalents acceptable to the Company and equal to the Exercise Price.
The Administrator may agree to payment through the tender to the Company of shares of Common Stock. Shares of Common Stock offered as payment will be valued, for purposes of determining the extent to which the Optionee has paid the Exercise Price, at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise.
(e) Term. No one may exercise an Option more than ten years after its Date of Grant.
(f) Automatic Exercise of Certain Expiring Options. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement (other than this Section), on the last trading day on which all or a portion of an outstanding Option may be exercised, if as of the close of trading on such day the then Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock exceeds the per share Exercise Price of the Option by at least $.01 (such expiring portion of an Option that is so in-the-money, an Auto-Exercise Eligible Option), the Optionee shall be deemed to have automatically exercised such Auto-Exercise Eligible Option (to the extent it has not previously been exercised or forfeited) as of the close of trading in accordance with the provisions of this Section. In the event of an automatic exercise pursuant to this Section, the Company shall reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issued to the Optionee upon such Optionees automatic exercise of the Auto-Exercise Eligible Option in an amount necessary to satisfy (1) the Optionees Exercise Price obligation for the Auto-Exercise Eligible Option, and (2) the minimum applicable Federal, state, local and, if applicable, foreign income and employment tax and social insurance withholding requirements arising upon the automatic exercise (unless the Administrator deems that a different method of satisfying such withholding obligations is practicable and advisable), in each case based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the close of trading
8
on the date of exercise. In accordance with procedures established by the Administrator, an Optionee may notify the Companys record-keeper in writing in advance that he or she does not wish for the Auto-Exercise Eligible Option to be exercised. This Section shall not apply to any Option to the extent that the Administrator determines that this Section causes the Option to fail to qualify for favorable tax treatment under applicable law. In its discretion, the Company may determine to cease automatically exercising Options at any time.
7. |
Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights. |
(a) General. A SAR represents the right to receive a payment, in cash, shares of Common Stock or both (as determined by the Administrator), equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value on the date the SAR is exercised over the SARs Exercise Price. The Administrator shall be subject to the same limitations on the reduction of an SAR Exercise Price as is applicable to the reduction of the Exercise Price of an Option under Section 6(a) of the Plan.
(b) Exercise Price. The Administrator will establish in its sole discretion the Exercise Price of a SAR and all other applicable terms and conditions, including time-based and/or performance-based vesting conditions. The Exercise Price for the SAR may not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Date of Grant, except in the event of an SAR substitution as contemplated by Section 4(e) of the Plan, as provided under Section 16 of the Plan or in connection with the issuance of any SAR that is granted in tandem with an Option.
(c) Exercisability. The Administrator will determine the times and conditions for exercise of each SAR but may not extend the period for exercise of a SAR beyond the tenth anniversary of its Date of Grant. SARs will become exercisable at such times and in such manner as the Administrator determines (either initially or subsequent to the grant of the relevant Award); provided, however, that the Administrator may, on such terms and conditions as it determines appropriate, accelerate the time at which the Participant may exercise any portion of a SAR. If the Administrator does not specify otherwise, SARs will become exercisable as to one-fifth of the covered shares of Common Stock on each of the first five anniversaries of the Date of Grant.
(d) Term. No one may exercise a SAR more than ten years after its Date of Grant.
8. |
Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Grants. |
(a) General. A Restricted Stock Grant is a direct grant of Common Stock, subject to restrictions and vesting conditions, including time-based vesting conditions and/or the attainment of performance-based vesting conditions or Performance Objectives, as determined by the Administrator. The Company shall issue the shares to each Recipient of a Restricted Stock Grant either (i) in certificate form or (ii) in book entry form, registered in the name of the Recipient, with legends or notations, as applicable, referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to the Award; provided that the Company may require that any stock certificates evidencing Restricted Stock Grants be held in the custody of the Company or its agent until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a condition of any Restricted Stock Grant, the Participant shall have delivered a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the shares of Common Stock covered by such Award.
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(b) Purchase Price. The Administrator may satisfy any Delaware corporate law requirements regarding adequate consideration for Restricted Stock Grants by (i) issuing Common Stock held as treasury stock or repurchased on the open market or (ii) charging the Recipients at least the par value for the shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Grant.
(c) Lapse of Restrictions. The shares of Common Stock underlying such Restricted Stock Grants will become nonforfeitable at such times and in such manner as the Administrator determines (either initially or subsequent to the grant of the relevant Award); provided, however, that the Administrator may, on such terms and conditions as it determines appropriate, accelerate the time at which restrictions or other conditions on such Restricted Stock Grants will lapse. If the Administrator does not specify otherwise, any time-based vesting restrictions on Restricted Stock Grants will lapse as to one-half of the covered shares of Common Stock on each of the fourth and fifth anniversaries of the Date of Grant. Unless otherwise specified by the Administrator, any performance-based vesting conditions or Performance Objectives must be satisfied, if at all, prior to the 10th anniversary of the Date of Grant.
(d) Rights as a Stockholder. A Recipient who is awarded a Restricted Stock Grant under the Plan shall have the same voting, dividend and other rights as the Companys other stockholders, provided, however, that any dividends paid on the shares of Common Stock underlying such Restricted Stock Grant will be accumulated and delivered if and only to the same extent as the Restricted Stock Grant vests. After the lapse of the restrictions without forfeiture in respect of the Restricted Stock Grant, the Company shall remove any legends or notations referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions on such shares of Common Stock and, if certificated, deliver to the Participant the certificate or certificates evidencing the number of such shares of Common Stock.
9. |
Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Units. |
(a) General. RSUs shall be credited as a bookkeeping entry in the name of the Recipient in an account maintained by the Company. No shares of Common Stock are actually issued to the Recipient in respect of RSUs on the Date of Grant. Shares of Common Stock shall be issuable to the Recipient only upon the lapse of such restrictions and satisfaction of such vesting conditions, including time-based vesting conditions and/or the attainment of performance-based vesting conditions or Performance Objectives, as determined by the Administrator.
(b) Purchase Price. The Administrator may satisfy any Delaware corporate law requirements regarding adequate consideration for RSUs by (i) issuing Common Stock held as treasury stock or repurchased on the open market or (ii) charging the Recipients at least the par value for the shares of Common Stock covered by the RSUs.
(c) Lapse of Restrictions. RSUs will vest and the underlying shares of Common Stock will become nonforfeitable at such times and in such manner as the Administrator determines (either initially or subsequent to the grant of the relevant Award); provided, however, that the Administrator
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may, on such terms and conditions as it determines appropriate, accelerate the time at which restrictions or other conditions on such RSUs will lapse. If the Administrator does not specify otherwise, any time-based vesting restrictions on RSUs will lapse as to one-half of the covered shares of Common Stock on each of the fourth and fifth anniversaries of the Date of Grant. Unless otherwise specified by the Administrator, any performance-based vesting conditions or Performance Objectives must be satisfied, if at all, prior to the 10th anniversary of the Date of Grant.
(d) Rights as a Stockholder. A Recipient who is awarded RSUs under the Plan shall possess no incidents of ownership with respect to the underlying shares of Common Stock.
10. |
Terms and Conditions of Other Stock-Based Awards. The Administrator may grant Other Stock-Based Awards that are denominated in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Common Stock. The purchase, exercise, exchange or conversion of Other Stock-Based Awards and all other terms and conditions applicable to such Awards will be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion. |
11. |
Converted Fortive Awards. The Company is authorized to issue Awards (Conversion Awards) in connection with the equitable adjustment and/or replacement of certain equity-based awards granted by Fortive prior to the separation of the Company from Fortive (the Separation) (collectively, the Fortive Awards). Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, in accordance with a formula for conversion and/or replacement of the Fortive Awards as determined by the Company in a manner consistent with the Separation, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to a Conversion Award and the exercise price of any Conversion Award that is an Option shall be determined by the Administrator. |
12. |
Termination of Employment. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise (either initially or subsequent to the grant of the relevant Award), the following rules shall govern the vesting, exercisability and term of outstanding Awards held by a Participant in the event of termination of such Participants employment, where termination of employment means the time when the active employer-employee or other active service- providing relationship between the Participant and the Company or an Eligible Subsidiary ends for any reason, including Retirement. For purposes of Awards granted under this Plan, the Administrator shall have sole discretion to determine whether a Participant has ceased to be actively employed by (or, in the case of a Consultant or Director, has ceased actively providing services to) the Company or Eligible Subsidiary, and the effective date on which such active employment (or active service-providing relationship) terminated. For the avoidance of doubt, a Participants active employer- employee or other active service-providing relationship shall not be extended by any notice period mandated under local law (e.g., active employment shall not include a period of garden leave, paid administrative leave or similar period pursuant to local law), and in the event of a Participants termination of employment (whether or not in breach of local labor laws), Participants right to exercise any Option or SAR after termination of employment, if any, shall be measured by the date of termination of active employment or service and shall not be extended by any notice period mandated under local law. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise (either initially or subsequent to the grant |
11
of the relevant Award) (1) termination of employment will include instances in which a common law employee is terminated and immediately rehired as an independent contractor, and (2) the spin-off, sale, or disposition of a Participants employer from the Company or an Eligible Subsidiary (whether by transfer of shares, assets or otherwise) such that the Participants employer no longer constitutes an Eligible Subsidiary shall constitute a termination of employment or service. |
(a) General. Upon termination of employment for any reason other than death, Early Retirement or (with respect to Options and SARs) Normal Retirement, all unvested portions of any outstanding Awards shall be immediately forfeited without consideration. The vested portion of any outstanding RSUs or Other Stock-Based Awards shall be settled upon termination and, except as set forth in subsections (b) (h) of this Section 12, the Participant shall have a period of ninety (90) days, commencing with the first date the Participant is no longer actively employed, to exercise the vested portion of any outstanding Options or SARs, subject to the term of the Option or SAR; provided, however, that if the exercise of an Option or SAR following termination of employment (to the extent such post-termination exercise is permitted under this Section 12(a)) is not covered by an effective registration statement on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, then the Option or SAR shall terminate upon the later of (i) thirty (30) days after such exercise becomes covered by an effective registration statement, or (ii) the end of the original post-termination exercise period; provided, however, that in no event may an Option or SAR be exercised after the expiration of the term of the Award.
(b) Normal Retirement. Upon termination of employment by reason of the Participants Normal Retirement, unless contrary to applicable law and unless otherwise provided by the Administrator either initially or subsequent to the grant of the relevant Award (i) subject to the term of the Award any Options or SARs held by the Participant as of the Normal Retirement date will remain outstanding, continue to vest and may be exercised until the fifth anniversary of the Normal Retirement (or if earlier, the termination date of the Award), and (ii) all unvested portions of any other outstanding Awards (including without limitation RSUs and Restricted Stock Grants) shall be immediately forfeited without consideration.
(c) Early Retirement. Upon termination of employment by reason of the Participants Early Retirement, unless contrary to applicable law and unless otherwise provided by the Administrator either initially or subsequent to the grant of the relevant Award (i) the time-based vesting of any portion of any RSU or Restricted Stock Grant scheduled to vest during the five-year period immediately following such Early Retirement shall be accelerated (provided that if any performance-based vesting conditions or Performance Objectives remain unsatisfied as of the Early Retirement date (and the relevant Performance Period has not expired), the Award shall remain outstanding for up to five years after such date (or, if earlier, up to the termination date of the Award) to determine whether such conditions or objectives become satisfied and the Award shall become fully vested once it has been determined that such conditions or objectives have been satisfied within the applicable period (at which point, the vested shares of Common Stock will be delivered to the Participant)), and any portion of such Award subject to time- based vesting conditions not scheduled to vest until after the fifth anniversary of such Early Retirement shall be forfeited, and (ii) subject to the term of the Award any Options or SARs held by the Participant as of the Early Retirement date will remain outstanding, continue to vest and may be exercised until the fifth anniversary of the Early Retirement (or if earlier, the
12
termination date of the Award). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, in connection with any determination to grant Early Retirement to a Participant the Administrator in its sole discretion may determine to grant Early Retirement with respect to a specified portion, but less than all, of the Participants outstanding Awards.
(d) Death. Upon termination of employment by reason of the Participants death:
(i) All unexpired Options and SARs will become fully exercisable and, subject to the term of the Option or SAR, may be exercised for a period of twelve (12) months thereafter by the personal representative of the Participants estate or any other person to whom the Option or SAR is transferred under a will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution.
(ii) A portion of the outstanding RSUs and Restricted Stock Grants shall become vested which will be determined as follows. With respect to each portion of an Award of RSUs or Restricted Stock Grant that is scheduled to vest on a particular vesting date, upon the Participants death, a pro rata amount of the RSUs or the Restricted Stock Grant will vest based on the number of complete twelve-month periods between the Date of Grant and the date of death, (provided that any partial twelve-month period between the Date of Grant and the date of death shall also be considered a complete twelve-month period for purposes of this pro-ration methodology), divided by the total number of twelve-month periods between the Date of Grant and the particular, scheduled vesting date. Any fractional right to a share of Common Stock that results from applying the pro rata methodology described herein shall be rounded up to a right to a whole share.
(iii) With respect to any Award other than an Option, SAR, RSU or Restricted Stock Grant, all unvested portions of the Award shall be immediately forfeited without consideration, unless otherwise provided by the Administrator.
(e) Disability. Upon termination of employment by reason of the Participants Disability, all unvested portions of any outstanding Awards shall be immediately forfeited without consideration. The vested portion of any Option or SAR will remain outstanding and, subject to the term of the Option or SAR, may be exercised by the Participant at any time until the first anniversary of the Participants termination of employment for Disability. The vested portion of any Award other than an Option or SAR shall be settled upon termination of employment.
(f) Gross Misconduct. Upon termination of employment by reason of the Participants Gross Misconduct, as determined by the Administrator, all unexercised Options and SARs, unvested portions of RSUs, unvested portions of Restricted Stock Grants and unvested portions of any Other Stock-Based Awards granted under the Plan shall terminate and be forfeited immediately without consideration. Without limiting the foregoing provision, a Participants termination of employment shall be deemed to be a termination of employment by reason of the Participants Gross Misconduct if, after the Participants employment has terminated, facts and circumstances are discovered or confirmed that would have justified a termination for Gross Misconduct.
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(g) Post-Termination Covenants. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Plan, to the extent any Award may remain outstanding under the terms of the Plan after termination of the Participants employment or service, the Award will nevertheless expire as of the date that the former Employee, Director or Consultant violates any covenant not to compete or any other post-termination covenant (including without limitation any nonsolicitation, nonpiracy of employees, nondisclosure, nondisparagement, works-made-for-hire or similar covenants) in effect between the Company and/or any Subsidiary thereof, on the one hand, and the former Employee, Director or Consultant on the other hand, as determined by the Administrator.
(h) Leave of Absence. To the extent approved by the Administrator (either specifically or pursuant to rules adopted by the Administrator) or otherwise required by applicable law, the active employer-employee or other active service- providing relationship between the Participant and the Company or an Eligible Subsidiary shall not be considered interrupted in the case of: (i) sick leave; (ii) military leave; or (iii) any other leave of absence. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine that a Participants leave of absence to complete a course of study will not constitute termination of employment for purposes of the Plan. Further, during any approved leave of absence, the Administrator shall have sole discretion to provide (either specifically or pursuant to rules adopted by the Administrator) that the vesting of any Awards held by the Participant shall be frozen as of the first day of the leave (or as of any subsequent day during such leave, as applicable), and shall not resume until and unless the Participant returns to active employment prior to the expiration of the term (if any) of the Awards, subject to any requirements of applicable laws or contract. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine all questions of whether particular terminations or leaves of absence are terminations of active employment or service.
13. |
Award Agreements. The Administrator will communicate the material terms and conditions of an Award to the Participant in any form it deems appropriate, which may include the use of an Award Agreement that the Administrator may require the Participant to sign. To the extent the Award Agreement is inconsistent with the Plan, the Plan will govern. The Award Agreements may contain special rules, particularly for Participants located outside the United States. To the extent the Administrator determines not to document the terms and conditions of an Award in an Award Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Award shall be as set forth in the Plan and in the Administrators records. |
14. |
Award Holder. During the Participants lifetime and except as provided under Section 22 of the Plan, only the Participant or his/her duly appointed guardian may exercise or hold an Award (other than nonforfeitable shares of Common Stock). After the Participants death, the personal representative of his or her estate or any other person authorized under a will or under the laws of descent and distribution may exercise any then exercisable portion of an Award or hold any then nonforfeitable portion of any Award. If someone other than the original Participant seeks to exercise or hold any portion of an Award, the Administrator may request such proof as it may consider necessary or appropriate of the persons right to exercise or hold the Award. |
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15. |
Performance Rules. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator will have the authority to establish and administer performance-based grant and/or vesting conditions and Performance Objectives with respect to such Awards as it considers appropriate. Notwithstanding satisfaction of applicable Performance Objectives, the number of shares of Common Stock or other benefits received under an Award that are otherwise earned upon satisfaction of such Performance Objectives may be reduced or increased by the Administrator on the basis of such further considerations that the Administrator in its sole discretion shall determine. |
16. |
Adjustments upon Changes in Capital Stock. Subject to any required action by the Company (which it shall promptly take) or its stockholders, and subject to the provisions of applicable corporate law, if the outstanding shares of Common Stock increase or decrease or change into or are exchanged for a different number or kind of security by reason of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split, combination of shares, exchange of shares, stock dividend, or other distribution payable in capital stock, some other increase or decrease in such Common Stock occurs without the Companys receiving consideration, the Administrator shall make a proportionate and appropriate adjustment as the Administrator in its sole discretion deems to be appropriate, in any of the following in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan: (a) the kind and number of shares of Common Stock, other securities or property or the amount of cash subject to each outstanding Award; (b) the Exercise Price or purchase price of any outstanding Award; and (c) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which thereafter may be made the subject of Awards, including the limit specified in Section 5(a) of the Plan regarding the number of shares available for Awards. |
In the event of a declaration of an extraordinary dividend on the Common Stock payable in a form other than Common Stock in an amount that has a material effect on the price of the Common Stock, the Administrator shall make a proportionate and appropriate adjustment as the Administrator in its sole discretion deems to be appropriate to the items set forth in any of subsections (a) through (c) in the preceding paragraph in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.
Any issue by the Company of any class of preferred stock, or securities convertible into shares of common or preferred stock of any class, will not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof will be made with respect to, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Award or the Exercise Price except as this Section 16 specifically provides. The grant of an Award under the Plan will not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or to consolidate, or to dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
17. |
Substantial Corporate Change. |
(a) Definition. A Substantial Corporate Change means the consummation of:
(i) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company; or
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(ii) the merger, consolidation, or reorganization of the Company with one or more corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships or other entities in which the Company is not the surviving entity (other than a merger, consolidation or reorganization which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such event continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation or reorganization and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity); or
(iii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to another person or entity; or
(iv) any transaction (including a merger or reorganization in which the Company survives) approved by the Board that results in any person or entity (other than any affiliate of the Company as defined in Rule 144(a)(1) under the Securities Act) owning 100% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company.
For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Separation nor any further disposition of any or all of Fortives ownership interests in the Company will constitute a Substantial Corporate Change.
(b) Treatment of Awards. Upon a Substantial Corporate Change, the Plan and any forfeitable portions of the Awards will terminate unless provision is made in writing in connection with such transaction for the assumption or continuation of outstanding Awards, or the substitution for such Awards of any options or grants covering the stock or securities of a successor employer corporation, or a parent or subsidiary of such successor, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares of stock and prices, in which event the Awards will continue in the manner and under the terms so provided. Unless the Board determines otherwise, if an Award would otherwise terminate pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Administrator will either:
(i) provide that Optionees or holders of SARs will have the right, at such time before the consummation of the transaction causing such termination as the Board reasonably designates, to exercise any unexercised portions of an Option or SAR, whether or not they had previously become exercisable; or
(ii) for any Awards, cause the Company, or agree to allow the successor, to cancel each Award after payment to the Participant of an amount in cash, cash equivalents, or successor equity interests substantially equal to the value of the Award under the transaction as determined by the Administrator (minus, for Options and SARs, the Exercise Price for the shares covered by the Option or SAR (and for any Awards, where the Board or the Administrator determines it is appropriate, any required tax withholdings)).
16
18. |
Participants Outside the United States. To comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries operates or has Employees, Directors or Consultants, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: |
(a) Determine which Subsidiaries shall be covered by the Plan;
(b) Determine which Participants outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan;
(c) Either initially or by amendment, modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to any Participant outside the United States;
(d) Either initially or by amendment, establish sub-plans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable; and
(e) Either initially or by amendment, take any action that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any applicable government regulatory exemptions or approvals.
Although in establishing such sub-plans, terms or procedures, the Company may endeavor to (i) qualify an Award for favorable foreign tax treatment or (ii) avoid adverse tax treatment, the Company makes no representation to that effect and expressly disavows any covenant to maintain favorable or avoid unfavorable tax treatment. The Company shall be unconstrained in its corporate activities without regard to the potential negative tax impact on holders of Awards under the Plan.
19. |
Legal Compliance. The granting of Awards and the issuance of shares of Common Stock under the Plan shall be subject to compliance with all applicable requirements imposed by federal, state, local and foreign securities laws and other laws, rules, and regulations, and by any applicable regulatory agencies or stock exchanges. The Company shall have no obligation to issue shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan or deliver evidence of title for shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan prior to obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary, and completion of any registration or other qualification of the shares of Common Stock under any applicable national or foreign law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary. To that end, the Company may require the Participant to take any reasonable action to comply with such requirements before issuing such shares of Common Stock. No provision in the Plan or action taken under it authorizes any action that is otherwise prohibited by federal, state, local or foreign laws, rules, or regulations, or by any applicable regulatory agencies or stock exchanges. |
The Plan is intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and all regulations and rules the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issues under those laws. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Administrator must administer the Plan, and Awards may be granted, vested and exercised, only in a way that conforms to such laws, rules, and regulations.
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20. |
Purchase for Investment and Other Restrictions. Unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covers the shares of Common Stock a Participant receives under an Award, the Administrator may require, at the time of such grant and/or exercise and/or lapse of restrictions, that the Participant agree in writing to acquire such shares for investment and not for public resale or distribution, unless and until the shares subject to the Award are registered under the Securities Act. Unless the shares of Common Stock are registered under the Securities Act, the Participant must acknowledge: |
(a) that the shares of Common Stock received under the Award are not so registered;
(b) that the Participant may not sell or otherwise transfer the shares of Common Stock unless the shares have been registered under the Securities Act in connection with the sale or transfer thereof, or counsel satisfactory to the Company has issued an opinion satisfactory to the Company that the sale or other transfer of such shares is exempt from registration under the Securities Act; and
(c) such sale or transfer complies with all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including all applicable federal, state, local and foreign securities laws, rules and regulations.
Additionally, the Common Stock, when issued under an Award, will be subject to any other transfer restrictions, rights of first refusal, and rights of repurchase set forth in or incorporated by reference into other applicable documents, including the Companys articles or certificate of incorporation, by-laws, or generally applicable stockholders agreements.
The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, take whatever additional actions it deems appropriate to comply with such restrictions and applicable laws, including placing legends on certificates and issuing stop-transfer orders to transfer agents and registrars.
21. |
Tax Withholding. The Participant must satisfy all applicable Federal, state, local and, if applicable, foreign income and employment tax and social insurance withholding requirements before the Company will deliver stock certificates or otherwise recognize ownership or nonforfeitability under an Award. The Company may decide to satisfy the withholding obligations through additional withholding on salary or wages. If the Company does not or cannot withhold from the Participants compensation, the Participant must pay the Company, with a cashiers check or certified check or by wire transfer of immediately available funds, the full amounts required for withholding. Payment of withholding obligations is due at the same time as is payment of the Exercise Price or lapse of restrictions, as applicable. If the Administrator so determines, the Participant may instead satisfy the withholding obligations at the Administrators election, including (a) by directing the Company to retain shares of Common Stock from the Option or SAR exercise, RSU vesting or release of the Award, (b) by directing the Company to sell or arrange for the sale of shares of Common Stock that the Participant acquires at the Option or SAR exercise or release of the Award, (c) by tendering previously owned shares of Common Stock, (d) by attesting to his or her ownership of shares of Common Stock (with the distribution of net shares), or (e) by having a broker tender to the Company cash equal to the withholding taxes, subject in each case to a withholding of no more than the minimum applicable tax withholding rate or such other rate that will not cause adverse accounting consequences for the Company and is permitted under applicable withholding rules promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service or another applicable governmental entity. |
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22. |
Transfers, Assignments or Pledges. Unless the Administrator otherwise approves in advance in writing or as set forth below, an Award may not be assigned, pledged, or otherwise transferred in any way, whether by operation of law or otherwise or through any legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), by the Participant to any person, except by will or by operation of applicable laws of descent and distribution. If necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, the Participant may not transfer or pledge shares of Common Stock acquired under an Award until at least six months have elapsed from (but excluding) the Date of Grant, unless the Administrator approves otherwise in advance in writing. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, expressly provide that a Participant may transfer his or her Award, without receiving consideration, to (a) members of the Participants immediate family, children, grandchildren, or spouse, (b) a trust in which the Participant and/or such family members collectively have more than 50% of the beneficial interest, or (c) any other entity in which the Participant and/or such family members own more than 50% of the voting interests. |
23. |
Amendment or Termination of Plan and Awards. The Board may amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan at any time, without the consent of the Participants or their beneficiaries; provided, however, that no amendment may have a material adverse effect on any Participant or beneficiary with respect to any previously declared Award, unless the Participants or beneficiarys consent is obtained. Except as required by law or by Section 16 of the Plan in the event of a Substantial Corporate Change, the Administrator may not, without the Participants or beneficiarys consent, modify the terms and conditions of an Award so as to have a material adverse effect on the Participant or beneficiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, the Board reserves the right, to the extent it deems necessary or advisable in its sole discretion, to unilaterally modify the Plan and any Awards made thereunder to ensure all Awards and Award Agreements provided to Participants who are U.S. taxpayers are made in such a manner that either qualifies for exemption from or complies with Code Section 409A including, but not limited to, the ability to increase the exercise or purchase price of an Award (without the consent of the Participant) to the Fair Market Value on the date the Award was granted; provided, however that the Company makes no representations that the Plan or any Awards will be exempt from or comply with Code Section 409A and makes no undertaking to preclude Code Section 409A from applying to the Plan or any Award made thereunder. |
24. |
Privileges of Stock Ownership. No Participant and no beneficiary or other person claiming under or through such Participant will have any right, title, or interest in or to any shares of Common Stock allocated or reserved under the Plan or subject to any Award except as to such shares of Common Stock, if any, that have been issued to such Participant. |
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25. |
Effect on Other Plans. Whether receiving or exercising an Award causes the Participant to accrue or receive additional benefits under any pension or other plan is governed solely by the terms of such other plan. |
26. |
Limitations on Liability. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, no individual acting as a Director, Employee, or agent of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be liable to any Participant, former Participant, spouse, beneficiary, or any other person for any claim, loss, liability, or expense incurred in connection with the Plan, nor shall such individual be personally liable because of any contract or other instrument he or she executes in such other capacity. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Director, Employee, or agent of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to whom any duty or power relating to the administration or interpretation of the Plan has been or will be delegated, against any cost or expense (including attorneys fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the Boards approval) arising out of any act or omission to act concerning this Plan unless arising out of such persons own fraud or bad faith. |
27. |
No Employment Contract. Nothing contained in this Plan constitutes an employment contract between the Company and any Participant. The Plan does not give any Participant any right to be retained in the Companys employ or service, nor does it enlarge or diminish the Companys right to terminate the Participants employment or service. |
28. |
Governing Law. The laws of the State of Delaware (other than its choice of law provisions) govern this Plan and its interpretation. Any dispute that arises with respect to this Plan or any Award granted under this Plan shall be conducted in the courts of New Castle County in the State of Delaware, or the United States Federal court for the District of Delaware. |
29. |
Duration of Plan. The Plan became effective as of October 9, 2020, and except as otherwise expressly provided by the Administrator, shall govern all Awards previously or subsequently granted hereunder. Unless the Board extends the Plans term, the Administrator may not grant Awards under the Plan after October 9, 2030. The Plan will then continue to govern unexercised and unexpired Awards. |
30. |
Recoupment. Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Plan, each Award granted under the Plan which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation, stock exchange listing requirement or pursuant to any policy adopted by the Company, as approved by the Board, will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant to such law, government regulation, stock exchange listing requirement or policy adopted by the Company. |
31. |
Section 409A Requirements. The Plan as well as payments and benefits under the Plan are intended to be exempt from or, to the extent subject thereto, to comply with, Code Section 409A, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted in accordance therewith. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax |
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penalties under Code Section 409A, the Participant shall not be considered to have terminated employment or service with the Company for purposes of the Plan and no payment shall be due to the Participant under the Plan or any Award until the Participant would be considered to have incurred a separation from service from the Company and its Affiliates within the meaning of Code Section 409A. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the short term deferral period as defined in Code Section 409A shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless applicable law requires otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent that any Awards (or any other amounts payable under any plan, program or arrangement of the Company or any of its Affiliates) are payable upon a separation from service and such payment would result in the imposition of any individual tax and penalty interest charges imposed under Code Section 409A, the settlement and payment of such awards (or other amounts) shall instead be made on the first business day after the date that is six (6) months following such separation from service (or death, if earlier). Each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided under this Plan shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Code Section 409A. The Company makes no representation that any or all of the payments or benefits described in this Plan will be exempt from or comply with Code Section 409A and makes no undertaking to preclude Code Section 409A from applying to any such payment. The Participant shall be solely responsible for the payment of any taxes and penalties incurred under Code Section 409A. |
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Exhibit 10.8
VONTIER CORPORATION
Non-Employee Directors Deferred Compensation Plan
Effective October 9, 2020
Article 1. Introduction.
The primary purpose of this Vontier Corporation Non-Employee Directors Deferred Compensation Plan (the Sub-Plan) is to provide non-employee directors of Vontier Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company), with the opportunity to elect, subject to the terms of this Sub-Plan, to (a) receive the Annual Retainer in the form of one of the following: (i) a Cash Retainer, (ii) an Equity Retainer or (iii) a combination of a Cash Retainer and an Equity Retainer; and (b) defer the receipt of their Cash and Equity Retainers as well as the conversion of the Annual Equity Grant (to the extent awarded in the form of a restricted stock unit (RSU) grant) into shares of the Companys common stock.
The Sub-Plan was established under, and constitutes a part of, the Stock Incentive Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, the Sub-Plan is subject to all applicable terms of the Stock Incentive Plan.
Article 2. Definitions
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings set forth in the Stock Incentive Plan. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below, and when the defined meaning is intended, the term is capitalized:
(a) |
Administrator means the Administrator as defined in the Stock Incentive Plan and shall include any Employee to whom the Administrator has delegated certain administrative functions related to the operation and maintenance of the Sub-Plan. |
(b) |
Annual Board Chair Equity Grant shall mean the annual equity award for the chair of the Board. |
(c) |
Annual Board Chair Retainer shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Director Compensation Policy. |
(d) |
Annual Committee Chair Retainers shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Director Compensation Policy. |
(e) |
Annual Equity Grant shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Director Compensation Policy. |
(f) |
Annual Retainer shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Director Compensation Policy. |
(g) |
Cash Retainer shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Director Compensation Policy. |
(h) |
Deferral Year means the period beginning on October 9, 2020 and ending on December 31, 2021. |
(i) |
Director means each member of the Board who (i) is not an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, and (ii) receives any portion of the Annual Retainer for service on the Board. |
(j) |
Director Compensation Policy means the Vontier Corporation Director Compensation Policy, as it may be amended from time to time. |
(k) |
Effective Date means October 9, 2020, except that elections under the Sub-Plan are permitted prior to such date. |
(l) |
Equity Retainer shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Director Compensation Policy. |
(m) |
Stock Incentive Plan means, as of the Effective Date, the Vontier Corporation 2020 Stock Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time. The term Stock Incentive Plan shall also automatically apply to any successor plan to the Vontier Corporation 2020 Stock Incentive Plan and to any new stock plan adopted by the Company under which Directors are eligible to be granted restricted stock units. |
Article 3. Eligibility and Participation
3.1 Eligibility. Each person who is or becomes a Director on or after the Effective Date shall be eligible to participate in the Sub-Plan.
3.2 Inactive Director. In the event a Director terminates service with the Board, he or she shall have no further rights to make elections hereunder.
Article 4. Opportunity to Elect the Form of Annual Retainer
4.1 Timing of Elections.
(a) |
During the election window provided by the Company each year (which must end no later than December 31), a Director may elect to receive his or her Annual Retainer payable to the Director with respect to the Deferral Year that commences in the following calendar year in one of the following forms: (i) a Cash Retainer, paid in four, equal installments following each quarter of service during the Deferral Year (subject to any deferral election made pursuant to Article 5), (ii) an Equity Retainer granted concurrently with the corresponding Annual Equity Grant and Annual Board Chair Equity Grant (collectively, the Annual Equity Awards) made during the calendar year in which the Deferral Year commences and with the number of RSUs subject to such Equity Retainer determined based on the amount of his or her Annual Retainer in the same manner that the number of RSUs subject to the Annual Equity Awards is determined based on the target value for the Annual Equity Awards set forth in the Director Compensation Policy, or (iii) a combination of Cash Retainer and Equity Retainer, with allocation between the Equity Retainer and the Cash Retainer determined by the director and with the number of RSUs subject to the portion of the directors Annual Retainer that the director has allocated to the Equity Retainer being determined in the same manner that the number of RSUs subject to the Annual Equity Awards is determined under the Director Compensation Policy, taking into account the applicable percentage of the target value that the director has allocated to the Equity Retainer. In the event that a Director does not make an affirmative and timely election on the form of payment of the Annual Retainer in a Deferral Year, such Director shall be deemed to have elected the Cash Retainer for such Deferral Year. Further, any Annual Board Chair Retainer and/or Annual Committee Chair Retainers that become determined as to a director after the time of an Annual Equity Grant to such director shall be payable in cash notwithstanding any contrary election by such director. Any election made under this Section 4.1(a) shall be irrevocable as of the end of the election window, or such December 31, as specified by the Company. |
(b) |
If an individual is elected or appointed as a Director other than at an annual shareholders meeting of the Company, then such individual may elect, prior to the effective date of such election or appointment, to receive his or her Annual Retainer in one of the following forms: (i) a Cash Retainer, paid in up to four, equal installments following each quarter of service during the Deferral Year (subject to any deferral election made pursuant to Article 5), (ii) an Equity Retainer granted concurrently with the corresponding Annual Equity Grant made |
during the calendar year in which the Deferral Year commences and with the number of RSUs subject to such Equity Retainer determined based on the amount of his or her Annual Retainer in the same manner that the number of RSUs subject to the Annual Equity Awards is determined based on the target value for the Annual Equity Awards set forth in the Director Compensation Policy, or (iii) a combination of Cash Retainer and Equity Retainer, with allocation of the Annual Retainer made between the Equity Retainer and the Cash Retainer determined by the director and with the number of RSUs subject to the portion of the directors Annual Retainer that the director has allocated to the Equity Retainer being determined in the same manner that the number of RSUs subject to the Annual Equity Awards is determined under the Director Compensation Policy, taking into account the applicable percentage of the target value that the director has allocated to the Equity Retainer. In the event that a Director does not make an affirmative and timely election on the form of payment of the Annual Retainer in a Deferral Year, such Director shall be deemed to have elected the Cash Retainer for such Deferral Year. Any election made under this Section 4.1(b) shall be irrevocable immediately prior to the date the individual becomes a Director. |
(c) |
All elections under this Section 4.1 shall be made on the form, in the manner and within the time period prescribed by the Company. A Director may make a separate election with respect to each Deferral Year. Unless a new election is made for a Deferral Year, a Directors election shall carry over from Deferral Year to Deferral Year. |
4.2 Terms of RSU Awards. All Equity Retainers granted hereunder will be subject to the terms and conditions of the form of RSU grant agreement as in effect for Directors as of the date the election is made, subject to any deferral election made pursuant to Article 5.
Article 5. Opportunity to Defer the Time of Payment of the Annual Retainer and the conversion of Annual Equity Grant into shares of the Companys common stock
5.1 Timing of Elections.
(a) |
During the election window provided by the Company each year (which must end no later than December 31), a Director may elect to defer the payment of some or all of his or her Annual Retainer or Annual Equity Grant (to the extent awarded in the form of RSUs) payable to the Director with respect to the Deferral Year that commences in the following calendar year by completing and filing a deferral election form with the Company. The Director may elect to have the Annual Retainer or Annual Equity Grant paid upon the Directors Separation from Service or an earlier specified date and in a lump sum or in up to five (5) annual installments. The deferral election form shall indicate (i) the category of Annual Retainer to be deferred and whether the Annual Equity Grant will be deferred, (ii) if permitted, whether or not the deferral of the Annual Retainer that is otherwise payable in cash is to be deferred and converted into RSU Awards, (iii) the specified date for payment, if any, and (iv) the form of the distribution (a lump-sum or in up to five (5) annual installments) for the deferral. In the event that a Director does not make an affirmative and timely election as to the time of payment of the Annual Retainer or the Annual Equity Grant in a Deferral Year, such Director shall be deemed to have elected not to defer the Annual Retainer or the Annual Equity Grant for such Deferral Year. Any election made under this Section 5.1(a) shall be irrevocable as of the end of the election window, or such December 31, as specified by the Company. |
(b) |
If an individual is elected or appointed as a Director other than at an annual shareholders meeting of the Company, then such individual may elect, prior to the effective date of such election or appointment, to defer the payment of his or her Annual Retainer or Annual Equity Grant (to the extent awarded in the form of RSUs) by completing and filing a deferral election form with the Company. The Director may elect to have the Annual Retainer or Annual Equity Grant paid upon the Directors Separation from Service or an earlier specified date and in a lump sum or in up to five (5) annual installments. In the event |
that a Director does not make an affirmative and timely election as to the time of payment of the Annual Retainer or Annual Equity Grant in a Deferral Year, such Director shall be deemed to have elected not to defer the Annual Retainer or Annual Equity Grant for such Deferral Year. Any election made under this Section 5.1(b) shall be irrevocable immediately prior to the date the individual becomes a Director. |
(c) |
All elections under this Section 5.1 shall be made on the form, in the manner and within the time period prescribed by the Company. A Director may make a separate election with respect to each Deferral Year. Unless a new election is made for a Deferral Year, a Directors election shall carry over from Deferral Year to Deferral Year. |
5.2 Timing of Payments. Any deferred amounts under this Sub-Plan to be paid on a Separation from Service shall be paid, or payments shall commence, upon or within thirty (30) days after such Separation from Service. Any deferred amounts under this Sub-Plan to be paid on a specified date shall be paid, or payments shall commence, upon or within thirty (30) days after such specified date.
Article 6. Miscellaneous
6.1 Maintenance of Cash Deferral Accounts. Any Cash Retainer deferred by a Director under the Plan shall be credited to a record keeping account (Cash Deferral Account) as of the date on which such Cash Retainer would otherwise have been paid to the Director. All amounts credited to a Directors Cash Deferral Account shall accrue interest from the time such amounts would otherwise have been paid to the Director until the date that such amounts cease accruing interest in connection with a distribution pursuant to Article 5. The interest rate shall be determined by the Company from time to time in its discretion; provided that the interest rate shall, unless otherwise determined by the Company, equal one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the long-term applicable federal rate for the applicable year.
6.2 Unfunded Plan. The Sub-Plan constitutes an unfunded, unsecured promise of the Company to make distributions in the future of the amounts deferred under the Sub-Plan and is intended to constitute a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that is unfunded for tax purposes. Nothing contained in the Sub-Plan and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of the Sub-Plan shall create, or be construed to create, a trust of any kind, a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Director or any other person. No special or separate fund shall be established or other segregation of assets made to assure payment of deferred amounts hereunder. No Director or any other person shall have any preferred claim on, or beneficial ownership interest in, any assets of the Company prior to the time that deferred amounts are paid to the Director as provided herein. The rights of a Director to receive benefits from the Company shall be no greater than any general unsecured creditor of the Company.
6.3 Service as a Director. Neither the establishment of the Sub-Plan, nor any action taken hereunder, shall in any way obligate (a) the Company to nominate a Director for reelection or to continue to retain a Director; or (b) a Director to agree to be nominated for reelection or to continue to serve on the Board.
6.4 Section 409A Requirements. If this Sub-Plan fails to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates shall have any liability for any tax, penalty or interest imposed on the Director by Code Section 409A, and the Director shall have no recourse against the Company or any of its affiliates for payment of any such tax, penalty or interest imposed by Code Section 409A.
6.5 Amendment and Termination. The Sub-Plan may be amended or terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Stock Incentive Plan.
Exhibit 10.14
VONTIER CORPORATION
2020 EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
Effective as of October 9, 2020
PURPOSE | Vontier Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company), wishes to motivate, reward, and retain executive officers of the Company and its subsidiaries. To further these objectives, the Company hereby sets forth this Vontier Corporation 2020 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (the Plan), effective as of October 9, 2020, to provide participants with performance-based bonus awards (Awards). | |
PARTICIPANTS |
Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, the Participants in the Plan shall be the Executive Officers of the Company.
Executive Officer has the meaning set forth in Rule 3b-7 issued under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and anyone else the Committee determines to treat as an Executive Officer for purposes of this Plan. |
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ADMINISTRATOR |
The Plans Administrator will be the Compensation & Management Development Committee (the Committee) of the Board of Directors (the Board) of the Company.
The Committee is responsible for the general operation and administration of the Plan and for carrying out its provisions and has full discretion in interpreting and administering the provisions of the Plan. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee may exercise such powers and authority of the Board as the Committee may find necessary or appropriate to carry out its functions. |
|
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMITTEE |
Subject to the terms of the Plan, for each Performance Period the Committee will:
establish the potential amount of each Participants Award,
define the Performance Goals and other Award terms and conditions for each Participant,
determine the amount of the Award that has been earned, based on actual performance as compared to the Performance Goals,
determine and make Discretionary Adjustments to Awards, and
decide whether, under what circumstances, and subject to what terms, Awards will be paid on a deferred basis (including automatic deferrals at the Committees election or elective deferrals at the election of Participants).
All designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions made under or with respect to the Plan and all Awards made under the Plan are within the sole and absolute discretion of the Committee and will be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, Participants, and beneficiaries or other persons having or claiming any rights under the Plan. |
AWARDS | For any single Performance Period, the amount payable to a Participant for such Performance Period shall equal the amount earned pursuant to the Performance Goals and other Award terms and conditions established by the Committee with respect to such Performance Period; in each case, subject to any further Discretionary Adjustments as the Committee may determine in its sole and absolute discretion. A Participants potential Award may be expressed in dollars or may be based on a formula that is consistent with the provisions of the Plan. | |
PERFORMANCE PERIOD | A Performance Period is a period for which Performance Goals are set and during which performance is to be measured to determine whether a Participant is entitled to payment of an Award under the Plan. A Performance Period may coincide with one or more complete or partial calendar or fiscal years of the Company. Performance Periods may be of varying and overlapping durations. Unless otherwise designated by the Committee, the Performance Period will be based on the calendar year. | |
PERFORMANCE GOALS |
The Committee will have the authority to establish and administer Performance Goals with respect to Awards as it considers appropriate, which Performance Goals must be satisfied, as the Committee specifies, before a Participant receives an Award.
Performance Goals will be based on any one of, or a combination of, performance-based measures determined by the Committee based on the Company and its subsidiaries on a group-wide basis or on the basis of subsidiary, platform, division, operating unit and/or other business unit results (subject to any Discretionary Adjustments), and may include, without limitation, any of the following:
earnings per share (on a fully diluted or other basis);
stock price targets or stock price maintenance;
total shareholder return;
return on capital, return on invested capital or return on equity;
pretax or after-tax net income;
working capital;
earnings before interest and taxes;
earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA);
operating income;
free cash flow;
cash flow;
revenue or core revenue;
gross profit margin; |
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operating profit margin, gross or operating margin improvement or core operating margin improvement; or
strategic business criteria, consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified revenue, market penetration, market share or geographic business expansion goals, cost targets, or objective goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures.
The Committee will determine whether such Performance Goals are attained as soon as practicable after the end of the applicable Performance Period, and such determination will be final, conclusive and binding. |
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PAYMENT OF AWARDS | Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or deferred pursuant to the Plan, Awards determined under the Plan for a Performance Period will be paid to Participants either (i) in cash or (ii) in shares or equity-based awards under the Companys 2020 Stock Incentive Plan or any successor thereto, in each case no earlier than January 1st and no later than March 15th of the calendar year following the end of the Performance Period to which the Awards apply. | |
DETERMINATION |
No Award will be paid unless and until the Committee has determined the extent to which the Performance Goals for the Performance Period have been attained and has made and exercised its decisions regarding the extent of any Discretionary Adjustment of Awards for Participants for the Performance Period. | |
DEFERRAL |
All or any portion of the Award for any given Performance Period may be deferred under the Vontier Corporation Executive Deferred Incentive Program or any successor thereto. | |
CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT |
The Committee may require that Participants for a Performance Period must still be employed as of the end of the Performance Period and/or as of the later date that the Awards for the Performance Period are communicated or paid to be eligible for an Award for the Performance Period. Any such requirement with respect to a Performance Period will be established by the Committee and communicated to the Participant. | |
FORFEITURE OR PRORATION | The Committee may adopt such forfeiture, proration, or other rules as it deems appropriate, in its sole and absolute discretion, regarding the impact on Awards of a Participants death, Disability or other events or situations determined by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion. | |
A Participant shall be considered to have a Disability if the Participant, as determined by the Committee, (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Participants employer. |
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DISCRETIONARY ADJUSTMENTS |
The Committees powers include the power to make Discretionary Adjustments, which are adjustments that increase, decrease or eliminate an Award otherwise payable to a Participant for a Performance Period. | |
OTHER PLANS |
Awards will not be treated as compensation for purposes of any other compensation or benefit plan, program, or arrangement of the Company or any subsidiary unless and except to the extent that the Board or the Committee determines in writing.
The adoption of this Plan will not be construed as limiting the power of the Board or the Committee to adopt such other cash or equity incentive arrangements as either may otherwise deem appropriate. |
|
LEGAL COMPLIANCE |
The Company will not make payments of Awards until all applicable requirements imposed by Federal, state and foreign laws, rules, and regulations, and by any applicable regulatory agencies, have been fully met. No provision in the Plan or action taken under it authorizes any action that applicable laws otherwise prohibit.
Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee will administer the Plan, and Awards may be granted and paid, only in a manner that conforms to such laws, rules, and regulations. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan will be treated as amended to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules, and regulations. |
|
TAX WITHHOLDING | The Company may make all appropriate provisions for the withholding of Federal, state, foreign and local taxes imposed with respect to Awards, which provisions may vary with the time and manner of payment. | |
NONTRANSFER OF RIGHTS | Except as and to the extent the law requires, or as the Plan expressly provides, a Participants rights under the Plan may not be assigned, pledged, or otherwise transferred in any way, whether by operation of law or otherwise or through any legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), by the Participant to any person. | |
AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN | The Board may amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan at any time, without the consent of the Participants or their beneficiaries. | |
LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY | No member of the Committee and no other individual acting as a director, officer, other employee or agent of the Company will be liable to any Participant, former Participant, spouse, beneficiary, or any other person or entity for any claim, loss, liability, or expense incurred in connection with the Plan. No member of the Committee will be liable for any action or determination (including, but not limited to, any decision not to act) made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award under the Plan. | |
NO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT | Nothing contained in this Plan constitutes an employment contract between the Company and the Participants. The Plan does not give any Participant any right to be retained in the Companys employ, nor does it enlarge or diminish the Companys right to end the Participants employment or other relationship with the Company. | |
APPLICABLE LAW | The laws of the State of Delaware (other than its choice of law provisions) govern this Plan and its interpretation. |
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DURATION OF THE PLAN | The Plan will remain effective until terminated by the Board. | |
CODE SECTION 409A REQUIREMENTS | The Plan as well as payments under the Plan are intended to be exempt from or, to the extent subject thereto, to comply with, Section 409A of the of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (together with all successor provisions, related regulations, and amendments, Section 409A), and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted in accordance therewith. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A, a Participant shall not be considered to have terminated employment or service with the Company for purposes of the Plan until the Participant would be considered to have incurred a separation from service from the Company and its affiliates within the meaning of Section 409A. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the short term deferral period as defined in Section 409A shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless applicable law requires otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent that any Awards (or any other amounts payable under any plan, program or arrangement of the Company or any of its Affiliates) are payable upon a separation from service and such payment would result in the imposition of any individual tax and penalty interest charges imposed under Section 409A, the settlement and payment of such awards (or other amounts) shall instead be made on the first business day after the date that is six months following such separation from service (or death, if earlier). Each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided under the Plan shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A. The Company makes no representation that any or all of the payments or benefits described in the Plan will be exempt from or comply with Section 409A and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A from applying to any such payment. Each Participant shall be solely responsible for the payment of any taxes and penalties incurred under Section 409A. | |
RECOUPMENT | Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Plan, any Award under the Plan which is subject to recovery under any law, government regulation, stock exchange listing requirement or pursuant to any policy adopted by the Company, as approved by the Board, will be subject to such deductions and clawback as may be required to be made pursuant to such law, government regulation, stock exchange listing requirement or policy adopted by the Company. |
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Exhibit 10.15
VONTIER CORPORATION
SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL PLAN FOR OFFICERS
Effective as of October 9, 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I PURPOSE AND TERM |
1 | |||||
Section 1.01 |
Purpose of the Plan | 1 | ||||
Section 1.02 |
Term of the Plan | 1 | ||||
ARTICLE II DEFINITIONS |
2 | |||||
Section 2.01 |
Annual Bonus Target Amount | 2 | ||||
Section 2.02 |
Base Salary | 2 | ||||
Section 2.03 |
Board | 2 | ||||
Section 2.04 |
Cause | 2 | ||||
Section 2.05 |
Change in Control | 2 | ||||
Section 2.06 |
Change in Control Termination | 3 | ||||
Section 2.07 |
COBRA | 3 | ||||
Section 2.08 |
Code | 3 | ||||
Section 2.09 |
Committee | 3 | ||||
Section 2.10 |
Company | 3 | ||||
Section 2.11 |
Covered Termination | 3 | ||||
Section 2.12 |
Effective Date | 3 | ||||
Section 2.13 |
Eligible Employee | 3 | ||||
Section 2.14 |
Employee | 4 | ||||
Section 2.15 |
Employer | 4 | ||||
Section 2.16 |
Equity Award | 4 | ||||
Section 2.17 |
ERISA | 4 | ||||
Section 2.18 |
Exchange Act | 4 | ||||
Section 2.19 |
Good Reason Resignation | 4 | ||||
Section 2.20 |
Involuntary Termination | 5 | ||||
Section 2.21 |
Key Employee | 5 | ||||
Section 2.22 |
Named Appeals Fiduciary | 5 | ||||
Section 2.23 |
Participant | 5 | ||||
Section 2.24 |
Permanent Disability | 5 | ||||
Section 2.25 |
Plan | 5 | ||||
Section 2.26 |
Plan Administrator | 5 | ||||
Section 2.27 |
Postponement Period | 6 | ||||
Section 2.28 |
Potential Change in Control | 6 | ||||
Section 2.29 |
Proprietary Interest Agreement | 7 | ||||
Section 2.30 |
Release | 7 | ||||
Section 2.31 |
Separation from Service | 7 | ||||
Section 2.32 |
Separation from Service Date | 7 | ||||
Section 2.33 |
Severance Benefits | 7 | ||||
Section 2.34 |
Severance Multiple | 7 | ||||
Section 2.35 |
Subsidiary | 7 | ||||
Section 2.36 |
Successor | 8 | ||||
Section 2.37 |
Voluntary Resignation | 8 | ||||
ARTICLE III PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY FOR SEVERANCE BENEFITS |
9 |
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Section 3.01 |
Participation | 9 | ||||
Section 3.02 |
Conditions. | 9 | ||||
ARTICLE IV DETERMINATION OF SEVERANCE BENEFITS |
11 | |||||
Section 4.01 |
Severance Benefits Upon a Covered Termination | 11 | ||||
Section 4.02 |
Severance Benefits Upon a Change in Control Termination | 13 | ||||
Section 4.03 |
Voluntary Resignation; Termination due to Death or Permanent Disability | 14 | ||||
Section 4.04 |
Termination for Cause. | 14 | ||||
Section 4.05 |
Reduction of Severance Benefits | 14 | ||||
Section 4.06 |
Non-Duplication of Benefits | 15 | ||||
Section 4.07 |
Outplacement Services | 15 | ||||
Section 4.08 |
Other Arrangements | 15 | ||||
ARTICLE V METHOD, DURATION AND LIMITATION OF SEVERANCE BENEFIT PAYMENTS |
16 | |||||
Section 5.01 |
Covered Termination Method of Payment | 16 | ||||
Section 5.02 |
Change in Control Termination Method of Payment | 16 | ||||
Section 5.03 |
Payment Terms | 16 | ||||
Section 5.04 |
Code Section 409A. | 16 | ||||
Section 5.05 |
Termination of Eligibility for Benefits. | 17 | ||||
Section 5.06 |
Limitation on Benefits. | 17 | ||||
ARTICLE VI THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR |
19 | |||||
Section 6.01 |
Authority and Duties | 19 | ||||
Section 6.02 |
Compensation of the Plan Administrator | 19 | ||||
Section 6.03 |
Records, Reporting and Disclosure | 19 | ||||
ARTICLE VII AMENDMENT, TERMINATION AND DURATION |
20 | |||||
Section 7.01 |
Amendment, Suspension and Termination | 20 | ||||
Section 7.02 |
Duration | 20 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII DUTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE COMMITTEE |
21 | |||||
Section 8.01 |
Records | 21 | ||||
Section 8.02 |
Payment | 21 | ||||
Section 8.03 |
Discretion | 21 | ||||
ARTICLE IX CLAIMS PROCEDURES |
22 | |||||
Section 9.01 |
Claim | 22 | ||||
Section 9.02 |
Response to Claim | 22 | ||||
Section 9.03 |
Appeals of Denied Administrative Claims | 22 | ||||
Section 9.04 |
Appointment of the Named Appeals Fiduciary | 23 | ||||
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS |
24 | |||||
Section 10.01 |
Nonalienation of Benefits | 24 |
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Section 10.02 |
Notices | 24 | ||||
Section 10.03 |
Successors | 24 | ||||
Section 10.04 |
Other Payments | 24 | ||||
Section 10.05 |
No Mitigation | 24 | ||||
Section 10.06 |
No Contract of Employment | 24 | ||||
Section 10.07 |
Severability of Provisions | 24 | ||||
Section 10.08 |
Heirs, Assigns, and Personal Representatives | 24 | ||||
Section 10.09 |
Headings and Captions | 25 | ||||
Section 10.10 |
Gender and Number | 25 | ||||
Section 10.11 |
Unfunded Plan | 25 | ||||
Section 10.12 |
Payments to Incompetent Persons | 25 | ||||
Section 10.13 |
Lost Payees | 25 | ||||
Section 10.14 |
Controlling Law | 25 |
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ARTICLE I
PURPOSE AND TERM
Section 1.01 Purpose of the Plan. The purpose of the Plan is to provide Eligible Employees with certain compensation and benefits as set forth in the Plan in the event the Eligible Employees employment with the Company is terminated, or in the event of a Change in Control.
The benefits provided in connection with a Change in Control are intended to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of the Eligible Employee, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control, and to incentivize Eligible Employees to pursue good faith negotiation of transactions that are in the best interest of the Companys shareholders. The Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of the Eligible Employee by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change in Control; to encourage the Eligible Employees full attention and dedication to the Company currently and in the event of any threatened or pending Change in Control; and to provide the Eligible Employee with competitive compensation and benefits arrangements for a limited period following a Change in Control.
The Plan is not intended to be an employee pension benefit plan or pension plan within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA. Rather, the severance provisions of this Plan are intended to be a welfare benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA and to meet the descriptive requirements of a plan constituting a severance pay plan within the meaning of regulations published by the Secretary of Labor at Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, section 2510.3-2(b). Accordingly, the Severance Benefits paid by the Plan are not deferred compensation and no employee shall have a vested right to such benefits.
Section 1.02 Term of the Plan. The Plan shall generally be effective as of the Effective Date, but subject to amendment from time to time in accordance with Section 7.01. The Plan shall continue until terminated pursuant to Article VII of the Plan.
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ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
Section 2.01 Annual Bonus Target Amount shall mean 100% of the Participants target annual bonus; provided that if the Participants target annual bonus for the year has not yet been established as of the date of his or her Separation from Service, then the target annual bonus in effect for the immediately preceding year shall apply.
Section 2.02 Base Salary shall mean the annual base salary in effect as of the Participants Separation from Service Date.
Section 2.03 Board shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company, or any successor thereto, or a committee thereof specifically designated for purposes of making determinations hereunder.
Section 2.04 Cause shall mean an Employees (a) dishonesty, fraud, misappropriation, embezzlement, willful misconduct or gross negligence with respect to the Employer, or any other action in willful disregard of the interests of the Employer; (b) conviction of, or pleading guilty or no contest to (i) a felony, (ii) any misdemeanor (other than a traffic violation), or (iii) any other crime or activity that would impair the Employees ability to perform duties or impair the business reputation of the Employer; (c) willful failure or refusal to satisfactorily perform any duties assigned to the Employee; (d) failure or refusal to comply with the Employers standards, policies or procedures, including without limitation the Companys Standards of Conduct as amended from time to time; (e) violation of any restrictive covenant agreement with an Employer; (f) engaging in any activity that is in conflict with the business purposes of the Employer, as determined in the Employers sole discretion, or (g) a material misrepresentation or a breach of any of the employees representations, obligations or agreements under any agreement between Employee and an Employer.
The Plan Administrator, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine Cause.
Section 2.05 Change in Control shall mean the consummation of any of the following events that occurs after the Effective Date:
(a) the merger, consolidation, or reorganization of the Company with one or more corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships or other entities in which the Company is not the surviving entity (other than a merger, consolidation or reorganization which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such event continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation or reorganization and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity);
(b) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to another person or entity; or
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(c) any transaction (including a merger or reorganization in which the Company survives) approved by the Board that results in any person or entity (other than an affiliate of the Company as defined in Rule 144(a)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) owning 100% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company.
For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Company IPO, the Separation nor any further disposition of any or all of Fortives ownership interests in the Company will constitute a Change in Control or a Potential Change in Control.
Section 2.06 Change in Control Termination shall mean a Participants Involuntary Termination or Good Reason Resignation that occurs during the period beginning on the date of a Change in Control and ending two (2) years after the date of such Change in Control; Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Employees who become Eligible Individuals within the two year period after a specific Change in Control shall not be eligible for a Change in Control Termination with respect to such Change in Control.
Section 2.07 COBRA shall mean the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 2.08 Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 2.09 Committee shall mean the Compensation & Management Development Committee of the Board or such other committee appointed by the Board to assist the Company in making determinations required under the Plan in accordance with its terms. The Committee may delegate its authority under the Plan to an individual or another committee.
Section 2.10 Common Stock means the common stock of the Company.
Section 2.11 Company shall mean Vontier Corporation, a Delaware corporation. Unless it is otherwise clear from the context, Company shall generally include participating Subsidiaries.
Section 2.12 Company IPO means the Companys initial public offering.
Section 2.13 Covered Termination shall mean a Participants Involuntary Termination that does not constitute a Change in Control Termination.
Section 2.14 Effective Date shall mean October 9, 2020.
Section 2.15 Eligible Employee shall mean an Employee who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act, as determined at the time of a Covered Termination or a Change in Control Termination; provided that all persons who are such officers as determined at the time of a Change in Control shall be deemed, solely for purposes of eligibility for benefits under this Plan, to be such officers upon any Change in Control Termination following such Change in Control.
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Section 2.16 Employee shall mean an individual employed by an Employer as a common law employee of the Employer, and shall not include any person working for the Company through a temporary service or on a leased basis or who is hired by the Company as an independent contractor, consultant, or otherwise as a person who is not an employee for purposes of withholding federal employment taxes, as evidenced by payroll records or a written agreement with the individual, regardless of any contrary governmental or judicial determination or holding relating to such status or tax withholding.
Section 2.17 Employer shall mean the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to which this Plan has been adopted.
Section 2.18 Equity Award shall mean any grant of restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance share units, options, stock appreciation rights, or other similar equity-based award issued by the Company.
Section 2.19 ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 2.20 Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 2.21 Fortive shall mean Fortive Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
Section 2.22 Good Reason Resignation shall mean any retirement or termination of employment by a Participant that is not initiated by the Employer and that is caused by any one or more of the following events which occurs during the period beginning on the date of a Change in Control and ending two years after the date of such Change in Control:
(a) Without the Participants written consent, assignment to the Participant of any duties inconsistent in any material respect with the Participants authority, duties or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control which represent a diminution of such duties, or any other action by the Company which results in a material diminution in such authority, duties or responsibilities;
(b) Without the Participants written consent, a material change in the geographic location at which the Participant must perform services to a location which is more than fifty (50) miles from the Participants principal place of business immediately preceding the Change in Control; provided, that such change in location extends the commute of such Participant;
(c) Without the Participants written consent, a material reduction to the Participants base compensation and benefits, taken as a whole, as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control; or
(d) The Companys failure to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any Successor to assume and agree to perform the Companys obligations to the Participant under this Plan, as contemplated in Section 10.03 herein.
4
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant shall be considered to have a Good Reason Resignation only if the Participant provides written notice to the Company specifying in reasonable detail the events or conditions upon which the Participant is basing such Good Reason Resignation and the Participant provides such notice within ninety (90) days after the event that gives rise to the Good Reason Resignation. Within thirty (30) days after notice has been received, the Company shall have the opportunity, but shall have no obligation, to cure such events or conditions that give rise to the Good Reason Resignation. If the Company does not cure such events or conditions within the thirty (30)-day period, the Participant may terminate employment with the Company based on Good Reason Resignation within thirty (30) days after the expiration of the cure period.
Section 2.23 Involuntary Termination shall mean the date that a Participant involuntarily separates from service with the Company and its Affiliates within the meaning of Code Section 409A and shall not include a separation from service for Cause, Permanent Disability or death, as provided under and subject to the conditions of Article III.
Section 2.24 Key Employee shall mean an Employee who, at any time during the 12-month period ending on the identification date, is a specified employee under Code Section 409A, as determined by the Committee or its delegate. The determination of Key Employees, including the number and identity of persons considered specified employees and the identification date, shall be made by the Committee or its delegate in accordance with the provisions of Code Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 2.25 Named Appeals Fiduciary shall mean the person(s) appointed pursuant to Section 9.04.
Section 2.26 Participant shall mean any Eligible Employee who meets the requirements of Article III and thereby becomes eligible for the payments and other benefits provided under the Plan.
Section 2.27 Permanent Disability shall mean that an Employee has a permanent and total incapacity from engaging in any employment for the Employer for physical or mental reasons. A Permanent Disability shall be deemed to exist if the Employee meets the requirements for disability benefits under the Employers long-term disability plan or under the requirements for disability benefits under the Social Security law then in effect, or if the Employee is designated with an inactive employment status at the end of a disability or medical leave.
Section 2.28 Plan means this Vontier Corporation Severance and Change in Control Plan for Officers, as set forth herein, and as the same may from time to time be amended.
Section 2.29 Plan Administrator shall mean the individual(s) appointed by the Committee to administer the terms of the Plan as set forth herein and if no individual is appointed by the Committee to serve as the Plan Administrator for the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall be the Senior Vice-President, Human Resources (or the equivalent) of the Company. In the event of the occurrence of a Potential Change in Control, the Senior Vice-President, Human Resources (or the equivalent) shall appoint a person or entity independent of the Company and any person operating under
5
the Companys control or on its behalf to serve as Plan Administrator (and such person or entity shall be the Plan Administrator for all purposes after such appointment), and such appointment shall take effect and become irrevocable as of the date of said appointment (provided that such appointment shall be revocable if a Change in Control does not occur and the Potential Change in Control expires in accordance with Section 2.31(y)). For periods prior to a Potential Change in Control, the Plan Administrator may delegate all or any portion of its authority under the Plan to any other person(s).
Section 2.30 Postponement Period shall mean, for a Key Employee, the period of six months after the Key Employees Separation from Service Date (or such other period as may be required by Code Section 409A) during which deferred compensation may not be paid to the Key Employee under Code Section 409A.
Section 2.31 Potential Change in Control shall mean the occurrence and continuation of any of the following:
(a) any person (as defined in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), excluding for this purpose, (i) the Company or any subsidiary company (wherever incorporated) of the Company as defined by the law of the Companys place of incorporation, or (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any such subsidiary company, is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) directly or indirectly of securities of the Company representing more than five percent (5%) of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities unless such Person has reported or is required to report such ownership on Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report) or on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report), which Schedule 13D does not state any intention to or reserve the right to control or influence the management or policies of the Company or engage in any of the actions specified in Item 4 of such Schedule (other than the disposition of the ordinary shares) so long as such Person neither reports nor is required to report such ownership other than as described in this paragraph; provided, however, that a Potential Change in Control will not be deemed to have occurred as a result of a change in ownership percentage resulting solely from an acquisition of securities by the Company;
(b) the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation of which would result in the occurrence of a Change in Control;
(c) any person (as defined in subsection (a)) publicly announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions which, if consummated, would constitute or result in a Change in Control;
(d) any person (as defined in subsection (a)) commences a solicitation (as defined in Rule 14a-1 of the Exchange Act) of proxies or consents that has the purpose of effecting or would (if successful) result in a Change in Control;
(e) a tender or exchange offer for at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting securities of the Company, made by a person (as defined in subsection (a)), is first published or sent or given (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the Exchange Act); or
6
(f) the Board adopts a resolution to the effect that, for purposes of the Plan, a Potential Change in Control has occurred.
The Potential Change in Control shall be deemed in effect until the earlier of (x) the occurrence of a Change in Control, or (y) the adoption by the Board of a resolution stating that, for purposes of the Plan, the Potential Change in Control has expired.
Section 2.32 Proprietary Interest Agreement shall mean the Agreement Regarding Competition and Protection of Proprietary Interests, as amended, assigned or replaced from time to time and executed by the Employee and the Company.
Section 2.33 Release shall mean the Separation of Employment Agreement and General Release, in the form as provided by the Company.
Section 2.34 Separation means, following the Company IPO, (i) the transfer by Fortive of shares of Common Stock to holders of shares of common stock of Fortive by means of one or more distributions by Fortive to holders of common stock of Fortive or one or more offers to holders of common stock of Fortive to exchange shares of Fortive common stock for shares of Common Stock, or any combination thereof or (ii) any other transfer, exchange or other disposition by Fortive of Common Stock in one or more transactions that results in Fortive ceasing to beneficially own (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), in the aggregate, a majority of the total voting power of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock with respect to the election of directors of the Board.
Section 2.35 Separation from Service means separation from service within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) and the applicable regulations and rulings promulgated thereunder.
Section 2.36 Separation from Service Date shall mean, with respect to a Participant, the date on which such Participant experiences a Separation from Service.
Section 2.37 Severance Benefits shall mean the cash amounts and other benefits that a Participant is eligible to receive pursuant to Article IV of the Plan.
Section 2.38 Severance Multiple shall mean, for the Chief Executive Officer of Vontier Corporation, two (2), and for all other Participants, one (1).
Section 2.39 Subsidiary shall mean (a) a subsidiary company (wherever incorporated) as defined by the law of the Companys place of incorporation, (b) any separately organized business unit, whether or not incorporated, of the Company, (c) any employer that is required to be aggregated with the Company pursuant to Code Section 414, and (d) any service recipient or employer that is (i) within a controlled group of corporations with the Company as defined in Code Sections 1563(a)(1), (2) and (3) where the phrase at least 50% is substituted in each place at least 80% appears or (ii) with the Company as part of a group of trades or businesses under common control as defined in Code Section 414(c) and Treas. Reg. Section 1.414(c)-2 where the phrase at least 50% is substituted in each place at least 80% appears, provided, however, that when the relevant determination is to be based upon legitimate business criteria (as described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E) and Section 1.409A-1(h)(3)), the phrase at least 20% shall be substituted in each place at least 80% appears as described above with respect to both a controlled group of corporations and trades or business under common control.
7
Section 2.40 Successor shall mean any corporation or unincorporated entity or group of corporations or unincorporated entities which acquires ownership, directly or indirectly, through merger, consolidation, purchase or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.
Section 2.41 Voluntary Resignation shall mean any Separation from Service that is not initiated by the Company or any Subsidiary, other than a Good Reason Resignation.
8
ARTICLE III
PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY FOR SEVERANCE BENEFITS
Section 3.01 Participation. Each Eligible Employee who incurs a Covered Termination or a Change in Control Termination and who satisfies the conditions of Section 3.02 shall be eligible to receive the Severance Benefits described in this Plan, subject to the application of the non-duplication provisions of Section 4.06.
Section 3.02 Conditions.
(a) Eligibility for any Severance Benefits is expressly conditioned on the occurrence of the following after the Participants Separation from Service Date: (i) execution by the Participant of a Release and delivery of the Release to the Company within twenty-one (21) days of the Separation from Service Date (forty-five (45) days if the Separation from Service is part of a group separation program), and non-revocation of the Release during the seven (7)-day period following the execution of the Release; (ii) compliance by the Participant with all the terms and conditions of such Release; (iii) the Participants written agreement to comply with the terms of the Proprietary Interest Agreement after the Participants employment with the Company; and (iv) to the extent permitted in Section 4.05 of the Plan, execution of a written agreement that authorizes the deduction of amounts owed to the Company prior to the payment of any Severance Benefits (or in accordance with any other schedule as is agreed between the Participant and the Company). If the Plan Administrator determines that the Participant has not fully complied with any of the terms of the Release and any of the agreements described hereinabove, then the Plan Administrator may withhold Severance Benefits not yet in pay status or discontinue the payment of the Participants Severance Benefits and may require the Participant, by providing written notice of such repayment obligation to the Participant, to repay any portion of the Severance Benefits already received under the Plan. If the Plan Administrator notifies a Participant that repayment of all or any portion of the Severance Benefits received under the Plan is required, such amounts shall be repaid within thirty (30) calendar days of the date the written notice is sent, provided, however, that if the Participant files an appeal of such determination under the claims procedures described in Article IX, then such repayment obligation shall be suspended pending the outcome of the appeals procedure. Any remedy under this subsection (a) shall be in addition to, and not in place of, any other remedy, including injunctive relief, that the Company may have.
(b) Notwithstanding compliance with Section 3.02(a), an Eligible Employee will not be eligible to receive Severance Benefits under this Plan under any of the following circumstances:
(i) The Eligible Employees Voluntary Resignation;
(ii) The Eligible Employee resigns employment (other than a Good Reason Resignation) before the job-end date mutually agreed to in writing between the Participant and the Employer, including any extension thereto as is mutually agreed to in writing between the parties;
9
(iii) The Eligible Employees employment is terminated for Cause;
(iv) The Eligible Employees employment is terminated due to the Eligible Employees death or Permanent Disability;
(v) The Eligible Employee does not return to work within the period prescribed by law (or if there is no such period prescribed by law, then within a reasonable period as is determined by the Plan Administrator) following an approved leave of absence, unless such period is extended by mutual written agreement of the parties; or
(vi) The Eligible Employees employment with the Employer terminates as a result of a Change in Control and the Eligible Employee accepts employment, or has the opportunity to continue employment, with a Successor (other than under terms and conditions which would permit a Good Reason Resignation).
(c) The Plan Administrator has the discretion to make initial determinations regarding an Eligible Employees eligibility to receive Severance Benefits hereunder.
(d) An Eligible Employee returning from approved military leave will be eligible for Severance Benefits if: (i) he/she is eligible for reemployment under the provisions of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA); (ii) his/her pre-military leave job is eliminated; and (iii) the Employers circumstances are changed so as to make reemployment in another position impossible or unreasonable, or re-employment would create an undue hardship for the Employer. If the Eligible Employee returning from military leave qualifies for Severance Benefits, his/her severance benefits will be calculated as if he/she had remained continuously employed from the date he/she began his/her military leave. The Eligible Employee must also satisfy any other relevant conditions for payment, including execution of a Release.
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ARTICLE IV
DETERMINATION OF SEVERANCE BENEFITS
Section 4.01 Severance Benefits Upon a Covered Termination. If a Participant experiences a Covered Termination and is determined to be eligible for Severance Benefits, then:
(a) Cash Payment. The Participant shall receive a cash payment equal to the product of the Participants annual Base Salary multiplied by the Severance Multiple. Payment will be made in accordance with Article V.
(b) Bonus. The Participant shall receive a cash payment equal to his or her pro-rated annual bonus (based on the number of full months completed from the beginning of the fiscal year through the Separation from Service) based on actual performance for the year in which the Participants Separation from Service occurs. Payment will be made in accordance with Article V.
(c) Equity Awards. Except to the extent more Participant-favorable treatment is provided in an agreement between the Participant and the Company or by the applicable plan, a pro rata portion of any unvested Equity Award granted at least six (6) months prior to the Separation from Service Date and held by the Participant shall cease to be subject to a requirement of continued employment or service. Such pro rata portion (i) shall be based on the number of full months of service of the full employment or service period completed as of the Separation from Service Date, (ii) with respect to any Equity Awards subject to performance conditions, shall continue to be subject to such performance conditions and shall be earned or forfeited based on the achievement of such performance conditions, and (iii) together with any Equity Awards that had vested prior to, and remained outstanding at, the Separation from Service Date, that are subject to exercise may be exercised upon vesting until the earlier of the (i) the fifth anniversary of the Separation from Service Date and (ii) the corresponding date of expiration of such Equity Award under the original terms of such grant. Any Equity Awards that are no longer subject to a requirement of continued employment or service pursuant to the foregoing shall be paid or settled, or shall become exercisable, at the same time as they would have been paid or settled or become exercisable under the terms of the original award had employment or service continued for the full employment or service period under the Equity Award.
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(d) Welfare Benefits. The Participant shall continue to be eligible to participate in the welfare benefits plan coverage in effect at the date of his or her termination (or generally comparable coverage) for himself or herself and, where applicable, his or her spouse or domestic partner and dependents, as the same may be changed from time to time for employees of the Company generally, as if Participant had continued in employment for a number of months following his or her termination equal to the product of twelve (12) multiplied by the Participants Severance Multiple (such period is referred to herein as the Benefits Continuation Period). The Participant shall be responsible for the payment of the employee portion of any premiums or contributions that are required during the Benefits Continuation Period and such premiums and contributions shall be made within the time period and in the amounts that other employees are required to pay to the Company for similar coverage. The Participants failure to pay the applicable premiums or contributions shall result in the cessation of the applicable coverage for the Participant and his or her spouse or domestic partner and dependents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, in the event that a Participant commences employment with another company at any time during the Benefits Continuation Period and becomes eligible for coverage under the plan(s) of such other company, the benefits provided under the Companys plans will become secondary to those provided under the other employers plans through the end of the Benefits Continuation Period. Within thirty (30) days following the Participants commencement of employment with another company, the Participant shall provide the Company written notice of such employment and provide information to the Company regarding the welfare benefits provided to the Participant by his or her new employer. The COBRA continuation coverage period under section 4980B of the Code shall run concurrently with the continuation period described herein.
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Section 4.02 Severance Benefits Upon a Change in Control Termination. If a Participant experiences a Change in Control Termination and is determined to be eligible for Severance Benefits, then:
(a) Cash Payment. The Participant shall receive a cash payment equal to the product of the Severance Multiple multiplied by the sum of (i) the Participants annual Base Salary and (ii) the Participants Annual Bonus Target Amount. Payment will be made in accordance with Article V.
(b) Bonus. The Participant shall receive a cash payment equal to his or her pro-rated annual bonus (based on the number of full months completed from the beginning of the fiscal year through the Separation from Service), determined as if the target performance goals had been achieved, for the year in which Participants Separation from Service occurs; provided, however, that to the extent that a bonus payment for such period is paid as a result of a Change in Control under the terms of the incentive plan governing annual bonuses, then the amount otherwise payable under this Section 5.02(b) will be offset by the payment made under such other incentive plan. Payment will be made in accordance with Article V.
(c) Equity Awards. Any unvested Equity Awards held by the Participant shall vest in full as of the Separation from Service Date. With respect to Equity Awards with performance conditions, performance will be deemed to have been achieved at the target performance level. In addition, an Equity Award outstanding at the Separation from Service Date and held by the Participants that, upon vesting, are subject to exercise may be exercised until the earlier of (i) the fifth anniversary of the Separation from Service Date and (ii) the expiration date of the such Equity Award under the original terms of such grant.
(d) Welfare Benefits. The Participant shall continue to be eligible to participate in the welfare benefits plan coverage in effect at the date of his or her termination (or generally comparable coverage) for himself or herself and, where applicable, his or her spouse or domestic partner and dependents, as the same may be changed from time to time for employees of the Company generally, as if Participant had continued in employment for the Benefits Continuation Period. The Participant shall be responsible for the payment of the employee portion of any premiums or contributions that are required during the Benefits Continuation Period and such premiums and contributions shall be made within the time period and in the amounts that other employees are required to pay to the Company for similar coverage. The Participants failure to pay the applicable premiums or contributions shall result in the cessation of the applicable coverage for the Participant and his or her spouse or domestic partner and dependents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, in the event that a Participant commences employment with another company at any time during the Benefits Continuation Period and becomes eligible for coverage under the plan(s) of such other company, the benefits provided under the Companys plans will become secondary to those provided under the other employers plans through the end of the Benefits Continuation Period. Within thirty (30) days following the Participants commencement of employment with another company, the Participant shall provide the Company written notice of such employment and provide information to the Company regarding the welfare benefits provided to the Participant by his or her new employer. The COBRA continuation coverage period under section 4980B of the Code shall run concurrently with the continuation period described herein.
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Section 4.03 Voluntary Resignation; Termination due to Death or Permanent Disability. If the Eligible Employees employment terminates due to (a) the Eligible Employees Voluntary Resignation, (b) death, or (c) Permanent Disability, then the Eligible Employee shall not be entitled to receive Severance Benefits under this Policy and shall be entitled only to those benefits (if any) as may be available under the Companys other benefit plans and policies effective at the time of such termination.
Section 4.04 Termination for Cause.
(a) If any Eligible Employees employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, then the Eligible Employee shall not be entitled to receive Severance Benefits under this Plan and shall be entitled only to those benefits that are legally required to be provided to the Eligible Employee. In addition, notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, if the Committee or the Plan Administrator determines that an Eligible Employee (a) has engaged in conduct that constitutes Cause at any time prior to the Eligible Employees Separation from Service Date, or (b) after the Employees Separation from Service Date, has been convicted of or entered a plea of nolo contendere with respect to either a felony, or a misdemeanor which involves dishonesty, fraud or morally repugnant behavior, based on conduct which occurred prior to the Eligible Employees Separation from Service Date, then any Severance Benefits payable to the Eligible Employee under this Plan shall immediately cease, and the Eligible Employee shall be required to return any Severance Benefits paid to the Eligible Employee prior to such determination.
(b) The Company may withhold paying Severance Benefits under the Plan pending resolution of any good faith inquiry that is likely to lead to a finding resulting in Cause or that may result in the termination of benefits hereunder. If the Company has offset other payments owed to the Eligible Employee under any other plan or program, it may, in its sole discretion, waive its repayment right solely with respect to the amount of the offset so credited.
(c) Any dispute regarding a termination for Cause or the termination of benefits hereunder will be resolved by the Plan Administrator. Such determination will be based on all of the facts and circumstances presented to the Plan Administrator by the Company. If the Plan Administrator determines that the Eligible Employees termination of employment is for Cause, or determinates that the Eligible Employee has engaged in conduct after his or her Separation from Service date that will result in the cessation of benefits hereunder, then the Plan Administrator will notify the Eligible Employee in writing of such determination, describing in detail the reason for such determination, including without limitation the specific conduct that constituted the basis for the determination. The Eligible Employee shall have the right to contest the determination of the Plan Administrator in accordance with the Appeals Procedure described in Section 9.03.
Section 4.05 Reduction of Severance Benefits. With respect to amounts paid under the Plan that are not subject to Code Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder, the Plan Administrator reserves the right to make deductions in accordance with applicable law for any monies owed to the Company by the Participant or the value of Company property that the Participant has retained in his/her possession. With respect to amounts paid under the Plan that are subject to Code Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder, the Plan Administrator reserves the right to make deductions in accordance with applicable law for any monies owed to the Company by the Participant or the value of the Company property that the Participant has retained in his/her possession; provided, however, that such deduction shall not exceed $5,000 in the aggregate to the extent it would be considered an acceleration of benefit payments.
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Section 4.06 Non-Duplication of Benefits. The Plan is intended to supersede, and not to duplicate, the provisions of any severance or other plan that specifically provide the same type or types of benefits as are described herein (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Fortive Senior Leaders Severance Pay Plan Component of the Fortive Severance Plan to the extent formerly applicable). However, the Plan is not intended to supersede any other plan, program, arrangement or agreement providing a Participant with benefits upon a termination of employment that are not described herein, including but not limited to, payment of accrued vacation pay, the vesting or exercise rights of any equity award, or the payment of any long-term cash bonus. In such case, the Participant shall be entitled to receive the payments or benefits so provided by any such other plan, program, arrangement or agreement in accordance with its terms.
Section 4.07 Outplacement Services. The Company may, in its sole absolute discretion, pay the cost of outplacement services for the Participant at the outplacement agency that the Company regularly uses for such purpose or, provided the Senior Vice President, Human Resources of the Company provides prior approval, at an outplacement agency selected by the Participant; provided, however, that the period of outplacement services shall not exceed twelve (12) months from the Participants Separation from Service.
Section 4.08 Other Arrangements. The Board, the Committee or the Plan Administrator may provide to a Participant additional severance pay or benefits not otherwise described herein in its sole and absolute discretion, including providing for payments to the Participant under certain compensation or bonus plans under circumstances where such plans would not otherwise provide for payment thereof. It is the specific intention of the Company that if such discretion is exercised, then any such additional pay or benefits provided shall be subject to this Plan as if fully set forth herein.
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ARTICLE V
METHOD, DURATION AND LIMITATION OF SEVERANCE BENEFIT PAYMENTS
Section 5.01 Covered Termination Method of Payment. The cash Severance Benefits to which a Participant is entitled pursuant to Section 4.01(a) shall be paid in approximately equal installments over a number of months equal to the product of twelve (12) multiplied by the Participants Severance Multiple in accordance with the Employers customary payroll practices, and the cash Severance Benefits to which a Participant is entitled pursuant to Section 4.01(b) shall be paid at the same time as bonuses would be payable under the applicable bonus or incentive program. The benefits under the arrangements described in Section 4.01(c) and Section 4.01(d) will be provided as contemplated therein.
Section 5.02 Change in Control Termination Method of Payment. The cash Severance Benefits to which a Participant is entitled pursuant to Section 4.02(a) and Section 4.02(b) shall be paid in a single lump sum payment within sixty (60) days following the Participants Separation from Service Date. The benefits under the arrangements described in Section 4.02(c) and Section 4.02(d) will be provided as contemplated therein.
Section 5.03 Payment Terms. In no event will interest be credited on the unpaid balance for which a Participant may become eligible. Payment shall be made by mailing to the last address provided by the Participant to the Company or such other reasonable method as determined by the Plan Administrator. All payments of Severance Benefits are subject to applicable federal, state and local taxes and withholdings. In the event of the Participants death prior to receiving the full cash payment due to him or her, except to the extent otherwise provided under the terms of the applicable agreement or arrangement governing the payment, the remaining amount of such payment shall be paid to the Participants estate in a single lump-sum payment within thirty (30) days following the later of the Participants death or the determination of any performance level that applies to such payment. In the event of the Participants death following a Covered Termination and prior to the payment or exercisability of Equity Awards that ceased to be subject to a requirement of continued employment or service pursuant to Section 4.01(c), the Participants estate or personal representative shall receive the same payment with respect to such Equity Awards, and shall be eligible to exercise such Equity Awards to the same extent and at the same time, as the Participant, had the Participant survived.
Section 5.04 Code Section 409A.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, if required by Code Section 409A and if a Participant is a Key Employee, then no Benefits shall be paid to the Participant during the Postponement Period. If a Participant is a Key Employee and payment of Benefits is required to be delayed for the Postponement Period under Code Section 409A, the accumulated amounts withheld on account of Code Section 409A shall be paid in a lump sum payment within thirty (30) days after the end of the Postponement Period and no interest or other adjustment shall be made for the delayed payment. If the Participant dies during the Postponement Period prior to the payment of Severance Benefits, then the amounts withheld on account of Code Section 409A shall be paid within thirty (30) days after the Participants death.
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(b) This Plan is intended to meet the requirements of the short-term deferral exception, the separation pay exception and other exceptions under Code Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, if required by Code Section 409A, payments may only be made under this Plan upon an event and in a manner permitted by Code Section 409A, to the extent applicable. For purposes of Code Section 409A, the right to a series of payments under the Plan shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments. 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, including, where applicable, the requirement that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during the period of time specified in the Plan, (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other calendar year, (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made no later than the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred, and (iv) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. In no event may a Participant designate the year of payment for any amounts payable under this Plan.
Section 5.05 Termination of Eligibility for Benefits.
(a) All Eligible Employees shall cease to be eligible to participate in this Plan, and all Severance Benefits payments shall cease upon the occurrence of the earlier of:
(i) Subject to Article VII, termination or modification of the Plan; or
(ii) Completion of any obligation of the Company or its Subsidiaries to make any payment or distribution under Articles III or IV for the benefit of the Participant.
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall have the right to cease all Severance Benefits payments and to recover payments previously made to the Participant should the Participant at any time breach the Participants undertakings under the terms of the Plan, including, but not limited to, the Release.
Section 5.06 Limitation on Benefits.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, except as provided in Section 5.06(b), in the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the Company or its Subsidiaries to or for the benefit of a Participant (whether paid or provided pursuant to the terms of this Plan or otherwise) (a Payment) would be nondeductible by the Company for Federal income tax purposes because of Section 280G of the Code, then the aggregate present value of the benefits provided to the Participant pursuant to the rights granted under this Plan (such benefits are hereinafter referred to as Plan Payments) shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount. The Reduced Amount shall be an amount expressed in present value which maximizes the aggregate present value of Plan Payments without causing any Payment to be nondeductible by the Company because of Section 280G of the Code. For purposes of this Section 5.06, present value shall be determined in accordance with Section 280G(d)(4) of the Code. To the extent necessary to eliminate an excess parachute amount that would not be deductible by the Company for Federal income tax purposes because of
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Section 280G of the Code, the amounts payable or benefits to be provided to the Participant shall be reduced such that the economic loss to the Participant as a result of the excess parachute amount elimination is minimized. In applying this principle, the reduction shall be made in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A and where two economically equivalent amounts are subject to reduction but payable at different times, such amounts shall be reduced on a pro rata basis but not below zero.
(b) If the Firm (as defined in Section 5.06(c)) determines that the payments to the Participant (before any reductions as described in Section 5.06(a)) on an after-tax basis (i.e., after federal, state and local income and excise taxes and federal employment taxes) would exceed the Reduced Amount on an after-tax basis (i.e., after federal, state and local income and federal employment taxes) then such payments will not be reduced as described in Section 5.06(a).
(c) All determinations required to be made under this Section 5.06 shall be made by a nationally recognized accounting or consulting firm selected by the Senior Vice-President, Human Resources of the Company (or the equivalent) upon the occurrence of a Potential Change in Control (the Firm), which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Participant within fifteen (15) business days of the Separation from Service Date or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. Any such determination by the Firm shall be binding upon the Company, its successors and the Participant (subject to Section 5.06(e) below). At the next regularly scheduled payroll date occurring at least five (5) business days after the determination by the Firm as to the Reduced Amount, the Company shall provide to the Participant such Payments as are then due to the Participant in accordance with the rights afforded under this Plan or any other applicable plan.
(d) The Company shall reimburse the Participant for any costs or expenses of tax counsel incurred by the Participant in connection with any audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, or any state or local tax authorities, concerning the application of Code Section 280G to any Payments (provided, that the Participant retains tax counsel acceptable to the Company). In the event that as a result of any such audit or investigation, the reduction in Plan Payments under Section 5.06(a) above is finally determined not to be sufficient in amount to permit the deduction by the Company of all Payments under Code Section 280G, then the Company shall pay the Participant an additional amount which shall be sufficient to put the Participant, after payment of any additional income, employment and excise taxes, interest and penalties, in substantially the same economic position as if the reduction had been sufficient. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any reimbursement or payment pursuant to this Section 5.06(d) shall be made in a manner, and in such timeframe, that complies with the requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(v).
(e) In the event that the Firm determines that a reduction effected pursuant to Section 5.06(a) above was excessive in amount due to changes in relevant data or information following its original determination under Section 5.06(c) above, and that additional Plan Payments could have been made thereunder, the Company shall promptly make such additional payments to the Participant.
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ARTICLE VI
THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR
Section 6.01 Authority and Duties. It shall be the duty of the Plan Administrator, on the basis of information supplied to it by the Company and the Committee, to properly administer the Plan. The Plan Administrator shall have the full power, authority and discretion to construe, interpret and administer the Plan, to make factual determinations, to correct deficiencies therein, and to supply omissions. All decisions, actions and interpretations of the Plan Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the parties with respect to denied claims for Severance Benefits, except in those cases where such determination is subject to review by the Named Appeals Fiduciary. The Plan Administrator may adopt such rules and regulations and may make such decisions as it deems necessary or desirable for the proper administration of the Plan.
Section 6.02 Compensation of the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator appointed for periods prior to a Potential Change in Control shall receive no compensation for services as such. The Plan Administrator appointed for periods on and after a Potential Change in Control will be entitled to receive reasonable compensation as is mutually agreed upon between the parties. All reasonable expenses of the Plan Administrator shall be paid or reimbursed by the Company upon proper documentation. The Plan Administrator shall be indemnified by the Company against personal liability for actions taken in good faith in the discharge of the Plan Administrators duties.
Section 6.03 Records, Reporting and Disclosure. The Plan Administrator shall keep a copy of all records relating to the payment of Severance Benefits to Participants and former Participants and all other records necessary for the proper operation of the Plan. All Plan records shall be made available to the Committee, the Company and to each Participant for examination during business hours except that a Participant shall examine only such records as pertain exclusively to the examining Participant and to the Plan. The Plan Administrator shall prepare and shall file as required by law or regulation all reports, forms, documents and other items required by ERISA, the Code, and every other relevant statute, each as amended, and all regulations thereunder (except that the Company, as payor of the Severance Benefits, shall prepare and distribute to the proper recipients all forms relating to withholding of income or wage taxes, Social Security taxes, and other amounts that may be similarly reportable).
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ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENT, TERMINATION AND DURATION
Section 7.01 Amendment, Suspension and Termination. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7.01, the Board or its delegate shall have the right, at any time and from time to time, to amend, suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part, for any reason or without reason, and without either the consent of or the prior notification to any Participant, by a formal written action. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
(a) After the occurrence of a Potential Change in Control (and prior to its expiration in accordance with Section 2.31(y)), (i) any termination or suspension of the Plan will not be applicable to Eligible Employees who are employed on the date of occurrence of the Potential Change in Control, and (ii) no amendment shall adversely affect any right of a Participant or Eligible Employee without the written consent of such Participant or Eligible Employee.
(b) After the occurrence of a Change in Control, (i) any termination or suspension of the Plan during the two (2) year period following the Change in Control will not be applicable to Eligible Employees who are employed on the date of occurrence of the Change in Control, (ii) no amendment during the two (2) year period following the Change in Control shall adversely affect any right of a Participant or Eligible Employee without the written consent of such Participant or Eligible Employee, and (iii) no amendment shall give the Company the right to recover any amount paid to any Participant prior to the date of such amendment or to cause the cessation of Severance Benefits already approved for a Participant who has executed a Release.
(c) Any amendment or termination of the Plan must comply with all applicable legal requirements including, without limitation, compliance with Code Section 409A and the regulations and ruling promulgated thereunder, securities, tax, or other laws, rules, regulations or regulatory interpretations thereof, applicable to the Plan.
Section 7.02 Duration. The Plan shall continue in full force and effect until the earlier of (a) termination of the Plan pursuant to Section 7.01 or (b) the second anniversary of a Change in Control; provided, however, that after the termination of the Plan, if any Participant terminated employment due to a Covered Termination or Change in Control Termination prior to the termination of the Plan and is still entitled to receive payments or benefits hereunder, then the Plan shall remain in effect with respect to such Participant until all of the obligations of the Company are satisfied with respect to such Participant.
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ARTICLE VIII
DUTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE COMMITTEE
Section 8.01 Records. The Company shall supply to the Committee all records and information necessary to the performance of the Committees duties.
Section 8.02 Payment. Payments of Severance Benefits to Participants shall be made in such amount as determined by the Committee under Article V, from the Companys general assets or from a supplemental unemployment benefits trust, in accordance with the terms of the Plan, as directed by the Committee.
Section 8.03 Discretion. Any decisions, actions or interpretations to be made under the Plan by the Board, the Committee and the Plan Administrator, acting on behalf of either, shall be made in each of their respective sole discretion, not in any fiduciary capacity and need not be uniformly applied to similarly situated individuals and such decisions, actions or interpretations shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all parties. As a condition of participating in the Plan, the Participant acknowledges that all decisions and determinations of the Board, the Committee and the Plan Administrator taken in good faith shall be final and binding on the Participant, his or her beneficiaries and any other person having or claiming an interest under the Plan on his or her behalf.
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ARTICLE IX
CLAIMS PROCEDURES
Section 9.01 Claim. Each Participant under this Plan may contest any action taken or determination made by the Company, the Board, the Committee or the Plan Administrator that affects the rights of such Participant hereunder by completing and filing with the Plan Administrator a written claim in the manner specified by the Plan Administrator no later than one hundred and eighty (180) days following the date the action was taken or determination made, which claim must be supported by such information as the Plan Administrator deems relevant and appropriate. No person may bring an action for any alleged wrongful denial of Plan benefits in a court of law unless the claims procedures described in this Article IX are exhausted and a final determination is made by the Plan Administrator and/or the Named Appeals Fiduciary. If the terminated Participant or interested person challenges a decision by the Plan Administrator and/or Named Appeals Fiduciary, a review by the court of law will be limited to the facts, evidence and issues presented to the Plan Administrator during the claims procedure set forth in this Article IX. Issues not raised with the Plan Administrator and/or Named Appeals Fiduciary will be deemed waived.
Section 9.02 Response to Claim. The Plan Administrator will review the claim filed pursuant to Section 9.01 and make a determination thereon. In the event that any claim relating to the administration of Severance Benefits is denied in whole or in part, the Plan Administrator shall notify in writing the terminated Participant or his or her beneficiary (claimant) whose claim has been so denied of such denial within ninety (90) days after the receipt of the claim for benefits. This period may be extended an additional ninety (90) days if the Plan Administrator determines such extension is necessary and the Plan Administrator provides notice of extension to the claimant prior to the end of the initial ninety (90) day period. The notice advising of the denial shall: (a) specify the reason or reasons for denial, (b) make specific reference to the Plan provisions on which the determination was based, (c) describe any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim (explaining why such material or information is needed), (d) describe the Plans review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures, including a statement of the claimants right to bring a civil action under section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination on review, and (e) include any other information required by ERISA.
Section 9.03 Appeals of Denied Administrative Claims. All appeals shall be made by the following procedure:
(a) A claimant whose claim has been denied shall file with the Plan Administrator a notice of appeal of the denial. Such notice shall be filed within sixty (60) calendar days of notification by the Plan Administrator of the denial of a claim, shall be made in writing, and shall set forth all of the facts upon which the appeal is based. Appeals not timely filed shall be barred.
(b) The Named Appeals Fiduciary shall consider the merits of the claimants written presentations, the merits of any facts or evidence in support of the denial of benefits, and such other facts and circumstances as the Named Appeals Fiduciary shall deem relevant.
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(c) The Named Appeals Fiduciary shall render a determination upon the appealed claim which determination shall be accompanied by a written statement as to the reasons therefor. The determination shall be made to the claimant within sixty (60) days of the claimants request for review, unless the Named Appeals Fiduciary determines that special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim. In such case, the Named Appeals Fiduciary shall notify the claimant of the need for an extension of time to render its decision prior to the end of the initial sixty (60) day period, and the Named Appeals Fiduciary shall have an additional sixty (60) day period to make its determination. The determination so rendered shall be binding upon all parties as long as it is made in good faith. If the determination is adverse to the claimant, the notice shall (i) provide the reason or reasons for denial, (ii) make specific reference to the Plan provisions on which the determination was based, (iii) include a statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant to a the claimants claim for benefits, and (iv) state that the claimant has the right to bring an action under section 502(a) of ERISA.
Section 9.04 Appointment of the Named Appeals Fiduciary. The Named Appeals Fiduciary shall be the person or persons named as such by the Board or Committee, or, if no such person or persons be named, then the person or persons named by the Plan Administrator as the Named Appeals Fiduciary; provided, however, that effective on the date of a Change in Control, the Plan Administrator shall also serve as the Named Appeals Fiduciary. For periods before the date of a Change in Control, Named Appeals Fiduciaries may at any time be removed by the Board or Committee, 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.
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ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.01 Nonalienation of Benefits. None of the payments, benefits or rights of any Participant shall be subject to any claim of any creditor of any Participant, and, in particular, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all such payments, benefits and rights shall be free from attachment, garnishment (if permitted under applicable law), trustees process, or any other legal or equitable process available to any creditor of such Participant. No Participant shall have the right to alienate, anticipate, commute, pledge, encumber or assign any of the benefits or payments that he or she may expect to receive, contingently or otherwise, under this Plan.
Section 10.02 Notices. All notices and other communications required hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally or mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by overnight express courier service. In the case of the Participant, mailed notices shall be addressed to him or her at the home address which he or she most recently communicated to the Company in writing. In the case of the Company, mailed notices shall be addressed to the Plan Administrator.
Section 10.03 Successors. Any Successor shall assume the obligations under this Plan and expressly agree to perform the obligations under this Plan.
Section 10.04 Other Payments. Except as otherwise provided in this Plan, no Participant shall be entitled to any cash payments or other severance benefits under any of the Companys then current severance pay policies for a termination that is covered by this Plan for the Participant.
Section 10.05 No Mitigation. Participants shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any Severance Benefits provided for in this Plan by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any Severance Benefits provided for herein be reduced by any compensation earned by other employment or otherwise, except if the Participant is re-employed by the Company, in which case Severance Benefits shall cease.
Section 10.06 No Contract of Employment. Neither the establishment of the Plan, nor any modification thereof, nor the creation of any fund, trust or account, nor the payment of any benefits shall be construed as giving any Eligible Employee or any person whosoever, the right to be retained in the service of the Company, and all Eligible Employees shall remain subject to discharge to the same extent as if the Plan had never been adopted.
Section 10.07 Severability of Provisions. If any provision of this Plan shall be held invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.
Section 10.08 Heirs, Assigns, and Personal Representatives. This Plan shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of the parties, including each Participant, present and future.
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Section 10.09 Headings and Captions. The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of the Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of the Plan.
Section 10.10 Gender and Number. Where the context admits, words in any gender shall include any other gender, and, except where otherwise clearly indicated by context, the singular shall include the plural, and vice-versa.
Section 10.11 Unfunded Plan. The Plan shall not be funded. No Participant shall have any right to, or interest in, any assets of the Company that may be applied by the Company to the payment of Severance Benefits.
Section 10.12 Payments to Incompetent Persons. Any benefit payable to or for the benefit of a minor, an incompetent person or other person incapable of receipting therefor shall be deemed paid when paid to such persons guardian or to the party providing or reasonably appearing to provide for the care of such person, and such payment shall fully discharge the Company, the Committee and all other parties with respect thereto.
Section 10.13 Lost Payees. A benefit shall be deemed forfeited if the Committee is unable to locate a Participant to whom Severance Benefits are due. Such Severance Benefits shall be reinstated if application is made by the Participant for the forfeited Severance Benefits while this Plan is in operation.
Section 10.14 Controlling Law. This Plan shall be construed and enforced according to the laws of the State of Delaware to the extent not superseded by Federal law.
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Exhibit 10.16
VONTIER
EXECUTIVE DEFERRED INCENTIVE PLAN
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 9, 2020
VONTIER
EXECUTIVE DEFERRED INCENTIVE PLAN
WHEREAS, Fortive Corporation (Fortive) sponsors the Fortive Executive Deferred Incentive Program (the Fortive EDIP) by offering deferred compensation to a select group of management and highly compensated employees of Fortive Corporation and its subsidiaries;
WHEREAS, the Fortive EDIP was previously spun-off from the Danaher Corporation & Subsidiaries Executive Deferred Incentive Program, effective as of close of the New York Stock Exchange on May 31, 2016, in connection with the spin-off of FTV Employment Services LLC and certain other subsidiaries from Danaher Corporation; and
WHEREAS, Vontier Corporation and certain other subsidiaries of Fortive are intended to spin-off into a separate, unrelated company;
WHEREAS, this Vontier Executive Deferred Incentive Plan (the Plan) is established to offer deferred compensation to a select group of management and highly compensated employees of Vontier Corporation and those other companies that are intended to spin-off into a separate unrelated company (the Vontier Employees);
WHEREAS, this Plan is intended to be established as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange on October 9, 2020, at which time the Vontier Employees are intended to transfer participation into this Plan from the Fortive EDIP, and any such deferral election and distribution election under the Fortive EDIP for the transferred participants will continue in effect immediately prior to the transfer will also apply to the Plan; and
WHEREAS, the benefits due to Vontier Employees under the Fortive EDIP will transfer to the Plan as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange on October 9, 2020, and become an obligation under the Plan, and no further obligation would be due under the Fortive EDIP.
NOW, THEREFORE, in order to accomplish such purpose, the Plan Sponsor has adopted, by appropriate resolutions, this Plan effective as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange on October 9, 2020. It is intended that this Plan, together with any Trust Agreement, shall be unfunded for purposes of the Code and shall constitute an unfunded pension plan maintained for a select group of management and highly compensated employees for purposes of Title I of ERISA, and shall comply with Code Section 409A (except for such amounts which are grandfathered from the requirements of Code Section 409A) and all formal regulations, rulings, and guidance issued thereunder.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
As used in this Plan, each of the following terms shall have the respective meaning set forth below unless a different meaning is plainly required by the content.
1.1 Administrator. The individual or committee appointed by the Plan Sponsor to administer the Plan pursuant to Article V.
1.2 Applicable Percentage. With respect to a Participant for a Performance Cycle, the applicable percentage determined from the table in Appendix A depending on the Participants Years of Participation as of the Cycle Beginning Date.
1.3 Beneficiary. An individual or entity entitled to receive any benefits under this Plan that are payable upon a Participants death.
1.4 Benefit Account. With respect to a Participant, the account maintained on behalf of the Participant to record any Benefit Amounts and Performance Shares credited thereto or forfeited therefrom, any earnings credited thereto and any losses debited therefrom in accordance with the terms of this Plan. Amounts credited to this account on a Participants behalf and any earnings credited thereto and any losses deducted therefrom in accordance with the terms of the Plan, shall be recorded by Class Year pursuant to Section 9.4.
1.5 Benefit Amount. With respect to a Participant for a Performance Cycle, the Performance Shares credited pursuant to Section 3.3 and any dollar amounts calculated and credited pursuant to Section 3.3.
1.6 Bonus. With respect to a Participant for a Plan Year, the amount (if any) of the Participants Target Bonus for the Plan Year that shall be determined to have been earned by the Participant in accordance with the Employers bonus program.
1.7 Bonus Deferral Amount. With respect to a Participant for a Plan Year, an amount of the Participants Target Bonus or Bonus for the last preceding Plan Year that the Participant has elected to defer pursuant to Section 3.2.
1.8 Class Year. Each period commencing on January 1st and ending on December 31st shall be considered a separate Class Year; the first Class Year commencing on January 1, 2020 and ending on December 31, 2020 shall be referred to as the Class Year 2020; the second Class Year commencing on January 1, 2021 and ending on December 31, 2021 shall be referred to as the Class Year 2021; and continuing thereafter each January 1st.
1.9 Code. The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended from time to time.
1.10 Common Stock. For the period prior to the Spin-off Date, Common Stock shall refer to the common stock of Fortive Corporation. For the period on and after the Spin-off Date, Common Stock shall refer to the common stock of Vontier Corporation.
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1.11 Common Stock Price. With respect to a specified date as of which the price of shares of Common Stock shall be determined, the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange of one (1) share of Common Stock on the business day last preceding the specified date. Solely for purposes of documenting administrative practice under the terms of the Plan, in determining the Common Stock Price under this Section 1.11 of the Plan, the terms closing price on the New York Stock Exchange and most recent closing price on the New York Stock Exchange shall not be construed to mean the adjusted closing price on the New York Stock Exchange. For purposes of determining the Common Stock Price immediately after the Spin-off Date, the terms in Appendix C shall apply.
1.12 Cycle Beginning Date. With respect to a Performance Cycle, the first (1st) day of the Performance Cycle.
1.13 Cycle Ending Date. With respect to a Performance Cycle, the last day of the Performance Cycle or, if earlier, the date during the Performance Cycle as of which this Plan shall terminate.
1.14 Danaher EDIP. The Danaher Corporation & Subsidiaries Executive Deferred Incentive Program. Certain benefits of Participants were transferred from the Danaher EDIP to the Fortive EDIP effective as of close of the New York Stock Exchange on May 31, 2016.
1.15 Deferral Account. With respect to a Participant, the account (if any) maintained on behalf of the Participant to record the Salary Deferral Amounts (if any) and Bonus Deferral Amounts (if any) that have been credited on the Participants behalf and any earnings credited thereto in accordance with the terms of this Plan. Amounts credited to this account on a Participants behalf and any earnings credited thereto and any losses deducted therefrom in accordance with the terms of the Plan, shall be recorded by Class Year pursuant to Section 9.4.
1.16 Distributable Amount. With respect to any specified date coincident with or subsequent to the Eligibility Termination Date of a Participant or a deceased Participant, the balance (if any) as of the specified date in the Participants Distribution Account (subsequent to any crediting thereof pursuant to Section 3.5 as of such Eligibility Termination Date).
1.17 Distribution Account. With respect to a Participant, the account (if any) maintained on behalf of the Participant to record the amounts to be distributed to the Participant or his or her Beneficiary or Beneficiaries and any earnings credited thereto in accordance with the terms of this Plan. Amounts credited to this account on a Participants behalf and any earnings credited thereto and any losses deducted therefrom in accordance with the terms of the Plan, shall be recorded by Class Year pursuant to Section 9.4.
1.18 Distribution Date. With respect to a Participant or a deceased Participant whose Employment Termination Date has occurred, the date as of which the Distributable shall be paid to the Participant or the deceased Participants Beneficiary or Beneficiaries, as applicable, or the date as of which the first (1st) installment of the Distributable Amount shall be paid to the Participant.
1.19 ERISA. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as it may be amended from time to time.
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1.20 Earnings Credit. With respect to a Participant, a nominal amount determined pursuant to Sections 3.2(f), 3.3(d), 3.4(b), and 3.5(b) of this Plan for crediting to or deducting from the Participants Deferral Account, Benefit Account, Rollover Account, and Distribution Account pursuant to Sections 3.2(f), 3.3(d), 3.4(b), and 3.5(b) respectively, of this Plan; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan Sponsor acknowledges that increases and decreases in the value of the Notional Shares and other amounts credited to any of the aforementioned Accounts that are invested in the Common Stock investment option shall arise from increases and decreases in the value of Common Stock rather than from the crediting of earnings. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary and pursuant to Section 9.4, notional amounts described in this Section shall be recorded by Class Year under each of a Participants Deferral Account, Benefit Account, Rollover Account, and Distribution Account.
1.21 Earnings Crediting Rate. With respect to a Participant, the rate at which nominal earnings shall be credited to, or nominal losses shall be deducted from, all or a designated portion of the Participants Deferral Account, Benefit Account, Rollover Account and Distribution Account, as determined pursuant to Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5 respectively, of this Plan; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan Sponsor acknowledges that increases and decreases in the value of the Notional Shares and other amounts credited to any of the aforementioned Accounts that are invested in the Common Stock investment option shall arise from increases and decreases in the value of Common Stock rather than from the crediting of earnings. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary and pursuant to Section 9.4, the rate at which nominal earnings shall be credited to, or nominal losses shall be deducted from, all or a designated portion of the Participants Deferral Account, Benefit Account, Rollover Account and Distribution Account shall be administered on the basis of Class Year.
1.22 Effective Date. The close of the New York Stock Exchange on October 9, 2020.
1.23 Eligible Compensation.
(a) Eligible Employee on Cycle Beginning Date. If the Participants Participation Date occurs on or before the Cycle Beginning Date of the Performance Cycle and the Participant is an Eligible Employee on such Cycle Beginning Date, the product (rounded to two (2) decimal places) of (I) the Applicable Percentage and (II) the Participants Target Compensation.
(b) Eligible Employee After Cycle Beginning Date. If the Participants Participation Date occurs after the Cycle Beginning Date but during the Performance Cycle, the product (rounded to two (2) decimal places) of (I) the Applicable Percentage, (II) the Participants Target Compensation, and (III) the Months Factor for the month in which the Participants Participation Date occurs.
1.24 Eligible Employee. (a) An Employee who was hired on or before October 9, 2020 and who is an Initial Participant, (b) an Employee who was hired after October 9, 2020 and whose employment position is listed in the records prepared and maintained by the Administrator, or (c) effective on and after October 9, 2020, an Employee who is a Rollover Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the Administrator, in his or her sole discretion, may determine that an Employee who was hired on or before October 9, 2020, and who is not an Initial Participant shall become an Eligible Employee under such circumstances as the Administrator, in his or her sole discretion, may deem appropriate so long as the Employee has an employment position that is listed in the records prepared and maintained by the Administrator.
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1.25 Eligibility Termination Date. With respect to a Participant who is an Eligible Employee, the earliest of (a) the Participants Employment Termination Date, or (b) the date that the Participant is no longer an Eligible Employee as defined in Section 1.24(b).
1.26 Employee. An Employee is an individual who performs services for an Employer.
1.27 Employer. (a) The Plan Sponsor or (b) an employer that is a member of the Plan Sponsors controlled group of corporations, trades, or businesses, as such term shall be defined in Code Sections 414(b) and 414(c), and that has adopted this Plan with the approval of the Plan Sponsor.
1.28 Employment Termination Date. With respect to a Participant, the earlier of the date that the Participant ceases being an Employee or the date as of which this Plan is terminated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Section 409A Amount of a Participant, the Participants Employment Termination Date shall be the date that the Participant separates from service with all Employers, whether by death, retirement, or other termination of employment, in a manner consistent with the definition in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(h).
1.29 Fortive EDIP. The Fortive Executive Deferred Incentive Program. In connection with the prior spin-off of FTV Employment Services LLC and certain other subsidiaries from Danaher Corporation on May 31, 2016, certain benefits of Participants were transferred from the Danaher EDIP to the Fortive EDIP. Certain benefits of Participants were transferred from the Fortive EDIP to this Plan, and are subject to those terms as provided in Appendix C.
1.30 Grandfathered Amount. With respect to a Participant, any portion of the following account balances that was vested as of December 31, 2004: the Performance Shares Account, the Benefit Account, the Deferral Account, the Rollover Account, and the Distribution Account; and any earnings credited thereto and any losses deducted therefrom on or after January 1, 2005, in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
1.31 Identification Date. December 31 of each calendar year thereafter.
1.32 Initial Participant. An Employee who was a participant in the Fortive EDIP and who became a Participant as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange on October 9, 2020, and is designated as an initial participant in the records prepared and maintained by the Administrator.
1.33 Long-term Rate. With respect to a Performance Cycle, the closing price of the ten (10)-year Treasury bond rate on the business day last preceding the Cycle Beginning Date of the Performance Cycle or such other long-term interest rate as shall be determined for the remainder of the Performance Cycle by the Administrator in his or her sole discretion.
1.34 Months Factor. With respect to a Performance Cycle and a Participant whose Participation Date occurs after the Cycle Beginning Date of the Performance Cycle but during the Performance Cycle, the number of months between the Participants Participation Date and the last day of the Plan Year during such Performance Cycle in which his or her Participation Date occurred as provided in Appendix B.
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1.35 Notional Share. One (1) notional share equivalent in value to one (1) share of Common Stock.
1.36 Participant. A Participant is an Eligible Employee or former Eligible Employee who is participating in this Plan pursuant to Article II.
1.37 Participation Date. With respect to an Eligible Employee, the date (if any) as of which the Eligible Employee shall become a Participant as determined pursuant to Section 2.1.
1.38 Payroll Period. With respect to an Eligible Employee, a period with respect to which the Eligible Employee receives a pay check or otherwise is paid for services that he or she performs during the period for an Employer.
1.39 Performance Cycle. A period of one (1) Plan Year.
1.40 Performance Share. One (1) Notional Share.
1.41 Performance Shares Account. With respect to a Participant, the account maintained on behalf of the Participant to record the Performance Shares (if any) that have been credited on the Participants behalf for a Performance Cycle. Amounts credited to this account on a Participants behalf and any earnings credited thereto and any losses deducted therefrom in accordance with the terms of the Plan, shall be recorded by Class Year pursuant to Section 9.4.
1.42 Plan. Vontier Executive Deferred Incentive Plan, as it is set forth herein and as it may be amended from time to time.
1.43 Plan Sponsor. The Plan Sponsor is Vontier Corporation, and its successors or assigns.
1.44 Plan Year. The Plan Year is the calendar year. For 2020, the initial Plan Year shall be from the close of the New York Stock Exchange on October 9 through December 31.
1.45 Rollover Account. With respect to a Rollover Participant, the account (if any) maintained on behalf of the Rollover Participant to record the Rollover Amount (if any) that has been credited on the Rollover Participants behalf and any earnings credited thereto in accordance with the terms of this Plan. Amounts credited to this account on a Participants behalf and any earnings credited thereto and any losses deducted therefrom in accordance with the terms of the Plan, shall be recorded by Class Year pursuant to Section 9.4.
1.46 Rollover Amount. With respect to a Rollover Participant, the nonforfeitable dollar amount as of a specified date that the Administrator has permitted to be credited under this Plan pursuant to Section 3.4 of this Plan.
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1.47 Rollover Participant. An Employee who elects to transfer to this Plan a nonforfeitable dollar amount previously granted to the Employee under another arrangement maintained by an employer as permitted by the Administrator in his or her sole discretion.
1.48 Salary. With respect to a Participant for a Payroll Period, the total cash compensation (if any) that is payable to the Participant by any Employer during the Payroll Period and that would be reportable on the Participants federal income tax withholding statement (Form W-2), including, but not limited to, salary and overtime pay, but excluding any Bonus that is payable to the Participant during the Payroll Period, plus remuneration as defined in Code Section 3401(a)(8)(A) to the extent not otherwise reported on the Participants Form W-2 (excluding housing, COLA, tax equalization, hardship and special allowances). Solely for purposes of documenting administrative practice under the terms of the Plan, under this Section 1.51 of the Plan, any hiring bonus paid to a Participant for a Payroll Period may be considered to be part of the Salary that is payable to the Participant by any Employer for the Payroll Period.
1.49 Salary Deferral Amount. With respect to a Participant for a Plan Year, an amount of the Participants Salary for a Payroll Period during the Plan Year that the Participant has elected to defer pursuant to Section 3.2.
1.50 Salary Deferral Contribution. The term Salary Deferral Contribution shall be defined in this Plan as it shall be defined in the 401(k) Plan.
1.51 Section 409A Amount. With respect to a Participant, any of the following amounts: (1) the portion of the Participants Benefit Account that is unvested as of December 31, 2004 (if any), determined as the product of (I) the balance in the Participants Benefit Account as of December 31, 2004 and (II) the difference between one hundred percent (100%) and the applicable Vesting Percentage attributable to the Participants Benefit Amounts as of December 31, 2004, determined in accordance with Section 3.3(e)(iii) of the Plan, and any earnings credited thereto and any losses deducted therefrom on or after January 1, 2005 in accordance with the terms of the Plan; and (2) any and all Benefit Amounts, Bonus Deferral Amounts, Salary Deferral Amounts, Performance Shares, and Rollover Amounts that in accordance with the terms of the Plan are credited on the Participants behalf on and after January 1, 2005, and any earnings credited thereto and any losses deducted therefrom in accordance with the terms of the Plan (as well as any Distribution Amounts attributable to the amounts described in this subsection (2)). Any Rollover Amount credited on behalf of a Rollover Participant on or after January 1, 2005 shall be not deemed to be a Section 409A Amount to the extent expressly provided in connection with any merger or consolidation of a nonqualified deferred compensation plan (as defined in Code Section 409A) with and into this Plan. A Participants Section 409A Amounts shall be determined on the basis of Class Year, and with respect to each Class Year, the aggregate of his or her Salary Deferral Amount (if any), Bonus Deferral Amount (if any), and Benefit Amount (if any) for each Class Year, and any earnings credited thereto and any losses deducted therefrom in accordance with the terms of the Plan, shall be deemed a separate Section 409A Amount for purposes of this Plan.
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1.52 Specified Employee. An Employee who is a key employee as such term is defined in Code Section 416(i) without regard to Code Section 416(i)(5). For purposes of determining which Employees are key employees, an Employee is a key employee if the Employee meets the requirements of Code Section 416(i)(A)(i), (ii) or (iii) (applied in accordance with the regulations thereunder and disregarding Code Section 416(i)(5)) at any time during the 12-month period ending on an Identification Date; provided, however, that all Employees who are nonresident aliens during the entire 12-month period ending with the relevant Identification Date shall be excluded in any such determination.
1.53 Spin-off Date. The date that the Employers leave the Fortive Corporation controlled group.
1.54 Target Bonus. With respect to a Participant for a Plan Year, the target bonus (if any) that may be earned by the Participant for the Plan Year as determined in accordance with the Employers bonus program applicable to such Participant as from time to time in effect.
1.55 Target Compensation. With respect to a Participant for a Performance Cycle, the sum of (a) the Participants annual base salary for the Performance Cycle and (b) the Participants Target Bonus for the same such Performance Cycle.
1.56 Trust Agreement. Trust Agreement for the Vontier Executive Deferred Incentive Plan, if any, as it may be amended from time to time.
1.57 Valuation Date. The monthly or other more frequent periodic date selected by the Administrator to value Benefit Accounts, Deferral Accounts, Rollover Accounts, and Distribution Accounts. With respect to a Participant whose Eligibility Termination Date does not coincide with a Valuation Date defined in the preceding sentence, the Participants Eligibility Termination Date shall be deemed a Valuation Date solely with respect to that Participant.
1.58 Valuation Period. A period beginning on a Valuation Date and ending on the day before the next succeeding Valuation Date.
1.59 Vesting Percentage. With respect to a Benefit Amount and Performance Shares credited to a Participants Benefit Account, the percentage to be applied to such Benefit Amount and Performance Shares to determine the amount thereof to which the Participant shall have a nonforfeitable right, subject to any provision to the contrary in Section 3.3 or 5.9 or the Trust Agreement.
1.60 Vesting Year of Participation. With respect to a Participant other than a Rollover Participant, a twelve (12)-consecutive month period beginning on (A) the January 1st commencing with or next following the Participants Participation Date, or (B) an anniversary thereof during which the Participant remains an Eligible Employee, where the term Eligible Employee shall be defined only as in Sections 1.24(a) and (b) of this Plan; provided, however, that, in the case of a Participant who shall be absent from employment with an Employer for any reason for more than six (6) consecutive weeks, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in his or her sole discretion, the Participant shall not be deemed to have remained an Eligible Employee for purposes of this Section and the date as of which any future Years of Participation shall be determined for the Participant shall begin on the date of his or her return (if any) from such absence.
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1.61 Year of Participation. With respect to a Participant other than a Rollover Participant, a twelve (12)-consecutive month period beginning on (A) the Participants Participation Date, or (B) an anniversary thereof during which the Participant remains an Eligible Employee, where the term Eligible Employee shall be defined only as in Sections 1.24(a) and (b) of this Plan; provided, however, that, in the case of a Participant who shall be absent from employment with an Employer for any reason for more than six (6) consecutive weeks, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in his or her sole discretion, the Participant shall not be deemed to have remained an Eligible Employee for purposes of this Section and the date as of which any future Years of Participation shall be determined for the Participant shall begin on the date of his or her return (if any) from such absence.
1.62 Year of Service. With respect to a Participant, a twelve (12)-consecutive month period beginning on the Participants employment date with an Employer or an anniversary thereof during which the Participant remains an Employee; provided, however, that, in the case of a Participant who shall be absent from employment with an Employer for any reason for more than six (6) consecutive weeks, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in his or her sole discretion, the Participant shall not be deemed to have remained an Employee for purposes of this Section and the date as of which any future Years of Service shall be determined for the Participant shall begin on the date of his or her return (if any) from such absence.
1.63 401(k) Plan. The Vontier Retirement Savings Plan or any successor thereto, as it may be amended from time to time.
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ARTICLE II
PARTICIPATION
2.1 Commencement of Participation. An Eligible Employee who is an Initial Participant may become a Participant as of October 9, 2020, and any other Eligible Employee may become a Participant as of the date that is the first (1st) day of a month and that coincides with or follows the later of October 9, 2020, or the date that the individual became an Eligible Employee; provided that the Eligible Employee completes an enrollment form (in electronic or paper form as determined by the Administrator) and files it with the Administrator within the time period specified by the Administrator. For Initial Participants, applicable elections from the Fortive EDIP will continue to apply to such Participants compensation in 2020 and accounts as provided in Appendix C.
2.2 Termination of Participation.
(a) Participant Ceases Being an Eligible Employee. A Participant who ceases being an Eligible Employee but remains an Employee shall cease being a Participant as of his or her Eligibility Termination Date if the Participants Distributable Amount as of such date (as determined subsequent to any crediting of his or her Distribution Account pursuant to Section 3.5 as of such date) equals zero (0).
(b) Participant Ceases Being an Employee. A Participant who ceases being an Employee shall cease being a Participant as of the earlier of the Participants date of death or the date as of which the Participants Distributable Amount (as determined subsequent to any crediting of his or her Distribution Account pursuant to Section 3.5 as of his or her Eligibility Termination Date) equals zero (0).
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ARTICLE III
ACCOUNTS AND VESTING
3.1 Performance Share Accounts.
(a) Award of Performance Shares. With respect to each Performance Cycle, the Administrator shall credit Participants Performance Shares Accounts with Performance Shares in accordance with the following:
(i) Eligible Employee on Cycle Beginning Date. With respect to each Participant whose Participation Date occurred on or before the Cycle Beginning Date of the Performance Cycle, if the Participant shall be an Eligible Employee on the Cycle Beginning Date, the Administrator shall credit the Participants Performance Shares Account as of the Cycle Beginning Date (but subsequent to any zeroing of such account pursuant to Section 3.3) with a number of Performance Shares equal to the quotient (rounded to the nearer whole number) of (A) the Participants Eligible Compensation and (B) the Common Stock Price as of the Cycle Beginning Date.
(ii) Eligible Employee After Cycle Beginning Date. With respect to each Participant whose Participation Date occurs after the Cycle Beginning Date of the Performance Cycle but during the Performance Cycle, the Administrator shall credit the Participants Performance Shares Account as of his or her Participation Date with a number of Performance Shares equal to the quotient (rounded to the nearer whole number) of (A) the Participants Eligible Compensation and (B) the Common Stock Price as of the Participants Participation Date.
(b) Limitations With Respect To Performance Shares.
(i) No Shareholder Rights. A Performance Share has no legal relation to a share of Common Stock and, accordingly, no Participant who has a balance in his or her Performance Shares Account shall be entitled to any dividend, voting, or other rights of a shareholder of Common Stock with respect to the Performance Shares in his or her Performance Shares Account.
(ii) No Right to Payment. No payment shall be made for any one (1) or more of the Performance Shares in a Participants Performance Shares Account except as provided in Section 4.2.
(iii) Cancellation of Performance Shares. The Administrator may cancel all or any number of the Performance Shares in a Participants Performance Shares Account with the written consent of the Participant.
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3.2 Deferral Accounts.
(a) Election to Defer. Subject to this Section:
(i) Bonus Deferral Amounts. A Participant who is an Eligible Employee may elect to have an amount of his or her Target Bonus for a Plan Year, a percentage of his or her Bonus for a Plan Year, or any amount (in whole dollars) of his or her Bonus as exceeds a specified amount deferred as a Bonus Deferral Amount for the next succeeding Plan Year; provided that (A) the actual amount deferred shall not exceed the Participants Bonus and (B) any election by a Participant to defer of a whole percentage of his or her Bonus for a Plan Year shall not exceed eighty-five percent (85%) of such Bonus for the Plan Year.
(ii) Salary Deferral Amounts. A Participant who is an Eligible Employee may elect to have a whole percentage not to exceed eighty-five percent (85%) of his or her Salary for each Payroll Period in a Plan Year during which he or she shall be an Eligible Employee deferred as a Salary Deferral Amount.
(b) Election Procedures. Subject to any further procedures established by the Administrator pursuant to Article V, and Appendix C, any election made by a Participant pursuant to Subsection (a) above shall be subject to the procedures described in Paragraphs (i) through (iv) below:
(i) Initial Opportunity to Defer.
(A) Bonus Deferral Amounts. The Participant may elect to have a Bonus Deferral Amount deferred on his or her behalf with respect to the Participants Target Bonus or Bonus for the Plan Year in which the Participants Participation Date occurs by so indicating on the enrollment form required pursuant to Section 2.1.
(B) Salary Deferral Amounts. The Participant may elect to have Salary Deferral Amounts deferred on his or her behalf with respect to the Participants Salary for the Plan Year in which the Participants Participation Date occurs by so indicating on the enrollment form required pursuant to Section 2.1. Such election shall be effective for Payroll Periods during such Plan Year or the remainder of such Plan Year, as applicable, beginning as soon as administratively possible on or after the latest of (I) the Participants Participation Date, or (II) the date that the Participant files the properly completed enrollment form with the Administrator.
(ii) Subsequent Opportunities to Defer.
(A) Bonus Deferral Amounts. The Participant may elect to have a Bonus Deferral Amount deferred on his or her behalf with respect to the Participants Target Bonus or Bonus for a Plan Year subsequent to the Plan Year in which the Participants Participation Date occurs by properly completing an election form and filing the form with the Administrator prior to the first (1st) day of such subsequent Plan Year.
(B) Salary Deferral Amounts. The Participant may elect to have Salary Deferral Amounts deferred on his or her behalf with respect to the Participants Salary for a Plan Year subsequent to the Plan Year in which the Participants Participation Date occurs by properly completing an election form and filing the form with the Administrator prior to the first (1st) day of such subsequent Plan Year. Such election shall be effective for Payroll Periods during the respective Plan Year beginning as soon as administratively possible on or after the first (1st) day of the Plan Year.
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(iii) No Revocations. A Participant may not, at any time, revoke a previous election with respect to a Bonus Deferral Amount or Salary Deferral Amounts.
(iv) Termination of Election. A Participants election concerning a Bonus Deferral Amount or Salary Deferral Amounts shall terminate on the earlier of (A) the date as of which the last amount or the only amount, as applicable, designated to be withheld under such election shall be withheld or (B) the Participants Eligibility Termination Date.
(c) Withholding by Employer.
(i) Bonus Deferral Amounts. The Employer of a Participant who has in effect an election with respect to a Bonus Deferral Amount pursuant to Subsection (b) above shall withhold the designated Bonus Deferral Amount from the Participants Bonus and shall notify the Administrator that such amount was withheld as soon as administratively possible after the withholding thereof.
(ii) Salary Deferral Amounts. The Employer of a Participant who has in effect an election with respect to Salary Deferral Amounts pursuant to Subsection (b) above for a Payroll Period shall withhold the designated Salary Deferral Amount from the Participants Salary for the Payroll Period and shall notify the Administrator that such amount was withheld as soon as administratively possible after the withholding thereof; provided, however, that, after the first such notice by the Employer to the Administrator, the Employer shall only notify the Administrator of any change in the withholding of Salary Deferral Amounts.
(d) Crediting of Deferral Amounts. As soon as administratively possible after the Administrator shall have received notice (or shall be deemed to have received notice pursuant to Subsection (c)(ii) above) that a Bonus Deferral Amount or a Salary Deferral Amount has been withheld on behalf of a Participant, the Administrator shall credit the Participants Deferral Account by such amount.
(e) Crediting of Additional Amounts.
(i) In General. For each Plan Year and as soon as administratively possible thereafter, the Administrator shall credit to the Deferral Account of each Participant with respect to whom the requirements in Paragraph (ii) below shall be met an amount (if any) that shall be determined by the Administrator in his or her sole discretion and that shall be intended to compensate for employer contributions that may have been foregone by the Participant under the 401(k) Plan or any other qualified plan maintained by an Employer due to the fact that a Bonus Deferral Amount and/or Salary Deferral Amounts were credited to the Participants Salary Deferral Account for the Plan Year.
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(ii) Requirements for Additional Amount. A Participant shall be eligible to have an amount credited to his or her Deferral Account for a Plan Year in accordance with Paragraph (i) above if the following requirements are met with respect to the Participant:
(A) A Bonus Deferral Amount and/or Salary Deferral Amounts were credited to the Participants Salary Deferral Account for the Plan Year;
(B) The Participant had completed at least one (1) One Year of Service uninterrupted by a One-year Break in Service as of July 1 of the Plan Year;
(C) The Participants Eligibility Termination Date had not occurred as of the last day of the Plan Year; and
(D) The Participants Basic Compensation for the Plan Year does not exceed the Compensation Limitation for the Plan Year;
where, for purposes of this Paragraph, the terms One Year of Service, One-year Break in Service, Basic Compensation and Compensation Limitation shall be as defined in the 401(k) Plan or other qualified plan maintained by an Employer, as applicable.
(f) Crediting of Earnings.
(i) Elections. A Participant may elect as the Earnings Crediting Rate that shall apply to all or a designated portion of the Participants Deferral Account the earnings rate on one (1) of the investment options that the Administrator shall from time to time designate. A Participant makes his or her initial election of the Earnings Crediting Rate(s) that shall apply to the Participants Deferral Account by properly completing an investment option election and filing it with the Administrator. A Participant who has filed an investment option election with the Administrator may elect to change his or her investment election with respect to either the investment of future amounts credited to the Participants Deferral Account and/or the investment of all or a designated portion of the current balance of the Participants Deferral Account by so designating on a new investment option election and filing the election with the Administrator or, in accordance with procedures adopted by the Administrator, by so notifying the Administrator in any manner acceptable to the Administrator; provided, however, that a Participant may not change his or her investment election with respect to Common Stock and any such election of the Common Stock as an investment option shall be irrevocable and remain in effect until the Participants Distributable Amount is distributed pursuant to Section 4.2 of this Plan. Except as otherwise provided by the Administrator with respect to one (1) or more investment options, any initial investment election made pursuant to this Paragraph shall be effective as soon as administratively possible after October 9, 2020, and any subsequent investment election made pursuant to this Paragraph shall be effective as soon as administratively possible after the date that the Participant files the investment option election with the Administrator or otherwise notifies the Administrator of his or her election, and each investment election shall continue in effect until the effective date of a subsequent investment election properly made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Participant who is required to file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules promulgated thereunder, if the Participant has elected Common Stock as an investment option that shall apply to all or a portion of his or her Deferred Account, such investment option and Earnings Crediting Rate shall not become effective with respect to any amounts deferred until the earlier of the April 30, July 31, October 31, or January 31 immediately following the date such amounts were deferred, and during the period from the date of deferral until such April 30, July 31, October 31, or January 31, as applicable, the investment options and Earnings Crediting Rate that shall apply to such deferred amounts shall be the fixed income fund investment option, or such other investment option as the Administrator shall determine.
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The Administrator shall adopt and may amend procedures to be followed by Participants in electing Earnings Crediting Rate(s) and, pursuant thereto, the Administrator may, among other actions, format investment option forms and establish deadlines for elections.
(ii) No Election. The Administrator shall from time to time designate a fixed income fund or other investment option that shall be used to establish the Earnings Crediting Rate that shall apply to the Deferral Account of any Participant who has not made an investment option election pursuant to Subparagraph (i) above.
(iii) Earnings Credits. As of each Valuation Date, the Administrator shall determine the Earnings Credit applicable to the Deferral Account of each Participant for the Valuation Period ending on the Valuation Date (or the portion thereof during which the Deferral Account was maintained): (i) if only one (1) Earnings Crediting Rate shall have applied to the Deferral Account pursuant to Subsection (i) above, the Earnings Credit shall equal (A) the Earnings Crediting Rate (on an annual basis) times (B) the balance in the Deferral Account as of the later of the last preceding Valuation Date or the date as of which the Deferral Account was established times (C) the days in the Valuation Period (or portion thereof) divided by (D) 365; and (ii) if more than one (1) Earnings Crediting Rate shall have applied to the Deferral Account pursuant to Subsection (i) above, as applicable, the Earnings Credit shall equal the sum of each amount determined as (A) the Earnings Crediting Rate (on an annual basis) times (B) the portion of the balance in the Deferral Account as of the later of the last preceding Valuation Date or the date as of which the Deferral Account was established to which such rate applied times (C) the days in the Valuation Period (or portion thereof) divided by (D) 365.
(iv) Accounting. As of each Valuation Date, the balance in each Deferral Account maintained as of the Valuation Date shall be determined as the amount calculated in accordance with the following:
(A) The balance (if any) in the Deferral Account as of the later of the last preceding Valuation Date or the date as of which the Deferral Account was established; plus
(B) Any amounts credited to the Deferral Account pursuant to Sections 3.2(d) and 3.2(e) of this Plan during the Valuation Period ending on the Valuation Date; plus
(C) Any positive Earnings Credit determined for the Deferral Account pursuant to Section 3.2(f)(iii) of this Plan during the Valuation Period ending on the Valuation Date; less
(D) Any negative Earnings Credit determined for the Deferral Account pursuant to Section 3.2(f)(iii) during the Valuation Period ending on the Valuation Date.
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(g) Vesting of Deferral Accounts. With respect to a Participant, the Participants Deferral Account shall be at all times nonforfeitable.
3.3 Benefit Accounts.
(a) Cyclical Accounting for Performance Cycles. As of each Cycle Beginning Date of a Performance Cycle, or Participation Date, that the Participants Performance Shares Account is credited with Performance Shares pursuant Section 3.1(a), the Administrator shall credit each Participants Benefit Account with the number of Performance Shares in the Participants Performance Share Account as of such date and then the Administrator shall reduce the number of Performance Shares in the Participants Performance Share Account to zero (0).
(b) Earnings Credits.
(i) Performance Shares. The investment option and Earnings Crediting Rate applicable to the Performance Shares in the Benefit Account of each Participant shall be Common Stock. As of each Valuation Date, the Administrator shall determine the Earnings Credit applicable to the Performance Shares in the Benefit Account of each Participant for the Valuation Period ending on the Valuation Date (or the portion thereof during which the Deferral Account was maintained): the Earnings Credit for the Common Stock investment option shall equal (A) the Earnings Crediting Rate (on an annual basis) times (B) the balance in the Benefit Account as of the later of the last preceding Valuation Date or the date as of which the Benefit Account was established times (C) the days in the Valuation Period (or portion thereof) divided by (D) 365.
(ii) Benefit Amounts. As of the last day of each Plan Year, with respect to each Benefit Amount (if any) in a Participants Benefit Account as of the first (1st) day of such Plan Year other than Benefit Amounts consisting of Performance Shares, the Administrator shall credit earnings on such Benefit Amount to the Participants Benefit Account, where the amount of such earnings shall equal the product (rounded to two (2) decimal places) of (i) the Long-term Rate for the Performance Cycle in which the Plan Year occurs and (ii) the sum of (A) such Benefit Amount and (B) the aggregate amount (if any) of earnings thereon previously credited to the Participants Benefit Account.
(iii) Accounting. As of each Valuation Date, the balance in each Benefit Account maintained as of the Valuation Date shall be determined as the amount calculated in accordance with the following:
(A) The balance (if any) in the Benefit Account as of the later of the last preceding Valuation Date or the date as of which the Benefit Account was established; plus
(B) Any amounts credited to the Benefit Account pursuant to Section 3.3(c) of this Plan during the Valuation Period ending on the Valuation Date; plus
(C) Any amounts credited to the Benefit Account pursuant to Section 3.3(e) of this Plan during the Valuation Period ending on the Valuation Date; plus
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(D) Any positive Earnings Credit determined for the Benefit Account pursuant to Section 3.3(d)(i) and 3.3(d)(ii) of this Plan during the Valuation Period ending on the Valuation Date; less
(E) Any negative Earnings Credit determined for the Benefit Account pursuant to Section 3.3(d)(i) during the Valuation Period ending on the Valuation Date.
(c) Accounting at Eligibility Termination Date. As of the Eligibility Termination Date of a Participant, the Administrator shall take consecutively the actions in Paragraphs (i) through (iv) below, as applicable, which such actions shall be taken subsequently to the actions to be taken by the Administrator pursuant to Subsections (c) and (d):
(i) Discretionary Crediting of Performance Shares. If the Participants Eligibility Termination Date precedes the Cycle Ending Date of a Performance Cycle, the Administrator may, in his or her sole discretion, credit the Participants Benefit Account with a number of Performance Shares for the Performance Cycle in which such Eligibility Termination Date occurs equal to the number of Performance Shares credited to such Benefit Account on the Cycle Beginning Date of such Performance Cycle.
(ii) Effect on Performance Shares Account. Except as otherwise provided in Paragraph (i) above, unless the Participants Eligibility Termination Date coincides with the Cycle Ending Date of a Performance Cycle, the Administrator shall reduce the number of Performance Shares in the Participants Benefit Account by the number of Performance Shares credited to such Benefit Account on the Cycle Beginning Date for the Performance Cycle or, if later, the Participants Participation Date.
(iii) Determination of Vesting Percentages. The Administrator shall determine the Vesting Percentage applicable to the Benefit Amounts including Performance Shares and any earnings thereon in the Participants Benefit Account, in accordance with the following:
(A) Age and Service Vesting.
(1) If the Participant has both attained age fifty-five (55) and completed at least five (5) Years of Service, the Participants Vesting Percentage applicable to the Benefit Amounts including Performance Shares and any earnings thereon shall be one hundred percent (100%).
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(2) If such Paragraph (A)(1) above does not apply, the Participants Vesting Percentage applicable to the Benefit Amounts including Performance Shares and any earnings thereon shall be determined as follows:
VESTING YEARS OF PARTICIPATION |
VESTING
PERCENTAGE |
|||
Less than 5 years |
0 | |||
5 years but less than 6 years |
10 | % | ||
6 years but less than 7 years |
20 | % | ||
7 years but less than 8 years |
30 | % | ||
8 years but less than 9 years |
40 | % | ||
9 years but less than 10 years |
50 | % | ||
10 years but less than 11 years |
60 | % | ||
11 years but less than 12 years |
70 | % | ||
12 years but less than 13 years |
80 | % | ||
13 years but less than 14 years |
90 | % | ||
14 years or more |
100 | % |
(B) Vesting at Death. If the Participant has died, the Participants Vesting Percentage applicable to the Benefit Amounts including Performance Shares and any earnings thereon shall be one hundred percent (100%).
(C) Partial Vesting for Initial Participants. If the Participant is an Initial Participant and neither Subparagraph (A)(1) nor Subparagraph (B) above applies to the Participant, the Participants Vesting Percentage applicable to the Benefit Amounts including Performance Shares and any earnings thereon that correlate with the Benefit Amounts previously credited for the Performance Cycle shall be sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%); provided, however, that an Initial Participants Vesting Percentage may increase based upon his or her Vesting Years of Participation pursuant to Subparagraph (A)(2) above (e.g., after completion of five (5) Years of Participation and seven (7) Vesting Years of Participation, an Initial Participants Vesting Percentage will be seventy percent (70%)).
(D) No Vesting. Except as otherwise provided in Subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) above, the Participants Vesting Percentage applicable to each such Benefit Amount including Performance Shares plus any such earnings thereon shall be zero percent (0%).
(E) Gross Misconduct Exception to Vesting. Notwithstanding Subparagraph (A), (B) or (C) above, if the Administrator determines, in his or her sole discretion, that the circumstances of and/or surrounding the Participants ceasing to be an Eligible Employee constitute gross misconduct on the part of the Participant, the Administrator may, in his or her sole discretion, determine that the Participants Vesting Percentage applicable to the Benefit Amounts and the Performance Shares and earnings thereon shall be zero percent (0%).
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(iv) Forfeiture and Reduction of Benefit Account. If the Administrator determines pursuant to Paragraph (ii) above that the Participants Vesting Percentage with respect to the Benefit Amounts including Performance Shares and earnings thereon, is less than one hundred percent (100%), the Administrator shall forfeit all or a portion of such Benefit Amount including Performance Shares plus any earnings thereon by (A) reducing pro rata the Benefit Amounts and Performance Shares by the product (rounded to two (2) decimals) of (I) the Benefit Amounts and (II) the difference between one hundred percent (100%) and the applicable Vesting Percentage and (B) reducing any such earnings by the product (rounded to two (2) decimals) of (I) the amount of such earnings and (II) the difference between one hundred percent (100%) and the applicable Vesting Percentage.
(v) Crediting of Earnings and Debiting of Losses. In the event that a Participants Eligibility Termination Date is neither a Valuation Date nor the last day of a Plan Year, such Eligibility Termination Date shall be deemed to be a Valuation Date and the last day of the Plan Year, and the Administrator shall determine the applicable Earnings Credits (if any) and value the Participants Benefit Account in accordance with Section 3.3(d).
3.4 Rollover Accounts.
(a) Crediting of Rollover Amount. As soon as administratively possible following the Administrators determination of the Rollover Amount with respect to a Rollover Participant, the Administrator shall credit to the Rollover Account of the Rollover Participant the Rollover Amount (if any) that shall be determined by the Administrator in his or her sole discretion.
(b) Crediting of Earnings.
(i) Elections. A Rollover Participant may elect as the Earnings Crediting Rate that shall apply to all or a designated portion of the Rollover Participants Rollover Account the earnings rate on one (1) of the investment options that the Administrator shall from time to time designate. A Rollover Participant make his or her initial election of the Earnings Crediting Rate(s) that shall apply to the Rollover Participants Rollover Account by properly completing an investment option election and filing it with the Administrator. A Rollover Participant who has filed an investment option election with the Administrator may elect to change his or her investment election with respect to either the investment of future amounts credited to the Rollover Participants Rollover Account and/or the investment of all or a designated portion of the current balance of the Rollover Participants Rollover Account by so designating on a new investment option election and filing the election with the Administrator or, in accordance with procedures adopted by the Administrator, by so notifying the Administrator in any manner acceptable to the Administrator; provided, however, that a Participant may not change his or her investment election of Common Stock and any such election of Common Stock as an investment option shall be irrevocable and remain in effect until the Participants Distributable Amount is distributed pursuant to Section 4.2 of this Plan. Except as otherwise provided by the Administrator with respect to one (1) or more investment options, any initial investment election made pursuant to this Paragraph shall be effective as soon as administratively possible, and any subsequent investment election made pursuant to this Paragraph shall be effective as soon as administratively possible after the date that the Rollover Participant files the investment option election with the Administrator or otherwise notifies the Administrator of his or her election, and each investment election shall continue in effect until the effective date of a subsequent investment election properly made.
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The Administrator shall adopt and may amend procedures to be followed by Rollover Participants in electing Earnings Crediting Rate(s) and, pursuant thereto, the Administrator may, among other actions, format investment option forms and establish deadlines for elections.
(ii) No Election. The Administrator shall from time to time designate a fixed income fund or other investment option that shall be used to establish the Earnings Crediting Rate that shall apply to the Rollover Account of any Rollover Participant who has not made an investment option election pursuant to Subparagraph (i) above.
(iii) Earnings Credits. As of each Valuation Date, the Administrator shall determine the Earnings Credit applicable to the Rollover Account of each Rollover Participant for the Valuation Period ending on the Valuation Date (or the portion thereof during which the Rollover Account was maintained): (i) if only one (1) Earnings Crediting Rate shall have applied to the Rollover Account pursuant to Subsection (i) above, the Earnings Credit shall equal (A) the Earnings Crediting Rate (on an annual basis) times (B) the balance in the Rollover Account as of the later of the last preceding Valuation Date or the date as of which the Rollover Account was established times (C) the days in the Valuation Period (or portion thereof) divided by (D) 365; and (ii) if more than one (1) Earnings Crediting Rate shall have applied to the Rollover Account pursuant to Subsection (i) above, as applicable, the Earnings Credit shall equal the sum of each amount determined as (A) the Earnings Crediting Rate (on an annual basis) times (B) the portion of the balance in the Rollover Account as of the later of the last preceding Valuation Date or the date as of which the Rollover Account was established to which such rate applied times (C) the days in the Valuation Period (or portion thereof) divided by (D) 365.
(iv) Accounting. As of each Valuation Date, the balance in each Rollover Account maintained as of the Valuation Date shall be determined as the amount calculated in accordance with the following:
(A) The balance (if any) in the Rollover Account as of the later of the last preceding Valuation Date or the date as of which the Rollover Account was established; plus
(B) Any positive Earnings Credit determined for the Rollover Account pursuant to Section 3.4(b)(iii) of this Plan during the Valuation Period ending on the Valuation Date; less
(C) Any negative Earnings Credit determined for the Rollover Account pursuant to Section 3.4(b)(iii) during the Valuation Period ending on the Valuation Date.
3.5 Distribution Accounts.
(a) Accounting at Eligibility Termination Date. As of the Eligibility Termination Date of a Participant, the Administrator shall take consecutively the actions in Paragraphs (i) and (ii) below, as applicable, which such actions shall be taken subsequently to the actions to be taken by the Administrator pursuant to Sections 3.2(f), 3.3(d), 3.3(e), and 3.4(b):
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(i) Crediting of Distributable Amount. The Administrator shall credit to the Participants Distribution Account the sum of (A) the balance (if any) in his or her Benefit Account, and (B) the balance (if any) in his or her Deferral Account (if any), and (C) the balance (if any) in his or her Rollover Account (if any), and any and all investment elections in effect with respect to each of such balances as of the Participants Eligibility Termination Date shall be maintained in full force and effect.
(ii) Effect on Benefit Account, Deferral Account, and Rollover Account. The Administrator shall reduce the balance (if any) in the Participants Benefit Account, the balance (if any) in the Participants Deferral Account (if any), and the balance (if any) in the Participants Rollover Account (if any) to zero dollars ($0).
(b) Crediting of Earnings.
(i) Performance Shares. With respect to the Performance Shares in a Participants Distribution Account, the Administrator shall take the following actions during the period beginning on a Participants Eligibility Termination Date and ending on the Participants Employment Termination Date:
(A) Accounting on Valuation Dates. As of each Valuation Date during the aforementioned period, the Administrator shall credit earnings (if any) to the Performance Share in the Participants Distribution Account in accordance with the methodology set forth under Section 3.3(d)(i) of this Plan.
(B) Accounting at Employment Termination Date. In the event that a Participants Employment Termination Date is not a Valuation Date, such Employment Termination Date shall be deemed to be a Valuation Date and the Administrator shall credit earnings (if any) to the Performance Shares in the Participants Distribution Account in accordance with the methodology set forth under Section 3.3(d)(i) of this Plan.
(ii) Prior Deferral Account and Rollover Account Balances. With respect to the portion of a Participants Distribution Account previously transferred from his or her Deferral Account and/or Rollover Account and not consisting of Performance Shares, the Administrator shall take the following actions during the period beginning on a Participants Eligibility Termination Date and ending on the Participants Employment Termination Date:
(A) Accounting on Valuation Dates. As of each Valuation Date during the aforementioned period, the Administrator shall credit earnings (if any) to such portion of the Participants Distribution Account in accordance with the methodology set forth under Section 3.2 (f)(iii).
(B) Accounting at Employment Termination Date. In the event that a Participants Employment Termination Date is not a Valuation Date, such Employment Termination Date shall be deemed to be a Valuation Date and the Administrator shall credit earnings (if any) on such portion of a Participants Distribution Account in accordance with Section 3.2(f)(iii) and/or 3.4(b)(iii), as applicable.
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(iii) Balance of Distribution Account. With respect to the balance of a Participants Distribution Account after the crediting of earnings under Paragraphs (i) and (ii) above, the Administrator shall take the following actions during the period beginning on the Participants Eligibility Termination Date and ending on the Participants Employment Termination Date:
(A) Annual Accounting Before Employment Termination Date. As of the last day of each Plan Year during the aforementioned period, the Administrator shall credit earnings to the Distribution Account (if any) of each Participant whose Employment Termination Date has not occurred by the last day of the Plan Year, where the amount of such earnings shall equal the product (rounded to two (2) decimal places) of (A) the Long-term Rate for the Performance Cycle in which the Plan Year occurs, (B) the sum of the monthly balances in the Distribution Account during the Plan Year not otherwise credited with earnings under Paragraph (i) or (ii) above, and (C) the quotient (rounded to four (4) decimal places) of (I) the number of whole months during the Plan Year in which the Distribution Account had a balance, and (II) twelve (12).
(B) Accounting at Employment Termination Date. As of the Employment Termination Date of a Participant, if such date is later than the Participants Eligibility Termination Date, the Administrator shall credit earnings to the Participants Distribution Account, where the amount of such earnings shall equal the product (rounded to two (2) decimal places) of (A) the Long-term Rate for the Performance Cycle in which the Participants Employment Termination Date occurred, (B) the sum of the monthly balances in the Participants Distribution Account during the Plan Year in which his or her Employment Termination Date occurred not otherwise credited with earnings under Paragraph (i) or (ii) above, and (C) the quotient (rounded to four (4) decimal places) of (I) the number of whole months during such Plan Year in which the Participants Distribution Account had a balance, and (II) twelve (12).
(iv) Annual Accounting Following Employment Termination Date. With respect to a Participant whose Employment Termination Date has occurred but who is receiving, or a deceased Participant whose Beneficiary or Beneficiaries are receiving, installment distributions of the Participants Distributable Amount pursuant to Section 4.2, as of each anniversary date of the Participants Employment Termination Date, the Administrator shall credit earnings to the Participants Distribution Account, where the amount of such earnings shall equal the product (rounded to two (2) decimal places) of (A) the Long-term Rate for the Performance Cycle in which such anniversary date occurs and (B) the balance in the Participants Distribution Account as of such anniversary date.
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ARTICLE IV
DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS
4.1 Election of Form and Medium of Distribution to Participant. Subject to Article IX and Appendix C, at the time a Participant completes the enrollment form required by Section 2.1 and at any other such times as the Administrator, in his or her sole discretion, may prescribe:
(a) The Participant may elect, in accordance with procedures established by the Administrator, to receive the Participants Distributable Amount payable upon his or her Employment Termination Date in one of the following forms of distribution:
(i) a lump-sum distribution; or
(ii) annual installments over two (2), five (5) or ten (10) years if:
(A) with respect to any portion of the Participants Distributable Amount attributable to a Grandfathered Amount, the Participant has (A) both attained age fifty-five (55) and completed at least five (5) Years of Service or (B) completed fifteen (15) Years of Participation; or
(B) with respect to any portion of the Participants Distributable Amount attributable to a Section 409A Amount, the Participant has both attained age fifty-five (55) and completed at least five (5) Years of Service.
(b) The Participant may elect, in accordance with procedures established by the Administrator, to receive any such lump-sum distribution or annual installments in cash, in shares of Common Stock, or partially in cash and partially in shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that any Performance Shares and any other portion of the Participants Distributable Amount with respect to which the Participant previously elected Common Stock as an investment option shall be paid in shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section 4.2(d).
4.2 Distributions Upon Termination of Employment. Subject to Articles V and IX:
(a) Available Benefits. Upon the Employment Termination Date of a Participant, the Participant or his or her Beneficiary or Beneficiaries, if the Participant has died, shall be eligible to receive payment of the Distributable Amount.
(b) Form and Medium of Payment.
(i) Payment to Participant. A Participant who is eligible for payment of the Distributable Amount pursuant to Subsection (a) above shall receive the Distributable Amount in the form and medium elected by the Participant on the most recent election form filed by the Participant pursuant to Section 4.1 prior to the Plan Year in which his or her Employment Termination Date occurs; provided, however, that:
(A) any Performance Shares and any other portion of the Participants Distributable Amount with respect to which the Participant previously elected Common Stock as the investment option shall be paid in shares of Common Stock; and
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(B) subject to Paragraph (A) above and Section 9.2(c), if no such election form was filed with the Administrator, the Distributable Amount shall be paid as a lump-sum distribution in cash.
(ii) Payment to Beneficiary. Subject to Section 9.3 with respect to a Section 409A Amount, a Beneficiary of a deceased Participant who is eligible for payment of all or part of the Distributable Amount pursuant to Subsection (a) above shall receive all or such part, as applicable, of the Distributable Amount as a lump-sum distribution in cash and in shares of Common Stock to the extent of the Performance Shares (if any) and any other portion of the Participants Distributable Amount with respect to which the Participant previously elected Common Stock as the investment option.
(c) Timing of Payment. The Distribution Date for payment of the Distributable Amount in accordance with Subsections (a) and (b) above shall be the earliest date administratively possible within the ninety (90)-day period following the respective Participants Employment Termination Date.
(d) Payment in Common Stock. If all or part of a Participants Distributable Amount shall be paid in shares of Common Stock (treasury shares, authorized and unissued shares, authorized and issued shares, or a combination of the foregoing), the Administrator shall calculate the number of such shares of Common Stock as follows and the whole number of shares so calculated shall be paid in shares of Common Stock and the value of any fractional shares shall be paid in cash.
(i) With respect to the portion of the Distributable Amount not represented by Performance Shares, as the quotient (rounded to two decimal places) of (A) such portion of the Distributable Amount and (B) the Common Stock Price as of the Participants Employment Termination Date.
(ii) With respect to the portion of the Distributable Amount represented by Performance Shares, as the product of (A) the number of Performance Shares and (B) the Common Stock Price as of the Participants Employment Termination Date.
(e) Payment of Installment Distributions. Subject to Section 9.2(d) with respect to a Section 409A Amount, after the Distribution Date of a Participant who shall receive installment distributions of the Distributable Amount, each subsequent installment distribution that shall be due shall be paid to the Participant as of the next succeeding anniversary of the Participants Employment Termination Date; provided, however, that, in the event of the death of the Participant before all such installment distributions shall be made, all or part, as applicable, of the total of the remaining installment distributions shall be paid as of the next succeeding anniversary of the Participants Employment Termination Date to the Participants Beneficiary or each of his or her Beneficiaries, as applicable; provided, however, that if the Participant elected to receive the Distributable Amount in the form of annual installments and the Participant dies prior to receiving all of such annual installments, the Administrator may, in his or her sole discretion, allow the Beneficiary of the deceased Participant to continue receiving installment payments rather than receiving such remaining payments as a lump sum except as otherwise provided in Section 9.3 with respect to any Section 409A Amounts.
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(f) Administrative Matters. Subject to Section 8.5, the Administrator may, in his or her sole discretion, delay the Distribution Date for the benefits payable to or on behalf of a Participant to the extent necessary to determine the benefits properly.
4.3 In-service Distribution from Deferral Accounts. The Administrator may, but shall not be required to, establish procedures under which an in-service distribution may be made to a Participant of Bonus Deferral Amounts or Salary Deferral Amounts in his or her Deferral Account (if any) in the event that the Participant has an unforeseeable emergency, as described in Subsection (a) below, and the distribution is reasonably needed to satisfy the unforeseeable emergency, as described in Subsection (b) below:
(a) Unforeseeable Emergency. With respect to a Participant, an unforeseeable emergency is severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the Participant or of a dependent of the Participant, as such term shall be defined in Code Section 152(a); loss of the Participants property due to casualty; or another similar extraordinary and unforeseeable set of circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant.
(b) Distribution Reasonably Necessary to Satisfy Emergency. A distribution shall be deemed to be reasonably necessary to satisfy a Participants unforeseeable emergency if the following requirements are met:
(i) The distribution does not exceed the amount of the Participants financial need plus amounts necessary to pay any income taxes or penalties reasonably anticipated to result from the distribution;
(ii) The Participants financial need cannot be relieved:
(A) Through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise,
(B) By liquidation of the Participants assets, to the extent that such liquidation would not itself cause severe financial hardship, or
(C) By the termination of the Participants election (if any) with respect to a Bonus Deferral Amount or Salary Deferral Amounts.
4.4 Beneficiaries. The Administrator shall provide to each new Participant a form (in paper or electronic format) on which he or she may designate (a) one or more Beneficiaries who shall receive all or a portion of the Distributable Amount upon the Participants death, including any Beneficiary who shall receive any such amount only in the event of the death of another Beneficiary; and (b) the percentages to be paid to each such Beneficiary (if there is more than one). A Participant may change his or her or her Beneficiary designation from time to time by filing a
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new form with the Administrator. No such Beneficiary designation shall be effective unless and until the Participant has properly filed the completed form with the Administrator, and a Beneficiary designation form that designates the spouse of a Participant as his Beneficiary (whether or not any other Beneficiary is also designated) shall be void with respect to the designation of the spouse upon the divorce of the Participant and the spouse with the result that the Participants former spouse shall not be a Beneficiary unless the Participant files a new form with the Administrator and designates his or her former spouse as a Beneficiary.
If a deceased Participant is not survived by a designated Beneficiary or if no Beneficiary was effectively designated, upon the Participants death, any benefit to which the Participant was then entitled shall be paid in a lump-sum distribution in cash to the Participants spouse and, if there is no spouse, to the Participants estate. If a designated Beneficiary is living at the death of the Participant but dies before receiving any or all of the benefit to which the Beneficiary was entitled, such benefit or the remaining portion of such benefit shall be paid in a lump-sum distribution in cash to the estate of the deceased Beneficiary.
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ARTICLE V
CLAIMS AND ADMINISTRATION
5.1 Applications. A Participant or the Beneficiary of a deceased Participant who is or may be entitled to benefits under this Plan shall apply for such benefits in writing if and as required by the Administrator, in his or her sole discretion.
5.2 Information and Proof. A Participant or the Beneficiary of a deceased Participant shall furnish all information and proof required by the Administrator for the determination of any issue arising under the Plan including, but not limited to, proof of marriage to a Participant or a certified copy of the death certificate of a Participant. The failure by a Participant or the Beneficiary of a deceased Participant to furnish such information or proof promptly and in good faith, or the furnishing of false or fraudulent information or proof by the Participant or Beneficiary, shall be sufficient reason for the denial, suspension, or discontinuance of benefits thereto and the recovery of any benefits paid in reliance thereon.
5.3 Notice of Address Change. Each Participant and any Beneficiary of a deceased Participant who is or may be entitled to benefits under this Plan shall notify the Administrator in writing of any change of his or her address.
5.4 Claims Procedure.
(a) Claim Denial. The Administrator shall provide adequate notice in writing to any Participant or Beneficiary of a deceased Participant whose application for benefits, made in accordance with Section 5.1 of this Plan, has been wholly or partially denied. Such notice shall include the reason(s) for denial, including references, when appropriate, to specific Plan or Trust Agreement provisions; a description of any additional information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim, if applicable and an explanation of why such information is necessary; and a description of the claimants right to appeal under Subsection (b) below.
The Administrator shall furnish such notice of a claim denial within ninety (90) days after the date that the Administrator received the claim. If special circumstances require an extension of time for deciding a claim, the Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing thereof within such ninety (90)-day period and shall specify the date a decision on the claim shall be made, which shall not be more than one hundred eighty (180) days after the date that the Administrator received the claim. Then, the Administrator shall furnish any denial notice on the claim by the later date so specified.
(b) Appeal Procedure. A claimant or his or her duly authorized representative shall have the right to file a written request for review of a claim denial within sixty (60) days after receipt of the denial, to review pertinent documents, records and other information relevant to his or her claim without charge (including items used in the determination, even if not relied upon in making the final determination and items demonstrating consistent application and compliance with this Plans administrative processes and safeguards), and to submit comments, documents, records, and other information relating to the claim, even if the information was not submitted or considered in the initial determination.
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(c) Decision Upon Appeal. In considering an appeal made in accordance with Subsection (b) above, the Administrator shall review and consider any written comments, documents, records, and other information relating to the claim, even if the information was not submitted or considered in the initial determination by the claimant or his or her duly authorized representative. The claimant or his or her representative shall not be entitled to appear in person before any representative of the Administrator.
The Administrator shall issue a written decision on an appeal within sixty (60) days after the date the Administrator receives the appeal together with any written comments relating thereto. If special circumstances require an extension of time for a decision on an appeal, the Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing thereof within such sixty (60)-day period. Then, the Administrator shall furnish a written decision on the appeal as soon as possible but no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the date that the Administrator received the appeal. The decision on the appeal shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant and shall include specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision is based. If the claimant loses on appeal, the decision shall include the following information provided in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant: (1) the specific reason(s) for the adverse determination; (2) reference to the specific Plan provisions on which the determination is based; (3) a statement of the claimants right to receive at no cost information and copies of documents relevant to the claim, even if such information was not relied upon in making determinations; and (4) a statement of the claimants rights to sue under ERISA.
5.5 Status, Responsibilities, Authority and Immunity of Administrator.
(a) Appointment and Status of Administrator. The Plan Sponsor shall appoint the Administrator. The Plan Sponsor may remove the Administrator and appoint another Administrator or, if the Administrator is a committee, the Plan Sponsor may remove any or all members of the committee and appoint new members. The Administrator shall be the administrator of the Plan, as such term shall be defined in Section 3(16)(A) of ERISA.
(b) Responsibilities and Discretionary Authority. The Administrator shall have absolute and exclusive discretion to manage the Plan and to determine all issues and questions arising in the administration, interpretation, and application of the Plan and the Trust Agreement, including, but not limited to, issues and questions relating to a Participants eligibility for Plan benefits and to the nature, amount, conditions, and duration of any Plan benefits. Furthermore, the Administrator shall have absolute and exclusive discretion to formulate and to adopt any and all standards for use in calculations required in connection with the Plan and rules, regulations, and procedures that he or she deems necessary or desirable to effectuate the terms of the Plan; provided, however, that the Administrator shall not adopt a rule, regulation, or procedure that shall conflict with this Plan or the Trust Agreement. Subject to the terms of any applicable contract or agreement, any interpretation or application of this Plan or the Trust Agreement by the Administrator, or any rules, regulations, and procedures duly adopted by the Administrator, shall be final and binding upon Employees, Participants, Beneficiaries, and any and all other persons dealing with the Plan.
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(c) Delegation of Authority and Reliance on Agents. The Administrator may, in his or her discretion, allocate ministerial duties and responsibilities for the operation and administration of the Plan to one or more persons, who may or may not be Employees, and employ or retain one or more persons, including accountants and attorneys, to render advice with regard to any responsibility of the Administrator.
(d) Reliance on Documents. The Administrator shall incur no liability in relying or in acting upon any instrument, application, notice, request, letter, or other paper or document believed by the Administrator to be genuine, to contain a true statement of facts, and to have been executed or sent by the proper person.
(e) Immunity and Indemnification of Administrator. The Administrator shall not be liable for any of his or her acts or omissions, or the acts or omissions of any employee or agent authorized or retained pursuant to Subsection (c) above by the Administrator, except any act of the Administrator or any such person as constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Plan Sponsor shall indemnify the Administrator, to the fullest extent permitted by law, if the Administrator is ever made a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, claim, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (including, but not limited to, any action by or in the right of the Plan Sponsor), by reason of the fact that the Administrator is or was, or relating to the Administrators actions as, the Administrator, against any expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement that the Administrator incurs as a result of, or in connection with, such action, suit, claim, or proceeding, provided that the Administrator had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
5.6 Enrollment, Deferral Election and Other Procedures. The Administrator shall adopt and may amend procedures to be followed by Eligible Employees and Participants in electing to participate in this Plan, in electing to have Bonus Deferral Amounts and Salary Deferral Amounts made on their behalf, in selecting a form of distribution of any Distributable Amount, and in taking any other actions required thereby under this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, any enrollment, deferral election and other procedures relating to Section 409A Amounts shall be subject to the provisions of Article IX of the Plan.
5.7 Correction of Prior Incorrect Allocations. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Plan, in the event that an adjustment to a Performance Shares Account, Benefit Account, Deferral Account, Rollover Account, or Distribution Account shall be required to correct an incorrect allocation to such account, the Administrator shall take such actions as he or she deems, in his or her sole discretion, to be necessary or desirable to correct such prior incorrect allocation.
5.8 Facility of Payment. If the Administrator shall determine that a Participant or the Beneficiary of a deceased Participant to whom a benefit is payable is unable to care for his or her affairs because of illness, accident or other incapacity, the Administrator may, in his or her discretion, direct that any payment otherwise due to the Participant or Beneficiary be paid to the legal guardian or other representative of the Participant or Beneficiary. Furthermore, the Administrator may, in his or her discretion, direct that any payment otherwise due to a minor Participant or Beneficiary of a deceased Participant be paid to the guardian of the minor or the person having custody of the minor. Any payment made in accordance with this Section to a person other than a Participant or the Beneficiary of a deceased Participant shall, to the extent thereof, be a complete discharge of the Plans obligation to the Participant or Beneficiary.
5.9 Unclaimed Benefits. If the Administrator cannot locate a Participant or the Beneficiary of a deceased Participant to whom payment of benefits under this Plan shall be required, following a diligent effort by the Administrator to locate the Participant or Beneficiary, such benefit shall be forfeited.
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ARTICLE VI
STATUS OF PLAN AND TRUST AGREEMENT
6.1 Unfunded Status of Plan. The Plan constitutes a mere promise by the Plan Sponsor to pay benefits in accordance with the terms of the Plan, and, to the extent that any person acquires a right to receive benefits from the Plan Sponsor under this Plan, such right shall be no greater than any right of any unsecured general creditor of the Plan Sponsor. Subject to Section 6.2, nothing contained in this Plan and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Plan shall create or be construed so as to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Plan Sponsor and any Participant, Beneficiary, or other person.
6.2 Shares to be Issued. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued to satisfy the obligations under the Plan shall not exceed two million (2,000,000) shares of Common Stock. The Common Stock may come from treasury shares, authorized but unissued shares, or previously issued shares that the applicable company reacquires, including shares it purchases on the open market.
6.3 Adjustments upon Changes in Capital Stock. Subject to any required action by the Plan Sponsor (which it shall promptly take) or its stockholders, and subject to the provisions of applicable corporate law, if the outstanding shares of Common Stock increase or decrease or change into or are exchanged for a different number or kind of security by reason of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split, combination of shares, exchange of shares, stock dividend, or other distribution payable in capital stock, some other increase or decrease in such Common Stock occurs without the Plan Sponsors receiving consideration, the Administrator shall make a proportionate and appropriate adjustment as the Administrator in its sole discretion deems to be appropriate, in any of the following in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan: (a) the kind and number of shares of Common Stock, other securities or property or the amount of cash subject to each outstanding obligation under the Plan and (b) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which thereafter may be made the subject of obligations under the Plan, including the limit specified in Section 6.2 of the Plan regarding the number of shares available to satisfy obligations under the Plan.
In the event of a declaration of an extraordinary dividend on the Common Stock payable in a form other than Common Stock in an amount that has a material effect on the price of the Common Stock, the Administrator shall make a proportionate and appropriate adjustment as the Administrator in its sole discretion deems to be appropriate to the items set forth in any of subsections (a) through (b) in the preceding paragraph in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.
Any issue by the Company of any class of preferred stock, or securities convertible into shares of common or preferred stock of any class, will not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof will be made with respect to, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to any obligation under the Plan except as this Section 6.3 specifically provides. The grant of an obligation under the Plan will not affect in any way the right or power of the Administrator or the Plan Sponsor to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or to consolidate, or to dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
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6.4 Existence and Purposes of Trust Agreement.
(a) Existence of Trust Agreement. In accordance with Section 6.1, the Plan Sponsor may enter into a Trust Agreement with a trustee to hold a trust fund that may become the source of Plan benefits as provided in the Trust Agreement, and such trust fund may hold shares of Common Stock. In such event, the trustee would have such powers to hold, invest, reinvest, control, and disburse such trust fund as shall, at such time and from time to time, be set forth in the Trust Agreement or this Plan.
(b) Integration of Trust Agreement. The Trust Agreement shall be deemed to be a part of this Plan, and all rights of Participants and Beneficiaries of deceased Participants under this Plan shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Agreement, if and as applicable.
(c) Rights to Any Trust Fund Assets. No Participant or Beneficiary of a deceased Participant, nor any other person, shall have any right to, or interest in, any assets of the trust fund maintained under the Trust Agreement upon termination of such Participants employment or otherwise, except as may be specifically provided from time to time in this Plan, the Trust Agreement, or both, and then only to the extent so specifically provided.
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ARTICLE VII
PLAN AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION
7.1 Right to Amend. The Plan Sponsor reserves the right to amend the Plan, by action duly taken by its Board of Directors, at any time and from time to time to any extent that the Plan Sponsor may deem advisable, and any such amendment shall take the form of an instrument in writing duly executed by one or more individuals duly authorized by the Board of Directors. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Plan Sponsor specifically reserves the right to amend the Plan retroactively as may be deemed necessary. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentences, the Plan Sponsor shall not amend the Plan so as to change the method of calculating the Benefit Amount attributable to any Performance Shares in any Participants Performance Shares Account as of the date that such an amendment would otherwise be effective; so as to reduce the balance in the Deferral Account, Benefit Account, Rollover Account, or Distribution Account of any Participant as of such otherwise effective date; or so as to reduce the Vesting Percentage applicable to any Benefit Amount of any Participant that shall have been credited to the Participants Benefit Account (plus any earnings credited thereon) prior to such otherwise effective date (whether or not such Vesting Percentage shall have been determined pursuant to Section 3.3 as of such date), unless any such amendment shall be reasonably required to comply with applicable law or to preserve the tax treatment of benefits provided under the Plan or is consented to by the affected Participant.
7.2 Right to Terminate. The Plan Sponsor reserves the right to terminate the Plan, by action duly taken by its Board of Directors, at any time as the Plan Sponsor may deem advisable. Upon termination of the Plan, (a) if the trust fund maintained under the Trust Agreement has not become the source for Plan benefits, the Plan Sponsor shall pay or provide for the payment of all liabilities with respect to Participants and Beneficiaries of deceased Participants by distributing amounts to and on behalf of such Participants and Beneficiaries; and (b) if the trust fund maintained under the Trust Agreement has become the source for Plan benefits, the Plan Sponsor shall direct the trustee thereof to pay to or provide for the payment of all reasonable administrative expenses of the Plan and trust fund, and thereafter the Plan Sponsor shall direct such trustee to use and apply the remaining assets of the trust fund to provide for liabilities thereof with respect to Participants and Beneficiaries of deceased Participants by continuing the trust fund and making provision under the Trust Agreement for the payment of such liabilities or by distributing amounts from the trust fund to and on behalf of such Participants and Beneficiaries; provided that, if, after payment or provision for payment of all reasonable administrative expenses of the Plan and trust fund maintained under the Trust Agreement and satisfaction of all liabilities of such trust fund with respect to Participants and Beneficiaries of deceased Participants, there shall be excess assets remaining, the trustee thereof shall pay such excess assets to the Plan Sponsor.
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ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
8.1 No Guarantee of Employment. Nothing contained in this Plan shall be construed as a contract of employment between any Employee and the Plan Sponsor or any Employer, as a right of any Employee to be continued in any employment position with, or the employment of, the Plan Sponsor or any Employer, or as a limitation of the right of the Plan Sponsor or any Employer to discharge any Employee.
8.2 Nonalienation of Benefits. Any benefits or rights to benefits payable under this Plan shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, charge, garnishment, execution, or levy of any kind, either voluntary or involuntary, including any such liability that is for alimony or other payments for the support of a Beneficiary or former Beneficiary, or for the support of any other relative, before payment thereof is received by the Participant, Beneficiary of a deceased Participant, or other person entitled to the benefit under the Plan; and any attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, charge, or otherwise dispose of any right to benefits payable under this Plan shall be void; provided, however, that this Section shall not prohibit the Administrator from offsetting, pursuant to Section 8.3 of this Plan, any payments due to a Participant, the Beneficiary of a deceased Participant, or any other person who may be entitled to receive a benefit under this Plan.
8.3 Offset of Benefits. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, in the event that a Participant or the Beneficiary of a deceased Participant owes any amount to the Plan, the Plan Sponsor, or any other Employer, whether as a result of an overpayment or otherwise, the Administrator may, in his or her discretion, offset the amount owed or any percentage thereof in any manner against any payments due from the Plan to the Participant or Beneficiary.
8.4 Taxes. Neither the Plan Sponsor nor any Employer represents or guarantees that any particular federal, state, or local income, payroll, personal property or other tax consequence will result from participation in this Plan or payment of benefits under this Plan. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, the Administrator may, in his or her sole discretion, deduct and withhold applicable taxes from any payment of benefits under this Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, each Participant and Beneficiary shall be responsible for any and all taxes, interest, and penalties with respect to his or her Section 409A Amounts. The Administrator also may permit such obligations to be satisfied by the transfer to the Plan Sponsor or any Employer of cash, shares of Common Stock, or other property.
8.5 Timing of Distributions. The provisions of this Section 8.5 shall apply notwithstanding any provisions of the Plan to the contrary. The timing of all distributions under the Plan is subject to the Plan Sponsors and any Employers deduction limitations under Code Section 162(m). Distributions instituted during a period during which the Plan Sponsor prevents trading in Common Stock (a blackout period) will not be effective until the first business day following the end of the blackout period. The Administrator also may, in his or her sole discretion, postpone any distribution to comply with applicable law or internal policies of the Plan Sponsor.
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8.6 Not Compensation Under Other Benefit Plans. No amounts in a Participants Benefit Account or Deferral Account shall be deemed to be salary or compensation for purposes of the 401(k) Plan or any other employee benefit plan of the Plan Sponsor or any Employer except as and to the extent otherwise specifically provided in any such plan.
8.7 Merger or Consolidation of Plan Sponsor. If the Plan Sponsor is merged or consolidated with another organization, or another organization acquires all or substantially all of the Plan Sponsors assets, such organization may become the Plan Sponsor hereunder by action of its board of directors and by action of the board of directors of the Plan Sponsor if still existent. Such change in plan sponsors shall not be deemed to be a termination of this Plan.
8.8 Savings Clause. If any term, covenant, or condition of this Plan, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall to any extent be held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Plan, or the application of any such term, covenant, or condition to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it has been held to be invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and, except to the extent of any such invalidity or unenforceability, this Plan and each term, covenant, and condition hereof shall be valid and shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.
8.9 Governing Law. This Plan shall be construed, regulated and administered under the laws of the State of North Carolina to the extent not pre-empted by ERISA or any other federal law.
8.10 Construction. As used in this Plan, the masculine and feminine gender shall be deemed to include the neuter gender, as appropriate, and the singular or plural number shall be deemed to include the other, as appropriate, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary.
8.11 Headings No Part of Agreement. Headings of articles, sections and subsections of this Plan are inserted for convenience of reference; they constitute no part of the Plan and are not to be considered in the construction of the Plan.
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ARTICLE IX
SPECIAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO SECTION 409A AMOUNTS
9.1 Scope. The provisions of this Article IX shall apply to Section 409A Amounts only and shall not apply to any Grandfathered Amounts. If the provisions of this Article IX conflict with any other provisions of the Plan, the provisions of this Article IX shall control.
9.2 Special Provisions. Notwithstanding any provision of Articles III and IV of the Plan and Section 5.6 of the Plan, with respect to a Participant:
(a) Elections. With respect to any Section 409A Amount and in addition to any enrollment form and election requirements provided for in the Plan or established by the Administrator, any election for a Plan Year shall be made not later than December 31 of the calendar year immediately preceding such Plan Year; provided, however, that, in the case of the first Plan Year in which a Participant becomes an Eligible Employee, any election for the portion of the Plan Year during with the Participant is an Eligible Employee shall be made within thirty (30) days after the date the Participant first becomes an Eligible Employee.
(b) Form and Medium of Distribution. Any election made with respect to a Section 409A Amount pursuant to Section 9.2(a) above shall specify the form and medium of distribution with respect to that Section 409A Amount. The form of distribution so elected by a Participant shall be one of the forms of distribution set forth in Section 4.1(a) of the Plan and shall be subject to the restriction in Section 4.1(a)(ii) of the Plan concerning the availability of installment payments, determined as of the Participants Employment Termination Date. The medium of distribution shall be specified in accordance with Section 4.1(b) of the Plan.
(c) Default Form of Payment. Notwithstanding Section 4.2(b)(i)(B) of the Plan, with respect to any Participant who has both attained age fifty-five (55) and completed at least five (5) Years of Service, if such Participant fails to elect a form of distribution with respect to any Section 409A Amount, the Participant shall be deemed to have elected to have such Section 409A Amount paid in the form of five (5) installment payments in accordance with the payment frequency set forth in Section 9.2(d) below.
(d) Timing of Payment. Notwithstanding Article IV of the Plan and specifically Sections 4.2(c) and (e) of the Plan, the Distribution Date for a Section 409A Amount (or the first installment of a Section 409A Amount, if applicable) shall be no earlier than the first day of the month following the last day of the six (6) month period commencing on the Participants Employment Termination Date. In accordance with procedures established by the Administrator pursuant to Article V, a Participant may elect one of the following Distribution Dates with respect to each Section 409A Amount: (i) the first day of the month following the last day of the six (6) month period commencing on the Participants Employment Termination Date; (ii) the first day of the month following the last day of the twelve (12) month period commencing on the Participants Employment Termination Date; or (iii) the first day of the month following the last day of the twenty-four (24) month period commencing on the Participants Employment Termination Date. The time of distribution so elected by a Participant shall be subject to the restriction in Section 4.1(a)(ii)(C) of the Plan determined as of the Participants Employment Termination Date.
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If pursuant to the terms of the Plan a Section 409A Amount is to be distributed in installments, the second installment of the Section 409A Amount shall be made on January 15 of the calendar year following the date of payment of the initial installment, and each subsequent installment thereafter (if any) shall be made on each January 15 thereafter until all installment payments of a Section 409A Amount have been paid to the Participant. In the avoidance of doubt, the amount of each installment payment of a Section 409A Amount shall equal the quotient of (i) the total Section 409A Amount to be distributed, divided by (ii) the number of installment payments remaining in the applicable period of annual installments.
(e) Subsequent Changes in Time of Payment and Form of Distribution. With respect to a Section 409A Amount, a Participant may elect to delay a payment of the Section 409A or to change the form of distribution of the Section 409A Amount provided that the following conditions are met:
(i) Any election under this Section 9.2(e) shall not take effect until a date that is at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the election is made.
(ii) The payment with respect to which an election under this Section 9.2(e) is made shall be deferred for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date such payment would otherwise have been paid.
(iii) Any election under this Section 9.2(e) shall be made on a date that is not less than twelve (12) months prior to the date the payment is originally scheduled to be made.
(f) Permitted Payment Delays. Notwithstanding Section 8.5 of the Plan and in addition to the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.2, a payment of a Section 409A Amount to a Participant may be delayed to a date after the designated payment date under either of the following two circumstances:
(i) Where the Plan Sponsor reasonably anticipates that an Employers deduction with respect to the payment of a Section 409A Amount would otherwise be limited or eliminated by application of Code Section 162(m); provided, however, that such payment shall be made to the Participant (i) during the Participants first taxable year in which the Plan Sponsor reasonably anticipates that the deduction of such payment will not be limited or eliminated by the application of Code Section 162(m), or, if later, (ii) during the period beginning with the Participants Employment Termination Date and ending on the later of (A) the last day of the taxable year of the Plan Sponsor in which the Participants Employment Termination Date occurs or (B) the fifteenth (15th) day of the third month following the Participants Employment Termination Date.
(ii) Where the Plan Sponsor reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment of the Section 409A Amount will violate Federal Securities laws or other applicable law; provided, however, that such payment will be made to the Participant at the earliest date at which the Plan Sponsor reasonably anticipates that the making of such payment will not cause such violation.
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(g) Unforeseeable Emergency. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Section 4.3 of the Plan shall apply to any Bonus Deferral Amounts and any Salary Deferral Amounts that are considered to be Section 409A Amounts.
(h) Plan Termination. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.2 of the Plan, the termination of the Plan shall not accelerate the time and form of payment of any Section 409A Amount except when the Plan Sponsor elects to terminate the Plan in accordance with one of the following:
(i) The Plan Sponsor elects to terminate the Plan within twelve (12) months of a corporate dissolution taxed under Code Section 331 or with the approval of a bankruptcy court pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §503(b)(1)(A), provided that the Section 409A Amounts are included in Participants gross incomes in the latest of (a) the calendar year in which the Plan termination occurs, (b) the calendar year in which the Section 409A Amount is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, or (c) the first calendar year in which the payment of the Section 409A Amount is administratively practical.
(ii) The Plan Sponsor elects to terminate the Plan under the following conditions: (a) the Employer terminates all arrangements sponsored by the Employer that would be aggregated with any terminated arrangements under the regulations promulgated under Code Section 409A if the same Participant had deferrals of compensation under all such terminated arrangements; (b) no payments (other than payments that would be payable under the terms of the arrangements if the termination had not occurred) are made within twelve (12) months of the termination of the arrangements; (c) all payments are made within twenty-four (24) months of the termination of the arrangements; and (d) no Employer adopts a new arrangement that would be aggregated with any terminated arrangement under the regulations promulgated under Code Section 409A if the same Participant participated in both arrangements, at any time within five (5) years following the date of termination of the Plan.
(iii) The Plan Sponsor elects to terminate the Plan in accordance with any such other events and conditions that the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service may prescribe in generally applicable guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.
(i) Definition of Payment. With respect to a Section 409A Amount, the entitlement to a series of installment payments shall be treated as the entitlement to a single payment, and each such installment payment shall not be considered a separate payment hereunder.
9.3 Payments to a Beneficiary. Notwithstanding Section 4.2(e) of the Plan, with respect to any Section 409A Amounts, if a Participant elected to receive the Distributable Amount in the form of annual installments and the Participant dies prior to receiving all of such annual installments, the Beneficiary of the deceased Participant shall receive such remaining payments as a lump-sum in accordance with Section 4.2(b)(ii) of the Plan.
9.4 Class Year Accounting. Section 409A Amounts credited on a Participants behalf and any earnings credited thereto and any losses deducted therefrom in accordance with the terms of the Plan, shall be administered under this Plan by Class Year. For the avoidance of doubt, as stated in Section 1.54, the aggregate of a Participants Salary Deferral Amount (if any), Bonus Deferral Amount (if any), and Benefit Amount (if any) for each Class Year, and any earnings credited thereto and any losses deducted therefrom in accordance with the terms of the Plan, shall be deemed a separate Section 409A Amount for all purposes under this Plan, including, but not limited to, the provisions of Section 9.2.
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(a) Elections. In accordance with procedures established by the Administrator pursuant to Article V and Section 9.2, a Participant shall make a separate election for each Class Year, for which the Participant shall specify (i) the form and medium of distribution and (ii) the time for payment, and each such election for a Class Year shall apply to the aggregate of the Participants Salary Deferral Amount (if any), Bonus Deferral Amount (if any), and Benefit Amount (if any) for that Class Year, and any earnings credited thereto and any losses deducted therefrom in accordance with the terms of the Plan. The Plans default form of payment and time for payment provisions under Section 4.2(b)(i)(B), Section 9.2(c), and Section 9.2(d), as applicable, shall apply to any Participant who fails to make an election for a Class Year.
(b) Subsequent Changes in Class Year Elections. The provisions of Section 9.2(e) permitting payment delays and changes in the form of distribution subject to certain conditions set forth therein shall be administered separately with respect to a Participants Section 409A Amount for each Class Year. An election to delay payment, or change the form of distribution, for a Section 409A Amount for one Class Year shall not affect the time for payment and form of distribution elections for the Section 409A Amount for another Class Year.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Plan Sponsor has caused this amended and restated Plan to be executed by its duly authorized officer as of the last date signed by the officer as set forth below.
PLAN SPONSOR: | ||
VONTIER CORPORATION | ||
By: | /s/ Andrew Nash | |
Andrew Nash, SVP Human Resources | ||
Date: 10/09/2020 |
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APPENDIX C
SPIN-OFF FROM FORTIVE CORPORATION
1. |
Background |
The Plan Sponsor was established as a subsidiary of Fortive Corporation (Fortive) prior to the Effective Date. On the Effective Date, the liabilities for certain participants benefits under the Fortive EDIP, including amounts not subject to Code Section 409A (i.e., amounts deferred and vested prior to January 1, 2005, and earnings related thereto), were transferred to the Plan Sponsor and to this Plan. The Participants whose benefits were transferred to this Plan on the Effective Date are referred to below as Fortive Participants. The rules in this Appendix shall apply notwithstanding any Plan provisions to the contrary.
2. |
Plan Benefits |
Fortive Participants who qualified as eligible employees under the Fortive EDIP immediately before the Effective Date shall be Eligible Employees under this Plan on such date. All service and compensation that was taken into account for purposes of determining the amount of a Fortive Participants benefit or his vested right to a benefit under the Fortive EDIP as of the Effective Date shall be taken into account for the same purposes under this Plan.
The Fortive Participants accounts will reflect such amounts transferred from the Fortive EDIP. To the extent the Plan refers to accounts prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange on October 9, 2020, such references relate to the amounts as they existed in the Fortive EDIP prior to the transfer to the extent such amounts were transferred to the Plan.
3. |
Distributions |
The terms of this Plan shall govern the distribution of all benefits payable to a Fortive Participant or any other person with a right to receive such benefits, including amounts accrued under the Fortive EDIP and then transferred to this Plan.
4. |
Termination and Key Employees |
For avoidance of doubt, no Fortive Participant shall be treated as incurring a separation from service, termination of employment, retirement, or similar event for purposes of determining the right to a distribution (for amounts subject to Code section 409A or otherwise), vesting, benefits, or any other purpose under the Plan as a result of Fortives distribution of Fortive Corporation shares to Fortive shareholders. Also, the Key Employees shall be determined in accordance with the special rules for spin-offs under Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(i)(6)(iii), or any successor thereto, for the period indicated in such regulation.
5. |
Participant Elections |
All elections made by Fortive Participants under the Fortive EDIP prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange on October 9, 2020, including any deferral elections, earnings crediting rate elections, payment elections, and beneficiary designations, shall apply to the same effect under this Plan as if made under the terms of this Plan.
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6. |
References to Plan |
All references in this Plan to the Plan as in effect before the Effective Date shall be read as references to the Fortive EDIP. To the extent that the Plan refers to the Plan Sponsor for periods prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange on October 9, 2020, such reference shall mean Fortive Corporation as plan sponsor of the Fortive EDIP.
7. |
Right to Benefits |
With respect to any recordkeeping account established to determine a benefit provided or due under the Fortive EDIP at any time, no benefit will be due under the Plan except with respect to the portion of such recordkeeping account reflecting the liability transferred from the Fortive EDIP to the Plan on the Effective Date. Additionally, on and after the Effective Date, Fortive and the Fortive EDIP, and any successors thereto shall have no further obligation or liability to any Fortive Participant with respect to any benefit, amount, or right due under the Fortive EDIP transferred to the Plan.
8. |
Stock |
For the period prior to the Spin-off Date, Common Stock shall mean common stock of Fortive, par value $0.01 per share (Fortive Common Stock). On and after the Spin-off Date, Common Stock shall mean common stock of Vontier Corporation.
As of the Spin-Off Date, Notional Shares, and Performance Shares of Fortive common stock shall be converted into Notional Shares and Performance Shares of Vontier Corporation common stock as provided by an agreement between the Vontier Corporation and Fortive. The amounts to be credited to a Participants Performance Shares Account under Section 3.1 will be based on such Performance Shares of Vontier Corporation common stock after the Spin-off Date. To the extent necessary, the Administrator shall use reasonable interpretations and adjustments to determine the fair market value of the Common Stock.
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