false 0000039368 false FULLER H B CO 0000039368 2019-07-02 2019-07-02

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):  July 2, 2019

 

H.B. Fuller Company

(Exact Name of Company as Specified in Charter)

 

Minnesota

 

001-09225

 

41-0268370

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

1200 Willow Lake Boulevard, P.O. Box 64683, St. Paul, MN

 

55164-0683

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

  

Company’s telephone number, including area code: (651) 236-5900

 

 

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

  

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, par value $1.00

FUL

NYSE

 


 

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 DFR 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))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

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. ☐

 

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Item 5.02

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

 

(e)  On October 4, 2017, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) of H.B. Fuller Company (the “Company”) approved a form of Performance-Based Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (the “Performance-Based NQSO Agreement”) to be used to make grants of performance-based non-qualified stock options (the “Options”) to certain executive officers contingent on the closing of the Company’s acquisition of Royal Adhesives and Sealants, LLC (“Royal Adhesives”). The Company completed the acquisition of Royal Adhesives on October 20, 2017 and the Options were granted to such executive officers.

 

Due to changes in accounting standards relating to classification of pension net benefit cost in the Company’s income statement, U.S. dollar devaluation, the sale of the surfactant, thickener and dispersion business announced on June 11, 2019 and the current global economic situation, especially in China, the Committee has concluded that the performance goals in the Performance-Based NQSO Agreement should be revised. Accordingly, on July 2, 2019, the Committee approved a First Amendment to each of the Performance-Based Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreements (the “First Amendment”). The First Amendment contains the following amendments to each Performance-Based NQSO Agreement:

 

  (1) The definition of “Adjusted EBITDA” will be: “Adjusted net income attributable to H.B. Fuller + interest expense + interest income + income taxes + depreciation + amortization. Adjustments include items as publicly disclosed in the Company’s quarterly earnings releases”.
  (2) The effect of acquisitions and divestitures by the Company will be excluded from determinations of Adjusted EBITDA (i.e., Adjusted EBITDA will be based on the Company’s EBITDA for the rolling 12-month period prior to any acquisition or divestiture).
  (3) The determination of Adjusted EBITDA will also take into account currency fluctuations (i.e., if the average of the Dow Jones USD worldwide currency index (the “DXY”) moves up or down by 3.0% or more after the date of the First Amendment, Adjusted EBITDA will be further adjusted to reflect the percentage change in the average value of the DXY during the Company’s 2020 fiscal year from the value of the DXY on the date of the First Amendment).
  (4) The Adjusted EBITDA “target” goal for the fiscal year 2020 will be changed from $600,000,000 to $547,000,000 (subject to any adjustment described in clauses (2) and (3) above).

 

All other terms of each of the Performance-Based NQSO Agreements, including the Option Exercise price of $57.70, remain unchanged.

 

The foregoing description of the First Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of the Performance-Based NQSO Agreement, a copy which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

Item 9.01.     Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)          Exhibits.

 

10.1

 

Amendment to Form of Performance-Based Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement_______________________________

 

10.2

 

Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement

 

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SIGNATURE

 

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

 

 

Date: July 2, 2019

 

  H.B. FULLER COMPANY  
       
       
       
  By: /s/ Timothy J. Keenan  
    Timothy J. Keenan  
    Vice President, General Counsel  
    and Corporate Secretary  

 

 

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

This First Amendment to the Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (the “Amendment”) shall be made effective as of the __ day of _______ 2019, by and between H.B. Fuller Company (the “Company”) and the undersigned Participant.

 

 

A.

Company and Participant entered into a Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under the H.B. Fuller Company 2016 Master Incentive Plan dated October 20, 2017 (the “NQSO Agreement”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the definitions ascribed to them in the NQSO Agreement.

 

 

B.

The Company and the Participant now desire, by and through this First Amendment, to amend the NQSO Agreement according to the terms set forth below:

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual agreements set forth below, the parties agree to amend the NQSO Agreement as follows:

 

 

 

1.

Paragraph 2(a) of the NQSO Agreement shall be deleted and replaced with the following:

 

2.     Vesting and Term of Option.

 

(a)     If Participant remains continuously employed by the Company or an Affiliate through January 31, 2021 (the “Measurement Date”), the Option Shares that vest and become exercisable pursuant to this Section 2 will be determined by reference to the Company’s 2020 Fiscal Year Adjusted EBITDA, as provided in the table below:

 

 

2020 Fiscal Year Adjusted EBITDA

 

% of Option Shares

Vested

Below $___ million

 

0%

$___ million (threshold)

 

50%

$___ million (target)

 

100%

$____ million or above (superior maximum)

 

150%*

 

Note: Performance between threshold and superior maximum will be calculated on a pro rata basis. Payout is calculated for each incremental increase in performance (straight line interpolation). Fractional vested Shares will be rounded down to the nearest whole Share.

 

* Maximum award is subject to the annual award limitation of 500,000 Shares under the H.B. Fuller Company 2016 Master Incentive Plan.

 

 

 

 

For purposes of this Section 2(a), “Adjusted EBITDA” means the adjusted net income attributable to H.B. Fuller Company + interest expense + interest income + income taxes + depreciation + amortization. Adjustments include items as publicly disclosed in the Company’s quarterly earnings release. In addition, the target will be adjusted as follows:

     
 

1.

Acquisitions and divestitures will be excluded, based on the previous rolling 12 months EBITDA;

     
 

2.

Currency Adjustment: If the average for the Dow Jones USD worldwide currency index (DXY) moves more than an established band of +/-3% (“the currency band”) from the date of this Amendment, then the target will be adjusted by the percentage change in the average value of the DXY in fiscal year 2020 versus the DXY at the date of this Amendment.

 

The Option shall in all events terminate on October 20, 2027 or such earlier date as prescribed herein.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this First Amendment to be effective as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

H.B. FULLER COMPANY

   
 

 

By: _________________________________

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________

Participant:

 

Date: _________________________________

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

H.B. FULLER COMPANY

 

NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

(Under the H.B. Fuller Company 2016 Master Incentive Plan)

 

THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of ________________, 20__ is entered into between H.B. Fuller Company, a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), and ______________, an employee of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company (“Participant”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company, pursuant to the H.B. Fuller Company 2016 Master Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), wishes to grant stock options for the purchase of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”), to Participant on the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement and the Plan;

 

WHEREAS, Participant’s rights to receive options for the purchase of Common Stock hereunder are sometimes referred to as the “Option(s)” in this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

1.     Grant of Option. The Company, effective as of [CLOSING DATE OF ACQUISITION] (the “Grant Date”), hereby grants to Participant, as a matter of separate agreement and not in lieu of salary or other compensation for services rendered, the right and option (the “Option”) to purchase all or any part of an aggregate of [ENTER MAX PERFORMANCE SHARES] shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”) at the price of $[CLOSING PRICE ON GRANT DATE] per share on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. The Option is not intended to be an incentive stock option within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as amended.

 

2.            Vesting and Term of Option.

 

(a)     If Participant remains continuously employed by the Company or an Affiliate through January 31, 2021 (the “Measurement Date”), the Option Shares that vest and become exercisable pursuant to this Section 2 will be determined by reference to the Company’s 2020 Fiscal Year Adjusted EBITDA, as provided in the table below:

 

2020 Fiscal Year Adjusted EBITDA

 

% of Option Shares

Vested

Below $___ million

 

0%

$___ million (threshold)

 

50%

$___ million (target)

 

100%

$___ million or above (superior maximum)

 

150%*

 

Note: Performance between threshold and superior maximum will be calculated on a pro rata basis. Payout is calculated for each incremental increase in performance (straight line interpolation). Fractional vested Shares will be rounded down to the nearest whole Share.

 

*Maximum award is subject to the annual award limitation of 500,000 Shares under the H.B. Fuller Company 2016 Master Incentive Plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For purposes of this Section 2(a), “Adjusted EBITDA” means Adjusted Operating Income + Depreciation + Amortization. Operating Income adjustments include items as publicly disclosed in the Company’s quarterly earnings release.

 

The Option shall in all events terminate on_____________, 20__ or such earlier date as prescribed herein.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding the vesting provision contained in Section 2(a) above, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company prior to the Measurement Date while Participant is employed with the Company or an Affiliate, the date of the Change in Control shall become the Measurement Date, and all Option Shares shall vest and become exercisable at target performance level. For the purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred upon any of the following events:

 

(i)     a public announcement (which, for purposes hereof, shall include, without limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) that any individual, corporation, partnership, association, trust or other entity becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13(d)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the Voting Power of the Company then outstanding;

 

(ii)     the individuals who, as of the date of this Agreement, are members of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board (provided, however, that if the election or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders of any new director was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Board, such new director shall be considered to be a member of the Incumbent Board);

 

(iii)     the approval of the shareholders of the Company, and consummation, of (A) any consolidation, merger or statutory share exchange of the Company with any person in which the surviving entity would not have as its directors at least 60% of the Incumbent Board and as a result of which those persons who were shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction would not hold, immediately after such transaction, at least 60% of the Voting Power of the Company then outstanding or the combined voting power of the surviving entity’s then outstanding voting securities; (B) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer in one transaction or series of related transactions substantially all of the assets of the Company; or (C) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the complete or partial liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

 

(iv)     a determination by a majority of the members of the Incumbent Board, in their sole and absolute discretion, that there has been a Change in Control of the Company.

 

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For purposes of this Section 2(b), “Voting Power” when used with reference to the Company shall mean the voting power of all classes and series of capital stock of the Company now or hereafter authorized.

 

3.            Effect of Termination of Employment. The Option shall terminate and may no longer be exercised if Participant ceases to be employed by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company, except that:

 

(a)           Termination of Employment other than for Death, Disability or Retirement.

 

(i)     If, on or after the second anniversary of the Grant Date but prior to the Measurement Date, Participant voluntarily terminates Participant’s employment or if the Company or an Affiliate of the Company terminates Participant’s employment for any reason other than gross and willful misconduct, disability, retirement or death, the Option shall remain outstanding but unexercisable until the Measurement Date. Upon the Measurement Date, the Option Shares earned in accordance with Section 2 shall vest pro rata. The pro rata number of Option Shares that vests shall be determined by multiplying the total number of earned Option Shares by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days of Participant’s employment with the Company or an Affiliate from the Grant Date to the date of Participant’s termination of employment, and the denominator of which is [NUMBER OF DAYS FROM GRANT DATE TO MEASUREMENT DATE]. Participant may exercise the Option at any time within ninety (90) days after the Measurement Date to the extent that the Option has become exercisable, but not after the expiration of the term of the Option.

 

(ii)     If, on or after the Measurement Date, Participant voluntarily terminates Participant’s employment or if the Company or an Affiliate of the Company terminates Participant’s employment for any reason other than gross and willful misconduct, disability, retirement or death, Participant may exercise the Option at any time within ninety (90) days after Participant’s termination of employment to the extent that the Option has become exercisable, but not after the expiration of the term of the Option.

 

(iii)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company or an Affiliate of the Company terminates Participant’s employment by reason of gross and willful misconduct during the course of employment, including, but not limited to, wrongful appropriation of funds or the commission of a gross misdemeanor or felony, the Option, whether vested or not vested, shall be terminated as of the date of termination of Participant’s employment.

 

(b)           Termination of Employment for Retirement.

 

(i)     If, prior to the Measurement Date, Participant Retires, the Option shall remain outstanding but unexercisable until the Measurement Date. Upon the Measurement Date, the Option Shares earned in accordance with Section 2 shall vest as if Participant has remained employed until the Measurement Date. Participant may exercise the Option at any time after the Measurement Date to the extent that the Option has become exercisable, but not after the expiration of the term of the Option. For purposes of this Section 3, “Retire” or “Retirement” shall mean the voluntary or involuntary termination of Participant’s employment for any reason other than gross and willful misconduct, disability or death, after Participant has completed at least ten years of service as an employee of the Company and/or an Affiliate of the Company and has attained age 55.

 

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(ii)     If, on or after the Measurement Date, Participant Retires, Participant may exercise the Option at any time after Participant’s termination of employment to the extent that the Option has become exercisable, but not after the expiration of the term of the Option.

 

(c)           Termination of Employment for Death or Disability.

 

(i)     If, prior to the Measurement Date, Participant’s employment is terminated by reason of death or disability (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), the Option Shares shall vest and become exercisable at target performance level.

 

(ii)     Participant may exercise the Option at any time within three (3) years after Participant’s termination of employment due to disability to the extent that the Option has become exercisable, but not after the expiration of the term of the Option.

 

(iii)     If Participant shall die, either while employed or following any termination of employment, the Option may be exercised, to the extent that the Option has become exercisable, at any time within 12 months after the date of Participant’s death by the personal representatives or administrators of Participant or by any beneficiary designated in a manner established by the Committee or person or persons to whom the Option has been transferred by will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution, subject to the condition that the Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of the term of the Option.

 

(d)           For avoidance of doubt, if Participant is employed by an Affiliate that is sold or otherwise ceases to be an Affiliate of the Company, Participant shall incur a termination of employment by the Company and all Affiliates of the Company under this Agreement.

 

4.             Method of Exercising Option.

 

(a)     Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Option shall be exercised by following the procedures established by the Company from time to time, which may require the delivery of a written or electronic notice of exercise (the “Notice”) to the Company (to the attention of the Equity Compensation Specialist) or its agent. The Notice shall be in such form as the Company may prescribe and shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised and the manner of payment and shall be signed by the person or persons so exercising the Option. The Notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the exercise price for all Shares designated in the notice. The Notice shall also be accompanied by such other information and documents as the Company, in its discretion, may request. To the extent that the Option is exercised after Participant’s death, the Notice shall also be accompanied by appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option.

 

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(b)           Payment of the exercise price shall be made to the Company through one or a combination of the following methods:

 

 

(i)

delivery of a certified or cashier’s check, or a wire transfer, payable to the Company or cash, in United States currency;

     
 

(ii)

delivery of shares of Common Stock acquired by Participant more than six months prior to the date of exercise having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Option exercise price. Participant shall duly endorse all certificates delivered to the Company in blank and shall represent and warrant in writing that Participant is the owner of the shares so delivered, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests and restrictions;

     
 

(iii)

if permitted by the Company in its sole discretion, by executing a “cashless exercise” through the Company’s designated broker; or

     
 

(iv)

delivery of an attestation from Participant that Participant owns a number of shares of Common Stock acquired by Participant more than six months prior to the date of exercise having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Option exercise price (the “Exercise Price Shares”). In such attestation, Participant shall represent and warrant that Participant is the owner of the Exercise Price Shares. In the event Participant exercises the Option in this manner, the number of shares of Common Stock issued to Participant upon exercise of the Option shall be (A) the number of shares subject to the Option exercise, less (B) the number of Exercise Price Shares.

 

5.          Income Tax Withholding. In order to provide the Company with the opportunity to claim the benefit of any income tax deduction which may be available to it upon the exercise of the Option, and in order to comply with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take such action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all applicable federal, state, local or foreign payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are the sole and absolute responsibility of Participant, are withheld or collected from Participant. Participant may, at Participant’s election (the “Tax Election”), satisfy applicable tax withholding obligations by (a) electing to have the Company withhold a portion of the Shares of Common Stock otherwise to be delivered upon exercise of the Option having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such taxes (subject to any limitations imposed by the Company to avoid adverse accounting treatment) or (b) delivering to the Company shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such taxes. The Tax Election must be made on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.

 

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6.            Securities Matters. No Shares shall be issued hereunder prior to such time as counsel to the Company shall have determined that the issuance of the Shares will not violate any federal or state securities or other laws, rules or regulations. The Company shall not be required to deliver any Shares of Common Stock until the requirements of any applicable securities or other laws, rules or regulations (including the rules of any securities exchange) as may be determined by the Company to be applicable are satisfied. In addition, the grant of this Option and/or the delivery of any Shares of Common Stock under this Agreement are subject to the Company’s Executive and Key Manager Compensation Clawback Policy and any other clawback policies the Company may adopt in the future to conform to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (or any other applicable law) and any applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or applicable stock exchange.

 

7.            Tax Consequences. Participant agrees that the Company does not have a duty to design or administer the Plan or its other compensation programs in a manner that minimize Participant’s tax liabilities. Participant will not make any claim against the Company, or any of its officers, directors, employees or Affiliates related to tax liabilities arising from the Option or Participant’s other compensation.

 

8.            Adjustments. In the event that the Committee shall determine that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase shares or other securities of the Company or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares covered by the Option such that an adjustment is necessary to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Agreement, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, in its sole discretion, adjust any or all of the number and type of the Shares covered by the Option and the exercise price of the Option.

 

9.            General Provisions.

 

(a)     Interpretations. This Agreement is subject in all respects to the terms of the Plan. Terms used herein which are defined in the Plan shall have the respective meanings given to such terms in the Plan, unless otherwise defined herein. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall govern. Any question of administration or interpretation arising under this Agreement shall be determined by the Committee, and such determination shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties in interest.

 

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(b)     No Rights as a Shareholder. Neither Participant nor Participant’s legal representatives shall have any of the rights and privileges of a shareholder of the Company with respect to the Shares of Common Stock subject to the Option until such Shares shall have been issued upon exercise of the Option.

 

(c)     No Right to Employment. Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan shall be construed as giving Participant the right to be retained as an employee of the Company or any Affiliate. In addition, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss Participant from employment, free from any liability or any claim under this Agreement, unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or the Plan.

 

(d)     Option Not Transferable. The Option shall not be transferable other than (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, or (ii) by designating a beneficiary or beneficiaries (in a manner established by the Committee) to exercise the rights of Participant and receive any property distributable with respect to any Option upon the death of Participant. During Participant’s lifetime the Option shall be exercisable only by Participant or, if permissible under applicable law, by Participant’s guardian or legal representative. The Option may not be pledged, alienated, attached or otherwise encumbered, and any purported pledge, alienation, attachment or encumbrance of the Option shall be void and unenforceable against the Company.

 

(e)     Reservation of Shares. The Company shall at all times during the term of the Option reserve and keep available such number of shares of Common Stock as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Agreement.

 

(f)     Headings. Headings are given to the sections and subsections of this Agreement solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

(g)     Governing Law. The internal law, and not the law of conflicts, of the State of Minnesota will govern all questions concerning the validity, construction and effect of this Agreement.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

H.B. FULLER COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       
     
  Participant  
       
  Date:    

 

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