UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
[X] Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2000
or
[ ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Commission File Number: 1-7784
CENTURYTEL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Louisiana 72-0651161
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
100 Century Park Drive, Monroe, Louisiana 71203
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (318) 388-9000
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.
[X] Yes [ ] No
As of April 30, 2000, there were 140,235,231 shares of common stock
outstanding.
CENTURYTEL, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
-------
Part I. Financial Information:
Item 1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Statements of Income--Three Months
Ended March 31, 2000 and 1999 3
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income--
Three Months Ended March 31, 2000 and 1999 4
Consolidated Balance Sheets--March 31, 2000 and
December 31, 1999 5
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity--
Three Months Ended March 31, 2000 and 1999 6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows--
Three Months Ended March 31, 2000 and 1999 7
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 8-10
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations 11-18
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures
About Market Risk 19
Part II. Other Information:
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 20
Signature 21
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
CENTURYTEL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three months
ended March 31,
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars, except per
share amounts, and
shares in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
OPERATING REVENUES
Telephone $ 276,926 288,273
Wireless 100,404 98,562
Other 35,626 27,421
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating revenues 412,956 414,256
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING EXPENSES
Cost of sales and operating expenses 216,723 193,652
Depreciation and amortization 84,811 89,981
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating expenses 301,534 283,633
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING INCOME 111,422 130,623
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense (36,042) (42,241)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated cellular
entities (1,459) 6,845
Minority interest (2,292) (3,310)
Gain on sale of assets 9,910 10,358
Other income and expense 4,229 2,180
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total other income (expense) (25,654) (26,168)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE 85,768 104,455
Income tax expense 36,484 43,350
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET INCOME $ 49,284 61,105
===============================================================================
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE $ .35 .44
===============================================================================
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE $ .35 .43
===============================================================================
DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE $ .0475 .045
===============================================================================
AVERAGE BASIC SHARES OUTSTANDING 139,737 138,086
===============================================================================
AVERAGE DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING 141,728 141,028
===============================================================================
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>
CENTURYTEL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three months
ended March 31,
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
NET INCOME $ 49,284 61,105
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET OF TAX:
Unrealized holding gain (loss) arising during period,
net of ($3,765) and $1,116 tax (6,993) 2,073
Reclassification adjustment for gain
included in net income, net of $ - and $3,625 tax - (6,733)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other comprehensive income, net of ($3,765) and ($2,509) tax (6,993) (4,660)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME $ 42,291 56,445
=====================================================================================
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>
CENTURYTEL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
March 31, December 31,
2000 1999
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 62,629 56,640
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $4,185 and $4,150 208,962 193,057
Materials and supplies, at average cost 26,404 28,769
Other 8,907 7,607
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current assets 306,902 286,073
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT 2,232,390 2,256,458
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENTS AND OTHER ASSETS
Excess cost of net assets acquired, less accumulated
amortization of $174,656 and $165,327 1,632,171 1,644,884
Other 557,721 517,992
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total investments and other assets 2,189,892 2,162,876
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL ASSETS $ 4,729,184 4,705,407
===============================================================================================
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current maturities of long-term debt $ 62,311 62,098
Accounts payable 114,884 78,450
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Salaries and benefits 36,360 34,570
Taxes 71,515 40,999
Interest 23,940 37,232
Other 22,794 22,172
Advance billings and customer deposits 34,264 33,656
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current liabilities 366,068 309,177
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONG-TERM DEBT 1,998,430 2,078,311
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER LIABILITIES 475,321 469,927
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, $1.00 par value, authorized 350,000,000 shares,
issued and outstanding 140,229,175 and 139,945,920 shares 140,229 139,946
Paid-in capital 498,533 493,432
Unrealized holding gain on investments, net of taxes 57,369 64,362
Retained earnings 1,189,509 1,146,967
Unearned ESOP shares (4,250) (4,690)
Preferred stock - non-redeemable 7,975 7,975
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total stockholders' equity 1,889,365 1,847,992
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $ 4,729,184 4,705,407
===============================================================================================
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>
CENTURYTEL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three months
ended March 31,
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
COMMON STOCK
Balance at beginning of period $ 139,946 138,083
Conversion of convertible securities into common stock 254 254
Issuance of common stock through dividend reinvestment,
incentive and benefit plans 29 935
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at end of period 140,229 139,272
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAID-IN CAPITAL
Balance at beginning of period 493,432 451,535
Conversion of convertible securities into common stock 3,046 3,046
Issuance of common stock through dividend
reinvestment, incentive and benefit plans 1,663 9,688
Amortization of unearned compensation and other 392 453
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at end of period 498,533 464,722
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNREALIZED HOLDING GAIN ON INVESTMENTS, NET OF TAXES
Balance at beginning of period 64,362 7,217
Change in unrealized holding gain on
investments, net of reclassification adjustment (6,993) (4,660)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at end of period 57,369 2,557
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RETAINED EARNINGS
Balance at beginning of period 1,146,967 932,611
Net income 49,284 61,105
Cash dividends declared
Common stock-$.0475 and $.045 per share, respectively (6,642) (6,220)
Preferred stock (100) (102)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at end of period 1,189,509 987,394
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNEARNED ESOP SHARES
Balance at beginning of period (4,690) (6,070)
Release of ESOP shares 440 440
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at end of period (4,250) (5,630)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PREFERRED STOCK - NON-REDEEMABLE
Balance at beginning and end of period 7,975 8,106
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 1,889,365 1,596,421
==========================================================================================
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>
CENTURYTEL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three months
ended March 31,
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income $ 49,284 61,105
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 84,811 89,981
Gain on sale of assets (9,910) (10,358)
Deferred income taxes 3,231 2,516
(Income) loss from unconsolidated cellular entities 1,459 (6,845)
Minority interest 2,292 3,310
Changes in current assets and current liabilities:
Accounts receivable (15,928) (8,316)
Accounts payable 36,414 (3,068)
Other accrued taxes 30,525 42,394
Other current assets and other current liabilities, net (8,143) (10,697)
Increase in other noncurrent assets (16,222) (5,408)
Increase in other noncurrent liabilities 4,586 860
Other, net (2,310) 4,118
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities 160,089 159,592
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Payments for property, plant and equipment (58,165) (63,001)
Purchase of minority investment in other entities (27,980) -
Proceeds from sale of assets 15,849 20,056
Purchase of life insurance investment, net (1,627) (1,561)
Other, net (827) 5,409
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used in investing activities (72,750) (39,097)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 1,079 7,779
Payments of long-term debt (77,007) (134,269)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 1,054 10,434
Cash dividends (6,742) (6,322)
Other, net 266 226
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used in financing activities (81,350) (122,152)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 5,989 (1,657)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 56,640 5,742
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 62,629 4,085
==============================================================================================
Supplemental cash flow information:
Income taxes paid $ 5,146 2,947
==============================================================================================
Interest paid (net of capitalized interest of $741 and $837) $ 48,593 55,474
==============================================================================================
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>
CENTURYTEL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH 31, 2000
(UNAUDITED)
(1) Basis of Financial Reporting
The consolidated financial statements of CenturyTel, Inc. and its
subsidiaries (the "Company") include the accounts of CenturyTel, Inc.
("CenturyTel") and its majority-owned subsidiaries and partnerships. Certain
information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been
condensed or omitted pursuant to rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission; however, the Company believes the disclosures which are
made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The
consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in this Form 10-Q
should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and
notes thereto included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1999. Certain 1999 amounts have been reclassified to be
consistent with the Company's 2000 presentation, including the reclassification
of the Company's personal communication services operations from other
operations to the wireless segment and the reclassification of the Company's
Internet operations from the telephone segment to other operations.
The unaudited financial information for the three months ended March 31,
2000 and 1999 has not been audited by independent certified public accountants;
however, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (which include only
normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the results of
operations for the three-month periods have been included therein. The results
of operations for the first three months of the year are not necessarily
indicative of the results of operations which might be expected for the entire
year.
(2) Net Property, Plant and Equipment
Net property, plant and equipment is composed of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
March 31, Dec. 31,
2000 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Telephone, at original cost $ 3,465,611 3,439,469
Accumulated depreciation (1,662,093) (1,605,553)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,803,518 1,833,916
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wireless, at cost 468,630 472,725
Accumulated depreciation (226,057) (217,056)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
242,573 255,669
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other, at cost 305,367 281,713
Accumulated depreciation (119,068) (114,840)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
186,299 166,873
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 2,232,390 2,256,458
===============================================================================
</TABLE>
(3) Income (Loss) from Unconsolidated Cellular Entities
The following summarizes the unaudited combined results of operations of
the cellular entities in which the Company's investments (as of March 31, 2000
and 1999) were accounted for by the equity method.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three months
ended March 31,
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Results of operations
Revenues $ 357,434 328,540
Operating income $ 99,861 108,541
Net income $ 99,149 108,394
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(4) Sale of Assets
In the first quarter of 2000 the Company recorded a pre-tax gain
aggregating $9.9 million ($5.2 million after-tax; $.04 per diluted share) due to
the sale of the assets of its remaining Alaska cellular operations.
In the first quarter of 1999 the Company recorded a pre-tax gain
aggregating $10.4 million ($6.7 million after-tax; $.04 per diluted share) due
to the sale of its remaining common shares of MCIWorldCom, Inc.
(5) Pending Acquisitions
In June 1999, the Company signed a definitive asset purchase agreement
with affiliates of GTE Corporation ("GTE") to purchase GTE's telephone access
lines (which numbered approximately 225,000 at December 31, 1999) and related
local exchange assets in Arkansas for approximately $845.8 million cash, subject
to certain adjustments.
In July 1999, the Company acquired a 61.5% (56.9% fully-diluted) interest
in a newly-organized joint venture company which has entered into a definitive
asset purchase agreement with affiliates of GTE to purchase telephone access
lines (which numbered approximately 121,000 at December 31, 1999) and related
local exchange assets in Missouri for approximately $290 million cash, subject
to certain adjustments. The Company has agreed to make a preferred equity
investment in the newly organized company of approximately $55 million and it is
anticipated that the Company will loan the new entity approximately $220
million.
In August 1999, the Company acquired an 89% interest in a newly-organized
joint venture company which has entered into a definitive asset purchase
agreement with a GTE affiliate to purchase telephone access lines (which
numbered approximately 61,700 as of December 31, 1999) and related local
exchange assets in Wisconsin for approximately $170 million cash, subject to
certain adjustments. The Company has agreed to make an equity investment in the
newly organized company of approximately $37.8 million and it is anticipated
that the Company will loan the new entity approximately $130 million. In October
1999, the Company also entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement to
purchase additional telephone access lines (which numbered approximately 68,200
as of December 31, 1999) and related local exchange assets in Wisconsin from a
GTE affiliate for approximately $195 million cash, subject to certain
adjustments.
All of these transactions are expected to close mid-year 2000, pending
regulatory approvals, the absence of litigation and certain other closing
conditions.
(6) Business Segments
The Company has two separately reportable business segments: telephone and
wireless. The operating income of these segments is reviewed by the chief
operating decision maker to assess performance and make business decisions.
Other operations include, but are not limited to, the Company's non-regulated
long distance operations, Internet operations, call center operations and
security monitoring operations.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three months
ended March 31,
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Operating revenues
Telephone $ 276,926 288,273
Wireless 100,404 98,562
Other operations 35,626 27,421
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating revenues $ 412,956 414,256
===============================================================================
Operating income
Telephone $ 84,497 94,673
Wireless 19,891 29,653
Other operations 7,034 6,297
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating income $ 111,422 130,623
===============================================================================
Operating income $ 111,422 130,623
Interest expense (36,042) (42,241)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated cellular entities (1,459) 6,845
Minority interest (2,292) (3,310)
Gain on sale of assets 9,910 10,358
Other income and expense 4,229 2,180
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before income tax expense $ 85,768 104,455
===============================================================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
March 31, December 31,
2000 1999
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Assets
Telephone $ 3,223,491 3,246,290
Wireless 1,208,966 1,184,129
Other operations 296,727 274,988
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets $ 4,729,184 4,705,407
===========================================================================
</TABLE>
CENTURYTEL, INC.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations ("MD&A") included herein should be read in conjunction with MD&A and
the other information included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1999. The results of operations for the three months
ended March 31, 2000 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations
which might be expected for the entire year.
CenturyTel, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "Company") is a regional
diversified communications company that is primarily engaged in providing local
telephone services and wireless telephone communications services. At March 31,
2000, the Company's local exchange telephone subsidiaries operated over 1.2
million telephone access lines primarily in rural, suburban and small urban
areas in 20 states, and the Company's majority-owned and operated wireless
entities had more than 727,000 subscribers. On May 14, 1999, the Company sold
substantially all of its Alaska-based operations serving approximately 134,900
telephone access lines and 3,000 cellular subscribers. On June 1, 1999, the
Company sold the assets of its Brownsville and McAllen, Texas cellular
operations serving approximately 7,500 cellular subscribers. In February 2000,
the Company sold the assets of its remaining Alaska cellular operations serving
approximately 10,600 cellular subscribers. The operations of these disposed
properties are included in the Company's results of operations up to the
respective dates of disposition.
In addition to historical information, management's discussion and
analysis includes certain forward-looking statements regarding events and
financial trends that may affect the Company's future operating results and
financial position. Such forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties
that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from such
statements. Such uncertainties include but are not limited to: the effects of
ongoing deregulation in the telecommunications industry; the effects of greater
than anticipated competition in the Company's markets; possible changes in the
demand for the Company's products and services; the Company's ability to
successfully introduce new offerings on a timely and cost-effective basis; the
Company's ability to timely consummate its pending acquisitions and effectively
manage its growth, including obtaining adequate financing on attractive terms,
integrating newly-acquired properties into the Company's operations, hiring
adequate numbers of qualified staff and successfully upgrading its billing and
other information systems; the risks inherent in rapid technological change; and
the effects of more general factors such as changes in general market or
economic conditions or in legislation, regulation or public policy. These and
other uncertainties related to the business are described in greater detail in
Item 1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1999. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no
obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements for any reason.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended March 31, 2000 Compared
to Three Months Ended March 31, 1999
Net income (excluding after-tax gain on sale of assets and certain
non-recurring charges) for the first quarter of 2000 was $47.9 million compared
to $54.4 million during the first quarter of 1999. Diluted earnings per share
(excluding after-tax gain on sale of assets and certain non-recurring charges)
decreased to $.34 during the three months ended March 31, 2000 from $.39 during
the three months ended March 31, 1999, a 12.8% decrease. Substantially all of
the non-recurring charges in first quarter 2000 relate to the Company's
proportionate share ($5.3 million) of non-cash charges that were recorded by two
cellular entities in which the Company owns a minority interest and is reflected
in "Income (loss) from unconsolidated cellular entities."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three months
ended March 31,
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars, except per share amounts,
and shares in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Operating income
Telephone $ 84,497 94,673
Wireless 19,891 29,653
Other 7,034 6,297
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
111,422 130,623
Interest expense (36,042) (42,241)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated
cellular entities (1,459) 6,845
Minority interest (2,292) (3,310)
Gain on sale of assets 9,910 10,358
Other income and expense 4,229 2,180
Income tax expense (36,484) (43,350)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income $ 49,284 61,105
=========================================================================
Basic earnings per share $ .35 .44
=========================================================================
Diluted earnings per share $ .35 .43
=========================================================================
Average basic shares outstanding 139,737 138,086
=========================================================================
Average diluted shares outstanding 141,728 141,028
=========================================================================
</TABLE>
Contributions to operating revenues and operating income by the Company's
telephone, wireless, and other operations for the three months ended March 31,
2000 and 1999 were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three months
ended March 31,
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Operating revenues
Telephone operations 67.1% 69.6
Wireless operations 24.3% 23.8
Other operations 8.6% 6.6
Operating income
Telephone operations 75.8% 72.5
Wireless operations 17.9% 22.7
Other operations 6.3% 4.8
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Telephone Operations
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three months
ended March 31,
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Operating revenues
Local service $ 88,065 90,657
Network access 162,253 167,155
Other 26,608 30,461
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
276,926 288,273
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating expenses
Plant operations 62,776 63,937
Customer operations 22,761 21,357
Corporate and other 39,532 36,879
Depreciation and amortization 67,360 71,427
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
192,429 193,600
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income $ 84,497 94,673
===============================================================================
</TABLE>
Telephone operating income decreased $10.2 million (10.7%) due to a
decrease in operating revenues of $11.3 million (3.9%) which was partially
offset by a decrease in operating expenses of $1.2 million (.6%).
Of the $11.3 million decrease in operating revenues, $29.0 million was
attributable to the sale of the Company's Alaska based operations. The remaining
$17.7 million increase in revenues was partially due to a $5.7 million increase
in local network service revenues primarily due to an increase in the number of
customer access lines in incumbent markets; a $6.2 million net increase due to
the partial recovery of increased operating costs through revenue sharing
arrangements with other telephone companies, increased minutes of use, increased
recovery from state support funds and return on rate base; a $4.2 million
increase in amounts received from the federal Universal Service Fund; and a $1.4
million increase due to the increased provision of custom calling features.
Annualized internal access line growth during the first quarter of 2000 and 1999
was 2.8% and 5.5%, respectively.
During the first quarter of 2000, the Company incurred aggregate operating
expenses of approximately $6.0 million associated with the pending GTE
acquisitions. These expenses consisted of (i) approximately $3.5 million of
absorbed variable overhead costs that were intentionally not eliminated
subsequent to the disposition of the Alaska properties due to the pending GTE
acquisitions and (ii) approximately $2.5 million of expenses associated with
readying the Company's systems and staff to integrate the GTE operations into
the Company's operations immediately upon closing each transaction. During the
second quarter of 2000, the Company expects to incur aggregate operating
expenses associated with the pending GTE acquisitions that exceed those incurred
during the first quarter of 2000.
Plant operations expenses decreased $1.2 million (1.8%), of which $8.8
million was attributable to the sale of the Alaska properties. The remaining
$7.6 million increase was primarily due to a $2.2 million increase in salaries
and benefits; a $2.2 million increase in information technology expenses
primarily due to increases in contract labor and a $1.5 million increase in
access expenses primarily due to changes in revenue settlement methods of
certain telephone subsidiaries in a limited number of states.
During the first quarter of 2000 customer operations expenses increased
$1.4 million (6.6%) primarily due to a $1.8 million increase in information
technology expenses primarily due to increases in contract labor and a $1.3
million increase in salaries and benefits. Such increases were partially offset
by a $2.7 million decrease attributable to the sale of the Alaska properties.
Corporate and other expenses increased $2.7 million (7.2%) primarily due
to a $2.0 million increase in expenses associated with the pending GTE
acquisitions; a $1.7 million increase associated with the Company's sales,
leases, installations, maintenance and repair of customer premise
telecommunications equipment and wiring; a $1.3 million increase in salaries and
benefits and a $1.0 million increase in expenses related to implementing new
accounting information systems. Such increases were partially offset by a $2.1
million decrease due to the sale of the Alaska properties and a $1.7 million
decrease in operating taxes.
Depreciation and amortization decreased $4.1 million, of which $7.1
million was attributable to the sale of the Alaska properties. The remaining
$3.0 million increase was primarily due to higher levels of plant in service.
Wireless Operations and Income (Loss) From Unconsolidated Cellular Entities
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three months
ended March 31,
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Operating income - wireless operations $ 19,891 29,653
Minority interest (2,284) (3,329)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated cellular entities (1,459) 6,845
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 16,148 33,169
===============================================================================
</TABLE>
The Company's wireless operations (discussed below) reflect 100% of the
results of operations of the wireless entities in which the Company has a
majority ownership interest. The minority interest owners' share of the income
of such entities is reflected in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income
as an expense in "Minority interest." See Minority Interest for additional
information. The Company's share of earnings from the cellular entities in which
it has less than a majority interest is accounted for using the equity method
and is reflected in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income as "Income
(loss) from unconsolidated cellular entities."
Wireless Operations
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three months
ended March 31,
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Operating revenues
Service revenues $ 96,623 96,061
Equipment sales 3,781 2,501
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
100,404 98,562
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating expenses
Cost of equipment sold 8,180 4,385
System operations 15,653 13,636
General, administrative and customer service 18,206 19,329
Sales and marketing 22,125 14,120
Depreciation and amortization 16,349 17,439
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
80,513 68,909
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income $ 19,891 29,653
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Wireless operating income decreased $9.8 million (32.9%) to $19.9 million
in the first quarter of 2000 from $29.7 million in the first quarter of 1999.
Wireless operating revenues increased $1.8 million (1.9%) while operating
expenses increased $11.6 million (16.8%).
The $562,000 increase in service revenues was primarily due to a $5.3
million increase due to a growth in number of customers and increased minutes of
use, both of which were partially offset by reduced rates. Such increase was
substantially offset by a $5.1 million decrease due to the sale of the Company's
Texas and Alaska cellular properties. The Company's roaming revenues were
approximately the same in first quarter 2000 and first quarter 1999 as revenues
generated from increased minutes of use were completely offset by a reduction in
roaming rates.
The following table illustrates the growth in the Company's wireless
customer base in its majority-owned markets:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three months
ended March 31,
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Customers at beginning of period 707,486 624,290
Gross units added internally 93,001 58,299
Disconnects 62,327 43,353
Net units added internally 30,674 14,946
Net effect of property dispositions (10,653) -
Customers at end of period 727,507 639,236
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
The average monthly service revenue per customer declined to $45 during
the first quarter of 2000 from $51 during the first quarter of 1999 due to price
reductions and the continued trend that a higher percentage of new customers
tend to be lower usage customers. A majority of the Company's net unit additions
for first quarter 2000 were prepaid customers. The average monthly service
revenue per prepaid customer has been and is expected to continue to be less
than the average monthly service revenue per contract customer. The average
monthly service revenue per customer may further decline (i) as market
penetration increases and additional lower usage customers are activated; (ii)
as the Company continues to receive pressure from other cellular operators to
reduce roaming rates and (iii) as competitive pressures from current and future
wireless communications providers intensify. The Company is responding to such
competitive pressures by, among other things, modifying certain of its price
plans and implementing certain other plans and promotions, most or all of which
are likely to result in lower average revenue per customer.
Cost of equipment sold increased $3.8 million (86.5%) substantially due to
an increase in units sold.
System operations expenses increased $2.0 million (14.8%) primarily due to
a $2.3 million increase associated with operating a greater number of cell sites
and a $438,000 increase in toll costs. Such increases were partially offset by a
$1.1 million decrease in the net amounts paid to other carriers for cellular
service provided to the Company's customers who roam in the other carriers'
service areas primarily due to a decrease in rates.
General, administrative and customer service expenses decreased $1.1
million (5.8%) due to a $753,000 decrease in operating taxes and a $798,000
decrease due to the sale of the Texas and Alaska properties. Such decreases were
partially offset by a $438,000 increase in the provision for doubtful accounts.
The Company's average monthly postpaid churn rate (the percentage of
contract cellular customers that terminate service) was 2.0% for both the first
quarter of 2000 and the first quarter of 1999.
Sales and marketing expenses increased $8.0 million (56.7%) primarily due
to a $4.5 million increase in advertising and sales promotions expenses
associated with the introduction of new rate plans during the first quarter of
2000; a $1.8 million increase in costs incurred in selling products and services
in retail locations primarily due to the increase in the number of retail
locations; and a $1.8 million increase in commissions paid to agents for selling
services to new customers.
Depreciation and amortization decreased $1.1 million (6.3%), primarily due
to the sale of the Texas and Alaska properties.
Other Operations
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three months
ended March 31,
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Operating revenues
Long distance $ 24,827 17,030
Internet 5,012 4,688
Call center 2,090 2,444
Other 3,697 3,259
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
35,626 27,421
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating expenses
Cost of sales and operating expenses 27,490 20,009
Depreciation and amortization 1,102 1,115
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
28,592 21,124
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income $ 7,034 6,297
============================================================================
</TABLE>
Other operations include the results of operations of the Company which
are not included in the telephone or wireless segments including, but not
limited to, the Company's non-regulated long distance operations, Internet
operations, call center operations and security monitoring operations. The $7.8
million increase in long distance revenues was primarily attributable to the
growth in the number of customers and increased minutes of use. The number of
long distance customers as of March 31, 2000 and 1999 was 319,100 and 241,900,
respectively. Internet revenues increased $324,000 due primarily to a $1.8
million increase due to growth in the number of customers which was
substantially offset by a $1.5 million decrease due to the sale of the Company's
Alaska Internet operations.
Operating expenses increased $7.5 million primarily due to (i) an increase
of $6.3 million in expenses of the Company's long distance operations due
primarily to the expenses associated with an increase in customers and minutes
of use; (ii) a $1.3 million increase in expenses related to the provision of
Internet access; and (iii) a $627,000 increase due to the expansion of the
Company's security monitoring, competitive local exchange carrier and fiber
network businesses.
The Company anticipates that the growth of operating income for its
other operations will slow in future periods as it incurs increasingly larger
expenses in connection with expanding its security monitoring business and its
emerging fiber network and competitive local exchange carrier businesses.
Interest Expense
Interest expense decreased $6.2 million in the first quarter of 2000
compared to the first quarter of 1999 primarily due to a reduction in
outstanding debt.
Income (Loss) from Unconsolidated Cellular Entities
Earnings from unconsolidated cellular entities, net of the amortization of
associated goodwill, decreased $8.3 million primarily due to the Company's
proportionate share ($5.3 million) of non-cash charges that were recorded by two
cellular entities in which the Company owns a minority interest. The remaining
decrease was primarily due to decreased earnings of certain cellular entities in
which the Company owns a minority interest.
Minority Interest
Minority interest is the expense recorded by the Company to reflect the
minority interest owners' share of the earnings or loss of the Company's
majority-owned and operated cellular entities and majority-owned subsidiaries.
Minority interest decreased $1.0 million due to the decreased profitability of
the Company's majority-owned and operated cellular entities.
Gain on Sale of Assets
In the first quarter of 2000, the Company recorded a pre-tax gain of
approximately $9.9 million ($5.2 million after-tax; $.04 per diluted share due)
due to the sale of the assets of its remaining Alaska cellular operations.
In the first quarter of 1999, the Company recorded a pre-tax gain of
approximately $10.4 million ($6.7 million after-tax; $.04 per diluted share) due
to the sale of its remaining common shares of MCIWorldCom, Inc.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense decreased $6.9 million in the first quarter of 2000
compared to the first quarter of 1999 primarily due to a decrease in income
before taxes. The effective income tax rate was 42.5% and 41.5% in the three
months ended March 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Excluding cash used for acquisitions and strategic investments, the
Company relies on cash provided by operations to provide substantially all of
its cash needs. The Company's operations have historically provided a stable
source of cash flow which has helped the Company continue its long-term program
of capital improvements.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $160.1 million during the
first three months of 2000 compared to $159.6 million during the first three
months of 1999. The Company's accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows
identify major differences between net income and net cash provided by operating
activities for each of these periods. For additional information relating to the
telephone operations, wireless operations, and other operations of the Company,
see Results of Operations.
Net cash used in investing activities was $72.8 million and $39.1 million
for the three months ended March 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively. Payments for
property, plant and equipment were $4.8 million less in the first quarter of
2000 than in the comparable period during 1999. Capital expenditures for the
three months ended March 31, 2000 were $29.3 million for telephone, $3.7 million
for wireless and $25.2 million for other operations. During the first quarter of
2000, the Company invested $28.0 million in various other communications
entities. Proceeds from the sale of assets were $15.8 million and $20.1 million
for the three months ended March 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively.
Net cash used in financing activities was $81.4 million during the first
three months of 2000 compared to $122.2 million during the first three months of
1999. Net payments of long-term debt were $50.6 million less during the first
quarter of 2000 compared to the first quarter of 1999.
Revised budgeted capital expenditures for 2000 total $250 million for
telephone operations, $100 million for wireless operations and $95 million for
other operations.
As of March 31, 2000, CenturyTel's subsidiaries had available for use
$129.5 million of commitments for long-term financing from the Rural Utilities
Service and the Company had $282.0 million of undrawn committed bank lines of
credit.
In June 1999, the Company signed a definitive asset purchase agreement to
purchase from affiliates of GTE Corporation ("GTE") telephone access lines
(which numbered approximately 225,000 at December 31, 1999) and related local
exchange assets in Arkansas for approximately $845.8 million in cash. In July
1999, the Company acquired a 61.5% (56.9% fully diluted) interest in a
newly-organized joint venture company which has entered into a definitive asset
purchase agreement with affiliates of GTE to purchase telephone access lines
(which numbered approximately 121,000 at December 31, 1999) and related local
exchange assets in Missouri for approximately $290 million in cash. At closing,
the Company has agreed to make approximately a $55 million preferred equity
investment in the new entity and it is anticipated that the Company will loan
the new entity approximately $220 million.
In August 1999, the Company acquired an 89% interest in a newly-organized
joint venture company which has entered into a definitive asset purchase
agreement to purchase telephone access lines (which numbered approximately
61,700 as of December 31, 1999) and related local exchange assets in Wisconsin
from a GTE affiliate for approximately $170 million cash. At closing the Company
has agreed to make an equity investment in the newly organized company of
approximately $37.8 million and it is anticipated that the Company will loan the
new entity approximately $130 million. In October 1999, the Company also entered
into a definitive asset purchase agreement to purchase additional telephone
access lines (which numbered approximately 68,200 as of December 31, 1999) and
related local exchange assets in Wisconsin from a GTE affiliate for
approximately $195 million cash.
The purchase price under each of these GTE agreements is subject to
adjustments which are not expected to be material in the aggregate. These
transactions are anticipated to close mid-year 2000, subject to regulatory
approvals and certain other closing conditions. Although financing plans are not
yet complete and will be dependent upon the Company's review of its alternatives
and market conditions, the Company currently anticipates financing the
transactions with short-term bank debt, which would be subsequently repaid with
the proceeds from the possible sale of non-strategic assets and the sale of debt
or equity securities in one or more private or public offerings. Currently, the
Company's senior unsecured debt is rated Baa1 by Moody's and BBB+ by Standard &
Poor's. However, as a result of the Company's announcement of its GTE
acquisitions, Moody's placed its ratings under review for possible downgrade and
Standard & Poor's placed its ratings on CreditWatch with negative implications.
There can be no assurance that the Company will maintain its investment grade
ratings.
OTHER MATTERS
Accounting for the Effects of Regulation
The Company currently accounts for its regulated telephone operations in
accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 71 ("SFAS 71"), "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation."
While the ongoing applicability of SFAS 71 to the Company's telephone operations
is being monitored due to the changing regulatory, competitive and legislative
environments, the Company believes that SFAS 71 still applies. However, it is
possible that changes in regulation or legislation or anticipated changes in
competition or in the demand for regulated services or products could result in
the Company's telephone operations not being subject to SFAS 71 in the near
future. In that event, implementation of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 101 ("SFAS 101"), "Regulated Enterprises - Accounting for the
Discontinuance of Application of FASB Statement No. 71," would require the
write-off of previously established regulatory assets and liabilities, along
with an adjustment of certain accumulated depreciation accounts to reflect the
difference between recorded depreciation and the amount of depreciation that
would have been recorded had the Company's telephone operations not been subject
to rate regulation. Such discontinuance of the application of SFAS 71 would
result in a material, noncash charge against earnings which would be reported as
an extraordinary item. While the effect of implementing SFAS 101 cannot be
precisely estimated at this time, management believes that the noncash,
after-tax, extraordinary charge would be between $300 million and $350 million.
CENTURYTEL, INC.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE
DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Market Risk
The Company is not exposed to material future earnings or cash flow
exposures from changes in interest rates on long-term debt obligations since the
majority of the Company's long-term debt obligations are fixed rate. At March
31, 2000, the fair value of the Company's long-term debt was estimated to be
$2.0 billion based on the overall weighted average rate of the Company's
long-term debt of 7.0% and an overall weighted maturity of 12 years compared to
terms and rates currently available in long-term financing markets. Market risk
is estimated as the potential decrease in fair value of the Company's long-term
debt resulting from a hypothetical increase of 70 basis points in interest rates
(ten percent of the Company's overall weighted average borrowing rate). Such an
increase in interest rates would result in approximately a $88.5 million
decrease in fair value of the Company's long-term debt.
In the first quarter of 2000, the Company entered into interest rate hedge
contracts designed to reduce its interest rate risk with respect to $500 million
of the long-term public debt that it expects to incur in connection with
financing its pending GTE acquisitions. It is possible that the Company will
enter into additional interest rate hedges for the same purpose over the next
several months.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
CENTURYTEL, INC.
Item 6: Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
--------------------------------
A. Exhibits
--------
10.1 Employment and Severance Agreements and Arrangements.
(a) Employment Agreement dated May 24, 1993, as amended and
restated through February 22, 2000, by and between Clarke
M. Williams and Registrant.
(b) Change of Control Agreement, dated February 22, 2000, by
and between Glen F. Post, III and Registrant.
(c) Form of Change of Control Agreement, dated February 22,
2000, by and between Registrant and David D.Cole, R.
Stewart Ewing, Michael E. Maslowski and Harvey P. Perry.
(d) Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, dated
April 3, 2000.
11 Computations of Earnings Per Share.
27 Financial Data Schedule as of and for the three months ended
March 31, 2000.
B. Reports on Form 8-K
-------------------
(i) The following item was reported in the Form 8-K filed March
7, 2000:
Item 5. Other Events - News release announcing fourth quarter
1999 results of operations.
(ii) The following item was reported in the Form 8-K filed April
28, 2000:
Item 5. Other Events - News release announcing first quarter
2000 results of operations.
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 thereunto duly authorized.
CENTURYTEL, INC.
Date: May 12, 2000 /s/ Neil A. Sweasy
------------------
Neil A. Sweasy
Vice President and Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
Exhibit 10.1(a)
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of May 24, 1993, as
amended and restated through February 22, 2000, by and between CenturyTel,
Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the "Company"), and Clarke M. Williams
("Executive").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, as of May 24, 1993, the Company and Executive entered into an
employment agreement providing benefits on terms and conditions substantially
similar to those set forth herein (the "Original Agreement");
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive amended the Original Agreement by an
instrument dated February 27, 1996 to provide Executive with benefits
substantially similar to those set forth in Section 5.05(b) hereof;
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to further modify the
Original Agreement (as amended on February 27, 1996) to more closely align the
severance benefits afforded to Executive hereunder to those afforded to other
executive officers of the Company on the date hereof;
WHEREAS, the Company considers the continued services of Executive to
be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders and desires to
assure the continued services and undivided loyalty of Executive on behalf of
the Company on an objective and impartial basis, free from personal distraction,
in the event of an attempt to obtain control of the Company;
WHEREAS, in consideration of the covenants of the Company contained
herein, Executive is willing to remain in the employ of the Company upon the
terms and conditions specified below; and
WHEREAS, in order to induce Executive to remain in the employ of the
Company, this Agreement sets forth the compensation and benefits payable to
Executive, including the severance benefits that the Company agrees will be
provided to Executive if Executive's employment with the Company is terminated;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the respective
covenants and agreements of the parties herein contained, and intending to be
legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. POSITION, DUTIES AND PLACE OF PERFORMANCE
1.1 Employment as Chairman of the Board. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement and applicable law, the Company hereby agrees to
continue to employ Executive, and Executive agrees to continue to serve, as the
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company during the term of this
Agreement. Executive shall report to and be subject to the supervision of the
Company's Board of Directors (the "Board"), and his powers, authority and duties
shall be governed by the Company's Bylaws.
1.2 Duties. (a) Executive shall devote his full business time (with
allowances for vacations and sick leave), attention and best efforts to the
affairs of the Company, its subsidiaries and Affiliates (as defined in Section
7.02) during the term of this Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) above, the Company acknow-
ledges that Executive may, subject to his obligations under Section 1.03
hereof, serve as a director of other corporations and entities and may engage in
other activities to the extent that they do not inhibit the performance of his
duties hereunder, or conflict with the business of the Company, its subsidiaries
or Affiliates.
1.3 Outside Directorships. Executive has reviewed with the Board his
directorships and any other positions held by him in business organizations that
are not affiliated with the Company, and has received the Board's approval for
his continuance in such capacities unless the Board should later determine in a
particular case that there has arisen a potential conflict with the Company's
best interests. Prior to serving any other unaffiliated business organization,
Executive shall obtain the Board's approval. Nonbusiness activities, such as
service on the boards or for the benefit of educational, religious or other
similar institutions, need not be reviewed or approved by the Board.
1.4 Place of Performance. In connection with Executive's employment
by the Company, Executive shall be based at the principal executive offices of
the Company in Monroe, Louisiana, except for required travel relating to the
Company's business to an extent substantially consistent with Executive's prior
business travel practices.
1.5 Other Offices; Indemnification. While employed by the Company,
Executive agrees to serve, without additional compensation, if elected or
appointed thereto, as a director or executive officer of any of the Company's
subsidiaries, provided that Executive is indemnified for serving in any and all
such capacities on a basis no less favorable than is currently provided by (i)
the Indemnification Agreement, dated May 16, 1988, by and between the Company
and Executive (the "Indemnification Agreement"), (ii) the Company's Bylaws or
(iii) otherwise.
2. TERM
Unless Executive's employment is terminated at an earlier date under
Section 4 or 5, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect through
December 31, 2000 and from year to year thereafter subject to the right of
Executive or the Company to terminate this Agreement as of such date or any
subsequent December 31 by written notice given to the other party at least 60
days prior to such termination date. Termination of this Agreement by either
party in accordance with the preceding sentence shall not require a statement of
the reason therefor. All provisions herein governing the parties' rights and
obligations upon the termination of Executive's employment shall survive the
termination of this Agreement.
3. COMPENSATION AND RELATED MATTERS
In consideration of the services and duties to be performed by
Executive during the term of this Agreement, the Company agrees to pay and
provide for Executive the compensation and benefits described below:
3.1 Salary. The Company shall pay to Executive a salary at a rate of
not less than $707,616 per annum in equal biweekly installments. This salary may
be increased from time to time by the Board, and, if so increased, shall not
thereafter be decreased during the term of this Agreement. The salary payable to
Executive hereunder as of any particular date shall hereinafter be referred to
as the "Annual Base Salary."
3.2 Expenses. Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt
reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by Executive in performing
services hereunder, including all expenses of travel and living expenses while
away from home on business and in the service of the Company, provided that such
expenses are incurred and accounted for in accordance with the Company's
policies and procedures then in effect.
3.3 Other Benefits. (a) Executive shall be entitled to participate in
any employee benefit plans or arrangements the Company makes available now or in
the future to its employees, generally, or to any or all of its executive
officers, specifically, on the same basis and subject to the same requirements
and limitations that are or may be made applicable to other executive officers,
including, without limitation, the Company's Stock Bonus Plan, Employee Stock
Ownership Plan, Dollars & Sense Plan, Retirement Plan, Supplemental Retirement
Plan, Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, 1983 Restricted Stock Plan,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Short-Term Incentive Plan, 2000 Incentive
Compensation Program, Supplemental Dollars & Sense Plan, Supplemental Defined
Contribution Plan, Supplemental Defined Benefit Plan, Salary Continuation
(Disability) Plan for Officers, Supplemental Life Insurance Plan, and Medical
Reimbursement Plan (and all successors to such plans), or any other pension and
retirement plan or arrangement, stock option plan, stock bonus plan, stock
ownership plan, incentive compensation plan, life insurance and
health-and-accident plan or arrangement, medical insurance plan, disability
plan, survivor income plan, relocation plan, vacation plan or other welfare plan
(collectively, the "Benefit Plans"). The Company shall not directly or
indirectly make any changes in any Benefit Plan that would adversely affect
Executive's rights or benefits thereunder, unless such changes do not result in
a proportionately greater reduction in the rights of or benefits to Executive
compared with any other executive officer of the Company.
(b) Any payments or benefits payable to Executive hereunder
in respect of any calendar year during which Executive is employed by the
Company for less than the entire year shall, unless otherwise provided in the
applicable Benefit Plan, be prorated in accordance with the number of days in
such calendar year during which he is so employed.
(c) For each year during the term hereof, the Company shall
make available to Executive without charge, for his personal convenience, use of
Company aircraft for no fewer than the number of hours per annum to which he has
typically used the Company aircraft in prior years or such greater number of
hours as may be approved by the Board.
3.4 Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to the number of vacation
days in each calendar year, and to compensation in respect of earned but unused
vacation days, determined in accordance with the Company's vacation plan.
Executive shall also be entitled to all paid holidays the Company confers upon
its executives.
3.5 Facilities; Secretarial Assistance. The Company shall furnish
Executive with office space, secretarial assistance and such other facilities
and services as shall be suitable to Executive's position and adequate for the
performance of his duties.
4. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
4.1 Death. Executive's employment shall terminate upon his death.
4.2 Disability. If a duly qualified physician chosen by the Company
and reasonably acceptable to Executive or his legal representatives certifies in
writing that Executive is incapable of discharging the essential functions of
his job as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for a period of 120
consecutive days because of physical or mental impairment, then Executive shall
be deemed disabled and the Company shall have the continuing right and option
during the period such disability continues to terminate Executive's employment
by providing Executive with a Notice of Termination as contemplated by Section
4.05. Any such termination shall become effective 30 days after such Notice of
Temptation is given, unless within such 30-day period the physician referred to
above certifies in writing that Executive is no longer impaired and is capable
of discharging the essential functions of his job.
4.3 With or Without Cause. (a) The Company may terminate Executive's
employment with or without Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, the Company
shall have "Cause" for (i) the willful and continued failure by Executive to
substantially perform his duties hereunder (other than any such failure
resulting from Executive's disability as specified in Section 4.02) after demand
for substantial performance is delivered by the Company that specifically
identifies the manner in which the Company believes Executive has not
substantially performed his duties, (ii) the conviction of a felony or (iii) the
adoption by the Company's shareholders at any time prior to a Change of Control
of the Company (as defined in Section 4.04(c)) of any resolution removing
Executive from the Board or failing to re-elect Executive to the Board during
the term of this Agreement (unless such action is preceded by any act of the
Board described in Section 4.04(b)(i)).
(b) For purposes of this Section 4.03, no act or failure to
act on Executive's part shall be considered "willful" unless done, or omitted to
be done, in bad faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission
was in the best interests of the Company. Any act, or failure to act, by
Executive that is based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly
adopted by the Board or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall
be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by Executive in good
faith and in the best interests of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Executive may not be terminated for Cause without delivery to Executive of a
Notice of Termination as contemplated by Section 4.05 setting forth in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for
termination of Executive's employment under clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section
4.03(a), provided, however, that if clause (i) above forms the basis for such
termination, (A) the Company must have delivered to Executive a demand for
substantial performance in accordance with clause (i) of Section 4.03(a), (B)
the Notice of Termination must be preceded by written notice to Executive (1)
specifically identifying the manner in which the Company believes Executive has
not substantially performed his duties after the Company's demand for
substantial performance and (2) providing an opportunity for Executive, together
with his counsel, to be heard before the Board, and (C) the Company must have
delivered to Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative
vote of not less than three- quarters of the entire membership of the Board at a
meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose, finding that, in the good
faith opinion of the Board, Executive is guilty of the conduct described in
clause (i) of Section 4.03(a).
(c) No action or inaction shall be deemed the basis for Cause
unless Executive is terminated therefor within 120 days after such action or
omission is known to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
(d) In the event that the existence of Cause shall become an
issue in any action or proceeding between the Company and Executive, the Company
shall, notwithstanding the finding of the Board referenced above, have the
burden of establishing that the actions or inactions deemed the basis for Cause
did in fact occur and do constitute Cause and that the Company has satisfied the
procedural requirements of this Section 4.03. The satisfaction of the Company's
burden shall require clear and convincing evidence. Any purported termination of
employment of Executive by the Company which does not meet each and every
substantive and procedural requirement of this Section 4.03 shall be treated for
all purposes under this Agreement as a termination of employment without Cause.
4.4 Termination by Executive. (a) Executive may terminate his
employment at any time for any reason, including (i) for Good Reason (as
defined below) or (ii) in the event of a Change of Control of the Company
(as defined below).
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean:
(i) the adoption by the Board of any resolution
during the term of this Agreement (A) removing Executive from
the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors of failing
to re-elect Executive to such position or (B) removing
Executive as a member of the Board, convening a shareholder
meeting for such purpose or failing to make Executiv as a
nominee or proposed nominee for re-election to the Board
upon expiration of his designated term, except in both
cases in connection with a termination by the Company of
Executive's employment in accordance with the terms and
conditions of Section 4.01, 4.02 or 4.03;
(ii) a diminution in Executive's duties, responsibilities
or position in the management of the Company and its
subsidiaries, including, without limitation,(A) the assignment
to Executive of duties or responsibilities that are
inconsistent with Executive's position as Chairman of the
Board of Directors of the Company, (B) the demotion of
Executive, or (C) the failure of the Company to perform its
obligations under Section 3.05, which failure continues for a
period of 10 days after Executive gives the Company notice
thereof;
(iii) the failure by the Company to pay to Executive
any installment of his Annual Base Salary or to pay any other
amounts owed under this Agreement, which failure continues for
a period of 10 days after Executive gives the Company notice
thereof;
(iv) the failure by the Company to provide the benefits
specified in Section 3.03, unless comparable benefits or
compensation are provided in lieu thereof;
(v) any directive requiring Executive to be based
anywhere other than Monroe, Louisiana, except for required
travel in the ordinary course of the Company's business and
consistent with past practices;
(vi) the failure by the Company to obtain the assumption
of its obligations under this Agreement by any successor or
assign as contemplated by Section 6.01; or
(vii) a failure by the Company to comply with Section
1.02(b), Section 1.03, or any other material provision of this
Agreement, which failure continues for a period of 10 days
after Executive gives the Company notice thereof.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" of
the Company shall mean:
(i) the acquisition by any Person (as defined in
Section 7.02) of Beneficial Ownership (as defined in Section
7.02) of 30% or more of the outstanding shares of the
Company's Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share (the "Common
Stock"), or 30% or more of the combined voting power of the
Company's then outstanding securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors; provided, however,
that for purposes of this clause (i), the following
acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control:
(A) any acquisition (other than a Business
Combination which constitutes a Change of Control
under Section 4.04(c)(iii) hereof) of Common Stock
directly from the Company,
(B) any acquisition of Common Stock by the Company
or its subsidiaries,
(C) any acquisition of Common Stock by any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation
controlled by the Company, or
(D) any acquisition of Common Stock by any
corporation pursuant to a Business Combination that
does not constitute a Change of Control under Section
4.04(c)(iii) hereof; or
(ii) individuals who, as of February 22, 2000,constitute
the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason
to constitute at least a majority of the Board;
provided, however, that any individual becoming a director
subsequent to such date whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote
of at least two-thirds of the directors then comprising the
Incumbent Board shall be considered a member of the Incumbent
Board, unless such individual's initial assumption of office
occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest
with respect to the election or removal of directors or other
actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or
on behalf of a Person other than the Incumbent Board; or
(iii) consummation of a reorganization, share
exchange, merger or consolidation (including any such
transaction involving any direct or indirect subsidiary of the
Company), or sale or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company (a "Business Combination");
provided, however, that in no such case shall any such
transaction constitute a Change of Control if immediately
following such Business Combination,
(A) the individuals and entities who were
the Beneficial Owners of the Company's outstanding
common stock and the Company's voting securities
entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors immediately prior to such Business
Combination have direct or indirect Beneficial
Ownership, respectively, of more than 50% of the then
outstanding shares of common stock, and more than 50%
of the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors, of the Post-Transaction
Corporation (as defined in Section 7.02), and
(B) except to the extent that such ownership
existed prior to the Business Combination, no Person
(excluding the Post-Transaction Corporation and any
employee benefit plan or related trust of either the
Company, the Post-Transaction Corporation or any
subsidiary of either corporation) Beneficially Owns,
directly or indirectly, 20% or more of the then
outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such Business Combination or 20% or
more of the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of such corporation,
and
(C) at least a majority of the members of
the board of directors of the Post-Transaction
Corporation were members of the Incumbent Board at
the time of the execution of the initial agreement,
or of the action of the Board, providing for such
Business Combination; or
(iv) approval by the shareholders of the Company of a
complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
4.5 Notice of Termination. Any termination of Executive's employment
by the Company or by Executive (other than termination pursuant to Section 4.01)
shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination delivered to the other
party hereto as provided in Section 7.03. For purposes of this Agreement, a
"Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice that shall indicate the specific
termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for
termination of Executive's employment under the provision so indicated. Except
as expressly set forth in Section 4.03, the failure by Executive or the Company
to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which
contributes to a showing of Cause, Disability or Good Reason shall not waive any
right of Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude Executive
or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in
enforcing Executive's or the Company's rights hereunder.
4.6 Date of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, "Date of
Termination" shall mean (i) if Executive's employment is terminated by his
death, the date of his death; (ii) if Executive's employment is terminated
pursuant to Section 4.02, 30 days after Notice of Termination is given (unless,
as provided in Section 4.02, Executive is certified to have successfully resumed
performing his duties on a full-time basis during such 30-day period) and (iii)
if Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to Sections 4.03 or 4.04, the
date specified in the Notice of Termination (which shall not be more than 30
days after the date such notice is given); provided that if, within 30 days
after any Notice of Termination is given, a dispute exists concerning the
termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is
finally determined, either by mutual written agreement of the parties or by a
final and nonappealable judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction.
5. COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OR DURING DISABILITY
5.1 Death. If Executive's employment is terminated by his death, in
addition to all other death benefits provided by the Company, the Company shall
pay to Executive's spouse or, if he leaves no spouse, to his estate, in a lump
sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination the sum of the pro rata
amount of Executive's Annual Base Salary earned through the Date of Termination
to the extent due but not paid and any compensation previously deferred by
Executive (together with any accrued interest thereon) and any accrued vacation
pay, in each case to the extent not previously paid (collectively, "Accrued
Obligations"). The Company shall also timely pay or provide to such person any
other amounts or compensation required to be furnished to Executive under any
Benefit Plan ("Other Benefits").
5.2 Disability. During any period that Executive is deemed to be
disabled under Section 4.02 ("disability period"), Executive shall continue to
receive his full Annual Base Salary at the rate then in effect for such period
until his employment is terminated pursuant to Section 4.02, provided that
payments so made to Executive shall be reduced by the sum of the amounts, if
any, payable to Executive under disability benefit plans of the Company. Upon
termination of Executive's employment under Section 4.02, the Company shall pay
to Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination all
Accrued Obligations and shall timely furnish to Executive all Other Benefits.
5.3 Terminations for Cause or Resignations Without Good Reason. If
Executive's employment shall be terminated for Cause by the Company, or
voluntarily terminated by Executive other than for Good Reason, this Agreement
shall terminate without further obligation to Executive other than for Accrued
Obligations, which shall be paid in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the
Date of Termination, and for Other Benefits, which the Company shall timely
furnish to Executive.
5.4 Terminations other than Death, Disability or Cause; Good Reason;
Change of Control. If during the term of this Agreement (i) the Company or any
of its Affiliates shall terminate Executive's employment, other than for death,
disability or Cause, or (ii) Executive shall terminate his employment for Good
Reason or following a Change in Control of the Company, then, subject to Section
5.05(b),
(a) the Company shall pay to Executive in a lump sum in cash
within five business days of the Date of Termination an amount equal to three
times the sum of (i) the Executive's Annual Base Salary, plus (ii) the greater
of (x) the average of the annual bonuses paid or to be paid to Executive with
respect to the immediately preceding three fiscal years or (y) the target bonus
(cash and stock) for which Executive is eligible for the fiscal year in which
the Date of Termination occurs, assuming achievement at the target level of the
objective performance goals established with respect to such bonus and
achievement of 100% of any subjective performance goals or criteria otherwise
applicable with respect to such bonus; provided, however, that, if Executive has
in effect a deferral election with respect to any percentage of the annual bonus
which would otherwise become payable with respect to the fiscal year in which
termination occurs, such lump sum payment shall be reduced by an amount equal to
such percentage times the bonus component of the lump sum payment (which
reduction amount shall be deferred in accordance with such election);
(b) the Company shall pay to Executive in a lump sum in cash
within five business days of the Date of Termination an amount calculated by
multiplying the annual bonus that Executive would have earned with respect to
the entire fiscal year in which termination occurs, assuming achievement at the
target level of the objective performance goals established with respect to such
bonus and achievement of 100% of any subjective performance goals or criteria
otherwise applicable with respect to such bonus, by the fraction obtained by
dividing the number of days in such year through the Date of Termination by 365;
provided, however, that, if Executive has in effect a deferral election with
respect to any percentage of the annual bonus which would otherwise become
payable with respect to the fiscal year in which termination occurs, such lump
sum payment shall be reduced by an amount equal to such percentage times the
lump sum payment (which reduction amount shall be deferred in accordance with
such election);
(c) if, at the Date of Termination, the Company shall not yet
have paid to Executive (or deferred in accordance with any effective deferral
election by Executive) an annual bonus with respect to a fully completed fiscal
year, the Company shall pay to Executive in a lump sum in cash within five
business days of the Date of Termination an amount determined as follows: (i) if
the Board (acting directly or indirectly through any committee or subcommittee)
shall have already determined the amount of such annual bonus, such amount shall
be paid, and (ii) if the Board shall not have already determined the amount of
such annual bonus, the amount shall be equal to the annual bonus that Executive
would have earned with respect to such completed fiscal year, based solely upon
the actual level of achievement of the objective performance goals established
with respect to such bonus and assuming the achievement of 100% of any
subjective performance goals or criteria otherwise applicable with respect to
such bonus; provided, however, that, if Executive has in effect a deferral
election with respect to any percentage of the annual bonus which would
otherwise become payable with respect to such completed fiscal year, such lump
sum payment shall be reduced by an amount equal to such percentage times the
lump sum payment (which reduction amount shall be deferred in accordance with
such election); provided, further, that any payment under this paragraph (c) (or
any payment under any other provision of this Agreement calculated by reference
to prior or target bonus amounts) shall be payable notwithstanding any provision
to the contrary set forth in any bonus plan or program of the Company;
(d) for a period of three years following the Date of
Termination, or such longer period as may be provided by the terms of the
appropriate Benefit Plan (the "Continuation Period"), the Company shall at its
expense maintain and administer for the continued benefit of Executive all
Benefit Plans in which Executive was entitled to participate as an employee of
the Company at any time during the one-year period prior to the Date of
Termination, provided that Executive's continued participation is possible under
the general terms and provisions of such plans and all applicable laws. The
coverage and benefits (including deductibles and costs) provided under any such
Benefit Plan in accordance with this Section 5.04(d) during the Continuation
Period shall be no less favorable to Executive and his dependents and
beneficiaries than the most favorable of such coverages and benefits during the
one-year period prior to the Date of Termination; provided, however, in the
event of the disability of Executive during the Continuation Period, disability
benefits shall, to the maximum extent possible, not be paid for the Continuation
Period but shall instead commence immediately following the end of the
Continuation Period. If Executive's participation in any such Benefit Plan is
barred or any such Benefit Plan is terminated, the Company shall arrange to
provide Executive with compensation or benefits substantially similar or
comparable in value to those Executive would otherwise have been entitled to
receive under such plans. At the end of the Continuation Period, Executive shall
have the option to have assigned to him, at no cost and with no apportionment of
prepaid premiums, any assignable insurance owned by the Company that relates
specifically to Executive. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Executive
will be eligible for coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act ("COBRA") at the end of the Continuation Period or earlier
cessation of the Company's obligation under the foregoing provisions of this
Section 5.04(d) (or, if Executive shall not be so eligible for any reason, the
Company will provide equivalent coverage);
(e) for a period of one year following the Date of
Termination, the Company shall make available to Executive without charge, for
his personal convenience, use of Company aircraft or aircraft of a comparable
make and model as used by the Company on the Date of Termination for that number
of annual flight hours permitted to Executive immediately prior to such date;
(f) upon Executive's written request, the Company at its cost
shall provide to Executive outplacement assistance by a reputable firm
specializing in such services for the period beginning with the termination of
employment and ending upon the lapse of the term of this Agreement;
(g) the Company shall pay or provide to Executive all Accrued
Obligations and Other Benefits; and
(h) the Company shall discharge its obligations under all
other applicable sections of this Agreement, including Sections 5.05(a), (b),
(c) and (d) and 7.16.
The payments and benefits provided in this Section 5.04, Section 5.05 and under
all of the Company's employee benefit and compensation plans shall be without
regard to any plan amendment made after any Change of Control that adversely
affects in any manner the computation of payments and benefits due Executive
under such plan or the time or manner of payment of such payments and benefits.
After a Change of Control no discretionary power of the Board or any committee
thereof shall be used in a way (and no ambiguity in any such plan shall be
construed in a way) which adversely affects in any manner any right or benefit
of Executive under any such plan. If Executive becomes entitled to receive
benefits under this Section 5.04, the Company shall not be required to make any
cash severance payment to Executive under any other severance or salary
continuation policy, plan, agreement or arrangement in favor of other officers
or employees of the Company or its Affiliates unless such other policy, plan,
agreement or arrangement expressly provides to the contrary in a provision that
specifically states that it is intended to override the limitation of this
sentence.
5.5 Other Change of Control Benefits.
(a) Stock Options and Other Incentives. The foregoing benefits
provided for in Section 5.04 or this Section 5.05 are intended to be in addition
to the value or benefit of any stock options, restricted stock, performance
shares or similar awards, the exercisability, vesting or payment of which is
accelerated or otherwise enhanced upon a Change of Control pursuant to the terms
of any stock option, incentive or other similar plan or agreement heretofore or
hereafter adopted by the Company or the Post-Transaction Corporation; provided,
however, that, upon any termination of Executive other than for Cause within
three years following a Change of Control, all of Executive's then-outstanding
vested stock options, whether granted before or during the term of this
Agreement, shall remain exercisable until the later of the 190th day after the
Date of Termination or the end of the exercise period provided for in the
applicable option agreement or plan as then in effect, but in no event shall
such exercise period continue after the date on which such options would have
expired if Executive had remained an employee of the Company, the
Post-Transaction Corporation or one of their respective Affiliates.
(b) Excise Tax Payments. (i) Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this Agreement, if a Change of Control occurs during the original
or extended term of this Agreement, in the event that any payment or benefit
received or to be received by Executive in connection with the Change of Control
or the termination of Executive's employment (whether pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any
Person whose actions result in the Change of Control or any Person affiliated
with the Company or such Person) (all such payments and benefits, including
without limitation the payments and benefits under Sections 5.04, 5.05(a), (c)
and (d) and 7.16 hereof, being hereinafter called "Payments") would be subject
(in whole or in part) to an excise tax imposed by section 4999 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the "Code"), or any interest
or penalties are incurred by Executive with respect to such excise tax (such
excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), the Company shall pay to
Executive at the time specified in clause (iv) below an additional amount (the
"Gross-up Payment") such that the net amount retained by Executive, after
deduction of any Excise Tax on the Payments and all taxes (including any
interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including without
limitation any federal, state and local income or payroll tax and any Excise
Tax, imposed upon the Gross-up Payment provided for by this clause (i), but
before deduction of any federal, state and local income or payroll tax on the
Payments, shall be equal to the Payments.
(ii) For purposes of determining whether any of the
Payments and the Gross-up Payment (collectively, the "Total Payments") will be
subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax, (A) the Total
Payments shall be treated as "parachute payments" within the meaning of section
280G(b)(2) of the Code, and all "excess parachute payments" within the meaning
of section 280G(b)(1) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, except to
the extent that in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Company's
independent auditors ("Auditors") and reasonably acceptable to Executive ("Tax
Counsel") such Total Payments (in whole or in part) do not constitute "parachute
payments", or such "excess parachute payments" (in whole or in part) are not
subject to the Excise Tax and (B) the value of any non-cash benefits or any
deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Auditors in accordance
with the principles of sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. The Auditors
shall perform the calculations in conformance with the foregoing provisions and
within 15 business days of the date that any Payments are made under this
Agreement shall provide Executive with a detailed written statement setting
forth the manner in which the Total Payments are calculated and the basis for
such calculations, including without limitation any opinions or other advice the
Company has received from Tax Counsel, the Auditors or other advisors or
consultants (and any such opinions or advice which are in writing shall be
attached to the statement).
(iii) For purposes of determining the amount of the
Gross-up Payment, Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the
highest marginal rates of federal income taxation applicable to individuals in
the calendar year in which the Gross-up Payment is to be made and state and
local income taxes at the highest marginal rates of taxation in the state and
locality of Executive's residence in the calendar year in which the Gross-up
Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes
which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes, taking
into account any limitations applicable to individuals subject to federal income
tax at the highest marginal rates.
(iv) The initial Gross-up Payment, if any, as determined
pursuant to this Section 5.05(b), shall be paid to Executive within five days of
the receipt of the Auditors' determination. If the Auditors determine that no
Excise Tax is payable by Executive, the Company shall cause the Auditors to
furnish Executive with an opinion that failure to report any Excise Tax on
Executive's applicable federal income tax return would not result in the
imposition of a negligence or similar penalty.
(v) If it is established pursuant to a final
determination of a court or Internal Revenue Service proceeding or the written
opinion of Tax Counsel that the Excise Tax is less than the amount taken into
account hereunder at the time the Gross-up Payment is made, Executive shall
repay to the Company within 30 days of Executive's receipt of notice of such
final determination or opinion the portion of the Gross-up Payment attributable
to such reduction (plus the portion of the Gross-up Payment attributable to the
Excise Tax, federal, state and local income tax and Excise Tax imposed on the
portion of the Gross-up Payment being repaid by Executive if such repayment
results in a reduction of Excise Tax or federal, state and local income tax),
plus interest on the amount of such repayment at the rate provided in section
1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event any
portion of the Gross-up Payment to be refunded to the Company has been paid to
any federal, state and local tax authority, the payment thereof (and related
amounts) shall not be required until actual refund or credit of such portion has
been made to Executive, and interest payable to the Company shall not exceed the
interest received or credited to Executive by such tax authority for the period
that it held such portion. Executive and the Company shall endeavor to mutually
agree upon the course of action to be pursued (and the method of allocating the
expense thereof) if Executive's claim for refund or credit is denied. If it is
established pursuant to a final determination of a court or an Internal Revenue
Service proceeding or the written opinion of Tax Counsel that the Excise Tax
exceeds the amount taken into account hereunder at the time the Gross-up Payment
is made (including by reason of any payment the existence or amount
of which cannot be determined at the time of the Gross-up Payment), the Company
shall make an additional Gross-up Payment in respect of such excess (plus any
interest or penalties payable with respect to such excess), as determined by the
Auditors, within 30 days of the Company's receipt of notice of such final
determination or opinion.
(vi) In the event of any controversy with the Internal
Revenue Service (or other taxing authority) with regard to the Excise Tax,
Executive shall permit the Company to control issues relating to the Excise Tax
(at its expense), provided that such issues do not potentially materially
adversely affect Executive, but Executive shall control any other issues. In the
event that the issues are interrelated, Executive and the Company shall in good
faith cooperate so as not to jeopardize resolution of either issue, but if the
parties cannot agree, Executive shall make the final determination with regard
to the issues. In the event of any conference with any taxing authority as to
the Excise Tax or associated income taxes, Executive shall permit a
representative of the Company to accompany Executive, and Executive and
Executive's representative shall cooperate with the Company and its
representative. The Company and Executive shall promptly deliver to each other
copies of any written communications, and summaries of any verbal
communications, with any taxing authority regarding the Excise Tax covered by
this Section 5.05(b).
(vii) The Company shall be responsible for all
charges of the Tax Counsel and the Auditors.
(viii) Notwithstanding any other provision in this
Agreement to the contrary, if it is determined by the Auditors that the gross-up
provisions in this Section 5.05(b) as they relate to the accelerated vesting of
nonqualified stock options or restricted stock issued by the Company would be
the sole reason precluding the use by the Company of the pooling of interests
method of accounting, then the tax gross-up provisions of this Section 5.05(b)
shall not apply to such nonqualified stock options or restricted stock as the
case may be, unless the Gross-up Payment can be altered, modified or delayed to
allow it to be paid without precluding the use of the pooling of interest method
of accounting. The Company will use its best efforts to alter, modify, or delay
the payment so that the Gross-up Payment can be made.
(c) Indemnification. If, in connection with any agreement
related to a transaction that will result in a Change of Control of the Company,
an undertaking is made to provide the Board with rights to indemnification from
the Company (or from any other party to such agreement), Executive shall, by
virtue of this Agreement, be entitled to the same rights to indemnification as
are provided to the Board pursuant to such agreement. Otherwise, Executive shall
be entitled to indemnification rights on terms no less favorable to Executive
than those available under any Company indemnification agreements or the
articles of incorporation, bylaws or resolutions of the Company at any time
after the Change of Control to his peer employees of the Company. Such
indemnification rights shall be with respect to all claims, actions, suits or
proceedings to which Executive is or is threatened to be made a party that arise
out of or are connected to his services at any time prior to the termination of
his employment, without regard to whether such claims, actions, suits or
proceedings are made, asserted or arise during or after the term of this
Agreement.
(d) Directors and Officers Insurance. If, in connection with
any agreement related to a transaction that will result in a Change of Control
of the Company, an undertaking is made to provide the Board with continued
coverage following the Change of Control under one or more directors and
officers liability insurance policies, then Executive shall, by virtue of this
Agreement, be entitled to the same rights to continued coverage under such
directors and officers liability insurance policies as are provided to the
Board, and the Company shall take any steps necessary to give effect to this
provision.
5.6 Benefit Plans and Other Agreements. Except to the extent
otherwise provided in the Other Agreements (defined below) and except to the
extent expressly provided to the contrary in Section 5.05(a), the termination of
this Agreement (either under Section 4 or 5 or upon expiration of the term of
this Agreement under Section 2) shall not terminate, modify or otherwise affect
any of Executive's rights arising under or in connection with any Benefit Plans,
the Indemnification Agreement, or any other agreements or instruments issued or
delivered in accordance with any Benefit Plans prior to or after the date
hereof. The plans, agreements and other instruments referred to in this Section
5.06 are referred to collectively as the "Other Agreements."
5.7 Set Off; No Mitigation. The obligations of the Company and its
Affiliates to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to
perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off,
counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the
Company or its Affiliates may have against Executive or others. It is the intent
of this Agreement that in no event shall Executive be obligated to seek other
employment or take any other action to mitigate the amounts or benefits payable
to Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement.
5.08 Certain Pre-Change-of-Control Terminations. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, Executive's employment shall be deemed to
have been terminated by Executive following a Change of Control pursuant to
Section 5.04 (and Executive shall be entitled to receive all payments and
benefits associated therewith) if the Agreement is terminated by the Company in
accordance with Section 2 (whether or not a Change of Control actually occurs)
and such termination (i) was at the request or direction of a third party who
has taken steps designed to effect a Change of Control or otherwise arose in
connection with or in anticipation of a Change of Control or (ii) occurred after
discussions with a third party regarding a possible Change of Control
transaction commenced and such discussions produced (whether before or after
such termination) either a preliminary or definitive agreement with respect to
such a transaction or a public announcement of the pending transaction (whether
or not a Change of Control actually occurs). If Executive takes the position
that the foregoing sentence applies and the Company disagrees, the Company shall
have the burden of proof in any such dispute.
6. SUCCESSORS; ASSIGNMENT
6.1 Successors. (a) This Agreement and all rights of Executive
hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive's
personal or legal representative, executors, administrators, successors, heirs
and legatees. If Executive should die while any amounts would still be payable
to him hereunder had he continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise
provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to
Executive's heirs and legatees or Executive's estate, as appropriate.
(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the Company and any of its successors or assigns. In addition, the
Company shall require any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by
purchase of all or substantially all of the Company's assets or capital stock,
share exchange, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to (i) assume
unconditionally and expressly this Agreement and (ii) agree to perform or cause
to be performed all of the obligations under this Agreement in the same manner
and to the same extent as would have been required of the Company had no
assignment or succession occurred, such assumption to be set forth in writing
reasonably satisfactory to Executive. In the event of any such assignment or
succession, the term "Company" as used in this Agreement shall refer also to
such successor or assign.
(c) The Company shall also require all entities that control
or that after the transaction will control (directly or indirectly) the Company
or any such successor or assign to agree to cause to be performed all of the
obligations under this Agreement, such agreement to be set forth in a writing
reasonably satisfactory to Executive.
(d) The obligations of the Company and Executive which by
their nature may require either partial or total performance after the
expiration of the term of the Agreement shall survive such expiration.
6.02 Assignment by Executive. Without the consent of the Company,
neither this Agreement nor any of its benefits may be assigned by Executive
other than such rights or benefits as are transferred by will or the laws of
descent and distribution.
7. MISCELLANEOUS
7.1 Status of Other Employment Agreements. Notwithstanding any
provisions thereof, this Agreement supersedes any and all prior agreements
between the Company and Executive that provide for the employment of Executive
or severance benefits in the event of a Change of Control of the Company, as
defined therein.
7.2 Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Affiliate" (and variants thereof) shall mean a Person
that controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another
specified Person, either directly or indirectly.
(b) "Beneficial Owner" (and variants thereof), with respect to
a security, shall mean a Person who, directly or indirectly (through any
contract, understanding, relationship or otherwise), has or shares (i) the power
to vote, or direct the voting of, the security, or (ii) the power to dispose of,
or direct the disposition of, the security.
(c) "Person" shall mean a natural person or entity, and shall
also mean the group or syndicate created when two or more Persons act as a
syndicate or other group (including, without limitation, a partnership or
limited partnership) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, or disposing of a
security, except that "Person" shall not include an underwriter temporarily
holding a security pursuant to an offering of the security.
(d) Unless a Change of Control results from a Business
Combination (as defined in Section 4.04(c)(iii) hereof), "Post-Transaction
Corporation" shall mean the Company after the Change of Control. If a Change of
Control results from a Business Combination, "Post-Transaction Corporation"
shall mean the corporation or other entity resulting from the Business
Combination unless, as a result of such Business Combination, an ultimate parent
corporation controls such resulting entity, the Company or all or substantially
all of the Company's assets either directly or indirectly, in which case "Post-
Transaction Corporation" shall mean such ultimate parent corporation.
7.3 Notice. Any notice permitted or required to be deemed under this
Agreement by one party shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand,
overnight delivery service or U.S. registered or certified mail, postage prepaid
with return receipt requested, to the other party at the address set forth
opposite such party's name on the signature page hereof until notice of a change
in address is delivered as provided in this Section 7.03. Notices shall be
deemed to be given, in the case of (i) by hand delivery, upon receipt; (ii)
overnight delivery service, on the business day after timely delivery to a
recognized overnight delivery service; and (iii) U.S. mail, upon the third
business day after deposit with the U.S. mail.
7.4 Waiver. Except as expressly provided herein to the contrary, the
failure by any party to enforce any of its rights hereunder shall not be deemed
to be a waiver of such rights, unless such waiver is an express written waiver.
Waiver of any one breach shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other breach
of the same or any other provision hereof.
7.5 Withholding. Executive agrees that the Company has the right to
withhold, from the amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement, all amounts
required to be withheld under applicable income or employment tax laws, or as
otherwise stated in documents granting rights that are affected by this
Agreement.
7.6 Entire Agreement. Except for the rights and obligations of the
parties under the Other Agreements, this Agreement sets forth the entire
understanding and agreement between the parties hereto with respect to
Executive's employment by the Company.
7.7 Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
interpreted in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Louisiana
without regard to principles of conflict of laws.
7.8 Amendment. The parties may amend this Agreement only by a
written instrument signed by both parties.
7.9 Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement, or the
application thereof to any Person or circumstance, shall at any time or to any
extent be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect as written, Executive
and the Company intend for any court construing this Agreement to modify or
limit such provision so as to render it valid and enforceable to the fullest
extent allowed by law. Any such provision that is not susceptible of such
reformation shall be ignored so as to not affect any other term or provision
hereof, and the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such term or
provision to Persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby and shall be
valid and enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.
7.10 Remedies Not Exclusive. No remedy specified herein shall be
deemed to be such party's exclusive remedy, and accordingly, in addition to
all of the rights and remedies provided for in this Agreement, the parties
shall have all other rights and remedies provided to them by applicable law,
rule or regulation, including without limitation the right to claim interest
with respect to any payment not timely made hereunder.
7.11 Non-exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall
prevent or limit Executive's continuing or future participation in any plan,
program, policy or practice provided by the Company or any of its Affiliates and
for which Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise
restrict such rights as Executive may have under any contract or agreement with
the Company or any of its Affiliates. Executive shall not be obligated to
furnish a release of any rights or claims against the Company or its Affiliates
as a condition of receiving benefits hereunder.
7.12 Confidentiality. Upon receipt of the payments or benefits
contemplated by Sections 5.04 or 5.05 hereof, Executive agrees to refrain for a
period of three years from divulging any non- public, confidential or
proprietary information concerning the Company or its Affiliates to any Person
other than the Company, its Affiliates or their respective officers, directors
or advisors, provided that this obligation shall lapse prior to the end of such
three-year period with respect to any information that (i) is or becomes
generally available to the public other than as a result of a breach of this
Section 7.12, (ii) is or becomes available to Executive on a non-confidential
basis from a source other than the Company or its representatives, provided that
such source is not known by Executive to have violated any confidentiality
agreement with the Company in connection with such disclosure, or (iii) is
acquired or developed independently by Executive without violating this Section
7.12.
7.13 Demand for Benefits. Unless otherwise provided herein, the
payment or payments due hereunder shall be paid to Executive without the need
for demand, and to a beneficiary upon the receipt of the beneficiary's address
and social security number. Nevertheless, Executive or a Person claiming to be a
beneficiary who claims entitlement to a benefit can file a claim for benefits
hereunder with the Company. Unless otherwise provided herein, the Company shall
accept or reject the claim within five business days of its receipt. If the
claim is denied, the Company shall give the reason for denial in a written
notice that refers to the provision of this Agreement that forms the basis of
the denial. If any additional information or material is necessary to perfect
the claim, the Company will identify these items in writing and explain why such
additional information is necessary.
7.14 Authority. The Company represents and warrants that (i) the
amendment and restatement of this Agreement was duly authorized by the
Shareholder Relations Committee of the Board and the Compensation Committee of
the Board on February 21, 2000 and by the Board on February 22, 2000, and (ii)
no other corporate proceedings are necessary to authorize the Company's
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
7.15 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.
7.16 Expenses. The Company agrees to pay as incurred, to the full
extent permitted by law, all legal fees and other expenses (including expert
witness and accounting fees) which Executive may reasonably incur as a result of
any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, Executive or
others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision
of this Agreement (including as a result of any contest by Executive about the
amount or timing of any payment pursuant to this Agreement) or which Executive
may reasonably incur in connection with any tax audit or proceeding to the
extent attributable to the application of section 4999 of the Code to any
payment or benefit provided under this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the
date and year first above written.
CenturyTel, Inc. CENTURYTEL, INC.
100 Century Park Drive
Monroe, Louisiana 71203 By: /s/ Glen F. Post III
---------------------------------
Attention: Glen F. Post, III Glen F. Post III,
Vice Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer
Clarke M. Williams
P.O. Box 190
Oak Ridge, Louisiana 71264 /s/ Clarke M. Williams
---------------------------------
Clarke M. Williams
Exhibit 10.1(b)
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated effective as of
February 22, 2000 (the "Agreement Date"), between CenturyTel, Inc., a Louisiana
corporation (the "Company"), and Glen F. Post, III (the "Employee").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has
determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders
to take steps designed to retain the services of the Employee and to assure the
full dedication of the Employee, free from personal distraction, in the event of
an actual or pending change of control of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Board believes that this agreement accomplishes these and
other related objectives;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
I.1 Affiliate. "Affiliate" (and variants thereof) shall mean a
Person that controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with,
another specified Person, either directly or indirectly.
I.2 Beneficial Owner. "Beneficial Owner" (and variants thereof),
with respect to a security, shall mean a Person who, directly or indirectly
(through any contract, understanding, relationship or otherwise), has or shares
(i) the power to vote, or direct the voting of, the security, or (ii) the power
to dispose of, or direct the disposition of, the security.
I.3 Cause. (a) "Cause" shall mean:
(i) conviction of a felony;
(ii) habitual intoxication during working hours;
(iii) habitual abuse of or addiction to a
controlled dangerous substance; or
(iv) the willful and continued failure of the
Employee to perform substantially the Employee's duties with the
Company or its Affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from
incapacity due to physical or mental illness or the Employee's
termination of employment for Good Reason) for a period of 15 days
after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the
Employee by the Board which specifically identifies the manner in which
the Board believes that the Employee has not substantially performed
the Employee's duties.
(b) For purposes of this Section 1.3, no act or failure
to act on the part of the Employee shall be considered "willful" unless it is
done, or omitted to be done, by the Employee in bad faith and without reasonable
belief that the Employee's action or omission was in the best interests of the
Company or its Affiliates. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority
given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or upon the
instructions of a senior officer of the Company or based upon the advice of
counsel for the Company or its Affiliates shall be conclusively presumed to be
done, or omitted to be done, by the Employee in good faith and in the best
interests of the Company or its Affiliates. Any termination by the Company or
any of its Affiliates of the Employee's employment during the Employment Term
(as defined in Section 1.8) shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless the
Employee's action or inaction meets the foregoing standard and until there shall
have been delivered to the Employee a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the
affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the
Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after
reasonable notice is provided to the Employee and the Employee is given an
opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that,
in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Employee is guilty of the conduct
described in subparagraph (a) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in
detail.
(c) No action or inaction shall be deemed the basis for Cause
unless the Employee is terminated therefor within 120 days after such action or
omission is known to the Chairman of any committee of the Board.
(d) In the event that the existence of Cause shall become an
issue in any action or proceeding between the Company and the Employee, the
Company shall, notwithstanding the finding of the Board referenced above, have
the burden of establishing that the actions or inactions deemed the basis for
Cause did in fact occur and do constitute Cause and that the Company has
satisfied the procedural requirements of this provision. The satisfaction of the
Company's burden shall require clear and convincing evidence. Any purported
termination of employment of the Employee by the Company which does not meet
each and every substantive and procedural requirement of this provision shall be
treated for all purposes under this Agreement as a termination of employment
without Cause.
I.4 Change of Control. "Change of Control" shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any Person of Beneficial Ownership of
30% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock, $1.00 par
value per share (the "Common Stock"), or 30% or more of the combined voting
power of the Company's then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors; provided, however, that for purposes of this
subsection (a), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of
Control:
(i) any acquisition (other than a Business Combination
which constitutes a Change of Control under Section 1.4(c) hereof)
of Common Stock directly from the Company,
(ii) any acquisition of Common Stock by the Company or
its subsidiaries,
(iii) any acquisition of Common Stock by any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company
or any corporation controlled by the Company, or
(iv) any acquisition of Common Stock by any
corporation pursuant to a Business Combination that does not constitute
a Change of Control under Section 1.4(c) hereof; or
(b) individuals who, as of the Agreement Date, constitute the
Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the Agreement Date whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-
thirds of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered
a member of the Incumbent Board, unless such individual's initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with
respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the
Incumbent Board; or
(c) consummation of a reorganization, share exchange, merger
or consolidation (including any such transaction involving any direct or
indirect subsidiary of the Company), or sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company (a "Business Combination");
provided, however, that in no such case shall any such transaction constitute a
Change of Control if immediately following such Business Combination,
(i) the individuals and entities who were the
Beneficial Owners of the Company's outstanding common stock and the
Company's voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election
of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination have direct
or indirect Beneficial Ownership, respectively, of more than 50% of the
then outstanding shares of common stock, and more than 50% of the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, of the
Post-Transaction Corporation (as defined in Section 1.11 hereof), and
(ii) except to the extent that such ownership existed
prior to the Business Combination, no Person (excluding the
Post-Transaction Corporation and any employee benefit plan or related
trust of either the Company, the Post-Transaction Corporation or any
subsidiary of either corporation) Beneficially Owns, directly or
indirectly, 20% or more of the then outstanding shares of common stock
of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or 20% or
more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation, and
(iii) at least a majority of the members of the board
of directors of the Post- Transaction Corporation were members of the
Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement,
or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;
or
(d) approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
I.5 Code. "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time.
I.6 Company. "Company" shall mean CenturyTel, Inc. and shall include
any successor to or assignee of (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, share
exchange, merger, consolidation or otherwise) all or substantially all of the
assets or business of the Company that assumes and agrees to perform this
Agreement by operation of law or otherwise.
I.7 Disability. "Disability" shall mean a condition that would
entitle the Employee to receive benefits under the long-term disability
insurance policy applicable to the Company's officers at the time either because
the Employee is totally disabled or partially disabled, as such terms are
defined in the policy then in effect. If the Company has no long-term disability
plan in effect, "Disability" shall occur if (a) the Employee is rendered
incapable because of physical or mental illness of satisfactorily discharging
his duties and responsibilities to the Company for a period of 90 consecutive
days, (b) a duly qualified physician chosen by the Company and acceptable to the
Employee or his legal representatives so certifies in writing, and (c) the Board
determines that the Employee has become disabled.
I.8 Employment Term. "Employment Term" shall mean the period
commencing on the date of a Change of Control and ending on the third
anniversary of such date.
I.9 Good Reason. (a) Any act or failure to act by the Company or
its Affiliates specified in this Section 1.9 shall constitute "Good Reason"
unless the Employee shall otherwise expressly agree in a writing that
specifically refers to this Section 1.9:
(i) Any failure of the Company or its Affiliates to
provide the Employee with a position, authority, duties and
responsibilities at least commensurate in all material respects with
the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time
during the 180-day period immediately preceding the Change of Control.
The Employee's position, authority, duties and responsibilities after a
Change of Control shall not be considered commensurate in all material
respects with the Employee's position, authority, duties and
responsibilities prior to a Change of Control unless after the Change
of Control the Employee holds an equivalent position with, and
exercises substantially equivalent authority, duties and
responsibilities on behalf of, the Post-Transaction Corporation;
(ii) The assignment to the Employee of any duties
inconsistent in any material respect with the Employee's position
(including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements),
authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 3.1(b)
of this Agreement, or any other action that results in a diminution in
such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for
this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not
taken in bad faith that the Company remedies within 10 days after its
receipt of written notice thereof from the Employee;
(iii) A material increase in the Employee's responsi-
bilities or duties without a commensurate increase in total
compensation;
(iv) Any failure by the Company to comply with and
satisfy Sections 4.1 (c) or (d) of this Agreement;
(v) Any failure by the Company or its Affiliates to
comply with any of the other provisions of this Agreement, other than
an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad
faith that the Company remedies within 10 days after its receipt of
written notice thereof from the Employee;
(vi) Any directive requiring the Employee to be based
at any office or location other than as provided in Section 3.1(b)(ii)
hereof or requiring the Employee to travel on business to a
substantially greater extent than required immediately prior to the
Change of Control; or
(vii) Any purported termination of the Employee's
employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement.
(b) For purposes of this Section 1.9, any good faith
determination of "Good Reason" made by the Employee shall be conclusive and
binding for all purposes, unless the Company establishes by clear and convincing
evidence that the Employee did not have any reasonable basis for such
determination.
(c) No action or inaction by the Company shall be deemed the
basis for Good Reason unless the Employee asserts his right hereunder to
terminate employment with Good Reason prior to the first anniversary of the date
on which the Employee obtained actual knowledge of such act or omission. Except
as otherwise provided in the prior sentence, neither the Employee's continued
employment with the Company or its Affiliates nor any delay in the Employee's
assertion of his rights to terminate employment with Good Reason shall be deemed
to constitute a waiver of any of the Employee's rights hereunder.
(d) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,
a resignation by the Employee for any reason during the 30-day period
immediately following the first anniversary of the Change of Control shall be
deemed to be a termination for Good Reason and the Employee shall be entitled to
receive all payments and benefits hereunder associated therewith.
I.10 Person. "Person" shall mean a natural person or entity, and shall
also mean the group or syndicate created when two or more Persons act as a
syndicate or other group (including, without limitation, a partnership or
limited partnership) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, or disposing
of a security, except that "Person" shall not include an underwriter temporarily
holding a security pursuant to an offering of the security.
I.11 Post-Transaction Corporation. Unless a Change of Control results
from a Business Combination (as defined in Section 1.4(c) hereof),
"Post-Transaction Corporation" shall mean the Company after the Change of
Control. If a Change of Control results from a Business Combination,
"Post-Transaction Corporation" shall mean the corporation or other entity
resulting from the Business Combination unless, as a result of such Business
Combination, an ultimate parent corporation controls such resulting entity, the
Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or
indirectly, in which case "Post-Transaction Corporation" shall mean such
ultimate parent corporation.
ARTICLE II
STATUS OF CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENTS
Notwithstanding any provisions thereof, this Agreement supersedes any
and all prior agreements between the Company and the Employee that provide for
severance benefits in the event of a Change of Control of the Company, as
defined therein, and is effective as of the Agreement Date.
ARTICLE III
CHANGE OF CONTROL BENEFITS
III.1 Employment Term and Capacity after Change of Control. (a) This
Agreement shall commence on the Agreement Date and continue in effect through
December 31, 2001; provided, however, that, commencing on January 1, 2002 and
each January 1 thereafter, the term of this Agreement shall automatically be
extended for one additional year unless, not later than June 30 of the preceding
year, the Company shall have given written notice that it does not wish to
extend this Agreement; provided, further, that, notwithstanding any such
non-extension notice by the Company, if a Change of Control of the Company shall
have occurred during the original or extended term of this Agreement, this
Agreement shall continue in effect through the third anniversary of the Change
of Control, subject to any earlier termination of the Employee's status as an
employee pursuant to this Agreement; provided, further, that in no event shall
any termination of this Agreement result in any forfeiture of rights that
accrued prior to the date of termination.
(b) During the Employment Term, the Company hereby agrees to
continue the Employee in its employ, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. During the Employment Term, (i) the Employee's position (including
status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and
responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all material respects with
the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during
the 180- day period immediately preceding the Change of Control and (ii) the
Employee's services shall be performed during normal business hours at the
location of the Company's principal executive office at the time of the Change
of Control, or the office or location where the Employee was employed
immediately preceding the Change of Control or any relocation of any such site
to a location that is not more than 35 miles from its location at the time of
the Change of Control. The Employee's position, authority, duties and
responsibilities after a Change of Control shall not be considered commensurate
in all material respects with the Employee's position, authority, duties and
responsibilities prior to a Change of Control unless after the Change of Control
the Employee holds an equivalent position with, and exercises substantially
equivalent authority, duties and responsibilities on behalf of, the
Post-Transaction Corporation.
III.2 Compensation and Benefits. During the Employment Term, the
Employee shall be entitled to the following compensation and benefits:
(a) Base Salary. The Employee shall receive an annual base
salary ("Base Salary"), which shall be paid in at least monthly installments.
The Base Salary shall initially be equal to 12 times the highest monthly base
salary that was paid or is payable to the Employee, including any base salary
which has been earned but deferred by the Employee, by the Company and its
Affiliates with respect to any month in the 12-month period ending with the
month that immediately precedes the month in which the Change of Control occurs.
During the Employment Term, the Employee's Base Salary shall be reviewed at such
time as the Company undertakes a salary review of his peer employees (but at
least annually), and, to the extent that salary increases are granted to his
peer employees of the Company (or have been granted during the immediately
preceding 12-month period to his peer employees of any Affiliate of the
Company), the Employee shall be granted a salary increase commensurate with any
increase granted to his peer employees of the Company and its Affiliates. Any
increase in Base Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation
to the Employee under this Agreement. Base Salary shall not be reduced during
the Employment Term (whether or not any increase in Base Salary occurs) and, if
any increase in Base Salary occurs, the term Base Salary as utilized in this
Agreement shall refer to Base Salary as so increased from time to time.
(b) Annual Bonus. In addition to Base Salary, the Employee
shall be awarded, for each fiscal year ending during the Employment Term, an
annual cash bonus (the "Bonus") in an amount at least equal to the average of
the annual bonuses paid to the Employee with respect to the three fiscal years
that immediately precede the year in which the Change of Control occurs under
the Company's annual bonus plan, or any comparable bonus under a successor plan;
provided, however, that if the Company has never paid an annual bonus for a full
year to the Employee, the Employee shall be awarded a Bonus in an amount at
least equal to the target bonus for which the Employee is eligible for the
fiscal year in which the Change of Control occurs, assuming achievement at the
target level of the objective performance goals established with respect to such
bonus and achievement of 100% of any subjective performance goals or criteria
otherwise applicable with respect to such bonus. Each such Bonus shall be paid
no later than the end of the third month of the fiscal year next following the
fiscal year for which the Bonus is awarded, unless the Employee shall elect to
defer the receipt of such Bonus. For purposes of determining the value of any
annual bonuses paid to the Employee in any year preceding the year in which the
Change of Control occurs, all cash and stock bonuses earned by the Employee
shall be valued as of the date of the grant.
(c) Fringe Benefits. The Employee shall be entitled to fringe
benefits (including, but not limited to, any cash payments made in lieu thereof)
commensurate with those provided to his peer employees of the Company and its
Affiliates, but in no event shall such fringe benefits be less favorable than
the most favorable of those provided by the Company and its Affiliates for the
Employee at any time during the one-year period immediately preceding the Change
of Control or, if more favorable to the Employee, those provided generally at
any time after the Change of Control to his peer employees of the Company and
its Affiliates.
(d) Expenses. The Employee shall be entitled to receive prompt
reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Employee in accordance
with the most favorable agreements, policies, practices and procedures of the
Company and its Affiliates in effect for the Employee at any time during the
one-year period immediately preceding the Change of Control or, if more
favorable to the Employee, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with
respect to his peer employees of the Company and its Affiliates.
(e) Benefit Plans. (i) The Employee shall be entitled to
participate in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies
and programs applicable generally to his peer employees of the Company and its
Affiliates, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs
provide the Employee with incentive opportunities (measured with respect to both
regular and special incentive opportunities to the extent that any such
distinction is applicable), savings opportunities and retirement benefit
opportunities, in each case, less favorable than the most favorable of those
provided by the Company and its Affiliates for the Employee under any
agreements, plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect at any time
during the one-year period immediately preceding the Change of Control or, if
more favorable to the Employee, those provided generally at any time after the
Change of Control to his peer employees of the Company and its Affiliates.
(ii) The Employee and his family shall be eligible for
participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans,
practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its Affiliates
(including, without limitation, medical, prescription drug, dental, disability,
salary continuance, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel
accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable generally to his
peer employees of the Company and its Affiliates, but in no event shall such
plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Employee and his family with
benefits, in each case, less favorable than the most favorable of those
agreements, plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for the Employee
and his family at any time during the one-year period immediately preceding the
Change of Control or, if more favorable to the Employee and his family, those
provided generally at any time after the Change of Control to his peer employees
of the Company and
its Affiliates.
(iii) Without limiting the generality of the Company's
obligations under this subsection (e), the Company shall comply with all of its
obligations under the benefit plans, practices, policies and programs of the
Company and its Affiliates that arise in connection with a Change of Control of
the Company, including without limitation all obligations that require the
Company to (A) fully vest participants under the Company's qualified or
non-qualified retirement plans, (B) transfer cash to a trust in exchange for
phantom stock units previously held by participants in the Company's
supplemental defined contribution plan, (C) fully vest employees meeting certain
age and service requirements with post-retirement medical, dental and life
insurance, or (D) extend the benefits described in Section 3.5.
(f) Office and Support Staff. The Employee shall be entitled
to an office or offices of a size and with furnishings and other appointments,
and to secretarial and other assistance, commensurate with those provided to his
peer employees of the Company and its Affiliates.
(g) Vacation. The Employee shall be entitled to paid vacation
in accordance with the most favorable agreements, plans, policies, programs and
practices of the Company and its Affiliates as in effect for the Employee at any
time during the one-year period immediately preceding the Change of Control or,
if more favorable to the Employee, as in effect generally at any time thereafter
with respect to his peer employees of the Company and its Affiliates.
(h) Indemnification. If, in connection with any agreement
related to a transaction that will result in a Change of Control of the Company,
an undertaking is made to provide the Board with rights to indemnification from
the Company (or from any other party to such agreement), the Employee shall, by
virtue of this Agreement, be entitled to the same rights to indemnification as
are provided to the Board pursuant to such agreement. Otherwise, the Employee
shall be entitled to indemnification rights on terms no less favorable to the
Employee than those available under any Company indemnification agreements or
the articles of incorporation, bylaws or resolutions of the Company at any time
after the Change of Control to his peer employees of the Company. Such
indemnification rights shall be with respect to all claims, actions, suits or
proceedings to which the Employee is or is threatened to be made a party that
arise out of or are connected to his services at any time prior to the
termination of his employment, without regard to whether such claims, actions,
suits or proceedings are made, asserted or arise during or after the Employment
Term.
(i) Directors and Officers Insurance. If, in connection with
any agreement related to a transaction that will result in a Change of Control
of the Company, an undertaking is made to provide the Board with continued
coverage following the Change of Control under one or more directors and
officers liability insurance policies, then the Employee shall, by virtue of
this Agreement, be entitled to the same rights to continued coverage under such
directors and officers liability insurance policies as are provided to the
Board, and the Company shall take any steps necessary to give effect to this
provision. Otherwise, the Company shall agree to cover the Employee under any
directors and officers liability insurance policies as are provided generally at
any time after the Change of Control to his peer employees of the Company.
III.3 Obligations upon Termination after a Change of Control.
(a) Termination by Company for Reasons other than Death,
Disability or Cause or by the Employee for Good Reason. If, after a Change of
Control and during the Employment Term, the Company or any of its Affiliates
terminates the Employee's employment other than for Cause, death or Disability,
or the Employee terminates employment for Good Reason, subject to Section 3.6,
(i) the Company shall pay to the Employee in a lump
sum in cash within five business days of the date of termination an
amount equal to three times the sum of (i) the amount of Base Salary in
effect pursuant to Section 3.2(a) hereof at the date of termination,
plus (ii) the greater of (x) the average of the annual bonuses paid or
to be paid to the Employee with respect to the immediately preceding
three fiscal years or (y) the target Bonus for which the Employee
is eligible for the fiscal year in which the date of termination
occurs, assuming achievement at the target level of the objective
performance goals established with respect to such bonus and
achievement of 100% of any subjective performance goals or criteria
otherwise applicable with respect to such bonus; provided, however,
that, if the Employee has in effect a deferral election with respect
to any percentage of the annual bonus which would otherwise become
payable with respect to the fiscal year in which termination occurs,
such lump sum payment shall be reduced by an amount equal to such
percentage times the bonus component of the lump sum payment (which
reduction amount shall be deferred in accordance with such election);
(ii) the Company shall pay to the Employee in a lump
sum in cash within five business days of the date of termination an
amount calculated by multiplying the annual bonus that the Employee
would have earned with respect to the entire fiscal year in which
termination occurs, assuming achievement at the target level of the
objective performance goals established with respect to such bonus and
achievement of 100% of any subjective performance goals or criteria
otherwise applicable with respect to such bonus, by the fraction
obtained by dividing the number of days in such year through the date
of termination by 365; provided, however, that, if the Employee has in
effect a deferral election with respect to any percentage of the annual
bonus which would otherwise become payable with respect to the fiscal
year in which termination occurs, such lump sum payment shall be
reduced by an amount equal to such percentage times the lump sum
payment (which reduction amount shall be deferred in accordance with
such election);
(iii) if, at the date of termination, the Company
shall not yet have paid to the Employee (or deferred in accordance with
any effective deferral election by the Employee) an annual bonus with
respect to a fully completed fiscal year, the Company shall pay to the
Employee in a lump sum in cash within five business days of the date of
termination an amount determined as follows: (i) if the Board (acting
directly or indirectly through any committee or subcommittee) shall
have already determined the amount of such annual bonus, such amount
shall be paid, and (ii) if the Board shall not have already determined
the amount of such annual bonus, the amount to be paid shall be the
greater of the amount provided under Section 3.2(b) hereof or the
annual bonus that the Employee would have earned with respect to such
completed fiscal year, based solely upon the actual level of
achievement of the objective performance goals established with respect
to such bonus and assuming the achievement of 100% of any subjective
performance goals or criteria otherwise applicable with respect to such
bonus; provided, however, that, if the Employee has in effect a
deferral election with respect to any percentage of the annual bonus
which would otherwise become payable with respect to such completed
fiscal year, such lump sum payment shall be reduced by an amount equal
to such percentage times the lump sum payment (which reduction amount
shall be deferred in accordance with such election); provided, further,
that any payment under this subsection (iii) (or any payment under any
other provision of this Agreement calculated by reference to prior or
target bonus amounts) shall be payable notwithstanding any provision to
the contrary set forth in any bonus plan or program of the Company;
(iv) for a period of three years following the date
of termination of employment, or such longer period as may be provided
by the terms of the appropriate plan, program, practice or policy (the
"Continuation Period"), the Company shall at its expense continue on
behalf of the Employee and his dependents and beneficiaries the life
insurance, disability, medical, dental and hospitalization benefits
(including any benefit under any individual benefit arrangement that
covers medical, dental or hospitalization expenses not otherwise
covered under any general Company plan) provided (x) to the Employee at
any time during the one-year period prior to the Change in Control or
at any time thereafter or (y) to other similarly-situated employees who
continue in the employ of the Company or its Affiliates during the
Continuation Period. The coverage and benefits (including deductibles
and costs) provided in this Section 3.3(a)(iv) during the Continuation
Period shall be no less favorable to the Employee and his dependents
and beneficiaries than the most favorable of such coverages and
benefits during any of the periods referred to in clauses (x) or (y)
above; provided, however, in the event of the disability of the
Employee during the Continuation Period, disability benefits shall, to
the maximum extent possible, not be paid for the Continuation Period
but shall instead commence immediately following the end of the
Continuation Period. For purposes of determining eligibility (but not
the time of commencement of benefits) of the Employee for retiree
benefits pursuant to such plans, practices, programs and policies, the
Employee shall be considered to have remained employed until three
years after the date of termination and to have retired on the last day
of such period. The Company's obligation hereunder with respect to the
foregoing benefits shall be limited to the extent that the Employee
obtains any such benefits pursuant to a subsequent employer's benefit
plans, in which case the Company may reduce the coverage of any
benefits it is required to provide the Employee hereunder as long as
the aggregate coverages and benefits of the combined benefit plans is
no less favorable to the Employee than the coverages and benefits
required to be provided hereunder. At the end of the Continuation
Period, the Employee shall have the option to have assigned to him, at
no cost and with no apportionment of prepaid premiums, any assignable
insurance owned by the Company that relates specifically to the
Employee. The Employee will be eligible for coverage under the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act ("COBRA") at the end of
the Continuation Period or earlier cessation of the Company's
obligation under the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.3(a)(iv)
(or, if the Employee shall not be so eligible for any reason, the
Company will provide equivalent coverage);
(v) the Company at its cost shall provide to the
Employee outplacement assistance by a reputable firm specializing in
such services for the period beginning with the termination of
employment and ending upon the lapse of the Employment Term; and
(vi) the Company shall discharge its obligations
under all other applicable sections of this Article III, including
Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7.
The payments and benefits provided in this Section 3.3(a) and under all of the
Company's employee benefit and compensation plans shall be without regard to any
plan amendment made after any Change of Control that adversely affects in any
manner the computation of payments and benefits due the Employee under such plan
or the time or manner of payment of such payments and benefits. After a Change
of Control no discretionary power of the Board or any committee thereof shall be
used in a way (and no ambiguity in any such plan shall be construed in a way)
which adversely affects in any manner any right or benefit of the Employee under
any such plan. If the Employee becomes entitled to receive benefits under this
Section 3.3(a), the Company shall not be required to make any cash severance
payment under any other severance or salary continuation policy, plan, agreement
or arrangement in favor of other officers or employees of the Company or its
Affiliates unless such other policy, plan, agreement or arrangement expressly
provides to the contrary in a provision that specifically states that it is
intended to override the limitation of this sentence.
(b) Death; Disability; Termination for Cause; or Voluntary
Termination. If, after a Change of Control and during the Employment Term, the
Employee's status as an employee is terminated (i) by reason of the Employee's
death or Disability, (ii) by the Company for Cause or (iii) voluntarily by the
Employee other than for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without
further obligation to the Employee or the Employee's legal representatives
(other than the timely payment or provision of those already accrued to the
Employee, imposed by law or imposed pursuant to employee benefit or compensation
plans, programs, practices, policies or agreements maintained by the Company or
its Affiliates).
(c) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for
Cause or by reason of the Employee's Disability, or by the Employee for Good
Reason, shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party
given in accordance with Section 4.2 of this Agreement. For purposes of this
Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i) indicates
the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the
extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances
claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Employee's employment under
the provision so indicated and (iii) if the effective date of the termination is
other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date
(which date shall be not more than 30 days after the giving of such notice),
provided that the effective date for any termination by reason of the Employee's
Disability shall be the 30th day after the giving of such notice, unless prior
to such 30th day the Employee shall have resumed the full- time performance of
his duties. The failure by the Employee or the Company to set forth in the
Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of
Cause, Disability or Good Reason shall not waive any right of the Employee or
the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Employee or the Company,
respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the
Employee's or the Company's rights hereunder.
III.4 Accrued Obligations and Other Benefits. It is the intent of this
Agreement that upon termination of employment for any reason following a Change
of Control the Employee or his legal representatives be entitled to receive
promptly, and in addition to any other benefits specifically provided, (a) the
Employee's Base Salary through the date of termination to the extent not
theretofore paid, (b) any accrued vacation pay, to the extent not theretofore
paid, and (c) any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or
which the Employee or his legal representatives are entitled to receive under
any plan, program, policy, practice or agreement of the Company, including
without limitation all payments required to be made under the Company's
supplemental executive retirement plan.
III.5 Stock Options and Other Incentives. The foregoing benefits
provided for in this Article III are intended to be in addition to the value or
benefit of any stock options, restricted stock, performance shares or similar
awards, the exercisability, vesting or payment of which is accelerated or
otherwise enhanced upon a Change of Control pursuant to the terms of any stock
option, incentive or other similar plan or agreement heretofore or hereafter
adopted by the Company or the Post- Transaction Corporation; provided, however,
that, upon any termination of the Employee other than for Cause within three
years following a Change of Control, all of the Employee's then-outstanding
vested stock options, whether granted before or during the Employment Term,
shall remain exercisable until the later of the 190th day after the termination
date or the end of the exercise period provided for in the applicable option
agreement or plan as then in effect, but in no event shall such exercise period
continue after the date on which such options would have expired if the Employee
had remained an employee of the Company, the Post-Transaction Corporation or one
of their respective Affiliates.
III.6 Excise Tax Provision. (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of
this Agreement, if a Change of Control occurs during the original or extended
term of this Agreement, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to
be received by the Employee in connection with the Change of Control or the
termination of the Employee's employment (whether pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any
Person whose actions result in the Change of Control or any Person Affiliated
with the Company or such Person) (all such payments and benefits, including
without limitation the payments and benefits under Sections 3.3(a), 3.4(b),
3.4(c), 3.5 and 3.7 hereof, being hereinafter called "Payments") would be
subject (in whole or in part) to an excise tax imposed by section 4999 of the
Code or any interest or penalties are incurred by the Employee with respect to
such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties,
are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), the Company shall
pay to the Employee at the time specified in paragraph (d) below an additional
amount (the "Gross-up Payment") such that the net amount retained by the
Employee, after deduction of any Excise Tax on the Payments and all taxes
(including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes),
including without limitation any federal, state and local income or payroll tax
and any Excise Tax, imposed upon the Gross-up Payment provided for by this
paragraph (a), but before deduction of any federal, state and local income or
payroll tax on the Payments, shall be equal to the Payments.
(b) For purposes of determining whether any of the Payments
and the Gross-up Payment (collectively, the "Total Payments") will be subject to
the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax, (i) the Total Payments shall
be treated as "parachute payments" within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of
the Code, and all "excess parachute payments" within the meaning of section
280G(b)(1) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, except to the extent
that in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Company's independent
auditors ("Auditors") and reasonably acceptable to the Employee ("Tax Counsel")
such Total Payments (in whole or in part) do not constitute "parachute
payments", or such "excess parachute payments" (in whole or in part) are not
subject to the Excise Tax and (ii) the value of any non-cash benefits or any
deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Auditors in accordance
with the principles of sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. The Auditors
shall perform the calculations in conformance with the foregoing provisions and
within 15 business days of the date that any Payments are made under this
Agreement shall provide the Employee with a detailed written statement setting
forth the manner in which the Total Payments are calculated and the basis for
such calculations, including without limitation any opinions or other advice
the Company has received from Tax Counsel, the Auditors or other advisors or
consultants (and any such opinions or advice which are in writing shall be
attached to the statement).
(c) For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-up
Payment, the Employee shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest
marginal rates of federal income taxation applicable to individuals in the
calendar year in which the Gross-up Payment is to be made and state and local
income taxes at the highest marginal rates of taxation in the state and locality
of the Employee's residence in the calendar year in which the Gross-up Payment
is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could
be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes, taking into account
any limitations applicable to individuals subject to federal income tax at the
highest marginal rates.
(d) The initial Gross-up Payment, if any, as determined
pursuant to this Section 3.6, shall be paid to the Employee within five days of
the receipt of the Auditors' determination. If the Auditors determine that no
Excise Tax is payable by the Employee, the Company shall cause the Auditors to
furnish the Employee with an opinion that failure to report any Excise Tax on
the Employee's applicable federal income tax return would not result in the
imposition of a negligence or similar penalty.
(e) If it is established pursuant to a final determination of
a court or Internal Revenue Service proceeding or the written opinion of Tax
Counsel that the Excise Tax is less than the amount taken into account hereunder
at the time the Gross-up Payment is made, the Employee shall repay to the
Company within 30 days of the Employee's receipt of notice of such final
determination or opinion the portion of the Gross-up Payment attributable to
such reduction (plus the portion of the Gross-up Payment attributable to the
Excise Tax, federal, state and local income tax and Excise Tax imposed on the
portion of the Gross-up Payment being repaid by the Employee if such repayment
results in a reduction of Excise Tax or federal, state and local income tax),
plus interest on the amount of such repayment at the rate provided in section
1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event any
portion of the Gross-up Payment to be refunded to the Company has been paid to
any federal, state and local tax authority, the payment thereof (and related
amounts) shall not be required until actual refund or credit of such portion has
been made to the Employee, and interest payable to the Company shall not exceed
the interest received or credited to the Employee by such tax authority for the
period that it held such portion. The Employee and the Company shall endeavor to
mutually agree upon the course of action to be pursued (and the method of
allocating the expense thereof) if the Employee's claim for refund or credit is
denied. If it is established pursuant to a final determination of a court or an
Internal Revenue Service proceeding or the written opinion of Tax Counsel that
the Excise Tax exceeds the amount taken into account hereunder at the time the
Gross-up Payment is made (including by reason of any payment the existence or
amount of which cannot be determined at the time of the Gross-up Payment), the
Company shall make an additional Gross-up Payment in respect of such excess
(plus any interest or penalties payable with respect to such excess), as
determined by the Auditors, within 30 days of the Company's receipt of notice of
such final determination or opinion.
(f) In the event of any controversy with the Internal Revenue
Service (or other taxing authority) with regard to the Excise Tax, the Employee
shall permit the Company to control issues relating to the Excise Tax (at its
expense), provided that such issues do not potentially materially adversely
affect the Employee, but the Employee shall control any other issues. In the
event that the issues are interrelated, the Employee and the Company shall in
good faith cooperate so as not to jeopardize resolution of either issue, but if
the parties cannot agree, the Employee shall make the final determination with
regard to the issues. In the event of any conference with any taxing authority
as to the Excise Tax or associated income taxes, the Employee shall permit a
representative of the Company to accompany the Employee, and the Employee and
the Employee's representative shall cooperate with the Company and its
representative. The Company and the Employee shall promptly deliver to each
other copies of any written communications, and summaries of any verbal
communications, with any taxing authority regarding the Excise Tax covered by
this Section 3.6.
(g) The Company shall be responsible for all charges of the Tax
Counsel and the Auditors.
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to
the contrary, if it is determined by the Auditors that the gross-up provisions
in this Section 3.6 as they relate to the accelerated vesting of nonqualified
stock options or restricted stock issued by the Company would be the sole reason
precluding the use by the Company of the pooling of interests method of
accounting, then the tax gross-up provisions of this Section 3.6 shall not apply
to such nonqualified stock options or restricted stock as the case may be,
unless the Gross-up Payment can be altered, modified or delayed to allow it to
be paid without precluding the use of the pooling of interest method of
accounting. The Company will use its best efforts to alter, modify, or delay the
payment so that the Gross-up Payment can be made.
III.7 Legal Fees. The Company agrees to pay as incurred, to the full
extent permitted by law, all legal fees and other expenses (including expert
witness and accounting fees) which the Employee may reasonably incur as a result
of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Employee
or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any
provision of this Agreement (including as a result of any contest by the
Employee about the amount or timing of any payment pursuant to this Agreement)
or which the Employee may reasonably incur in connection with any tax audit or
proceeding to the extent attributable to the application of section 4999 of the
Code to any payment or benefit provided under this Agreement.
III.8 Set-Off; Mitigation. After a Change of Control, the obligations
of the Company and its Affiliates to make the payments provided for in this
Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be
affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right
or action which the Company or its Affiliates may have against the Employee or
others other than the Company's right to reduce welfare benefits under the
circumstances described in Section 3.3(a)(iv). It is the intent of this
Agreement that in no event shall the Employee be obligated to seek other
employment or take any other action to mitigate the amounts or benefits payable
to the Employee under any of the provisions of this Agreement.
III.9 Certain Pre-Change-of-Control Terminations. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, the Employee's employment shall be deemed
to have been terminated following a Change of Control by the Company without
Cause (and the Employee shall be entitled to receive all payments and benefits
associated therewith) if the Employee's employment is terminated by the Company
or any of its Affiliates without Cause prior to a Change of Control (whether or
not a Change of Control actually occurs) and such termination (i) was at the
request or direction of a third party who has taken steps designed to effect a
Change of Control or otherwise arose in connection with or in anticipation of a
Change of Control or (ii) occurred after discussions with a third party
regarding a possible Change of Control transaction commenced and such
discussions produced (whether before or after such termination) either a
preliminary or definitive agreement with respect to such a transaction or a
public announcement of the pending transaction (whether or not a Change of
Control actually occurs). If the Employee takes the position that the foregoing
sentence applies and the Company disagrees, the Company shall have the burden of
proof in any such dispute.
ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS
IV.1 Binding Effect; Successors.
(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the Company and any of its successors or assigns.
(b) This Agreement is personal to the Employee and shall not
be assignable by the Employee without the consent of the Company (there being no
obligation to give such consent) other than such rights or benefits as are
transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution, which shall inure
to the benefit of the Employee's legal representatives.
(c) The Company shall require any successor to or assignee of
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, share exchange, merger, consolidation
or otherwise) all or substantially all of the assets or businesses of the
Company (i) to assume unconditionally and expressly this Agreement and (ii) to
agree to perform or to cause to be performed all of the obligations under this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as would have been required
of the Company had no assignment or succession occurred, such assumption to be
set forth in a writing reasonably satisfactory to the Employee.
(d) The Company shall also require all entities that control
or that after the transaction will control (directly or indirectly) the Company
or any such successor or assignee to agree to cause to be performed all of the
obligations under this Agreement, such agreement to be set forth in a writing
reasonably satisfactory to the Employee.
(e) The obligations of the Company and the Employee which by
their nature may require either partial or total performance after the
expiration of the term of the Agreement shall survive such expiration.
IV.2 Notices. All notices hereunder must be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been given upon receipt of delivery by: (a) hand (against a
receipt therefor), (b) certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return
receipt requested, (c) a nationally recognized overnight courier service
(against a receipt therefor) or (d) telecopy transmission with confirmation of
receipt. All such notices must be addressed as follows:
If to the Company, to:
CenturyTel, Inc.
100 Century Park Drive
Monroe, Louisiana 71203
Attn: General Counsel
If to the Employee, to:
Glen F. Post, III
100 Century Park Drive
Monroe, Louisiana 71203
(or, if the Employee is no longer employed at such address, to
the Employee's last known principal residence reflected in the
Company's records)
or such other address as to which any party hereto may have notified the other
in writing.
IV.3 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in
accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the State of Louisiana
without regard to principles of conflict of laws.
IV.4 Withholding. The Employee agrees that the Company has the right
to withhold, from the amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement, all amounts
required to be withheld under applicable income or employment tax laws, or as
otherwise stated in documents granting rights that are affected by this
Agreement.
IV.5 Amendment. No provision of this Agreement may be modified or
amended except by an instrument in writing signed by both parties.
IV.6 Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement, or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall at any time or to any
extent be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect as written, the
Employee and the Company intend for any court construing this Agreement to
modify or limit such provision so as to render it valid and enforceable to the
fullest extent allowed by law. Any such provision that is not susceptible of
such reformation shall be ignored so as to not affect any other term or
provision hereof, and the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of
such term or provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which
it is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby and
shall be valid and enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.
IV.7 Waiver of Breach. Except as expressly provided herein to the
contrary, the failure by any party to enforce any of its rights hereunder shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of such rights, unless such waiver is an express
written waiver. The waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this
Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach
thereof.
IV.8 Remedies Not Exclusive. No remedy specified herein shall be
deemed to be such party's exclusive remedy, and accordingly, in addition to all
of the rights and remedies provided for in this Agreement, the parties shall
have all other rights and remedies provided to them by applicable law, rule or
regulation, including without limitation the right to claim interest with
respect to any payment not timely made hereunder.
IV.9 Company's Reservation of Rights. The Employee acknowledges and
understands that (i) the Employee is employed at will by either the Company or
one of its Affiliates (the "Employer"), (ii) the Employee serves at the pleasure
of the board of directors of the Employer, and (iii) the Employer has the right
at any time to terminate the Employee's status as an employee, or to change or
diminish his status during the Employment Term, subject to the rights of the
Employee to claim the benefits conferred by this Agreement. Notwithstanding any
other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement shall not
entitle the Employee or his legal representatives to any severance or other
benefits of any kind prior to a Change of Control or to any such benefits if
Employee is not employed by the Company or one of its Affiliates on the date of
a Change of Control, except in each case for those rights afforded under Section
3.9.
IV.10 Non-exclusivity of Rights. Subject to Section 4.9, nothing in
this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Employee's continuing or future
participation in any plan, program, policy or practice provided by the Company
or any of its Affiliates and for which the Employee may qualify, nor shall
anything herein limit or otherwise restrict such rights as the Employee may have
under any contract or agreement with the Company or any of its Affiliates. The
Employee shall not be obligated to furnish a release of any rights or claims
against the Company or its Affiliates as a condition of receiving benefits
hereunder.
IV.11 Confidentiality. Upon receipt of the payments or benefits
contemplated by Section 3.3 hereof, the Employee agrees to refrain for a period
of three years from divulging any non-public, confidential or proprietary
information concerning the Company or its Affiliates to any Person other than
the Company, its Affiliates or their respective officers, directors or advisors,
provided that this obligation shall lapse prior to the end of such three-year
period with respect to any information that (i) is or becomes generally
available to the public other than as a result of a breach of this Section 4.11,
(ii) is or becomes available to the Employee on a non-confidential basis from a
source other than the Company or its representatives, provided that such source
is not known by the Employee to have violated any confidentiality agreement with
the Company in connection with such disclosure, or (iii) is acquired or
developed independently by the Employee without violating this Section 4.11.
IV.12 Demand for Benefits.Unless otherwise provided herein, the
payment or payments due hereunder shall be paid to the Employee without the need
for demand, and to a beneficiary upon the receipt of the beneficiary's address
and social security number. Nevertheless, the Employee or a Person claiming to
be a beneficiary who claims entitlement to a benefit can file a claim for
benefits hereunder with the Company. Unless otherwise provided herein, the
Company shall accept or reject the claim within five business days of its
receipt. If the claim is denied, the Company shall give the reason for denial in
a written notice that refers to the provision of this Agreement that forms the
basis of the denial. If any additional information or material is necessary to
perfect the claim, the Company will identify these items in writing and explain
why such additional information is necessary.
IV.13 Authority. The Company represents and warrants that (i) this
Agreement was duly authorized by the Shareholder Relations Committee of the
Board and the Compensation Committee of the Board on February 21, 2000 and by
the Board on February 22, 2000, and (ii) no other corporate proceedings are
necessary to authorize the Company's execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement.
IV.14 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Employee have caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the Agreement Date.
CENTURYTEL, INC.
By: /s/ Clarke M. Williams
-------------------------------------
Clarke M. Williams
Chairman of the Board
EMPLOYEE:
/s/ Glen F. Post, III
----------------------------------------
Glen F. Post, III
Exhibit 10.1(c)
FORM OF CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
(with Executive Officers)
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated effective as of
February 22, 2000 (the "Agreement Date"), between CenturyTel, Inc., a Louisiana
corporation (the "Company"), and ______________ (the "Employee").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has
determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders
to take steps designed to retain the services of the Employee and to assure the
full dedication of the Employee, free from personal distraction, in the event of
an actual or pending change of control of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Board believes that this agreement accomplishes these and
other related objectives;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
I.1 Affiliate. "Affiliate" (and variants thereof) shall mean a Person
that controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another
specified Person, either directly or indirectly.
I.2 Beneficial Owner. "Beneficial Owner" (and variants thereof), with
respect to a security, shall mean a Person who, directly or indirectly (through
any contract, understanding, relationship or otherwise), has or shares (i) the
power to vote, or direct the voting of, the security, or (ii) the power to
dispose of, or direct the disposition of, the security.
I.3 Cause. (a) "Cause" shall mean:
(i) conviction of a felony;
(ii) habitual intoxication during working hours;
(iii) habitual abuse of or addiction to a controlled
dangerous substance; or
(iv) the willful and continued failure of the Employee
to perform substantially the Employee's duties with the
Company or its Affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from
incapacity due to physical or mental illness or the Employee's
termination of employment for Good Reason) for a period of 15 days
after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the
Employee by the Board which specifically identifies the manner in
which the Board believes that the Employee has not substantially
performed the Employee's duties.
(b) For purposes of this Section 1.3, no act or failure to act
on the part of the Employee shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or
omitted to be done, by the Employee in bad faith and without reasonable belief
that the Employee's action or omission was in the best interests of the Company
or its Affiliates. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given
pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or upon the instructions of a
senior officer of the Company or based upon the advice of counsel for the
Company or its Affiliates shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted
to be done, by the Employee in good faith and in the best interests of the
Company or its Affiliates. Any termination by the Company or any of its
Affiliates of the Employee's employment during the Employment Term (as defined
in Section 1.8) shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless the Employee's action
or inaction meets the foregoing standard and until there shall have been
delivered to the Employee a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative
vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board at a
meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice
is provided to the Employee and the Employee is given an opportunity, together
with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith
opinion of the Board, the Employee is guilty of the conduct described in
subparagraph (a) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
(c) No action or inaction shall be deemed the basis for Cause
unless the Employee is terminated therefor within 120 days after such action or
omission is known to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
(d) In the event that the existence of Cause shall become an
issue in any action or proceeding between the Company and the Employee, the
Company shall, notwithstanding the finding of the Board referenced above, have
the burden of establishing that the actions or inactions deemed the basis for
Cause did in fact occur and do constitute Cause and that the Company has
satisfied the procedural requirements of this provision. The satisfaction of the
Company's burden shall require clear and convincing evidence. Any purported
termination of employment of the Employee by the Company which does not meet
each and every substantive and procedural requirement of this provision shall be
treated for all purposes under this Agreement as a termination of employment
without Cause.
I.4 Change of Control. "Change of Control" shall mean:
(a) the acquisition by any Person of Beneficial Ownership of
30% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock, $1.00 par
value per share (the "Common Stock"), or 30% or more of the combined voting
power of the Company's then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors; provided, however, that for purposes of this
subsection (a), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of
Control:
(i) any acquisition (other than a Business Combination
which constitutes a Change of Control under Section 1.4(c) hereof)
of Common Stock directly from the Company,
(ii) any acquisition of Common Stock by the Company or
its subsidiaries,
(iii) any acquisition of Common Stock by any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company
or any corporation controlled by the Company, or
(iv) any acquisition of Common Stock by any corporation
pursuant to a Business Combination that does not constitute a Change
of Control under Section 1.4(c) hereof; or
(b) individuals who, as of the Agreement Date, constitute the
Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the Agreement Date whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-
thirds of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered
a member of the Incumbent Board, unless such individual's initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with
respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the
Incumbent Board; or
(c) consummation of a reorganization, share exchange, merger
or consolidation (including any such transaction involving any direct or
indirect subsidiary of the Company), or sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company (a "Business Combination");
provided, however, that in no such case shall any such transaction constitute a
Change of Control if immediately following such Business Combination,
(i) the individuals and entities who were the
Beneficial Owners of the Company's outstanding common stock and the
Company's voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election
of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination have direct
or indirect Beneficial Ownership, respectively, of more than 50% of the
then outstanding shares of common stock, and more than 50% of the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, of the
Post-Transaction Corporation (as defined in Section 1.11 hereof), and
(ii) except to the extent that such ownership existed
prior to the Business Combination, no Person (excluding the
Post-Transaction Corporation and any employee benefit plan or related
trust of either the Company, the Post-Transaction Corporation or any
subsidiary of either corporation) Beneficially Owns, directly or
indirectly, 20% or more of the then outstanding shares of common stock
of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or 20% or
more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation, and
(iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of
directors of the Post-Transaction Corporation were members of the
Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement,
or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination;
or
(d) approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
I.5 Code. "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time.
I.6 Company. "Company" shall mean CenturyTel, Inc. and shall include
any successor to or assignee of (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, share
exchange, merger, consolidation or otherwise) all or substantially all of the
assets or business of the Company that assumes and agrees to perform this
Agreement by operation of law or otherwise.
I.7 Disability. "Disability" shall mean a condition that would
entitle the Employee to receive benefits under the long-term disability
insurance policy applicable to the Company's officers at the time either because
the Employee is totally disabled or partially disabled, as such terms are
defined in the policy then in effect. If the Company has no long-term disability
plan in effect, "Disability" shall occur if (a) the Employee is rendered
incapable because of physical or mental illness of satisfactorily discharging
his duties and responsibilities to the Company for a period of 90 consecutive
days, (b) a duly qualified physician chosen by the Company and acceptable to the
Employee or his legal representatives so certifies in writing, and (c) the Board
determines that the Employee has become disabled.
I.8 Employment Term. "Employment Term" shall mean the period
commencing on the date of a Change of Control and ending on the third
anniversary of such date.
I.9 Good Reason. (a) Any act or failure to act by the Company or its
Affiliates specified in this Section 1.9 shall constitute "Good Reason" unless
the Employee shall otherwise expressly agree in a writing that specifically
refers to this Section 1.9:
(i) Any failure of the Company or its Affiliates to
provide the Employee with a position, authority, duties and
responsibilities at least commensurate in all material respects with
the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time
during the 180-day period immediately preceding the Change of Control.
The Employee's position, authority, duties and responsibilities after a
Change of Control shall not be considered commensurate in all material
respects with the Employee's position, authority, duties and
responsibilities prior to a Change of Control unless after the Change
of Control the Employee holds an equivalent position with, and
exercises substantially equivalent authority, duties and
responsibilities on behalf of, either the Post-Transaction Corporation
or the Company;
(ii) The assignment to the Employee of any duties
inconsistent in any material respect with the Employee's position
(including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements),
authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 3.1(b)
of this Agreement, or any other action that results in a diminution in
such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding
for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not
taken in bad faith that the Company remedies within 10 days after its
receipt of written notice thereof from the Employee;
(iii) A material increase in the Employee's responsi-
bilities or duties without a commensurate increase in total
compensation;
(iv) Any failure by the Company to comply with and
satisfy Sections 4.1 (c) or (d) of this Agreement;
(v) Any failure by the Company or its Affiliates to
comply with any of the other provisions of this Agreement, other than
an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad
faith that the Company remedies within 10 days after its receipt of
written notice thereof from the Employee;
(vi) Any directive requiring the Employee to be based
at any office or location other than as provided in Section 3.1(b)(ii)
hereof or requiring the Employee to travel on business to a
substantially greater extent than required immediately prior to the
Change of Control; or
(vii) Any purported termination of the Employee's
employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement.
(b) For purposes of this Section 1.9, any good faith
determination of "Good Reason" made by the Employee shall be conclusive and
binding for all purposes, unless the Company establishes by clear and convincing
evidence that the Employee did not have any reasonable basis for such
determination.
(c) No action or inaction by the Company shall be deemed the
basis for Good Reason unless the Employee asserts his right hereunder to
terminate employment with Good Reason prior to the first anniversary of the date
on which the Employee obtained actual knowledge of such act or omission. Except
as otherwise provided in the prior sentence, neither the Employee's continued
employment with the Company or its Affiliates nor any delay in the Employee's
assertion of his rights to terminate employment with Good Reason shall be deemed
to constitute a waiver of any of the Employee's rights hereunder.
(d) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,
a resignation by the Employee for any reason during the 30-day period
immediately following the first anniversary of the Change of Control
shall be deemed to be a termination for Good Reason and the Employee shall be
entitled to receive all payments and benefits hereunder associated therewith.
I.10 Person. "Person" shall mean a natural person or entity, and shall
also mean the group or syndicate created when two or more Persons act as a
syndicate or other group (including, without limitation, a partnership or
limited partnership) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, or disposing of
a security, except that "Person" shall not include an underwriter temporarily
holding a security pursuant to an offering of the security.
I.11 Post-Transaction Corporation. Unless a Change of Control results
from a Business Combination (as defined in Section 1.4(c) hereof),
"Post-Transaction Corporation" shall mean the Company after the Change of
Control. If a Change of Control results from a Business Combination,
"Post-Transaction Corporation" shall mean the corporation or other entity
resulting from the Business Combination unless, as a result of such Business
Combination, an ultimate parent corporation controls such resulting entity, the
Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or
indirectly, in which case "Post-Transaction Corporation" shall mean such
ultimate parent corporation.
ARTICLE II
STATUS OF CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENTS
Notwithstanding any provisions thereof, this Agreement supersedes any
and all prior agreements between the Company and the Employee that provide for
severance benefits in the event of a Change of Control of the Company, as
defined therein, and is effective as of the Agreement Date.
ARTICLE III
CHANGE OF CONTROL BENEFITS
III.1 Employment Term and Capacity after Change of Control. (a) This
Agreement shall commence on the Agreement Date and continue in effect through
December 31, 2001; provided, however, that, commencing on January 1, 2002 and
each January 1 thereafter, the term of this Agreement shall automatically be
extended for one additional year unless, not later than June 30 of the preceding
year, the Company shall have given written notice that it does not wish to
extend this Agreement; provided, further, that, notwithstanding any such
non-extension notice by the Company, if a Change of Control of the Company shall
have occurred during the original or extended term of this Agreement, this
Agreement shall continue in effect through the third anniversary of the Change
of Control, subject to any earlier termination of the Employee's status as an
employee pursuant to this Agreement; provided, further, that in no event shall
any termination of this Agreement result in any forfeiture of rights that
accrued prior to the date of termination.
(b) During the Employment Term, the Company hereby agrees to
continue the Employee in its employ, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. During the Employment Term, (i) the Employee's position (including
status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and
responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all material respects with
the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during
the 180-day period immediately preceding the Change of Control and (ii) the
Employee's services shall be performed during normal business hours at the
location of the Company's principal executive office at the time of the Change
of Control, or the office or location where the Employee was employed
immediately preceding the Change of Control or any relocation of any such site
to a location that is not more than 35 miles from its location at the time of
the Change of Control. The Employee's position, authority, duties and
responsibilities after a Change of Control shall not be considered commensurate
in all material respects with the Employee's position, authority, duties and
responsibilities prior to a Change of Control unless after the Change of Control
the Employee holds an equivalent position with, and exercises substantially
equivalent authority, duties and responsibilities on behalf of, either the
Post-Transaction Corporation or the Company.
III.2 Compensation and Benefits. During the Employment Term, the
Employee shall be entitled to the following compensation and benefits:
(a) Base Salary. The Employee shall receive an annual base
salary ("Base Salary"), which shall be paid in at least monthly installments.
The Base Salary shall initially be equal to 12 times the highest monthly base
salary that was paid or is payable to the Employee, including any base salary
which has been earned but deferred by the Employee, by the Company and its
Affiliates with respect to any month in the 12-month period ending with the
month that immediately precedes the month in which the Change of Control occurs.
During the Employment Term, the Employee's Base Salary shall be reviewed at such
time as the Company undertakes a salary review of his peer employees (but at
least annually), and, to the extent that salary increases are granted to his
peer employees of the Company (or have been granted during the immediately
preceding 12-month period to his peer employees of any Affiliate of the
Company), the Employee shall be granted a salary increase commensurate with any
increase granted to his peer employees of the Company and its Affiliates. Any
increase in Base Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation
to the Employee under this Agreement. Base Salary shall not be reduced during
the Employment Term (whether or not any increase in Base Salary occurs) and, if
any increase in Base Salary occurs, the term Base Salary as utilized in this
Agreement shall refer to Base Salary as so increased from time to time.
(b) Annual Bonus. In addition to Base Salary, the Employee
shall be awarded, for each fiscal year ending during the Employment Term, an
annual cash bonus (the "Bonus") in an amount at least equal to the average of
the annual bonuses paid to the Employee with respect to the three fiscal years
that immediately precede the year in which the Change of Control occurs under
the Company's annual bonus plan, or any comparable bonus under a successor plan;
provided, however, that if the Company has never paid an annual bonus for a full
year to the Employee, the Employee shall be awarded a Bonus in an amount at
least equal to the target bonus for which the Employee is eligible for the
fiscal year in which the Change of Control occurs, assuming achievement at the
target level of the objective performance goals established with respect to such
bonus and achievement of 100% of any subjective performance goals or criteria
otherwise applicable with respect to such bonus. Each such Bonus shall be paid
no later than the end of the third month of the fiscal year next following the
fiscal year for which the Bonus is awarded, unless the Employee shall elect to
defer the receipt of such Bonus. For purposes of determining the value of any
annual bonuses paid to the Employee in any year preceding the year in which the
Change of Control occurs, all cash and stock bonuses earned by the Employee
shall be valued as of the date of the grant.
(c) Fringe Benefits. The Employee shall be entitled to fringe
benefits (including, but not limited to, any cash payments made in lieu thereof)
commensurate with those provided to his peer employees of the Company and its
Affiliates, but in no event shall such fringe benefits be less favorable than
the most favorable of those provided by the Company and its Affiliates for the
Employee at any time during the one-year period immediately preceding the Change
of Control or, if more favorable to the Employee, those provided generally at
any time after the Change of Control to his peer employees of the Company and
its Affiliates.
(d) Expenses. The Employee shall be entitled to receive prompt
reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Employee in accordance
with the most favorable agreements, policies, practices and procedures of the
Company and its Affiliates in effect for the Employee at any time during the
one-year period immediately preceding the Change of Control or, if more
favorable to the Employee, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with
respect to his peer employees of the Company and its Affiliates.
(e) Benefit Plans. (i) The Employee shall be entitled to
participate in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies
and programs applicable generally to his peer employees of the Company and its
Affiliates, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs
provide the Employee with incentive opportunities (measured with respect to both
regular and special incentive opportunities to the extent that any such
distinction is applicable), savings opportunities and retirement benefit
opportunities, in each case, less favorable than the most favorable of those
provided by the Company and its Affiliates for the Employee under any
agreements, plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect at any time
during the one-year period immediately preceding the Change of Control or, if
more favorable to the Employee, those provided generally at any time after the
Change of Control to his peer employees of the Company and its Affiliates.
(ii) The Employee and his family shall be eligible for
participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans,
practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its Affiliates
(including, without limitation, medical, prescription drug, dental, disability,
salary continuance, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel
accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable generally to his
peer employees of the Company and its Affiliates, but in no event shall such
plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Employee and his family with
benefits, in each case, less favorable than the most favorable of those
agreements, plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for the Employee
and his family at any time during the one- year period immediately preceding the
Change of Control or, if more favorable to the Employee and his family, those
provided generally at any time after the Change of Control to his peer employees
of the Company and its Affiliates.
(iii) Without limiting the generality of the Company's
obligations under this subsection (e), the Company shall comply with all of its
obligations under the benefit plans, practices, policies and programs of the
Company and its Affiliates that arise in connection with a Change of Control of
the Company, including without limitation all obligations that require the
Company to (A) fully vest participants under the Company's qualified or
non-qualified retirement plans, (B) transfer cash to a trust in exchange for
phantom stock units previously held by participants in the Company's
supplemental defined contribution plan, (C) fully vest employees meeting certain
age and service requirements with post-retirement medical, dental and life
insurance, or (D) extend the benefits described in Section 3.5.
(f) Office and Support Staff. The Employee shall be entitled
to an office or offices of a size and with furnishings and other appointments,
and to secretarial and other assistance, commensurate with those provided to his
peer employees of the Company and its Affiliates.
(g) Vacation. The Employee shall be entitled to paid vacation
in accordance with the most favorable agreements, plans, policies, programs and
practices of the Company and its Affiliates as in effect for the Employee at any
time during the one-year period immediately preceding the Change of Control or,
if more favorable to the Employee, as in effect generally at any time thereafter
with respect to his peer employees of the Company and its Affiliates.
(h) Indemnification. If, in connection with any agreement
related to a transaction that will result in a Change of Control of the Company,
an undertaking is made to provide the Board with rights to indemnification from
the Company (or from any other party to such agreement), the Employee shall, by
virtue of this Agreement, be entitled to the same rights to indemnification as
are provided to the Board pursuant to such agreement. Otherwise, the Employee
shall be entitled to indemnification rights on terms no less favorable to the
Employee than those available under any Company indemnification agreements or
the articles of incorporation, bylaws or resolutions of the Company at any time
after the Change of Control to his peer employees of the Company. Such
indemnification rights shall be with respect to all claims, actions, suits or
proceedings to which the Employee is or is threatened to be made a party that
arise out of or are connected to his services at any time prior to the
termination of his employment, without regard to whether such claims, actions,
suits or proceedings are made, asserted or arise during or after the Employment
Term.
(i) Directors and Officers Insurance. If, in connection with
any agreement related to a transaction that will result in a Change of Control
of the Company, an undertaking is made to provide the Board with continued
coverage following the Change of Control under one or more directors and
officers liability insurance policies, then the Employee shall, by virtue of
this Agreement, be entitled to the same rights to continued coverage under such
directors and officers liability insurance policies as are provided to the
Board, and the Company shall take any steps necessary to give effect to this
provision. Otherwise, the Company shall agree to cover the Employee under any
directors and officers liability insurance policies as are provided generally at
any time after the Change of Control to his peer employees of the Company.
III.3 Obligations upon Termination after a Change of Control.
(a) Termination by Company for Reasons other than Death,
Disability or Cause or by the Employee for Good Reason. If, after a Change of
Control and during the Employment Term, the Company or any of its Affiliates
terminates the Employee's employment other than for Cause, death or Disability,
or the Employee terminates employment for Good Reason, subject to Section 3.6,
(i) the Company shall pay to the Employee in a lump
sum in cash within five business days of the date of termination an
amount equal to three times the sum of (i) the amount of Base Salary in
effect pursuant to Section 3.2(a) hereof at the date of termination,
plus (ii) the greater of (x) the average of the annual bonuses paid or
to be paid to the Employee with respect to the immediately preceding
three fiscal years
or (y) the target Bonus for which the Employee is eligible for the
fiscal year in which the date of termination occurs, assuming
achievement at the target level of the objective performance goals
established with respect to such bonus and achievement of 100% of any
subjective performance goals or criteria otherwise applicable with
respect to such bonus; provided, however, that, if the Employee has in
effect a deferral election with respect to any percentage of the annual
bonus which would otherwise become payable with respect to the fiscal
year in which termination occurs, such lump sum payment shall be
reduced by an amount equal to such percentage times the bonus component
of the lump sum payment (which reduction amount shall be deferred in
accordance with such election);
(ii) the Company shall pay to the Employee in a lump
sum in cash within five business days of the date of termination an
amount calculated by multiplying the annual bonus that the Employee
would have earned with respect to the entire fiscal year in which
termination occurs, assuming achievement at the target level of the
objective performance goals established with respect to such bonus and
achievement of 100% of any subjective performance goals or criteria
otherwise applicable with respect to such bonus, by the fraction
obtained by dividing the number of days in such year through the date
of termination by 365; provided, however, that, if the Employee has in
effect a deferral election with respect to any percentage of the annual
bonus which would otherwise become payable with respect to the fiscal
year in which termination occurs, such lump sum payment shall be
reduced by an amount equal to such percentage times the lump sum
payment (which reduction amount shall be deferred in accordance with
such election);
(iii) if, at the date of termination, the Company
shall not yet have paid to the Employee (or deferred in accordance with
any effective deferral election by the Employee) an annual bonus with
respect to a fully completed fiscal year, the Company shall pay to the
Employee in a lump sum in cash within five business days of the date of
termination an amount determined as follows: (i) if the Board (acting
directly or indirectly through any committee or subcommittee) shall
have already determined the amount of such annual bonus, such amount
shall be paid, and (ii) if the Board shall not have already determined
the amount of such annual bonus, the amount to be paid shall be the
greater of the amount provided under Section 3.2(b) hereof or the
annual bonus that the Employee would have earned with respect to such
completed fiscal year, based solely upon the actual level of
achievement of the objective performance goals established with respect
to such bonus and assuming the achievement of 100% of any subjective
performance goals or criteria otherwise applicable with respect to such
bonus; provided, however, that, if the Employee has in effect a
deferral election with respect to any percentage of the annual bonus
which would otherwise become payable with respect to such completed
fiscal year, such lump sum payment shall be reduced by an amount equal
to such percentage times the lump sum payment (which reduction amount
shall be deferred in accordance with such election); provided, further,
that any payment under this subsection (iii) (or any payment under any
other provision of this Agreement calculated by reference to prior or
target bonus amounts) shall be payable notwithstanding any provision to
the contrary set forth in any bonus plan or program of the Company;
(iv) for a period of three years following the date
of termination of employment, or such longer period as may be provided
by the terms of the appropriate plan, program, practice or policy (the
"Continuation Period"), the Company shall at its expense continue on
behalf of the Employee and his dependents and beneficiaries the life
insurance, disability, medical, dental and hospitalization benefits
(including any benefit under any individual benefit arrangement that
covers medical, dental or hospitalization expenses not otherwise
covered under any general Company plan) provided (x) to the Employee at
any time during the one-year period prior to the Change in Control or
at any time thereafter or (y) to other similarly-situated employees who
continue in the employ of the Company or its Affiliates during the
Continuation Period. The coverage and benefits (including deductibles
and costs) provided in this Section 3.3(a)(iv) during the Continuation
Period shall be no less favorable to the Employee and his dependents
and beneficiaries than the most favorable of such coverages and
benefits during any of the periods referred to in clauses (x) or (y)
above; provided, however, in the event of the disability of the
Employee during the Continuation Period, disability benefits shall, to
the maximum extent possible, not be paid for the Continuation Period
but shall instead commence immediately following the end of the
Continuation Period. For purposes of determining eligibility (but not
the time of commencement of benefits) of the Employee for retiree
benefits pursuant to such plans, practices, programs and policies, the
Employee shall be considered to have remained employed until three
years after the date of termination and to have retired on the last day
of such period. The Company's obligation hereunder with respect to the
foregoing benefits shall be limited to the extent that the Employee
obtains any such benefits pursuant to a subsequent employer's benefit
plans, in which case the Company may reduce the coverage of any
benefits it is required to provide the Employee hereunder as long as
the aggregate coverages and benefits of the combined benefit plans is
no less favorable to the Employee than the coverages and benefits
required to be provided hereunder. At the end of the Continuation
Period, the Employee shall have the option to have assigned to him, at
no cost and with no apportionment of prepaid premiums, any assignable
insurance owned by the Company that relates specifically to the
Employee. The Employee will be eligible for coverage under the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act ("COBRA") at the end of
the Continuation Period or earlier cessation of the Company's
obligation under the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.3(a)(iv)
(or, if the Employee shall not be so eligible for any reason, the
Company will provide equivalent coverage);
(v) the Company at its cost shall provide to the
Employee outplacement assistance by a reputable firm specializing in
such services for the period beginning with the termination of
employment and ending upon the lapse of the Employment Term; and
(vi) the Company shall discharge its obligations
under all other applicable sections of this Article III, including
Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7.
The payments and benefits provided in this Section 3.3(a) and under all of
the Company's employee benefit and compensation plans shall be without
regard to any plan amendment made after any Change of Control that
adversely affects in any manner the computation of payments and benefits
due the Employee under such plan or the time or manner of payment of such
payments and benefits. After a Change of Control no discretionary power of
the Board or any committee thereof shall be used in a way (and no ambiguity
in any such plan shall be construed in a way) which adversely affects in
any manner any right or benefit of the Employee under any such plan. If the
Employee becomes entitled to receive benefits under this Section 3.3(a),
the Company shall not be required to make any cash severance payment under
any other severance or salary continuation policy, plan, agreement or
arrangement in favor of other officers or employees of the Company or its
Affiliates unless such other policy, plan, agreement or arrangement
expressly provides to the contrary in a provision that specifically states
that it is intended to override the limitation of this sentence.
(b) Death; Disability; Termination for Cause; or Voluntary
Termination. If, after a Change of Control and during the Employment Term, the
Employee's status as an employee is terminated (i) by reason of the Employee's
death or Disability, (ii) by the Company for Cause or (iii) voluntarily by the
Employee other than for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without
further obligation to the Employee or the Employee's legal representatives
(other than the timely payment or provision of those already accrued to the
Employee, imposed by law or imposed pursuant to employee benefit or compensation
plans, programs, practices, policies or agreements maintained by the Company or
its Affiliates).
(c) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for
Cause or by reason of the Employee's Disability, or by the Employee for Good
Reason, shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party
given in accordance with Section 4.2 of this Agreement. For purposes of this
Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i) indicates
the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the
extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances
claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Employee's employment under
the provision so indicated and (iii) if the effective date of the termination is
other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date
(which date shall be not more than 30 days after the giving of such notice),
provided that the effective date for any termination by reason of the Employee's
Disability shall be the 30th day after the giving of such notice, unless prior
to such 30th day the Employee shall have resumed the full-time performance of
his duties. The failure by the Employee or the Company to set forth in the
Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of
Cause, Disability or Good Reason shall not waive any right of the Employee or
the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Employee or the Company,
respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the
Employee's or the Company's rights hereunder.
III.4 Accrued Obligations and Other Benefits. It is the intent of this
Agreement that upon termination of employment for any reason following a Change
of Control the Employee or his legal representatives be entitled to receive
promptly, and in addition to any other benefits specifically provided, (a) the
Employee's Base Salary through the date of termination to the extent not
theretofore paid, (b) any accrued vacation pay, to the extent not theretofore
paid, and (c) any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or
which the Employee or his legal representatives are entitled to receive under
any plan, program, policy, practice or agreement of the Company, including
without limitation all payments required to be made under the Company's
supplemental executive retirement plan.
III.5 Stock Options and Other Incentives. The foregoing benefits
provided for in this Article III are intended to be in addition to the value
or benefit of any stock options, restricted stock, performance shares or similar
awards, the exercisability, vesting or payment of which is accelerated or other-
wise enhanced upon a Change of Control pursuant to the terms of any stock option
incentive or other similar plan or agreement heretofore or hereafter adopted by
the Company or the Post- Transaction Corporation; provided, however, that, upon
any termination of the Employee other than for Cause within three years
following a Change of Control, all of the Employee's then-outstanding vested
stock options, whether granted before or during the Employment Term, shall
remain exercisable until the later of the 190th day after the termination date
or the end of the exercise period provided for in the applicable option
agreement or plan as then in effect, but in no event shall such exercise period
continue after the date on which such options would have expired if the Employee
had remained an employee of the Company, the Post-Transaction Corporation or one
of their respective Affiliates.
III.6 Excise Tax Provision. (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions
of this Agreement, if a Change of Control occurs during the original or extended
term of this Agreement, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to
be received by the Employee in connection with the Change of Control or the
termination of the Employee's employment (whether pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any
Person whose actions result in the Change of Control or any Person Affiliated
with the Company or such Person) (all such payments and benefits, including
without limitation the payments and benefits under Sections 3.3(a), 3.4(b),
3.4(c), 3.5 and 3.7 hereof, being hereinafter called "Payments") would be
subject (in whole or in part) to an excise tax imposed by section 4999 of the
Code or any interest or penalties are incurred by the Employee with respect to
such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties,
are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), the Company shall
pay to the Employee at the time specified in paragraph (d) below an additional
amount (the "Gross-up Payment") such that the net amount retained by the
Employee, after deduction of any Excise Tax on the Payments and all taxes
(including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes),
including without limitation any federal, state and local income or payroll tax
and any Excise Tax, imposed upon the Gross-up Payment provided for by this
paragraph (a), but before deduction of any federal, state and local income or
payroll tax on the Payments, shall be equal to the Payments.
(b) For purposes of determining whether any of the Payments
and the Gross-up Payment (collectively, the "Total Payments") will be subject to
the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax, (i) the Total Payments shall
be treated as "parachute payments" within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of
the Code, and all "excess parachute payments" within the meaning of section
280G(b)(1) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, except to the extent
that in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Company's independent
auditors ("Auditors") and reasonably acceptable to the Employee ("Tax Counsel")
such Total Payments (in whole or in part) do not constitute "parachute
payments", or such "excess parachute payments" (in whole or in part) are not
subject to the Excise Tax and (ii) the value of any non-cash benefits or any
deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Auditors in accordance
with the principles of sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. The Auditors
shall perform the calculations in conformance with the foregoing provisions and
within 15 business days of the date that any Payments are made under this
Agreement shall provide the Employee with a detailed written statement setting
forth the manner in which the Total Payments are calculated and the basis for
such calculations, including without limitation any opinions or other advice the
Company has received from Tax Counsel, the Auditors or other advisors or
consultants (and any such opinions or advice which are in writing shall be
attached to the statement).
(c) For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-up
Payment, the Employee shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest
marginal rates of federal income taxation applicable to individuals in the
calendar year in which the Gross-up Payment is to be made and state and local
income taxes at the highest marginal rates of taxation in the state and locality
of the Employee's residence in the calendar year in which the Gross-up Payment
is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could
be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes, taking into account
any limitations applicable to individuals subject to federal income tax at the
highest marginal rates.
(d) The initial Gross-up Payment, if any, as determined
pursuant to this Section 3.6, shall be paid to the Employee within five days of
the receipt of the Auditors' determination. If the Auditors determine that no
Excise Tax is payable by the Employee, the Company shall cause the Auditors to
furnish the Employee with an opinion that failure to report any Excise Tax on
the Employee's applicable federal income tax return would not result in the
imposition of a negligence or similar penalty.
(e) If it is established pursuant to a final determination of
a court or Internal Revenue Service proceeding or the written opinion of Tax
Counsel that the Excise Tax is less than the amount taken into account hereunder
at the time the Gross-up Payment is made, the Employee shall repay to the
Company within 30 days of the Employee's receipt of notice of such final
determination or opinion the portion of the Gross-up Payment attributable to
such reduction (plus the portion of the Gross-up Payment attributable to the
Excise Tax, federal, state and local income tax and Excise Tax imposed on the
portion of the Gross-up Payment being repaid by the Employee if such repayment
results in a reduction of Excise Tax or federal, state and local income tax),
plus interest on the amount of such repayment at the rate provided in section
1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event any
portion of the Gross-up Payment to be refunded to the Company has been paid to
any federal, state and local tax authority, the payment thereof (and related
amounts) shall not be required until actual refund or credit of such portion has
been made to the Employee, and interest payable to the Company shall not exceed
the interest received or credited to the Employee by such tax authority for the
period that it held such portion. The Employee and the Company shall endeavor to
mutually agree upon the course of action to be pursued (and the method of
allocating the expense thereof) if the Employee's claim for refund or credit is
denied. If it is established pursuant to a final determination of a court or an
Internal Revenue Service proceeding or the written opinion of Tax Counsel that
the Excise Tax exceeds the amount taken into account hereunder at the time the
Gross-up Payment is made (including by reason of any payment the existence or
amount of which cannot be determined at the time of the Gross-up Payment), the
Company shall make an additional Gross-up Payment in respect of such excess
(plus any interest or penalties payable with respect to such excess), as
determined by the Auditors, within 30 days of the Company's receipt of notice of
such final determination or opinion.
(f) In the event of any controversy with the Internal Revenue
Service (or other taxing authority) with regard to the Excise Tax, the Employee
shall permit the Company to control issues relating to the Excise Tax (at its
expense), provided that such issues do not potentially materially adversely
affect the Employee, but the Employee shall control any other issues. In the
event that the issues are interrelated, the Employee and the Company shall in
good faith cooperate so as not to jeopardize resolution of either issue, but if
the parties cannot agree, the Employee shall make the final determination with
regard to the issues. In the event of any conference with any taxing authority
as to the Excise Tax or associated income taxes, the Employee shall permit a
representative of the Company to accompany the Employee, and the Employee and
the Employee's representative shall cooperate with the Company and its
representative. The Company and the Employee shall promptly deliver to each
other copies of any written communications, and summaries of any verbal
communications, with any taxing authority regarding the Excise Tax covered by
this Section 3.6.
(g) The Company shall be responsible for all charges of the
Tax Counsel and the Auditors.
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to
the contrary, if it is determined by the Auditors that the gross-up provisions
in this Section 3.6 as they relate to the accelerated vesting of nonqualified
stock options or restricted stock issued by the Company would be the sole reason
precluding the use by the Company of the pooling of interests method of
accounting, then the tax gross-up provisions of this Section 3.6 shall not apply
to such nonqualified stock options or restricted stock as the case may be,
unless the Gross-up Payment can be altered, modified or delayed to allow it to
be paid without precluding the use of the pooling of interest method of
accounting. The Company will use its best efforts to alter, modify, or delay the
payment so that the Gross-up Payment can be made.
III.7 Legal Fees. The Company agrees to pay as incurred, to the full
extent permitted by law, all legal fees and other expenses (including expert
witness and accounting fees) which the Employee may reasonably incur as a result
of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Employee
or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any
provision of this Agreement (including as a result of any contest by the
Employee about the amount or timing of any payment pursuant to this Agreement)
or which the Employee may reasonably incur in connection with any tax audit or
proceeding to the extent attributable to the application of section 4999 of the
Code to any payment or benefit provided under this Agreement.
III.8 Set-Off; Mitigation. After a Change of Control, the obligations
of the Company and its Affiliates to make the payments provided for in this
Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be
affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right
or action which the Company or its Affiliates may have against the Employee or
others other than the Company's right to reduce welfare benefits under the
circumstances described in Section 3.3(a)(iv). It is the intent of this
Agreement that in no event shall the Employee be obligated to seek other
employment or take any other action to mitigate the amounts or benefits payable
to the Employee under any of the provisions of this Agreement.
III.9 Certain Pre-Change-of-Control Terminations. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, the Employee's employment shall be deemed
to have been terminated following a Change of Control by the Company without
Cause (and the Employee shall be entitled to receive all payments and benefits
associated therewith) if the Employee's employment is terminated by the Company
or any of its Affiliates without Cause prior to a Change of Control (whether or
not a Change of Control actually occurs) and such termination (i) was at the
request or direction of a third party who has taken steps designed to effect a
Change of Control or otherwise arose in connection with or in anticipation of a
Change of Control or (ii) occurred after discussions with a third party
regarding a possible Change of Control transaction commenced and such
discussions produced (whether before or after such termination) either a
preliminary or definitive agreement with respect to such a transaction or a
public announcement of the pending transaction (whether or not a Change of
Control actually occurs). If the Employee takes the position that the foregoing
sentence applies and the Company disagrees, the Company shall have the burden of
proof in any such dispute.
ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS
IV.1 Binding Effect; Successors.
(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the Company and any of its successors or assigns.
(b) This Agreement is personal to the Employee and shall not
be assignable by the Employee without the consent of the Company (there being no
obligation to give such consent) other than such rights or benefits as are
transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution, which shall inure
to the benefit of the Employee's legal representatives.
(c) The Company shall require any successor to or assignee of
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, share exchange, merger, consolidation
or otherwise) all or substantially all of the assets or businesses of the
Company (i) to assume unconditionally and expressly this Agreement and (ii) to
agree to perform or to cause to be performed all of the obligations under this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as would have been required
of the Company had no assignment or succession occurred, such assumption to be
set forth in a writing reasonably satisfactory to the Employee.
(d) The Company shall also require all entities that control
or that after the transaction will control (directly or indirectly) the Company
or any such successor or assignee to agree to cause to be performed all of the
obligations under this Agreement, such agreement to be set forth in a writing
reasonably satisfactory to the Employee.
(e) The obligations of the Company and the Employee which by
their nature may require either partial or total performance after the
expiration of the term of the Agreement shall survive such expiration.
IV.2 Notices. All notices hereunder must be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been given upon receipt of delivery by: (a) hand (against a
receipt therefor), (b) certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return
receipt requested, (c) a nationally recognized overnight courier service
(against a receipt therefor) or (d) telecopy transmission with confirmation of
receipt. All such notices must be addressed as follows:
If to the Company, to:
CenturyTel, Inc.
100 Century Park Drive
Monroe, Louisiana 71203
Attn: General Counsel
If to the Employee, to:
[ ]
100 Century Park Drive
Monroe, Louisiana 71203
(or, if the Employee is no longer employed at such address, to
the Employee's last known principal residence reflected in the
Company's records)
or such other address as to which any party hereto may have notified the other
in writing.
IV.3 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced
in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the State of Louisiana
without regard to principles of conflict of laws.
IV.4 Withholding. The Employee agrees that the Company has the right
to withhold, from the amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement, all amounts
required to be withheld under applicable income or employment tax laws, or as
otherwise stated in documents granting rights that are affected by this
Agreement.
IV.5 Amendment. No provision of this Agreement may be modified or
amended except by an instrument in writing signed by both parties.
IV.6 Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement, or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance, shall at any time or to any
extent be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect as written, the
Employee and the Company intend for any court construing this Agreement to
modify or limit such provision so as to render it valid and enforceable to the
fullest extent allowed by law. Any such provision that is not susceptible of
such reformation shall be ignored so as to not affect any other term or
provision hereof, and the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of
such term or provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which
it is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby and
shall be valid and enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.
IV.7 Waiver of Breach. Except as expressly provided herein to the
contrary, the failure by any party to enforce any of its rights hereunder shall
not be deemed to be a waiver of such rights, unless such waiver is an express
written waiver. The waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this
Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach
thereof.
IV.8 Remedies Not Exclusive. No remedy specified herein shall be
deemed to be such party's exclusive remedy, and accordingly, in addition to all
of the rights and remedies provided for in this Agreement, the parties shall
have all other rights and remedies provided to them by applicable law, rule or
regulation, including without limitation the right to claim interest with
respect to any payment not timely made hereunder.
IV.9 Company's Reservation of Rights. The Employee acknowledges and
understands that (i) the Employee is employed at will by either the Company or
one of its Affiliates (the "Employer"), (ii) the Employee serves at the pleasure
of the board of directors of the Employer, and (iii) the Employer has the right
at any time to terminate the Employee's status as an employee, or to change or
diminish his status during the Employment Term, subject to the rights of the
Employee to claim the benefits conferred by this Agreement. Notwithstanding any
other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement shall not
entitle the Employee or his legal representatives to any severance or other
benefits of any kind prior to a Change of Control or to any such benefits if
Employee is not employed by the Company or one of its Affiliates on the date of
a Change of Control, except in each case for those rights afforded under Section
3.9.
IV.10 Non-exclusivity of Rights. Subject to Section 4.9, nothing in
this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Employee's continuing or future
participation in any plan, program, policy or practice provided by the Company
or any of its Affiliates and for which the Employee may qualify, nor shall
anything herein limit or otherwise restrict such rights as the Employee may have
under any contract or agreement with the Company or any of its Affiliates. The
Employee shall not be obligated to furnish a release of any rights or claims
against the Company or its Affiliates as a condition of receiving benefits
hereunder.
IV.11 Confidentiality. Upon receipt of the payments or benefits
contemplated by Section 3.3 hereof, the Employee agrees to refrain for a period
of three years from divulging any non-public, confidential or proprietary
information concerning the Company or its Affiliates to any Person other than
the Company, its Affiliates or their respective officers, directors or advisors,
provided that this obligation shall lapse prior to the end of such three-year
period with respect to any information that (i) is or becomes generally
available to the public other than as a result of a breach of this Section 4.11,
(ii) is or becomes available to the Employee on a non-confidential basis from a
source other than the Company or its representatives, provided that such source
is not known by the Employee to have violated any confidentiality agreement with
the Company in connection with such disclosure, or (iii) is acquired or
developed independently by the Employee without violating this Section 4.11.
IV.12 Demand for Benefits. Unless otherwise provided herein, the
payment or payments due hereunder shall be paid to the Employee without the
need for demand, and to a beneficiary upon the receipt of the beneficiary's
address and social security number. Nevertheless, the Employee or a Person
claiming to be a beneficiary who claims entitlement to a benefit can file a
claim for benefits hereunder with the Company. Unless otherwise provided herein,
the Company shall accept or reject the claim within five business days of its
receipt. If the claim is denied, the Company shall give the reason for denial
in a written notice that refers to the provision of this Agreement that forms
the basis of the denial. If any additional information or material is necessary
to perfect the claim, the Company will identify these items in writing and
explain why such additional information is necessary.
IV.13 Authority. The Company represents and warrants that (i) this
Agreement was duly authorized by the Shareholder Relations Committee of the
Board and the Compensation Committee of the Board on February 21, 2000 and by
the Board on February 22, 2000, and (ii) no other corporate proceedings are
necessary to authorize the Company's execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement.
IV.14 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Employee have caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the Agreement Date.
[Signatures Intentionally Omitted]
CENTURYTEL, INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN
2000 RESTATEMENT
I. Purpose of the Plan
-------------------
1.01 The CenturyTel, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the
"Plan") is intended to provide CenturyTel, Inc. and its subsidiaries with a
method for attracting and retaining key employees, to provide a method for
recognizing the contributions of such personnel, and to promote executive and
managerial flexibility, thereby advancing the interests of CenturyTel, Inc. and
its stockholders, by providing retirement benefits in addition to those provided
under the general retirement programs of CenturyTel, Inc.
1.02 This 2000 Restatement of the Plan is intended to consolidate into
one document all changes to the Plan since the 1995 Restatement, to clarify
certain defined terms and provisions, and to provide for the following
additional changes:
o to provide service credit for new participants for service
only while a participant in the Plan;
o to incorporate an automatic cost of living adjustment to
benefits payable under the Plan;
o to liberalize early retirement entitlement; and
o to provide for a subsidized early retirement adjustment
for longer service participants.
II. Definitions
-----------
As used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated, unless the context otherwise specifies or requires:
2.01 "ACCRUED BENEFIT" shall mean, as of Normal Retirement Date, an
amount equal to the basic monthly benefit to which a Participant is entitled in
accordance with Section 5.01 using his Average Monthly Compensation, Estimated
Social Security Benefit and Credited Service determined as of his Normal
Retirement Date. "Accrued Benefit", as of any given date other than Normal
Retirement Date, shall mean an amount equal to the basic monthly benefit to
which a Participant is entitled in accordance with Section 5.01 using his
Average Monthly Compensation, Estimated Social Security Benefit and Credited
Service as of such given date, in lieu of Normal Retirement Date.
2.02 "ACTUARIAL EQUIVALENT" shall mean the equivalent in value of the
amounts expected to be received under the Plan under different forms of payment.
For purposes of the determination of the present value of a
Participant's Accrued Benefit, actuarial equivalency shall be based upon an
interest rate equal to the annual rate of interest on 30- year United States
Treasury securities for the full calendar month preceding the January 1, April
1, July 1 and October 1 Plan quarter that contains the date of distribution, and
the 1983 Group Annuity Mortality Table (50% male, 50% female) for pre-retirement
and post-retirement mortality.
For all other purposes, actuarial equivalency shall be based upon an
interest assumption of five percent (5%), and the 1983 Group Annuity Mortality
Table (50% male, 50% female) for pre- retirement and post-retirement mortality.
2.03 "AVERAGE MONTHLY COMPENSATION" shall mean the average of the
thirty six (36) consecutive months' Compensation of a Participant which produce
the highest average out of the last one hundred twenty (120) months of
participation. Any period of unpaid Leave of Absence will be excluded for
purposes of determining Average Monthly Compensation, and periods of service
preceding and following an unpaid Leave of Absence may be combined. If a
Participant's period of participation is less than thirty-six (36) months,
Average Monthly Compensation shall be determined utilizing all of the
Participant's months of service.
2.04 "BENEFIT SERVICE" shall mean employment for which a Participant is
entitled to receive service credit for accrual of benefits under the Plan in
accordance with the provisions of Section 4.02.
2.05 "BOARD OF DIRECTORS" shall mean not less than a quorum of the
whole Board of Directors of CenturyTel, Inc.
2.06 "CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall mean the occurrence of any of the
following:
(a) the acquisition by any person of beneficial
ownership of 30% or more of the outstanding shares of the
common stock, $1.00 par value per share (the "Common Stock")
of CenturyTel, Inc. ("CenturyTel"), or 30% or more of the
combined voting power of CenturyTel's then outstanding
securities entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors; provided, however, that for purposes of this
subsection (a), the following acquisitions shall not
constitute a Change of Control:
(i) any acquisition (other than a Business
Combination (as defined below) which constitutes a
Change of Control under Section 2.06(c) hereof) of
Common Stock directly from CenturyTel,
(ii) any acquisition of Common Stock by
CenturyTel or its subsidiaries,
(iii) any acquisition of Common Stock by any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored
or maintained by CenturyTel or any corporation
controlled by CenturyTel, or
(iv) any acquisition of Common Stock by any
corporation pursuant to a Business Combination that
does not constitute a Change of Control under Section
2.06(c) hereof; or
(b) individuals who, as of January 1, 2000,
constitute the Board of Directors of CenturyTel (the
"Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least
a majority of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that
any individual becoming a director subsequent to such date
whose election, or nomination for election by CenturyTel's
shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of
the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be
considered a member of the Incumbent Board, unless such
individual's initial assumption of office occurs as a result
of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to
the election or removal of directors or other actual or
threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a person other than the Incumbent Board; or
(c) consummation of a reorganization, share
exchange, merger or consolidation (including any such
transaction involving any direct or indirect subsidiary of
CenturyTel), or sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of CenturyTel (a "Business
Combination"); provided, however, that in no such case shall
any such transaction constitute a Change of Control if
immediately following such Business Combination:
(i) the individuals and entities who were
the beneficial owners of CenturyTel's outstanding
Common Stock and CenturyTel's voting securities
entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors immediately prior to such Business
Combination have direct or indirect beneficial
ownership, respectively, of more than 50% of the then
outstanding shares of Common Stock, and more than 50%
of the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors of the surviving or successor
corporation, or, if applicable, the ultimate parent
company thereof (the "Post-Transaction Corporation"),
and
(ii) except to the extent that such
ownership existed prior to the Business Combination,
no person (excluding the Post-Transaction Corporation
and any employee benefit plan or related trust of
either CenturyTel, the Post-Transaction Corporation
or any subsidiary of either corporation) beneficially
owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of the then
outstanding shares of Common Stock of the corporation
resulting from such Business Combination or 20% or
more of the combined voting power of the then out-
standing voting securities of each corporation, and
(iii) at least a majority of the members of
the board of directors of the Post-Transaction
Corporation were members of the Incumbent Board at
the time of the execution of the initial agreement,
or of the action of the Board of Directors, providing
for such Business Combination; or
(d) approval by the shareholders of CenturyTel of a
complete liquidation or dissolution of CenturyTel.
For purposes of this Section 2.06, the term "person" shall mean a natural person
or entity, and shall also mean the group or syndicate created when two or more
persons act as a syndicate or other group (including, without limitation, a
partnership or limited partnership) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, or
disposing of a security, except that "person" shall not include an underwrite
temporarily holding a security pursuant to an offering of the security.
2.07 "COMMITTEE" shall mean three (3) or more members of the Board of
Directors as described in Section 15.01 of the Plan, or the Board of Directors
if no Committee has been appointed.
2.08 "COMPANY" shall mean CenturyTel, Inc., any Subsidiary thereof,
and any affiliate designated by the Company as a participating employer under
this Plan.
2.09 "COMPENSATION" shall mean the sum of a Participant's Salary,
determined under Section 2.19, and Incentive Compensation, determined under
Section 2.14, for a particular month.
2.10 "DISABILITY" shall mean a condition which makes a Participant
unable to perform each of the material duties of his regular occupation where he
is likely to remain thus incapacitated continuously and permanently, as
determined by the Committee pursuant to its authority granted under Article XV
hereof.
2.11 "EFFECTIVE DATE" of this Restatement shall be February 22, 2000,
for Participants employed and participating in the Plan as of such date, except
as may otherwise be provided in specific Articles or Sections hereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) the survivor annuity provided under Article
IX hereof shall only apply to Participants who had not retired as of July 1,
1994 and whose date of death was on or after July 1, 1994, and the amendment to
the definition of Compensation contained in the 1994 Amendment and Restatement
of the Plan shall apply to Compensation paid on or after January 1, 1994, (2)
the benefits provided hereunder for Jim D. Reppond and C. Kenneth Conrad shall
be computed without regard to the amendment to the definition of Compensation
contained in the 1994 Amendment and Restatement of the Plan and the provision of
the survivor annuity referenced in the preceding sentence, and (3) the
amendments to the Plan contained in the 2000 Restatement shall not apply to any
Participant who terminated employment prior to February 22, 2000. Any such
Participant's benefit shall be determined pursuant to the terms of the Plan as
in effect prior to the 2000 Restatement.
2.12 "EMPLOYER" shall mean CenturyTel, Inc., any Subsidiary thereof,
and any affiliate designated by the Company as a participating employer under
this Plan.
2.13 "ESTIMATED SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT" shall mean the monthly
primary insurance amount calculated to be available at age sixty five (65) based
on the Social Security law in effect on the Participant's Normal Retirement Date
or an earlier date of determination. The primary insurance amount of a
Participant who terminates prior to Normal Retirement Date shall be based on the
assumption that the Participant earns no compensation between his termination
date and his Normal Retirement Date.
2.14 "INCENTIVE COMPENSATION" shall mean the monthly equivalent of the
amount awarded to a Participant under the Company's Key Employee Incentive
Compensation Program, or other incentive compensation arrangement maintained by
the Company and listed on a Schedule attached hereto, including the amount of
any stock award in its cash equivalent at the time of conversion of the award
from cash to stock. A Participant's Incentive Compensation shall be determined
on a monthly basis by dividing the amount of the Incentive Compensation award by
the number of months to which the award relates. Each award of Incentive
Compensation shall, for purposes of this Plan, be allocated to the month or
months to which the award relates, i.e., that period of time during which the
award was earned.
2.15 "LEAVE OF ABSENCE" shall mean any extraordinary absence
authorized by the Employer under the Employer's standard personnel practices.
2.16 "NORMAL RETIREMENT DATE" shall mean the first day of the month
coincident with or next following a Participant's sixty-fifth (65th) birthday.
2.17 "PARTICIPANT" shall mean any officer of the Employer who is
granted participation in the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Article
III.
2.18 "PLAN" shall mean this CenturyTel, Inc. Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan, as amended and restated herein.
2.19 "SALARY" shall mean the monthly equivalent of a Participant's
base rate of pay, exclusive, however,of bonus payments, overtime payments,
commissions, imputed income on life insurance, vehicle allowances, relocation
expenses, severance payments, and any other extra compensation.
2.20 "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean any corporation in which the Company owns
directly or indirectly through subsidiaries, at least fifty percent (50%) of the
combined voting power of all classes of stock.
2.21 "VESTING SERVICE" shall mean employment for which a Participant
is entitled to receive service credit for vesting in benefits under the Plan in
accordance with the provisions of Section 4.01.
III. Participation
-------------
3.01 Any officer who is either one of the key employees of the Company
in a position to contribute materially to the continued growth and future
financial success of the Company, or one who has made a significant contribution
to the Company's operations, thereby meriting special recognition, shall be
eligible to participate provided all of the following requirements are met:
a. The officer is employed on a full-time basis by the Company;
b. The officer is compensated for full-time employment by a
regular salary; and
c. The coverage of the officer is duly approved by the Board
of Directors.
It is intended that participation in this Plan shall be extended only to those
officers who are members of a select group of management and highly compensated
employees, as determined by the Committee.
3.02 Any officer who is currently a Participant in the Plan as of the
effective date of this Restatement shall continue to be a Participant in the
Plan as amended and restated, subject, however, to designation by the Committee
for participation in future years.
3.03 Any officer who met the requirements defined in Section 3.01, who
was age 60 as of November 21, 1983, and who was employed by the Company on
January 1, 1990, will receive benefits equal to the greater of:
a. the benefit determined under this Plan, or
b. a monthly benefit equal to sixty-five percent (65%) of
Salary offset by retirement income payable to the individual
executive from:
1. Social Security (Primary Insurance Amount only)
determined as of date of retirement under the Social
Security Act.
2. The Company's Stock Bonus Plan and PAYSOP (in which
case the Stock Bonus Plan and PAYSOP accumulation at
date of determination will be converted to a monthly
annuity on a straight life basis based upon actuarial
assumptions with respect to mortality and investment
return). The mortality assumptions will be based upon
the 1971 Group Annuity Mortality Table. The investment
return assumption will reflect current market
conditions as measured by the 52-week Treasury bill
rate as determined monthly.
3. Benefits payable from any qualified or nonqualified
plan attributable to prior employment for those
officers who are hired on or after attainment of age
55 (in which case the benefit(s) will be expressed in
terms of a monthly annuity on a straight life basis
payable at date of retirement).
IV. Vesting Service and Benefit Service.
-----------------------------------
4.01 For a Participant whose effective date of participation in the
Plan, as designated by the Committee, is prior to January 1, 2000, Vesting
Service for vesting of benefits hereunder, and Benefit Service for purposes of
accrual of benefits hereunder, shall be credited for each year of employment
with the Company, calculated in completed years and months regardless of the
number of hours worked. Vesting Service and Benefit Service will include all
years of service with the Company, including years of service prior to becoming
an officer of the Company, years of service following Normal Retirement Date,
and years of service with any Subsidiary or any affiliate designated by the
Company as a participating employer under this Plan. In addition, periods of
Leave of Absence shall count as periods of Vesting Service and Benefit Service.
A fraction of a year of Vesting Service and Benefit Service will be given for
completed months during the year of termination of employment of a Participant.
4.02 For a Participant whose effective date of participation in the
Plan, as designated by the Committee, is on or after January 1, 2000, Vesting
Service and Benefit Service will only be credited for years commencing as of the
year in which the Participant's participation in the Plan is effective, and will
not include years prior to the Participant's effective date of participation in
the Plan.
4.03 Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 4.01 and 4.02, a
Participant who terminates employment with the Company and is subsequently
re-hired, or a Participant who ceases to participate in the Plan for any other
reason, shall receive credit for purposes of Vesting Service and Benefit Service
for his service after his re-employment or cessation of participation only for
such periods of service during which he is a participant in the Plan. A
Participant shall not receive service credit after his re-employment or
cessation of participation for periods of service during which he is not a
participant in the Plan.
4.04 At the discretion of the Board of Directors, service with a
predecessor employer may be credited for purposes of vesting or benefit accrual
under this Plan. If any such service is credited to a Participant for benefit
accrual purposes, the benefit payable under this Plan shall be reduced by any
benefit payable from the prior employer. The Board of Directors shall make a
determination whether any service with a predecessor employer will be credited
to a Participant prior to the Participant's commencement of participation in
this Plan, and such determination, once made, shall be irrevocable. If no
determination is made by the Board of Directors prior to a Participant's
commencement of participation in this Plan, service with a predecessor employer
by such Participant shall not be credited for any purpose under this Plan.
V. Normal Retirement
-----------------
5.01 Except as provided in Section 3.03, the monthly retirement
benefit payable to a Participant on his Normal Retirement Date shall be equal
to (a) plus (b) less (c), where:
(a) is 3% of Average Monthly Compensation multiplied by Benefit
Service, not greater than ten (10) years.
(b) is 1% of Average Monthly Compensation multiplied by
Benefit Service, for Benefit Service years greater
than ten (10) years and not greater than twenty five
(25) years.
(c) is 4% of Estimated Social Security Benefit, multiplied by
Benefit Service, not greater than twenty five (25) years.
5.02 The normal form of payment of a Participant's normal retirement
benefit shall be an annuity payable for the life of the Participant.
5.03 The amount of monthly benefit payable to a Participant, as
computed under Section 5.01, shall be increased annually to reflect increases in
cost of living, at a rate of three percent (3%) per annum, starting with the
year of benefit commencement. This increase shall take into effect as of January
1 of each year; provided, however, that the initial amount of increase for a
Participant who commences receiving distributions in a year, effective as of the
following January 1, shall be pro-rated, based on the number of months in such
year during which the Participant received distributions.
VI. Late Retirement
---------------
6.01 If a Participant remains employed beyond his Normal Retirement
Date, his late retirement date will be the first day of the month coincident
with or next following his actual date of retirement.
6.02 A Participant's late retirement benefit will be calculated in
accordance with Section 5.01, based on his Average Monthly Compensation and
Benefit Service as of his late retirement date. His Estimated Social Security
Benefit will be computed as of his Normal Retirement Date based on the Social
Security law in effect on such date.
VII. Early Retirement
----------------
7.01 A Participant who has attained age fifty five (55), and who has
completed ten (10) or more years of Benefit Service, is eligible for early
retirement. An eligible Participant's early retirement date is the first day of
the month coincident with or next following the date he terminates employment.
7.02 A Participant who has completed ten (10) years of Benefit Service
as of the date of his termination of employment, but who has not yet attained
age fifty five (55) as of such date, shall be eligible for early retirement upon
attainment of age fifty five (55). Such Participant's early retirement date
shall be the first day of the month coincident with or next following the date
on which he attains age fifty five (55).
7.03 A Participant's early retirement benefit is one hundred percent
(100%) of his Accrued Benefit computed as of his early retirement date, payable
at his Normal Retirement Date.
7.04 A Participant who has attained age fifty five (55) and has
completed ten (10) or more, but less than fifteen (15), years of Benefit
Service, may elect to receive his early retirement benefit prior to Normal
Retirement Date, in which event the benefit payable will be reduced according to
the following schedule:
Age at Commencement Percentage of Accrued Benefit
55 50 %
56 53___%
57 56___%
58 60 %
59 63___%
60 66___%
61 73___%
62 80 %
63 86___%
64 93___%
65 100 %
7.05 A Participant who has attained age fifty five (55) and has
completed fifteen (15) or more, but less than twenty five (25), years of Benefit
Service, may elect to receive his early retirement benefit prior to Normal
Retirement Date, in which event the benefit payable will be reduced according to
the following schedule:
Age at Commencement Percentage of Accrued Benefit
55 70 %
56 73 %
57 76 %
58 79 %
59 82 %
60 85 %
61 88 %
62 91 %
63 94 %
64 97 %
65 100 %
7.06 A Participant who has attained age fifty five (55) and has
completed twenty five (25) or more years of Benefit Service, may elect to
receive his early retirement benefit prior to Normal Retirement Date, in which
event the benefit payable will be reduced according to the following schedule:
Age at Commencement Percentage of Accrued Benefit
55 80 %
56 82 %
57 84 %
58 86 %
59 88 %
60 90 %
61 92 %
62 94 %
63 96 %
64 98 %
65 100 %
7.07 The Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may grant to a
Participant one hundred percent (100%) of his Accrued Benefit payable at his
early retirement date, without such benefit being subject to the reductions set
forth in Section 7.04, provided the Participant has met the requirements of
Section 7.01 or 7.02.
VIII. Disability
----------
8.01 A Participant who becomes disabled, as defined in Section 2.10,
prior to retirement or termination of service will be entitled to a disability
benefit computed in accordance with Section 8.02.
8.02 A Participant's disability benefit will be calculated in
accordance with Section 5.01 based on (1) his Average Monthly Compensation
projected to Normal Retirement Date assuming his Compensation as of the date of
his disability remains constant, (2) his projected service to Normal Retirement
Date and (3) his Estimated Social Security Benefit based on the Social Security
law in effect on the date of his disability. If a Participant subsequently
participates in the Plan, such Participant's service attributable to his
subsequent participation shall not be credited for any purpose under the Plan.
8.03 A Participant's disability benefit will commence at his Normal
Retirement Date, and the normal form of benefit payment will be an annuity
payable for the life of the Participant.
IX. Death Benefit
-------------
9.01 Upon the death of a Participant who is actively employed or on
Leave of Absence at the time of his death, or who has retired or become disabled
and has not commenced receiving benefit payments hereunder, the Participant's
beneficiary (as determined under Section 9.05) will be entitled to receive a
death benefit determined in accordance with Section 9.02.
9.02 The monthly death benefit payable under Section 9.01 to the
beneficiary of a Participant shall be equal to (a) less (b), where:
(a) is thirty six percent (36%) of Average Monthly
Compensation projected to his Normal Retirement Date
assuming his Compensation as of his date of death
remains constant until his Normal Retirement Date.
(b) the amount of Estimated Social Security Benefit,
based on the Social Security law in effect as of the
date of his death or age 65, if earlier, received by
the beneficiary, or to which the beneficiary may be
entitled, as determined by the Committee.
9.03 Upon the death of a Participant who has terminated employment
prior to death for reasons other than retirement or disability, and who was one
hundred percent (100%) vested under the vesting schedule contained in Section
10.01 at the time of termination of employment, the Participant's beneficiary
(as determined under Section 9.05) will be entitled to receive a monthly death
benefit computed as follows:
Fifty percent (50%) of the Accrued Benefit of the Participant
determined under Section 2.01 as of his date of termination of
employment.
9.04 The monthly death benefit determined under Section 9.01 or 9.03
shall commence as of the date on which the Participant would have reached the
Normal Retirement Date applicable to the Participant, or date of death, if
later; provided, however, that the surviving spouse of the Participant shall
have the right to elect for benefit payments to commence prior to such date
pursuant to applicable sections of this Plan providing for early commencement of
benefit payments, including but not limited to Sections 7.01, 7.02, 7.04, 7.05,
7.06 and 10.02.
9.05 The beneficiary of a Participant who is married on the date of
his death shall be his spouse. The beneficiary of an unmarried Participant
shall be his living children as of his date of death.
9.06 The death benefit shall be paid to the surviving spouse, if any,
of the Participant for his or her life. If the Participant is unmarried at the
date of death, or if the surviving spouse dies subsequent to the Participant's
death, the death benefit shall be paid to the Participant's surviving child or
children (or legal representative of any minor child) in equal shares. The death
benefit payable to a child shall terminate upon the later of the child's
attainment of age nineteen (19) or age twenty three (23), if a full-time student
at an accredited educational institution, and such share shall thereafter revert
to and be payable equally to the remaining surviving children of the Participant
until the interest of each such surviving child has terminated.
9.07 If a Participant has no surviving spouse or children at the date
of his or her death, no death benefit shall be paid under this Plan.
X. Termination of Service
----------------------
10.01 If a Participant terminates service prior to death, disability or
retirement, his Accrued Benefit determined under Section 2.01 shall be vested in
accordance with the following schedule:
Years of Vesting Service Vested %
------------------------ --------
less than 5 0%
5 or more 100%
10.02 A Participant's vested Accrued Benefit is payable at his Normal
Retirement Date. A Participant may elect to have his benefit commence prior to
age sixty five (65) but after age fifty five (55) if he meets the service
requirements for early retirement pursuant to Section 7.01 or 7.02. If the
benefit commences before age sixty five (65), the amount of monthly benefit will
be reduced according to the applicable schedule set forth in Section 7.04, 7.05
or 7.06.
XI. Change in Control
-----------------
11.01 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan or in any
applicable law or regulation, upon the earlier of (i) the occurrence of a Change
in Control, (ii) the date that any person or entity submits an offer or proposal
to the Company that results in or leads to a Change in Control (whether by such
person or any other person) or (iii) the date of the public announcement of a
Change in Control or an offer, proposal or proxy solicitation that results in or
leads to a Change in Control (whether by the person or entity making such
announcement or any other person) (the earliest of such dates being hereinafter
referred to as the "Effective Date"), the Accrued Benefit of each Participant
(other than any Participant whose service as an employee was terminated prior to
full vesting of his Accrued Benefit under Section 10.01) and the benefits
conferred under this Section shall automatically vest and thereafter may not be
adversely affected in any matter without the prior written consent of the
Participant. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, upon the
occurrence of a Change in Control any Participant who is then employed by
CenturyTel or its subsidiaries ("Active Participants") shall have an irrevocable
right to receive, and the Company shall be irrevocably obligated to pay, a lump
sum cash payment in an amount determined pursuant to this Section if the Company
or its successor, during a period commencing upon the Effective Date and ending
on the third anniversary of the occurrence of the Change in Control, (i)
terminates the Active Participant's employment, (ii) reduces the Active
Participant's salary in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date, (iii)
diminishes the Active Participant's duties, responsibilities or position in the
management of the Company or (iv) requires the Active Participant to relocate
involuntarily to an office outside of the city in which he performed his
services for the Company immediately prior to the Effective Date (each such
action being referred to as an "Effective Termination"). The lump sum cash
payment payable to Active Participants under this Section (the "Lump Sum
Payment") shall be paid on the date of Effective Termination or as soon
thereafter as is administratively feasible.
11.02 The amount of each Lump Sum Payment shall be determined as
follows:
(a) With respect to any Active Participant who, after giving
effect to the terms of subsection (d) below, is eligible as
of the date of Effective Termination to receive benefits
under Articles V or VI of this Plan, the Lump Sum Payment
shall equal the Present Value (as defined below) of the
stream of payments to which such participant would have
otherwise been entitled to receive immediately upon
Effective Termination in accordance with Articles V or VI
of this Plan (assuming such benefits are paid in the form
of a lifetime annuity), based upon such participant's
Average Monthly Compensation, Estimated Social Security
Benefit and Benefit Service as of the date of Effective
Termination, without giving effect to any salary
reductions that gave rise to such Effective Termination,
but after giving effect to the terms of subsection
(d) below.
(b) With respect to any Active Participant who, after giving
effect to the terms of subsection (d) below, is not
eligible as of the date of Effective Termination to
receive benefits under Articles V, VI or VII of this Plan,
the Lump Sum Payment shall equal the product of (1) the
Present Value, calculated as of age sixty five (65), of the
stream of payments to which such participant would have
otherwise been entitled to receive at age sixty five (65)
in accordance with the terms of this Plan based on the
same assumptions and terms set forth in subsection (a)
above, multiplied times (2) such discount factor as is
necessary to reduce the amount determined under subsection
(b)(i) above to its Present Value, it being understood
that in calculating such discount factor, no discount
shall be applied to reflect the possibility that such
participant may die prior to attaining age sixty five (65).
(c) With respect to any Active Participant who, after giving
effect to the terms of subsection (d) below, is eligible
as of the date of Effective Termination to receive benefits
under Article VII of the Plan, the Lump Sum Payment shall
equal the greater of (1) the Present Value of the stream
of payments to which such participant would have otherwise
been entitled to receive immediately upon Effective
Termination in accordance with Article VII of this Plan,
based upon the assumptions and terms set forth in
subsection (a) above, or (2) the present Value, calculated
as of age sixty five (65), of the stream of payments
to which such participant would otherwise be entitled to
receive at age sixty five (65) in accordance with this
Plan, determined in the same manner and subject to the
same assumptions and terms set forth in subsection
(b) above.
(d) In calculating the Lump Sum Payment due to any Active
Participant under this Section, the number of years of
Benefit Service of the Active Participant shall be deemed
to equal the number of years determinable under the other
sections of this Plan plus three years and the Active
Participant's age shall be deemed to equal his actual age
plus three years; provided, however, that in no event shall
the provisions of this subsection be applicable if the
application thereof will reduce the Active Participant's
Lump Sum Payment from the amount that would otherwise be
payable with the addition of less than three years of
service, age or both.
(e) As used in this Section with respect to any amount, the
"Present Value" of such amount shall mean the discounted
value of such amount that is determined by making
customary present value calculations in accordance
with generally accepted actuarial principles, provided
that (1) the discount interest rate applied in connection
therewith shall equal the interest rate for AAA rated, tax
exempt Insured Revenue Bonds with Five Year maturity as
quoted by the Bond Market Association (BMA) as of the first
day of the calendar quarter for which the calculations are
performed or, in the event such index is no longer
published, any similar index for comparable municipal
securities and (2) the mortality tables applied in
connection therewith shall be "1983 Group Annuity
Mortality Table (50% male/50% female)" as prescribed by
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any
successor table prescribed by such organization.
11.03 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, upon the
sooner of the occurrence of a Change in Control or the approval by the Board of
Directors of the Company of any Change in Control, the Company shall promptly
consult with each Participant who has already begun to receive periodic payments
under this Plan ("Retired Participants") and, following such consultations, the
Company shall have the option with respect to each Retired Participant to (i)
confirm in writing its obligation to continue to provide to such Retired
Participant all benefits hereunder in the same manner provided prior to the
Change in Control or (ii) make a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the
Present Value of the participant's future stream of payments which would
otherwise be payable under this Plan. If the Company elects to furnish any
Retired Participant with a lump sum cash payment, the Company shall offer to
assist such participant in purchasing at such participant's cost an annuity for
the benefit of such participant.
11.04 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, upon the
occurrence of Change in Control, any Participant (other than a Retired
Participant) who is then a former employee of CenturyTel or its subsidiaries
whose Accrued Benefit is vested under Section 10.01 ("Inactive Participants")
shall have an irrevocable and unconditional right to receive, and the Company
shall be irrevocably and unconditionally obligated to pay, a lump sum payment in
an amount determined in the manner provided in subsection (b) or (c), as
applicable; provided, however, that no Inactive Participant will be entitled
to the benefits of subsection (d).
XII. Form of Benefit Payment
-----------------------
12.01 The normal form of benefit payment is a monthly lifetime annuity
payable in accordance with the Company's standard payroll practices.
12.02 A Participant may elect an optional form of payment which is the
Actuarial Equivalent of a Participant's basic monthly pension, as follows:
Option 1: A reduced monthly pension payable for the lifetime
of the Participant with a minimum of sixty (60) monthly payments
guaranteed.
Option 2: A reduced monthly pension payable for the lifetime
of the Participant with a minimum of one hundred twenty (120) monthly
payments guaranteed.
Option 3: A reduced monthly pension payable for the lifetime
of the Participant with a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) monthly
payments guaranteed.
Option 4: A reduced monthly pension, payable to the
Participant for the life of the Participant, with monthly payments of
one-half (1/2) the reduced amount that was payable monthly to the
Participant payable after the Participant's death for the life of the
Participant's spouse.
Option 5: A reduced monthly pension payable to the Partici-
pant for the life of the Participant, with reduced monthly payments of
two thirds (2/3) of the reduced amount that was payable monthly to the
Participant payable after the Participant's death for the life of the
Participant's spouse.
Option 6: A reduced monthly pension payable to the Partici-
pant for the life of the Participant, with reduced monthly payments of
three fourths (3/4) of the reduced amount that was payable monthly to
the Participant payable after the Participant's death for the life of
the Participant's spouse.
Option 7: A reduced monthly pension payable to the Partici-
pant for the life of the Participant, with the same monthly pension
payable after the Participant's death for the life of the Participant's
spouse.
12.03 If a Participant does not elect an optional form of benefit
payment under Section 12.02, such Participant's benefits shall be paid in the
normal form provided in Section 12.01.
XIII. Reemployment of Participants
----------------------------
13.01 If a Participant retires or otherwise terminates employment with
the Employer and such Participant is reemployed by the Employer, his entitlement
to any benefits will be determined on the basis of the provisions of the Plan in
effect on his subsequent termination date. The benefit will be based on the
Average Monthly Compensation, Estimated Social Security Benefit and Benefit
Service as of the date of subsequent termination, taking into account all
Benefit Service prior to the Participant's reemployment date. For purposes of
calculating Average Monthly Compensation, the average of the thirty six (36)
consecutive months' Compensation which produce the highest average out of the
last one hundred twenty (120) months of employment will be considered, without
regard to the break in service.
13.02 If a Participant is reemployed after benefit commencement, the
payment of any benefit to such Participant under the Plan on account of his
retirement or severance shall be suspended by reason of such reemployment. The
amount of his benefit at his subsequent termination will be calculated in
accordance with Section 13.01 but reduced by the Actuarial Equivalent of any
benefit payments received prior to both his subsequent termination and his
attainment of age sixty five (65).
13.03 The form of monthly benefit payment upon subsequent termination
shall be the form of payment that was in effect prior to reemployment. If the
Participant was married at the time of benefit commencement, and if the
Participant's spouse dies prior to subsequent commencement of benefit payments,
such form of payment shall remain applicable (as though he were married to his
deceased spouse).
XIV. Additional Restrictions on Benefit Payments
-------------------------------------------
14.01 In no event will there be a duplication of benefits payable
under the Plan because of employment by more than one participating Employer.
XV. Administration and Interpretation
---------------------------------
15.01 The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors through
a Committee which shall consist of three or more members of the Board of
Directors of the Company. No individual who is or has ever been a participant or
eligible to receive payments under this Plan shall be designated as a member of
the Committee. The Committee shall have full power and authority to interpret
and administer the Plan and, subject to the provisions herein set forth, to
prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations and make all other
determinations necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. The
Board may from time to time appoint additional members of the Committee or
remove members and appoint new members in substitution for those previously
appointed and to fill vacancies however caused.
15.02 The decision of the Committee relating to any question con-
cerning or involving the interpretation or administration of the Plan shall be
final and conclusive, and nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to give any
employee any right to participate in the Plan, except to such extent, if any, as
the Committee may have determined or approved pursuant to the provisions of the
Plan.
XVI. Nature of the Plan
------------------
Benefits under the Plan shall generally be payable by the Company from
its own funds, and such benefits shall not (i) impose any obligation upon the
trust(s) of the other employee benefit programs of the Company; (ii) be paid
from such trust(s); nor (iii) have any effect whatsoever upon the amount or
payment of benefits under the other employee benefit programs of the Company.
Participants have only an unsecured right to receive benefits under the Plan
from the Company as general creditors of the Company. The Company may deposit
amounts in the CenturyTel, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Trust (the
"Trust") established by the Company for the purpose of funding the Company's
obligations under the Plan. Participants and their beneficiaries, however, have
no secured interest or special claim to the assets of the Trust, and the assets
of the Trust shall be subject to the payment of claims of general creditors of
the Company upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, as provided in the
Trust.
XVII. Employment Relationship
-----------------------
An employee shall be considered to be in the employment of the Company
and its subsidiaries as long as he remains an employee of either the Company,
any Subsidiary of the Company, or any corporation to which substantially all of
the assets and business of the Company are transferred. Nothing in the adoption
of this Plan nor the designation of any Participant shall confer on any employee
the right to continued employment by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company,
or affect in any way the right of the Company or such Subsidiary to terminate
his employment at any time. Any question as to whether and when there has been a
termination of an employee's employment, and the cause, notice or other
circumstances of such termination, shall be determined by the Board, and its
determination shall be final.
XVIII. Amendment and Termination of Plan
---------------------------------
The Board of Directors of the Company in its sole discretion may
terminate the Plan at any time, and shall have the right to alter or amend the
Plan or any part thereof from time to time, except that the Board of Directors
shall not terminate the Plan or make any alteration or amendment thereto which
would impair any rights or benefits of a Participant previously accrued.
XIX. Binding Effect
--------------
This Plan shall be binding on the Company, each Subsidiary, and any
affiliate designated by the Company as a participating employer under this Plan,
the successors and assigns thereof, and any entity to which substantially all of
the assets or business of the Company, a Subsidiary, or a participating
affiliate are transferred.
XX. Reimbursement to Participants
-----------------------------
The Company shall reimburse any Participant, or beneficiary thereof,
for all expenses, including attorney's fees, actually and reasonably incurred by
the Participant or beneficiary in any proceeding to enforce any of their rights
under this Plan.
XXI. Construction
------------
The masculine gender, where appearing in the Plan, shall be deemed to
include the feminine gender, and the singular may indicate the plural, unless
the context clearly indicates the contrary. The words "hereof", "herein",
"hereunder" and other similar compounds of the word "here" shall, unless
otherwise specifically stated, mean and refer to the entire Plan, not to any
particular provision or Section. Article and Section headings are included for
convenience of reference and are not intended to add to, or subtract from, the
terms of the Plan.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, CenturyTel, Inc. has executed this restated Plan
in its corporate name and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed this _____
day of ________________, 2000.
ATTEST: CENTURYTEL, INC.
______________________________ By:_______________________________
R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
EXHIBIT 11
CENTURYTEL, INC.
COMPUTATIONS OF EARNINGS PER SHARE
(UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three months
ended March 31,
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Dollars, except per share amounts,
and shares in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Income (Numerator):
Net income $ 49,284 61,105
Dividends applicable to preferred stock (99) (102)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income applicable to common stock 49,185 61,003
Dividends applicable to preferred stock 99 102
Interest on convertible securities, net of taxes 33 63
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income as adjusted for purposes of computing
diluted earnings per share $ 49,317 61,168
==================================================================================================
Shares (Denominator):
Weighted average number of shares:
Outstanding during period 140,151 138,594
Employee Stock Ownership Plan shares not
committed to be released (414) (508)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of shares for computing basic earnings per share 139,737 138,086
Incremental common shares attributable to dilutive securities:
Conversion of convertible securities 707 1,019
Shares issuable under stock option plan 1,284 1,923
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of shares as adjusted for purposes of computing
diluted earnings per share 141,728 141,028
==================================================================================================
Basic earnings per share $ .35 .44
==================================================================================================
Diluted earnings per share $ .35 .43
==================================================================================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF CENTURYTEL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AS OF
MARCH 31, 2000 AND THE RELATED UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR
THE THREE MONTH PERIOD THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<CASH> 62,629
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 213,147
<ALLOWANCES> 4,185
<INVENTORY> 26,404
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 306,902
<PP&E> 4,239,608
<DEPRECIATION> 2,007,218
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,729,184
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 366,068
<BONDS> 1,998,430
0
7,975
<COMMON> 140,229
<OTHER-SE> 1,741,161
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,729,184
<SALES> 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 412,956
<CGS> 0
<TOTAL-COSTS> 301,534
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 0
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 36,042
<INCOME-PRETAX> 85,768
<INCOME-TAX> 36,484
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 49,284
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 49,284
<EPS-BASIC> .35
<EPS-DILUTED> .35
</TABLE>
