MERIX CORP
10-Q, 2000-01-11
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EXHIBIT 10.27


SECOND AMENDED EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
September 27, 1999

Deborah A. Coleman
1414 SW Third Avenue, #2701
Portland, Oregon 97201
  Executive
 
Merix Corporation
an Oregon corporation
PO Box 3000
Forest Grove, Oregon 97116
 
 
 
Merix

    Merix and Executive are parties to an Amended Executive Severance Agreement dated December 5, 1996 (the "1996 Agreement"). Effective September 27, 1999, Executive is resigning as Chief Executive Officer of Merix and will continue as Chair and an employee of Merix. Merix and Executive enter into this Agreement to reflect the change in Executive's relationship with Merix and to supersede the 1996 Agreement.

    1.  Effective Date; Term of Agreement.  

    2.  Duties; Compensation.  After the Effective Date, Executive shall provide the services described on Exhibit A and other duties as may be assigned to her from time to time by the Board of Directors. Executive shall be paid an annual salary of $14,000, or minimum wage, whichever is greater. Executive shall be entitled to health insurance benefits that are generally available to employees of Merix and she shall be entitled to life insurance (with benefits based on a $285,000 base salary) and short and long term disability benefits (with benefits based on a four year W-2 average up to a policy maximum of $11,275 per month). Executive shall not participate in any management or employee incentive bonus plans after the Effective Date. After the Effective Date, Valerie Henson shall continue to provide administrative support for Executive only for her duties as Chair. Merix agrees to assume Executive's Rose Garden Suite lease for the 12 month period beginning in October 1999 at the contractual rate, which is approximately $140,000, and Merix shall be entitled to full use and benefits of the suite. When Executive is no longer Chair and an employee, Executive shall be entitled to the art murals that she had commissioned and are currently located in the Forest Grove administrative building.

    3.  Employee Stock Options.  As of the Effective Date, Executive surrenders to Merix stock options to purchase a total of 50,000 shares of Common Stock at prices ranging from $17.875 to $31.375 per share, and Executive acknowledges that she has no right to purchase such shares. The remaining options held by Executive as of the Effective Date (240,000 shares granted with an exercise price of $9.00 per shares, 40,000 shares granted with an exercise price of $9.9375 per share and 120,000 shares granted with an exercise price of $4.1875 per share) shall remain in effect after the Effective Date in accordance with the terms of the plan and applicable option agreements. Executive acknowledges that she will not be granted any stock options after the Effective Date.

    4.  Release of Claims.  In consideration for and as a condition precedent to receiving the severance benefits outlined in this Agreement, Executive agrees to execute a Release of Claims in the appropriate form attached as Exhibit B ("Release of Claims"). Executive promises to execute and deliver the Release of Claims to Merix within the later of (a) 21 days from the date Executive receives the Release of Claims or (b) the last day of Executive's active employment.

    5.  Compensation Upon Termination.  In the event of a Termination of Executive's Employment (as defined in Section 9.1) at any time during the term of this Agreement other than for Cause (as defined in Section 9.2 of this Agreement), death or Disability (as defined in Section 9.4 of this Agreement), and contingent upon Executive's execution of the Release of Claims and compliance with Section 11, Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits:

    6.  Additional Compensation Upon Termination Following A Change of Control.  In the event of a Termination of Executive's Employment (other than for Cause, death or Disability) prior to the Expiration Date and within 24 months following a Change of Control or prior to a Change of Control at the direction of a person who has entered into an agreement with Merix, the consummation of which will constitute a Change of Control, and contingent upon Executive's execution of the Release of Claims and compliance with Section 11, Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits, which benefits shall be in addition to the benefits provided in Section 5:

    7.  Tax Withholding; Subsequent Employment.  

    8.  Other Agreements.  As of the Effective Date, this Agreement replaces and supersedes the 1996 Agreement between Executive and Merix. In the event that severance benefits are payable to Executive under any other agreement with Merix in effect at the time of termination (including but not limited to any employment agreement, but excluding for this purpose any stock option agreement or stock bonus agreement or stock appreciation right agreement that may provide for accelerated vesting or related benefits upon the occurrence of a change in control), the benefits provided in this Agreement shall not be payable to Executive. Executive may, however, elect to receive all of the benefits provided for in this Agreement in lieu of all of the benefits provided in all such other agreements. Any such election shall be made with respect to the agreements as a whole, and Executive cannot select some benefits from one agreement and other benefits from this Agreement.

    9.  Definitions.  

Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, no Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this Agreement by virtue of any transaction which results in Executive, or a group of persons which includes Executive, acquiring, directly or indirectly, securities representing 20 percent or more of the voting power of outstanding securities of Merix.

    10.  Successors; Binding Agreement.  

    11.  Resignation of Corporate Offices.  Executive will resign Executive's position as a director and Chair of Merix effective as of the date of termination of employment. Executive agrees to provide Merix such written resignation(s) upon request and that no severance will be paid until after such resignation(s) are provided.

    12.  Governing Law, Arbitration.  This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Oregon. Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement or the breach thereof, shall be settled exclusively by arbitration under the Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate Claims signed by the Executive, and judgment upon the award rendered by the Arbitrator may be entered in any Court having jurisdiction thereof. Notwithstanding any provision in the Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate Claims, Merix shall pay all arbitration fees and reasonable attorney's fees and expenses (including at trial and on appeal) of Executive in enforcing its rights under this Agreement in the event of a Termination of Executive's Employment prior to the Expiration Date and within 24 months following a Change of Control.

    13.  Amendment.  No provision of this Agreement may be modified unless such modification is agreed to in a writing signed by Executive and Merix.

    14.  Severability.  If any of the provisions or terms of this Agreement shall for any reason be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other terms of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such unenforceable term had never been contained in this Agreement.

MERIX CORPORATION

By:   /s/ TERRI L. TIMBERMAN   
  /s/ DEBORAH A. COLEMAN   
Title:   Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer   Executive


EXHIBIT A

DUTIES AFTER EFFECTIVE DATE


EXHIBIT B

RELEASE OF CLAIMS

1. PARTIES.

    The parties to Release of Claims (hereinafter "Release") are            and Merix Corporation, an Oregon corporation, as hereinafter defined.

    1.1  EXECUTIVE.

    For the purposes of this Release, "Executive" means            , and his or her attorneys, heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, and spouse.

    1.2  THE COMPANY

    For purposes of this Release the "Company" means Merix Corporation, an Oregon corporation, its predecessors and successors, corporate affiliates, and all of each corporation's officers, directors, employees, insurers, agents, or assigns, in their individual and representative capacities.

2. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE.

    Executive was employed by Company and Chair of the Company. Executive's employment is ending effective            [following a Change in Control as defined in Section 9.3 ("Change in Control") of Second Amended Executive Severance Agreement ("Agreement")]. [Pursuant to Section 6.2 of the Agreement, Merix shall pay [the cash equivalent not exceeding $5,000 (less proper withholding) of] the cost and expense of maintaining a life insurance policy for the Executive's benefit for 18 months.]

    The purpose of this Release is to settle, and the parties hereby settle, fully and finally, any and all claims Executive may have against Company, whether asserted or not, known or unknown, including, but not limited to, claims arising out of or related to Executive's employment, any claim for reemployment, or any other claims whether asserted or not, known or unknown, past or future, that relate to Executive's employment, reemployment, or application for reemployment.

3. RELEASE.

    Except as reserved in paragraphs 3 or 3.1, Executive waives, acquits and forever discharges Company from any obligations Company has and all claims Executive may have including but not limited to obligations and/or claims arising from the Agreement or any other document or oral agreement relating to employment compensation, benefits severance or post-employment issues. Except as reserved in Paragraph 3.1, Executive hereby releases Company from any and all claims, demands, actions, or causes of action, whether known or unknown, arising from or related in any way to any employment of or past or future failure or refusal to employ Executive by Company, or any other past or future claim (except as reserved by this Release or where expressly prohibited by law) that relates in any way to Executive's employment, compensation, benefits, reemployment, or application for employment, with the exception of any claim Executive may have against Company for enforcement of this Release. This release includes any and all claims, direct or indirect, which might otherwise be made under any applicable local, state or federal authority, including but not limited to any claim arising under the Oregon statutes dealing with employment, discrimination in employment, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Executive Order 11246, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, Oregon wage and hour statutes, all as amended, any regulations under such authorities, and any applicable contract, tort, or common law theories.

    3.1  Reservations of Rights.

    This Release shall not affect any rights which Executive may have under any medical insurance, disability plan, workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, applicable company stock incentive plan(s), indemnifications, or the 401(k) plan maintained by the Company.

    3.2  No Admission of Liability.

    It is understood and agreed that the acts done and evidenced hereby and the release granted hereunder is not an admission of liability on the part of Executive or Company, by whom liability has been and is expressly denied.

4. CONSIDERATION TO EXECUTIVE.

    After receipt of this Release fully endorsed by Executive, and the expiration of the seven- (7) day revocation period provided by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act without Executive's revocation, Company shall pay:

    a)  the lump sum of            DOLLARS ($            ) to Executive (less proper withholding) for the reasonable estimate of 18  months of COBRA continuation coverage premiums, plus the equivalent of six additional months of COBRA premiums as provided in Section 5.1 of the Agreement;

    [b) the lump sum of            DOLLARS ($            ) to Executive (less proper withholding) for severance as provided in Sections 6.1 and 6.4 of the Agreement; and]

    [c) [the cash equivalent (less proper withholding) of]the premium to maintain Executive's life insurance plan for 18 months as provided in Section 6.2 of the Agreement.]

5. NO DISPARAGEMENT.

    Executive agrees that henceforth Executive will not disparage or make false or adverse statements about Company. The Company should report to Executive any actions or statements that are attributed to Executive that the Company believes are disparaging. The Company may take actions consistent with breach of this Release should it determine that Executive has disparaged or made false or adverse statements about Company. The Company agrees to follow the applicable policy(ies) regarding release of employment reference information.

6. CONFIDENTIALITY, PROPRIETARY, TRADE SECRET AND RELATED INFORMATION.

    Executive acknowledges the duty and agrees not to make unauthorized use or disclosure of any confidential, proprietary or trade secret information learned as an employee about Company, its products, customers and suppliers, and covenants not to breach that duty. Moreover, Executive acknowledges that, subject to the enforcement limitations of applicable law, the Company reserves the right to enforce the terms of Executive's Employment Agreement with Company and any paragraph(s) therein. Should Executive, Executive's attorney or agents be requested in any judicial, administrative, or other proceeding to disclose confidential, proprietary or trade secret information Executive learned as an employee of Company, Executive shall promptly notify the Company of such request by the most expeditious means in order to enable the Company to take any reasonable and appropriate action to limit such disclosure.

7. ARBITRATION OF CERTAIN DISPUTES.

    Executive and Company agree that should the issue arise of whether either party to this Agreement has failed to satisfy or has breached the terms of this Agreement, any dispute regarding the issue, except for any claim excepted under the Mutual Agreement to Arbitration Claims, shall be submitted to arbitration pursuant to the Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate Claims signed by Executive. In such event, [each party shall pay its own costs and attorneys' fees/notwithstanding contrary language in the Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate Claims, because this Release follows a Change in Control, the reasonable attorneys fees incurred by Executive to seek enforcement of this Release shall be paid by the Company].

8. SCOPE OF RELEASE.

    The provisions of this Release shall be deemed to obligate, extend to, and inure to the benefit of the parties; Company's parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, successors, predecessors, assigns, directors, officers, and employees; and each parties insurers, transferees, grantees, legatees, agents and heirs, including those who may assume any and all of the above-described capacities subsequent to the execution and effective date of this Release.

9. OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVICE OF COUNSEL.

    Executive acknowledges that Executive has been encouraged to seek advice of counsel with respect to this Release and has had the opportunity to do so.

10. ENTIRE RELEASE.

    This Release, the Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate Claims, [as modified herein] and the Employment Agreement signed by Executive contain the entire agreement and understanding between the parties and, except as reserved in paragraph 3 and 3.1, supersede and replace all prior agreements written or oral including but not limited to the Agreement and the Executive Stock Bonus Agreement, prior negotiations and proposed agreements, written or oral. Executive and Company acknowledge that no other party, nor agent nor attorney of any other party, has made any promise, representation, or warranty, express or implied, not contained in this Release concerning the subject matter of this Release to induce this Release, and Executive and Company acknowledge that they have not executed this Release in reliance upon any such promise, representation, or warranty not contained in this Release.

11. SEVERABILITY.

    Every provision of this Release is intended to be severable. In the event any term or provision of this Release is declared to be illegal or invalid for any reason whatsoever by a court of competent jurisdiction or by final and unappealed order of an administrative agency of competent jurisdiction, such illegality or invalidity should not affect the balance of the terms and provisions of this Release, which terms and provisions shall remain binding and enforceable.

12. PARTIES MAY ENFORCE RELEASE.

    Nothing in this Release shall operate to release or discharge any parties to this Release or their successors, assigns, legatees, heirs, or personal representatives from any rights, claims, or causes of action arising out of, relating to, or connected with a breach of any obligation of any party contained in this Release.

13. COSTS AND ATTORNEY'S FEES.

    [The parties each agree to bear their own costs and attorneys' fees which have been or may be incurred in connection with any matters released herein or in connection with the negotiation and consummation of this Release. In the event of any administrative or civil action to enforce the provisions of this Release, the prevailing party shall be entitled to attorney fees and costs through trial and/or on appeal. Because this Release follows a Change of Control, reasonable attorneys' fees which have been or may be incurred in connection with any matters released herein or in connection with the negotiation and consummation of this Release shall be paid by Company. In the event of any administrative or civil action to enforce the provisions of this Release, the Company shall pay Executive's reasonable attorneys' fees through trial and/or on appeal.]

14. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

    Executive acknowledges that the Release provides severance pay and benefits which the Company would otherwise have no obligation to provide.

    Executive acknowledges that Company has provided the following information: (a) the class or group of employees offered the opportunity to obtain severance benefits similar to those in the Release, (b) the eligibility factors required to obtain severance benefits similar to those in the Release, (c) the time limits required to obtain severance benefits similar to those in the Release, (d) the job titles and ages of employees eligible or selected for severance benefits similar to those in the Release, and (e) the ages of employees in the same classification either not eligible or not selected.

15. REVOCATION.

    As provided by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, Executive's is entitled to have twenty-one (21) days to consider this Release. For a period of seven (7) days from execution of this Release, Executive may revoke this Release. Upon receipt of Executive's signed Release and the end of the revocation period, payment by Company as described in paragraph 4 above will be forwarded by mail in a timely manner as provided herein.

    Dated:    

     
[Name of Executive]        
 
STATE OF OREGON      )
             ) ss.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
County of                      )
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

    Personally appeared the above named                              and acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be his or her voluntary act and deed.

Before me:    
   
    Notary Public for    
       
    My commission expires:    
       
MERIX CORPORATION
 
By:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dated:
 
 
 
 
   
     
 
Its:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
On Behalf of "Company"
       

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SECOND AMENDED EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT September 27, 1999

EXHIBIT A
DUTIES AFTER EFFECTIVE DATE

EXHIBIT B
RELEASE OF CLAIMS



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