Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On August 8, 2022, Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. (the "Company") announced that
its chief executive officer and chairman, David J. Stetson, will retire from his
role as chief executive officer effective as of the end of the day on December
31, 2022. The Company's board of directors (the "Board") has determined that Mr.
Stetson will thereafter serve as executive chairman of the Board.
Also on August 8, 2022, the Company announced that Charles Andrew ("Andy")
Eidson, who currently serves as the Company's president, has been appointed by
the Board to serve as the Company's chief executive officer, effective as of
January 1, 2023. The Board also approved an increase in the size of the Board to
eight members, and the appointment of Mr. Eidson as a director, also effective
as of January 1, 2023. Mr. Eidson will serve as a director of the Company until
the Company's 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, or until his successor is
elected and qualified or until his earlier resignation or removal.
Employment Agreement with Mr. Eidson
In connection with his appointment as the Company's chief executive officer, Mr.
Eidson and the Company have entered into an employment agreement dated November
18, 2022 (the "Employment Agreement"). Under the terms of the Employment
Agreement, Mr. Eidson will serve as the Company's chief executive officer
through November 18, 2024, and during any renewal period (the term automatically
renews for successive 12-month periods unless terminated by either party with 90
days' written notice). Mr. Eidson's annual base salary will be $850,000, which
may be increased from time to time at the sole discretion of the Board's
Compensation Committee (the "Committee").
Beginning in 2023, and for each year thereafter during the term, Mr. Eidson will
be eligible to receive an annual bonus to the extent earned based on performance
against annual performance criteria established by the Committee under the
Company's Annual Incentive Bonus Plan (the "AIB"). Mr. Eidson's annual target
and maximum bonus opportunities will be 125% and 250% of his base salary,
respectively, subject to applicable performance criteria.
In 2023, Mr. Eidson will continue to participate in the Company's 2018 Long-Term
Incentive Plan (as amended or restated from time to time, the "LTIP") at a
target amount equal to 300% of annual base salary, in accordance with the terms
of the LTIP.
If Mr. Eidson is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason (each as
defined in the Employment Agreement), he will be entitled to receive the
following severance benefits, subject to his execution of a release of claims:
•an amount equal to (i) 2 times base salary plus (ii) 2 times target bonus for
the year in which the termination becomes effective, payable in equal
installments for 24 months following the date of termination;
•for any equity-based awards that are outstanding as of the date of termination,
any unvested tranche of each award will service-vest on a pro rata basis based
on the period of time that Mr. Eidson was employed during the applicable vesting
period for that tranche, with any awards that are also subject to
performance-vesting conditions remaining outstanding subject to the achievement
of the applicable performance goals as provided under the terms of the
applicable award agreement;
•earned and accrued but unpaid individual bonuses or individual incentive
compensation for prior years; and
•reimbursement by the Company for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
(COBRA) health and dental insurance premiums and life insurance premiums for him
and his dependents until the earliest of Mr. Eidson obtaining the age of 65, the
date he becomes eligible to participate in another employer's group health plan
and 18-months following the date of termination (the "Continuation Benefits").
If Mr. Eidson is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason during the
period beginning 90 days prior to and ending twelve months following a change in
control (as defined in the Employment Agreement), he will be entitled to receive
the following enhanced severance benefits, subject to his execution of a release
of claims:
•an amount equal to (i) 2.5 times base salary plus (ii) 2.5 times the target
annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurs, payable in equal
installments for 30 months following the date of termination;
•service-vesting of all equity awards with any awards that are also subject to
performance-vesting conditions remaining outstanding subject to the achievement
of the applicable performance goals as provided under the terms of the
applicable award agreement;
•payment of the pro rata share of his individual annual bonus or individual
annual cash incentive compensation, based on target performance, for the year of
termination;
•earned and accrued but unpaid individual bonuses or individual incentive
compensation for prior years; and
•the Continuation Benefits.
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If Mr. Eidson's employment is terminated due to death or disability, he will be
entitled to receive earned and accrued but unpaid individual bonuses or
individual incentive compensation for prior years and the Continuation Benefits
(other than life insurance premiums in the case of his death).
Under the Agreement, Mr. Eidson agrees that, following a termination of his
employment for any reason, he will not, for a two year period, undertake
activities that compete with the business of the company. The Employment
Agreement also contains other customary terms and conditions.
This description of the Employment Agreement does not purport to be complete and
is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Employment
Agreement attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1 and
incorporated herein by reference.
Transition Agreement with Mr. Stetson
In connection with his transition to executive chairman, Mr. Stetson and the
Company have entered into an agreement dated November 18, 2022 (the "Transition
Agreement"). Under the terms of the Transition Agreement, Mr. Stetson will
resign as the Company's chief executive officer as of the end of the day on
December 31, 2022, at which time the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement
between Mr. Stetson and the Company, dated January 26, 2021, will terminate and
be replaced by the Transition Agreement. Mr. Stetson will become the Company's
executive chairman on January 1, 2023. He will serve as executive chairman until
the end of the day on December 31, 2023, at which time his status as an employee
of the Company will terminate. On January 1, 2024, Mr. Stetson will become
non-executive chairman and will serve in that capacity until April 30, 2024. The
Board has agreed to nominate Mr. Stetson for reelection to the Board at the 2023
annual meeting of stockholders.
Per the Transition Agreement, during Mr. Stetson's tenure as executive chairman,
he will remain a fulltime employee of the Company and will have the duties,
responsibilities and authorities customarily associated with his position, as
approved by the Board of Directors. Either the Company or Mr. Stetson may
terminate his employment with the Company upon proper notice.
During his service as executive chairman, Mr. Stetson will be compensated, in
addition to general employee benefits, as follows:
•Annual base salary of $800,000, pro-rated for any partial year of service as
executive chairman;
•Participation in the AIB, with an annual target bonus opportunity of 100% of
annual base salary, and a maximum bonus opportunity of 200% of annual base
salary;
•Participation in the LTIP, with an annual target award amount of 200% of annual
base salary, consisting of performance share units and restricted share units;
and
•A one-time equity award of 30,000 restricted stock units, granted on November
18, 2022, with 10,000 shares to be vested on January 1, 2023, 10,000 shares to
be vested on June 30, 2023, and 10,000 shares to be vested on December 31, 2023,
provided, however, that upon Mr. Stetson's involuntary departure from the Board,
all unvested units shall immediately vest.
This description of the Transition Agreement does not purport to be complete and
is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Transition
Agreement attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.2 and
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit 10.1 Employment Agreement, dated November 18, 2022, by and between Alpha
Metallurgical Resources, Inc. and C. Andrew Eidson
Exhibit 10.2 Transition Agreement, dated November 18, 2022, by and between Alpha
Metallurgical Resources, Inc. and David J. Stetson
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
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