SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
May 1, 2007
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)
ON Semiconductor Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 000-30419 | 36-3840979 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
| ON Semiconductor Corporation 5005 E. McDowell Road Phoenix, Arizona |
85008 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
602-244-6600
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers |
(b) and (c) –
William John Nelson, New Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer:
Effective May 1, 2007, William John Nelson (or “John Nelson”) was employed and appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of ON Semiconductor Corporation (“Corporation”) and Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC (“SCILLC”), the wholly-owned primary operating company of the Corporation. Also effective May 1, 2007, Mr. Nelson and SCILLC entered into an employment agreement (“Agreement”). As explained more under Item 8.01 of this Form 8-K and its Exhibit 99.1, prior to being employed by SCILLC, Mr. Nelson was most recently the chief executive officer of 1st Silicon Malaysia.
The Agreement provides for a base salary of $350,000 per year, subject to review by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (“Board”) from time-to-time. It specifies an incentive target amount for Mr. Nelson under the Corporation’s bonus program up to a target of 65% of his base salary during the performance cycle or an additional amount as approved by the Board under the bonus program (his actual bonus amounts could range from 0% to over 65% of the target amount, depending upon Board approval and how the Corporation and/or Mr. Nelson perform in relation to specified performance criteria). The Agreement provides for: (i) a monthly car allowance of $1,200; and (ii) reimbursement of up to $10,000 per year for actual financial planning expenses. The Agreement has no specified term of years.
Under the Agreement, if SCILLC terminates Mr. Nelson’s employment without “cause,” or he resigns for “good reason” (as those terms are defined in the Agreement), SCILLC will pay him: (i) one times his annual base salary; (ii) any earned but unpaid bonus for any prior performance cycle; and (iii) a pro rata portion of his bonus, if any, for the current performance cycle. Mr. Nelson would also be entitled to medical benefits for one year following termination and up to six months of outplacement assistance for a cost to SCILLC not to exceed $5,000. The base salary component of severance would be paid to Mr. Nelson in accordance with SCILLC’s ordinary payroll practices; provided, however, the first six months of base salary will be paid in a lump sum on the sixth month anniversary of the date of Mr. Nelson’s termination, and the remaining six months of payments will be paid in accordance with SCILLC’s ordinary payroll practices. Similarly, the Agreement provides with respect to bonuses that such payments will be made to Mr. Nelson on the later of: (a) the date that bonuses are paid to active employees under the bonus program; or (b) the sixth month anniversary of the date of his termination.
In the event of a “change in control” (as defined in the Agreement), if Mr. Nelson’s employment is terminated (without cause or for good reason) within two years after a change in control, then he will be entitled to the aforementioned severance benefits. In addition, the Agreement provides that he will be entitled to accelerated vesting of all of his outstanding unvested stock options as of the date Mr. Nelson signed the Agreement; plus the extension of exerciseability of the preceding stock options; provided, however, that if SCILLC determines in good faith that the extension of any such stock option’s exercise period results in the stock option being considered deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, such extension shall not take effect.
Also under the Agreement, all severance benefits for Mr. Nelson are subject to him signing a general release and waiver (in the form reasonably acceptable to SCILLC) and his compliance with restrictive covenants that prohibit Mr. Nelson during, and for one year after, the termination of his employment from soliciting any employee of the Corporation, SCILLC or their subsidiaries, or competing with SCILLC.
A copy of the Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The above description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the filed Agreement.
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In connection with Mr. Nelson’s hiring and appointment as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer and subject to approval by the Corporation’s Board during an upcoming meeting, the Board intends to grant Mr. Nelson, a stock option (“Option”) to purchase 400,000 of the Corporation’s common stock under the ON Semiconductor 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (“2000 SIP”). The Option will vest annually on a pro rata basis over a four-year period beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date and will have an exercise price equaling the closing price of the common stock of the Corporation as quoted on NASDAQ on the grant date. In addition and subject to Board approval, the Board intends to award to Mr. Nelson 100,000 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) under the 2000 SIP to be granted at the same time as the Option. The shares underlying the RSUs will generally vest in 25% increments over a four-year period beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date. Both the Option and the RSUs will be subject to additional terms and conditions under the 2000 SIP, as well as in separate agreements governing the Option and RSUs. Further, as a result of Mr. Nelson’s employment with SCILLC, he will receive certain relocation benefits consisting primarily of a cash relocation allowance of $150,000, less applicable withholding taxes.
William George, Executive Vice President, Operations:
Effective May 1, 2007, Mr. Nelson replaced William George, the Corporation’s former Executive Vice President, Operations. Mr. George will remain with the Corporation until his planned retirement in 2008. In the interim, Mr. George will complete the transition of his responsibilities to Mr. Nelson and will then focus his work in the areas of the Corporation’s Manufacturing Services Business and return on investment from research and development projects.
| Item 8.01 | Other Events |
On May 1, 2007, the Corporation announced in a news release the appointment of Mr. Nelson as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. A copy of ON Semiconductor Corporation’s news release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
The information in Item 8.01 (including exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to liability of that section. The information in this report (including its exhibit) shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
| (d) | Exhibits |
| Exhibit | Description | |
| 10.1 | Employment Agreement between Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC and John Nelson dated as of May 1, 2007 | |
| 99.1 | News release for ON Semiconductor Corporation dated May 1, 2007 titled “ON Semiconductor Appoints John Nelson as Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer”(1) | |
| (1) | This exhibit is furnished and not “filed” with this Form 8-K. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| ON SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION | ||||||||
| (Registrant) | ||||||||
| Date: |
May 4, 2007 |
By: | /s/ KEITH JACKSON | |||||
| Keith Jackson | ||||||||
| Chief Executive Officer and President | ||||||||
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| 10.1 |
Employment Agreement between Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC and John Nelson dated as of May 1, 2007 | |
| 99.1 |
News release for ON Semiconductor Corporation dated May 1, 2007 titled “ON Semiconductor Appoints John Nelson as Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer”(1) | |
| (1) | This exhibit is furnished and not “filed” with this Form 8-K. |
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Exhibit 10.1
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated as of May 1, 2007 (the “Agreement”), between Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC (the “Company”), with offices at 5005 East McDowell Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85008, and John Nelson (the “Executive”).
| 1. | Employment, Duties and Agreements. |
(a) The Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive as its Executive Vice President, and the Executive hereby accepts such position and agrees to serve the Company in such capacity during the employment period described in Section 3 hereof (the “Employment Period”). The Executive shall report to the Office of the Chief Executive Officer (the “Office of the CEO”) of the Company and shall have such duties and responsibilities as the Office of the CEO may reasonably determine from time to time as are consistent with the Executive’s position as Executive Vice President. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be subject to, and shall act in accordance with, all reasonable instructions and directions of the Office of the CEO and all applicable policies and rules of the Company.
(b) During the Employment Period, excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive shall devote his full working time, energy and attention to the performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder and shall faithfully and diligently endeavor to promote the business and best interests of the Company.
(c) During the Employment Period, the Executive may not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, operate, participate in the management, operations or control of, or act as an executive, officer, consultant, agent or representative of, any type of business or service (other than as an executive of the Company), provided that it shall not be a violation of the foregoing for the Executive to manage his personal, financial and legal affairs so long as such activities do not interfere with the performance of his duties and responsibilities to the Company as provided hereunder.
| 2. | Compensation. |
(a) As compensation for the agreements made by the Executive herein and the performance by the Executive of his obligations hereunder, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay the Executive, pursuant to the Company’s normal and customary payroll procedures, a base salary at the rate of $350,000 per annum (the “Base Salary”). The Board of Directors of the Company and/or its Compensation Committee (both or either herein may be referred to as the “Board”) shall review the Executive’s Base Salary from time to time.
(b) In addition to the Base Salary, during the Employment Period, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in the bonus program established and approved by the Board (the “Program”) and, pursuant to the Program, the Executive may earn a bonus (the “Bonus”) on an annual or other performance period basis (a “Performance Cycle”) up to 65% of Base Salary paid during the applicable Performance Cycle or an additional amount as approved by the Board under the Program and in each case based on certain performance criteria; provided that the Executive is actively employed by the Company on the date the Bonuses are paid under the Program, except as provided in Section 5(a) herein. The Bonus may be paid annually or more frequently depending upon the Performance Cycle, as determined by the Board and pursuant to the Program. The Bonus will be specified by the Board, and the Bonus will be reviewed at least annually by the Board.
(c) During the Employment Period: (i) except as specifically provided herein, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs of the Company which are made available generally to other senior executive officers of the Company, and (ii) except as specifically provided herein, the Executive and/or the Executive’s family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation in, and shall receive all benefits under, all welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company which are made available generally to other senior
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executive officers of the Company (for the avoidance of doubt, such plans, practices, policies or programs shall not include any plan, practice, policy or program which provides benefits in the nature of severance or continuation pay).
(d) During the Employment Period, the Company shall provide the Executive with a car allowance of $1,200 per month.
(e) During the Employment Period, the Company shall reimburse the Executive up to $10,000 annually for actual financial planning expenses.
(f) During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to at least four (4) weeks of paid vacation time for each calendar year in accordance with the Company’s normal and customary policies and procedures now in force or as such policies and procedures may be modified with respect to senior executive officers of the Company.
(g) During the Employment Period, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable business expenses upon the presentation of statements of such expenses in accordance with the Company’s normal and customary policies and procedures now in force or as such policies and procedures may be modified with respect to senior executive officers of the Company.
| 3. | Employment Period. |
The Company shall employ Executive on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement commencing as of the date of the execution of this Agreement (the “Effective Date”). Executive shall be considered an “at-will” employee, which means that Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Company or by the Executive at any time for any reason or no reason at all. The period during which Executive is employed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be referred to as the “Employment Period.” The Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated during the Employment Period upon the earliest to occur of the following events (at which time the Employment Period shall be terminated):
(a) Death. The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon his death.
(b) Disability. The Company shall be entitled to terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for “Disability” if, as a result of the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or injury, the Executive shall have been unable to perform his duties hereunder for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days, and within thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 4 below) for Disability is given following such 90-day period the Executive shall not have returned to the performance of his duties on a full-time basis.
(c) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Cause” shall mean: (i) a material breach by the Executive of this Agreement; (ii) the failure by the Executive to reasonably and substantially perform his duties hereunder (other than as a result of physical or mental illness or injury); (iii) the failure by the Executive to take any and all measures to maintain legal work authorization with respect to the Executive’s immigrant or non-immigrant status in the United States; (iv) the Executive’s willful misconduct or gross negligence which is materially injurious to the Company; and (v) the commission by the Executive of a felony or other serious crime involving moral turpitude. In the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, the Company shall provide notice to the Executive indicating in reasonable detail the events or circumstances that it believes constitute Cause hereunder and, if such breach or failure is reasonably susceptible to cure, provide the Executive with a reasonable period of time (not to exceed thirty (30) days) to cure such breach or failure. If, subsequent to the Executive’s termination of employment hereunder for other than Cause, it is determined in good faith by the Board that the Executive’s employment could have been terminated for Cause (except for a termination under (ii) of the above definition of Cause), the Executive’s employment shall, at the election of the Board, be deemed to have been terminated for Cause retroactively to the date the events giving rise to Cause occurred.
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(d) Without Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder during the Employment Period without Cause.
(e) Voluntarily. The Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment hereunder (other than for Good Reason), provided that the Executive provides the Company with notice of his intent to terminate his employment at least three months in advance of the Date of Termination (as defined in Section 4 below).
(f) For Good Reason. The Executive may terminate his employment hereunder for Good Reason and any such termination shall be deemed a termination by the Company without Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean (i) a material breach of this Agreement by the Company, (ii) reducing the Executive’s salary while at the same time not proportionately reducing the salaries of the other executive officers of the Company, or (iii) a material and continued diminution of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder; provided that in either (i), (ii), or (iii) above, the Executive shall notify the Company within thirty (30) days after the event or events which the Executive believes constitute Good Reason hereunder and shall describe in such notice in reasonable detail such event or events and provide the Company a thirty (30) day period after delivery of such notice to cure such breach or diminution.
| 4. | Termination Procedure. |
(a) Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company or by the Executive during the Employment Period (other than a termination on account of the death of Executive) shall be communicated by written “Notice of Termination” to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 11(a).
(b) Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” shall mean (i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by his death, the date of his death, (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 3(b), thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination, provided that the Executive shall not have returned to the performance of his duties hereunder on a full-time basis within such thirty (30) day period, (iii) if the Executive voluntarily terminates his employment, the date specified in the notice given pursuant to Section 3(e) herein which shall not be less than three months after the Notice of Termination is delivered to the Company, (iv) if the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 3(f) herein, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination, and (v) if the Executive’s employment is terminated for any other reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given or any later date (within thirty (30) days, or any alternative time period agreed upon by the parties, after the giving of such notice) set forth in such Notice of Termination.
| 5. | Termination Payments. |
(a) Without Cause. In the event of the termination of the Executive’s employment during the Employment Period by the Company without Cause (including a deemed termination without Cause as provided in Section 3(f) herein), the Executive shall be entitled to: (i) any accrued but unused vacation, (ii) Base Salary through the Date of Termination (to the extent not theretofore paid), (iii) the continuation of Base Salary for twelve (12) months following the Date of Termination, which shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s ordinary payroll practices in effect from time to time, provided, however, that the first six (6) months of Base Salary shall be paid in a lump sum as soon as practicable after the six (6) month anniversary of the Date of Termination, and the remaining six (6) months of payments shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s ordinary payroll practices as prescribed above, (iv) any earned but not paid Bonus for the Performance Cycle immediately preceding the Date of Termination, which shall be paid when such Bonuses are paid to other active employees, and (v) a pro-rata portion of the Bonus, if any, for the Performance Cycle in which the Date of Termination occurs (based on the achievement of the applicable performance criteria and related to the applicable Performance Cycle as described in Section 2(b)), which shall be paid when such Bonuses are paid to other active employees, provided, however that with respect to (iv) and (v) herein, such payments shall be paid on the later of (A) the date the Bonuses are paid under the Program, or (B) as soon as practicable after the six (6) month anniversary of the Date of Termination. In
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addition, in the event of a termination by the Company without Cause: (1) if the Executive elects to continue the Company’s group health plans pursuant to his rights under COBRA, the Company shall pay the Executive’s COBRA continuation premiums until the earlier of (x) the date the Executive receives group health benefits from another employer or (y) the one-year anniversary of the Date of Termination; and (2) the Company will provide the Executive with outplacement services from vendors designated by the Company for a period of six (6) months following the Date of Termination, not to exceed $5,000. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the payments and benefits provided in this Section 5 are subject to and conditioned upon the Executive executing a general release and waiver (in the form reasonably acceptable to the Company), waiving all claims the Executive may have against the Company, its successors, assigns, affiliates, executives, officers and directors, and such payments are subject to and conditioned upon the Executive’s compliance with the Restrictive Covenants provided in Sections 7 and 8 hereof. Except as provided in this Section 5(a), the Company shall have no additional obligations under this Agreement.
(b) Cause, Disability, Death or Voluntarily other than for Good Reason. If the Executive’s employment is terminated during the Employment Period by (i) the Company for Cause, (ii) voluntarily by the Executive other than for Good Reason, or (iii) as a result of the Executive’s death or Disability, the Company shall pay the Executive or the Executive’s estate, as the case may be, within thirty (30) days following the Date of Termination the Executive’s accrued but unused vacation and his Base Salary through the Date of Termination (to the extent not theretofore paid). Except as provided in this Section 5(b), the Company shall have no additional obligations under this Agreement.
(c) Change in Control. In the event the Company terminates the Executive’s employment without Cause (including a deemed termination without Cause as provided in Section 3(f) herein) within two (2) years following a Change in Control (as defined herein), then, in addition to all other benefits provided to the Executive under Section 5(a) of this Agreement, notwithstanding any provision in any applicable option grant agreement between the Company and the Executive: (i) any outstanding but unvested options granted on or prior to the Effective Date shall vest upon the Date of Termination; and (ii) all options (both vested and unvested) granted on or prior to the Effective Date will remain fully exercisable until the first to occur of (1) the one-year anniversary of the Date of Termination, and (2) the tenth anniversary of the grant date of such option, provided, however, that if the Company determines in good faith that the extension of the option’s exercise period results in the options being considered deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, such extension shall not take effect. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” shall have the meaning set forth in the ON Semiconductor Corporation 2000 Stock Incentive Plan for “Change of Control.”
| 6. | Legal Fees. |
In the event of any contest or dispute between the Company and the Executive with respect to this Agreement or the Executive’s employment hereunder, each of the parties shall be responsible for their respective legal fees and expenses.
| 7. | Non-Solicitation. |
During the Employment Period and for one (1) year thereafter, the Executive hereby agrees not to, directly or indirectly, solicit or hire or assist any other person or entity in soliciting or hiring any employee of ON Semiconductor Corporation (the “Parent”), the Company or any of their subsidiaries to perform services for any entity (other than the Parent, the Company or their subsidiaries), or attempt to induce any such employee to leave the employment of the Parent, the Company or their subsidiaries.
| 8. | Confidentiality; Non-Compete; Non-Disclosure; Non-Disparagement. |
(a) During the Employment Period and thereafter, the Executive shall hold in strict confidence any proprietary or Confidential Information related to the Parent, the Company and their affiliates. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Confidential Information” shall mean all information of the Parent, the Company or any of their affiliates (in whatever form) which is not generally known to the public, including without limitation any inventions, processes, methods of distribution, customer lists or customers’ or trade secrets.
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(b) The Executive and the Company agree that the Company would likely suffer significant harm from the Executive’s competing with the Company during the Employment Period and for some period of time thereafter. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that he will not, during the Employment Period and for a period of one year following the termination of his employment with the Company, directly or indirectly, become employed by, engage in business with, serve as an agent or consultant to, become a partner, member, principal, stockholder or other owner (other than a holder of less than 1% of the outstanding voting shares of any publicly held company) of, or otherwise perform services for (whether or not for compensation) any Competitive Business. For purposes of this Section 8(b), the term “Competitive Business” shall mean any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, trust or joint venture, or government agency or political subdivision thereof that is engaged in, or otherwise competes or has a reasonable potential for competing with the Business (as defined herein), anywhere in which the Company or its affiliates engage in or intend to engage in the Business or where the Company or its affiliates’ customers are located. For purposes of this Agreement, the “Business” shall mean the design, marketing and sale of power semiconductors or other products offered by the Company or its affiliates for use in electronic products, appliances and automobiles, and such other businesses as the Company may engage in from time to time.
(c) Upon the termination of the Employment Period, the Executive shall not take, without the prior written consent of the Company, any drawing, blueprint, specification or other document (in whatever form) of the Parent, the Company or their affiliates, which is of a confidential nature relating to the Parent, the Company or their affiliates, or, without limitation, relating to any of their methods of distribution, or any description of any formulas or secret processes and will return any such information (in whatever form) then in his possession.
(d) The Executive shall not defame or disparage the Parent, the Company, their affiliates and their officers, directors, members or executives. The Executive hereby agrees to cooperate with the Company in refuting any defamatory or disparaging remarks by any third party made in respect of the Parent, the Company, their affiliates or their directors, members, officers or executives.
| 9. | Injunctive Relief. |
It is impossible to measure in money the damages that will accrue to the Company in the event that the Executive breaches any of the restrictive covenants provided in Sections 7 and 8 hereof. In the event that the Executive breaches any such restrictive covenant, the Company shall be entitled to an injunction restraining the Executive from violating such restrictive covenant (without posting any bond or other security). If the Company shall institute any action or proceeding to enforce any such restrictive covenant, the Executive hereby waives the claim or defense that the Company has an adequate remedy at law and agrees not to assert in any such action or proceeding the claim or defense that the Company has an adequate remedy at law. The foregoing shall not prejudice the Company’s right to require the Executive to account for and pay over to the Company, and the Executive hereby agrees to account for and pay over, the compensation, profits, monies, accruals or other benefits derived or received by the Executive as a result of any transaction constituting a breach of any of the restrictive covenants provided in Sections 7 or 8 hereof.
| 10. | Representations. |
(a) The parties hereto hereby represent that they each have the authority to enter into this Agreement, and the Executive hereby represents to the Company that the execution of, and performance of duties under, this Agreement shall not constitute a breach of or otherwise violate any other agreement to which the Executive is a party.
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(b) The Executive hereby represents to the Company that he will not utilize or disclose any confidential information obtained by the Executive in connection with his former employment with respect to this duties and responsibilities hereunder.
| 11. | Miscellaneous. |
(a) Any notice or other communication required or permitted under this Agreement shall be effective only if it is in writing and shall be deemed to be given when delivered personally or four days after it is mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested or one day after it is sent by a reputable overnight courier service and, in each case, addressed as follows (or if it is sent through any other method agreed upon by the parties):
If to the Company:
Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
Attention: General Counsel
5005 East McDowell Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85008
If to the Executive, to the address for the Executive on file with the Company at the time of the notice,
or to such other address as any party hereto may designate by notice to the others.
(b) This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the Executive’s employment hereunder, and supersedes and is in full substitution for any and all prior understandings or agreements with respect to the Executive’s employment (it being understood that, except as otherwise expressly stated in this Agreement, stock options and restricted stock units awards granted to the Executive shall be governed by the relevant plan and any other related grant or award agreement and any other related documents).
(c) This Agreement may be amended only by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto, and any provision hereof may be waived only by an instrument in writing signed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought. The failure of any party hereto at any time to require the performance by any other party hereto of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the full right to require such performance at any time thereafter, nor shall the waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision hereof be taken or held to be a waiver of any succeeding breach of such provision or a waiver of the provision itself or a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement.
(d) The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that each party has reviewed and negotiated the terms and provisions of this Agreement and has had the opportunity to contribute to its revision. Accordingly, the rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement. Rather, the terms of this Agreement shall be construed fairly as to both parties hereto and not in favor or against either party.
(e) (i) This Agreement is binding on and is for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and other legal representatives. Neither this Agreement nor any right or obligation hereunder may be assigned by the Executive.
(ii) The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would have been required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in the Agreement, the “Company” shall mean both the Company as defined above and any such successor that assumes this Agreement, by operation of law or otherwise.
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(f) Any provision of this Agreement (or portion thereof) which is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction and subject to this Section, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability, without affecting in any way the remaining provisions thereof in such jurisdiction or rendering that or any other provisions of this Agreement invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any other jurisdiction. If any covenant should be deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable because its scope is considered excessive, such covenant shall be modified so that the scope of the covenant is reduced only to the minimum extent necessary to render the modified covenant valid, legal and enforceable. No waiver of any provision or violation of this Agreement by Company shall be implied by Company’s forbearance or failure to take action.
(g) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable to the Executive hereunder all federal, state, city or other taxes that the Company may reasonably determine are required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, (it being understood, that the Executive shall be responsible for payment of all taxes in respect of the payments and benefits provided herein).
(h) The payments and other consideration to the Executive under this Agreement shall be made without right of offset.
(i) This Agreement is intended to constitute an enforceable contract for the payment of compensation, severance and certain other benefits. The Agreement is not intended to constitute a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” within the meaning of Section 409A of the United States Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event this Agreement or any benefit paid to Executive hereunder is deemed to be subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Executive consents to the Company adopting such conforming amendments as the Company deems necessary, in its sole discretion, to comply with Section 409A of the Code, without reducing the amounts of any benefits due to the Executive hereunder.
(j) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Arizona without reference to its principles of conflicts of law.
(k) This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.
(l) The headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be a part of or control or affect the meaning of any provision hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC | ||
| /s/ Keith Jackson | ||
| Name: | Keith Jackson | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| /s/ John Nelson | ||
| John Nelson | ||
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Exhibit 99.1
| Anne Spitza | Ken Rizvi | |
| Corporate Marketing | Investor Relations | |
| ON Semiconductor | ON Semiconductor | |
| (602) 244-6398 | (602) 244-3437 | |
| anne.spitza@onsemi.com | ken.rizvi@onsemi.com |
ON Semiconductor Appoints John Nelson as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer
PHOENIX, Ariz. – May 1, 2007 – ON Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: ONNN) today announced the appointment of William John Nelson, PhD, to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer (COO). John Nelson will report directly to Keith Jackson, ON Semiconductor’s president and CEO.
“We are excited to have someone of John’s caliber and capabilities join our team. His successful track record of combining technology development and operations fits with the strategic direction we are moving the Company towards,” said Keith Jackson, ON Semiconductor president and CEO. “Bill George, who previously was the EVP of Operations at ON Semiconductor, will help John through the transition period and will focus his attentions on our manufacturing services business until his planned retirement next year.”
Prior to joining ON Semiconductor, John Nelson was the CEO of 1st Silicon, where he was responsible for day-to-day operations including worldwide manufacturing, sales, marketing and product development. From 1990 to 2002, John served in several executive positions, including Chief Operating Officer of General Semiconductor and president of General Semiconductor’s Asia-Pacific operation. Prior to leading General Semiconductor Taiwan’s divestiture from General Instruments, John was president of General Instruments, Taiwan, and he also served as vice-president and general manager of General Instrument’s power semiconductor division. During that time he also directed the construction of the company’s manufacturing site in Tianjin, China, driving completion in less than two years. John’s other experience includes positions as wafer fabrication operations manager at Unitrode and Fairchild Semiconductor, as well as various wafer fabrication engineering posts at Analog Devices.
John Nelson, PhD, Joins ON Semiconductor
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John Nelson earned both a Bachelor of Science degree with honors and a PhD in physics from the University of Ulster, Ireland.
About ON Semiconductor
With its global logistics network and strong portfolio of power semiconductor devices, ON Semiconductor (NASDAQ: ONNN) is a preferred supplier of power solutions to engineers, purchasing professionals, distributors and contract manufacturers in the computer, cell phone, portable devices, automotive and industrial markets. For more information, please visit ON Semiconductor’s website at http://www.onsemi.com.
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