Exhibit 10.2
VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
SENIOR EXECUTIVE CHANGE IN CONTROL POLICY
Effective July 29, 2025
“Affiliate” shall mean with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” shall have the meaning given such term under Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Cause” shall mean a termination based on (i) Eligible Employee’s willful and substantial misconduct in the performance of his duties, (ii) Eligible Employee’s willful failure to perform his duties after two weeks written notice from the Company (other than as a result of a total or partial incapacity due to a physical or mental illness, accident or similar event), (iii) the Eligible Employee’s material breach of any of the agreements contained in Section 6 hereof, (iv) the commission by the Eligible Employee of any material fraudulent act with respect to the business and affairs of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, or (v) Eligible Employee’s conviction of (or plea of nolo contendere to) a crime constituting a felony.
“Change in Control” shall mean:
(i) any person or group acquires stock of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company. However, if any person or group is considered to own more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company, the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or group is not considered to cause a Change in Control of the Company. An increase in the percentage of stock owned by any person or group as a result of a transaction in which the Company acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated as an
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acquisition of stock for purposes of this subsection. This subsection applies only when there is a transfer of stock of the Company (or issuance of stock of such entity) and stock in such entity remains outstanding after the transaction;
(ii) any person or group acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or group) ownership of stock of the Company possessing 30% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company;
(iii) a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any 12-month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the such entity’s Board or Directors prior to the date of the appointment or election; or
(iv) any person or group acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or group) substantially all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. However, no Change in Control shall be deemed to occur under this subsection (iv) as a result of a transfer to:
(A) A shareholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to its stock;
(B) An entity, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company;
(C) A person or group that owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company; or
(D) An entity, at least 50% of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a person described in clause (iii) above.
For purposes of this definition, the term “person” shall mean an individual, corporation, association, joint-stock company, business trust or other similar organization, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof (for clarification, other than the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any subsidiary thereof). The term “group” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-5 of the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”), modified to the extent necessary to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(g)(5)(v)(B), or any successor thereto in effect at the time a determination of whether a Change in Control has occurred is being made. If any one person, or persons acting as a group, is considered to effectively control the Company as described in subsections (ii) or (iii) above, the acquisition of additional control by the same person or persons is not considered to cause a Change in Control.
“Code” shall mean Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Confidential Information” shall mean any information that: (a) is disclosed to an Eligible Employee, learned by an Eligible or created by an Eligible Employee in connection with his employment with Veeco (or a predecessor company now owned by or part of Veeco), and (b) Veeco treats as proprietary, private or confidential. Confidential Information may include, without limitation, information relating to Veeco’s products, services and methods of operation, the identities and competencies of Veeco’s employees, customers and suppliers, trade secrets, know-how, processes, techniques, data, sketches, plans, drawings, chemical formulae, computer software, financial information, operating and cost data, research
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databases, selling and pricing information, business and marketing plans, and information concerning potential acquisitions, dispositions or joint ventures. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Confidential Information” does not include any of the foregoing items which has become publicly known or made generally available (provided that information will not cease to be “Confidential Information” as a result of an Eligible Employee’s breach of confidentiality).
“Eligible Employee” shall mean an employee of the Company selected by the Committee to be covered by the Policy pursuant to Section 3 and listed on Exhibit A hereto, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Good Reason” shall mean any of the following events: (i) any reduction in the total amount of an Eligible Employee’s base salary or target bonus; or (ii) any involuntary relocation of an Eligible Employee’s principal place of business to a location more than 50 miles from the Eligible Employee’s current principal place of business (or, in the case of employees whose principal place of business is more than 50 miles from their primary residence, an involuntary relocation of such employee's principal place of business such that the employee’s overall level of commuting substantially increases). To clarify, absent a separate written agreement between the Company and the Eligible Employee to the contrary, Good Reason shall not include an involuntary diminution in an Eligible Employee’s position, title, responsibilities, authority or reporting responsibilities. Good Reason shall not be deemed to have occurred unless the Eligible Employee provides the Company with written notice of the existence of the applicable condition described in clauses (i) and (ii) above, within 90 days after the initial existence of such condition and the Company fails to remedy such condition within 30 days of the date of such written notice.
“Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, business trust, limited liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or other entity of whatever nature.
“Voting Stock” shall mean all capital stock of the Company which by its terms may be voted on all matters submitted to stockholders of the Company generally.
If an Eligible Employee’s employment shall be terminated by the Company without Cause, or by the Eligible Employee for Good Reason, during the period commencing three (3) months prior to, and ending eighteen (18) months following, a Change in Control, and subject to the Eligible Employee’s execution of a separation and release agreement in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company:
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As a condition to being designated as an Eligible Employee and to being eligible to receive benefits hereunder, each individual so designated agrees as follows (any individual not so agreeing shall notify the Company in writing within 10 days of being notified of the designation, in which case the designation shall be null and void):
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Veeco Instruments Inc.
Senior Executive Change in Control Policy
Exhibit A: Eligible Employees
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NOTE: Effective July 29, 2025, the Compensation Committee of the Veeco Board of Directors voted to amend and restate the Veeco Instruments Inc. Senior Executive Change in Control Policy to clarify and update certain aspects, including the removal of “single trigger” provisions, which only applied to older equity awards that are no longer outstanding, and clarification to the definition of “Good Reason” for termination. A redlined version of the amended and restated policy follows.
VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
SENIOR EXECUTIVE CHANGE IN CONTROL POLICY
Effective July 29, 2025January 1, 2014
“Affiliate” shall mean with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” shall have the meaning given such term under Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Cause” shall mean a termination based on (i) Eligible Employee’s willful and substantial misconduct in the performance of his duties, (ii) Eligible Employee’s willful failure to perform his duties after two weeks written notice from the Company (other than as a result of a total or partial incapacity due to a physical or mental illness, accident or similar event), (iii) the Eligible Employee’s material breach of any of the agreements contained in Section 6 hereof, (iv) the commission by the Eligible Employee of any material fraudulent act with respect to the business and affairs of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, or (v) Eligible Employee’s conviction of (or plea of nolo contendere to) a crime constituting a felony.
“Change in Control” shall mean:
(i) any person or group acquires stock of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power
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of the stock of the Company. However, if any person or group is considered to own more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company, the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or group is not considered to cause a Change in Control of the Company. An increase in the percentage of stock owned by any person or group as a result of a transaction in which the Company acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated as an acquisition of stock for purposes of this subsection. This subsection applies only when there is a transfer of stock of the Company (or issuance of stock of such entity) and stock in such entity remains outstanding after the transaction;
(ii) any person or group acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or group) ownership of stock of the Company possessing 30% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company;
(iii) a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any 12-month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the such entity’s Board or Directors prior to the date of the appointment or election; or
(iv) any person or group acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or group) substantially all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. However, no Change in Control shall be deemed to occur under this subsection (iv) as a result of a transfer to:
(A) A shareholder of the Company (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to its stock;
(B) An entity, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company;
(C) A person or group that owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the Company; or
(D) An entity, at least 50% of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a person described in clause (iii) above.
For purposes of this definition, the term “person” shall mean an individual, corporation, association, joint-stock company, business trust or other similar organization, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof (for clarification, other than the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any subsidiary thereof). The term “group” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-5 of the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”), modified to the extent necessary to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(g)(5)(v)(B), or any successor thereto in effect at the time a determination of whether a Change in Control has occurred is being made. If any one person, or persons acting as a group, is considered to effectively control the Company as described in subsections (ii) or (iii) above, the acquisition of additional control by the same person or persons is not considered to cause a Change in Control.
“Code” shall mean Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Confidential Information” shall mean any information that: (a) is disclosed to an Eligible Employee, learned by an Eligible or created by an Eligible Employee in connection with his employment
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with Veeco (or a predecessor company now owned by or part of Veeco), and (b) Veeco treats as proprietary, private or confidential. Confidential Information may include, without limitation, information relating to Veeco’s products, services and methods of operation, the identities and competencies of Veeco’s employees, customers and suppliers, trade secrets, know-how, processes, techniques, data, sketches, plans, drawings, chemical formulae, computer software, financial information, operating and cost data, research databases, selling and pricing information, business and marketing plans, and information concerning potential acquisitions, dispositions or joint ventures. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Confidential Information” does not include any of the foregoing items which has become publicly known or made generally available (provided that information will not cease to be “Confidential Information” as a result of an Eligible Employee’s breach of confidentiality).
“Eligible Employee” shall mean an employee of the Company selected by the Committee to be covered by the Policy pursuant to Section 3 and listed on Exhibit A hereto, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Good Reason” shall mean any of the following events: (i) any reduction in the total amount of an Eligible Employee’s base salary or target bonus; or (ii) any involuntary relocation of an Eligible Employee’s principal place of business to a location more than 50 miles from the Eligible Employee’s current principal place of business (or, in the case of employees whose principal place of business is more than 50 miles from their primary residence, an involuntary relocation of such employee's principal place of business such that the employee’s overall level of commuting substantially increases). To clarify, absent a separate written agreement between the Company and the Eligible Employee to the contrary, Good Reason shall not include an involuntary diminution in an Eligible Employee’s position, title, responsibilities, authority or reporting responsibilities. Good Reason shall not be deemed to have occurred unless the Eligible Employee provides the Company with written notice of the existence of the applicable condition described in clauses (i) and (ii) above, within 90 days after the initial existence of such condition and the Company fails to remedy such condition within 30 days of the date of such written notice.
“Person” shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, business trust, limited liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or other entity of whatever nature.
“Voting Stock” shall mean all capital stock of the Company which by its terms may be voted on all matters submitted to stockholders of the Company generally.
(a)Upon the consummation of a Change in Control, the vesting, payment and/or exercisability of all stock option grants, restricted stock awards and any other equity-based compensation awards granted prior to January 1, 2014 and held by the Eligible Employee that would otherwise be eligible to become vested during the Eligible Employee’s continued employment shall be accelerated and any outstanding stock options then held by the Eligible Employee shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (x) 12 months following the date of termination of the Eligible Employee's employment with the Company and (y) the expiration of the original term of such options.
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If an Eligible Employee’s employment shall be terminated by the Company without Cause, or by the Eligible Employee for Good Reason, during the period commencing three (3) months prior to, and ending eighteen (18) months following, a Change in Control, and subject to the Eligible Employee’s execution of a separation and release agreement in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company:
(i)The vesting, payment and/or exercisability of all stock option grants, restricted stock awards and any other equity-based compensation awards granted on or after January 1, 2014 and held by the Eligible Employee that would otherwise be eligible to become vested during the Eligible Employee’s continued employment shall be accelerated and any outstanding stock options then held by the Eligible Employee shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (x) 12 months following the date of termination of the Eligible Employee's employment with the Company and (y) the expiration of the original term of such options.
(ii)(i)The Company shall pay to the Eligible Employee an amount equal to the product of (i) the sum of his then current (A) annual base salary and (B) the target bonus payable to the Eligible Employee pursuant to the Company’s performance-based compensation bonus plan with respect to the fiscal year ending immediately prior to the date of termination, and (ii) 1.5; such amount shall be payable in a lump sum as soon as reasonably practicable (x) if such termination of employment occurs on or following the consummation of the Change in Control, after the date of such termination of employment, or (y) if such termination occurs prior to the consummation of the Change in Control, after the effective date of such Change in Control (either such date, the “Vesting Date”), but in any event, such payment shall be made within 2½ months following the end of the calendar year in which the Vesting Date occurs;
(iii)(ii)The Company shall continue to provide the Eligible Employee (and his dependents) with all health and welfare benefits which he (or his dependents) was participating in or receiving as of the date of termination (at a level then in effect with respect to coverage and employee premiums) until the 18-month anniversary of the date of termination. If such benefits cannot be provided under the Company’s programs, such benefits and perquisites will be provided on an individual basis to the Eligible Employee such that his after-tax costs will be no greater than the costs for such benefits and perquisites under the Company’s programs. Any tax gross-up payment required under this paragraph shall be paid in a single lump sum payment at the same time severance is otherwise payable under paragraph (i) above;
(iv)(iii)The Company shall pay to the Eligible Employee a pro-rated amount of the Eligible Employee’s bonus for the fiscal year in which the date of termination occurs equal to the product of (i) the amount of the bonus the Eligible Employee would have otherwise earned had he been employed by the Company on the last day of the fiscal year in which the date of termination occurs multiplied by (ii) the number of days elapsed during such fiscal year prior to the date of termination divided by 365. Such pro-rated bonus shall be payable at the same time as bonuses for the year of termination are paid to employees generally, provided, however, that such payment shall be made within 2 ½ months following the end of the calendar year in which the Vesting Date occurs but in any event within 2½ months after the end of the performance period; and
(v)(iv)The vesting, payment and/or exercisability of all stock option grants, restricted stock awards and any other equity-based compensation awards held by the Eligible Employee that would otherwise be eligible to become vested during the Eligible Employee’s continued employment shall be accelerated and any outstanding stock options then held by the Eligible Employee shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (x) 12 months following the date of termination of the Eligible
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Employee's employment with the Company and (y) the expiration of the original term of such options.
(b)For the sake of clarity, "termination" as used in this Section 4 shall not include the case where (i) Veeco offers to retain the Eligible Employee in a position of substantial responsibility or (ii) Veeco requests that the Eligible Employee accepts a position with the acquiring entity in the Change in Control but the Eligible Employee declines the position.
As a condition to being designated as an Eligible Employee and to being eligible to receive benefits hereunder, each individual so designated agrees as follows (any individual not so agreeing shall notify the Company in writing within 10 days of being notified of the designation, in which case the designation shall be null and void):
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Veeco Instruments Inc.
Senior Executive Change in Control Policy
Exhibit A: Eligible Employees
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