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Kennametal Inc. (NYSE:KMT) Files An 8-K Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

Kennametal Inc. (NYSE:KMT) Files An 8-K Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of
Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory
Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Appointment of Christopher Rossi as President and Chief Executive
Officer; Election of Director
On June>29, 2017, Kennametal Inc. (Kennametal or the Company)
announced the appointment of Mr. Christopher Rossi to serve as
Kennametals President and Chief Executive Officer starting on
August 1, 2017. Mr. Rossi has also been appointed to serve as a
member of the Board of Directors to hold office from August 1, 2017
until the Annual Meeting of Shareowners in October 2017 and until a
successor shall have been elected and qualified or until his
earlier death, resignation or removal.
Mr. Rossi, age 51, previously served as the Chief Executive Officer
of Dresser-Rand at Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, from September 2015
through May 2017. From September 2012 to August 2015, Mr. Rossi
served as Executive Vice President of Global Operations at
Dresser-Rand Group Inc., where he was responsible for Product
Manufacturing Operations and certain related functions. Mr. Rossi
held various leadership positions with Dresser-Rand Group Inc., its
affiliates and predecessor companies since he joined in 1987,
having been responsible for the areas of Engineering, Production,
Supply Chain Management, Sales and Business Development. From
January 2009 to September 2012, he served as Vice President,
Technology and Business Development. Prior to that, Mr. Rossi was
the Executive Vice President of Product Services Worldwide, where
he served from February 2007 to December 2008. In that capacity,
Mr. Rossi assumed worldwide responsibility for sales of the
aftermarket parts and services business. From October 2003 to
February 2007, Mr. Rossi served as the Vice President and General
Manager of North American Operations, where he was responsible for
all U.S. plants and worldwide development engineering. Mr. Rossi
was a Vice President and General Manager, Painted Post Operation
from February 2001 to October 2003, and a Vice President, Supply
Chain Management Worldwide, from March 1998 to January 2001. Mr.
Rossi holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from
Virginia Tech, and an M.B.A. in Corporate Finance and Operations
Management from the University of Rochesters Simon School of
Business.
In connection with his appointment as President and Chief Executive
Officer, Mr. Rossi will be entitled to the following:
Annual base salary of $850,000
Cash signing bonus of $500,000, to be repaid in full if Mr.
Rossi voluntarily resigns or is terminated for cause from the
Company on or before August 1, 2018.
Participation in the Companys Annual Incentive Plan with a
target bonus for fiscal year 2018 of 120% of annual base
salary.
On August 1, 2017, subject to Board approval, Mr. Rossi will
be eligible to receive a long-term incentive grant of
$2,700,000, consisting of 60% Performance Stock Units (PSUs)
and 40% Time Vesting Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). PSUs
cliff vest after 3 years and are subject to achievement of
company performance goals in each of the 3 fiscal years in
the term, and RSUs vest over a three-year period, with
one-third vesting on each anniversary date of the grant. Long
term incentive grants will be made under the terms of the
Kennametal Inc. 2016 Stock and Incentive Plan.
Relocation assistance under the Company’s relocation policy.
Participation in all general employee benefit plans and
programs as well as participation in any plans and programs
for executives.
While Mr. Rossi serves as President and Chief Executive
Officer, he will not sit on any Board committees or receive
any additional compensation for his Board service.
At the time that Mr. Rossi starts his service with Kennametal on
August 1, 2017, he will also enter into an officer’s employment
agreement with Kennametal. Generally, the officer’s employment
agreement will provide:
General. Mr. Rossi will be required to devote his entire time
and attention to the business and affairs of Kennametal while
he is employed.
Term.>>>There is no predetermined term.
Non-competition/non-disclosure. Unless Kennametal provides
prior consent in writing, if Mr. Rossi voluntarily terminates
his employment or if Kennametal terminates his employment for
cause, then for two years after the date of termination, Mr.
Rossi cannot, in any geographic area in which Kennametal is
offering its services and products: (a) directly or
indirectly engage in; or (b) assist or have an active
interest in; or (c) enter the employ of, or act as agent for,
or advisor or consultant to, any entity which is or is about
to become directly or indirectly engaged in any business that
is competitive with any business of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates in which the executive is or was
engaged. The non-competition provisions do not apply if
Kennametal terminates Mr. Rossi without cause. However, in
case of termination for any reason, Mr. Rossi cannot disclose
any of Kennametals confidential or trade secret information.
Assignment of Inventions.>>>Mr. Rossi must assign to
Kennametal all inventions conceived or made during his
employment with Kennametal.
Termination.>>>Mr. Rossis employment may be
terminated by either party at any time, for any reason or no
reason at all; provided, that the Company may only terminate
Mr. Rossis employment with the approval and authorization of
the Board.
Severance.>>>If, with Board authorization,
Kennametal involuntarily terminates Mr. Rossis employment
prior to a change in control and not for cause, he will be
entitled to 24 months of severance in the form of salary
continuation.
Change in Control.>>>The agreement provides for
payments to Mr. Rossi if he resigns for good reason or if he
is terminated by the Company without cause within six months
prior to a change in control of the Company, or within 24
months following a change in control of the Company. In this
event, he will receive a payment equal to two times his base
salary and two times his target bonus.
There>are no related-party transactions with respect to Mr.
Rossi required to be disclosed to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Transition of Ronald De Feo into Role of Executive Chairman
When Mr. Rossi starts his service with the Company as President and
Chief Executive Officer in August 2017, Kennametals current
President and Chief Executive Officer Ron De Feo will transition to
the role of Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. As part
of the transition, Mr. De Feo will enter into a new letter
agreement with Kennametal, effective as of August 1, 2017 to
establish Mr. De Feos compensation under his new role with
Kennametal. Under the terms of the letter agreement, Mr. De Feo
will be entitled:
Annual base salary of $700,000, to be prorated based on
actual days served in his new position.
Participation in the Companys Annual Incentive Plan with a
target bonus of 140% of annual base salary, to be prorated
based on time in position.
Upon his termination, vesting of all grants awarded as to him
for his service as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Upon his retirement from the board, vesting of all equity
awarded to him for his service as a Director.
A copy of Mr. De Feos letter agreement is being filed as Exhibit
10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by
reference into this Item. The description of the letter agreement
is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the agreement filed as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form
8-K.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On June 29, 2017, the Company issued a press release announcing Mr.
Rossis appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer and Mr.
De Feos appointment as Executive Chairman. A copy of this press
release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
10.1
Form of Letter Agreement with Mr. De Feo dated August
1, 2017
Filed herewith.
99.1
Press Release dated June 29, 2017
Filed herewith.

KENNAMETAL INC ExhibitEX-10.1 2 a6292017exhibit101.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 Exhibit Exhibit 10.1August 1,…To view the full exhibit click here About Kennametal Inc. (NYSE:KMT)
Kennametal Inc. is a supplier of tooling, engineered components and materials consumed in production processes. The Company operates through two segments: Industrial and Infrastructure. The Industrial segment generally serves customers that operate in industrial end markets, such as transportation, general engineering, aerospace and defense. The Infrastructure segment generally serves customers that operate in the earthworks and energy sectors supporting primary industries, such as oil and gas, power generation, underground, surface and hard-rock mining, highway construction and road maintenance. It provides wear-resistant products, application engineering and services backed by material science serving customers across various sectors. The Company’s product offerings include a selection of standard and customized technologies for metalworking, such as metal cutting tools, tooling systems and services, as well as materials, such as cemented tungsten carbide products and super alloys.

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