UNITED STATES

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

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 10, 2012

 

GRIFFON CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


 

 

 

Delaware

1-06620

11-1893410

(State or Other Jurisdiction

(Commission

(I.R.S. Employer

of Incorporation)

File Number)

Identification Number)


 

 

 

712 Fifth Avenue, 18th Floor

 

 

New York, New York

 

  10019

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)


 

(212) 957-5000

(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ] 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 Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Amendment to Restricted Share Award Agreement with each of Mr. Ronald J. Kramer and Mr. Douglas J. Wetmore

Effective January 10, 2012, each of Ronald J. Kramer, Griffon’s Chief Executive Officer, and Douglas J. Wetmore, Griffon’s Chief Financial Officer, entered into an amendment to modify the performance terms of the restricted share award originally granted to such executive in February 2011 and described in Griffon’s Proxy Statement which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 20, 2011. Each amendment eliminates the automatic seven year time vesting feature, and shortens to four years from the date of the amendment the time within which the performance condition must be achieved (the performance condition requires that Griffon’s common stock close at or above $16 per share for thirty consecutive trading days). Accordingly, if the $16 closing price condition is not met by January 9, 2016, then all shares subject to the restricted share awards will be forfeited. Each amendment also adds a requirement that in order for the restricted shares to vest, the executive may not voluntarily leave the company’s employ or be terminated for cause within one year after the performance condition is achieved. A copy of the amended and restated restricted share agreement for each of Mr. Kramer and Mr. Wetmore is filed as Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2 hereto.

 

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.


 

 

(d)

Exhibits.

 

 

99.1

Amended and Restated Restricted Share Award letter made as of January 10, 2012 by and between Griffon Corporation and Ronald J. Kramer

99.2

Amended and Restated Restricted Share Award letter made as of January 10, 2012 by and between Griffon Corporation and Douglas J. Wetmore



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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

 

GRIFFON CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Seth L. Kaplan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seth L. Kaplan

 

 

 

Senior Vice President

 

Date:   January 10, 2012


Exhibit Index

 

 

99.1

Amended and Restated Restricted Share Award letter made as of January 10, 2012 by and between Griffon Corporation and Ronald J. Kramer

99.2

Amended and Restated Restricted Share Award letter made as of January 10, 2012 by and between Griffon Corporation and Douglas J. Wetmore



Exhibit 99.1

Griffon Corporation
712 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10019

January 10, 2012

Mr. Ronald J. Kramer
829 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10021

Dear Mr. Kramer:

Reference is hereby made to that certain letter dated February 11, 2011 (the “2011 Letter”) pursuant to which you were granted 500,000 restricted shares (the “Award”) by Griffon Corporation (the “Company”) under the Griffon Corporation 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) with a grant date of February 11, 2011 (the “Grant Date”). This letter hereby amends, restates and supersedes the 2011 Letter in its entirety.

This Award is subject to the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference, and in the event of any contradiction, distinction or difference between this letter and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan will control. Unless otherwise stated herein, capitalized terms used herein have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

Except as otherwise provided in this letter, subject to your continued service with the Company or its Subsidiaries, the restrictions on your Award shall lapse with respect to all shares subject to the Award on the first anniversary of the first trading day after the Grant Date on which the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock for such trading day and for each of the twenty-nine immediately preceding trading days has equaled or exceeded $16.00 (the “Closing Price Target”). If the Closing Price Target is not met prior to January 10, 2016, then all shares subject to your Award will be forfeited with no compensation due therefor. You acknowledge and agree to this vesting schedule, notwithstanding any entitlement you may have under Section 5(c)(iii) of the Employment Agreement with the Company, dated March 16, 2008 (the “Employment Agreement”) to pro-rata vesting over a three year period of any equity grant awarded to you. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) upon the termination of your employment (a) by the Company other than for “Cause” (as such term is defined in the Employment Agreement); (b) by you for “Good Reason” (as such term is defined in the Employment Agreement); or (c) as a result of your death or “Disability” (as such term is defined in the Employment Agreement) or (ii) upon the occurrence of a “Change in Control” (as such term is defined in the Employment Agreement), then, in any such case, the restrictions on your Award shall immediately lapse.

Any dividends paid with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying your Award shall be subject to the same restrictions as your Award and will be delivered to you if and when the restrictions on your Award lapse.

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or as set forth above, upon your termination of service with the Company or its Subsidiaries for any reason prior to the lapse of the restrictions on your Award, your Award shall be immediately forfeited on such date with no further compensation due to you.

The restricted shares granted to you will be issued, subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan and this letter, into your name in book entry registration form. Book entry is a system whereby your ownership is duly recorded and no physical stock certificate is delivered. At all times you will be the registered owner of the restricted shares, subject to the applicable vesting conditions being satisfied.

At the time that the restrictions lapse, you must make appropriate arrangements with the Company concerning withholding of any taxes that may be due with respect to such Common Stock. You may tender cash payment to the Company in an amount equal to the required withholding or request the Company retain the number of shares of Common Stock whose fair market value equals the amount to be withheld. As promptly thereafter as possible, the Company will issue to you the shares released from restrictions and release any related dividend amounts payable to you in connection with such restriction lapse.


The Company may impose any additional conditions or restrictions on the Award as it deems necessary or advisable to ensure that all rights granted under the Plan satisfy the requirements of applicable securities laws. The Company shall not be obligated to issue or deliver any shares if such action violates any provision of any law or regulation of any governmental authority or national securities exchange.

The Committee may amend the terms of this Award to the extent it deems appropriate to carry out the terms of the Plan. The construction and interpretation of any provision of this Award or the Plan shall be final and conclusive when made by the Committee.

Nothing in this letter shall confer on you the right, express or implied, to continue in the service of the Company or its Subsidiaries or interfere in any way with the absolute right of the Company or its Subsidiaries to terminate your service at any time.

Please sign and return a copy of this amended and restated agreement to the Company’s Senior Vice President designating your acceptance of this amendment to and restatement of your Award. This acknowledgement must be returned within thirty (30) days; otherwise, the Award will lapse and become null and void. Your signature will also acknowledge that you have received and reviewed the Plan and that you agree to be bound by the applicable terms of such document.

Very truly yours,

GRIFFON CORPORATION

 

 

 

By: 

  /s/ Seth L. Kaplan

 

 

 

 

Name: Seth L. Kaplan

Title: Senior Vice President

ACKNOWLEDGED AND ACCEPTED

 

 

   /s/ Ronald J. Kramer

 

 

 

Ronald J. Kramer

 

 

 

Dated: January 10, 2012

 

Enclosure             (Copy of Plan)


Exhibit 99.2

Griffon Corporation
712 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10019

January 10, 2012

Mr. Douglas J. Wetmore
39 Knollwood Drive
Livingston, NJ 07039

Dear Mr. Wetmore:

Reference is hereby made to that certain letter dated February 11, 2011 (the “2011 Letter”) pursuant to which you were granted 90,000 restricted shares (the “Award”) by Griffon Corporation (the “Company”) under the Griffon Corporation 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) with a grant date of February 11, 2011 (the “Grant Date”). This letter hereby amends, restates and supersedes the 2011 Letter in its entirety.

This Award is subject to the applicable terms and conditions of the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference, and in the event of any contradiction, distinction or difference between this letter and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan will control. Unless otherwise stated herein, capitalized terms used herein have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

Except as otherwise provided in this letter, subject to your continued service with the Company or its Subsidiaries, the restrictions on your Award shall lapse with respect to all shares subject to the Award on the first anniversary of the first trading day after the Grant Date on which the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock for such trading day and for each of the twenty-nine immediately preceding trading days has equaled or exceeded $16.00 (the “Closing Price Target”). If the Closing Price Target is not met prior to January 10, 2016, then all shares subject to your Award will be forfeited with no compensation due therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) upon the termination of your employment (a) by the Company other than for “Cause” (as such term is defined in the Employment Agreement between the Company and you, dated August 6, 2009 (the “Employment Agreement:”)); or (b) by you for “Good Reason” (as such term is defined in the Employment Agreement), the restrictions on your Award shall immediately lapse. In addition, if your employment is terminated by the Company due to your disability, a portion of your Award shall immediately vest in a percentage equal to the number of days worked from the Grant Date until the date of your termination of employment over 2,157. Upon a Change in Control, your Award will not automatically become free from restrictions (unless otherwise provided by the Committee prior to the Change in Control).

Any dividends paid with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying your Award shall be subject to the same restrictions as your Award and will be delivered to you if and when the restrictions on your Award lapse.

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee or as set forth above, upon your termination of service with the Company or its Subsidiaries for any reason prior to the lapse of the restrictions on your Award, your Award shall be immediately forfeited on such date with no further compensation due to you.

The restricted shares granted to you will be issued, subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan and this letter, into your name in book entry registration form. Book entry is a system whereby your ownership is duly recorded and no physical stock certificate is delivered. At all times you will be the registered owner of the restricted shares, subject to the applicable vesting conditions being satisfied.

At the time that the restrictions lapse, you must make appropriate arrangements with the Company concerning withholding of any taxes that may be due with respect to such Common Stock. You may tender cash payment to the Company in an amount equal to the required withholding or request the Company retain the number of shares of Common Stock whose fair market value equals the amount to be withheld. As promptly thereafter as possible, the Company will issue to you the shares released from restrictions and release any related dividend amounts payable to you in connection with such restriction lapse.


The Company may impose any additional conditions or restrictions on the Award as it deems necessary or advisable to ensure that all rights granted under the Plan satisfy the requirements of applicable securities laws. The Company shall not be obligated to issue or deliver any shares if such action violates any provision of any law or regulation of any governmental authority or national securities exchange.

The Committee may amend the terms of this Award to the extent it deems appropriate to carry out the terms of the Plan. The construction and interpretation of any provision of this Award or the Plan shall be final and conclusive when made by the Committee.

Nothing in this letter shall confer on you the right, express or implied, to continue in the service of the Company or its Subsidiaries or interfere in any way with the absolute right of the Company or its Subsidiaries to terminate your service at any time.

Please sign and return a copy of this amended and restated agreement to the Company’s Senior Vice President designating your acceptance of this amendment to and restatement of your Award. This acknowledgement must be returned within thirty (30) days; otherwise, the Award will lapse and become null and void. Your signature will also acknowledge that you have received and reviewed the Plan and that you agree to be bound by the applicable terms of such document.

Very truly yours,

GRIFFON CORPORATION

 

 

 

By: 

  /s/ Seth L. Kaplan

 

 

 

 

Name: Seth L. Kaplan

Title: Senior Vice President

ACKNOWLEDGED AND ACCEPTED

 

 

   /s/ Douglas J. Wetmore

 

 

 

Douglas J. Wetmore

 

 

 

Dated: January 10, 2012

 

Enclosure             (Copy of Plan)