Without Prejudice Exhibit 10.1
Subject to Contract
May 26, 1999
XXX XXXXXXXXXXX
and
PER-XXXX XXXX
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TERMINATION AGREEMENT
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THIS AGREEMENT is made the 26th day of May 1999.
BETWEEN:
(1) XXX XXXXXXXXXXX whose registered office is at 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxx 00000 (the "Company"); and
(2) PER-XXXX XXXX (the "Executive").
RECITALS:
(A) The Company has employed the Executive since October 1995.
(B) The employment will terminate on 9 June, 1999.
THIS AGREEMENT provides:
1. INTERPRETATION
1.1 In this Agreement and the Schedules the following expressions, unless
otherwise expressly stated, have the following respective meanings:
1.1.1 "Group" means the Company and any subsidiary or subsidiaries for the time
being of the Company; and any affiliate of the Company. "Subsidiary" has
the meaning assigned to it by Section 736 of the UK Companies Xxx 0000 as
amended by the UK Companies Xxx 0000. The expressions "GroupCompany" and
"Group Companies" shall be construed accordingly;
1.1.2 "Board" means for the time being directors of the Company present at a
duly convened quorum meeting of the directors or a committee of the
directors duly appointed for the purpose in question;
1.1.3 "European Union Right" means any right which the Executive may have under
any treaty to which the United Kingdom is a party in connection with or
arising out of its membership of the European Union or under any
Directive, Regulation, Recommendation or Decision of any body directly or
indirectly made pursuant to any such treaty;
1.1.4 "Prior Period" means the period of six months immediately preceding the
Termination Date;
1.1.5 "Recognized Investment Exchange" means a body which is a recognized
investment exchange for the purposes of the United Kingdom Financial
Services Xxx 0000;
1.1.6 "Scheme" means any applicable Pension plan in which the Executive
participates;
1.1.7 "Termination Date" means 9 June, 1999; and
1.1.8 "Financial Business" means the business of NCR's Financial Solutions
Group, in which the Executive was materially engaged.
2. OBLIGATIONS OF EXECUTIVE
2.1 In consideration of the payments to be made and other benefits to be
provided by the Company in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement, the Executive will:
2.1.1 immediately resign from all offices and positions he holds with the
Company Group and Companies which he holds by virtue of his employment;
2.1.2 immediately return all property of the Company and any Group Company and
assign to the Company all rights, title and interest in such property and
any other inventions, discoveries, or works of authorship created by the
Executive during his employment;
2.1.3 subject to Clause 7, waive any claims he has or may have under the
following UK Statutes: Equal Pay Xxx 0000, Sex Discrimination Xxx 0000,
Race Relations Xxx 0000, Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation)
Xxx 0000, Employment Rights Xxx 0000, Disability Discrimination Xxx 0000
and any other breach of any contractual or statutory right or any
directly enforceable European Union Right.
2.2 Except for (i) the rights and obligations of the Company, any Group
Company and the Executive stated in this letter agreement, (ii) the
Company's obligation to the Executive under any benefit program in which
the Executive has vested rights, and (iii) any rights to indemnification
and related rights in accordance with Maryland corporate law to which the
Executive may be entitled by reason of his having served as an officer of
the Company, the Executive and the Company hereby forever release,
discharge and hold harmless each other, and their respective heirs,
subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, successors and assigns,
from any claim or cause of action whatsoever which either may have
against the other resulting from or arising out of or related to the
employment of the Executive by the Company, or the termination of that
employment, including any claims or causes of action the Executive has or
may have pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as
amended, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000 et seq.; the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 621 et seq.; the Americans with
Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxx, 00 X.X.X. Xxx. 00000; the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act, as amended 29 U.S.C. Sec. 1001 et seq., and 42 U.S.C. Sec.
1981, and other state and local human or civil rights law as well as all
other statues in the U.S. which regulate employment; and the common law
of contracts and torts. The Company and the Executive agree not to make
any claim whatsoever against the other (or, in the case of the Executive,
against any of the Company's direct or indirect subsidiaries) with any
governmental agency or in any court of law at any time concerning matters
relating to the employment arising from acts or failures to act which
occurred prior to the Termination Date.
2.3 Assuming that mutually agreeable terms are established, assist the
Company as a non-employee consultant for two months after the termination
Date to develop a business plan relating to NCR's "microwave bank"
initiative.
3. CONFIDENTIALITY and RESTRICTION
3.1 CONFIDENTIALITY
The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he will not, save as is
required by law, without the consent of the Company divulge to any
person, or use for his own benefit or the benefit of any person, any
information of a confidential nature concerning the business of the
Company or of any Group Company or of any client or customer of the
Company or of any Group Company which has come to his knowledge during
the course of his employment with the Company or any Group Company.
Confidential information for this purpose includes details of
transactions he has undertaken on behalf of the Company and details of
the business strategy and financial position of the Company and any Group
Company. This restriction shall cease to apply to any trade secret, or
confidential information which comes into the public domain (otherwise
than through unauthorized disclosure by the Executive).
3.2 In consideration of the Company paying to the Executive not later than 10
days after the date on which the Executive returns this Agreement fully
executed to the Company the sum of (Pounds)10,000 less tax and National
Insurance thereon the Executive agrees as set out in Clauses 3.3 and 3.4
below:
3.3 RESTRICTION: FINANCIAL BUSINESS
3.3.1 The Executive understands and acknowledges that his senior position with
the Financial Business has given him access to and the benefit of
confidential information vital to the continued success of the Financial
Business and influence over and connection with the customers, suppliers,
distributors, agents, employees and directors of the Financial Business
and those of the Group and hereby acknowledges and confirms that he
agrees that the provisions appearing in this Clause 3.3 are reasonable in
their application to him and necessary but no more than sufficient to
protect the interests of the Financial Business.
3.3.2 In the event that any restriction contained in this Clause 3.3 shall be
found to be void, but would be valid if some part of the relevant
restriction were deleted, the relevant restriction shall apply with such
modifications as may be necessary to make it valid and effective.
3.3.3 The Executive shall not without the prior written consent of the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, during the period of one year starting
on the Termination Date, either alone or jointly with or as principal,
partner, agent, director, employee or consultant of any other person,
firm or corporation, and whether directly or indirectly, in competition
with the Financial Business:
A entice or endeavor to entice away from the Financial Business or
employ any employee who, immediately prior to the Termination Date,
(i) reported to the Executive or (ii) reported to an employee of the
Company or a Group Company who reported to the Executive or (iii) was
in direct regular contact with the Executive during the Prior Period;
or any other sales, development or managerial employee;
B accept employment with and/or provide services to, either as
independent contractor or otherwise and/or serve as a director whether
as an executive director or a non-executive director on the boards of
any of the following companies being companies which the Company and
the Executive hereby agree are major and direct competitors of the
Financial Business: IBM, Unisys, Oracle, Diebold and Siemens Nixdorf.
3.3.4 Nothing in this Clause 3.3 shall prevent the Executive from holding
securities in a company listed on a Recognized Stock Exchange where his
holding does not exceed five per cent of the class of securities
concerned.
3.4 RESTRICTION RELATING TO BUSINESSES OF THE COMPANY OTHER THAN THE
FINANCIAL BUSINESS
The Executive was engaged in businesses of the Company other than the
Financial Business during the employment and the Executive agrees that in
the period to and including June 9, 2000, he will not without the prior
written consent of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, (a) hire,
attempt to hire or assist any other person or entity in hiring or
attempting to hire any sales, development or managerial employee of the
Company or any person who held such positions during the Prior Period, or
(b) accept employment, either as an employee or independent contractor,
with, or serve as a director of, any of the Company's direct, major
competitors, or their subsidiaries or affiliates, namely: IBM, Unisys,
Oracle, Diebold or Siemens Nixdorf.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF COMPANY
The Company shall:
4.1 pay to the Executive his basic salary and the Executive will continue to
receive his other contractual benefits up to and including the
Termination Date less tax, National Insurance and pension contributions;
4.2 pay to the Executive a gross compensation for loss of employment gross
severance payment of (Pounds)470,000 ("Global Severance") subject to
deduction of the tax and National Insurance on the balance in excess of
(Pounds)30,000 in accordance with the PAYE regulations and will account
for the same to the Inland Revenue, or otherwise as required by law.
(Pounds)235,000 of the Global Severance will be paid less deductions
therefrom to the Executive not later than 10 days after receipt by the
Company of this Agreement fully executed by the Executive and his
solicitor-if this initial payment is not made, this Agreement will be
null and void. (Pounds)235,000 of the Global Settlement less deductions
therefrom will be paid to the Executive not later than six months after
receipt by the Company of this Agreement fully executed by the Executive
and his solicitor PROVIDED ALWAYS that if the Executive fails to comply
with his obligations pursuant to this Agreement he shall refund to the
Company forthwith upon notification to him by the Company of such non-
compliance one-half of any payment made to him pursuant to this Clause
and shall forfeit entitlement to any further payment under this Clause;
4.3 determine, in January 2000, a Management Incentive Plan award that would
have been payable to the Executive had his employment continued for the
whole of the year to 31 December 1999 and will, not later than 31 March
2000 pay to the Executive the MIP award so determined and pro-rated to
the Termination Date;
4.4 pay the Executive 20 days base salary in lieu of vacation days accrued by
him but untaken at the Termination Date;
4.5 permit the Executive to continue to participate in the Executive
Financial Counseling Project until 31 December 1999;
4.6 provide the Executive the outplacement services of Right Associates;
4.7 reimburse the Executive's legal fees incurred in connection with this
Agreement, upon receipt of relevant invoices subject to a maximum of
(Pounds)1,000 plus VAT.
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS
5.1 Subject to Clause 5.2 the Executive confirms that he will not without the
prior written consent of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company make
any statements, oral or written, touching upon or concerning his
relationship with the Company or any Group Company, his appointment as a
director of the Company or any Group Company or his resignation from
office which would or might involve the disclosure of secret or
confidential information about the Company or any Group Company, or which
might be detrimental to the interests of the Company or any Group
Company.
5.2 If the Executive is required to make any such statement to comply with
his legal and/or regulatory obligations he may do so without the written
consent described at Clause 5.1 above and will not be deemed thereby to
be in breach of this Clause.
6. WARRANTY
The Executive warrants that there are no matters of which he is aware
relating to any acts or omissions of the Executive or any other director,
employee or agent of the Company or any Group Company which if disclosed
to the Company would or might affect the decision of the Company to make
payments in accordance with Clauses 3 and 4 or provide any other benefits
under this Agreement. The Executive also warrants that he has not
presented an originating application to an office of the Employment
Tribunals in the United Kingdom or commenced proceedings in any Court or
tribunal anywhere in the world in connection with his employment or its
termination.
7. PENSION AND OPTIONS
This Agreement shall not prejudice or affect any rights, which the
Executive may have accrued under any applicable pension plan or option
agreements. His rights to benefits under such plans will be determined
solely by the terms of the plans except as set out in the next two
sentences. Notwithstanding that the Executive is not vested in his
benefits under the Mid-Career Hire Supplemental Plan until 1 August 1999,
the Company will, for vesting purposes to that Plan only, treat the
Executive as employed until the vesting date. Subject to the approval
(which the Company will seek) of the Compensation Committee of the Board
of Directors, the Executive will be permitted to exercise vested options
until September 15, 1999.
8. NOTICES
Any notice will be duly served under this Agreement if in the case of the
Company it is delivered to NCR's Senior Vice President, Law, and if, in
the case of the Executive it is handed to the Executive or sent by
recorded or first class post to the Executive at such address as he may
direct the Company. A notice sent by recorded or first class post will be
deemed served on the working day next following posting.
9. COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be entered into in any number of counterparts and by
the parties to it on separate counterparts, each of which when so
executed and delivered shall be an original, but all the counterparts
shall together constitute one and the same agreement.
10. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION
10.1 Subject to Clauses 10.3 and 10.4 this Agreement shall be governed by the
laws of the State of Ohio and for the benefit of the Company, the
Executive hereby submits to the jurisdiction of the Ohio Courts.
10.2 If any part of this Agreement is held to be unenforceable, the parties
intend for the remaining portion of this Agreement to be given full force
and effect. In particular, the parties intend for the provisions
contained in Clauses 3 and 5 to be given maximum effect permissible under
the law, in order to protect the Company's trade secrets and confidential
and proprietary information.
10.3 The restrictions contained at Clause 3.3 shall be governed by English law
and for the benefit of the Company the Executive hereby agrees to submit
to the jurisdiction of the English courts in connection with any issue
arising out of Clause 3.3.
11. ARBITRATION
Subject to the Company's rights pursuant to this Agreement to seek
injunctive relief or equitable remedies in a court action in any
jurisdiction any controversy or claim related in any way to this
Agreement, or to the Executive's employment relationship with the Company
(including, but not limited to, any claim of fraud or misrepresentation),
shall be resolved by arbitration pursuant to this paragraph and the then
current rules and supervision of the American Arbitration Association.
The arbitration shall be held in Dayton, Ohio, before an arbitrator who
is an attorney knowledgeable of employment law. The arbitrator's decision
and award shall be final and binding and may be entered in any court
having jurisdiction thereof. The arbitrator shall not have the power to
award punitive or exemplary damages. Issues of arbitrability shall be
determined in accordance with the Federal substantive and procedural laws
relating to arbitration; all other aspects shall be interpreted in
accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio. Each party shall bear its
own attorney's (and any other) fees associated with the arbitration and
other costs and expenses of the arbitration shall be borne as provided by
the rules of the American Arbitration Association. If any portion of this
paragraph is held to be unenforceable, it shall be severed and shall not
affect either the duty to arbitrate or any other part of this paragraph.
12. BINDING AGREEMENT
12.1 This offer will remain open until May 26, 1999.
12.2 Upon execution of this Agreement by both parties, the Agreement will,
notwithstanding that it is marked without prejudice and subject to
contract, be on the open record and shall be binding on both parties.
12.3 This Agreement is the entire agreement between the Company and the
Executive regarding the termination of the Executive's employment and
supersedes all prior written or oral undertakings, statements or
agreements relating in any way to the terms and conditions of the
employment of the Executive by the Company. The Executive acknowledges
and agrees by his signature hereto that he has not relied on any
representation or statement not set forth herein made by the Company or
its agents, representatives or attorneys with regard to the subject
matter of this Agreement. This Agreement may not be varied other than in
writing signed by the Executive and signed for and on behalf of the
Company.
AS WITNESS the hands of the parties hereto or their duly authorized
representatives the day and year first before written. The Executive by his
signature (or that of his duly authorized representative) acknowledges and
agrees that:
. he has read this Agreement and had sufficient time to consider its terms;
. he is giving up important rights;
. he agrees with everything in the Agreement;
. he has been advised of and is aware of his rights to consult an attorney
before signing the Agreement in addition to the requirement that he
consult an English qualified lawyer; and
. he has signed the Agreement knowingly and voluntarily.
SIGNED by /s/ Xxxxxxx X.X. Xxxxxx
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for and on behalf of
XXX XXXXXXXXXXX
in the presence of: Xxx Xxxxxxxx
SIGNED by /s/ Per-Xxxx Xxxx
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PER-XXXX XXXX
in the presence of:
ENDORSEMENT
I confirm:
13. that the within-written agreement (the "Agreement") relates to my right
to complain that I have been unfairly dismissed and/or that I am entitled
to a statutory redundancy payment and/or that I have suffered an unlawful
deduction under the Employment Rights Act 1996 and/or have been
discriminated against on grounds of sex race or disability contrary to
the Sex Discrimination Xxx 0000, the Race Relations Xxx 0000 and the
Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (the "Relevant Statutes");
13. I received prior to the signature of the Agreement independent legal
advice from
Name of solicitor: Xxxxx Xxxxx (the "Adviser")
Firm of solicitors: ACS Hards & Co.
Business Address of solicitor:
0 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx XX0 0XX
as to the terms and effect of the Agreement and in particular its effect
on my ability to pursue my rights before an Employment Tribunal; and
13. I have been advised that the conditions regulating compromise agreements
pursuant to Sections 203, 77, 72 and 9 of the Relevant Statutes are
satisfied and I have received the confirmation referred to below.
Signed: /s/ Per-Xxxx Xxxx
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PER-XXXX XXXX
Date: 26/5/99
I confirm the matters of fact referred to above are accurate.
I further confirm that I am a solicitor holding a current practicing certificate
and that my firm has an insurance policy in force covering the risk of a claim
by me in respect of any loss arising in consequence of the advice that I have
given.
Signed: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx , Solicitor
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Date: 26/5/99
