EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
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This Executive Employment Agreement (the "Agreement") by and between [ ]
("Executive") and NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. (the "Company"), is dated as of
[ ], 2004 and is effective as of the effective date of the registration
statement filed by the Company pursuant to the Securities Act in connection with
its initial public offering (the "Effective Date") (the "Effective Date").
WHEREAS, Executive and the Company desire to memorialize the terms and
conditions related to Executive's employment by the Company.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein
and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Agreements Between the Parties. This Agreement is intended to
memorialize all of the terms and conditions of Executive's employment by the
Company.
2. Employment.
(a) Term. The Company shall employ Executive, and Executive agrees to
be employed with the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, for the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the
third anniversary of the Effective Date (the "Employment Period"); provided,
however, that commencing on the third anniversary of the Effective Date and on
each subsequent anniversary of the Effective Date (each such anniversary, a
"Renewal Date"), the Employment Period shall automatically be extended for one
additional year unless, not later than ninety (90) days prior to such Renewal
Date, the Company or Executive shall have given written notice not to extend the
Employment Period; provided, further, however, that the Employment Period shall
be subject to earlier termination as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, (the
"Term").
(b) Base Salary. Executive's initial base salary shall be $[ ] per
annum (pro-rated for partial calendar years), payable in equal bi-monthly
installments (as in effect from time to time, the "Base Salary"). In subsequent
years, the Base Salary shall be subject to annual review and adjustment from
time to time by the compensation committee of the Company's board of directors
(the "Compensation Committee").
(c) Annual Cash Bonus. For fiscal years during the Executive's
employment with the Company, Executive shall participate in an annual cash
incentive
compensation plan as adopted and approved by the board of directors of the
Company (the "Board") from time to time, with applicable corporate and
individual performance targets and maximum award amounts determined by the
Board. The target bonus of Executive pursuant to the annual cash incentive
compensation plan shall be determined in accordance with the terms of such plan
with respect to each such fiscal year. Any cash bonuses payable to Executive
will be paid at the time the Company normally pays such bonuses to its senior
executives and will be subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable
annual cash incentive compensation plan.
(d) Long Term Incentive Plan. During Executive's employment with the
Company, Executive shall be eligible to receive long-term equity incentive
compensation awards (which may consist of restricted stock, stock options, stock
appreciation rights or other types of awards, as determined by the Board in its
discretion) pursuant to the Company's equity incentive compensation plans and
programs in effect from time to time. These awards shall be granted in the
discretion of the Board and shall include such terms and conditions (including
performance objectives) as the Board deems appropriate.
(e) Other Benefits. In addition, Executive will be eligible to
participate in all fringe benefit plans and retirement plans of the Company, as
are generally available to the other senior management employees of the Company,
such as health insurance plans, disability insurance plans, life insurance
plans, paid vacation, expense reimbursement and the Company's 401(k) retirement
plan.
3. Duties of Executive.
(a) Duties of Position. During the Employment Period, Executive shall
serve as an [Executive Vice President] of the Company. Executive's duties shall
include, without limitation, [assisting and participating in the location,
structuring, financing, documentation and diligencing of transactions for
investment by the Company and its affiliates, assisting in the Company's capital
raising efforts and the management of the Company's investments, together with
such other reasonable assignments as may be assigned to him from time to time by
the Board]. Executive shall perform such duties and responsibilities, consistent
with Executive's training and experience, as are from time to time reasonably
assigned to Executive by officers of the Company. Executive agrees to devote
all(1) of Executive's business time, attention and energies to the performance
of the duties assigned to Executive hereunder, and to perform such duties
faithfully, diligently and to the best of Executive's abilities and
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(1) In agreements of Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, "all" may be replaced with "the
majority of."
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subject to such laws, rules, regulations and policies from time to time
applicable to the Company's employees. [Notwithstanding the above, nothing in
this Agreement shall preclude Executive from devoting a portion of Executive's
business time, attention and energies to the performance of Executive's duties
as co-CEO of NorthStar Capital Investment Corp.](2) The Company may assign all
or a portion of its rights and obligations under this agreement to any of its
affiliates or enter into an agreement with any of its affiliates that provides
that Executive will perform services on behalf of such affiliate and Executive
agrees to provide such services, as directed by the Company.
(b) Confidential Information. Executive shall hold in confidence for
the benefit of the Company all of the information, corporate opportunities and
business secrets in respect of the Company and all of its affiliates, including,
but not limited to, all information and data relating to or concerned with the
business, finances, pending transactions and other affairs of the Company and
all of its affiliates, and Executive shall not at any time before or after
Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for any reason, or Executive
resigns for any reason, willfully use or disclose or divulge any such
information or data to any other Person (as defined below) except (i) with the
prior written consent of the Company, (ii) to the extent necessary to comply
with applicable law or the valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction, in
which event Executive shall notify the Company as promptly as reasonably
practicable (and, if possible, prior to making such disclosure) and (iii) in the
performance of Executive's duties hereunder. The foregoing provisions of this
Section 3(b) shall not apply to any information or data which has been
previously disclosed to the public or is otherwise in the public domain in each
case other than as a result of the breach by Executive of his obligations under
this Section 3(b). For purposes of this Agreement, "Person" means an individual,
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association,
trust, unincorporated organization, other entity or "group" (as defined in the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
4. Termination of Employment. Executive's employment hereunder may be
terminated in accordance with this Section 4.
(a) Death. Executive's employment hereunder shall terminate upon his
death.
(b) Disability. If, as a result of Executive's incapacity due to
physical or mental illness, Executive shall have been absent from the full-time
performance of his duties hereunder for the entire period of six consecutive
months, and within thirty (30) days after written Notice of Termination (as
defined in Section 8) is
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(2) For Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx only.
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given shall not have returned to the performance of his duties hereunder on a
full-time basis, the Company may terminate Executive's employment hereunder for
"Disability."
(c) Cause. The Company may terminate Executive's employment hereunder
for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, the Company shall have "Cause" to
terminate Executive's employment hereunder upon the occurrence of any of the
following events:
(i) the conviction of Executive for the commission of a felony;
(ii) continuing failure for ten (10) business days to
substantially perform his duties hereunder (other than such
failure resulting from Executive's incapacity due to physical or
mental illness or subsequent to the issuance of a Notice of
Termination by Executive for Good Reason) after demand for
substantial performance is delivered by the Company in writing
that specifically identifies the manner in which the Company
believes Executive has not substantially performed his duties; or
(iii) misconduct by Executive (including, but not limited to,
breach by Executive of the provisions of Section 7) that is
demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company or its
subsidiaries, whether monetarily or otherwise.
(d) Good Reason. Executive may terminate his employment hereunder for
"Good Reason" within thirty (30) days after the occurrence, without his written
consent, of one of the following events that has not been cured within ten (10)
business days after written notice thereof has been given by Executive to the
Company:
(i) the assignment to Executive of duties materially inconsistent
with his status as an executive of the Company;
(ii) a reduction by the Company in Executive's Base Salary or a
failure by the Company to pay any Base Salary or contractually
committed cash bonus payment amounts when due;
(iii) following a Change of Control (as defined below) of the
Company, the requirement by the Company that the principal place
of performance of Executive's services be at a location
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more than fifty (50) miles from the greater New York City
metropolitan area;
(iv) any purported termination of Executive's employment which is
not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the
requirements of Section 5(a);
(v) a material failure by the Company to comply with any other
material provision of this Agreement.
(e) Change of Control. For the purposes of Section 4(d) above, a
"Change of Control" of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred if an event
set forth in any one of the following paragraphs (i)-(iii) shall have occurred
unless prior to the occurrence of such event, the Board determines that such
event shall not constitute a Change in Control:
(i) any Person is or becomes Beneficial Owner (as defined below),
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing
twenty percent 20% or more of the combined voting power of the
then outstanding securities of the Company, excluding (A) any
Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a
transaction described in clause (x) of paragraph (ii) below, (B)
any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner through the
issuance of such securities with respect to purchases made
directly from the Company, and (C) NorthStar Capital Investment
Corp. ("NCIC"); or
(ii) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company
with any other corporation or the issuance of voting securities
of the Company in connection with a merger or consolidation of
the Company (or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company)
pursuant to applicable stock exchange requirements, other than
(x) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting
securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such
merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by
remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof) fifty
percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the
securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any parent
thereof outstanding immediately after such merger or
consolidation, or (y) a merger or consolidation effected
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to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar
transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial
Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting
power of the then outstanding securities of the Company; or
(iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or an agreement for the
sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Beneficial Owner" shall have the meaning set
forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act.
(f) The company may terminate Executives employment at any time for any
reason, including without cause.
5. Termination Procedure.
(a) Notice of Termination. Any termination of Executive's employment by
the Company or by Executive (other than termination pursuant to Section 6(a)
hereof) shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other
party hereto in accordance with Section 12. For purposes of this Agreement, a
"Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice that shall indicate the specific
termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for
termination of Executive's employment under the provision so indicated.
(b) Effect of Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" of this
Agreement shall mean (i) if the Term of this Agreement expires without renewal
as of the third anniversary of the Effective Date or any subsequent Renewal
Date, the date of such expiration (ii) if Executive's employment is terminated
pursuant to Section 4(a) above, the date of Executive's death (iii) if the
Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to Section 4(b) above, thirty (30)
days after delivery to the Executive of Notice of Termination (provided that
Executive shall not have returned to the performance of his duties on a
full-time basis during such thirty (30) day period), (iv) if Executive's
employment is terminated pursuant to Sections 4(c) and 4(f) above, the date
specified in the Notice of Termination, and (v) if Executive's employment is
terminated pursuant to Section 4(d) above, the date on which a Notice of
Termination is given or any later date (within 30 days) set forth in such Notice
of Termination, provided, however, that, if within thirty (30) days after any
Notice of Termination is given pursuant to Section 4(d)(iii) above, the party
receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a dispute
exists concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the
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date on which the dispute is finally determined, either by mutual written
agreement of the parties, by a binding and final arbitration award or by a final
judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (the time for
appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having been perfected). Upon the
Date of Termination, the Term of this Agreement shall expire and the Company
shall have no further obligation to the Executive except to the extent the
Executive is otherwise entitled to any unpaid salary or benefits hereunder and
insurance coverage in accordance with applicable law; provided that the
provisions set forth in Sections 3(b), 6(b), 6(c), 7, and 14 hereof and this
Section 5(b) shall remain in full force and effect after the termination of the
Executive's employment, notwithstanding the expiration of the Term of or
termination of this Agreement.
6. Obligations of the Company Upon Termination of Employment.
(a) Expiration of Term, By the Company for Cause or by Executive
without Good Reason. Upon expiration of the Term of this Agreement or if
Executive's employment shall be terminated by the Company for Cause or by
Executive without Good Reason, then the Company shall pay Executive his Base
Salary (at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given)
through the Date of Termination, and the Company shall have no additional
obligations to Executive under this Agreement.
(b) For any other reason. If Executive's employment shall be terminated
for any reason other than those provided in Section 6(a) above, then:
(i) the Company shall pay Executive his full salary through the
Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of
Termination is given, and an amount equal to the product of (x)
all bonuses and awards that would have been earned by Executive
upon completion of each award cycle that began during the Term
but had not been completed as of the Date of Termination,
calculated as though the full achievement of all goals and
targets relating thereto had been achieved in full and (y) a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of days from
the beginning of the applicable bonus or award cycle to and
including the Date of Termination and the denominator of which
shall be the number of days in such cycle; and
(ii) in lieu of paying any further compensation to Executive for
periods subsequent to the Date of Termination, the Company shall
pay to the Executive severance payments in the form of
continuation of Executive's Base Salary in effect as of the Date
of
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Termination for a period of two (2) years following such Date of
Termination (the "Severance Payment Period").
(c) Excise Taxes.
(i) If any of the payments or benefits received or to be received
by Executive, whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or
any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company are
deemed by the Auditor (as defined below), the Company's tax
counsel ("Tax Counsel") or the Internal Revenue Services to
constitute an excess parachute payment under Section 280(G) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") (all
such payments and benefits, excluding the Gross-Up Payment (which
is defined below), being hereinafter referred to as the "Total
Payments"), the Company shall pay to Executive an additional
amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount retained
by Executive, after deduction of any total excise tax, together
with all applicable interest and penalties (collectively, the
"Excise Tax") Tax on the Total Payments and any federal, state
and local income and employment taxes and Excise Tax upon the
Gross-Up Payment, shall be equal to the Total Payments.
(ii) For purposes of determining whether any of the Total
Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such
Excise Tax, (i) all of the Total Payments shall be treated as
"parachute payments" (within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of
the Code) unless, in the opinion of Tax Counsel reasonably
acceptable to Executive and selected by the accounting firm which
was, immediately prior to the change in control, the Company's
independent auditor (the "Auditor"), such payments or benefits
(in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments,
including by reason of section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code, (ii)
all "excess parachute payments" within the meaning of section
280G(b)(l) of the Code shall be treated as subject to the Excise
Tax unless, in the opinion of Tax Counsel, such excess parachute
payments (in whole or in part) represent reasonable compensation
for services actually rendered (within the meaning of section
280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code) in excess of the base amount allocable
to such reasonable compensation, or are otherwise not subject to
the Excise Tax, and (iii) the value of any
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noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be
determined by the Auditor in accordance with the principles of
sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. For purposes of
determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, Executive shall
be deemed to pay federal income tax at the highest marginal rate
of federal income taxation in the calendar year in which the
Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes
at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and
locality of Executive's residence on the Date of Termination (or
if there is no Date of Termination, then the date on which the
Gross-Up Payment is calculated for purposes of this Section
6(b)), net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which
could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes.
If there has not been a Date of Termination with respect to
Executive, the Company shall cause the Gross-Up Payment to be
calculated within 30 days of a written request to that effect
from Executive.
(iii) Executive and the Company shall each reasonably cooperate
with the other in connection with any administrative or judicial
proceedings concerning the existence or amount of liability for
Excise Tax with respect to the Total Payments.
(iv) The payments provided in this Section 6(c) shall be made not
later than the fifth day following the Date of Termination (or if
there is no Date of Termination, then the fifth day following
date on which the Gross-Up Payment is calculated for purposes of
Section 6(c), provided, however, that if the amounts of such
payments cannot be finally determined on or before such day, the
Company shall pay to Executive on such day an estimate, as
determined in good faith by the Company, in accordance with
Section 6(b), of the minimum amount of such payments to which
Executive is clearly entitled and shall pay the remainder of such
payments (together with interest on the unpaid remainder) at 120%
of the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code) as
soon as the amount thereof can be determined but in no event
later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the occurrence of a
Date of Termination. At the time that payments are made under
this Agreement, the Company shall provide Executive with a
written statement setting forth the manner in which such payments
were calculated and the basis for such calculations including,
without limitation, any opinions or other advice the Company has
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received from Tax Counsel, the Auditor or other advisors or
consultants (and any such opinions or advice which are in writing
shall be attached to the statement).
7. Non-Solicitation and Business Relationships. Executive agrees that
during Executive's employment by the Company and for one (1) year following the
later of (a) Executive's Date of Termination or (b) the last day of any
Severance Payment Period applicable to Executive ("Non-Solicitation Period"),
Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, induce, or attempt to
solicit or induce any officer, director, employee or agent of the Company or any
of its affiliates to terminate his, her or its employment or other relationship
with the Company or any of its affiliates for the purpose of associating with
any competitor of any the Company or any of its affiliates, or otherwise
encourage any such person to leave or sever his, her or its employment or other
relationship with the Company or any of its affiliates for any other reason, or
(ii) contact, solicit, entice or induce any person, firm, corporation,
partnership or other entity that currently is, or at any time during Executive's
employment by the Company or the Non-Solicitation Period will be, an investor in
the Company or any affiliate, to become an investor in any person, firm,
corporation, partnership or other business entity whatsoever (other than the
Company or any affiliate) or approach any such investor for that or any purpose
(other than a purpose that is in accord with the duties of the Executive), or
authorize the taking of such actions by any other person or entity, or assist or
participate with any such person or entity in taking such action.
8. Confidentiality. Each party to this Agreement shall keep strictly
confidential the terms of this Agreement, provided, that (i) either party to
this Agreement may disclose the terms of this Agreement with the prior written
consent of the other party, (ii) either party to this Agreement may disclose the
terms of this Agreement to the extent necessary to comply with law or legal
process, in which event the disclosing party shall notify the other party to
this Agreement as promptly as practicable (and, if possible, prior to making
such disclosure), (iii) either party to this Agreement may disclose the terms of
this Agreement to outside counsel, underwriters and accountants and (iv) the
Company may disclose the terms of this Agreement in public filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory agencies, without notice
to Executive, to the extent that it believes such disclosure to be prudent,
necessary or required by applicable law in connection with the operation of the
business of the Company and shall have the right to file a copy of this
Agreement with such regulating agencies, it being understood that if this
Agreement is so disclosed or filed, Executive shall thereafter be released from
his obligation in respect of this Section 8.
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9. No Waiver. No failure or delay on the part of the Company or Executive
in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or
remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other right, power or remedy. The remedies provided for herein are cumulative
and are not exclusive of any remedies that may be available to the Company or
Executive at law or in equity. No waiver of or consent to any departure by
either the Company or Executive from any provision of this Agreement shall be
effective unless signed in writing by the party entitled to the benefit thereof.
No amendment, modification or termination of any provision of this Agreement
shall be effective unless signed in writing by all parties hereto. Any waiver of
any provision of this Agreement, and any consent to any departure from the terms
of any provision of this Agreement, shall be effective only in the specific
instance and for the specific purpose for which made or given.
10. Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Agreement that is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting the validity or
enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Moreover, if any one
or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall be held to be
excessively broad as to duration, activity or subject, such provision shall be
construed by limiting and reducing it so as to be enforceable to the maximum
extent allowed by applicable law.
11. Non-Assignability. The rights and obligations of Executive under this
Agreement are personal to Executive and may not be assigned or delegated to any
other Person; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall preclude
Executive from designating any of his beneficiaries to receive any benefits
payable hereunder upon his death, or his executors, administrators or other
legal representatives from assigning any rights hereunder to the person or
persons entitled thereto.
12. Notices. Any notice given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been given when delivered by messenger or courier service
(against appropriate receipt), or mailed by registered or certified mail (return
receipt requested), addressed as follows:
If to the Company: NorthStar Realty Finance Corp.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
00
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx(3)
If to Executive:
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or at such other address as shall be indicated to the parties hereto in writing.
Notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
13. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to
contracts made and to be entirely performed within such State.
14. Dispute Resolution:
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 14(b), any dispute,
controversy or claim arising between the parties relating to this Agreement, or
otherwise relating in any way to Executive's employment by or interest in the
Company or any of its affiliate (whether such dispute arises under any federal,
state or local statute or regulation, or at common law), shall be resolved by
final and binding arbitration before a single arbitrator, selected by the
American Arbitration Association in accordance with its rules pertaining at the
time the dispute arises. In such arbitration proceedings, the arbitrator shall
have the discretion, to be exercised in accordance with applicable law, to
allocate among the parties the arbitrator's fees, tribunal and other
administrative and litigation costs and, to the prevailing party, attorneys'
fees. The award of the arbitrator may be confirmed before and entered as a
judgment of any court having jurisdiction over the parties.
(b) The provisions of Section 14(a) shall not apply with respect to any
application made by the Company for injunctive relief under this Agreement.
15. Headings. The paragraph headings used or contained in this Agreement
are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction of
this Agreement.
16. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and any agreements executed
contemporaneously herewith constitute the entire agreement between the parties
with respect to the matters set forth herein, and there are no promises or
undertakings with
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(3) A different name will appear in Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx'x agreement.
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respect thereto relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or
referred to herein or therein.
17. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and by different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each
of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an
original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one
and the same Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement.
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[Name of Executive]
NORTHSTAR REALTY FINANCE CORP.
By:
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Name:
Title:
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