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Exhibit (d)(4)
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT by and between Dime Bancorp, Inc., a New York corporation
(the "Company") and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx (the "Executive") dated as of the
6th day of July, 2000.
1. Effective Date. The "Effective Date" shall mean July 6, 2000.
2. Employment Period. The Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive,
and the Executive hereby agrees to enter into the employ of the Company subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period commencing on the
Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the
"Employment Period").
3. Terms of Employment. (a) Position and Duties. (i) (A) During the
Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as nonexecutive Chairman of the
Company with responsibility and authority in collaboration with the Chief
Executive Officer for the Company's overall strategy and the execution of that
strategy and (B) the Executive's services shall be performed in the New York
Metropolitan Area. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall also serve
as a member of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board").
(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of
vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees
to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours to the
business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge
the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's
reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such
responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of
this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable
boards or committees provided that such service shall not result in a conflict
of interest or violate applicable law, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking
engagements or teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal
investments, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the
performance of the Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the Company in
accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that to
the extent that any such activities have been conducted by the Executive prior
to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct
of activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective
Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of the
Executive's responsibilities to the Company.
(b) Compensation.
(i) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall
receive
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an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary") of no less than $600,000.
(ii) Incentive Awards. On the Effective Date, the Company shall
grant the Executive nonqualified options to acquire 500,000 shares of the
Company's common stock (the "Options") and shall sell to the Executive 200,000
shares of restricted stock of the Company at $0.01 per share (the "Restricted
Stock") pursuant to the terms of the Company's stock incentive plan. Except as
otherwise provided herein, the Options and the Restricted Stock shall vest in
three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the
Effective Date or, if earlier, upon a change of control of the Company (as
defined in the Company's stock incentive plan). Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary, the Options shall remain exercisable for a term of 11 years, whether
or not the Executive is employed by the Company.
(iii) Perquisites, Expenses. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be provided with unrestricted use of a car and driver reasonably
acceptable to him. The Executive shall also be provided, at the Company's
expense, with two Reuters' machines, one in his office at the Company and the
other at his personal office. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall
be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred
by the Executive in accordance with the Company's expense reimbursement
policies.
(iv) Office and Support Staff. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to an office or offices of a size and with
furnishings and other appointments as provided generally at any time thereafter
with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated
companies and shall be provided with secretarial assistance commensurate with
the Executive's position.
(v) Vacation. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be
entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the plans, policies, programs and
practices of the Company and its affiliated companies as in effect with respect
to the senior executives of the Company.
(vi) Indemnity. The Company shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the Executive from and against any claim, demand, loss, cost, expense,
judgment, fine, penalty, settlement expense, action, cause of action,
investigation of proceeding arising from or out of or relating to the
Executive's performance, service or status as an officer, director or employee
of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or in any other capacity,
including serving as a fiduciary, in which the Executive serves at the request
of, or for the benefit of, the Company (including without limitation any
liability arising out of the transactions contemplated by the Investment
Agreement dated as of July 6, 2000 by and between the Company and Warburg,
Xxxxxx Equity Partners, LP) or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, to
the maximum extent permitted under applicable law. During the Employment Period
and for six years thereafter (or, if less, throughout the period of any
applicable statute of limitations), the Company shall maintain appropriate
directors and officers liability insurance which shall cover the Executive.
4. Termination of Employment. (a) Death or Disability. The Executive's
employment shall terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the
Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability
of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the
definition of Disability set forth below),
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it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with Section 10(b) of
this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive's employment. In
such event, the Executive's employment with the Company shall terminate
effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the
"Disability Effective Date"), provided that, within the 30 days after such
receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to performance of the
Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" shall mean the
absence of the Executive from the Executive's duties with the Company for 180
consecutive days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness
which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the
Company or its insurers and reasonably acceptable to the Executive or the
Executive's legal representative.
(b) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment during
the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall
mean:
(i) the continued failure of the Executive to perform substantially
the Executive's duties with the Company or one of its affiliates (other than any
such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after
a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by
the Board of the Company which specifically identifies the manner in which the
Board believes that the Executive has not substantially performed the
Executive's duties, or
(ii) the willful engaging by the Executive in illegal conduct or
gross misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company,
or
(iii) conviction of a felony or guilty or nolo contendere plea by
the Executive with respect thereto, or
(iv) any other reason constituting "cause" under applicable banking
law or regulation.
For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, on the part of the
Executive, shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or omitted to be
done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the
Executive's action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any
act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution
duly adopted by the Board or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company
shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the
Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company. The cessation
of employment of the Executive shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and
until there shall have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a resolution
duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the entire
membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for such
purpose (after reasonable notice is provided to the Executive and the Executive
is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board),
finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive is guilty
of the conduct described in subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iv) above, and
specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
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(c) Good Reason. The Executive's employment may be terminated by the
Executive for Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall
mean in the absence of a written consent of the Executive:
(i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in
any material respect with the Executive's position, authority, duties or
responsibilities as contemplated by Section 3(a) of this Agreement, or any other
action by the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority,
duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated,
insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is
remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the
Executive;
(ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of the
provisions of Section 3(b) of this Agreement, other than an insubstantial and
inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the
Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;
(iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any
office or location more than 35 miles from that provided in Section 3(a)(i)(B)
hereof;
(iv) any purported termination by the Company of the Executive's
employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by this Agreement; or
(v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section
9(c) of this Agreement.
(d) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for Cause, or by
the Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to
the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 10(b) of this Agreement.
For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice
which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied
upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts
and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination
(as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies
the termination date (which date shall be not more than thirty days after the
giving of such notice). The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth
in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a
showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or
the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company,
respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the
Executive's or the Company's rights hereunder.
(e) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" means (i) if the
Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, the date of
mailing of the Notice of Termination or any later date specified therein within
30 days of such notice, as the case may be, (ii) if the Executive's employment
is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of
Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the Executive of
such termination, (iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of
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death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of the
Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as the case may be, (iv) if the
Executive's employment is terminated by the Executive, the date specified in
the Notice of Termination, which date shall not be less than fifteen days after
the date of mailing of such Notice of Termination and (v) if the Executive's
employment has not been previously terminated, the expiration of the Employment
Period.
5. Obligations of the Company upon Termination. (a) Good Reason; Other
Than for Cause, Death or Disability. If, during the Employment Period, the
Company shall terminate the Executive's employment other than for Cause or
Disability or the Executive shall terminate employment for Good Reason:
(i) the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash
within 30 days after the Date of Termination the aggregate of the following
amounts:
(A) the sum of (1) the Executive's Annual Base Salary through
the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid ("Accrued Base
Salary"); and
(B) the amount equal to the product of (1) the number of months
and portions thereof from the Date of Termination until the end of the
Employment Period, divided by twelve and (2) the Executive's Annual Base Salary;
and
(ii) the Options and the Restricted Stock shall vest immediately;
and
(iii) to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the Company
shall timely pay or provide to the Executive any other amounts or benefits
required to be paid or provided or which the Executive is eligible to receive
under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the
Company and its affiliated companies through the Date of Termination (such other
amounts and benefits shall be hereinafter referred to as the "Other Benefits");
and
(iv) except with respect to the payment of amounts and the provision
of the benefits and the indemnity described above, upon a termination of the
Executive by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, or upon a
termination by the Executive for Good Reason, the Company shall have no other or
further liability to the Executive.
(b) Death. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the
Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to the Executive's legal representatives under this
Agreement, other than for payment of Accrued Base Salary and the timely payment
or provision of Other Benefits. In addition, the Options and the Restricted
Stock shall vest immediately.
(c) Disability. If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of
the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall
terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for payment
of Accrued Base Salary. In addition, the Options and the Restricted Stock shall
vest immediately.
(d) Cause; Other than for Good Reason. If the Executive's employment shall
be terminated for Cause or the Executive terminates his employment without Good
Reason during
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the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further
obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to pay to the Executive
his Accrued Base Salary through the Date of Termination.
6. Full Settlement. The Company's obligation to make the payments
provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations
hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment,
defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the
Executive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other
employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable
to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and, such amounts
shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other employment. The
Company agrees to pay as incurred, to the full extent permitted by law, all
reasonable legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a
result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof provided that the
Executive has acted in good faith and that the Company is provided with such
evidence of fees and expenses as it may reasonably require) by the Company, the
Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under,
any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof
(including as a result of any contest by the Executive about the amount of any
payment pursuant to this Agreement), plus in each case interest on any payment
required by this Section 6 that is not paid by the Company within fifteen days
after receipt of written notice from the Executive requesting such payment at
the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
7. Certain Additional Payments by the Company.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding and except
as set forth below, in the event it shall be determined that any payment or
distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive (whether paid
or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement or otherwise, but determined without regard to any additional payments
required under this Section 7) (a "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax
imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties are incurred by
the Executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with
any such interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"Excise Tax"), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional
payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that after payment by the
Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect
to such taxes), including, without limitation, any income taxes (and any
interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed upon
the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment
equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this Section 7(a), if it shall be determined that the Executive is
entitled to a Gross-Up Payment, but that the Payments do not exceed 110% of the
greatest amount (the "Reduced Amount") that could be paid to the Executive such
that the receipt of Payments would not give rise to any Excise Tax, then no
Gross-Up Payment shall be made to the Executive and the Payments, in the
aggregate, shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 7(c), all determinations required
to be made under this Section 7, including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment
is required and the
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amount of such Gross-Up Payment and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving
at such determination, shall be made by the Company's independent certified
public accounting firm (the "Accounting Firm") which shall provide detailed
supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15
business days of the receipt of notice from the Executive that there has been a
Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. All fees and
expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. Any
Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by
the Company to the Executive within five days of the later of (i) the due date
for the payment of any Excise Tax, and (ii) the receipt of the Accounting
Firm's determination. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding
upon the Company and the Executive. As a result of the uncertainty in the
application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial
determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up
Payments which will not have been made by the Company should have been made
("Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made
hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts its remedies pursuant to
Section 7(c) and the Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any
Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment
that has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the
Company to or for the benefit of the Executive. The Executive shall report
Payments on the Executive's tax returns in a manner consistent with the
Company's treatment of such payments for tax purposes.
(c) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the
Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the
Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as soon as
practicable but no later than ten business days after the Executive is informed
in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such
claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive
shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30-day period following
the date on which it gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period
ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due).
If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such
period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall:
(i) give the Company any information reasonably requested by the
Company relating to such claim,
(ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the
Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including,
without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by
an attorney reasonably selected by the Company,
(iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order effectively to
contest such claim, and
(iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to
such claim;
provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and
expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection
with such contest and shall
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indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any
Excise Tax or income tax (including interest and penalties with respect
thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and
expenses. Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(c),
the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest
and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all administrative
appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in
respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive
to pay the tax claimed and xxx for a refund or contest the claim in any
permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a
determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial
jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall
determine; provided, however, that if the Company directs the Executive to pay
such claim and xxx for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such
payment to the Executive, on an interest-free basis and shall indemnify and
hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or
income tax (including interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed with
respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to
such advance; and further provided that any extension of the statute of
limitations relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the Executive
with respect to which such contested amount is claimed to be due is limited
solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, the Company's control of the
contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment
would be payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or
contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue
Service or any other taxing authority.
(d) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the
Company pursuant to Section 7(c), the Executive becomes entitled to receive any
refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the Company's
complying with the requirements of Section 7(c)) promptly pay to the Company the
amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after
taxes applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount
advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 7(c), a determination is made that
the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and
the Company does not notify the Executive in writing of its intent to contest
such denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such
determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to
be repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof,
the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.
8. Confidential Information. (a) The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary
capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information,
knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated companies,
and their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive
during the Executive's employment by the Company or any of its affiliated
companies and which shall not be or become public knowledge (other than by acts
by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this
Agreement). After termination of the Executive's employment with the Company,
the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or as
may otherwise be required by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any
such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those
designated by it.
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(b) In the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Section 8, the
Executive agrees that the Company shall be entitled to injunctive relief in a
court of appropriate jurisdiction to remedy any such breach or threatened
breach, the Executive acknowledges that damages would be inadequate and
insufficient.
9. Successors. (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and
without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the
Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's
legal representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Company and its successors and assigns.
(c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the
business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform
this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would
be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this
Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any
successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to
perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.
10. Miscellaneous. (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without reference to
principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of
the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not
be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the
parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.
(b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
If to the Executive:
-------------------
c/o First Union
0000 0xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
If to the Company:
-----------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
General Counsel
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
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New York, New York 10017
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxx
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressee.
(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
Agreement.
(d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement
such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld
pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
(e) The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon strict
compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any
right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without
limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason
pursuant to Section 4(c)(i)-(v) of this Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a
waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this
Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand and,
pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has
caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the
day and year first above written.
/s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXXXX
------------------------------------------
XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXXXX
DIME BANCORP, INC.
By /s/ XXXXXXXX X. XXXX
--------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
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