EXHIBIT 10.36
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, dated as of January 1, 2003 (this "Agreement") by
and between Janus Capital Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and
Xxxxxx X. Early (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"),
has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders for the Company to have the continued dedication and services of
the Executive;
WHEREAS, the Board intends that whenever a conflict occurs
between this Agreement and any existing or subsequent change of control
agreement ("Change of Control Agreement") between the Executive and the Company,
including the Change of Control Agreement dated February 10, 2003, this
Agreement shall control with respect to any such conflict only before and until,
after the date of this Agreement, a Change of Control occurs within the Change
of Control Period (all as defined in the applicable Change of Control Agreement)
at which time the Change of Control Agreement will govern; NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS
HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Effective Date. The "Effective Date" shall mean January 1,
2003.
2. Employment Period. The Company hereby agrees to employ the
Executive, and the Executive hereby agrees to continue in the employ of the
Company on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, for the
period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on December 31, 2005 (the
"Initial Period"). Following the Initial Period, this Agreement shall
automatically renew for one-year periods ("Renewal Period"), unless either party
gives notice of non-renewal at least 90 days prior to the end of the Initial
Period or the Renewal Period, as applicable.
3. Terms of Employment.
(a) Position and Duties.
(i) During the Employment Period, (A) the Executive
shall serve as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, reporting directly
to the CEO, or, at the discretion of the CEO, to the President, with duties,
authorities and responsibilities commensurate with such title and office and (B)
the Executive's services shall be performed in Denver, Colorado.
(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any
periods of disability and vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is
entitled, the Executive agrees to devote substantially all of his attention and
time during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company
and, to the extent necessary to discharge the Executive's responsibilities
hereunder, to use the Executive's reasonable best efforts to perform 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, (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 an annual base salary ("Annual Base Salary") of no less
than $395,000. The Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Compensation
Committee of the Board (the "Committee") no less frequently than annually and
may be increased (but not decreased) at the discretion of the Committee or the
Board. If the Executive's Annual Base Salary is increased, the increased amount
shall be the Annual Base Salary for the remainder of the Employment Period. The
Annual Base Salary shall be payable in installments, consistent with the
Company's payroll procedures in effect from time to time, provided that such
installments shall be no less frequent than monthly.
(ii) Annual Bonus. In addition to the Annual Base
Salary, the Executive shall be eligible to earn, for each fiscal year ending
during the Employment Period, an annual bonus (an "Annual Bonus") on terms and
conditions, including performance goals, as set forth in the Executive Bonus
Plan approved by the Company's Compensation Committee at its March 17, 2003,
meeting. As approved by the Compensation Committee, the Annual Bonus is
performance driven and dependent upon Company factors of operating income, fund
performance and gross new sales. Depending upon the performance of these Company
factors, and the application of a 33.3% negative discretionary factor available
to the Compensation Committee, the Annual Bonus can range from a low of $0 to a
high of $1,680,000. The Committee shall annually certify, to the extent required
by Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),
that the Executive has met the performance goals necessary for the payment of an
Annual Bonus and in the amount calculated under the Executive Bonus Plan.
(iii) Long-Term Incentive Compensation. At the
discretion of the Committee, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in
the Company's long term incentive compensation arrangements on terms and
conditions no less favorable than the terms and conditions generally applicable
to other members of the Company's Management Committee (the "Peer Executives"),
as in effect from time to time.
(iv) Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans. During
the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all
other incentive plans, practices, policies and programs, and all savings and
retirement plans, practices, policies and programs, in each case on terms and
conditions no less favorable than the terms and conditions generally applicable
to the Peer Executives.
-2-
(v) Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Employment
Period, the Executive and the Executive's spouse and dependents, as the case may
be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under
welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company
and its affiliates (including, without limitation, medical, prescription,
dental, disability, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel
accident insurance plans and programs) on terms and conditions no less favorable
than the terms and conditions generally applicable to the Peer Executives.
Following the Employment Period, the Executive and the Executive's spouse and
dependents, shall be eligible for participation in, and shall receive all
benefits under the Company's or its affiliates' Health Benefits For Retirees
plan, unless such plan is modified or terminated by the Company with respect to
the Peer Executives.
(vi) Expenses. 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 most favorable
policies, practices and procedures in effect for Peer Executives.
(vii) Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits on the same basis as those
provided generally at any time thereafter to the Peer Executives.
(viii) 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 as in effect for the Peer Executives, but
in no event less than four weeks.
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), it may provide to the
Executive written notice in accordance with Section 11 (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 the receipt of such notice, the
Executive shall not have returned to full-time 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 on a full-time basis
for 180 consecutive business 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 with or without Cause. For purposes of
this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean:
(i)the willful and continued failure of the Executive
to perform substantially the Executive's duties with the Company (other than any
such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after
a written demand for substantial
-3-
performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board or its representative,
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 (other than a traffic
related felony) or guilty or nolo contendere plea by the Executive with respect
thereto; or
(iv) a material breach by the Executive of any
material provisions of this Agreement; or
(v) a willful violation of a material regulatory
requirement which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company.
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 act or omission was in
the best interests of the Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon
express authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board with
respect to such act or omission 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 (not including the Executive) 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) (a "Two-Thirds Board Vote"), finding that, in the
good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive is guilty of the conduct
described in subparagraph (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) above, and specifying
the particulars thereof in detail.
(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 failure to have authority, duties or
responsibilities consistent with the Executive's position (including status,
offices, titles and reporting requirements) as contemplated by the Agreement, or
any action by the Company which results in a material diminution in such
position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose any
action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly
after receipt of notice hereof given by the Executive; or
(ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of
the provisions of Section 3(b) of this Agreement, other than a failure not
occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after
receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive; or
-4-
(iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be
based at any office or location other than that provided in Section 3(a)(i)(B)
hereof; or
(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.
The Executive's mental or physical incapacity following the occurrence of an
event described above in clauses (i) through (v) shall not affect the
Executive's ability to terminate employment for Good Reason. For purposes of
this Section 4(c), any good faith determination of Good Reason made by the
Executive, and not overturned by a Two-Thirds Board Vote, shall be conclusive.
(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 11 (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 constitute a waiver
of 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, or by the
Executive for Good Reason, the date of receipt 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 and (iii) if the Executive's
employment is terminated by reason of 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.
5. Obligations of the Company upon Termination. (a) Other Than
for Cause, Death or Disability; Good Reason. If, during the Employment Period,
(i) the Company shall terminate the Executive's employment other than for Cause,
death or Disability, or (ii) the Executive shall terminate his employment for
Good Reason pursuant to Section 4(c)(i)-(v):
(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:
-5-
A. the sum of (1) the Executive's Annual Base Salary
through the Date of Termination, (2) any unpaid Annual Bonus
with respect to the fiscal year of the Company prior to the
Date of Termination , (3) any accrued and unpaid vacation, if
any, and (4) the product of (x) the Annual Bonus with respect
to the fiscal year of the Company prior to the Date of
Termination or, if none, any annual bonus paid with respect to
the fiscal year of the Company prior to the Date of
Termination , and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is
the number of days in the fiscal year in which the Date of
Termination occurs through the Date of Termination, and the
denominator of which is 365, in each case to the extent not
theretofore paid (the sum of the amounts described in clauses
(1), (2), (3) and (4), shall be hereinafter referred to as the
"Accrued Obligations"); and
B. an amount equal to the product of (1) three and
(2) the sum of (a) the Annual Base Salary and (b) the Annual
Bonus, if any, for the most recently completed fiscal year
prior to the Date of Termination (including any fiscal year
prior to the Effective Date), and if none, then the bonus
actually paid pursuant to any prior employment agreement with
respect to such fiscal year; and
(ii) for the three-year period commencing on the Date
of Termination, the Company shall continue to provide the benefits described in
Section 3(b) (v) to the Executive and his spouse and dependents on the same
basis such benefits were provided to the Executive immediately prior to the
Effective Date, and, if such benefits cannot be provided, a lump sum cash
equivalent thereof, grossed-up for taxes (collectively "Welfare Benefits");
(iii) any unvested cash and equity long-term
incentive award or other incentive awards granted to the Executive, including
any unvested shares of limited liability company interests, in the Company,
Janus Capital Management LLC or in any of their affiliated companies held by the
Executive (collectively, "Retention and Incentive Awards"), shall immediately
vest and/or be paid, as applicable, in full and any stock options shall, from
and after such vesting, remain exercisable for the remainder of their respective
terms; and
(iv) to the extent not theretofore paid or provided,
the Company shall timely pay or provide to the Executive any Other Benefits (as
defined in Section 6).
(b) Death. If the Executive's employment is terminated by
reason of the Executive's death during the Employment Period, the Company shall
provide the Executive's estate or beneficiaries with the Accrued Obligations and
the timely payment or delivery of the Other Benefits (as defined in Section 6)
and shall provide the Welfare Benefits to the Executive's spouse and dependents
for a three-year period commencing as of the Date of Termination, and shall have
no other severance obligations under this Agreement. In addition, all Retention
and Incentive Awards shall be treated as described in Section 5(a) (iii). The
Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive's estate or beneficiary, as
applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination.
With respect to the provision of the Other Benefits, the term "Other Benefits"
as utilized in this Section 5(b) shall include, and the Executive's estate and
/or beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive, benefits at least equal to death
benefits as in effect on the date of the Executive's death with respect to Peer
Executives of the Company and their beneficiaries.
-6-
(c) Disability. If the Executive's employment is terminated by
reason of the Executive's Disability during the Employment Period, the Company
shall provide the Executive with the Accrued Obligations and the timely payment
or provision of the Other Benefits (as defined in Section 6) and the provision
of Welfare Benefits to the Executive, his spouse and dependents for a three-
year period commencing as of the Date of Termination. All Retention and
Incentive Awards shall be treated as described in Section 5(a) (iii). The
Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within
30 days of the Date of Termination. With respect to the provision of Other
Benefits, the term "Other Benefits" as utilized in this Section 5(c) shall
include, and the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date
to receive, disability and other benefits as in effect at any time thereafter
generally with respect to Peer Executives of the Company and their families.
(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 the Employment Period, this Agreement
shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive other than the
obligation to pay to the Executive (i) his Annual Base Salary through the Date
of Termination, (ii) any accrued and unpaid vacation, if any, and (iii) the
Other Benefits (as defined in Section 6), in each case to the extent theretofore
unpaid.
(e) At the end of the Employment Period or thereafter. If the
Executive's employment shall terminate at the end of the Employment Period by
virtue of the expiration of this Agreement or for any other reason thereafter,
the Company shall pay to the Executive (i) his Annual Base Salary through the
Date of Termination, (ii) any unpaid Annual Bonus with respect to the fiscal
year in which the Date of Termination occurs and with respect to any fiscal year
of the Company prior to the Date of Termination, (iii) any accrued and unpaid
vacation, if any, and (iv) the Other Benefits (as defined in Section 6), in each
case to the extent theretofore unpaid.
(f) Excise Tax. Notwithstanding any other language to the
contrary in this Agreement or in this Section 5, the Company shall not be
obligated to pay and shall not pay that portion of any payment or distribution
in the nature of compensation within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the
Code to the benefit of the Executive otherwise due or payable the Executive
under this Agreement or this Section 5 if that portion would cause any excise
tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code to become due and payable by the
Executive.
6. Non-exclusivity of Rights. Except as otherwise specifically
provided in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the
Executive's continuing or future participation in any plan, program, policy or
practice provided by the Company or the Affiliated Companies for which the
Executive may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such
rights as the Executive may have under any contract or agreement with the
Company or any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which are vested benefits,
which consist of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive, or which
the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice
or program of or any contract or agreement with the Company or with the
Affiliated Companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination ("Other
Benefits") shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or
program or contract or agreement except as explicitly modified by this
Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Executive
shall not be entitled to receive any payments or
-7-
benefits under any severance program other than that which are described and
anticipated under this Agreement or under any Change of Control Agreement.
7. 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-offs, counterclaim, recoupment,
defense, or other claim, right or action that 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 (within 10 days following the Company's
receipt of an invoice from the Executive), to the full extent permitted by law,
all legal fees and expenses that the Executive may reasonably incur as a result
of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof unless the Executive's claim
is determined by a court to have been frivolous or made in bad faith, in which
case the Executive shall make prompt reimbursement of such fees and expenses to
the extent already paid by the Company and received by the Executive) 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
delayed payment at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section
7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code.
8. Restrictive Covenants. (a) The Executive acknowledges that
his employment as a senior officer of the Company creates a relationship of
confidence and trust between the Executive and the Company with respect to
confidential and proprietary information applicable to the business of the
Company and its clients. The Executive further acknowledges the highly
competitive nature of the business of the Company. Accordingly, it is agreed
that the restrictions contained in this Section 8 are reasonable and necessary
for the protection of the interests of the Company and that any violation of
these restrictions would cause substantial and irreparable injury to the
Company.
(b) During the Executive's employment with the Company, and
for a period of one year following the Date of Termination for any reason, the
Executive shall not (nor shall the Employee cause, encourage or provide
assistance to, anyone else to):
(i) Interfere with any relationship which may exist
from time to time between the Company, or any affiliate of the Company, and any
of its employees, consultants, agents or representatives; or
(ii) Employ or otherwise engage, or attempt to employ
or otherwise engage, in or on behalf of any Competitive Business, any person who
is employed or engaged as an employee, consultant, agent or representative of
the Company or any affiliate of the Company, or any person who was employed or
engaged as an employee, consultant, agent or representative of the Company or
any affiliate of the Company within the two-year period immediately preceding
the Employee's termination; or
(iii) Solicit directly or indirectly on behalf of the
Executive or a Competitive Business, the customer business or account of any
investment advisory or
-8-
investment management client to which the Company or any affiliate of the
Company shall have rendered service during the one-year period immediately
preceding the Executive's termination; or
(iv) Directly or indirectly divert or attempt to
divert from the Company or any affiliate of the Company any business in which
the Company or any affiliate of the Company has been actively engaged during the
term hereof or interfere with any relationship between the Company, or any
affiliate of the Company, and any of its clients.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of Section 8 (b) shall not apply
following termination of Executive's employment: (aa) by the Company without
Cause; (bb) by the Executive for Good Reason; or (cc) at the end of the
Employment Period by virtue of the expiration of this Agreement or for any
reason at any time thereafter (except for expiration caused by the Executive's
non-renewal of this Agreement).
(c) "Competitive Business" means any business which provides
investment advisory or investment management services. For the purposes of this
Section 8, "affiliate" means any corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, trust, or other entity which controls, is controlled by or is under
common control with the Company.
(d) If any court shall determine that the duration, geographic
limitations, subject or scope of any restriction contained in this Section 8 is
unenforceable, it is the intention of the parties that this Section 8 shall not
thereby be terminated but shall be deemed amended to the extent required to make
it valid and enforceable, such amendment to apply only with respect to the
operation of this Section 8 in the jurisdiction of the court that has made the
adjudication.
(e) The Executive acknowledges that the restrictive covenants
of Section 8 are reasonable and that irreparable injury will result to the
Company and to its business and properties in the event of any breach by the
Executive of any of those covenants, and that the Executive's continued
employment is predicated on the commitments undertaken by the Executive pursuant
to Section 8. In the event any of the covenants of Section 8 are breached, the
Company shall be entitled, in addition to any other remedies and damages
available, to injunctive relief to restrain the violation of such covenants by
the Executive or by any person or persons acting for or with the Executive in
any capacity whatsoever.
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
-9-
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. Indemnification and Directors and Officers' Insurance.
(a) The Company shall indemnify the Executive to the fullest
extent permitted under law from and against any expenses (including but not
limited to attorneys' fees, expenses of investigation and preparation and fees
and disbursements of the Executive's accountants or other experts), judgments,
fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred
by the Executive in connection with any proceeding in which the Executive was or
is made party or was or is involved (for example, as a witness) by reason of the
fact the Executive was or is employed by the Company.
Such indemnification is subject to:
(i) the indemnifying party promptly receiving written
notice that a claim or liability has been asserted or threatened ("Notice of
Claim");
(ii) the indemnified party providing reasonable
cooperation and assistance in the defense or settlement of a claim; and
(iii) the indemnifying party being afforded the
opportunity to have the sole control over the defense or settlement of such
claim or liability.
Unless within ten days after receiving the Notice of Claim, the indemnifying
party notifies in writing the indemnified party of its intent to defend against
such claim or liability, the indemnified party may defend, settle and/or
compromise any such claim or liability, and be indemnified for all losses
resulting from such defense, settlement and/or compromise. Any indemnified party
also may participate in such defense at its own cost and expense.
Such indemnification shall continue as to the Executive during the Employment
Period and for ten years from the Date of Termination with respect to acts or
omissions which occurred prior to his cessation of employment with the Company
and shall inure to the benefit of the Executive's heirs, executors and
administrators. The Company shall advance to the Executive all costs and
expenses incurred by him in connection with any proceeding covered by this
provision within 20 calendar days after receipt by the Company of a written
request for such advance. Such request shall include an undertaking by the
Executive to repay the amount of such advance if it shall ultimately be
determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified against such costs and
expenses.
(b) The Company agrees to continue and maintain directors' and
officers' liability insurance policies covering the Executive to the extent that
the Company provides such coverage for its other executive officers. Such
insurance coverage shall continue as to the Executive even if he has ceased to
be a director, member, employee or agent of the Company with respect to acts or
omissions which occurred prior to his cessation of employment with the Company.
Not withstanding the foregoing, however, if the Company shall cease to maintain
directors' and officers' liability insurance policies covering the Executive and
other executive officers by reason of: (i) a consolidation, merger, sale or
other reorganization of the Company;
-10-
(ii) any person or entity or group of persons or entities acting in concert
acquiring management control of the Company; or (iii) the insurers providing
such insurance canceling or refusing to renew such insurance, then the Executive
shall have coverage only to the extent provided in any run-off policies
extending the period during which the Company or the Executive may give the
insurers notice of a claim under the termination directors' and officers'
liability insurance policies. The Company shall take all reasonable actions to
ensure that it obtains such run-off policies and that such run-off policies
extend the claims reporting period through any applicable statutes of
limitations, but nothing in this section shall obligate the Company to obtain
extraordinary insurance coverage for the Executive. Insurance contemplated under
this Section 10(b) shall inure to the benefit of the Executive's heirs,
executors and administrators.
11. Miscellaneous. (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware 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: At the most recent address on file at the Company.
If to the Company: Janus Capital Group Inc
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn.: General Counsel
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.
-11-
(f) From and after the Effective Date this Agreement shall
supersede any other
employment agreement between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof (including the
Employment Agreement between the Company
and the Executive dated as of January 1, 2001), except as expressly provided
herein. This Agreement shall not supersede any Change of Control Agreement with
respect to any matters specifically addressed in any such agreement.
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/ Xxxxxx X. Early
-----------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Early
JANUS CAPITAL GROUP INC.
By /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
--------------------------------
-12-
