April 28, 2010 Stuart D. Boyd 9111 Highland Ridge Way Tampa, Florida 33647 Dear Stuart:
Exhibit 10.38
April 28, 2010
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Dear Xxxxxx:
On or about March 3, 2009 you entered into an agreement pursuant to which you would act as the
General Counsel and Secretary of Xxxxxx Investment Management Corp. (the “Company”), the surviving
entity following the merger of JWH Holding Company, LLC (“JWHHC”) with Hanover Capital Mortgage
Holdings, Inc. (“HCM”) pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger entered into between JWHHC and
HCM. You have been acting in that capacity since April 17, 2009, however, you and the Company agree
that there is a need to clarify or amend certain of the provisions of your March 3, 2009 agreement.
This letter is intended to amend and restate your initial agreement and this agreement (the
“Agreement”) will be the sole obligation of the Company with respect to your employment; it being
specifically understood that this Agreement does not supersede any provisions of any individual
long term incentive or other benefit plans or programs to which you may be a party. The term of
this Agreement shall continue until the close of business on March 30, 2011 (the “Term”).
Thereafter, the Term shall automatically extend annually for one year terms (any then current
period of extension being referred to as the Term) unless and until terminated as provided herein.
While employed during the Term, you agree to devote, during normal business hours during business
days, your full time and efforts to advancing the Company’s interests. The purpose of this amended
and restated letter is to ratify and confirm your acceptance of the terms of your employment as set
forth herein. Any capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the definition set forth in the
Appendix hereto.
1. Your title shall be Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. As the Vice President,
General Xxxxxxx and Secretary of the Company, you shall report to and serve at the direction of the
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, or to such other person as may be designated
from time to time. In your capacity as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, you will be
responsible for managing corporate legal matters, advising management and the Board of Directors on
legal and corporate governance issues, serving as Secretary of the Company and its Board of
Directors in accordance with its charter, by-laws and any legal requirements, ensuring compliance
with SEC, stock exchange and other securities law and public reporting Company matters, and
providing senior management oversight and Board of Director support for executive compensation
matters. Such responsibilities may change from time to time.
xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
| 2. | Your compensation package will be as follows: |
| (a) | Base Salary | ||
| Your Base Salary will be $275,000 per year which will be subject to review and increase (but not decrease) by the Compensation Committee and paid in accordance with the payroll practices of the Company, as they may change from time to time. | |||
| (b) | Bonus | ||
| Your annual target bonus will be, at a minimum, 50% of your Base Salary, or $137,500 at your current Base Salary, with the potential to increase your bonus to a maximum of 100% of your Base Salary or $275,000 at your current Base Salary; provided, however, that the actual amount of your bonus will be dependent upon the achievement of the Company’s annual financial and other goals consistent with those established for other members of executive management, as well as the accomplishment of individual objectives, established annually by the Board of Directors (the actual bonus awarded to you in any given year, which may be greater or less than your target bonus is referred to herein as your “Annual Bonus” for that year). Except as provided in sections 6(a), (b), and (d), below to receive a bonus you must be employed through the end of the year for which the bonus is payable (the “Bonus Year”). The bonus for a Bonus Year will be payable to you during the following year (the “Bonus Payment Year”) immediately upon the closing of the Company’s books for the Bonus Year, but not later than March 14 of the Bonus Payment Year (the date of payment being the “Bonus Payment Date”). | |||
| (c) | Benefits |
| (i) | You will be entitled to receive from the Company prompt reimbursement for all reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses incurred by you in the performance of your duties hereunder, in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices and procedures of the Company relating to reimbursement of business expenses incurred by Company directors, officers or employees in effect at any time during the 12 month period preceding the date you incur the expenses; provided, however, that any such expense reimbursement will be made no later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which you incur the expense, will not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year, and cannot be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit. | ||
| (ii) | Participation in the Company’s group life and health insurance benefit programs generally applicable to executives and in accordance with their terms, as they may change from time to time. |
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| (iii) | Participation in the Company’s retirement plan, generally applicable to salaried employees as it may change from time to time and in accordance with its terms. Your eligibility to participate will be consistent with the requirements of ERISA. | ||
| (iv) | Participation in the Company’s long-term incentive plan(s) in effect from time to time. For 2010, your annual long-term incentive opportunity will have a targeted economic value equal to, at a minimum, $150,000. Thereafter, the annual economic value shall be determined by the Compensation Committee. The components of any award and the methodology for determining the economic value shall be as provided in the plan(s) or otherwise as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except to the extent inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the plan(s), any award agreements shall be consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. In particular, with respect to the award of annual equity grants any such grants will (a) vest over a period that is no longer than one-third per year for three years, (b) option grants will have a minimum 10-year term and (c) upon your death, Disability, Constructive Termination, Retirement, or upon a Change of Control, vesting will accelerate. Subject to the foregoing, the specific terms of your annual long-term incentive opportunity will be mutually agreed upon and set forth in separate grant agreements. | ||
| (v) | Four (4) weeks of annual vacation to be used each year in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, as it may change from time to time. | ||
| (vi) | You will receive a monthly auto allowance of $1,000, subject to the usual withholding taxes. | ||
| (vii) | Your Benefits under this Agreement, including grants to you under the Company’s long-term incentive plan(s), will be subject to periodic review and increase by the Compensation Committee. |
| (d) | Recapitalization | ||
| Any equity award agreement will provide that in the event of any change in the capitalization of the Company such as a stock spilt or a corporate transaction such as a merger, consolidation, separation or otherwise, the number and class of RSU’s or options, as the case may be, shall be equitably adjusted by the Company’s Compensation and Human Resources Committee, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights. |
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| 3. | It is agreed and understood that your employment with the Company is to be at will, and either you or the Company may terminate the employment relationship at any time for any reason, with or without cause, and with or without notice to the other; nothing herein or elsewhere constitutes or shall be construed as a commitment to employ you for any period of time. |
| 4. | You agree that all inventions, improvements, trade secrets, reports, manuals, computer programs, systems, tapes and other ideas and materials developed or invented by you during the period of your employment with the Company, either solely or in collaboration with others, which relate to the actual or anticipated business or research of the Company, which result from or are suggested by any work you may do for the Company, or which result from use of the Company’s premises or the Company’s or its customers’ property (collectively, the “Developments”) shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. You hereby assign to the Company your entire right and interest in any such Developments, and will hereafter execute any documents in connection therewith that the Company may reasonably request. |
| 5. | As an inducement to the Company to make this offer to you, you represent and warrant that you are not a party to any agreement or obligation for personal services, and there exists no impediment or restraint, contractual or otherwise on your power, right or ability to accept this offer and to perform the duties and obligations specified herein. |
| 6. | In the event of a termination or cessation of your employment with the Company for any reason, the sole rights and obligations of the Company in connection with your termination shall be those provided under the relevant provision below. |
| (a) | In the event of your death or Retirement during the Term, the Company will pay to you, your beneficiaries or your estate, as the case may be, as soon as practicable after your death or Retirement (with the exception of subsection (iii) below which will be paid in the Bonus Payment Year), (i) the unpaid Base Salary through the date of your death or Retirement, plus payment of any bonus amount payable to you (as determined by the Compensation Committee) in respect of any bonus period ended prior to your termination of employment (collectively, the “Compensation Payments”), (ii) for any accrued but unused vacation days, to the extent and in the amounts, if any, provided under the Company’s usual policies and arrangements (the “Vacation Payment”), and (iii) the Annual Bonus, in respect of the fiscal year in which your termination occurs (which shall be in an amount that is consistent with other Company executives of your level), multiplied by (x) the number of days prior to your termination during such fiscal year, divided by (y) 365 (the “Prorated Bonus”). | ||
| (b) | In the event you suffer a Disability the Company may terminate your employment on written notice thereof, and the Company will pay you (i) amounts payable pursuant to the terms of any applicable disability insurance policy or similar arrangement (if any) that the Company maintains, (ii) the Compensation Payments, (iii) the Vacation Payment and (iv) the Prorated Bonus. |
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| (c) | In the event your employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or by you other than as a result of Constructive Termination, Disability, Retirement, or death, the Company will pay to you (i) unpaid Base Salary through the date of your termination, plus (ii) the Vacation Payment, and you will be entitled to no other compensation, except as otherwise due to you under applicable law or the terms of any applicable plan or program. You will not be entitled, among other things, to the payment of any unpaid bonus payments in respect of any period prior to your termination of employment. | ||
| (d) | In the event you are subjected to Involuntary Termination other than for Cause, Disability or death, or you terminate your employment as a result of Constructive Termination, the Company will (i) pay to you the Compensation Payments, the Vacation Payment, and the Prorated Bonus, (ii) continue to pay your Base Salary then in effect and Annual Bonus (which shall be in an amount that is consistent with other Company executives of your level), for a period of 12 months after your termination, paid in the same periodic installments as such Base Salary, and during the same Bonus Payment Year (as the case may be) as you would have been paid had you remained on the Company’s ordinary payroll during such period; and (iii) continued participation in benefits, to the extent the plans allow, until the earlier of the 12-month anniversary of the termination date or until you are eligible to receive comparable benefits from subsequent employment or government assistance. For purposes of clarification, the period of the foregoing severance for salary, bonus and benefits shall be 12 months regardless of how much time remains in the then current Term of this Agreement. In other words, there shall be no adjustment, up or down, to the amount of severance regardless of the amount of time remaining in the then current Term at the time of termination. Moreover, you will remain entitled to the foregoing severance notwithstanding the Company’s failure to extend any Term beyond its expiration date. Regarding your Annual Bonus, by way of example should you be terminated on June 30 of 2010, you will be paid the Prorated Bonus for the year in which you were terminated (which is equal to the Annual Bonus for such year prorated for the period from the Effective Date through June 30), plus the balance of the Bonus for 2010 (i.e., the Annual Bonus for the first six months of your 12 month severance period), plus six months of the Annual Bonus for 2011 (the Annual Bonus for the remaining 6 months of the 12 month severance period). Payment of the foregoing severance is subject to your execution, delivery and non-revocation of the release attached hereto as Appendix 2 within thirty (30) days following the termination of your employment, and your resignation, effective as of the date of your termination of employment, as an officer and/or director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. The COBRA election period will not commence until the expiration of that 12-month period. The amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or the in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other calendar year. Your right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. Payment will be provided only if the filing of the claim for payment and completion of the reimbursement payment can reasonably be completed by the end of the calendar year |
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| following the year in which the expense is incurred. In order to be entitled to the foregoing in the event of Constructive Termination, you must provide written notice, including details describing the basis of your claim, to the Company within 60 days of the occurrence of the event(s) giving rise to a claim of Constructive Termination and the Company will have 30 days to remedy any non-compliance. In the event the Company fails or is unable to remedy any non-compliance, the effective date of your termination of employment shall be 90 days from the date the Company received notice, unless otherwise agreed by you and the Company. Should you fail to provide the foregoing notice, you will thereafter be barred from receiving benefits based upon the events giving rise to the claim. | |||
| (e) | Treatment of Grants of Equity — Any grants of equity that you may receive subsequent to the date of this Agreement, and the disposition of such awards in the event of the occurrence of any of the circumstances set forth in subsections (a) — (d) above, shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the plan(s) or program(s) under which the awards are granted; provided, however, that to the extent not inconsistent with such plan(s) or program(s), any such awards will provide that, in the event of termination pursuant to (i) subsections (a) or (b) above, or as a result of Constructive Termination, all outstanding equity awards will immediately vest, or (ii) subsection (c) or (d) above, other than as a result of Constructive Termination, all unvested awards will be forfeited, subject to the discretion of the Compensation Committee to vest some or all of such awards. In the event of a Change of Control, you will not have the right to terminate your employment, other than as otherwise permitted in this Agreement; however, upon such Change of Control, all unvested equity will immediately vest and all restrictions on any stock awarded shall lapse. |
| (f) | To be entitled to severance benefits under this section you must terminate employment from the Company. For this purpose, your termination of employment must be considered a “separation from service” within the meaning of Code §409A(a)(2)(A)(i) and any guidance or regulations issued thereunder. |
| 7. | Non-Compete. It is understood and agreed that you will have substantial relationships with specific businesses and personnel, prospective and existing, vendors, contractors, customers, and employees of the Company that result in the creation of customer goodwill. Therefore, following the termination of employment under this Agreement for any reason and continuing for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of such termination, so long as the Company or any affiliate, successor or assigns thereof is in the real estate investment trust/mortgage servicing business/insurance agency or like business within the Restricted Area, unless the Board of Directors approves an exception. You shall not, directly or indirectly, for yourself or on behalf of, or in conjunction with, any other person, persons, company, partnership, corporation, business entity or otherwise: |
| a. | Call upon, solicit, write, direct, divert, influence, or accept business (either directly or indirectly) with respect to any account or customer or prospective customer of the |
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| Company or any corporation controlling, controlled by, under common control with, or otherwise related to the Company, including but not limited to Xxxxxx Investment Management Corporation, Hanover Capital Mortgage Holdings, Inc., Xxxxxx Mortgage Company, or any other affiliated companies; or | |||
| b. | Hire away any independent contractors or personnel of the Company and/or entice any such persons to leave the employ of the Company or its affiliated entities without the prior written consent of the Company |
| 8. | Non-Disparagement. Following the termination of employment under this Agreement for any reason and continuing for so long as the Company or any affiliate, successor or assigns thereof carries on the name or like business within the Restricted Area, you shall not, directly or indirectly, for yourself or on behalf of, or in conjunction with, any other person, persons, company, partnership, corporation, business entity or otherwise: |
| a. | Make any statements or announcements or permit anyone to make any public statements or announcements concerning your termination with the Company, or | ||
| b. | Make any statements that are inflammatory, detrimental, slanderous, or negative in any way to the interests of the Company or its affiliated entities. |
| 9. | You acknowledge and agree that you will respect and safeguard the Company’s property, trade secrets and confidential information. You acknowledge that the Company’s electronic communication systems (such as email and voicemail) are maintained to assist in the conduct of the Company’s business and that such systems and data exchanged or stored thereon are Company property. In the event that you leave the employ of the Company, you will not disclose any Company trade secrets or confidential information you acquired while an employee of the Company to any other person or entity, including without limitation, a subsequent employer, or use such information in any manner. |
| 10. | If any of the Company’s financial statements are required to be restated due to errors, omissions, fraud, or misconduct, the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion but acting in good faith, direct that the Company recover all or a portion of any past or future compensation from any Participant with respect to any fiscal year of the Company for which the financial results are negatively affected by such restatement. For purposes of this paragraph, errors, omissions, fraud, or misconduct may include and is not limited to circumstances where the Company has been required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement, as enforced by the SEC, and the Board of Directors has determined in its sole discretion that a participant had knowledge of the material noncompliance or the circumstances that gave rise to such noncompliance and failed to take reasonable steps to bring it to the attention of the appropriate individuals within the company, or the participant personally and knowingly engaged in practices which materially contributed to the circumstances that enabled a material noncompliance to occur. |
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| 11. | Tax Compliance Delay in Payment. If the Company reasonably determines that any payment or benefit due under this Agreement, or any other amount that may become due to you after termination of employment, is subject to Section 409A of the Code, and also determines that you are a “specified employee,” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, upon your termination of employment for any reason other than death (whether by resignation or otherwise), no amount may be paid to you or on your behalf earlier than six months after the date of your termination of employment (or, if earlier, your death) if such payment would violate the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder, and payment shall be made, or commence to be made, as the case may be, on the date that is six months and one day after your termination of employment (or, if earlier, one day after your death). For this purpose, you will be considered a “specified employee” if you are employed by an employer that has its stock publicly traded on an established securities market or certain related entities have their stock traded on an established securities market and you are a “key employee”, with the exact meaning of “specified employee”, “key employee” and “publicly traded” defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code and the regulations thereunder. Notwithstanding the above, the Company hereby retains discretion to make determinations regarding the identification of “specified employees” and to take any necessary corporate action in connection with such determination. |
| 12. | You acknowledge and agree that you have read this letter agreement carefully, have been advised by the Company to consult with an attorney regarding its contents, and that you fully understand the same. |
| 13. | It is agreed and understood that this acceptance letter shall constitute our entire agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements, discussions, understandings and proposals (written or oral) relating to your employment with the Company. This Agreement will be interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida without regard to conflicts of laws. Any dispute over the terms and conditions or application of this Agreement shall be resolved through binding arbitration pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). The arbitration will be heard by one arbitrator to be chosen as provided by the rules of the AAA and shall be held in Tampa, Florida. If you prevail in the dispute, the Company will pay your reasonable fees and costs in connection with the matter (including attorneys fees). Whether you have prevailed or not shall be determined by the arbitrator, or if the arbitrator declines to determine whether or not you have prevailed, you will be deemed to have prevailed if, in the case of monetary damages you receive in excess of 50% of what you demanded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of the provisions of sections 7-9, the party that is in breach or in threatened breach acknowledges and agrees that the other party will suffer irreparable harm that is not subject to being cured with monetary damages and that the Company shall be entitled to injunctive relief in a state court of the State of Florida. |
| 14. | You and the Company intend that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with Code Section 409A and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively “Code Section 409A”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is determined by you or the Company to not comply with Code Section 409A, the |
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| Company shall fully cooperate with you to reform the Agreement to correct such noncompliance to the extent permitted under any guidance, procedure, or other method promulgated by the Internal Revenue Service now or in the future that provides for such correction as a means to avoid or mitigate any taxes, interest, or penalties that would otherwise be incurred by you on account of such non-compliance. |
If the terms contained within this letter are acceptable, please sign one of the enclosed copies
and return it to me.
Very truly yours,
Xxxxxx Investment Management Corp.
| By: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
| President and COO | ||||
ACCEPTANCE
I have read the foregoing, have been advised to consult with counsel of my choice concerning the
same, and I fully understand the same. I approve and accept the terms set forth above as governing
my employment relationship with the Company.
Signature ____________________________ Date _____________
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APPENDIX 1
DEFINITIONS
DEFINITIONS
“Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
“Annual Bonus” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) to this Agreement.
“Base Salary” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) of this Agreement.
“Bonus Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) to this Agreement.
“Bonus Payment Year” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) to this Agreement.
“Bonus Year” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) to this Agreement.
“Cause” shall mean (A) conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony arising
from any act of fraud, embezzlement or willful dishonesty in relation to the business or affairs of
the Company, or (B) conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any other felony which
is materially injurious to the Company or its reputation or which compromises your ability to
perform your job function, and/or act as a representative of the Company, or (C) a willful failure
to attempt to substantially perform your duties (other than any such failure resulting from your
Disability), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to you that
specifically identifies the manner in which the Company believes that you have not attempted to
substantially perform such duties, and you have failed to remedy the situation, to the extent
possible, within fifteen (15) business days of such written notice from the Company or such longer
time as may be reasonably required to remedy the situation, but no longer than forty-five (45)
calendar days. For purposes of this definition, no act or failure to act on your part shall be
considered to be Cause if done, or omitted to be done, by you in good faith and with the reasonable
belief that the action or omission was in the best interests of, or were not, in fact, materially
detrimental to, the Company or a Company subsidiary. The decision to terminate your employment for
Cause, to take other action or to take no action in response to such occurrence shall be in the
sole and exclusive discretion of the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors terminates your
employment for Cause, the Company shall deliver written notice of such termination to you, which
notice shall include the factual basis for your termination, and such termination shall be
effective immediately upon service of such written notice.
“Change of Control” shall mean a change of ownership of the Company, a change in the effective
control of the Company, or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the
Company within the meaning of Treas. Reg. 1.409A-3(i)(5).
“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
“Compensation Committee” shall mean the Compensation and Human Resources Committee of Xxxxxx
Investment Management Corp.
“Compensation Payment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a) to this Agreement.
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“Constructive Termination” shall mean, without your written consent: (a) a material failure of the
Company to comply with the provisions of this agreement, (b) a material diminution of your position
(including status, offices, title and reporting relationships), duties or responsibilities or pay,
(c) any purported termination of your employment other than for Cause, or (d) the forced relocation
of your primary job location more than 50 miles from the Company’s Tampa, Florida location;
provided however, that any isolated, insubstantial or inadvertent change, condition, failure or
breach described under subsections (a) — (d) above which is not taken in bad faith and is remedied
by the Company promptly after the Company’s actual receipt of notice from you as provided in
section 6(d) shall not constitute Constructive Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, a
material diminution in pay or responsibility shall not be deemed to have occurred if: (i)
the amount of your bonus fluctuates due to performance considerations under the Company’s executive
incentive plan or other Company incentive plan applicable to you and in effect from time to time,
(ii) you are transferred to a position of comparable responsibility, status, title, office and
compensation within the Company, or (iii) you experience a reduction in salary that is relatively
comparable to reductions imposed upon all senior executives in the Company. To be entitled to
severance benefits on the basis of Constructive Termination the event causing Constructive
Termination must not be implemented for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions of the Code
Section 409A restrictions.
“Developments” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4 to this Agreement.
“Disability” shall mean (a) your inability or failure to perform your duties hereunder for a period
of ninety (90) consecutive days or a total of one hundred twenty (120) days during any twelve (12)
month period due to any physical or mental illness or impairment, or (b) a determination by a
medical doctor chosen by the Company to the effect that you are substantially unable to perform
your duties hereunder due to any physical or mental illness or impairment.
“HCM” shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
“Involuntary Termination” shall mean your termination from employment due to the independent
exercise of unilateral authority by Company to terminate your services, other than due to your
implicit or explicit request, where you are willing and able to continue performing services. The
determination of whether a termination of employment is involuntary is based on all the facts and
circumstances. Any reference in this Agreement to “termination of employment” shall mean
“separation from service” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. 1.409A-1(h).
“JWHHC” shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
“Prorated Bonus” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a) to this Agreement.
“Restricted Area” shall mean the real estate investment trust/mortgage industries in which the
Company competes at the time of your separation.
“Retirement” shall mean, your voluntary termination of employment after such time as either, you
have reached the age of 60, or the sum of your age and years of service with the Company exceeds
70; provided that, in either case, you provide the Company with at least 6 months written notice of
your intention to retire, or such lesser time as the Company may agree. For purposes of this
definition,
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your years of service shall include years served with any predecessor or successor companies to the
Company.
“Term” shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
“Vacation Payment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a) to this Agreement.
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APPENDIX 2
SEPARATION AGREEMENT
AND GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS
SEPARATION AGREEMENT
AND GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS
This Separation Agreement and General Release of Claims (“Release”) is entered into by and
between Xxxxxx Investment Management Corp., and its subsidiaries, predecessors, successors,
assigns, affiliates, insurers and related entities, (hereinafter collectively referred to as
“Employer”) and ___________________ (hereinafter “Employee”). In consideration for the mutual
promises set forth below, Employer and Employee agree as follows:
1. Employer and Employee are parties to a contract of employment (“Employment Contract”) to
which this Release has been attached and incorporated by reference. Employee’s employment with
Employer has been terminated and, pursuant to the terms of the Employment Contract, Employee must
execute this Release in order to receive the severance set forth in the Employment Contract.
2. In consideration for the promises and covenants set forth in the Employment Contract and
this Release, including, specifically but without limitation, the general release set forth in
paragraph 3 below, Employee will be paid [insert the severance set forth in the appropriate
subsection of section 6 of the Employment Contract]. Payments to Employee will be made at such
times as are set forth in the Employment Contract.
3. Employee agrees, on behalf of himself, and his heirs, successors in interest and assigns
that, except as specifically provided herein, Employee will not file, or cause to be filed, any
charges, lawsuits, or other actions of any kind in any forum against Employer and/or its officers,
directors, employees, agents, successors and assigns and does hereby further release and discharge
Employer and its officers, directors, employees, agents, successors and assigns from any and all
claims, causes of action, rights, demands, and obligations of whatever nature kind or character
which you may have, known or unknown, against them (including those seeking equitable relief)
alleging, without limitation, breach of contract or any tort, legal actions under title VII of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1966, as amended, the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
of 1967, as amended, (the “ADEA”) (except to the extent claims under the ADEA arise after the date
on which this Release is signed by Employee), the Americans with Disability Act, the Civil Rights
Act of 1991, or any State, Federal, or local law concerning age, race, religion, national origin,
handicap, or any other form of discrimination, or any other State, Federal, or common law or
regulation relating in any way to, Employee’s employment with the Company or Employee’s separation
from the Company, including any and all future claims, except claims arising in connection with
rights and obligations under this Release or as specifically provided in paragraph 4 or 6 below.
Employee further agrees to waive and release any claim for damages occurring at any time after the
date of this Release because of any alleged continuing effect of any alleged acts or omissions
involving Employee and/or Employer which occurred on or before the date of this Release.
4. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Release to the contrary, the general release set
forth in paragraph 3 shall not apply to any claims under any equity, option or other Employer
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incentive plan or award, which shall be governed by the terms and conditions of such plan(s)
or award; nor shall it affect any rights or obligations that Employee or Employer may have pursuant
to the Indemnification Agreement entered into between Employee and Employer as of April 17, 2009.
5. This Release shall not in any way be construed as an admission by Employer or Employee that
they have acted wrongfully with respect to each other or that one party has any rights whatsoever
against the other or the other released parties.
6. Employee and Employer specifically acknowledge the following:
| a. | Employee does not release or waive any right or claim which Employee may have which arises after the date of this Release. | ||
| b. | In exchange for this general release, Employee acknowledges that Employee has received separate consideration beyond that which Employee is otherwise entitled to under Employer’s policy or applicable law. | ||
| c. | Employee is releasing, among other rights, all claims and rights under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) and the Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act (“OWBPA”), 29 U.S.C. §621, et seq. | ||
| d. | Employee has twenty-one (21) days to consider this Release. | ||
| e. | Employee has seven (7) days to revoke this Release after acceptance. However, no consideration will be paid until after the revocation of the acceptance period has expired. Additionally, for the revocation to be effective, Employee must give written notice of Employee’s revocation to Employer’s General Counsel. |
7. Should Employee breach any provision of this Release, the Employer’s obligation to continue
to pay the consideration set forth herein shall cease and Employer shall have no further obligation
to Employee. All other terms and conditions of this Release, including, but not limited to, the
general release in paragraph 3 shall remain in full force and effect. Should Employer breach any
provision of this Release, the Employee’s obligations hereunder shall cease and Employee shall have
no further obligations pursuant to this Release.
8. Employer and Employee agree that in the event it becomes necessary to enforce any provision
of this Release, the prevailing party in such action shall be entitled to recover all their costs
and attorneys’ fees, including those associated with appeals.
9. This Release shall be binding upon Employer, Employee and upon Employee’s heirs,
administrators, representatives, executors, successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit
of Employer and the other released parties and their successors and assigns.
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10. Employee and Employer acknowledge that this Release and the Employment Contract shall be
considered as one document and that, except as set forth herein and therein, including without
limitation the provisions of paragraphs 4 and 6 of this Release, any and all prior understandings
and agreements between the parties to this Release with respect to the subject matter of this
Release and/or the Employment Contract are merged into the Employment Contract and this Release,
which fully and completely expresses the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and thereof.
11. Should any provision of this Release be declared or be determined by any Court to be
illegal or invalid, the validity of the remaining parts, terms or provisions shall not be affected
thereby and said illegal or invalid part, term or provision shall be deemed not to be a part of
this Release.
12. This Release may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.
| [EMPLOYEE NAME] | XXXXXX INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CORP. | ||||
| By: | |||||
| Date: | Name Printed: | ||||
| Title: | |||||
| Date: | |||||
-Page 15-
