AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.5
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between MicroStrategy Services Corporation (“MicroStrategy”) and Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx (“Employee”).
WHEREAS, Employee and MicroStrategy have agreed that Employee’s employment with MicroStrategy and/or with any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or related companies (together, the “Company”) will terminate on October 3, 2018 (the “Termination Date”), unless Employee in his discretion chooses to resign his employment prior to that date, and if he does, the Termination Date becomes the date that he provides to the Company pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii) of this Agreement;
WHEREAS, Employee and the Company desire to enter into the following Agreement to resolve all issues between them including, but not limited to, those relating to Employee’s employment with the Company, and the termination thereof; and;
WHEREAS, Employee wishes to receive, and the Company has offered to provide, valuable consideration in exchange for execution by Employee of this Agreement;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the payments and benefits listed below, and provided by the Company, Employee agrees to all of the following:
1. |
Complete Release by Employee. |
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(a) |
Release. In exchange for the consideration stated below and provided to Employee by the Company, Employee irrevocably and unconditionally releases the Released Parties listed in Subsection 1(b) from any and all claims, promises, offers, debts, causes of action or similar rights of any type or nature that Employee may have as of the date of the execution of this Agreement, including but not limited to those described in Subsection 1(c) and except as provided in Subsection 1(d). |
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(b) |
Released Parties. The “Released Parties” are the Company, all of its current and former parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, related companies, partnerships, or joint ventures (including but not limited to MicroStrategy Services Corporation, Xxxxx Incorporated, and/or MicroStrategy Incorporated) and, with respect to each such entity, its predecessors and successors and all of its past, present, and future parents, agents, directors, officers, managers, supervisors, employees, stockholders, owners, representatives, assigns, attorneys, agents, insurers, employee benefit programs (and the trustees, administrators, fiduciaries, and insurers of such programs), and any other persons acting by, through, under, or in concert with any of the persons or entities listed in this subsection, and their successors. |
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(i) |
Anti-Discrimination Statutes, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, § 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and Executive Order 11246; the Equal Pay Act; the Americans With Disabilities Act and § 503 and § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008; and any other federal, state or local law or regulation prohibiting retaliation or discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any other protected characteristic. |
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If Employee is age forty (40) or older on the date Employee signs this Agreement, Employee also acknowledges and agrees that |
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Employee is waiving and releasing any and all claims or rights Employee may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (“ADEA”), that this waiver and release is knowing and voluntary, and that the consideration given for this waiver and release is in addition to anything of value to which Employee was already entitled as an employee of the Company. Employee further acknowledges that Employee is advised that: (a) Employee should consult with an attorney (at Employee’s own expense) prior to executing this Agreement (Employee understands that whether Employee consults an attorney or not is Employee’s decision); (b) this Agreement does not waive or release any rights or claims Employee may have under the ADEA which may arise after Employee executes this Agreement; and (c)(i) Employee has at least twenty-one (21) days in which to consider this Agreement (although Employee may choose to execute this Agreement earlier but not before the conclusion of Employee’s last day of employment); (ii) Employee has seven (7) days following execution of this Agreement to revoke this Agreement (to be effective, any revocation must be actually received in writing by the Company by 12:00 a.m. PST on the eighth day); and (iii) this Agreement shall not be effective until the revocation period has expired. Employee waives any right to have the consideration period restarted or extended by any subsequent changes to this Agreement. |
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expressly waives all rights afforded by any statute which limits the effect of a release with respect to unknown and unsuspected claims. |
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2. |
Payments and Benefits. In exchange for the release and other promises made by Employee herein, the Company will provide the following benefits to Employee. Employee acknowledges and agrees that he is not otherwise entitled to these or any other benefits, whether in the form of wages, commissions, bonuses, or any other benefit from the Company. All payments are subject to applicable taxes and other withholdings. |
If Employee executes and returns this Agreement in accordance with the instructions on page 10 of this Agreement:
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(a) |
The Company will pay to Employee the lump sum of One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000). Payment will be made within forty-five (45) days after Employee executes and returns this Agreement and the revocation period (if applicable) has expired, but in no event after March 15th of the calendar year after the year in which Employee terminates employment. |
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(b) |
The Company will continue to employ Employee through the Termination Date, on the terms described in this Section. |
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(i) |
Employee will be on paid leave and will receive his present base salary on the Company’s scheduled pay dates. During this time, unless otherwise instructed in writing by Xxxxx Xxxxxx (Senior Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales) and Xxxxx Le (Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer), Employee will not perform any work or other services for the Company, return to Company premises, or participate in any Company functions (whether held on or off Company premises). If Employee receives any requests for, or instructions to provide, any MicroStrategy-related services, support, or assistance during that time from anyone other than Xxxxx Xxxxxx or Xxxxx Le, he agrees to promptly inform Xxxxxxx Xxxxx (Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer) in writing. The Company confirms that it will treat such paid leave as continuing service for purposes of Employee’s stock options granted on February 2, 2015, March 8, 2017 and February 8, 2018 and the option agreements evidencing such options. These stock options can be exercised to the extent any portions thereof are vested as of the Termination Date in accordance with the terms of such option agreements. Employee agrees that any portions of those stock options that would not vest according to the terms of such option agreements by the Termination Date shall be cancelled as of the date Employee executes this Agreement. |
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(iii) |
Should Employee secure new employment prior to October 3, 2018, and thereby advance the Termination Date, he agrees to promptly notify Xxxxxxx Xxxxx and Xxxxx Le in writing of the new Termination Date. In that case, the Company will pay out to Employee a lump sum amount equal to the value of the base salary that Employee has not received, but would have received had Employee remained on paid leave until October 3, 2018 (the “Early Resignation Payment), to the extent not already paid. The amount of the Early Resignation Payment will be calculated using the base salary that Employee presently earns, and will be paid within forty-five (45) days after the new Termination Date and but in no event after March 15th of the calendar year after the year in which Employee terminates employment. |
3. |
Post-Termination Obligations. Employee agrees to remain bound by any Company agreement relating to confidential information, invention, nonsolicitation, arbitration, or similar matters to which Employee is now subject. The provisions of the MicroStrategy Agreement, or any similar agreements Employee may have executed at the Company, herein referred to as the “MicroStrategy Agreement”, including but not limited to the MicroStrategy Agreement signed by Employee on November 16, 2014, are incorporated as if set forth fully herein. |
5. |
No Disparagement. |
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(a) |
Employee agrees to refrain from making untruthful or disparaging statements in any private or public forum, including but not limited to newspapers, television, radio, or the internet, about any Released Party, Employee’s employment with the Company, or any general matter concerning any Released Party’s reputation, standing in the business community, business practices, or products; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement will prohibit Employee from (a) complying with any valid subpoena or court order; or (b) communicating with any federal, state or local government office. |
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6. |
Agreement to Cooperate with the Company. Employee agrees to assist the Company in any formal or informal legal matters in which Employee is named as a party or has knowledge relevant to the matter. Employee acknowledges and agrees that such assistance may include, but will not be limited to, providing background information regarding any matter on which Employee previously worked, aiding in the drafting of declarations, executing declarations or similar documents, testifying or otherwise appearing at investigation interviews, depositions, arbitrations or court hearings and preparing for the above-described or similar activities. The Company will use reasonable efforts to ensure that any assistance requested will be arranged so that it does not unreasonably interfere with Employee’s other employment or family commitments. Employee understands that Employee will receive no additional pay for Employee’s assistance beyond that provided in this Agreement, with the exception of reasonable travel expenses pre-approved by the Company, and that Employee in rendering such services will not be acting as an employee of the Company. |
7. |
Agreement to Notify Company Prior to Providing Company Information. In the event Employee receives notice that Employee is required to provide testimony or information in any context about the Company and/or any Released Party (related to his/her work for the Company) to any third party (excluding government entities), Employee agrees to inform the General Counsel of MicroStrategy in writing within 24 hours of receiving such notice. Employee, thereafter, agrees to cooperate with the Company in responding (if necessary) to such legal process. Employee also agrees not to testify or provide any information in any context if the Company has informed Employee of its intent to contest the validity or enforceability of any request, subpoena or court order until such time as the Company has informed Employee in writing that it consents to Employee’s testimony or has fully exhausted its efforts to challenge any request, subpoena or court order requiring Employee’s testimony. If Employee is required to provide testimony in any context about the Company (with the Company’s consent or after the Company completes its challenges), Employee shall testify truthfully at all times. Nothing in this Agreement will prohibit Employee from (a) complying with any valid subpoena or court order, or (b) cooperating with any official government investigation. |
8. |
Standard Reference. Consistent with its policies, the Company will only confirm Employee’s dates of employment with the Company and Employee’s job title(s) in any references it may provide. |
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entities, of any liability to Employee or wrongdoing whatsoever and that this Agreement is not admissible as evidence in any proceeding other than for enforcement of its provisions. |
10. |
Tax Consequences. Employee understands that Employee is obligated to pay any taxes, interest or penalties which may be due should a final tax determination be rendered that any portion of the benefits and/or payments herein is taxable to Employee (or accorded different tax treatment) under any applicable provision of federal, state or local law. Employee agrees that the Company is to withhold all taxes it determines it is legally required to withhold. Employee further agrees not to make any claim against the Company or any other person based on how the Company reports amounts paid under this Agreement to tax authorities or if an adverse determination is made as to the tax treatment of any amounts payable under this Agreement. |
11. |
No Other Inducements. Employee acknowledges that no promise or agreement not expressed in this Agreement has been made to Employee. |
12. |
Confidentiality of Agreement. Employee agrees to keep the fact and terms of this Agreement and all benefits and payments confidential, and Employee will not publicize them or communicate them in any newspaper, electronic media or other public or private forum, or in any manner whatsoever, except the terms may be disclosed to Employee’s lawyers, accountants and immediate family or as required by law or by subpoena. Employee will, however, caution his/her lawyers, accountants and immediate family against any public or private disclosure of the above information and such a person’s violation of this confidentiality requirement will be treated as a violation of this Agreement by Employee. |
14. |
Binding Nature of Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding on Employee’s heirs, legal representatives, administrators, executors, and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of the Released Parties and their heirs, legal representatives, administrators, executors, and assigns. |
15. |
No Assignment. Employee’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement may not be assigned, delegated or transferred. |
16. |
Interpretation. This Agreement will be construed as a whole according to its fair meaning, and not strictly for or against any of the parties. Unless the context indicates otherwise, the |
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term “or” will be deemed to include the term “and” and the singular or plural number will be deemed to include the other. Section headings used in this Agreement are intended solely for convenience of reference and will not be used in the interpretation of any of this Agreement. |
17. |
Dispute Resolution. Any dispute arising between the parties, including but not limited to those concerning the formation, validity, interpretation, effect, or alleged violations of this Agreement, any federal, state or local statutory claim (including discrimination or retaliation statutes), contract claims, tort claims, and claims of any other sort (excluding claims that cannot be arbitrated as a matter of law), must be submitted to arbitration pursuant to the terms of the Agreement to Arbitrate signed by Employee. |
Initialed: Company ___ Employee ____ (to be initialed only if Employee resides or works in the State of Georgia) |
18. |
Law Governing. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia; provided, however, that the dispute resolution process in the Agreement to Arbitrate and referenced in Section 17 shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act unless it is found by a decisionmaker of competent jurisdiction not to be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, in which case it will be governed by Virginia law. |
19. |
Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the MicroStrategy Agreement, and the Agreement to Arbitrate comprise the entire agreement between the parties regarding the matters contained herein and has been entered into by Employee with a full understanding of its terms, with an opportunity to consult with counsel and without inducement or duress. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be considered an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may not be changed orally, and any written change or amendment must be signed and accepted on behalf of MicroStrategy Services Corporation by Xxxxx Le, or his successor or designee. This Agreement, the MicroStrategy Agreement, and the Agreement to Arbitrate which constitute this entire agreement, supersede any prior or contemporaneous agreement, arrangement or understanding on their subject matter. |
20. |
Severability. The provisions of this Agreement are severable. If any provision in this Agreement is found to be unenforceable, all other provisions will remain fully enforceable. |
21.State-Specific Requirements.
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(a) |
Georgia. If Employee resides or works in the State of Georgia, Employee must initial in the space provided at the end of Section 17 (titled “Dispute Resolution”) of this Agreement, and thereby agrees to be bound by the provisions of Section 17. |
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and sent via certified mail return receipt requested to the Company) and this Agreement shall not be effective until the revocation period has expired. If Employee resides or works in the State of Minnesota, this Subsection applies regardless of age and notwithstanding any other lesser revocation period provided elsewhere in this Agreement. |
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(c) |
West Virginia. If Employee resides or works in the State of West Virginia, Employee is advised to consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement and may contact the West Virginia Bar Association at 1-866-989-8227 to find an attorney. Furthermore, if Employee resides or works in the State of West Virginia and Employee is under the age of forty (40) on the date Employee signs this Agreement then: (a) Employee has twenty-one (21) days to sign this Agreement (as set forth on the signature page); and (2) Employee has seven (7) days in which to revoke this Agreement (to be effective, any revocation must be actually received by Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx by 12:00 a.m. PST on the eighth day by email (xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx) or facsimile at (000) 000-0000)), and it does not take effect until that seven-day period has ended. |
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Instructions If You are Age Forty (40) Or older AS OF THE DATE YOU SIGN THIS AGREEMENT
• You may not make any changes to this Agreement.
• You must (1) sign and date this Agreement where indicated below, and (2) return the original fully executed Agreement so that it is received by Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx at MicroStrategy Incorporated, 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 within five (5) business days of the date on which you signed it. If you reside or work in the State of Georgia, you also must initial in the space provided at the end of Section 17 (titled “Dispute Resolution”) of this Agreement. You may submit the form by facsimile at (000) 000-0000 to meet the deadline, but if you do so, you must also provide the original executed agreement by mail thereafter.
• You have up to twenty-one (21) days after receiving this Agreement to consider and sign it, although you may waive this time period by signing it sooner.
• You have another seven (7) days after signing this Agreement in which to revoke this Agreement. Any revocation must be actually received in writing by Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx by 12:00 a.m. PST on the eighth day by email xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx or facsimile at (000) 000-0000). This Agreement does not take effect until that seven-day period has ended, unless you reside or work in the State of Minnesota, in which case, the fifteen (15) day revocation period set forth in Subsection 21(b) shall apply. |
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Please read this Agreement carefully. It contains a release of all known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected claims.
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
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April 19, 2018 |
Employee’s Signature |
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Date |
for Microstrategy services corporation
/s/ Xxxxx Le |
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April 23, 2018 |
Xxxxx Le |
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Date |
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