SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS
SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND
RELEASE OF CLAIMS
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into
by and between NexCen Brands,
Inc. (the “Company”) and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx (the
“Executive”).
All
capitalized terms used herein unless otherwise defined in this Agreement shall
have the meaning assigned to them in the Employment Agreement (as defined
below).
WHEREAS,
the Company and Executive entered into an employment agreement made as of March
19, 2008 and an Amendment No. 1. to that employment agreement made as of August
15, 2008 (collectively, with any exhibits attached thereto, the “Employment
Agreement”);
WHEREAS,
on July 30, 2010 the Company completed the sale of substantially all of its
assets under the Acquisition Agreement, dated May 13, 2010, by and between the
Company and Global Franchise Group, LLC (the “Sales Transaction”);
WHEREAS,
effective as of August 13, 2010 (“Termination Date”), Executive will be
terminated by the Company without Cause based upon a Change in Control, and
Executive will cease to hold any position as an officer of the Company or any
Subsidiary;
WHEREAS, Executive desires to receive
separation pay and benefits, and the Company is willing to provide separation
pay and benefits on the condition that Executive enters into this
Agreement.
THEREFORE,
in consideration of the mutual agreements and promises set forth within this
Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
Company and Executive agree as follows:
1.
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Consideration
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In
consideration of Executive's agreements and promises set forth below, the
Company will provide to Executive the following separation payments in
accordance with the Employment Agreement:
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a.
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Base Salary, Bonus and Accrued
Paid Time Off. The Company shall pay to Executive
any unpaid Base Salary and Quarterly Bonus (prorated based upon the number
of days that the Executive is employed during the third calendar quarter
of 2010) through and including the Termination
Date.
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Executive
shall be paid all accrued but unused paid time off during the Employment Period
through and including the Termination Date. The parties acknowledge
and agree that as of the Termination Date, Executive has accrued 15.5 days of
paid time off. The Company shall pay all amounts for such paid time
off, less deductions for federal and/or state income tax withholding, FICA and
any other deduction from wages required by law or regulation, by including such
net amount in a payroll payment to be made pursuant to the Company’s normal
payroll practices, following the Termination Date.
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b.
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Lump Sum Severance
Payment. The Company shall pay to Executive a Severance
Payment totaling One
Million, Nine Hundred Thousand, Nine Hundred Dollars
($1,999,900.00) (less standard statutory deductions for federal and
state taxes and withholdings) in a lump sum by including such net amount
in a payroll payment immediately following the Termination Date in
accordance with the Company’s normal payroll
practices.
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c.
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Continued
Participation in Company’s Group Medical
Plan. Subject to Executive’s timely election under the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”), Executive shall continue to be eligible to
participate in the group medical plan
of the Company or its
successor
sponsor on the same basis as he previously
participated, until the earlier of eighteen months from the Terminate
Date or the date
Executive is provided with health insurance coverage by a successor
employer. Executive shall promptly inform the Company’s wind down consultant,
XRoads Solutions
Group, attention Xxxxxx Xxxxx, if and when he is provided with
health insurance coverage by a successor
employer.
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d.
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Reimbursable
Expenses. The Company shall pay to Executive all
reimbursable expenses due and owing to the Executive through the
Termination Date in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement
policy. Executive agrees to use best efforts to submit all
expense reports no later than 30 days following his Termination
Date.
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e.
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Computer and
Blackberry. The Company agrees to allow Executive to
retain the computer equipment and the Blackberry device provided to him,
at no cost to him. All data contained on the retained computer
equipment and Blackberry device shall be subject to the confidentiality
provision of Section 1.5 of the Employment
Agreement.
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f.
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Stock
Options. Executive
shall be fully vested as of the Termination Date in his outstanding Option
Grants to purchase shares of the Company’s common
stock.
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g.
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Other
Benefits. Executive shall
receive any vested benefits to which Executive is entitled in accordance
with the terms of any
of the Company's employee benefit plans or programs, including, without limitation, the Company's 401(k)
plan.
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The terms of Paragraph 1 shall have no
force if Executive revokes his acceptance of this Agreement pursuant to
Paragraph 11 (Special Provisions for Age Discrimination).
2.
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No
Further Payments
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Except as provided for in Paragraph 1,
Executive is not entitled to and will not receive any further salary, wages,
benefits, severance or separation payments from the Company.
3.
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General
Release
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Executive
on behalf of himself and his heirs, successors and assigns, in consideration of
the performance by the Company of its material obligations under the Employment
Agreement and this Agreement, do hereby release and forever discharge as of the
date hereof the Company, its Subsidiaries, its Affiliates, each such Person’s
respective successors and assigns and each of the foregoing Persons’ respective
present and former directors, officers, partners, stockholders, members,
managers, agents, representatives, employees (and each such Person’s respective
successors and assigns) (collectively, the “Released Parties”) to the
extent provided below.
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a.
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Executive
understands that payments or benefits paid or granted to him under this
Agreement represent, in part, consideration for signing this Agreement and
are not salary, wages or benefits to which he was already
entitled. Executive understands and agrees that he will not
receive the payments and benefits specified in Paragraph 1 of this
Agreement unless he executes this Agreement and does not revoke this
Agreement within the time period permitted hereafter or breach this
Agreement.
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b.
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Executive
knowingly and voluntarily releases and forever discharges the Company and
the other Released Parties from any and all claims, controversies,
actions, causes of action, cross-claims, counter-claims, demands, debts,
compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive or exemplary damages,
other damages, claims for costs and attorneys’ fees, or liabilities of any
nature whatsoever in law and in equity, both past and present (through the
date of this Agreement), whether under the laws of the United States or
another jurisdiction and whether known or unknown, suspected or claimed
against the Company or any of the Released Parties which Executive, his
spouse, or any of his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, have or
may have, which arise out of or are connected with his employment with, or
his separation from, the Company (including, but not limited to, any
allegation, claim or violation, arising under: Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (including the Older
Workers Benefit Protection Act); the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended;
the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Family and Medical Leave
Act of 1993; the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as amended; the Worker
Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act; the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974; any applicable Executive Order Programs; the Fair
Labor Standards Act; or their state or local counterparts; or under any
other federal, state or local civil or human rights law, or under any
other local, state, or federal law, regulation or ordinance; or under any
public policy, contract or tort, or under common law; or arising under any
policies, practices or procedures of the Company or any of the Released
Parties; or any claim for wrongful discharge, breach of contract,
infliction of emotional distress, or defamation; or any claim for costs,
fees, or other expenses, including attorneys’ fees incurred in these
matters (all of the foregoing collectively referred to herein as the
“Claims”); provided, however, that nothing contained in this Agreement
shall apply to, or release the Company from, (i) any obligation of
the Company contained in the Employment Agreement and this Agreement to be
performed after the date hereof or (ii) any vested or accrued
benefits pursuant to any employee benefit plan, program or policy of the
Company.
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c.
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Executive
represents that he has made no assignment or transfer of any right, claim,
demand, cause of action, or other matter covered by Paragraph 3.b.
above.
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d.
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Executive
agrees that this Agreement does not waive or release any rights or claims
that he may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
which arise after the date he executes this Agreement. Executive
acknowledges and agrees that his separation from employment with the
Company in compliance with the terms of the Employment Agreement and this
Agreement shall not serve as the basis for any claim or action (including,
without limitation, any claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act of 1967).
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e.
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In
signing this Agreement, Executive acknowledges and intends that the
Agreement shall be effective as a bar to each and every one of the Claims
hereinabove mentioned or implied. Executive expressly consents
that this General Release shall be given full force and effect according
to each and all of its express terms and provisions, including those
relating to unknown and unsuspected Claims (notwithstanding any state
statute that expressly limits the effectiveness of a general release of
unknown, unsuspected and unanticipated Claims), if any, as well as those
relating to any other Claims hereinabove mentioned or
implied. Executive acknowledges and agrees that this waiver is
an essential and material term of this Agreement and that without such
waiver the Company would not have agreed to the terms of the
Agreement. Executive covenants that he shall not directly or
indirectly, commence, maintain or prosecute or xxx any of the Released
Persons either affirmatively or by way of cross-complaint, indemnity
claim, defense or counterclaim or in any other manner or at all on any
Claim covered by this General Release. Executive further agrees
that in the event he should bring a Claim seeking damages against the
Company, or in the event he should seek to recover against the Company in
any Claim brought by a governmental agency on his behalf, this Agreement
shall serve as a complete defense to such Claims. Executive further agree
that he is not aware of any pending charge or complaint of the type
described in Paragraph 3.b. as of the execution of this
Agreement.
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4.
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No
Admission of Liability
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Executive
agrees that neither this Agreement, nor the furnishing of the consideration for
this Agreement, shall be deemed or construed at any time to be an admission by
the Company, any Released Party or Executive of any improper or unlawful
conduct.
5.
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Affirmation
of Employment Agreement; Waiver of Non-Compete
Covenant
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Except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement, the parties hereby expressly re-affirm the
Employment Agreement, including, but not limited to, Executive’s obligations
under Sections 1.5, 1.6, 1.7 (except as provided in Paragraph 1.e. hereof),
1.8(b), 1.10 and 3.1 of the Employment Agreement and the Company’s obligations
under Section 1.3(g) of the Employment Agreement.
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in the Employment Agreement, the parties acknowledge
that pursuant to the Sales Transaction the Company no longer has a continuing
business. The Company hereby waives the non-compete covenant in
Section 1.8(a) of the Employment Agreement, and the Executive shall not be
precluded from participating in or otherwise being employed by or providing
services to any Person.
6.
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Validity
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Whenever
possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner
as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this
Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under
any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction,
but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such
jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never
been contained herein.
7.
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Successors and
Assigns
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This Agreement shall inure to and be
binding upon the parties hereto and to their respective heirs, legal
representatives, successors, and assigns.
8.
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Governing
Law
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This Agreement shall be construed in
accordance with the laws of
the state of New York and any applicable federal laws.
9.
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Special
Notification
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Because this Agreement includes a waiver
and release of claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act,
federal law provides that Executive may have forty-five (45) days from receipt of the Agreement to
review and consider this Agreement and the disclosure information
attached hereto as Exhibit A (which is provided pursuant to the Older Workers
Benefit Protection Act) before
executing it. Federal law also provides that the
Company must advise Executive to consult with an attorney before signing
this Agreement. Executive understands that it is
Executive’s decision whether or not to consult an
attorney.
Pursuant to federal law, Executive is
further advised that the
release and covenant not to xxx contained herein do not apply to claims that
arise after the execution of this Agreement. Executive further
understands and agrees that Executive is receiving additional consideration that
Executive would not be entitled to receive under
the Employment Agreement, any Company policy, practice or plan of if Executive
did not execute this Agreement which includes the waiver and release of claims
under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
Executive represents and warrants that he has
had ample opportunity to consider this Agreement and has had an opportunity to
consult an attorney before executing this Agreement.
10.
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Revocation of
Agreement
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Federal law also provides that, because
this Agreement waives and
releases claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, that
Executive may revoke this Agreement within seven (7) days after Executive
executes it. For this revocation to be effective, written notice must
be received by XRoads
Solutions Group, attention
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, no later than
the close of business on the seventh day after Executive has executed this
Agreement. If Executive revokes the Agreement, it will not be
effective or enforceable, and Executive will not receive the payments or benefits described in Paragraph
1.
11.
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Acknowledgement.
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BY
SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, EXECUTIVE REPRESENTS AND AGREES THAT:
(a) EXECUTIVE
HAS READ IT CAREFULLY;
(b) EXECUTIVE
UNDERSTANDS ALL OF ITS TERMS AND KNOW THAT HE IS GIVING UP IMPORTANT RIGHTS,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RIGHTS UNDER THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT
ACT OF 1967, AS AMENDED, TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, AS AMENDED;
THE EQUAL PAY ACT OF 1963, THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990; AND THE
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED;
(c) EXECUTIVE
VOLUNTARILY CONSENTS TO EVERYTHING IN THE AGREEMENT;
(d) EXECUTIVE
HAS BEEN ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY (VIA THIS AGREEMENT) BEFORE
EXECUTING IT AND EXECUTIVE HAS DONE SO OR, AFTER CAREFUL READING AND
CONSIDERATION, EXECUTIVE HAS CHOSEN NOT TO DO SO OF HIS OWN
VOLITION;
(e) EXECUTIVE
HAS HAD AT LEAST 45 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF HIS RECEIPT OF THE LANGUAGE OF THE
GENERAL RELEASE SUBSTANTIALLY IN ITS FINAL FORM ON AUGUST 4, 2010 TO CONSIDER IT
AND THE DISCLOSURE INFORMATION ATTACHED HERETO AS EXHIBIT A (WHICH IS PROVIDED
PURSUANT TO THE OLDER WORKERS BENEFIT PROTECTION ACT); AND THE CHANGES MADE
SINCE THE AUGUST 4, 2010 VERSION OF THE GENERAL RELEASE ARE NOT MATERIAL AND
WILL NOT RESTART THE REQUIRED 45-DAY PERIOD;
(f) THE
CHANGES TO THE LANGUAGE OF THE GENERAL RELEASE SINCE AUGUST 4, 2010 EITHER ARE
NOT MATERIAL OR WERE MADE AT HIS REQUEST.
(g) EXECUTIVE
HAS SIGNED THIS AGREEMENT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY AND WITH THE ADVICE OF ANY
COUNSEL RETAINED TO ADVISE HIM WITH RESPECT TO IT; AND
(h) EXECUTIVE
AGREES THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT MAY NOT BE AMENDED, WAIVED, CHANGED
OR MODIFIED EXCEPT BY AN INSTRUMENT IN WRITING SIGNED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY AND BY EXECUTIVE.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have
executed this Agreement as of the date indicated below.
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
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XXXXXXX X. XXXX
Date: August 5, 2010
By:
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/s/ Xxxxx Xxxx |
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Name: Xxxxx Xxxx
Title: Chairman of the Board of
Directors
Date: August 4, 2010
EXHIBIT
A
DISCLOSURE INFORMATION PROVIDED PURSUANT
TO THE
OLDER WORKERS BENEFIT PROTECTION
ACT
Eligibility Factors and Time Limitations
Applicable to
Eligible
Employees for Severance Benefits
NexCen Brands, Inc. (the “Company”) has
decided to terminate the employment of certain of its
employees. Employees receiving notification of termination of their
employment in connection therewith may be eligible to receive severance benefits
in exchange for their execution of (and subject to) the attached Separation
Agreement and General Release (“Agreement”) in accordance with the terms set
forth therein.
Each selected employee age 40 or over
will have at least forty-five (45) days from such employee’s receipt of the
Agreement and this disclosure information to provide the Company with a fully
executed Agreement in order to receive the severance benefits pursuant to the
Agreement. Employees age 40 or over who timely execute and return the
Agreement will have a period of seven (7) calendar days from the date that the
Agreement is signed to revoke it by delivering written notice of revocation as
provided in the Agreement.
The job titles and ages of all of the
Company employees at the decisional unit affected by the terminations who are,
and are not, selected for termination are listed below.
Titles
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Age
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Selected
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Not
Selected
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Chief
Executive Officer
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52
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X
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General
Counsel and Secretary
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40
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X
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Chief
Accounting Officer
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48
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X
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Vice
President, Corporate Development
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30
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X
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Director
of Financial Reporting
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45
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X
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Corporate
Staff Accountant
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34
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X
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Corporate
Senior Accountant
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47
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X
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