Executive Retention Agreement
Exhibit
99.3
This Executive Retention Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into as of August 27, 2008, by and
between IKON Office Solutions, Inc. (the “Company”), and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx (“Executive”) (together,
the “Parties”).
A. The Company and Executive previously entered into the employment agreement attached hereto
as Exhibit A-1 (as amended prior to the date hereof, the “Employment Agreement”).
Capitalized terms used and not defined herein have the meanings specified in the Employment
Agreement.
B. Simultaneously herewith, the Company is entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger by
and among Ricoh Company, Ltd. (“Parent”), Keystone Acquisition, Inc. (“Sub”), and the Company,
dated the date hereof (the “Merger Agreement”), providing for the Parent’s acquisition of the
Company through the merger of Sub with and into the Company (such merger, the “Merger” and the
consummation thereof, the “Closing”).
C. Parent wishes to retain Executive following the Closing and to continue to benefit from his
services. Accordingly, as a condition to Parent’s willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement,
Parent has required that the Company enter into this Agreement, which relates to Executive’s
entitlement to certain payments and benefits following the Closing of the Merger and which will be
void and of no further force or effect in the event that the Closing does not occur.
D. The Employment Agreement provides that Executive may be entitled to receive certain cash
severance benefits (including severance of base and bonus, retirement plan contribution and
pro-rata bonus) in the event of a termination of Executive’s employment without Cause or by
Constructive Termination following a Change in Control or Potential Change in Control under Section
8(f) thereof (such benefits “Cash CIC Benefits”), and the Closing will constitute a Change in
Control for purposes of the Employment Agreement.
E. At the request of Parent, the Company is prepared to offer Executive the Retention Payments
(as defined in Article I below) as described in this Agreement in lieu of the Cash CIC Benefits, on
the terms and conditions set forth herein, in return for Executive’s continued employment after the
Merger, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof.
F. Executive wishes to accept the Retention Payments in lieu of the Cash CIC Benefits, and to
agree to the other terms and conditions hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, the Parties hereby
agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Retention Incentive Payments
Contingent upon the Closing and the Executive signing a general release of claims against the
Company and its affiliates (in the form attached as Exhibit C) covering the period through
the Closing, during the twenty-four month period commencing on Closing (the “Retention Period”),
Executive shall receive retention payments on the dates and in the amounts specified in Exhibit
B (each such payment, a “Retention Payment”) so long as, as of the date on which the relevant
Retention Payment is to be made Executive is an employee of the Company, or his employment has
terminated as provided in Article II below. For the avoidance of doubt, except as provided in
Article II below, Executive shall not be entitled to any pro-rata payments for any partial periods
of employment. Furthermore, to the extent that the pro rata annual stub bonus is reflected in the
Retention Payments, in no event shall Executive be entitled to a regular bonus for such period.
Executive shall be entitled to welfare benefits as provided under Section 8(f) of the Employment
Agreement commencing on termination of employment for any reason whatsoever.
ARTICLE II
Acceleration; Termination After the Retention Period
(a) If during the Retention Period Executive’s employment is terminated due to his
death or Disability (as defined in the Employment Agreement), or by the Company without
Cause, or the Executive terminates his employment for Constructive Termination Without Cause
(as those terms are defined in the Employment Agreement, as modified by Exhibit A-2), (a)
any Retention Payments that remain unpaid upon the date of such termination will be
accelerated and paid within sixty (60) days after such termination, and (b) Executive will
remain eligible for continued participation in the welfare benefit plans as provided under
Section 8(f) of the Employment Agreement (which continued participation shall commence upon
Executive’s termination of employment with the Company). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
said termination occurs during 2008, the amount of the payments that without this Agreement
would have been paid in 2008 shall be paid in 2008 and the remainder in January 2009.
(b) If during the Retention Period Executive’s employment is terminated due to his
death or Disability (as defined in the Employment Agreement), by the Company without Cause,
or the Executive terminates his employment for Constructive Termination Without Cause (as
those terms are defined by the Employment Agreement as modified by Exhibit A-2), and
provided that Executive (or his estate or his beneficiaries as the case may be) has signed a
general release of claims against the Company and its affiliates (the form of which is
attached as Exhibit C), and any applicable revocation period for such release has
expired, Executive shall receive on the sixtieth (60th) day after such
termination all amounts of base salary, annual bonus and long term incentive plan amounts at
target that would be due to him if he had continued to be employed through the end of the
Retention Period, including, without limitation, a pro rata portion of any annual bonus or
long term incentive arrangement at target (and if the target annual bonus
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or target long term incentive arrangement has not been set, it shall be deemed to be
equal to the last prior set bonus or arrangement, as the case may be). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, for any such termination without Cause the Company shall give at least 90 days
notice to Executive, and if less than 90 days notice is given and there are less than 90
days remaining until the end of the Retention Period, the Company shall provide additional
severance (at the same time as the above amounts are paid) of at least base pay, annual
bonus and long term incentive for the period of the difference between 90 days and the date,
if any, that notice is actually given.
(c) On any Termination Without Cause or for Constructive Termination Without Cause
after the end of the Retention Period, Executive shall receive severance as provided under
the Company’s severance pay plan then in effect for senior executives, which amount shall be
at least one times Executive’s base salary and target bonus.
(d) With regard to any amounts subject to Internal Revenue Code Section 409A (“Section
409A”) that is deferred compensation thereunder, no amounts shall be paid on a termination
of employment that is also not a “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section
409A).
ARTICLE III
Certain Acknowledgements; Waivers and Amendments
(a) In consideration of the Company’s execution of this Agreement, and its willingness
to make available the Retention Payments in accordance with Article I hereof, Executive
hereby:
(1) waives all rights, claims, or interests to or in the Cash CIC Benefits
under or arising out of Section 8(f) (Termination without Cause Following a
Change in Control or Potential Change in Control) of the Employment Agreement,
other than the welfare benefit plan continuation;
(2) agrees to amend the definition of “Constructive Termination Without
Cause” in the Employment Agreement for all purposes hereof and thereof, as set
forth in Exhibit A-2;
(3) agrees to be bound to the non-competition covenants set forth in
Section 11(c) (Non-Competition) of the Employment Agreement if Executive
receives the full Retention Payments (whether through acceleration pursuant to
Article II hereof or otherwise in accordance herewith);
(4) agrees that no event occurring prior to, on, or after the date hereof
in connection with discussions or negotiations concerning this Agreement or the
Merger Agreement, the execution hereof or thereof, or any act of the Company in
accordance with the terms hereof or thereof (except as provided in Exhibit A-2)
shall constitute grounds for Constructive Termination Without Cause; and
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(5) acknowledges and agrees that (i) he is entitled to no payments or
benefits with respect to Company stock options and other equity- based awards,
except as provided in the Merger Agreement (under which the parties acknowledge
that all equity shall be fully vested and cashed out at Closing), and (ii) from
and after the Closing, he shall have no right to acquire the stock of Company or
any successor pursuant to or in connection with any stock option or equity-based
award program that Executive participates in as of Closing, or has participated
in at any time prior to Closing.
(b) The parties agree that in lieu of equity grants at or after Closing, the Company
shall provide for the Retention Period long term incentive opportunities or other
compensation to Executive that is substantially comparable on an annual basis to that of
the equity Executive had been receiving prior to the Closing. There will be no obligation
of the Executive to maintain any minimum equity interest in the Company.
(c) The parties acknowledge and agree that as modified herein the Employment Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect.
ARTICLE IV
Certain Reduction of Severance Payments
The payments hereunder shall supersede any severance payment of any kind Executive would be
entitled to as a result of any termination during the Retention Period or thereafter.
ARTICLE V
General Provisions
SECTION 5.1 Taxes.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (or, to the extent
applicable, under the Employment Agreement) whatsoever, the Company shall, after consulting
with and securing the approval of Executive, prior to the end of 2008, amend the Employment
Agreement and this Agreement as necessary to comply with, and to provide for, the
application and effects of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the “Code”) (relating to deferred compensation arrangements) and any related regulatory or
administrative guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service such that the severance and
other benefits provided under this Agreement (or, to the extent applicable, under the
Employment Agreement) shall not trigger the additional tax, interest, and any related
penalties imposed by Section 409A(l)(B) of the Code. In no event will any payment of
amounts subject to Code Section 409A be made under the Agreement or the Employment Agreement
in a manner inconsistent with the requirements of the transition relief provided under IRS
Notice 2007-86.
(b) The Company shall delay the payment or provision of any amounts or benefits
available under this Agreement (or, to the extent applicable, under the
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Employment Agreement) as required to comply with Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code
(relating to payments made to certain “specified employees” of certain publicly-traded
companies) and in such event, any such amount or benefit to which Executive would otherwise
be entitled during the six (6) month period immediately following his termination of
employment shall instead be accumulated through and paid or provided on the first business
day following the expiration of such six (6) month period, or if earlier, the date of his
death with interest at “prime rate” as published in the Wall Street Journal on the date the
payments would have been made without the aforesaid delay.
(c) The continued benefits provided under this Agreement (or, to the extent applicable,
under the Employment Agreement) that are taxable benefits (and that are not disability pay
or death benefit plans within the meaning of Code Section 409A) are intended to comply, to
the maximum extent possible, with the exception to Code Section 409A set forth in Section
1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the Treasury regulations. To the extent that any such benefits either
do not qualify for that exception, or are provided beyond the applicable time periods set
forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the Treasury regulations, then they shall be subject
to the following additional rules: (i) the amount of in-kind benefits or reimbursement
provided, during any calendar year shall not affect the amount of in-kind benefits to be
provided, during any other calendar year; (ii) the right to in-kind benefits or
reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit; and (iii)
all reimbursements of expenses incurred by Executive shall be paid by the end of the
calendar year following the calendar year in which such expense is incurred, and any
gross-up shall be paid by the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in
which the tax is paid.
(d) If any amounts are paid as installments, each installment shall be treated as a
separate payment.
(e) If an amount is to be paid within a specific period, the date of such payments
shall be determined solely by the Company.
SECTION 5.2 Waivers and Amendments. This Agreement may not be waived, amended,
or supplemented, in whole or in part, except by a written instrument, expressly referring to
this Agreement and the specific provisions to be waived, amended or supplemented, and signed
by each of the Parties, as well as by the Parent for so long as Parent is a third party
beneficiary hereof under Section 5.6. Without limitation, (i) the failure or delay on the
part of Company or Executive to exercise any right or remedy, power or privilege hereunder
shall not operate as a waiver thereof and (ii) a written waiver of a right, remedy, power or
privilege shall not operate as a waiver of any other right, remedy, power or privilege on
any other or future occasion.
SECTION 5.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Employment
Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties with respect to its subject
matter, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements with
respect thereto. Except as amended by this Agreement, and except insofar as the Employment
Agreement provides for participation by Executive in stock option or other equity incentive
programs, the Employment Agreement remains in full
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force and effect without modification including, without limitation, the provisions in
the Employment Agreement providing for a gross-up payment to the Executive in the event of
the imposition of an excise tax under Code Section 4999. In the event of conflict between
this Agreement and the Existing Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
SECTION 5.4 Severability. Each provision of this Agreement, including any
release executed pursuant hereto or as a condition to a Retention Payment hereunder, shall
be viewed as separate and distinct, and in the event that any such provision shall be deemed
by an arbitrator or a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, in
whole or part, the court or arbitrator finding such invalidity or unenforceability shall
modify this Agreement to give as much effect as possible, under applicable law, to the
remaining provisions and to the intent of the Parties. Any provision which cannot be so
modified shall be deleted and the remaining provisions hereof shall remain in full force and
effect.
SECTION 5.5 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding on and
shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective heirs, legal representatives,
successors and permitted assigns, except as otherwise provided herein. Neither this
Agreement nor any of the rights or duties of Executive hereunder, may be transferred or
assigned by Executive.
SECTION 5.6 Third-Party Beneficiaries. Each Party hereby agrees that Parent is
an intended third party beneficiary of this Agreement and shall be entitled to enforce the
terms hereof to the same extent as either Party hereto, provided, however, that such third
party beneficiary status of Parent shall be irrevocably terminate, and Parent shall no
longer be entitled to any rights hereunder, upon any termination of the Merger Agreement
prior to the Closing of the Merger. Other than as set forth in this paragraph, nothing
shall be construed to confer upon or give to any person or entity any rights or remedies
under or by reason of this Agreement. Upon any termination of the Merger Agreement prior to
the Closing of the Merger, this Agreement shall be of no further force or effect except
Section 5.10 hereof.
SECTION 5.7 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
interpreted, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Pennsylvania
without regard to its or any other jurisdiction’s conflicts of laws principles.
SECTION 5.8 Construction of Agreement. This Agreement has been negotiated by
sophisticated parties and each Party has cooperated in the drafting and preparation of this
Agreement. Executive represents and warrants that Executive has carefully read this
Agreement, that this Agreement has been fully explained to Executive by Executive’s
attorney, that Executive fully understands its final and binding effect, and understands
that Executive is waiving certain rights and entitlements under the Existing Agreement.
Executive further acknowledges and agrees that the only promise and commitments made to
Executive are those stated above in this Agreement, and that Executive is signing this
Agreement voluntarily. No provisions of this Agreement shall be construed against either
Party by reason of the source of drafting, but rather all terms
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contained herein shall be construed to give effect, to the fullest extent possible, to
the express terms and intent of the Parties.
SECTION 5.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which shall together
constitute one and the same instrument.
SECTION 5.10 Legal Fees. The Company shall pay or reimburse Executive’s
reasonable legal fees in connection with the negotiation and review of this Agreement and,
to the extent taxable to Executive gross-up such amount so that Executive shall have no
after-tax cost for such payment or gross-up. Such amounts shall be paid promptly after
submission of invoices.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first written
above.
IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS, INC.: | EXECUTIVE: | |||||||
By: |
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||||||
Title: Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit A-1: Employment Agreement
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Exhibit A-2
“Constructive Termination Without Cause” shall mean a termination by the Executive of
his employment hereunder based on any of the following events (to which the Executive has
not prior thereto consented in writing), provided that Executive gives written notice to
the Company within 90 days following the occurrence of the event (such notice to specify
that it is a notice hereunder and to set forth, in reasonable detail, all grounds for such
termination), unless the Company shall have fully cured all grounds for such termination
within 30 days after the Executive gives notice thereof:
(i) any reduction in his then current base salary or in his annual incentive cash
bonus award opportunity set forth herein;
(ii) any breach of any of the Company’s material obligations in this Agreement or the
Employment Agreement;
(iii) any relocation of Executive’s office as assigned to him by the Company to a
location more than 50 miles from Malvern, Pennsylvania; and
(iv) a reduction in the Executive’s responsibilities as to the areas of the business
he oversees immediately prior to Closing, such that he remains responsible for less than
50% of those areas of the business (based on function, budget or headcount).
The Executive’s termination shall not be considered to be a Constructive Termination
Without Cause unless it occurs no more than one hundred and twenty (120) days following the
initial occurrence of the purported condition described above.
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Exhibit B
Retention Payment Schedule:
PAYMENT DATE | RETENTION PAYMENT AMOUNT | |
6 month anniversary of Closing
|
$277,594 (15% of aggregate amount) | |
12 month anniversary of Closing
|
$370,125 (20% of aggregate amount) | |
18 month anniversary of Closing
|
$462,656 (25% of aggregate amount) | |
24 month anniversary of Closing
|
$740,250 (40% of aggregate amount) |
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Exhibit C
Form of Release
Capitalized terms used and not defined herein have the meanings specified in the
Employment Agreement and the Retention Agreement.
1. Execution of, and compliance with, this Release (the “Release”) will not be
considered an admission by any Party of any liability whatsoever or as an admission of any
violation of the rights of any person.
2. Executive (referred to herein as “you”) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally release,
forever discharge, indemnify and hold harmless the Released Parties (as defined below) from any and
all claims, suits, demands, actions or causes of action of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether
the underlying facts are known or unknown, which you have or may have currently or in the future or
may have had in the past against the Released Parties or any of them for any action arising out of
your employment with, or investment in, including any claims under your Employment Agreement. This
release covers all claims of any kind including, without limitation, any claims arising under
federal, state, or local law, regulation or ordinance, or any common law theory of recovery (the
“Released Claims”). The Released Claims specifically include, without limitation, claims of
employment discrimination, wrongful discharge, breach of fiduciary duty, and securities fraud. This
release shall run to and be for the benefit of the Company and each of its present or former
subsidiaries, division, parents, successors, assigns, predecessors, related entities or affiliates,
and the officers, directors, employees or agents of any of them (collectively, “Released Parties”).
This release shall run to and be binding upon you and your heirs and assigns. The release does not
cover claims that may arise after the execution of this Release and the seven (7) day calendar
period set forth herein or the matters in Section 4 below. You acknowledge and agree that the
release set forth in this paragraph is an essential and material term of this Release and that
without such release, no agreement would have been reached by the parties.
3. After the termination of your employment with the Company, you agree to attend meetings,
give testimony and otherwise reasonably cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the
Company (and to not provide any of these services on behalf of any parties with any adverse
interest to the Company without the prior approval of the Company) regarding any litigation,
arbitration, administrative proceedings, investigations or other matters of a similar nature
involving the Company that relates to your employment period. If you are subpoenaed or otherwise
contacted by any party regarding any such matter, you will immediately notify the General Counsel
of the Company. Any changes to your address should be communicated promptly to Company
headquarters. The Company shall provide reimbursement for reasonable expenses associated with this
provision. As you are aware, sometimes the timing of legal or administrative proceedings cannot be
controlled; however, we will make all reasonable efforts to minimize the potential for interference
with future employment considerations. Nothing in this paragraph should be construed as altering or
limiting the provisions of Section 11 of your Employment Agreement, which provisions will remain in
full force and effect.
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4. You understand and acknowledge that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as
amended, provides employees age 40 or older with the right to bring a claim against the Company if
an employee believes that he/she has been discriminated against on the basis of age. You understand
the rights afforded under the Act and agree that you irrevocably and unconditionally release,
forever discharge, indemnify and hold harmless from all claims or actions you have or may have
currently or in the future or may have had in the past against any Released Party based upon any
alleged violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act arising prior to the date this
Agreement is executed by you. You specifically waive the right to assert a claim for relief
available under this Act, including but not limited to, back pay, attorneys’ fees, damages,
reinstatement or injunctive relief.
5. This Release does not waive your rights to the following: (a) earned but unpaid base
salary, earned but unused vacation, (b) rights to unreimbursed business expenses, (c) rights under
benefit plans in accordance with their terms, (d) rights to equity and bonus arrangements, (e)
rights to indemnification, advancement of legal fees and directors’ and officers’ liability
insurance and (f) rights under the Employment Agreement and the Retention Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, you acknowledge and agree that (i) you are entitled to no payments
or benefits with respect to Company stock options and other equity- based awards, except as
provided in the Merger Agreement (which the parties acknowledge require full payment at Closing of
all such amounts), and (ii) from and after the Closing, you shall have no right to acquire the
stock of Company or any successor pursuant to or in connection with any stock option or
equity-based award program that Executive participates in as of Closing, or has participated in at
any time prior to Closing.
6. The Company advises you to consult with an attorney prior to executing this Release and you
represent that you have had the opportunity to do so. You also have been advised that you have a
period of up to twenty-one (21) days to consider this Release and its meaning and effect and the
signed Release must be returned to and received by the Company on or before 5:00 p.m. on the
business day following the end of this twenty-one (21) day period for you to receive the
consideration set forth in this Release. You are free to accept this offer at any time within this
21 day period but only if your decision to shorten this consideration period is knowing and
voluntary and was not induced in any way by Company. You and the Company agree that the Release
shall not become effective or enforceable until seven (7) calendar days after it is executed by you
and that during that seven (7) calendar day period, you may revoke this Release. You agree to
deliver any such revocation in writing to the General Counsel of the Company within seven (7)
calendar days of your execution of this Release.
7. You agree during the term of your employment (other than in the good faith performance of
your duties) and for five years thereafter to refrain from any publication, oral or written, of a
defamatory, disparaging or otherwise derogatory nature pertaining to any Released Party. The
Company agrees that during the term of your employment and for five years thereafter it, the Parent
and their affiliates will refrain from any publication, oral or written, of a defamatory,
disparaging or otherwise derogatory nature pertaining to you. The foregoing shall not be violated
by truthful testimony or statements in any legal proceedings or governmental inquiry or by truthful
statements made to rebut any statement made by the other party or its affiliate.
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8. Both parties agree that if any provision of this Release is declared to be unenforceable by
a law of competent jurisdiction, the remaining terms and conditions shall not be affected and will
remain in full force and effect.
9. This Release reflects the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the matters
covered hereunder. The terms of this Release may only be amended in a writing signed by both
parties. For the Company, any writing must be signed a corporate officer.
10. This Release shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. All disputes under this Release will be handled pursuant to the
dispute resolution procedures set forth in Section 14 of the Employment Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Release, this day of ,
2008.
IKON Office Solutions, Inc. | ||||||
By | ||||||
Executive |
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