EXHIBIT 10.15(b)
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Agreement, made and entered into as of November 14th, 2002 by
and between Household International, Inc. (the "Company") and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
(the "Executive" and, together with the Company, the "Parties").
WITNESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS, prior to the signing of the Merger Agreement (as
defined below), the Executive was employed by the Company pursuant to an
employment agreement dated March 1, 2002 (the "Prior Agreement");
WHEREAS, in connection with the acquisition (the
"Acquisition") by HSBC Holdings plc of the Company pursuant to the Agreement and
Plan of Merger by and among H2 Acquisition Corporation, the Company and HSBC
Holdings plc (the "Parent"), dated as of November 14, 2002 (the "Merger
Agreement"), the Parties agreed to deem the consummation of the Acquisition as a
Qualifying Termination after a Change in Control within the meaning of Section
9(d) under the Prior Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Parties have agreed that (A) the Company will pay
the Executive the amounts described under Sections 9(d)(i), 9(d)(ii), 9(d)(iii)
and 9(d)(vi) of the Prior Agreement, within thirty (30) days of the date of the
consummation of the Acquisition (the "Effective Date") and (B) the Company will
pay the amounts described under Section 10 of the Prior Agreement at the time
and in the manner described in Section 10 (as modified hereby), in full
satisfaction of the Parties' obligations under the Prior Agreement, which Prior
Agreement shall terminate effective as of the Effective Date (except as
described below);
WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to employ the
Executive on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in exchange therefor and in consideration of
the premises and the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and for
other good and valuable consideration, the Company and the Executive hereby
agree as follows:
1. Termination of Prior Agreement. The Parties hereby agree that the
Prior Agreement shall terminate effective as of the Effective Date, except for
Section 10 of the Prior Agreement, as described below. In full satisfaction of
the Parties' obligations under the Prior Agreement, the Company will pay the
Executive the amounts described in Sections 9(d)(i), 9(d)(ii), 9(d)(iii) and
9(d)(vi) of the Prior Agreement, within thirty (30) days after the Effective
Date and the amounts described under Section 10 of the Prior Agreement at the
time and in the manner described in such Section 10, except that (A) the
Gross-Up Payment (as defined in the Prior Agreement) shall be paid by the
Company to the Executive within five days of the later of (i) the due date for
the payment of any Excise Tax (as defined in the Prior Agreement) and (ii) the
receipt of the Accounting Firm's (as defined in the Prior Agreement)
determination and (B) the Executive shall promptly pay to the Company any refund
with respect to any Excise Tax or Gross-Up Payment due to a recalculation of any
amounts due, for whatever reason, it being understood that the Executive would
be kept in the same after-tax position (after payment of the
Gross-Up Payment) that the Executive would have been in had no Excise Tax been
imposed. In addition, the Executive shall receive three (3) additional years of
age and service credit, as of the Effective Date, for purposes of determining
the Executive's benefits under the Company's non-qualified excess and
supplemental defined benefit retirement plans (the "SERP") under Section 9(d)(v)
of the Prior Agreement, based on the assumptions set forth in Section 9(d)(v) of
the Prior Agreement, provided that the Executive shall not receive a duplicate
benefit with respect to any additional age or service credit under the
Retirement Plan (as defined in the Prior Agreement) and SERP for the first three
years following the Effective Date. Except as described above, the Executive
acknowledges that he will not be entitled to any other benefits described in
Section 9(d) under the Prior Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, and
notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no amounts payable pursuant to
this Section 1 or Section 10 of the Prior Agreement shall be taken into account
in computing any benefits under any plan, program or arrangement of the Company.
2. Employment and Term.
(a) Employment and Duties. The Company shall continue to
employ the Executive as a Group Executive and the Chief Information Officer of
the Company, and the Executive shall so serve, for the term set forth in
Paragraph 2(b). During the Term, the Executive shall have all powers and duties
consistent with such position, subject to the reasonable direction of the Board
of Directors of the Company (the "Board") and of the Chief Executive Officer of
the Company. The Executive shall also continue to serve as a member of the Board
if elected as such. The Executive shall devote his full time to the services
required hereunder (reasonable sick leave and vacations excepted) and best
efforts to fulfill faithfully, responsibly and to the best of his ability his
duties hereunder. However, the Executive may, with the approval of the Board or
of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, which approval shall not be
withheld unreasonably, serve on civic and/or charitable boards and committees.
(b) Term. The term of the Executive's employment under this
Agreement shall commence as of the Effective Date and end on the third
anniversary of the Effective Date (the "Term").
3. Salary.
(a) Base Salary. For services performed by the Executive for
the Company pursuant to this Agreement during the Term, the Company shall pay
the Executive a base salary no less favorable than the annual base salary paid
to the Executive as of immediately prior to the date hereof, payable in
substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company's regular
payroll practices. The Executive's base salary (with any increases under
Paragraph (b) below) (the "Base Salary") shall not be subject to reduction. Any
compensation which may be paid to the Executive under any additional
compensation or incentive plan of the Company or which may be otherwise
authorized from time to time by the Board (or an appropriate committee thereof)
shall be in addition to the Base Salary to which the Executive shall be entitled
under this Agreement.
(b) Salary Increases. During the Term, the Base Salary of the
Executive shall be reviewed no less frequently than annually by the Board (or an
appropriate committee thereof)
to determine whether or not the same should be increased in light of the duties
and responsibilities of the Executive and his performance thereof, and if it is
determined that an increase is merited, such increase shall be promptly put into
effect and the Base Salary of the Executive as so increased shall constitute the
Base Salary of the Executive for purposes of Paragraph 3(a).
4. Annual Bonuses. During the Term, the Executive shall receive an
annual cash bonus in an amount at least equal to 75% of the average of the
Executive's annual cash bonuses earned with respect to years 1999, 2000 and 2001
(the "Guaranteed Bonus") pursuant to the terms of the Company's bonus plan, as
in effect from time to time for senior executives and as adopted by the Board,
pro rated in the case of any partial year during the Term.
5. Equity Incentive Compensation. During the Term, the Executive
shall be eligible to participate, in the manner and to the extent approved by
the Board of Directors of Parent (or an appropriate committee thereof), in any
equity-based incentive compensation plan or program of Parent, as in effect from
time to time for similarly situated senior executives of the Company.
6. Restricted Shares; Cash Bonus. Within 30 days of the Effective
Date, subject to the approval of the trustees (the "Trustees") of Parent's
Restricted Share Plan (the "Plan"), the Executive will receive a one-time
special retention grant of restricted shares of Parent (the "Restricted Shares")
pursuant to the Plan, with a value equal to $5,000,000 (the "Restricted Share
Value"), based on the closing price (the "Fair Market Value"), on the date of
grant of such Restricted Shares, of ordinary shares of Parent on the principal
stock exchange on which such shares are traded. The number of Restricted Shares
granted shall be determined by dividing the Restricted Share Value by the Fair
Market Value. The Restricted Shares will vest with respect to 1/5 of the shares
on each of the first five (5) anniversaries of the Effective Date, provided the
Executive is still employed on each applicable vesting date. In addition, upon a
termination of the Executive's employment by the Company other than for Cause
(as defined in Paragraph 9) or upon a resignation of the Executive that results
from a material breach of this Agreement by the Company, the Restricted Shares
shall vest in full. All other terms and conditions of the Restricted Shares will
be governed by the Plan. To the extent the grant of Restricted Shares is not
approved by the Trustees or would violate rules and regulations under the Plan
or applicable law (the "Excess Amount"), the Executive will receive a one-time
special cash bonus (the "Cash Bonus") equal to the Excess Amount. The Cash
Bonus, if any, will be paid to the Executive in five (5) equal installments on
each of the first five (5) anniversaries of the Effective Date, provided the
Executive is still employed by the Company on each applicable anniversary. In
addition, upon a termination of the Executive's employment by the Company other
than for Cause (as defined in Paragraph 9) or upon a resignation of the
Executive that results from a material breach of this Agreement by the Company,
the Cash Bonus shall be paid in full.
7. Company Options. With respect to the stock options, if any, to
purchase shares of the Company granted to the Executive on and after November
10, 2002 (the "Options") under the Company's 1996 Long-Term Executive Incentive
Compensation Plan (the "Option Plan"), the Executive agrees that,
notwithstanding any provisions in the Option Plan or the applicable stock option
grant agreement, such Options shall not become exercisable as a result of a
Change in Control (as defined in the Option Plan); provided, however, that in
the event that the
Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason (as defined below) or in the
event that the Company terminates the Executive's employment without Cause, all
Options shall vest and become immediately exercisable and shall remain
exercisable for the full ten-year and one-day term.
"Good Reason" shall mean, without the consent of the Executive, (i) any action
by the Company which results in a substantial diminution of the Executive's
position, authority, duties or responsibilities to a level demonstrably below
those of similarly compensated employees, it being understood that the fact that
the Executive's duties may be reduced solely by reason of the Company ceasing to
be a publicly-traded company shall not constitute Good Reason, (ii) any failure
by the Company to comply with the terms of this Agreement with respect to the
Executive's cash compensation, (iii) a substantial reduction in the Executive's
benefits under any compensation or benefit plan or program of the Company,
except that the Executive's benefits may be reduced in connection with similar
reductions uniformly applied with respect to all similarly situated executives
or (iv) the relocation of the Executive to an office outside of the Chicago,
Illinois metropolitan area; provided, however, that "Good Reason" shall not
include any isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad
faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice
thereof given by the Executive.
With respect to all outstanding Options granted to the Executive prior to the
Effective Date, the Executive acknowledges that such Options shall be converted
into options to purchase shares of the Parent in accordance with the provisions
set forth in the Merger Agreement.
8. Other Benefits. During the Term, in addition to the compensation
described in Paragraphs 4, 5 and 6, above, the Executive shall also be entitled
to participate in all of the various retirement, welfare, fringe benefit,
executive perquisite, and expense reimbursement plans, programs and arrangements
of the Company, as in effect from time to time for similarly situated senior
executives of the Company, to the extent the Executive is eligible for
participation under the terms of such plans, programs and arrangements.
9. Termination of Employment. The Company may terminate the
Executive for any reason during the Term with thirty (30) days prior written
notice thereof to the Executive. If during the Term, (i) the Executive's
employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or disability, or
(ii) the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason (as defined above),
subject to the Executive's execution of a general release and waiver in favor of
the Company, its affiliates and their respective officers and directors, the
Executive will be entitled (x) to continue to receive his Base Salary and the
Guaranteed Bonus at the time and in the manner the Executive would have received
such payments had he remained employed for the remainder of the Term (the
"Severance") and (y) to the extent permitted under the terms of the applicable
plans, to the continuation of medical, dental, life, disability and umbrella
liability insurance and automobile and financial counseling allowances (at the
Company's cost), from the date of termination until the earlier of (A) such time
the Executive becomes eligible to participate in similar plans of another
employer and (B) the last day of the Term. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Cause" shall be defined as in Section 7(d)(ii) of the Prior Agreement.
10. Noncompetition and Confidentiality.
(a) Noncompetition. During the Term and during the one year
period (the "Restriction Period") following any resignation by the Executive of
his employment other than a resignation that results from a material breach of
this Agreement by the Company, the Executive shall not become associated with
any entity, whether as a principal, partner, employee, consultant or shareholder
(other than as a holder of 1% or less of the outstanding voting shares of any
publicly traded company) that is actively engaged in any consumer lending
business (including mortgage and credit card lending) (a "Competitive Entity").
An entity will not be considered a Competitive Entity if that entity and its
affiliates (or their predecessors) originated consumer loans in the most
recently completed calendar year in an amount less than $10 billion. This
noncompetition provision shall not apply to any person whose principal work
location with the Company is in California with respect to any activities such
person would undertake in California that would otherwise be in violation of
this noncompetition provision.
(b) Nonsolicitation. During the Restriction Period, (a) the
Executive will not directly or indirectly induce any employee of the Company or
its affiliates to terminate employment with any such entity, and shall not,
directly or indirectly, either individually or as owner, agent, employee,
consultant or otherwise, hire, employ or offer employment or assist in hiring,
employing or offering employment, to any person who is or was employed by the
Company or an affiliate unless such person shall have ceased to be employed by
such entity for a period of at least 6 months and (b) the Executive shall not
solicit the business of, or otherwise attempt to establish any business
relationship of a nature that is competitive with the business or relationship
of the Company or its subsidiaries with, any person or entity who was a
significant commercial customer or client of the Company or its subsidiaries,
within 6 months immediately prior to the date of the Executive's termination of
employment, including, without limitation, Saks, GM and their affiliates.
(c) Confidentiality. During and after the period of employment
with the Company, the Executive shall not, without prior written consent from
the Chief Executive Officer or the General Counsel of the Company, directly or
indirectly disclose to any individual, company or other entity, other than to
the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof or their officers, directors
or employees entitled to such information or any other person or entity to whom
such information is disclosed in the normal course of the business of the
Company) or use for the Executive's own benefit or for the benefit of any such
individual, company or other entity, any Confidential Information of the
Company. For purposes of this Agreement, "Confidential Information" is
information relating to the business of the Company or its subsidiaries or
affiliates (a) which is not generally known to the public or in the industry,
(b) which has been treated by the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates as
confidential or proprietary, (c) which provides the Company or its subsidiaries
or affiliates with a competitive advantage, and (d) in the confidentiality of
which the Company has a legally protectable interest. Confidential Information
which becomes generally known to the public or in the industry, or in the
confidentiality of which the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates cease
to have a legally protectable interest, shall cease to be subject to the
restrictions of this Paragraph 10(c).
(d) Company Property. Promptly following the Executive's
termination of employment, the Executive shall return to the Company all
property of the Company and all copies thereof in the Executive's possession or
under his control.
(e) Injunctive Relief with Respect to Covenants. The Executive
acknowledges and agrees that the covenants and obligations of the Executive with
respect to noncompetition, nonsolicitation and confidentiality and Company
property relate to special, unique and extraordinary matters and that a
violation of any of the terms of such covenants and obligations will cause the
Company irreparable injury for which adequate remedies are not available at law.
Therefore, the Executive agrees that the Company shall be entitled to an
injunction, restraining order or such other equitable relief (without the
requirement to post bond) restraining the Executive from committing any
violation of the covenants and obligations contained in this Paragraph 10. These
injunctive remedies are cumulative and are in addition to any other rights and
remedies the Company may have at law or in equity.
11. Duty to Mitigate. Subject to the Executive's obligations under
Paragraph 10 of this Agreement, upon a termination of the Executive's employment
by the Company other than for Cause, the Executive shall be required to
mitigate, on a tax-adjusted basis (including any deductions for repayment to the
Company), the amount of the Severance due hereunder as a result of such
termination by seeking employment comparable in terms of compensation, position
and location to the Executive's employment hereunder.
12. Status Under FDIC Regulations. The payments under this
Agreement, including without limitation pursuant to Paragraph 1 hereof, shall be
reduced to the extent required by the applicable Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation ("FDIC") regulations.
13. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure
to the benefit of the heirs and representatives of the Executive and the
successors and assigns of the Company. The Company shall require any successor
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, reorganization, consolidation,
acquisition of property or stock, liquidation, or otherwise) to all or a
substantial portion of its assets, by agreement in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Executive, expressly to assume and agree to perform this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be
required to perform this Agreement if no such succession had taken place.
Regardless of whether such an agreement is executed, this Agreement shall be
binding upon any successor of the Company in accordance with the operation of
law, and such successor shall be deemed the "Company" for purposes of this
Agreement.
14. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if
delivered by hand or by recognized commercial delivery service or if mailed
within the continental United States by first class certified mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
(1) If to the Board or the Company, to:
Household International, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
(2) If to the Executive, to the most recent address for the Executive on
the files of the Company.
Such addresses may be changed by written notice sent to the other party at the
last recorded address of that party.
15. Tax Withholding. The Company shall provide for the withholding
of any taxes required to be withheld by federal, state, or local law with
respect to any payment in cash, shares of stock and/or other property made by or
on behalf of the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive under this
Agreement or otherwise. The Company may, at its option: (a) withhold such taxes
from any cash payments owing from the Company to the Executive, (b) require the
Executive to pay to the Company in cash such amount as may be required to
satisfy such withholding obligations and/or (c) make other satisfactory
arrangements with the Executive to satisfy such withholding obligations.
16. No Assignment. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
this Agreement is not assignable by any Party and no payment to be made
hereunder shall be subject to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer,
assignment, pledge, encumbrance or other charge.
17. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the
Parties hereto in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to
be an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute one and the same
instrument, and all signatures need not appear on any one counterpart.
18. Jurisdiction and Governing Law. This Agreement shall be
construed and interpreted in accordance with and governed by the laws of the
State of Illinois, without regard to the conflict of laws provisions of such
laws.
19. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be
adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable
for any reason, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the
remainder of this Agreement. Furthermore, if the scope of any restriction or
requirement contained in this Agreement is too broad to permit enforcement of
such restriction or requirement to its full extent, then such restriction or
requirement shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law, and the
Executive consents and agrees that any court of competent jurisdiction may so
modify such scope in any proceeding brought to enforce such restriction or
requirement.
20. Prior Understandings. This Agreement embodies the entire
understanding of the parties hereto and supersedes all other oral or written
agreements or understandings between them regarding the subject matter hereof,
including the Prior Agreement. No change, alteration or modification hereof may
be made except in a writing, signed by each of the Parties hereto. The headings
in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not be
construed as part of this Agreement or to limit or otherwise affect the meaning
hereof.
21. Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective if and only
if the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) occurs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: /s/ X. X. Xxxxxxxx
--------------------------------
Title:
/s/ X. X. Xxxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
