EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.8
This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of June 2, 2011 is entered into by and among Lyondell Chemical Company, a Delaware corporation (the Company”) and Xxx Xxxxxxx (the “Executive”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Executive and Executive desires to accept such employment.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants set forth in this Agreement, it is hereby agreed as follows:
1. Employment. The Company agrees to employ Executive, and Executive agrees to be employed by the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Executive’s employment by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall commence on May 16, 2011 (or such earlier date agreed to by the parties hereto) (the “Effective Date”). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Executive shall be an at-will employee of the Company, which means either the Company or Executive may terminate Executive’s employment with the Company at any time for any reason, with or without Cause (as defined below).
2. Position, Duties and Location. While employed by the Company,
(a) Position and Duties. Executive shall serve as Senior Vice President, Olefins & Polyolefins—Americas of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (“Parent Company”) and its Subsidiaries (the “LBI Group”), with the duties and responsibilities customarily assigned to such positions (including, without limitation, responsibility for the oversight and management of the supply and marketing of olefins, polyolefins and their co-products and derivatives for the LBI Group) and such other customary duties as may reasonably be assigned to Executive from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer of the LBI Group (the “Chief Executive Officer”), consistent with such positions. Executive shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer. Executive shall be a member of the most senior management team of the LBI Group.
(b) Attention and Time. Executive shall devote substantially all his business attention and time to his duties hereunder and shall use his reasonable best efforts to carry out such duties faithfully and efficiently.
(c) Location. Executive’s principal place of employment shall be located in Houston, Texas; provided that Executive shall travel and shall render services at other locations, both as may reasonably be required by his duties hereunder.
3. Compensation.
(a) Signing Bonus. Executive shall receive $1,065,562 within five (5) business days of the Effective Date (the “Signing Bonus”). If Executive voluntarily terminates his employment without Good Reason (as defined below) prior to the first year anniversary of the Effective Date, Executive shall be obligated to repay to the Company the Signing Bonus and the Company may offset the repayment of any Accrued Amounts (as defined below) against such repayment obligation.
(b) Base Salary. While employed by the Company, Executive shall receive a base salary (the “Base Salary”) at an annual rate of not less than $450,000. Base Salary shall be paid at such times and in such manner as the Company customarily pays the base salaries of its employees. In the event that Executive’s Base Salary is increased by the Board (as defined below) in its discretion, such increased amount shall thereafter constitute the Base Salary.
(c) Annual Bonus. Executive shall be paid an annual cash bonus calculated in accordance with the Company’s short-term incentive plan as in effect from time to time (the “Annual Bonus”) based on the attainment of performance targets established by the Board. The Annual Bonus shall be targeted at not less than 75% of Base Salary (as in effect at the beginning of each such year). The actual amount of the Annual Bonus (if any) for any year shall depend on the level of achievement of the applicable performance criteria established with respect to such bonus by the Board in its discretion. The Annual Bonus shall be payable at such time as bonuses are paid to other senior executive officers of the Company and the payment terms shall comply with or be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A.
(d) Incentive Awards. With respect to each year of employment with the Company, Executive shall be eligible to receive a long-term incentive award in the form of an equity award with respect to the Parent Company’s common stock (the “Common Stock”), which award may consist of restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options, stock appreciation rights or other types of equity-based awards consistent with the Company’s long-term incentive program as in effect from time to time (the “LTI Plan), or any combination thereof, as determined by the Board in its discretion, consistent with the Company’s LTI Plan (the “LTI Award”) and/or a mid-term incentive award (“MTI Award”) with a targeted total collective value of not less than 150% of the aggregate amount of Base Salary earned by Executive during such calendar year, as determined by the Board in its discretion. The terms and conditions of the LTI Awards (including, without limitation, the form of awards, the purchase price (if any), vesting conditions, exercise rights, payment terms, termination provisions, transfer restrictions and repurchase rights) shall be determined in a manner consistent with the LTI Plan. The terms of an MTI Award shall be determined consistent with the Company’s mid-term incentive program as in effect from time to time (the “MTI Plan”). The payment terms under the MTI Plan and LTI Plan shall comply with or be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A.
(e) Employee Benefits. While employed by the Company, the Company shall provide, and Executive shall be entitled to participate in or receive benefits under any pension plan, profit sharing plan, stock option plan, stock purchase plan or arrangement, health, disability and accident plan or any other employee benefit plan or arrangement made available now or in
the future to senior executives of the Company; provided that Executive complies with the conditions attendant with coverage under such plans or arrangements. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 3(d) hereof), nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent the Company from modifying or terminating any plan or arrangement in existence on the date hereof, provided that no such modification or termination adversely affects any award or other entitlement previously granted to Executive. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Executive shall be entitled to no less than four (4) weeks of paid vacation per calendar year (pro-rated for the portion of the 2011 calendar year Executive is employed by the Company).
(f) Business Expenses. While employed by the Company, the Company shall promptly pay or, if such expenses are paid directly by Executive, Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement, for all reasonable expenses that Executive incurs during his employment with the Company in carrying out Executive’s duties under this Agreement, including, without limitation, those incurred in connection with business related travel or entertainment, upon presentation of expense statements and customary supporting documentation.
(g) Moving Expenses. The Company shall reimburse relocation expenses incurred by Executive in accordance with the Company’s U.S. Relocation – New Hire Homeowner Plan (“Relocation Policy”), which Relocation Policy shall be applied without reference to the requirement that the employee’s commute must increase by 50 miles.
4. Termination of Employment.
(a) Termination of Employment Without Cause or for Good Reason. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment without Cause and Executive may terminate his employment for Good Reason, in each case upon thirty (30) days prior written notice. In the event that, within five (5) years of the Effective Date, the Company terminates Executive’s employment without Cause (other than due to Executive’s disability) or Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to the following in lieu of any payments or benefits under any severance program or policy of the Company:
(i) any Accrued Amounts; and
(ii) subject to Executive’s execution of a general release of claims in favor of the Company and the LBI Group and any Affiliate and their respective current and former officers and directors in form and substance acceptable to the Company not more than twenty (20) days after the date of termination, a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to Executive’s then current annual Base Salary plus an amount equal to Executive’s target Annual Bonus for the year of termination, payable within thirty (30) days of termination.
(b) Other Termination Events. In the event that (i) the Company terminates Executive’s employment for Cause, (ii) Executive terminates his employment without Good Reason or (iii) Executive’s employment terminates due to his death or disability or for any other
reason not covered by Section 4(a) above, Executive (or, in the case of Executive’s death, Executive’s estate and/or beneficiaries) shall be entitled to any Accrued Amounts, but shall have no further right or entitlement under this Agreement to any other payments or benefits.
(c) Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:
(i) “Accrued Amounts” shall mean (A) unpaid Base Salary through the date of termination; (B) any earned but unpaid bonus for the prior fiscal year; (C) any expenses owed to Executive and (D) any benefits payable or provided in accordance with the terms of any employee benefit plan (including the MTI Plan and the LTI Plan, but specifically excluding any plan or program providing severance or termination pay) in which Executive participates.
(ii) “Affiliate” of a person or other entity shall mean: a person or other entity that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the person or other entity specified.
(iii) “Board” shall mean the Supervisory Board of the Parent Company (or a duly authorized committee thereof).
(iv) “Cause” shall mean: (A) Executive’s continuing failure (except where due to physical or mental incapacity) to substantially perform his duties hereunder; (B) Executive’s willful malfeasance or gross neglect in the performance of his duties; (C) Executive’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; (D) the commission by Executive of an act of fraud or embezzlement against the Company or any Affiliate; or (E) Executive’s willful breach of any material provision of this Agreement (as determined in good faith by the Board) which is not remedied within fifteen (15) after written notice is received from the Company specifying such breach.
(v) “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence, without Executive’s express written consent, of: (A) an adverse change in Executive’s employment’s title or change in Executive’s duty to report directly to the Chief Executive Officer; (B) a material diminution in Executive’s employment duties, responsibilities or authority, or the assignment to Executive of duties that are materially inconsistent with his position; (C) any material reduction in Base Salary, or Annual Bonus target as set forth in Section 3(c); or (D) any willful breach by the Company of any material provision of this Agreement (including but not limited to any breach of its obligations under Section 3 hereof) which is not cured within fifteen (15) days after written notice is received from Executive specifying such breach.
(vi) “Subsidiary” of the Parent Company shall mean: any corporation, limited liability company, joint venture or partnership, in which the Parent Company (or its direct or indirect Subsidiary) holds more than 50 percent of the equity interest.
5. Confidentiality of Trade Secrets and Business Information. Executive agrees that Executive shall not, at any time during Executive’s employment with the Company or thereafter, disclose or use any trade secret, proprietary or confidential information of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Parent Company (collectively, “Confidential Information”), obtained by him during the course of such employment, except for (i) disclosures and uses required in the course of such employment or with the written permission of the Company, (ii) disclosures with respect to any litigation, arbitration or mediation involving this Agreement, including but not limited to, the enforcement of Executive’s rights under this Agreement, or (iii) as may be required by law or by any court, arbitrator, mediator or administrative or legislative body (including any committee thereof) with apparent jurisdiction to order such disclosure; provided that, if, in any circumstance described in clause (iii), Executive receives notice that any third party shall seek to compel him by process of law to disclose any Confidential Information, Executive shall promptly notify the Company and provide reasonable cooperation to the Company (at the Company’s sole expense) in seeking a protective order against such disclosure. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Confidential Information” shall not include information that is or becomes publicly known outside the Parent Company or the Company or any of their subsidiaries other than due to a breach of Executive’s obligations under this paragraph.
6. Return of Information. Executive agrees that at the time of any termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, whether at the instance of Executive or the Company, and regardless of the reasons therefore, Executive shall deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense), any and all notes, files, memoranda, papers and, in general, any and all physical (including electronic) matter containing Confidential Information (other than as he properly is retaining in connection with an action or other proceeding as noted in clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 5) which are in Executive’s possession, except as otherwise consented in writing by the Company at the time of such termination. The foregoing shall not prevent Executive from retaining copies of personal diaries, personal notes, personal address books, personal calendars, and any other personal information (including, without limitation, information relating to Executive’s compensation), but only to the extent such copies do not contain any Confidential Information other than that which relates directly to Executive, including his compensation.
7. Noninterference. In consideration for the compensation payable to Executive under this Agreement, Executive agrees that Executive shall not, during Executive’s employment with the Company (other than in carrying out his duties hereunder) and for a period of one (1) year after any termination of employment: (i) directly or indirectly recruit, solicit or induce, any employee, consultant or independent contractor of the Parent Company or any Subsidiary, to terminate, alter or modify such person’s employment or other relationship with the Parent Company or any Subsidiary, or (ii) directly or indirectly solicit any then current customer or business partner of the Parent Company or any Subsidiary to terminate, alter or modify its relationship with the Parent Company or the Subsidiary or to interfere with the Parent Company’s or any Subsidiary’s relationships with any of its customers or business partners on behalf of any enterprise that is a competitor with the Parent Company or a Subsidiary.
8. Enforcement. Executive acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the purpose of the covenants set forth in Sections 5 through 7 above (the “Restrictive Covenants”) is to protect the goodwill, trade secrets and other confidential information of the Parent Company and its Subsidiaries; (ii) because of the nature of the business in which the Parent Company is engaged and because of the nature of the Confidential Information to which Executive has access, it would be impractical and excessively difficult to determine the actual damages of the Parent Company in the event Executive breached any such covenants; and (iii) remedies at law (such as monetary damages) for any breach of Executive’s obligations under the Restrictive Covenants would be inadequate. Executive therefore agrees and consents that if Executive commits any breach of a Restrictive Covenant, the Company shall have the right (in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other right or remedy that may be available to it) to temporary and permanent injunctive relief from a court of competent jurisdiction, without posting any bond or other security and without the necessity of proof of actual damage. If any portion of the Restrictive Covenants is hereafter determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such determination shall not affect the remainder thereof, which shall be given the maximum effect possible and shall be fully enforced, without regard to the invalid portions. In particular, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the covenants set forth in Section 7 are found by a court or an arbitrator to be unreasonable, Executive and the Company agree that the maximum period, scope or geographical area that is found to be reasonable shall be substituted for the stated period, scope or area, and that the court or arbitrator shall revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period, scope and area permitted by law. If any of the Restrictive Covenants are determined to be wholly or partially unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such determination shall not be a bar to or in any way diminish the Company’s right to enforce any such covenant in any other jurisdiction.
9. Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify Executive against any and all losses, liabilities, damages, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement incurred by Executive in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding (whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative), including any action by or in the right of the Company, by reason of any act or omission to act in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder or otherwise arising out of his employment by the Company, on term and conditions no less favorable to Executive than any other officer or director of the Company, to the extent permitted by applicable law.
10. Arbitration. In the event that any dispute arises between the Company and Executive regarding or relating to this Agreement and/or any aspect of Executive’s employment relationship with the Company, the parties consent to resolve such dispute through mandatory arbitration in Houston, Texas (or such other location as shall be mutually agreed between the parties) administered by JAMS pursuant to its Employment Arbitration Rules & Procedures and subject to JAMS Policy on Employment Arbitration Minimum Standards of Procedural Fairness. The parties hereby consent to the entry of judgment upon award rendered by the arbitrator in any court of competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, should adequate grounds exist for seeking immediate injunctive or immediate equitable relief, any party may seek and obtain such relief. The parties hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and Federal courts of or in the State of Texas for purposes of seeking such injunctive or equitable relief as set forth above.
11. Executive and Company Representations.
(a) Executive acknowledges that before signing this Agreement, Executive was given the opportunity to read it, evaluate it and discuss it with Executive’s personal advisors. Executive further acknowledges that the Company has not provided Executive with any legal advice regarding this Agreement.
(b) Executive represents and warrants to the Company that the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the fulfillment of the terms hereof (i) shall not constitute a default under, or conflict with, any agreement or other instrument to which he is a party or by which he is bound and (ii) as to his execution and delivery of this Agreement do not require the consent of any other person.
(c) The Company represents and warrants to Executive that (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company has been fully and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action, (ii) the person signing this Agreement on behalf of the Company is duly authorized to do so, (iii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement does not violate any applicable law, regulation, order, judgment or decree or any agreement, plan or corporate governance document to which the Company or the Parent Company is a party or by which it is bound and (iv) upon execution and delivery of this Agreement by the parties, it shall be a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally.
12. Notices. All notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when delivered (i) personally, (ii) by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid with return receipt requested, (iii) by facsimile with evidence of completed transmission, or (iv) delivered by overnight courier to the party concerned at the address indicated below or to such changed address as such party may subsequently give such notice of:
If to the Company:
Lyondell Chemical Company
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
0000 XxXxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Fax: (000) 000 0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, President and Chief Executive Officer
If to Executive:
Xxx Xxxxxxx
13. Assignment and Successors. This Agreement is personal in its nature and none of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the others, assign or transfer this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder; provided, however, that in the event of a merger, consolidation, or transfer or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company with or to any other individual(s) or entity, this Agreement shall, subject to the provisions hereof, be binding upon and inure to the benefit of such successor and such successor shall discharge and perform all the promises, covenants, duties, and obligations of the Company hereunder, and such transferee or successor shall be required to assume such obligations by contract (unless such assumption occurs by operation of law). Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, Executive shall be entitled to select (and change, to the extent permitted under any applicable law) a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive any compensation or benefit payable hereunder following Executive’s death or judicially determined incompetence by giving the Company written notice thereof. In the event of Executive’s death or a judicial determination of his incompetence, reference in this Agreement to Executive shall be deemed, where appropriate, to refer to his beneficiary, estate or other legal representative.
14. Governing Law; Amendment. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a written agreement executed by Executive and the Company or their respective successors and legal representatives.
15. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable in part, the remaining portion of such provision, together with all other provisions of this Agreement, shall remain valid and enforceable and continue in full force and effect to the fullest extent consistent with law.
16. Tax Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company may withhold from amounts payable under this Agreement all federal, state, local and foreign taxes that are required to be withheld by applicable laws or regulations.
17. No Waiver. Executive’s or the Company’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of, or to assert any right under, this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or of any other provision of or right under this Agreement. Any provision of this Agreement may be waived by the parties hereto; provided that any waiver by any person of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective only if in writing and signed by each party and such waiver must specifically refer to this Agreement and to the terms or provisions being modified or waived.
18. Section 409A. This Agreement is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A with respect to amounts, if any, subject thereto and shall be interpreted and construed and shall be performed by the parties consistent with such intent. To the extent Executive would otherwise be entitled to any payment under this Agreement, or any plan or
arrangement of the Company or its Affiliates, that constitutes a “deferral of compensation” subject to Section 409A and that if paid during the six (6) months beginning on the Date of Termination of Executive’s employment would be subject to the Section 409A additional tax because Executive is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A and as determined by the Company), the payment will be paid to Executive on the earlier of the six (6) month anniversary of his Date of Termination or death. To the extent Executive would otherwise be entitled to any benefit (other than a payment) during the six (6) months beginning on termination of Executive’s employment that would be subject to the Section 409A additional tax, the benefit will be delayed and will begin being provided on the earlier of the first day following the six (6) month anniversary of Executive’s Date of Termination or death. Any payment or benefit due upon a termination of employment that represents a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A shall be paid or provided only upon a “separation from service” as defined in Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h). Each payment made under this Agreement shall be deemed to be a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A. Amounts payable under this Agreement shall be deemed not to be a “deferral of compensation” subject to Section 409A to the extent provided in the exceptions in Treasury Regulation §§ 1.409A-1(b)(4) (“short-term deferrals”) and (b)(9) (“separation pay plans,” including the exception under subparagraph (iii)) and other applicable provisions of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1 through A-6.
19. Headings. The Section headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and in no manner shall be construed as part of this Agreement.
20. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and, except for matters described in Section 5, 6 or 7 hereof, shall supersede all prior agreements, whether written or oral, with respect thereto.
21. Duration of Terms. The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall survive any termination of Executive’s employment to the extent necessary to give effect to such rights and obligations.
22. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive and the Company have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.
| LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | ||
| Title: President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Xxx Xxxxxxx | ||
