EXHIBIT 10.11a
AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT AND
GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS
This Amendment to Employment Agreement and General Release of Claims (the
"Amendment and Release") is entered into by and between Gartner, Inc. a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx (the "Executive") and dated
as of April 29, 2004 (the "Effective Date"). This Amendment and Release amends
the Employment Agreement between the Company and Executive (the "Parties"),
dated August 27, 2002 and effective as of October 1, 2002 (the "Employment
Agreement"). Other than as specifically stated herein, the Employment Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect. To the extent that any term or provision
of this Amendment and Release is inconsistent with the Employment Agreement,
such term or provision of this Amendment and Release shall govern.
In consideration of the promises set forth in this Amendment and Release, the
Parties hereby agree as follows:
I. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
A. Executive and the Company hereby agree that Executive shall resign
from his position as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and
any and all appointments he holds with any affiliates or subsidiaries of the
Company, whether as officer, director, employee, consultant, agent or otherwise,
shall cease, as of October 30, 2004 (the "Termination Date"). Effective as of
the Termination Date, Executive shall have no authority to act on behalf of the
Company or any of its respective affiliates or subsidiaries, and shall not hold
himself out as having such authority or otherwise act in an executive or other
decision making capacity. The Company shall announce the termination of
Executive's employment on April 29, 2004 (the "Announcement Date"). From the
Effective Date through the Termination Date, Executive shall continue to receive
salary and all benefits and perquisites to which he was entitled immediately
prior to the Announcement Date and, unless otherwise instructed by the Board of
Directors of the Company (the "Board") in accordance with the following
sentence, Executive shall continue to function as the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, at the
written request of the Board at any time on or following the Announcement Date
and prior to the Termination Date, (i) Executive shall step down from the
position of Chairman of the Board, (ii) Executive shall step down from the
position of director, but only if he has stepped down from the position of Chief
Executive Officer in accordance with the following clause (iii) and (iii)
Executive shall step down from the position of Chief Executive Officer of the
Company and shall have only such duties, responsibilities and authorities as are
assigned to him by the Board (any such duties shall be reasonable in light of
the nature of Executive's prior service to the Company), but he shall remain an
employee of the Company through the Termination Date. In addition,
notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, Executive shall not be
required to relocate his place of employment if such relocation would be within
the definition of "Constructive Termination" under the Employment Agreement.
B. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Board may
terminate Executive's employment at any time for Business Reasons in accordance
with Section 8(a) of the Employment Agreement provided that the event, action,
or omission that constitutes the applicable Business Reason has resulted in or
is reasonably likely to result in material injury to the reputation or business
of the Company. Upon a termination for Business Reasons in accordance with the
preceding sentence, Executive shall be deemed to have failed to abide by the
material terms of this Amendment and Release.
C. On the Termination Date, Executive agrees to execute a release
identical in substance to the release contained in Section VI below, covering
the time period from the Effective Date through the
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Termination Date; provided, however, the Parties agree to modify the release to
comply with any new laws which may become applicable. If Executive refuses to
sign such a release, Executive shall be deemed to have failed to abide by the
material terms of this Amendment and Release. Executive represents and warrants
that Executive will not obtain the age of 40 until December 18, 2004.
II. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ENTITLEMENTS
In lieu of all payments and benefits specified in Sections 5, 6(a), and 7
of the Employment Agreement (other than the gross-up payment provided in Section
7(c)(ii)), the Company shall provide Executive the following payments and
benefits:
A. Executive's "Base Salary" and "PTO" (each as defined in the
Employment Agreement) through the Announcement Date in accordance with the
Company's regular payroll procedures plus a single lump sum payment of
$3,001,811. The lump sum payment will be made within ten days of the
Announcement Date.
B. A payment on the date Executive ceases to serve as Chief Executive
Officer (the "CEO Step-Down Date") in an amount equal to $1,300,000 minus the
sum of (1) amounts paid as cash compensation (other than amounts paid under
Section II.A above) from the Announcement Date through the CEO Step-Down Date
and (2) amounts to be paid as cash compensation in the form of salary from the
CEO Step-Down Date through the Termination Date, provided that (i) Executive
continues to perform his duties in good faith through the CEO Step-Down Date and
(ii) Executive has not breached any material provision of the Employment
Agreement or this Amendment and Release through the CEO Step-Down Date.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall forfeit the payment to be made on
the CEO Step-Down Date under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence only if
Executive's breach is not cured within ten days of notice from the Company
informing Executive of the breach.
C. Continuation of group health benefits (1) for two years following
the Termination Date (or until Executive obtains other employment, if earlier),
at the Company's cost pursuant to the Company's standard programs as in effect
from time to time (or at the Company's election, substantially similar health
benefits as in effect at the Termination Date through a third party carrier) for
Executive, his spouse and any children, and, (2) thereafter, to the extent COBRA
shall be applicable to the Company and such persons are then eligible for COBRA,
continuation of health benefits for such persons at Executive's cost, for a
period of 18 months or such longer period as may be applicable under the
Company's policies then in effect, provided the Executive makes the appropriate
election and payments.
D. Accelerated vesting of all outstanding stock options, TARPs and
other equity arrangements granted to Executive prior to October 1, 2002 and held
by Executive on the Termination Date (specifically including the option grants
listed below in this paragraph and the restricted stock granted to Executive on
January 28, 1999), such that the awards shall become fully vested on the
Termination Date. In addition, the options shall remain exercisable as follows:
(i) with respect to options granted to Executive on October 13, 1998, October 9,
1997, April 24, 1997, February 24, 1997, October 10, 1996, and November 17,
1995, until October 29, 2007, and (ii) with respect to options granted to
Executive on October 2, 2001, November 9, 1999, September 30, 1999, and October
5, 1994, until October 29, 2005. The Parties acknowledge that all of the options
granted prior to October 2, 2001 are vested and exercisable as of the Effective
Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no option may be exercised following the
expiration of its ten-year term.
E. Continued vesting of all outstanding stock options granted to
Executive on or following October 1, 2002 and held by Executive on the
Termination Date (specifically including the option grants listed below in this
paragraph), in accordance with their stated vested schedules through October 29,
2006.
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The options granted to Executive on each of October 10, 2002 and October 1, 2003
shall remain exercisable until October 29, 2007.
F. Reasonable office support as mutually agreed, for one year following
the Termination Date.
As of and after the Termination Date, Executive shall no longer
participate in, accrue service credit or have contributions made on his behalf
under any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company in respect of periods
commencing on and following the Termination Date, including without limitation,
any plan which is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Executive shall be entitled to all benefits
accrued up to the Termination Date, to the extent vested under all employee
benefit plans of the Company, in accordance with the terms of such plans.
III. NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENt
A. Notwithstanding the covenants contained in Section 12 of the
Employment Agreement, the Company shall take into reasonable consideration any
request by Executive to waive such covenants in situations in which the Company
reasonably determines that it would not be likely to be materially harmed by
such waiver. The Company agrees that the initial discussion to consider any such
waiver of this provision shall commence with Executive and the Chairman of the
Governance Committee of the Board. The Company shall be under no obligation to
act or refrain from acting in response to any request for waiver by Executive
pursuant to this Section IV.
B. Executive acknowledges that if Executive breaches the covenants
contained in Section 12 of the Employment Agreement, Executive shall be deemed
to have failed to abide by the material terms of this Amendment and Release.
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IV. NONDISPARAGEMENT
Executive agrees to not disparage, defame, or slander the Company,
its directors, or its executive officers. The Company agrees to instruct its
directors and executive officers to not disparage, defame, or slander Executive,
and the Company will take reasonable measures to cause its directors and
executive officers to not do so.
V. PRESS RELEASE AND PUBLIC STATEMENTS
The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Company will issue a
press release in the form attached as Exhibit A following the execution of this
Amendment and Release by the Parties. In addition, any other press release made
by the Company or Executive prior to the CEO Step-Down Date that references
Executive's termination shall be subject to the advance review and approval of
the other Party, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
VI. ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND RELEASE
Executive on his own behalf and on behalf of his successors,
assigns, legal representatives, heirs, executors and administrators
(collectively, the "Executive Releasor"), does hereby remise, release, absolve
and discharge, the Company, all of its respective successors and assigns,
subsidiaries and legal representatives (in their capacities as such), past and
present, and all of its respective directors, officers, shareholders, agents,
employees, attorneys, successors, assigns, legal representatives, heirs,
executors and administrators, past and present, and each and every one of them,
in their individual and corporate capacities as such (collectively, the "Company
Releasee"), from any and all manner of claims, demands, liens, agreements,
contracts, covenants, promises, actions, suits, causes of action, controversies,
obligations, debts, sums of money, accounts, attorneys' fees, damages,
judgments, executions, orders and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law,
equity or otherwise, whether presently known or unknown, suspected or
unsuspected, (collectively, "Claims"), including, without limitation, any
complaint, charge or cause of action (1) arising out of his employment with the
Company and any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (the "Company Group"), (2)
arising out of his right to purchase, or actual purchase of shares of stock of
the Company, including without limitation, any claims for fraud,
misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of duty under applicable
state corporate law, and securities fraud under any state or federal law, (3)
for wrongful discharge of employment, termination in violation of public policy,
discrimination, breach of contract, both express and implied, breach of a
covenant of good faith and fair dealing, both express and implied, promissory
estoppel, negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent
or intentional misrepresentation, negligent or intentional interference with
contract or prospective economic advantage, unfair business practices,
defamation, libel, slander, negligence, personal injury, assault, battery,
invasion of privacy, false imprisonment, and conversion, (4) for a violation of
the federal, or any state constitution, (5) for, or to recover, attorneys' fees,
and (6) for a violation of any federal, state, or municipal statute, including,
but not limited to, the National Labor Relations Act, the Civil Rights Act of
1991, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, Title VII of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, all as amended, which Executive Releasor now owns or holds
or has at any time heretofore owned or held, or hereafter can, shall or may
have, as against the Company Releasee, or any of them, from the beginning of the
world to the Effective Date, except that any Claims that arise under or are in
connection with (x) the obligations of the Company to Executive Releasor under
this Amendment and Release or the Employment Agreement, (y) any ordinary
commercial liabilities or obligations of any Company Releasee that is a
shareholder, officer or director may have to Executive Releasor as of the date
hereof that are entirely unrelated to (i) the Company Group and (ii) the conduct
of any Company Releasee in holding, owning or managing any interests of the
Company Group and (z) any claims against the Company that Executive Releasor may
have for indemnification under the By-Laws of the Company as in
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effect on the date hereof, the laws of the State of Delaware or any insurance
coverage maintained by or on behalf of the Company for Executive with respect to
his service as an officer and/or director of the Company or any member of the
Company Group.
VII. AVAILABILITY OF RELIEF
A. In the event that Executive fails to abide by any of the material
terms of this Amendment and Release following notice of such failure by the
Company and a reasonable opportunity to cure, the Company may, in addition to
any other remedies it may have, terminate any benefits or payments that are
subsequently due under this Amendment and Release, without waiving the release
granted herein.
B. Executive and the Company each acknowledges and agrees that the
remedy at law available to the Company and Executive, respectively, for breach
by the other of any of his or its obligations under this Amendment and Release,
including but not limited to his and its obligations under Sections III, IV, and
V of this Amendment and Release, would be inadequate and that damages flowing
from such a breach may not readily be susceptible to being measured in monetary
terms. Accordingly, Executive and the Company each acknowledges, consents and
agrees that, in addition to any other rights or remedies which the Company or
Executive, respectively, may have at law, in equity or under this Amendment and
Release, upon adequate proof of his or its violation of any such provision of
this Amendment and Release, the Company or Executive, as applicable, shall be
entitled to immediate injunctive relief and may obtain a temporary order
restraining any threatened or further breach, without the necessity of proof of
actual damage.
VIII. MISCELLANEOUS
A. Notices. Any notice given pursuant to this Amendment and Release to
any party hereto shall be deemed to have been duly given when mailed by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by overnight courier,
or when hand delivered as follows:
If to the Company:
Gartner, Inc.
56 Top Xxxxxxx Xxxx
X.X. Xxx 00000
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
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With a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C.
000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
If to Executive:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx. 0X
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
With a copy to:
Xxxx, Weiss, Rifkind, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx
1285 Avenue of the Americas
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
or at such other address as either party shall from time to time designate by
written notice, in the manner provided herein, to the other party hereto.
B. Successor. This Amendment and Release shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the Parties, their respective heirs, successors and
assigns.
C. Taxes. Executive shall be responsible for the payment of any and all
required federal, state, local and foreign taxes incurred, or to be incurred, in
connection with any amounts payable to Executive under this Amendment and
Release. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Amendment and Release, the
Company may withhold from amounts payable under this Amendment and Release all
federal, state, local and foreign taxes that are required to be withheld by
applicable laws and regulations.
D. Severability. In the event that any provision of this Amendment and
Release is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms and
conditions of this Amendment and Release shall be unaffected and shall remain in
full force and effect. In addition, if any provision is determined to be invalid
or unenforceable due to its duration and/or scope, the duration and/or scope of
such provision, as the case may be, shall be reduced, such reduction shall be to
the smallest extent necessary to comply with applicable law, and such provision
shall be enforceable, in its reduced form, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law.
E. Counterparts. This Amendment and Release may be executed by one or
more of the Parties hereto on any number of separate counterparts and all such
counterparts shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument. Each party
hereto confirms that any facsimile copy of such party's executed counterpart of
this Amendment and Release (or its signature page thereof) shall be deemed to be
an executed original thereof.
F. Non-Admission. Nothing contained in this Amendment and Release shall
be deemed or construed as an admission of wrongdoing or liability on the part of
Executive or on the part of the Company.
G. No Mitigation. Executive shall not be required to mitigate the
amount of any payment provided for pursuant to this Amendment and Release by
seeking other employment and, to the extent that
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Executive obtains or undertakes other employment, the payment shall not be
reduced by the earnings of Executive from the other employment.
H. Governing Law/Dispute Resolution. This Amendment and Release shall
be governed by, and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State
of New York, applicable to contracts made and performed wholly within such state
by residents thereof. The dispute resolution mechanism set forth in Section
13(g) of the Employment Agreement shall apply to disputes between the parties
regarding this Amendment and Release.
I. Legal Fees. The Company will pay directly the reasonable fees and
expenses (not to exceed a total of $25,000) of counsel retained by Executive in
connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment and
Release, but only if this Amendment and Release actually are executed. The
payment of such fees and expenses shall be treated by the Company as a "working
condition fringe" under Section 132(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, unless required otherwise by the Internal Revenue Service or applicable
authority issued subsequent to the Effective Date.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment and
Release on April 29, 2004.
GARTNER, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X.Xxxx, Xx.
-----------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Xx.
on behalf of the Compensation Committee
EXECUTIVE
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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