Re: Separation Agreement (“Agreement”)
Exhibit
99.1
![](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1340354/000114420407005387/logo.jpg)
February
5, 2007
Xxxxxx
Xxxx
[address
omitted]
[address
omitted]
Re: Separation
Agreement (“Agreement”)
Dear
Xxx:
This
letter will constitute the Agreement between you and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Partners
LLC
(“TWP”) on the terms of your separation from, and future consulting with, the
firm. If you do not sign and return this Agreement by February 27,
2007, the
entire Agreement by and between you and TWP is null and void. This Agreement
shall become effective on the “Effective Date,” as defined in Section
12.
1. |
Your
last day of work as an employee at TWP will be April 2, 2007. On
April 2,
2007 you will step down as the Chief Financial Officer of Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Partners Group, Inc. In addition, on April 2, 2007, you will step
down as
a member of all committees or boards associated with TWP’s affiliates or
subsidiaries. Until April 2, 2007, you will continue to function
in all
respects as the Chief Financial Officer of Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Partners
Group,
Inc., including, as required by the firm, by executing officer’s
certificates, public filings and financial reports of Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Partners Group, Inc. and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Partners
LLC.
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2. |
You
will return to us any building key, security pass, or other access
or
identification cards and any firm property that is currently in your
possession, including any documents, credit cards, computer equipment
and
mobile phones by April 2, 2007.
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3. |
In
consideration of your acceptance of this Agreement, we will pay you
in
consideration of your working at TWP from the date of this Agreement
through April 2, 2007, the amounts identified on Schedule
A.
In addition, we will reimburse you for the COBRA related costs for
continuation of your benefits through the earlier of the day you
begin
employment with a new employer or June 30, 2007. Except as explicitly
described in this Agreement, you will receive no other compensation
(including bonuses or salary payments) from TWP in consideration
of your
employment with TWP.
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Xxxxxx
Xxxx
February
5, 2007
4. |
TWP
waives, releases, and discharges you of and from any and all debts,
claims, liabilities, demands, and causes of action of every kind
or
nature, other than those arising from willful violation of law or
policy
of TWP, which have arisen or could have arisen prior to the date
of the
Agreement and were in any way related to your employment with TWP.
TWP
further agrees that you shall be entitled to indemnification for
any
losses or expenses incurred in accordance with Section 2802 of the
California Labor Code as an employee or a
consultant.
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5. |
On
behalf of yourself and your representatives, agents, heirs and assigns,
you waive, release, discharge and promise never to assert any and
all
claims, liabilities or obligations of every kind and nature, whether
known
or unknown, suspected or unsuspected that you ever had, now have
or might
have as of the date you sign this Agreement against us, our predecessors,
subsidiaries, affiliates, related entities, partners, officers, managers,
directors, shareholders, agents, attorneys, employees, successors,
or
assigns.
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The
released claims include, without limitation, any claims arising from
or
related to your employment with us, the separation of your employment
with
us, all compensation related to your employment with us and/or the
execution of this Agreement. The claims also specifically include,
without
limitation, any claims arising under any federal, state and local
statutory or common law, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act,
federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended, the California
Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Americans With Disabilities
Act, the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Fair Labor Standards
Act, the
California Labor Code (all as amended), the law of contract and tort,
and
any claim for attorneys' fees.
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You and TWP waive and release
and promise
never to assert any such claims, even if you or TWP do not know or
believe
that you or TWP have such claims. You and TWP therefore each waive
your
and TWP’s respective rights under section 1542 of the California Civil
Code, which states:
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A
general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does
not know
or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release,
which if known to him must have materially affected his settlement
with
the debtor.
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In
short, you and TWP agree that neither you nor TWP will bring any
lawsuits
or claims of any kind against the other or any of TWP’s affiliates or
related entities and will not accept the benefits of any lawsuits
or
claims of any kind brought on your behalf or on our behalf, against
you or
against TWP or any of TWP’s affiliates or related entities,
respectively.
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Xxxxxx
Xxxx
February
5, 2007
6. |
Unless
required by court order or law, you will not disclose to anyone any
information regarding the terms of this Agreement, the benefits being
paid
to you under it or the fact that a payment was made to you, except
that
you may disclose this information to your spouse, attorney, accountant
or
other professional advisor to whom you must make the disclosure in
order
for them to render professional services to you. In such circumstances,
however, you will instruct them to maintain the confidentiality of
this
information just as you must.
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7. |
You
will not disclose to anyone any confidential or other information
regarding our practices, procedures, trade secrets, customer lists
or
marketing strategies, without prior written permission from our General
Counsel or unless required by court order or subpoena.
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8. |
You
agree that you will not make any disparaging comments to anyone,
in any
manner, likely to be harmful to the personal or business reputation
of
TWP, or its officers, directors, partners or any related business
entity,
provided however that nothing in this paragraph is intended to prevent
you
from testifying in a truthful and accurate manner in response to
any
questions, inquiry, or request for information when required to do
so by any legal process.
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Similarly, TWP agrees to instruct
its
Executive Committee members not to make any disparaging comments
to
anyone, in any manner, likely to be harmful to your personal or business
reputation, provided however that nothing in this paragraph is intended
to
prevent TWP or any of its Executive Committee or other employees
from
testifying in a truthful or accurate manner in response to any questions,
inquiry, or request for information when required to do so by any
legal
process.
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9. |
You
agree that you may be asked to assist TWP or its legal counsel, in
connection with litigation or other legal proceedings to which TWP
is a
party or in which TWP is obligated to provide responsive information.
In
all such cases, upon request of TWP and at its expense, you agree to
make yourself available and to cooperate fully,
including voluntarily providing information to TWP or its legal
counsel.
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10. |
With
the exception of a suit for injunctive or equitable relief or if
prohibited by law, in the event that a dispute arises concerning
the
interpretation or enforcement of this Agreement, or any other related
matter, you and we agree that any such dispute shall be resolved
by a
three-member arbitration panel in accordance with the employment
dispute
resolution rules of the American Arbitration Association. You and
we
therefore specifically waive any right to a jury trial on any such
disputes. Except as prohibited by law, the losing party in any such
dispute shall pay all of the winning party's costs, including any
arbitrator or administrative fees and reasonable attorneys' fees.
Any
arbitration shall be held in San Francisco, California and this Agreement
will in all respects be interpreted and governed under the laws of
the
State of California.
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Xxxxxx
Xxxx
February
5, 2007
11. |
Except
as set forth in this Separation Agreement, there are no representations,
promises or understandings between you and us about or pertaining
to the
separation of your employment with us, or our obligations to you
with
respect to your employment or any other matter mentioned above. Therefore,
this Separation Agreement supersedes any prior written or oral
representations, promises, agreements and understandings regarding
any of
the matters discussed above.
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12. |
Pursuant
to the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, in signing this Agreement
you
acknowledge that: (i) you have been advised to consult with an attorney
prior to executing this Agreement and that you have, in fact, been
advised
by counsel; (ii) you have up to twenty-one (21) days from receipt
of this
Agreement to consider your decision to sign it, although you acknowledge
that it may be returned prior to that time frame if desired; (iii)
you are
entering into this Agreement freely and voluntarily; (iv) you will
receive, pursuant to this Agreement, consideration in addition to
anything
of value to which you are already entitled; (v) you have the right
to
revoke this Agreement by notifying the undersigned TWP representative
in
writing within seven (7) days following the date of your execution
of this
Agreement; and (vi) this Agreement shall not become effective or
enforceable until the revocation period has expired (the “Effective
Date”).
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[Signature
page follows.]
Xxxxxx
Xxxx
February
5, 2007
I
am
pleased that you were able to part ways with us on these amicable terms. We
wish
you every success in your future endeavors.
Sincerely,
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx General
Counsel
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By
signing this letter, I acknowledge that I have carefully reviewed and considered
this Agreement; that I understand the terms of the Agreement; and that I
voluntarily agree to them.
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx Date:
February 5, 2007
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