1
EXHIBIT 10"M"
SEPARATION AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made and entered into by and between XXXXX X.
XXXXXXXX ("Xxxxxxxx") and GATX CORPORATION, its parents, divisions,
subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, directors, officers, trustees, successors
and assigns ("the Company").
1. Xxxxxxxx'x last day of work with the Company will be August 31,
2000. Xxxxxxxx will be paid his normal salary pursuant to the regular pay cycle
through and including March 31, 2001. Xxxxxxxx will also continue to receive all
health insurance coverage he is currently receiving as an active employee
through and including March 31, 2001. Xxxxxxxx'x eligibility for insurance
coverage under COBRA will commence as of April 1, 2001.
2. By September 30, 2000, Xxxxxxxx will receive a check in an amount
equal to his accrued unused vacation, if any, for calendar year 2000. Xxxxxxxx
will no longer accrue or otherwise be entitled to any vacation after calendar
year 2000.
3. Xxxxxxxx will continue to receive his current Company-paid financial
planning services through and including December 31, 2000 and his current car
allowance through and including March 31, 2001. Xxxxxxxx will no longer be
entitled to Company-paid financial planning services after December 31, 2000 nor
will he be entitled to a car allowance after March 31, 2001.
4. Xxxxxxxx will be eligible for a payment under the 2000 GATX
Management Incentive Plan pursuant to that Plan's normal provisions. Xxxxxxxx'x
eligibility for any, including a prorated, bonus award under the GATX Management
Incentive Plan terminates with the year 2000 Plan year.
5. Xxxxxxxx will be eligible for a payment under the Individual
Performance Units Plan for the 1998-2000 Performance Period pursuant to that
Plan's normal provisions. Xxxxxxxx'x entitlement to any, including prorated,
payments under the Individual Performance Units Plan terminates with the
1998-2000 Performance Period.
2
6. Stock options granted to Xxxxxxxx pursuant to the 1995 GATX
Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan will be treated in accordance with the
applicable stock options agreements, except that fifty percent (50%) of the
grant, i.e, 7,500 shares, dated March 10, 2000 will be allowed to vest on March
10, 2001. Xxxxxxxx will have ninety (90) days following March 31, 2001 to
exercise vested stock options. These provisions do not apply to the options
purchased by Xxxxxxxx on January 28, 2000 which vested immediately upon purchase
and which are exercisable for a ten-year term regardless of Xxxxxxxx'x
employment status. All stock options vesting in 2000 will be treated in
accordance with normal vesting procedures. All other stock options not vested on
or before March 31, 2001 will lapse.
7. Xxxxxxxx will continue to be eligible for and accrue benefits, if
applicable, under the Company-provided life insurance, disability, pension and
401(k) plans through and including March 31, 2001. As of April 1, 2001, all
benefits Xxxxxxxx received as of March 31, 2001 will cease and no longer accrue.
8. The Company will pay for twelve (12) months of outplacement services
for Xxxxxxxx at a mutually agreed-to outplacement consultant.
9. The Company will reimburse Xxxxxxxx for all reasonable reimbursable
business expenses incurred by Xxxxxxxx on or before August 31, 2000. Xxxxxxxx
agrees to timely submit all required expense reports and supporting
documentation.
10. The Company agrees to cover Xxxxxxxx under its Officers and
Directors liability insurance and to indemnify Xxxxxxxx for any liability,
attorneys fees and costs he incurs in the defense of any legal action arising
from Xxxxxxxx'x employment as an officer of the Company.
11. Xxxxxxxx agrees to assist the Company in prosecuting or defending
against any government investigations, legal proceedings, litigation or other
matters. Should Xxxxxxxx'x assistance be required on or before March 31, 2001,
the Company agrees to reimburse him for his reasonable expenses incurred in
providing such assistance. Should Xxxxxxxx'x assistance be required after March
31, 2001, the Company agrees to reimburse him for his reasonably incurred
expenses as well as for his time in excess of ten (10) hours at a mutually
agreed upon rate.
2
3
12. Xxxxxxxx agrees not to discuss or disclose the terms of this
Agreement except insofar as it is necessary for him to reveal the terms to his
attorney, accountant, financial planner or tax preparers, members of his
immediate family or as required by order of any duly authorized court or
tribunal.
13. Xxxxxxxx acknowledges that, during his tenure as General Counsel of
the Company, he became aware of business information including trade secrets,
developments, strategic plans and programs, cost of sales and products and the
customers of the Company, which, although possibly not covered by the
attorney-client privilege, are, nonetheless, confidential and proprietary to the
Company and that he is obligated to keep such information confidential following
his termination to the extent required by law.
14. Xxxxxxxx and current and future officers of the Company, while
acting as officers, agree that they will not take any action, or make any
statement, whether orally or in writing, which in any manner disparages or
impugns the reputation or goodwill of the Company (as defined above) or each
other.
15. Xxxxxxxx represents and warrants that he has returned to the
Company all Company keys, credit cards and Company documents in his possession,
whether in hard copy, disk or hard drive storage, including all copies of such
documents.
16. In exchange for the foregoing mutual benefits and payments,
Xxxxxxxx, for himself, his heirs, his executors and administrators and the
Company release and forever discharge each other from any and all claims,
demands, sums of money, contracts, controversies, agreements, promises, damages,
costs, causes of action and liabilities of any kind or character whatsoever,
from the beginning of time to the date of these presents, relating to Xxxxxxxx'x
employment at the Company, including the termination of such employment, except
insofar as it may be necessary to take action with respect to the enforcement of
this Agreement. This mutual release and covenant not to xxx includes, but is not
limited to, all claims which could have been raised under any local, state or
federal statute, ordinance, regulation and/or under any express or implied
contract and/or under common law.
3
4
17. With respect to the foregoing release and waiver insofar as it
relates to rights and claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act,
Xxxxxxxx acknowledges the following:
A. That the foregoing release and waiver is entered into
knowingly, voluntarily and with the opportunity for advice by
his personal attorney.
B. That the entitlements set forth in this Agreement exceed in
nature and scope that to which he would otherwise be legally
eligible to receive.
C. That nothing contained in this Agreement purports to release
any of Xxxxxxxx'x rights or claims that may arise after the
date of execution of this Agreement.
D. That this Agreement shall not give rise to any legal rights or
obligations with respect to any waiver of claims until
Xxxxxxxx is afforded a period of at least twenty-one (21)
calendar days within which to consider the terms of this
Agreement.
E. That Xxxxxxxx shall be afforded seven (7) calendar days
following the execution of this Agreement within which he may
revoke the Agreement insofar as it relates to the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act, and none of the terms and
provisions of this Agreement shall become effective or
enforceable with respect to any waiver of claims under the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act until such revocation period
has expired.
18. The parties stipulate and agree that the payments and benefits
Xxxxxxxx is to receive under the terms of this Agreement exceed any other
benefits to which Xxxxxxxx may be entitled and that Xxxxxxxx knowingly is
waiving any entitlement to any other future non-vested benefits not specified in
this Agreement in exchange for the benefits set forth above.
19. The parties hereby stipulate and agree that nothing contained in
this Agreement shall be construed as an admission of liability, culpability or
wrongdoing by either party.
4
5
20. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the
parties. No promises or agreements not contained in this Agreement shall be
binding unless set forth in writing and signed by all the parties.
21. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to
choice of law or conflict of law principles. The parties agree that any legal
proceeding relating to this Agreement will be instituted only in a federal or
state court in Xxxx County, Illinois, and the parties consent to the
jurisdiction of such courts for such actions.
22. Should any provision of this Agreement, in whole or in part, be
held invalid or unenforceable by operation of law or otherwise, all other
provisions shall remain in full force and effect and the parties agree that a
court may modify any provision to make it valid or enforceable in whole or in
part.
23. The parties agree that all of the benefits Xxxxxxxx is to receive
under this Agreement will pass to his legal heirs and that such heirs shall be
bound to the terms of this Agreement where applicable.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Termination
Agreement this 14th day of August, 2000.
8/14/00 /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
--------- ------------------------
Date Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
8/14/00 /s/ XXXX X. XXXXX
--------- ------------------------
Date GATX Corporation
By: Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Its: Vice President, Human Resources
5