RETIREMENT AGREEMENT
THIS
RETIREMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of
January 17, 2008 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Xxxxxxx Group Inc. (the
“Company”) and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx (the “Executive”).
W
I T N E S S E T
H:
WHEREAS,
the Executive and the Company are parties to that certain Employment Agreement
dated effective as of June 1, 2005, as amended (the “Prior
Agreement”);
WHEREAS,
the Executive has expressed his desire to retire from employment with the
Company and its affiliates;
WHEREAS,
the parties mutually desire to arrange for the Executive’s retirement from
employment with the Company and its affiliates at a future date under the terms
herein set forth;
WHEREAS,
in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, the Executive
voluntarily enters into this Agreement upon the terms and conditions herein
set
forth; and
WHEREAS,
in consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, the Executive and
the
Company voluntarily and willingly desire to enter into this Agreement upon
the
terms and conditions herein set forth.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the terms and provisions set forth
herein, the mutual benefits to be gained by the performance thereof and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Retirement
Date and Interim
Employment.
(a) Employment
Period and
Retirement Date. From and after the Effective Date, the
Executive shall retain the position with the Company that the Executive held
immediately prior to the Effective Date until the earlier to occur of (a) the
Executive’s receipt of thirty (30) days prior written notice from the CEO of the
Company specifying the effective date of the Executive’s retirement or (b)
September 30, 2008 (whichever occurs first, the “Retirement
Date”). From the Effective Date until the Retirement Date (the
“Employment Period”), the Executive shall continue to serve as a full-time
employee of the Company subject to the terms of this Agreement.
(b) Duties
and Compensation
During the Employment Period. During the Employment Period,
the Executive shall continue the duties the Executive had, subject to the
direction of the CEO of the Company, and receive the same compensation and
benefits provided to the Executive, immediately prior to the Effective Date;
provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 2(b) hereof, after the
Effective Date the Executive shall not be eligible for any bonus or incentive
awards not earned prior to the Effective Date.
(c) Retirement
from Employment
and Officer Positions. By executing this Agreement, (i) the
Executive hereby resigns any and all director or officer (or equivalent)
positions he holds with the Company and any of its affiliates effective as
of
the Retirement Date, and (ii) the Executive hereby irrevocably agrees to retire
from employment with the Company and its affiliates effective as of the
Retirement Date. The Executive agrees to take any and all further
actions deemed necessary or advisable by the Company to accomplish such
resignations and his retirement from employment as contemplated by this Section
1.
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2. Retirement
Benefits. In consideration for the Executive’s execution of
and compliance with this Agreement, and subject to the conditions set forth
herein, the Company shall provide the consideration set forth below in this
Section 2.
(a) Retirement
Payment. The Company shall pay $930,000.00 to the Executive on
the date that is six (6) months after the Retirement Date.
(b) FYE
2008 Performance Bonus
and Prorated Target Bonus for FYE 2009. The Company shall pay
the Executive a performance bonus for FYE 2008 in an amount determined in
accordance with the Company’s policies and the plan criteria (the “2008
Bonus”). The Company shall pay the 2008 Bonus at such time as such
performance bonuses are paid to the Company’s other employees. The
Company also shall pay the Executive a prorated performance bonus for FYE 2009
(the “Prorated Bonus”). The Prorated Bonus shall be an amount equal
to $155,000.00 multiplied by the number of days after March 31, 2008 on which
the Retirement Date occurs and divided by 365. Such bonus shall be
payable by the Company to the Executive on the date that is six (6) months
after
the Retirement Date.
(c) COBRA
Reimbursement. Until the earlier to occur of (i) the
expiration of eighteen months after the Retirement Date, (ii) the date on which
the Executive attains the age of 65, (iii) the date the Executive first becomes
eligible to receive health benefits under another employer-provided plan after
the Retirement Date, or (iv) the death of the Executive, the Company shall,
via
proper COBRA election by the Executive, continue medical and dental benefits
to
the Executive (and, if applicable, to the spouse and dependents of the Executive
who received such benefits under the Executive’s coverage immediately prior to
the Retirement Date) at least equal to those that would have been provided
to
the Executive (and to any such dependent) in accordance with the plans,
programs, practices and policies of the Company had the Executive remained
actively employed, provided that Executive makes all required COBRA payments
to
the Company, and the Company shall immediately reimburse Executive for each
such
COBRA payment.
(d) Stock
Options and Restricted
Stock. As of the Retirement Date, any stock options and
restricted stock which are not vested shall immediately vest and become
unrestricted. The stock options held by the Executive that were
exercisable on the Retirement Date may be exercised at any time until the
earlier of (i) the 90th
day
following the Retirement Date and (ii) the expiration date of such stock
options.
3. Other
Benefits. Subject to Section 1(b) hereof, the Executive’s
benefits under the Company’s benefit plans shall be determined and paid in
accordance with the terms of such plans.
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4. Conditions
to Company
Obligations.
(a) Waiver
and
Release. The Executive shall have until twenty-one (21)
calendar days after the Retirement Date to consider whether to sign and return
the Waiver and Release attached hereto as Exhibit A to the Company by first
class mail or by hand delivery. The Company’s obligations and the
Executive’s rights under Section 2 hereof are subject to the binding execution
by the Executive and delivery to the Company of the Waiver and Release (and
expiration of the seven-day revocation period without revocation of the Waiver
and Release), which must be executed and delivered to the Company during the
period beginning on the Retirement Date and ending on the date that is
twenty-one (21) calendar days after the Retirement Date. Failure of
the Executive to deliver the executed Waiver and Release to the Company during
such 21-day period, or revocation of the Waiver and Release by the Executive
during such 7-day revocation period, shall relieve the Company of its
obligations under Section 2 hereof.
(b) Termination
Prior to
Retirement Date. If during the Employment Period the Executive
voluntarily terminates his employment with the Company or the Company terminates
the Executive for Cause (as defined in the Prior Agreement), (i) the Executive
shall not be eligible to receive any of the compensation or benefits described
in Section 2 hereof or under the Prior Agreement and (ii) the Executive will
be
treated as having resigned or having been terminated for Cause (as applicable)
as of the effective date of such resignation or termination for Cause for
purposes of exercisability of outstanding option awards and vesting of
restricted stock. If the Executive does not voluntarily terminate his
employment and the Company does not terminate the Executive for Cause during
the
Employment Period (or if a final judgment is entered finding that Cause did
not
exist for such termination by the Company), the Company will pay all benefits
to
the Executive under Section 2 hereof.
5. Release
of Claims by the
Executive.
(a) Release. In
exchange for the consideration offered to the Executive under this Agreement,
which the Executive acknowledges provides consideration to which the Executive
would not otherwise have an undisputed right to receive, the Executive, on
his
behalf and on behalf of his heirs, devisees, legatees, executors,
administrators, personal and legal representatives, assigns and successors
in
interest, hereby IRREVOCABLY, UNCONDITIONALLY AND GENERALLY RELEASES, ACQUITS,
AND FOREVER DISCHARGES, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company,
its
affiliates and each of the their directors, officers, managers, employees,
representatives, stockholders, predecessors, successors, assigns, agents and
attorneys (and the agents, directors, officers, managers, employees,
representatives and attorneys of the foregoing), and all persons acting by,
through, under or in concert with any of them (collectively, the “Releasees” and
each a “Releasee”), or any of them, from any and all charges, complaints,
claims, damages, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, demands, grievances,
costs, losses, debts, and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and costs
incurred), of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, that the Executive now
has, owns, or holds, or claims to have, own, or hold, or which the Executive
at
any time heretofore had, owned, or held, or claimed to have, own, or hold from
the beginning of time to the date that the Executive signs this Agreement,
including, but not limited to, those claims arising out of or relating to (i)
any agreement, commitment, contract, mortgage, deed of trust, bond, indenture,
lease, license, note, franchise, certificate, option, warrant, right or other
instrument, document, obligation or arrangement, whether written or oral, or
any
other relationship, involving the Executive and/or any Releasee, including,
without limitation, the superseded Prior Agreement, (ii) breach of any express
or implied contract, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing,
misrepresentation, interference with contractual or business relations, personal
injury, slander, libel, assault, battery, negligence, negligent or intentional
infliction of emotional distress or mental suffering, false imprisonment,
wrongful termination, wrongful demotion, wrongful failure to promote, wrongful
deprivation of a career opportunity, discrimination (including disparate
treatment and disparate impact), hostile work environment, sexual harassment,
retaliation, any request to submit to a drug or polygraph test, and/or
whistleblowing, whether said claim(s) are brought pursuant to laws of the United
States or any other jurisdiction applicable to the Executive’s actions on behalf
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, and (iii) any other
matter (subject to Section 5(b) hereof).
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(b) Claims
Not
Released. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, it is the express intention of the Executive and the Company that
this
Agreement shall not act as a release or waiver of (i) any rights of defense
or
indemnification which would be otherwise afforded to the Executive under the
Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or similar governing documents of the
Company or its affiliates, (ii) any rights of defense or indemnification which
would be otherwise afforded to the Executive under any director or officer
liability or other insurance policy maintained by the Company or its
subsidiaries, (iii) any rights of the Executive to benefits accrued under any
Company benefit plan, (iv) any rights under this Agreement, and (v) such rights
or claims as may arise after the date of this Agreement.
6. Restrictive
Covenants. The Executive recognizes and agrees that all of the
businesses in which the Company is engaged are highly competitive and that
the
Company’s trade secrets and other confidential information, along with personal
contacts, are of critical importance in securing and maintaining business
prospects, in retaining the accounts and goodwill of present customers and
protecting the business of the Company.
(a) Non-Disparagement. The
Executive agrees to refrain from any criticisms or disparaging comments about
the Company or any of its affiliates (including any current or former officer,
director or employee of the Company) and the Executive agrees not to take any
action, or assist any person in taking any other action, that is adverse to
the
interests of the Company or any affiliate or inconsistent with fostering the
goodwill of the Company and its affiliates; provided, however, that the
foregoing shall not apply to or restrict in any way the communication of
information by the Executive to any state or federal law enforcement agency
so
long as the Executive provides prior notice to the Company thereof, and the
Executive will not be in breach of the covenant contained above solely by reason
of testimony which is compelled by process of law.
(b) Confidentiality. The
Executive acknowledges that his employment with the Company has provided him
with specialized knowledge which, if used in competition with the Company,
or
divulged to others, could cause serious harm to the
Company. Accordingly, the Executive will not at any time directly or
indirectly, divulge, disclose, use or communicate to any person, firm or
corporation in any manner whatsoever any information concerning any matter
specifically affecting or relating to the Company or the business of the
Company. While engaged as an employee of the Company, the Executive
may only use information concerning any matters affecting or relating to the
Company or the business of the Company for a purpose which is necessary to
the
carrying out of the Executive’s duties as an employee of the Company, and the
Executive may not make any use of any information of the Company after he is
no
longer an employee of the Company. The Executive agrees to the
foregoing without regard to whether all of the foregoing matters will be deemed
confidential, material or important, it being stipulated by the parties that
all
information, whether written or otherwise, regarding the Company’s business,
including, but not limited to, information regarding customers, customer lists,
costs, prices, earnings, products, services, formulae, compositions, machines,
equipment, apparatus, systems, manufacturing procedures, operations, potential
acquisitions, new location plans, prospective and executed contracts and other
business plans and arrangements, and sources of supply, is prima facie presumed to be
important, material and confidential information of the Company for the purposes
of this Agreement, except to the extent that such information may be otherwise
lawfully and readily available to the general public. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, however, the confidentiality provisions hereof shall not apply
to
or restrict in any way the communication of information by the Executive to
any
state or federal law enforcement agency so long as the Executive provides prior
notice to the Company thereof, and the Executive will not be in breach of the
covenant contained above solely by reason of testimony which is compelled by
process of law. The Executive agrees that as of the Retirement Date
he will return any Company-provided blackberry, laptop computer, keys, and
all
books, records, lists and other written, electronic, typed or printed materials,
whether furnished by the Company or prepared by the Executive, which contain
any
information relating to the Company’s business, and the Executive agrees that he
will neither make nor retain any copies of such materials after the Retirement
Date, except to the extent approved in writing by the CEO of the
Company.
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(c) Non-Competition
and
Non-Solicitation. The Executive acknowledges that his
employment with the Company has in the past and will, of necessity, provide
him
with specialized knowledge which, if used in competition with the Company could
cause serious harm to the Company. Accordingly, the non-competition,
non-solicitation and other provisions and covenants contained in Section 5
of
the Prior Agreement (the “Non-Compete Provisions”) shall remain in full force
and effect and are incorporated in this Section by reference. The
Executive agrees that, notwithstanding the termination of the Prior Agreement
pursuant to this Agreement, the Executive will remain bound by and will comply
in full with the Non-Compete Provisions.
(d) Remedies
for
Violation. If the Executive violates any provision of this
Section 6, the Executive agrees there shall be no obligation on the part of
the
Company to provide any payments or benefits described in this
Agreement. Without limiting the right of the Company to pursue all
other legal and equitable rights available to them for violation of any of
the
obligations and covenants made by the Executive herein, it is expressly agreed
that:
(i) the
terms
and provisions of this Agreement are reasonable and constitute an otherwise
enforceable agreement to which the provisions of this Section 6 are ancillary
or
a part of as contemplated by TEX. BUS. & COM. CODE XXX. Sections
15.50-15.52;
(ii) the
consideration provided by the Company under this Agreement is not
illusory;
(iii) the
consideration given by the Company under the terms of the Prior Agreement,
the
receipt of which the Executive hereby acknowledges, gives rise to the Company’s
interest in restraining and prohibiting the Executive from engaging in the
unfair competition prohibited by this Section 6, and the Executive’s promise not
to engage in the unfair competition prohibited by this Section 6 is designed
to
enforce the Executive’s consideration (or return promises), including, without
limitation, the Executive’s promise to not use or disclose confidential
information or trade secrets; and
(iv) the
injury suffered by the Company by a violation of any obligation or covenant
in
this Section 6 will be difficult to calculate in damages in an action at law
and
cannot fully compensate the Company for any violation of any obligation or
covenant in this Section 6, accordingly (A) the Company shall be entitled to
injunctive relief to prevent violations thereof and to prevent the Executive
from rendering any services to any person, firm or entity in breach of such
obligation or covenant and to prevent the Executive from divulging any
confidential information and (B) compliance with the Agreement is a condition
precedent to the Company’s obligation to make payments of any nature to the
Executive.
(e) Return
of
Consideration. The Executive specifically recognizes and
affirms that the non-competition obligations set out in this Section 6 are
material and important terms of this Agreement, and the Executive further agrees
that should any material part of the non-competition obligations described
in
this Section 6 be held or found invalid or unenforceable for any reason
whatsoever by a court of competent jurisdiction in a legal proceeding between
the Executive and the Company and not reformed pursuant to Section 6(f), the
Company shall be entitled to the immediate return and receipt from the Executive
of all consideration described in Section 2 hereof, including interest on all
such amounts paid to the Executive at the maximum lawful rate.
(f) Reformation
of
Scope. If the provisions of this Section 6 should ever be
deemed to exceed the time, geographic or occupational limitations permitted
by
the applicable law, the Executive and the Company agree that such provisions
shall be and are hereby reformed to the maximum time, geographic or occupational
limitations permitted by applicable law, and the determination of whether the
Executive violated such obligation and covenant will be based solely on the
limitation as reformed.
(g) Company
and
Affiliates. As used in this Section 6, the term “Company”
includes the Company and any affiliate of the Company. As used in
this Agreement, “affiliate” shall mean any entity controlled by, controlling or
under common control with the Company.
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7. Assistance
with Legal
Proceedings. The Executive agrees that during the Employment
Period and for a period of five (5) years after the Retirement Date, the
Executive will furnish such information and proper assistance as may be
reasonably necessary in connection with any litigation or other legal
proceedings in which the Company is then or may become involved, and shall
cooperate in a timely manner with the Company, including but not limited to
cooperation with its Board of Directors, officers, counsel, regulators and
auditors, with respect to all internal investigations with respect to which
the
Executive may have relevant information; provided, however, that the parties
agree to negotiate a reasonable rate of compensation for any such services
that
exceed eight hours per month, and the Company shall reimburse the Executive
for
all reasonable and necessary expenses he incurs in fulfilling his obligations
under this Section 7.
8. Amendment
of
Agreement. This Agreement may not be modified or amended
except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.
9. Waiver. No
term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived, nor
shall there be an estoppel against the enforcement of any provision of this
Agreement, except by written instrument of the party charged with such waiver
or
estoppel.
10. Notices. All
notices or communications hereunder shall be in writing, addressed as
follows:
To
the
Company:
Xxxxxxx
Group Inc.
0000
X.
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx. 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attention: General
Counsel
To
the
Executive:
At
the
address most recently on file for the Executive at the Company at the time
of
such notice.
The
Company and the Executive each agree to timely notify the other party of any
changes to their respective addresses. All such notices shall be
conclusively deemed to be received and shall be effective; (i) if sent by hand
delivery, upon receipt, (ii) if sent by telecopy or facsimile transmission,
upon
confirmation of receipt by the sender of such transmission or (iii) if sent
by
registered or certified mail, upon acknowledgement or refusal of receipt by
the
Executive.
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11. Source
of
Payments: All cash payments provided in this Agreement will be
paid from the general funds of the Company. The Executive’s status
with respect to amounts owed under this Agreement will be that of a general
unsecured creditor of the Company, and the Executive will have no right, title
or interest whatsoever in or to any investments which the Company may make
to
aid the Company in meeting its obligations hereunder. Nothing
contained in this Agreement, and no action taken pursuant to this provision,
will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind between the Company
and the Executive or any other person.
12. Tax
Withholding. The Company may withhold from any benefits
payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes that will
be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or
ruling.
13. Section
409A
Compliance. If any compensation or benefits provided by this
Agreement may result in the application of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Company shall, in consultation with
the Executive, modify the Agreement in the least restrictive manner necessary
in
an effort to exclude such compensation from the definition of “deferred
compensation” within the meaning of such Section 409A or in an effort to comply
with the provisions of Section 409A, other applicable provision(s) of the Code
and/or any rules, regulations or other regulatory guidance issued under such
statutory provisions, without any diminution in the value of the payments or
benefits to the Executive and, in the case of health and medical benefits,
without any lapse in coverage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company shall not be required to assume any increased economic
burden.
14. Severability. If
any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable,
in whole or part, such invalidity will not affect any otherwise valid provision,
and all other valid provisions will remain in full force and
effect.
15. Assignment. The
Executive shall not have any right to assign this Agreement or any of his rights
hereunder, or to pledge, hypothecate, anticipate, or in any way create a lien
upon any amounts payable under this Agreement, and no payments or benefits
due
hereunder shall be assignable in anticipation of payment either by voluntary
or
involuntary acts or by operation of law. So long as the Executive
lives, no person, other than the parties hereto, shall have any rights under
or
interest in this Agreement or the subject matter hereof. Subject to
the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of
the Company and its successors and assigns, by operation of law or
otherwise.
16. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be
deemed an original, and all of which together will constitute one
document.
17. Titles. The
titles and headings preceding the text of the paragraphs and subparagraphs
of
this Agreement have been inserted solely for convenience of reference and do
not
constitute a part of this Agreement or affect its meaning, interpretation or
effect.
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18. Governing
Law. 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. The parties hereto irrevocably agree to submit
to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Federal and state courts located
in Xxxxxx County, Texas in any dispute or proceeding concerning this Agreement
or the rights and obligations of the parties
hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may seek
enforcement of its rights under Section 6 hereof in any court with
jurisdiction.
19. Entire
Agreement. This Agreement (i) constitutes the entire agreement
of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and (ii) expressly
supersedes and terminates the Prior Agreement except for the Non-Compete
Provisions thereof, which shall remain in full force and effect. The
Executive acknowledges that, upon execution and delivery of this Agreement
by
the Company and the Executive, the Prior Agreement will be terminated and,
except for the Non-Compete Provisions, the Executive shall have no further
rights under the Prior Agreement.
20. No
Admission. This Agreement is not to be taken or understood as
an admission of liability or of any wrong doing by any persons or
entities.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement in multiple
counterparts, all of which shall constitute one agreement, effective as of
May
31, 2006.
XXXXXXX
GROUP INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
XXXXXXX X. XXXXX |
8
EXHIBIT
A
WAIVER
AND
RELEASE
In
exchange for the consideration offered under the Retirement Agreement between
me
and Xxxxxxx Group Inc. (the “Company”), effective January 17, 2008 (the
“Retirement Agreement”), I hereby waive all of my claims and release the
Company, its affiliates and its subsidiaries and each of their respective
directors, officers, managers, employees, agents, attorneys, and benefit plans
and the fiduciaries and agents of said plans (collectively referred to as the
“Corporate Group”) from any and all claims, demands, actions, liabilities and
damages, except as specifically reserved or excepted from this Waiver and
Release.
I
understand that signing this Waiver and Release is an important legal
act. I acknowledge that the Company has advised me in writing to
consult an attorney before signing this Waiver and Release. I further
acknowledge that I was given 21 calendar days after the Retirement Date and
after this Waiver and Release was furnished to me to consider whether to sign
and return this Waiver and Release to the Company.
In
exchange for the consideration offered to me by the Retirement Agreement, which
I acknowledge provides consideration to which I would not otherwise have an
undisputed right to receive, I agree not to xxx or file any action or proceeding
with any local, state and/or federal agency or court regarding or relating
in
any way to the Company, and I knowingly and voluntarily waive all claims and
release the Corporate Group from any and all claims, demands, actions,
liabilities, and damages, whether known or unknown, arising out of or relating
in any way to the Corporate Group, except with respect to (1) any rights of
defense or indemnification which would be otherwise afforded to me under the
Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or similar governing documents of the
Company or its subsidiaries, (2) any rights of defense or indemnification which
would be otherwise afforded to me under any director or officer liability or
other insurance policy maintained by the Company or its subsidiaries, (3) any
of
my rights to accrued benefits under any Company benefit plan, (4) any rights
under the Retirement Agreement, and (5) such rights or claims as may arise
after
the date this Waiver and Release is executed. This Waiver and Release
includes, but is not limited to, claims and causes of action under: Title VII
of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act of 1967, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as amended; the Civil
Rights Act of 1991; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Older
Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990; the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; and/or
contract, tort, defamation, slander, wrongful termination or other claims or
any
other state or federal statutory or common law.
Should
any of the provisions set forth in this Waiver and Release be determined to
be
invalid by a court, agency or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction, I agree
that such determination shall not affect the enforceability of other provisions
of this Waiver and Release.
I
acknowledge that this Waiver and Release and the Retirement Agreement set forth
the entire understanding and agreement between me and the Company or any other
member of the Corporate Group concerning the subject matter of this Waiver
and
Release and supersede the Prior Agreement (as defined in the Retirement
Agreement) and any other prior or contemporaneous oral and/or written agreements
or representations, if any, between me and the Company or any other member
of
the Corporate Group.
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I
understand that for a period of seven (7) calendar days following my signing
this Waiver and Release (the “Waiver Revocation Period”), I may revoke my
acceptance of the offer by delivering a written statement to the Company by
hand
or by registered mail, addressed to the address for the Company specified in
the
Retirement Agreement, in which case the Waiver and Release will not become
effective. In the event I revoke my acceptance of this offer, the
Company shall have no obligation to provide me the consideration offered under
the Retirement Agreement. I understand that failure to revoke my
acceptance of the offer within the Waiver Revocation Period will result in
this
Waiver and Release being permanent and irrevocable.
I
acknowledge that I have read this Waiver and Release, have had an opportunity
to
ask questions and have it explained to me and that I understand that this Waiver
and Release will have the effect of knowingly and voluntarily waiving any action
I might pursue, including breach of contract, personal injury, retaliation,
discrimination on the basis of race, age, sex, national origin or disability
and
any other claims arising prior to the date of this Waiver and
Release.
By
execution of this document, I do not waive or release or otherwise relinquish
any legal rights I may have which are attributable to or arise out of acts,
omissions or events of the Company or any other member of the Corporate Group
which occur after the date of execution of this Waiver and Release.
AGREED
TO
AND ACCEPTED this 17th
day of
January, 2008.
XXXXXXX X. XXXXX |
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