AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT DATED JANUARY 28, 2011 BETWEEN NAN STUTZ AND THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.
Exhibit 10.9
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
DATED JANUARY 28, 2011
BETWEEN XXX XXXXX AND THE TJX COMPANIES, INC.
INDEX
| PAGE | ||||
1. EFFECTIVE DATE; TERM OF AGREEMENT |
1 | |||
2. SCOPE OF EMPLOYMENT |
1 | |||
3. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS |
2 | |||
4. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT; IN GENERAL |
3 | |||
5. BENEFITS UPON NON-VOLUNTARY TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT |
3 | |||
6. OTHER TERMINATION |
6 | |||
7. CHANGE OF CONTROL |
6 | |||
8. AGREEMENT NOT TO SOLICIT OR COMPETE |
6 | |||
9. ASSIGNMENT |
10 | |||
10. NOTICES |
10 | |||
11. WITHHOLDING; CERTAIN TAX MATTERS |
10 | |||
12. RELEASE |
10 | |||
13. GOVERNING LAW |
11 | |||
14. ARBITRATION |
11 | |||
15. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND SEPARATION FROM SERVICE |
11 | |||
16. ENTIRE AGREEMENT |
11 | |||
EXHIBIT A Certain Definitions |
A-1 | |||
EXHIBIT B Definition of “Change of Control” |
B-1 | |||
EXHIBIT C Change of Control Benefits |
C-1 | |||
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XXX XXXXX
AGREEMENT dated as of January 29, 2010, as amended and restated on January 28, 2011, between
Xxx Xxxxx (“Executive”) and The TJX Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation whose principal office
is in Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 (the “Company”).
RECITALS
The Company and Executive intend that Executive shall be employed by the Company on the terms
set forth below and, to that end, deem it desirable and appropriate to enter into this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
The parties hereto, in consideration of the mutual agreements hereinafter contained, agree as
follows:
1. EFFECTIVE DATE; TERM OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall become effective as of January 29,
2010 (the “Effective Date”). Upon effectiveness of this Agreement on the Effective Date, the
Employment Agreement between Homegoods, Inc. and the Executive dated as of January 28, 2007 (as
amended, the “Prior Agreement”) shall terminate and be of no further force and effect. This
amended and restated Agreement shall be effective on January 30, 2011 (the “Restatement Effective
Date”). Subject to earlier termination as provided herein, Executive’s employment hereunder shall
continue on the terms provided herein until February 2, 2013 (the “End Date”). The period of
Executive’s employment by the Company from and after the Effective Date, whether under this
Agreement or otherwise, is referred to in this Agreement as the “Employment Period.” This
Agreement is intended to comply with the applicable requirements of Section 409A and shall be
construed accordingly.
2. SCOPE OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) Nature of Services. Executive shall diligently perform such duties and assume
such responsibilities as shall from time to time be specified by the Company.
(b) Extent of Services. Except for illnesses and vacation periods, Executive shall
devote substantially all her working time and attention and her best efforts to the performance of
her duties and responsibilities under this Agreement. However, Executive may (i) make any passive
investments where she is not obligated or required to, and shall not in fact, devote any managerial
efforts, (ii) subject to approval by the Board or a committee thereof (which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld or withdrawn), participate in charitable or community activities or in trade
or professional organizations, and (iii) subject to approval by the Board or a committee thereof
(which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or withdrawn), hold directorships in public
companies, except only that the Board or such committee shall have the right to limit such services
as a director or such participation in charitable or community
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activities or in trade or professional organizations whenever the Board or such committee
shall believe that the time spent on such activities infringes in any material respect upon the
time required by Executive for the performance of her duties under this Agreement or is otherwise
incompatible with those duties.
3. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS.
(a) Base Salary. Executive shall be paid a base salary at the rate hereinafter
specified, such Base Salary to be paid in the same manner and at the same times as the Company
shall pay base salary to other executive employees. The rate at which Executive’s Base Salary
shall be paid from and after the Restatement Effective Date shall be $650,000 per year or such
other rate (not less than $650,000 per year) as the Committee may determine after Committee review
not less frequently than annually.
(b) Existing Awards. Reference is made to outstanding awards to Executive of stock
options and of performance-based restricted stock made prior to the Restatement Effective Date
under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan (including any successor, the “Stock Incentive Plan”), to
the award opportunity granted to Executive for FYE 2011 under the Company’s Management Incentive
Plan (“MIP”), and to award opportunities granted to Executive under the Company’s Long Range
Performance Incentive Plan (“LRPIP”) for cycles beginning before the Restatement Effective Date.
Each of such awards outstanding immediately prior to the Restatement Effective Date shall continue
for such period or periods and in accordance with such terms as are set out in the applicable
grant, award certificate, award agreement, and other governing documents relating to such awards,
and shall not be affected by the terms of this Agreement except as otherwise expressly provided
herein.
(c) New Stock Awards. Consistent with the terms of the Stock Incentive Plan, during
the Employment Period, Executive will be entitled to stock-based awards under the Stock Incentive
Plan at levels commensurate with her position and responsibilities and subject to such terms as
shall be established by the Committee. With respect to Stock Incentive Plan awards described in
Section 3(b) (Existing Awards) and this Section 3(c) (New Stock Awards), Executive will be entitled
to tender shares of Company common stock not then subject to restrictions under any Company plan,
or to have shares of stock deliverable under the awards held back, in satisfaction of the minimum
withholding taxes required in respect of income realized in connection with the awards.
(d) LRPIP. During the Employment Period, Executive will be eligible to participate in
annual grants under LRPIP at a level commensurate with her position and responsibilities and
subject to such terms as shall be established by the Committee.
(e) MIP. During the Employment Period, Executive will be eligible to participate in
annual awards under MIP at a level commensurate with her position and responsibilities and subject
to such terms as shall be established by the Committee.
(f) Qualified Plans; Other Deferred Compensation Plans. Executive shall be entitled
during the Employment Period to participate in the Company’s tax-qualified retirement and
profit-sharing plans maintained for the benefit of Company employees, and in the ESP, in each
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case in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan (including, for the avoidance of
doubt and without limitation, the amendment and termination provisions thereof).
(g) Policies and Fringe Benefits. Executive shall be subject to policies of the
Company applicable to executives generally, and shall be entitled to receive all such fringe
benefits as the Company shall from time to time make available to other executives generally
(subject to the terms of any applicable fringe benefit plan).
(h) Other. The Company is entitled to terminate Executive’s employment
notwithstanding the fact that Executive may lose entitlement to benefits under the arrangements
described above. Upon termination of her employment, Executive shall have no claim against the
Company for loss arising out of ineligibility to exercise any stock options granted to her or
otherwise in relation to any of the stock options or other stock-based awards granted to Executive,
and the rights of Executive shall be determined solely by the rules of the relevant award document
and plan.
4. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT; IN GENERAL.
(a) The Company shall have the right to end Executive’s employment at any time and for any
reason, with or without Cause.
(b) Executive’s employment shall terminate upon written notice by the Company to Executive
(or, if earlier, to the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 409A, upon the
expiration of the twenty-nine (29)-month period commencing upon Executive’s absence from work) if,
by reason of Disability, Executive is unable to perform her duties for at least six continuous
months. Any termination pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall be treated for purposes of Section 5
and the definition of “Change of Control Termination” at subsection (f) of Exhibit A as a
termination by reason of Disability.
(c) Whenever her employment shall terminate, Executive shall resign all offices or other
positions she shall hold with the Company and any affiliated corporations. For the avoidance of
doubt, the Employment Period shall terminate upon termination of Executive’s employment for any
reason.
5. BENEFITS UPON NON-VOLUNTARY TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
(a) Certain Terminations Prior to the End Date. If the Employment Period shall have
terminated prior to the End Date by reason of (I) death or Disability of Executive, (II)
termination by the Company for any reason other than Cause or (III) a Constructive Termination,
then all compensation and benefits for Executive shall be as follows:
(i) For a period of twenty-four (24) months after the Date of Termination (the
“termination period”), the Company will pay to Executive or her legal representative,
without reduction for compensation earned from other employment or self employment,
continued Base Salary at the rate in effect at termination of employment in accordance with
its regular payroll practices for executive employees of the Company (but not less
frequently than monthly); provided, that if Executive is a Specified Employee at the
relevant time, the Base Salary that would otherwise be payable during the six-month
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period beginning on the Date of Termination shall instead be accumulated and paid,
without interest, in a lump sum on the date that is six (6) months and one day after such
date (or, if earlier, the date of Executive’s death); and further provided, that if
Executive is eligible for long-term disability compensation benefits under the Company’s
long-term disability plan, the amount payable under this clause shall be paid at a rate
equal to the excess of (a) the rate of Base Salary in effect at termination of employment,
over (b) the long-term disability compensation benefits for which Executive is approved
under such plan.
(ii) If Executive elects so-called “COBRA” continuation of group health plan coverage
provided pursuant to Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended, there shall be added to the amounts otherwise payable
under Section 5(a)(i) above, during the continuation of such coverage, an amount (grossed up
for federal and state income taxes) equal to the participant cost of such coverage, except
to the extent that Executive shall obtain no less favorable coverage from another employer
or from self-employment in which case such additional payments shall cease immediately.
(iii) The Company will pay to Executive or her legal representative, without offset for
compensation earned from other employment or self-employment, (A) any unpaid amounts to
which Executive is entitled under MIP for the fiscal year of the Company ended immediately
prior to Executive’s termination of employment, plus (B) any unpaid amounts owing with
respect to LRPIP cycles in which Executive participated and which were completed prior to
termination. These amounts will be paid at the same time as other awards for such prior
year or cycle are paid.
(iv) For any MIP performance period in which Executive participates that begins before
and ends after the Date of Termination, and at the same time as other MIP awards for such
performance period are paid, but in no event later than by the 15th day of the third month
following the close of the fiscal year to which such MIP award relates, the Company will pay
to Executive or her legal representative, without offset for compensation earned from other
employment or self-employment, an amount equal to (A) the MIP award, if any, that Executive
would have earned and been paid had she continued in office through the end of such fiscal
year, determined without regard to any adjustment for individual performance factors,
multiplied by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is three hundred and sixty-five (365)
plus the number of days during such fiscal year prior to termination, and the denominator of
which is seven hundred and thirty (730); provided, however, that if the Employment Period
shall have terminated by reason of Executive’s death or Disability, this clause (iv) shall
not apply and Executive instead shall be entitled to the MIP benefit described in Section
5(a)(viii) below.
(v) For each LRPIP cycle in which Executive participates that begins before and ends
after the Date of Termination, and at the same time as other LRPIP awards for such cycle are
paid, but in no event later than by the 15th day of the third month following the close of
the last of the Company’s fiscal years in such cycle, the Company will pay to Executive or
her legal representative, without offset for compensation earned from other employment or
self-employment, an amount equal to (A) the LRPIP award, if any, that
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Executive would have earned and been paid had she continued in office through the end
of such cycle, determined without regard to any adjustment for individual performance
factors, multiplied by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full months
in such cycle completed prior to termination of employment and the denominator of which is
the number of full months in such cycle.
(vi) In addition, Executive or her legal representative shall be entitled to the Stock
Incentive Plan benefits described in Section 3(b) (Existing Awards) and Section 3(c) (New
Stock Awards), in each case in accordance with and subject to the terms of the applicable
arrangement, and to payment of her vested benefits, if any, under the plans described in
Section 3(f) (Qualified Plans; Other Deferred Compensation Plans) and any vested benefits
under the Company’s frozen GDCP.
(vii) If termination occurs by reason of Disability, Executive shall also be entitled
to such compensation, if any, as is payable pursuant to the Company’s long-term disability
plan. If for any period Executive receives long-term disability compensation payments under
a long-term disability plan of the Company as well as payments under Section 5(a)(i) above,
and if the sum of such payments (the “combined salary/disability benefit”) exceeds the
payment for such period to which Executive is entitled under Section 5(a)(i) above
(determined without regard to the proviso set forth therein), she shall promptly pay such
excess in reimbursement to the Company; provided, that in no event shall application of this
sentence result in reduction of Executive’s combined salary/disability benefit below the
level of long-term disability compensation payments to which Executive is entitled under the
long-term disability plan or plans of the Company.
(viii) If termination occurs by reason of death or Disability, Executive shall also be
entitled to an amount equal to Executive’s MIP Target Award for the year of termination,
without proration. This amount will be paid at the same time as other MIP awards for such
performance period are paid.
(ix) Except as expressly set forth above or as required by law, Executive shall not be
entitled to continue participation during the termination period in any employee benefit or
fringe benefit plans, except for continuation of any automobile allowance which shall be
added to the amounts otherwise payable under Section 5(a)(i) above during the continuation
of such coverage but not beyond the end of the termination period.
(b) Termination on the End Date. Unless earlier terminated or except as otherwise
mutually agreed by Executive and the Company, Executive’s employment with the Company shall
terminate on the End Date. Unless the Company in connection with such termination shall offer to
Executive continued service in a position on reasonable terms, Executive shall be treated as having
been terminated under Section 5(a)(II) on the day immediately preceding the End Date and shall be
entitled to the compensation and benefits described in Section 5(a) in respect of such a
termination, subject, for the avoidance of doubt, to the other provisions of this Agreement
including, without limitation, Section 8. If the Company in connection with such termination
offers to Executive continued service in a position on reasonable terms, and Executive declines
such service, she shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having terminated her
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employment voluntarily on the End Date and she shall be entitled only to those benefits to
which she would be entitled under Section 6(a) (“Voluntary termination of employment”). For
purposes of the two preceding sentences, “service in a position on reasonable terms” shall mean
service in a position comparable to the position in which Executive was serving immediately prior
to the End Date, as reasonably determined by the Committee.
6. OTHER TERMINATION.
(a) Voluntary termination of employment. If Executive terminates her employment
voluntarily, Executive or her legal representative shall be entitled (in each case in accordance
with and subject to the terms of the applicable arrangement) to any Stock Incentive Plan benefits
described in Section 3(b) (Existing Awards) or Section 3(c) (New Stock Awards) and to any vested
benefits under the plans described in Section 3(f) (Qualified Plans; Other Deferred Compensation
Plans) and any vested benefits under the Company’s frozen GDCP. In addition, the Company will pay
to Executive or her legal representative any unpaid amounts to which Executive is entitled under
MIP for the fiscal year of the Company ended immediately prior to Executive’s termination of
employment, plus any unpaid amounts owing with respect to LRPIP cycles in which Executive
participated and which were completed prior to termination, in each case at the same time as other
awards for such prior year or cycle are paid. No other benefits shall be paid under this Agreement
upon a voluntary termination of employment.
(b) Termination for Cause. If the Company should end Executive’s employment for Cause
all compensation and benefits otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement shall cease, other than
(x) such vested amounts as are credited to Executive’s account (but not received) under the ESP and
the frozen GDCP in accordance with the terms of those programs; (y) any vested benefits to which
Executive is entitled under the Company’s tax qualified plans; and (z) Stock Incentive Plan
benefits, if any, to which Executive may be entitled (in each case in accordance with and subject
to the terms of the applicable arrangement) under Sections 3(b) (Existing Awards) and 3(c) (New
Stock Awards).
7. CHANGE OF CONTROL. Upon and following a Change of Control, (i) Executive’s employment
under this Agreement shall continue indefinitely without regard to the End Date or Section 5(b),
subject, however, to termination by either party or by reason of Executive’s death or Disability in
accordance with the other provisions of this Agreement; and (ii) the provisions of Section 5 shall
cease to apply in respect of any termination of employment described therein that occurs during the
Standstill Period (but the provisions of Section C.1 of Exhibit C (including any reference to
Section 5 therein) shall apply in respect of any such termination that qualifies as a Change of
Control Termination). Additional provisions that may be relevant upon and following a Change of
Control are found in Exhibit C.
8. AGREEMENT NOT TO SOLICIT OR COMPETE.
(a) During the Employment Period and for a period of twenty-four (24) months thereafter (the
“Nonsolicitation Period”), Executive shall not, and shall not direct any other individual or entity
to, directly or indirectly (including as a partner, shareholder, joint venturer or other investor)
(i) hire, offer to hire, attempt to hire or assist in the hiring of, any protected person as an
employee, director, consultant, advisor or other service provider, (ii) recommend
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any protected person for employment or other engagement with any person or entity other than
the Company and its Subsidiaries, (iii) solicit for employment or other engagement any protected
person, or seek to persuade, induce or encourage any protected person to discontinue employment or
engagement with the Company or its Subsidiaries, or recommend to any protected person any
employment or engagement other than with the Company or its Subsidiaries, (iv) accept services of
any sort (whether for compensation or otherwise) from any protected person, or (v) participate with
any other person or entity in any of the foregoing activities. Any individual or entity to which
Executive provides services (as an employee, director, consultant, advisor or otherwise) or in
which Executive is a shareholder, member, partner, joint venturer or investor, excluding interests
in the common stock of any publicly traded corporation of one percent (1%) or less), and any
individual or entity that is affiliated with any such individual or entity, shall, for purposes of
the preceding sentence, be irrebuttably presumed to have acted at the direction of Executive with
respect to any “protected person” who worked with Executive at any time during the six months prior
to termination of the Employment Period. A “protected person” is a person who at the time of
termination of the Employment Period, or within six months prior thereto, is or was employed by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries either in a position of Assistant Vice President or higher, or
in a salaried position in any merchandising group. As to (I) each “protected person” to whom the
foregoing applies, (II) each subcategory of “protected person,” as defined above, (III) each
limitation on (A) employment or other engagement, (B) solicitation and (C) unsolicited acceptance
of services, of each “protected person” and (IV) each month of the period during which the
provisions of this subsection (a) apply to each of the foregoing, the provisions set forth in this
subsection (a) shall be deemed to be separate and independent agreements. In the event of
unenforceability of any one or more such agreement(s), such unenforceable agreement(s) shall be
deemed automatically reformed in order to allow for the greatest degree of enforceability
authorized by law or, if no such reformation is possible, deleted from the provisions hereof
entirely, and such reformation or deletion shall not affect the enforceability of any other
provision of this subsection (a) or any other term of this Agreement.
(b) During the course of her employment, Executive will have learned vital trade secrets of
the Company and its Subsidiaries and will have access to confidential and proprietary information
and business plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Therefore, during the Employment Period
and for a period of twenty-four (24) months thereafter (the “Noncompetition Period”), Executive
will not, directly or indirectly, be a shareholder, member, partner, joint venturer or investor
(disregarding in this connection passive ownership for investment purposes of common stock
representing one percent (1%) or less of the voting power or value of any publicly traded
corporation) in, serve as a director or manager of, be engaged in any employment, consulting, or
fees-for-services relationship or arrangement with, or advise with respect to the organization or
conduct of, or any investment in, any “competitive business” as hereinafter defined or any Person
that engages in any “competitive business” as hereinafter defined, nor shall Executive undertake
any planning to engage in any such activities. The term “competitive business” (i) shall mean any
business (however organized or conducted, including, without limitation, an on-line, “ecommerce” or
other internet-based business) that competes with a business in which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries was engaged, or in which the Company or any Subsidiary was planning to engage, at any
time during the 12-month period immediately preceding the date on which the Employment Period ends,
and (ii) shall conclusively be presumed to include, but shall not be limited to, (A) any business
designated as a
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competitive business in the Committee Resolution, including, without limitation, an on-line,
“ecommerce” or other internet-based business of any such business, and (B) any other off-price,
promotional, or warehouse-club-type retail business, however organized or conducted (including,
without limitation, an on-line, “ecommerce” or other internet-based business), that sells apparel,
footwear, home fashions, home furnishings, jewelry, accessories, or any other category of
merchandise sold by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at the termination of the Employment
Period. For purposes of this subsection (b), a “Person” means an individual, a corporation, a
limited liability company, an association, a partnership, an estate, a trust and any other entity
or organization, other than the Company or its Subsidiaries, and reference to any Person (the
“first Person”) shall be deemed to include any other Person that controls, is controlled by or is
under common control with the first Person. If, at any time, pursuant to action of any court,
administrative, arbitral or governmental body or other tribunal, the operation of any part of this
subsection shall be determined to be unlawful or otherwise unenforceable, then the coverage of this
subsection shall be deemed to be reformed and restricted as to substantive reach, duration,
geographic scope or otherwise, as the case may be, to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary
to make this paragraph lawful and enforceable to the greatest extent possible in the particular
jurisdiction in which such determination is made.
(c) Executive shall never use or disclose any confidential or proprietary information of the
Company or its Subsidiaries other than as required by applicable law or during the Employment
Period for the proper performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company and its
Subsidiaries. This restriction shall continue to apply after Executive’s employment terminates,
regardless of the reason for such termination. All documents, records and files, in any media,
relating to the business, present or otherwise, of the Company and its Subsidiaries and any copies
(“Documents”), whether or not prepared by Executive, are the exclusive property of the Company and
its Subsidiaries. Executive must diligently safeguard all Documents, and must surrender to the
Company at such time or times as the Company may specify all Documents then in Executive’s
possession or control. In addition, upon termination of employment for any reason other than the
death of Executive, Executive shall immediately return all Documents, and shall execute a
certificate representing and warranting that she has returned all such Documents in Executive’s
possession or under her control.
(d) If, during the Employment Period or at any time following termination of the Employment
Period, regardless of the reason for such termination, Executive breaches any provision of this
Section 8, the Company’s obligation, if any, to pay benefits under Section 5 hereof shall forthwith
cease and Executive shall immediately forfeit and disgorge to the Company, with interest at the
prime rate in effect at Bank of America, or its successor, all of the following: (i) any benefits
theretofore paid to Executive under Section 5; (ii) any unexercised stock options and stock
appreciation rights held by Executive; (iii) if any other stock-based award vested in connection
with termination of the Employment Period, whether occurring prior to, simultaneously with, or
following such breach, or subsequent to such breach and prior to termination of the Employment
Period, the value of such stock-based award at time of vesting plus any additional gain realized on
a subsequent sale or disposition of the award or the underlying stock; and (iv) in respect of each
stock option or stock appreciation right exercised by Executive within six (6) months prior to any
such breach or subsequent thereto and prior to the forfeiture and disgorgement required by this
Section 8(d), the excess over the exercise price (or base value, in the case of a stock
appreciation right) of the greater of (A) the fair market value at
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time of exercise of the shares of stock subject to the award, or (B) the number of shares of
stock subject to such award multiplied by the per-share proceeds of any sale of such stock by
Executive.
(e) Executive shall notify the Company immediately upon securing employment or becoming
self-employed at any time within the Noncompetition Period or the Nonsolicitation Period, and shall
provide to the Company such details concerning such employment or self-employment it may reasonably
request in order to ensure compliance with the terms hereof.
(f) Executive hereby advises the Company that Executive has carefully read and considered all
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the restraints imposed on Executive under
this Section 8, and agrees without reservation that each of the restraints contained herein is
necessary for the reasonable and proper protection of the good will, confidential information and
other legitimate business interests of the Company and its Subsidiaries, that each and every one of
those restraints is reasonable in respect to subject matter, length of time and geographic
area; and that these restraints will not prevent Executive from obtaining other suitable
employment during the period in which Executive is bound by them. Executive agrees that Executive
will never assert, or permit to be asserted on her behalf, in any forum, any position contrary to
the foregoing. Executive also acknowledges and agrees that, were Executive to breach any of the
provisions of this Section 8, the harm to the Company and its Subsidiaries would be irreparable.
Executive therefore agrees that, in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, the Company
shall, in addition to any other remedies available to it, have the right to obtain preliminary and
permanent injunctive relief against any such breach or threatened breach without having to post
bond, and will additionally be entitled to an award of attorney’s fees incurred in connection with
enforcing its rights hereunder. Executive further agrees that, in the event that any provision of
this Agreement shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by
reason of its being extended over too great a time, too large a geographic area or too great a
range of activities, such provision shall be deemed to be modified to permit its enforcement to the
maximum extent permitted by law. Finally, Executive agrees that the Noncompetition Period and the
Nonsolicitation Period shall be tolled, and shall not run, during any period of time in which
Executive is in violation of any of the terms of this Section 8, in order that the Company shall
have the agreed-upon temporal protection recited herein.
(g) Executive agrees that if any of the restrictions in this Section 8 is held to be void or
ineffective for any reason but would be held to be valid and effective if part of its wording were
deleted, that restriction shall apply with such deletions as may be necessary to make it valid and
effective. The Executive further agrees that the restrictions contained in each subsection of this
Section 8 shall be construed as separate and individual restrictions and shall each be capable of
being severed without prejudice to the other restrictions or to the remaining provisions.
(h) Executive expressly consents to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement for the
benefit of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and any successor or permitted assign to whose employ
Executive may be transferred, without the necessity that this Agreement be re-signed at the time of
such transfer. Executive further agrees that no changes in the nature or scope of her employment
with the Company will operate to extinguish the terms and conditions set forth in Section 8, or
otherwise require the parties to re-sign this Agreement.
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(i) The provisions of this Section 8 shall survive the termination of the Employment Period
and the termination of this Agreement, regardless of the reason or reasons therefor, and shall be
binding on Executive regardless of any breach by the Company of any other provision of this
Agreement.
9. ASSIGNMENT. The rights and obligations of the Company shall inure to the benefit of and
shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company. The rights and obligations of
Executive are not assignable, except only that stock issuable, awards and payments payable to her
after death shall be made to her estate, except as otherwise provided by the applicable plan or
award documentation, if any.
10. NOTICES. All notices and other communications required hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be given by mailing the same by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid. If sent to the Company, the same shall be mailed to the Company at 000 Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Chairman of the Executive Compensation
Committee, or such other address as the Company may hereafter designate by notice to Executive;
and, if sent to Executive, the same shall be mailed to Executive at her address as set forth in the
records of the Company or at such other address as Executive may hereafter designate by notice to
the Company.
11. WITHHOLDING; CERTAIN TAX MATTERS. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) all
payments required to be made by the Company hereunder to Executive shall be subject to the
withholding of such amounts, if any, relating to tax and other payroll deductions as the Company
may reasonably determine it should withhold pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, and (b)
to the extent any payment hereunder that is payable by reason of termination of Executive’s
employment constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A and would
otherwise have been required to be paid during the six (6)-month period following such termination
of employment, it shall instead (unless at the relevant time Executive is no longer a Specified
Employee) be delayed and paid, without interest, in a lump sum on the date that is six (6) months
and one day after Executive’s termination (or, if earlier, the date of Executive’s death).
Executive acknowledges that she has reviewed the provisions of this Agreement with her advisors and
agrees that except for the gross-up entitlement described in Section 5(a)(ii) of this Agreement,
the Company shall not be liable to make Executive whole for any taxes that may become due or
payable by reason of this Agreement or any payment, benefit or entitlement hereunder.
12. RELEASE. Except for payment of any accrued and unpaid Base Salary and subject to such
exceptions as the Company in its discretion may determine for the payment of other amounts accrued
and vested prior to the Date of Termination, any obligation of the Company to provide compensation
or benefits under Section 5 or Section C.1 of Exhibit C of this Agreement, and (to the extent
permitted by law) any vesting of unvested compensation or benefits in connection with or following
Executive’s termination of employment, are expressly conditioned on Executive’s execution and
delivery to the Company of an effective release of claims (in the form of release approved by the
Committee) as to which all applicable rights of revocation, as determined by the Company, shall
have expired prior to the sixtieth (60th) calendar day following the Date of Termination
(any such timely and irrevocable release, the “Release of Claims”). Any compensation and benefits
that are conditioned on the delivery of the Release of
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Claims under this Section 12 and that otherwise would have been payable prior to such sixtieth
(60th) calendar day (determined, for the avoidance of doubt, after taking into account
any other required delays in payment, including any six-month delay under Section 11) shall, if the
Release of Claims is delivered, instead be paid on such sixtieth (60th) day,
notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement regarding the time of such payments.
13. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder
shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
14. ARBITRATION. In the event that there is any claim or dispute arising out of or relating
to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, and the parties hereto shall not have resolved such claim
or dispute within sixty (60) days after written notice from one party to the other setting forth
the nature of such claim or dispute, then such claim or dispute shall be settled exclusively by
binding arbitration in Boston, Massachusetts in accordance with the Rules Governing Resolutions of
Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association by an arbitrator mutually agreed upon
by the parties hereto or, in the absence of such agreement, by an arbitrator selected according to
such Rules. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if either the Company or Executive shall request, such
arbitration shall be conducted by a panel of three arbitrators, one selected by the Company, one
selected by Executive and the third selected by agreement of the first two, or, in the absence of
such agreement, in accordance with such Rules. Judgment upon the award rendered by such
arbitrator(s) shall be entered in any Court having jurisdiction thereof upon the application of
either party.
15. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND SEPARATION FROM SERVICE. All references in the Agreement to
termination of employment, a termination of the Employment Period, or separation from service, and
correlative terms, that result in the payment or vesting of any amounts or benefits that constitute
“nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A shall be construed to
require a Separation from Service, and the Date of Termination in any such case shall be construed
to mean the date of the Separation from Service.
16. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, including Exhibits, represents the entire agreement
between the parties relating to the terms of Executive’s employment by the Company and supersedes
all prior written or oral agreements, including, without limitation, the Prior Agreement, between
them.
| /s/ Xxx Xxxxx | ||||
| Executive | ||||
| THE TJX COMPANIES, INC. |
||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
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EXHIBIT A
Certain Definitions
(a) “Base Salary” means, for any period, the amount described in Section 3(a).
(b) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) “Cause” means dishonesty by Executive in the performance of her duties, conviction of a
felony (other than a conviction arising solely under a statutory provision imposing criminal
liability upon Executive on a per se basis due to the Company offices held by Executive, so long as
any act or omission of Executive with respect to such matter was not taken or omitted in
contravention of any applicable policy or directive of the Board), gross neglect of duties (other
than as a result of Disability or death), or conflict of interest which conflict shall continue for
thirty (30) days after the Company gives written notice to Executive requesting the cessation of
such conflict.
In respect of any termination during a Standstill Period, Executive shall not be deemed to
have been terminated for Cause until the later to occur of (i) the 30th day after notice of
termination is given and (ii) the delivery to Executive of a copy of a resolution duly adopted by
the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the Company’s directors at a meeting called and
held for that purpose (after reasonable notice to Executive), and at which Executive together with
her counsel was given an opportunity to be heard, finding that Executive was guilty of conduct
described in the definition of “Cause” above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail;
provided, however, that the Company may suspend Executive and withhold payment of her Base Salary
from the date that notice of termination is given until the earliest to occur of (A) termination of
Executive for Cause effected in accordance with the foregoing procedures (in which case Executive
shall not be entitled to her Base Salary for such period), (B) a determination by a majority of the
Company’s directors that Executive was not guilty of the conduct described in the definition of
“Cause” effected in accordance with the foregoing procedures (in which case Executive shall be
reinstated and paid any of her previously unpaid Base Salary for such period), or (C) ninety (90)
days after notice of termination is given (in which case Executive shall then be reinstated and
paid any of her previously unpaid Base Salary for such period). If Base Salary is withheld and
then paid pursuant to clause (B) or (C) of the preceding sentence, the amount thereof shall be
accompanied by simple interest, calculated on a daily basis, at a rate per annum equal to the prime
or base lending rate, as in effect at the time, of the Company’s principal commercial bank. The
Company shall exercise its discretion under this paragraph consistent with the requirements of
Section 409A or the requirements for exemption from Section 409A.
(d) “Change in Control Event” means a “change in control event” (as that term is defined in
section 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the Treasury Regulations under Section 409A) with respect to the Company.
(e) “Change of Control” has the meaning given it in Exhibit B.
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(f) “Change of Control Termination” means the termination of Executive’s employment during a
Standstill Period (1) by the Company other than for Cause, or (2) by Executive for good reason, or
(3) by reason of death or Disability.
For purposes of this definition, termination for “good reason” shall mean the voluntary
termination by Executive of her employment within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the
occurrence without Executive’s express written consent of any one of the events described below,
provided, that Executive gives notice to the Company within sixty (60) days of the first occurrence
of any such event or condition, requesting that the pertinent event or condition described therein
be remedied, and the situation remains unremedied upon expiration of the thirty (30)-day period
commencing upon receipt by the Company of such notice:
| (I) | the assignment to her of any duties inconsistent with her positions, duties, responsibilities, and status with the Company immediately prior to the Change of Control, or any removal of Executive from or any failure to reelect her to such positions, except in connection with the termination of Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause or by Executive other than for good reason, or any other action by the Company which results in a diminishment in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities; or | ||
| (II) | if Executive’s rate of Base Salary for any fiscal year is less than 100% of the rate of Base Salary paid to Executive in the completed fiscal year immediately preceding the Change of Control or if Executive’s total cash compensation opportunities, including salary and incentives, for any fiscal year are less than 100% of the total cash compensation opportunities made available to Executive in the completed fiscal year immediately preceding the Change of Control; or | ||
| (III) | the failure of the Company to continue in effect any benefits or perquisites, or any pension, life insurance, medical insurance or disability plan in which Executive was participating immediately prior to the Change of Control unless the Company provides Executive with a plan or plans that provide substantially similar benefits, or the taking of any action by the Company that would adversely affect Executive’s participation in or materially reduce Executive’s benefits under any of such plans or deprive Executive of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by Executive immediately prior to the Change of Control; or | ||
| (IV) | any purported termination of Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause during a Standstill Period which is not effected in compliance with paragraph (c) above; or | ||
| (V) | any relocation of Executive more than forty (40) miles from the place where Executive was located at the time of the Change of Control; or | ||
| (VI) | any other breach by the Company of any provision of this Agreement. |
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| (VII) | the Company sells or otherwise disposes of, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, assets or earning power aggregating more than 30% of the assets (taken at asset value as stated on the books of the Company determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied) or earning power of the Company (on an individual basis) or the Company and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) to any other Person or Persons (as those terms are defined in Exhibit B). |
(g) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(h) “Committee” means the Executive Compensation Committee of the Board.
(i) “Committee Resolution” means the designation of competitive businesses most recently
adopted by the Committee at or prior to the date of execution of this Agreement for purposes of the
restrictive covenants applicable to Executive, whether or not such designation also applies to
other employees of the Company generally.
(j) “Constructive Termination” means a termination of employment by Executive occurring within
one hundred twenty (120) days of a requirement by the Company that Executive relocate, without her
prior written consent, more than forty (40) miles from the current corporate headquarters of the
Company, but only if (i) Executive shall have given to the Company notice of intent to terminate
within sixty (60) days following notice to Executive of such required relocation and (ii) the
Company shall have failed, within thirty (30) days thereafter, to withdraw its notice requiring
Executive to relocate. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the one hundred twenty (120) day
period shall commence upon the end of the thirty (30)-day cure period, if the Company fails to cure
within such period.
(k) “Date of Termination” means the date on which Executive’s employment terminates.
(l) “Disabled”/“Disability” means a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that
(i) can be expected either to result in death or to last for a continuous period of not less than
six months and (ii) causes Executive to be unable to perform the duties of her position of
employment or any substantially similar position of employment to the reasonable satisfaction of
the Committee.
(m) “End Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 1 of the Agreement.
(n) “ESP” means the Company’s Executive Savings Plan.
(o) “GDCP” means the Company’s General Deferred Compensation Plan.
(p) “LRPIP” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) of the Agreement.
(q) “MIP” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) of the Agreement.
(r) “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code.
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(s) “Separation from Service” shall mean a “separation from service” (as that term is defined
at Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations under Section 409A) from the Company and from
all other corporations and trades or businesses, if any, that would be treated as a single “service
recipient” with the Company under Section 1.409A-1(h)(3) of such Treasury Regulations. The
Committee may, but need not, elect in writing, subject to the applicable limitations under Section
409A, any of the special elective rules prescribed in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury
Regulations for purposes of determining whether a “separation from service” has occurred. Any such
written election shall be deemed part of the Agreement.
(t) “Specified Employee” shall mean an individual determined by the Committee or its delegate
to be a specified employee as defined in subsection (a)(2)(B)(i) of Section 409A. The Committee
may, but need not, elect in writing, subject to the applicable limitations under Section 409A, any
of the special elective rules prescribed in Section 1.409A-1(i) of the Treasury Regulations for
purposes of determining “specified employee” status. Any such written election shall be deemed
part of the Agreement.
(u) “Standstill Period” means the period commencing on the date of a Change of Control and
continuing until the close of business on the last business day of the 24th calendar month
following such Change of Control.
(v) “Stock” means the common stock, $1.00 par value, of the Company.
(w) “Stock Incentive Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) of the Agreement.
(x) “Subsidiary” means any corporation in which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, 50%
or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock.
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EXHIBIT B
Definition of “Change of Control”
“Change of Control” shall mean the occurrence of any one of the following events:
(a) there occurs a change of control of the Company of a nature that would be required to be
reported in response to Item 5.01 of the Current Report on Form 8-K (as amended in 2004) pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or in any other
filing under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that no transaction shall be deemed to be a
Change of Control (i) if the person or each member of a group of persons acquiring control is
excluded from the definition of the term “Person” hereunder or (ii) unless the Committee shall
otherwise determine prior to such occurrence, if Executive or an Executive Related Party is the
Person or a member of a group constituting the Person acquiring control; or
(b) any Person other than the Company, any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, or any
employee benefit plan of the Company or such a subsidiary becomes the owner of 20% or more of the
Company’s Common Stock and thereafter individuals who were not directors of the Company prior to
the date such Person became a 20% owner are elected as directors pursuant to an arrangement or
understanding with, or upon the request of or nomination by, such Person and constitute a majority
of the Company’s Board of Directors; provided, however, that unless the Committee shall otherwise
determine prior to the acquisition of such 20% ownership, such acquisition of ownership shall not
constitute a Change of Control if Executive or an Executive Related Party is the Person or a member
of a group constituting the Person acquiring such ownership; or
(c) there occurs any solicitation or series of solicitations of proxies by or on behalf of any
Person other than the Company’s Board of Directors and thereafter individuals who were not
directors of the Company prior to the commencement of such solicitation or series of solicitations
are elected as directors pursuant to an arrangement or understanding with, or upon the request of
or nomination by, such Person and constitute a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors; or
(d) the Company executes an agreement of acquisition, merger or consolidation which
contemplates that (i) after the effective date provided for in the agreement, all or substantially
all of the business and/or assets of the Company shall be owned, leased or otherwise controlled by
another Person and (ii) individuals who are directors of the Company when such agreement is
executed shall not constitute a majority of the board of directors of the survivor or successor
entity immediately after the effective date provided for in such agreement; provided, however, that
unless otherwise determined by the Committee, no transaction shall constitute a Change of Control
if, immediately after such transaction, Executive or any Executive Related Party shall own equity
securities of any surviving corporation (“Surviving Entity”) having a fair value as a percentage of
the fair value of the equity securities of such Surviving Entity greater than 125% of the fair
value of the equity securities of the Company owned by Executive and any Executive Related Party
immediately prior to such transaction, expressed as a percentage of the fair value of all equity
securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction (for purposes of this paragraph
ownership of equity securities shall be determined in the same manner as
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ownership of Common Stock); and provided, further, that, for purposes of this paragraph (d), a
Change of Control shall not be deemed to have taken place unless and until the acquisition, merger,
or consolidation contemplated by such agreement is consummated (but immediately prior to the
consummation of such acquisition, merger, or consolidation, a Change of Control shall be deemed to
have occurred on the date of execution of such agreement).
In addition, for purposes of this Exhibit B the following terms have the meanings set forth
below:
“Common Stock” shall mean the then outstanding Common Stock of the Company plus, for purposes
of determining the stock ownership of any Person, the number of unissued shares of Common Stock
which such Person has the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only
after the passage of time) upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or
options or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Common Stock shall not include
shares of Preferred Stock or convertible debt or options or warrants to acquire shares of Common
Stock (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion or exercise
thereof) to the extent that the Board of Directors of the Company shall expressly so determine in
any future transaction or transactions.
A Person shall be deemed to be the “owner” of any Common Stock:
(i) of which such Person would be the “beneficial owner,” as such term is defined in
Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under
the Exchange Act, as in effect on March 1, 1989; or
(ii) of which such Person would be the “beneficial owner” for purposes of Section 16 of
the Exchange Act and the rules of the Commission promulgated thereunder, as in effect on
March 1, 1989; or
(iii) which such Person or any of its affiliates or associates (as such terms are
defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated by the Commission under the Exchange Act, as in effect on
March 1, 1989), has the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or
only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or
upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options or otherwise.
“Person” shall have the meaning used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, as in effect on
March 1, 1989.
An “Executive Related Party” shall mean any affiliate or associate of Executive other than the
Company or a majority-owned subsidiary of the Company. The terms “affiliate” and “associate” shall
have the meanings ascribed thereto in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (the term “registrant” in
the definition of “associate” meaning, in this case, the Company).
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EXHIBIT C
Change of Control Benefits
C.1. Benefits Upon a Change of Control Termination. Executive shall be entitled to
the payments and benefits described in this Section C.1 in the event of a Change of Control
Termination.
(a) The Company shall pay to Executive (1) as hereinafter provided, an amount equal to the sum
of (A) two times her Base Salary for one year at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Date
of Termination or the Change of Control, whichever is higher, plus (B) two times the target award
opportunity most recently granted to Executive prior to the Change of Control under MIP, which
opportunity (if expressed as a percentage of Base Salary) shall be determined by reference to
Executive’s Base Salary for one year at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Date of
Termination or the Change of Control, whichever is higher; plus (2) within thirty (30) days
following the Change of Control Termination, the accrued and unpaid portion of her Base Salary
through the Date of Termination, subject to the following. If Executive is eligible for long-term
disability compensation benefits under the Company’s long-term disability plan, the amount payable
under (1)(A) above shall be reduced by the annual long-term disability compensation benefit for
which Executive is eligible under such plan for the two-year period over which the amount payable
under (1)(A) above is measured. If for any period Executive receives long-term disability
compensation payments under a long-term disability plan of the Company as well as payments under
the first sentence of this subsection (a), and if the sum of such payments (the “combined Change of
Control/disability benefit”) exceeds the payment for such period to which Executive is entitled
under the first sentence of this subsection (a) (determined without regard to the second sentence
of this subsection (a)), she shall promptly pay such excess in reimbursement to the Company;
provided, that in no event shall application of this sentence result in reduction of Executive’s
combined Change of Control/disability benefit below the level of long-term disability compensation
payments to which Executive is entitled under the long-term disability plan or plans of the
Company. If the Change of Control Termination occurs in connection with a Change of Control that is
also a Change in Control Event, the amount described under (1) above shall be paid in a lump sum on
the date that is six (6) months and one day following the date of the Change of Control Termination
(or, if earlier, the date of Executive’s death), unless Executive is not a Specified Employee on
the relevant date, in which case the amount described under (1) above shall instead be paid thirty
(30) days following the date of the Change of Control Termination. If the Change of Control
Termination occurs more than two years after a Change in Control Event or in connection with a
Change of Control that is not a Change in Control Event, the amount described under (1) above shall
be paid, except as otherwise required by Section 11 of the Agreement, in the same manner as Base
Salary continuation would have been paid in the case of a termination by the Company other than for
Cause under Section 5(a).
(b) Until the second anniversary of the Date of Termination, the Company shall maintain in
full force and effect for the continued benefit of Executive and her family all life insurance and
medical insurance plans and programs in which Executive was entitled to participate immediately
prior to the Change of Control, provided, that Executive’s continued participation is possible
under the general terms and provisions of such plans and programs. In the event that
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Executive is ineligible to participate in such plans or programs, the Company shall arrange
upon comparable terms to provide Executive with benefits substantially similar to those which she
is entitled to receive under such plans and programs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s
obligations hereunder with respect to life or medical coverage or benefits shall be deemed
satisfied to the extent (but only to the extent) of any such coverage or benefits provided by
another employer.
(c) On the date that is six (6) months and one day following the date of the Change of Control
Termination (or, if earlier, the date of Executive’s death), the Company shall pay to Executive or
her estate, in lieu of any automobile allowance, the present value of the automobile allowance (at
the rate in effect prior to the Change of Control) it would have paid for the two years following
the Change of Control Termination (or until the earlier date of Executive’s death, if Executive
dies prior to the date of the payment under this Section C.1(c)); provided, that if the Change of
Control is not a Change of Control Event, such amount shall instead be paid in the same manner as
Executive’s automobile allowance would have been paid in the case of a termination by the Company
other than for Cause under Section 5(a); and further provided, that if Executive is not a Specified
Employee on the relevant date, any lump sum payable under this Section C.1(c) shall instead by paid
within thirty (30) days following the Change of Control Termination.
C.2. Payment Adjustment. Payments under this Exhibit C shall be made without regard to
whether the deductibility of such payments (or any other payments or benefits to or for the benefit
of Executive) would be limited or precluded by Section 280G of the Code (“Section 280G”) and
without regard to whether such payments (or any other payments or benefits) would subject Executive
to the federal excise tax levied on certain “excess parachute payments” under Section 4999 of the
Code (the “Excise Tax”); provided, that if the total of all payments to or for the benefit of
Executive, after reduction for all federal taxes (including the excise tax under Section 4999 of
the Code) with respect to such payments (“Executive’s total after-tax payments”), would be
increased by the limitation or elimination of any payment under this Exhibit C, or by an adjustment
to the vesting of any equity-based or other awards that would otherwise vest on an accelerated
basis in connection with the Change of Control, amounts payable under Section C.1 and Section C.3
of this Exhibit shall be reduced and the vesting of equity-based and other awards shall be adjusted
to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to maximize Executive’s total after-tax payments.
Any reduction in payments or adjustment of vesting required by the preceding sentence shall be
applied, first, against any benefits payable under Section C.1(a)(1) of this Exhibit, then against
any benefits payable under Section C.3 of this Exhibit, then against the vesting of any
performance-based restricted stock awards that would otherwise have vested in connection with the
Change of Control, then against the vesting of any other equity-based awards, if any, that would
otherwise have vested in connection with the Change of Control, and finally against all other
payments, if any. The determination as to whether Executive’s payments and benefits include
“excess parachute payments” and, if so, the amount and ordering of any reductions in payment
required by the provisions of this Section C.2 shall be made at the Company’s expense by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or by such other certified public accounting firm as the Committee may
designate prior to a Change of Control (the “accounting firm”). In the event of any underpayment
or overpayment hereunder, as determined by the accounting firm, the amount of such underpayment or
overpayment shall forthwith and in all events within thirty (30) days of such determination be paid
to Executive or
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refunded to the Company, as the case may be, with interest at the applicable Federal rate
provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code.
C.3. Settlement of MIP and LRPIP. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control,
Executive’s interest in MIP and LRPIP shall be settled automatically by the payment to Executive,
in a lump sum within thirty (30) days following the Change of Control, of an amount equal to the
sum of Executive’s target award opportunities with respect to each award granted to executive under
MIP and LRPIP for the fiscal year (in the case of MIP), and any performance cycle (in the case of
LRPIP), that begins before and ends after the date of the Change of Control; provided, that for
purposes of this Section C.3, unless Executive has been granted new award opportunities under MIP
for such fiscal year and under LRPIP for the performance cycle commencing with such fiscal year,
Executive’s most recent target award opportunities under MIP and LRPIP shall be deemed to have been
granted to Executive under MIP and LRPIP with respect to such fiscal year and such performance
cycle, respectively.
C.4. Other Benefits. In addition to the amounts that may be payable under Sections
C.1 or C.3 (but without duplication of any payments or benefits to which Executive may be entitled
under any provision of this Agreement, and subject to Section C.2), upon and following a Change of
Control Executive or her legal representative shall be entitled to: (i) her Stock Incentive Plan
benefits, if any, under Section 3(b) (Existing Awards) and Section 3(c) (New Stock Awards); and
(ii) any unpaid amounts to which Executive is entitled under MIP with respect to any fiscal year
completed prior to the Change of Control, or under LRPIP with respect to any performance cycle
completed prior to the Change of Control; and (iii) the payment of her vested benefits under the
plans described in Section 3(f) (Qualified Plans; Other Deferred Compensation Plans) and any vested
benefits under the Company’s frozen GDCP.
C.5. Noncompetition; No Mitigation of Damages; etc.
(a) Noncompetition. Upon a Change of Control, any agreement by Executive not to
engage in competition with the Company subsequent to the termination of her employment, whether
contained in an employment agreement or other agreement, shall no longer be effective.
(b) No Duty to Mitigate Damages. Executive’s benefits under this Exhibit C shall be
considered severance pay in consideration of her past service and her continued service from the
date of this Agreement, and her entitlement thereto shall neither be governed by any duty to
mitigate her damages by seeking further employment nor offset by any compensation which she may
receive from future employment.
(c) Legal Fees and Expenses. The Company shall pay all legal fees and expenses,
including but not limited to counsel fees, stenographer fees, printing costs, etc. reasonably
incurred by Executive in contesting or disputing that the termination of her employment during a
Standstill Period is for Cause or other than for good reason (as defined in the definition of
Change of Control Termination) or obtaining any right or benefit to which Executive is entitled
under this Agreement following a Change of Control. Any amount payable under this Agreement that
is not paid when due shall accrue interest at the prime rate as from time to time in effect at Bank
of America, or its successor, until paid in full. All payments and
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reimbursements under this Section shall be made consistent with the applicable requirements of
Section 409A.
(d) Notice of Termination. During a Standstill Period, Executive’s employment may be
terminated by the Company only upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to Executive.
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