The Scotts Company LLC______________________________
The Scotts Company LLC______________________________
February 12, 2016
Exhibit 10.3
Mr. Xxxx Xxxxx
Chief Executive Officer
Xxxxx Projects LLC
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Dear Xxxx:
This letter sets forth our agreement (the “Agreement”) regarding a consulting engagement between Xxxxx Projects LLC and The Scotts Company LLC (“Scotts” or the “Company”). For the purposes of this Agreement, the term “Contractor” means Xxxxx Projects LLC, its primary designee/employee Xxxx Xxxxx, and any other designee or employee of Xxxxx Projects LLC. These consulting services are separate and distinct from the services Xx. Xxxxx is and will be providing as a member of the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and (or any Board Committees or other Committees on which Xx. Xxxxx may subsequently serve).
I. | Scope of Services |
Subject to the approval of the Board, Contractor agrees to provide the consulting services to Scotts described below.
1. | Contractor agrees to provide consulting services to Scotts in the area of Marketing so as to advise the Company on marketing strategies concerning a variety of areas including, but not limited to, brand and creative efforts, partnerships with outside services, work processes and staffing/personnel assessments. |
2. | In providing consulting services in the Areas of Expertise, it is anticipated that Contractor will generally undertake the following work and activities pursuant to this Agreement: |
• | Provide insights and expertise to help inspire and develop a culture of creativity, with emphasis on: Shaping and assisting with the development of the overall marketing and creative strategy in conjunction with the CEO and COO; inspiring innovation; building Scotts’ brands and consumer loyalty; and mentoring and coaching key marketing and business executives as requested. |
• | Consult with and provide recommendations to the CEO and COO on an as needed basis on issues of marketing strategy. |
• | Periodically participate in marketing meetings to support the successful execution of the anticipated marketing initiatives of the Company with specific emphasis on the Connected Yard, Lawns campaign and other special projects. |
• | Participate in discussions of and otherwise support other marketing issues as required. |
Contractor and the Company may agree to modifications of these work activities from time to time as necessary to achieve the purpose of this Agreement. When such modifications are necessary, Contractor and the Company will execute an amendment to this agreement reflecting the agreed upon modifications, which may include, by way of non-limiting examples, modifications regarding the work activities, the hours of consulting services provided, and/or
00000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
000-000-0000
xxx.xxxxxx.xxx
000-000-0000
xxx.xxxxxx.xxx
Mr. Xxxx Xxxxx – 2 – February 12, 2016
Chief Executive Officer
Xxxxx Projects LLC
the consulting fees and expenses paid to Contractor. Company expects Contractor to provide a minimum of 1,000 hours (50% of FTE) of consulting services during the term of this Agreement (outside services in his capacity as a member of the Board).
3. | In providing consulting services to Scotts under this Agreement, Contractor will be an independent contractor and will not be an employee, agent, partner, or joint venturer of Scotts or of any of Scotts’ affiliates, or of any of its or their respective officers, directors or employees. Except as provided as a member of the Board, if applicable, and except as otherwise expressly stated herein including in paragraph 1(b), Xx. Xxxxx and any other designee or employee of Contractor will not participate in or receive benefits under any of Scotts’ employee fringe benefit programs or receive any other fringe benefits from Scotts, including, without limitation, the health, disability, life insurance, retirement, equity awards, pension and profit sharing benefits on account of the consulting services provided to Scotts under this Agreement. |
II. | Length of Agreement |
The term of this Agreement will commence on February 1, 2016 and will end on January 31, 2017, unless terminated earlier under Section V.1. The term of this Agreement may be extended only by written agreement, signed by both parties and setting forth expressly the terms related to the consulting fee.
III. | Authority |
In providing consulting services to Scotts under this Agreement, Contractor will have no authority at any time to assume or create any obligation or liability, express or implied, on Scotts’ behalf or in Scotts’ name or to bind Scotts in any manner whatsoever.
IV. | Consulting Fees and Expenses |
1. | In exchange for providing the consulting services hereunder, during the term of this Agreement, Scotts shall pay Contractor a consulting fee consisting of a combination of cash and restricted stock units, as follows: |
a. | A monthly cash payment of $75,000 for each month during the term irrespective of whether Scotts requests that Contractor provides consulting services hereunder. Contractor shall be required to submit monthly invoices including days/hours worked with brief descriptions of the services provided. Scotts shall pay Contractor within 30 days of its receipt of Contractor’s invoices. |
b. | Subject to Contractor providing consulting services required by this Agreement throughout the complete term of this Agreement, the Company will provide Contractor a one-time grant of grant of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) with a grant date value of $400,000. The RSUs’ shall be issued in the name of Xxxx Xxxxx individually. The number of RSUs will be determined by dividing the intended grant date value by the closing price of a share on the grant date, rounded up to the next whole share. Except where Scotts terminates this Agreement without Cause, the RSUs and any related dividend equivalents will vest on January 31, 2017, provided that this Agreement has not otherwise been terminated or notified for termination on that date, and provided that Contractor has fulfilled Contractor’s full service obligation to Scotts under the terms of this letter agreement at that time. In the event that Scotts terminates this Agreement without Cause, then the RSUs shall vest on a pro rata basis determined by dividing the |
Mr. Xxxx Xxxxx – 3 – February 12, 2016
Chief Executive Officer
Xxxxx Projects LLC
number of days into the term of the Agreement as of and including the termination date divided by 365 and rounding up to the nearest whole share. The vested RSUs, if any, will be settled as soon as administratively practical following vesting.
i. | With the exception of the vesting provisions described above, the award of RSUs and related dividend equivalents shall be subject to the terms of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Long Term Incentive Plan, effective as of January 17, 2013 (the “Plan”), and the standard terms and conditions of the applicable award agreement. In the event of any conflicts or ambiguity between this Agreement and the terms of the Plan and/or the award agreement, the Plan and/or award agreement will be controlling. |
2. | Scotts also will pay or reimburse Contractor for all reasonable expenses incurred by Contractor in connection with providing consulting services to Scotts as contemplated herein, including, without limitation, all reasonable (a) telephone and fax expenses, and (b) travel expenses, including, without limitation, transportation, food and lodging, incurred in connection with attending Scotts approved meetings pursuant to this consulting agreement. Contractor must incur and account for expenses in accordance with the policies and procedures established by Scotts as a precondition to Scotts’ obligation to pay or reimburse Contractor for such expenses pursuant to the terms of the preceding sentence. This includes describing expenses in reasonable detail on invoices. Scotts will provide private transportation when practical and economically reasonable. |
3. | Contractor agrees to provide, at its own expense, all equipment necessary to provide the consulting services contemplated herein and to be responsible for its own overhead costs and expenses except for those expenses that Scotts has expressly agreed to pay pursuant to the terms of the preceding paragraph. |
V. | Termination |
1. | Scotts shall be permitted to terminate this Agreement and its consulting relationship with Contractor under any of the following circumstances: (a) upon Scotts’ 60 days advance written notice to Contractor, (b) Xx. Xxxxx’x death or disability, or Contractor ceasing operations, (c) Contractor’s material breach of its obligations to Scotts if such breach is not cured within 30 days after receiving notice thereof, (d) Contractor’s and/or Xx. Xxxxx’x indictment for a felony or serious misdemeanor, (e) Contractor’s and/or Xx. Xxxxx’x commission of an act of fraud or bad faith toward Scotts, or (f) Contractor’s and/or Xx. Xxxxx’x misappropriation of any funds, property or rights of Scotts. Contractor shall be permitted to terminate this Agreement and its consulting relationship with Scotts upon Contractor’s 30 day advance written notice to Scotts. |
2. | The termination of this Agreement and Contractor’s consulting relationship with Scotts shall not affect Scotts’ obligation to pay Contractor for the amounts Contractor has earned prior to the date of such termination or reimburse Contractor for the expenses Contractor has incurred pursuant to the terms of this Agreement prior to the date of such termination. |
Mr. Xxxx Xxxxx – 4 – February 12, 2016
Chief Executive Officer
Xxxxx Projects LLC
VI. | Confidential Information |
1. | In providing the consulting services contemplated herein, Contractor will receive Confidential Information about Scotts and its affiliates. Maintaining the confidential nature of this information is very important to Scotts. As used in this Agreement, “Confidential Information” is any information about Scotts, or its affiliates, to which Contractor gains access in connection with its provision of consulting or other services to Scotts, including Xx. Xxxxx’x service as a member of the Board. Confidential Information does not include information Contractor can show (a) was already in Contractor’s possession prior to the time Contractor received such information as a consultant to Scotts, or (b) is publicly available or otherwise in the public domain by means other than Contractor’s violation of the terms of this Agreement. |
2. | Contractor agrees to not at any time hereafter, without the prior written consent of Scotts, disclose, directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information or use any Confidential Information for any purpose other than providing consulting services to Scotts as contemplated herein. |
3. | Contractor agrees to promptly return to Scotts, upon Scotts’ request, all electronic or tangible documents that contain any Confidential Information and to retain no copies. |
4. | These confidentiality obligations are in addition to, and not in place of, any and all confidentiality obligations arising as a result of Xx. Xxxxx’x membership on the Board and applicable Board Committees. |
VII. | Other |
1. | Contractor understands and agrees that this Agreement does not obligate Scotts to utilize Contractor’s consulting services, but it is intended to set forth the terms pursuant to which Scotts may utilize Contractor’s consulting services in Scotts’ discretion. |
2. | Contractor is not permitted to assign, sell or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder. |
3. | Contractor acknowledges that neither Scotts nor any representatives of Scotts have made any representations or promises about the tax implications of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement may be construed as tax advice from Scotts to Contractor. Contractor has been encouraged to discuss the tax implications of this Agreement with his own tax and financial counsel. |
Mr. Xxxx Xxxxx – 5 – February 12, 2016
Chief Executive Officer
Xxxxx Projects LLC
THE SCOTTS COMPANY LLC By: _/s/ XXXXXX STUMP__________________ Xxxxxx Xxxxx EVP, Global Human Resources & Chief Ethics Officer | |
ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED: __/s/ XXXX HANFT____________________ Adam Xxxxx, Chief Executive Officer Hanft Projects LLC | |
