Dated 13 October 2004 VODAFONE GROUP PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY and ANDREW NIGEL HALFORD SERVICE AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.16
Dated 13 October 2004
VODAFONE GROUP PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
and
XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXX
This agreement is made on 13 October 2004 between
(1) | VODAFONE GROUP PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY incorporated in the UK with registered number 1833679 whose registered office is at Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx XX00 0XX (the “Company”); and |
(2) | XXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXXX of 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx XXX 00000 (the “Executive”). |
This agreement records the terms on which the Executive will serve the Company.
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3 | Appointment and Duties of the Executive | |
3.1 | From the Commencement Date the Executive will serve as Group Financial Director Designate and from the conclusion of the Company's Annual General Meeting in July 2005 as Group Financial Director, at which time he will also be appointed to the Board. | |
3.2 | The Executive will: | |
3.2.1 | devote the whole of his working time, attention and skill to the Employment; | |
3.2.2 | fulfil with due diligence and to the best of his ability the obligations incumbent upon him pursuant to his appointment; | |
3.2.3 | accept any offices or directorships as reasonably required by the Board; | |
3.2.4 | comply with all rules and regulations issued by the Company; | |
3.2.5 | obey the lawful directions of the Board; and | |
3.2.6 | promote the interests and reputation of the Group. | |
3.3 | The Executive accepts that, subject always to his consent, the Company may require him to perform duties for any other Group Company whether for the whole or part of his working time. The Company will remain responsible for the payments and benefits he is entitled to receive under this agreement. | |
3.4 | The Executive will promptly disclose to the Board full details of any wrongdoing by any employee of any Group Company where that wrongdoing is material to that employee’s employment by the relevant company or to the interests or reputation of any Group Company. | |
3.5 | At any time during the Employment the Company may require the Executive to undergo a medical examination, related to the performance of the Executive’s role, by a medical practitioner appointed by the Company. The Executive authorises that medical practitioner to disclose to the Company any report or test results prepared or obtained as a result of that examination which are relevant to the Employment and to discuss with it any matters arising out of the examination which are relevant to the Employment or which might prevent the Executive properly performing the duties of the Employment. | |
4 | Hours | |
4.1 | The Executive and the Company agree that the Executive is a managing executive for the purposes of the Working Time Regulations 1998 (the “Regulations”) and is able to determine the duration of his working time himself. As such, the exemptions in Regulation 20 of the Regulations will apply to the Employment. | |
5 | Interests of the Executive | |
5.1 | The Executive will disclose promptly in writing to the Board all his interests (for example, shareholdings or directorships) in any businesses whether or not of a commercial or business nature except his interests in any Group Company. The Executive’s interests at the date of this agreement are set out in Schedule 1. | |
5.2 | Subject to clause 5.3, during the Employment the Executive will not be directly or indirectly engaged or concerned in the conduct of any activity which is similar to or competes with any activity carried on by any Group Company except as a representative of the Company or with the written consent of the Board. |
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7.5 | The Executive may choose to be a member of the director’s section of either one of the two following approved pension arrangements: | |
7.5.1 | A defined contribution plan which currently provides a maximum Company contribution of 25% of basic salary, limited to an earnings cap (currently £102,000) provided the employee contributes at least 5%. It provides life insurance and other benefits and has a variable employee contribution rate; or | |
7.5.2 | A defined benefit plan which aims for a maximum pension at normal retirement of 2/3rds of the employee’s final average basic salary limited to an earnings cap (currently £102,000) after a minimum of 40 years’ service. This is below the normal director benefit level and the difference will be reflected in an additional salary related contribution to the FURBS as described in clause 7.7 below. It provides life insurance and other benefits and has an employee contribution of 3.5% of salary. | |
Further details of these plans are contained in a booklet which has been provided to the Executive. | ||
7.6 | If the Executive has not elected to join either plan three months after the Commencement Date there will be automatic enrolment in the Defined Contribution Plan on a 2% contribution rate. The Executive may opt out of any of the above plans at any time. | |
7.7 | The Company also operates a funded unapproved retirement benefits scheme (FURBS), which provides defined contribution benefits on basic salary above the earnings cap. The Company will provide an age related FURBS contribution for the Executive varying between 20% and 30% (currently 25%). The Company will provide an additional contribution to the FURBS reflecting the Executive's participation level in the defined benefit plan described in clause 7.5.2. The value of this additional contribution is currently 26.5% of basic salary up to the earnings cap and is subject to review on 1 April each year and may be altered from time to time based on actuarial advice. The investment of both of these contributions may be either immediate or, at the Executive's choice, deferred to 6 April 2006. The Company will also provide additional life insurance cover up to 4 times the Executive’s basic salary above the earnings cap. | |
7.8 | Participation in the various pension arrangements and the extent to which the Executive is entitled to benefits under them are subject always to the rules of the relevant plan from time to time. The Company expressly reserves the right to discontinue or modify any of the plans referred to above from time to time. | |
7.9 | Without prejudice to the Company’s right to terminate the Employment at any time in accordance with clause 11 if the Executive complies with any eligibility or other conditions set by the Company and any insurer appointed by the Company from time to time (the “Insurer”), the Executive will be provided with long-term disability insurance. The terms upon which this insurance is provided and the level of cover will be in accordance with Company policy from time to time but currently an income of two thirds of basic salary is provided up to retirement on long-term total disability. The Executive understands and agrees that if the Insurer fails or refuses to provide him with any benefit under the insurance arrangement provided by the Company, the Executive will have no right of action against the Company in respect of such failure or refusal. |
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7.10 | If the Executive complies with any eligibility requirements or other conditions set by the Company and any insurer appointed by the Company, the Executive and his partner and children under 18 years of age or, children under 21 years of age if in full time education may participate in the Company’s private health insurance arrangements at the Company’s expense and subject to the terms of those arrangements from time to time. The Company reserves the right at any time to withdraw this benefit or to amend the terms upon which it is provided. |
7.11 | The Executive is entitled to 28 days’ paid holiday each year (in addition to English Bank and other public holidays) to be taken at times approved in advance by the Board. In addition the Executive shall be entitled to an additional day’s holiday for each five years of continuous service up to a maximum of 3 days. The leave year runs from 1 December to 30 November. The Executive agrees that the provisions of Regulations 15(1)-(4) inclusive of the Regulations (dates on which leave is taken) do not apply to the Employment. |
Holiday entitlement will be calculated on a monthly basis and accrue on the basis of completed whole calendar months of Employment. The Executive will be paid for any accrued holiday not taken at the Termination Date The Company may require the Executive to take accrued holiday during any notice period. | |
7.12 | Subject to the rights of the Company under clause 11.6 of this agreement, if the Executive during this agreement is incapacitated by ill health or accident from performing his duties under this agreement he will, during the period of any such incapacity be entitled to Company Sick Pay Scheme subject to and in accordance with the terms of the Scheme – (full details of which have been supplied to the Executive) if and for so long as such Scheme remains in force but he shall not be entitled to receive any other remuneration under clause 7.1. |
7.13 | If the Executive is absent from work due to sickness or injury which is caused by the fault of another person, and as a consequence recovers from that person or another person any sum representing compensation for loss of salary under this agreement, the Executive will repay to the Company any money it has paid to him as salary in respect of the same period of absence. |
8 | Expenses |
8.1 | The Company will refund to the Executive all reasonable expenses properly incurred by him in performing his duties under this agreement, provided that these are incurred in accordance with Company policy from time to time. The Company will require the Executive to produce receipts or other documents as proof that he has incurred any expenses he claims. |
9 | Confidentiality |
9.1 | Without prejudice to the common law duties which he owes to the Company, the Executive agrees that he will not, except in the proper performance of his duties, copy, use or disclose to any person any of the Company’s trade secrets or confidential information. This restriction will continue to apply after the termination of the Employment without limit in time but will not apply to trade secrets or confidential information which become public other than through unauthorised disclosure by the Executive. The Executive will use his best endeavours to prevent the unauthorised copying use or disclosure of such information. |
For the purposes of this agreement trade secrets and confidential information include but will not be limited to names of clients, suppliers, reports, papers, data and other confidential information in any form prepared by the Company or acquired by it and any other information in whatever form (written, oral, visual and electronic) concerning the confidential affairs of the Company. |
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11.3 | Notwithstanding the other provisions of this agreement and in particular clause 11.2, the Employment will automatically terminate (if not already terminated) on the Executive’s 60th birthday. | |
11.4 | Once notice to terminate has been given by either party in accordance with clause 11.2 the Company reserves the right, exercisable at any time and in its absolute discretion, to terminate the Executive’s employment forthwith by notice in writing. In such event, the Company shall pay the Executive in lieu of the unexpired period of notice the sums or sum calculated and payable in accordance with clause 11.5 (together the “XXXXX”). The XXXXX shall not constitute a debt payable by the Company and from the Termination Date in accordance with this Clause the Executive shall be obliged to mitigate his losses flowing from such termination subject only to abiding by the obligations as set out in clause 13. For the purposes of this clause and clause 11.5, the Executive’s obligation to mitigate shall be to take such steps to mitigate as he would have been required to take at common law had he been dismissed in breach of the terms of this agreement. | |
11.5 | The amount of the XXXXX shall be such sum as the Executive would have received in salary (at the rate in force at the Termination Date) had the employment continued throughout the unexpired notice period less the aggregate of (a) any sums earned or received by the Executive as a result of his obligation to mitigate his losses and (b) deductions for income tax and employee’s national insurance contributions. The XXXXX shall be payable in instalments at the same intervals and on the same dates as salary payments would have been made to the Executive had the employment continued. The Executive shall no later than the 15th day of each month during which instalments of the XXXXX are payable, provide to the Company a statement of all sums earned or received by the Executive referable to the period for which the next instalment of the XXXXX falls to be made. In the absence of receipt of any such statement, payment of the relevant instalment of the XXXXX shall be delayed until 7 working days after receipt of the statement. | |
11.6 | The Company may terminate the Employment with immediate effect by giving written notice if the Executive does not perform the duties of the Employment for a period of 130 days (whether or not consecutive) in any period of 365 days because of sickness, injury or other incapacity. This notice can be given whilst the Executive continues not to perform his duties or on expiry of the 130 day period. In this clause, ‘days’ includes Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. | |
11.7 | The Company may terminate the Employment with immediate effect by giving written notice if the Executive: | |
11.7.1 | has not performed his duties under this agreement to the standard required by the Board; or | |
11.7.2 | commits any serious or persistent breach of his obligations under this agreement; or | |
11.7.3 | is guilty of any gross misconduct or conducts himself (whether in connection with the Employment or not) in a way which is harmful to any Group Company; or | |
11.7.4 | is guilty of dishonesty or is convicted of an arrestable criminal offence (other than a motoring offence which does not result in imprisonment) whether in connection with the Employment or not; or |
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13.2.3 | during the Restricted Period he will not (either on his own behalf or for or with any other person, whether directly or indirectly,) deal with or otherwise accept in competition with the Company or any Group Company the custom of any person who was at any time during the 12 months prior to the Relevant Date a customer of, or in the habit of dealing with, the Company or (as the case may be) any Group Company and in respect of whom the Executive had access to confidential information or with whose custom or business the Executive was personally concerned; | |
13.2.4 | during the Restricted Period he will not (either on his own behalf or for or with any other person, whether directly or indirectly) canvass or solicit in competition with the Company or any other Group Company the custom of any person who was negotiating with the Company or any other Group Company for the supply of goods or services (whether as customer, client, supplier, agent or distributor of the Company) during the six months prior to the Relevant Date or who was a potential customer to whom the Executive had made a presentation or a pitch and in respect of whom the Executive had access to confidential information or with whose custom or business the Executive was personally concerned; | |
13.2.5 | during the Restricted Period he will not (either on his own behalf or for or with any other person, whether directly or indirectly) deal with or otherwise accept in competition with the Company or any other Group Company the custom of any person who was negotiating with the Company or any other Group Company for the supply of goods or services (whether as customer, client, supplier, agent or distributor of the Company) during the six months prior to the Relevant Date or who was a potential customer to whom the Executive had made a presentation or a pitch and in respect of whom the Executive had access to confidential information or with whose custom or business the Executive was personally concerned; and | |
13.2.6 | during the Restricted Period he will not (either on his own behalf or for or with any other person, whether directly or indirectly,) entice or try to entice away from the Company or any other Group Company any person who was an F band employee or higher employee (or equivalent) of such a company at the Termination Date and who had been such an employee at any time during the six months prior to the Relevant Date and with whom he had worked closely at any time during that period. | |
13.3 | Each of the paragraphs contained in clause 13.2 constitutes an entirely separate and independent covenant. If any covenant is found to be invalid this will not affect the validity or enforceability of any of the other covenants. | |
13.4 | Following the Termination Date, the Executive will not represent himself as being in any way connected with the businesses of the Company or of any other Group Company (except to the extent agreed by such a company). | |
13.5 | Any benefit given or deemed to be given by the Executive to any Group Company under the terms of clause 13 is received and held on trust by the Company for the relevant Group Company. The Executive will enter into appropriate restrictive covenants directly with other Group Companies if asked to do so by the Company. |
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14 | Offers on Liquidation | |
The Executive will have no claim against the Company if the Employment is terminated by reason of liquidation in order to reconstruct or amalgamate the Company or by reason of any reorganisation of the Company and the Executive is offered employment with the company succeeding to the Company upon such liquidation or reorganisation and the new terms of employment offered to the Executive are no less favourable to him than the terms of this agreement. | ||
15 | Return of Company Property | |
15.1 | At any time during the Employment (at the request of the Company) and in any event when the Employment terminates, the Executive will immediately return to the Company: | |
15.1.1 | all documents and other materials (whether originals or copies) made or compiled by or delivered to the Executive during the Employment and concerning all the Group Companies. The Executive will not retain any copies of any materials or other information; and | |
15.1.2 | all other property belonging or relating to any of the Group Companies. | |
15.2 | When the Employment terminates the Executive will immediately return to the Company any car provided to the Executive which is in the possession or under the control of the Executive. | |
15.3 | If the Executive commences Garden Leave in accordance with clause 12 he may be required to comply with the provisions of clause 15.1. | |
16 | Directorships | |
16.1 | The Executive’s office as a director of the Company or any other Group Company is subject to the Articles of Association of the relevant company (as amended from time to time). If the provisions of this agreement conflict with the provisions of the Articles of Association, the Articles of Association will prevail. | |
16.2 | The Executive must resign from any office held in any Group Company if he is asked to do so by the Company. | |
16.3 | If the Executive does not resign as an officer of a Group Company, having been requested to do so in accordance with clause 16.2, the Company will be appointed as his attorney to effect his resignation. By entering into this agreement, the Executive irrevocably appoints the Company as his attorney to act on his behalf to execute any document or do anything in his name necessary to effect his resignation in accordance with clause 16.2. If there is any doubt as to whether such a document (or other thing) has been carried out within the authority conferred by this clause 16.3, a certificate in writing (signed by any director or the secretary of the Company) will be sufficient to prove that the act or thing falls within that authority. | |
16.4 | The termination of any directorship [or other office] held by the Executive will not terminate the Executive’s employment or amount to a breach of terms of this agreement by the Company. | |
16.5 | During the Employment the Executive will not do anything which could cause him to be disqualified from continuing to act as a director of any Group Company. |
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21.9 | If either party agrees to waives his rights under a provision of this agreement, that waiver will only be effective if it is in writing and it is signed by him. A party’s agreement to waive any breach of any term or condition of this agreement will not be regarded as a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same term or condition or a different term or condition. |
21.10 | This agreement is governed by and will be interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Each of the parties submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts as regards any claim or matter arising under this agreement. |
EXECUTED as a DEED on behalf of | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx |
VODAFONE GROUP PLC | Director |
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Company Secretary |
EXECUTED as
a DEED by
ANFREW XXXXX XXXXXXX in the presence of: |
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/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
Witness’s signature | /s/ Xxx Xxxxxxxx | |
Name | Xxx Xxxxxxxx | |
Xxxxxxx | 0 Xxxxxxx Xxxx | |
Xxxxxxxxx | ||
Wilts | ||
UK | ||
Occupation | Solicitor |
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