SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
THIS SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), is entered into as of March 31,
200129, by and between Genesis Energy, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxx X. GormanMark X. Xxxxxx (the "Executive")
who is employed as PresidentChief Executive Officer and President.
WHEREAS, the Company's Board of Directors (the "Company Board") and the
Compensation Committee of the Company Board (the "Committee") have determined
that it is in the best interests of the Company and its Members to assure that
the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding
the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Circumstancesontrol (as
defined herein) of the Company, a termination other than for cause, the duties
and responsibilities of the Executive are substantially and materially changed,
a reduction in salary occurs or there is a change of greater than 75 miles in
the location of Executive's place of work (collectively, "Changed
Circumstances"); and
WHEREAS, the Company Board believes that it is imperative to diminish the
inevitable distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties
and risks created by a pending or threatened Change in Control or Changed
Circumstances, to encourage the Executive's full attention and dedication to the
Company currently and in the event of any threatened or pending Change in
Control or ChangedCircumstances, and to provide the Executive with compensation
arrangements upon a Change in Control or ChangedCircumstances which provide the
Executive with individual financial security and which are competitive with
those of other corporations.
WHEREAS, the Executive's employment contract with the Company is due to
expire on December 31, 1999 and the Company and Executive desire not to extend
the contract but desire to continue the employment arrangement between the
Company and Executive with the protection afforded by this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements herein
contained, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have
the following meanings (the singular includes the plural, unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise):
(a) A "Changed Circumstance" shall be deemed to have occurred if,
within one year of any Change in Control, any of the following occur: (i) the
Executive is terminated for any reason other than cause, (ii) the duties and
responsibilities of the Executive are materially changed without the Executive's
agreement, (iii) the Executive's salary or benefits are reduced, or (iv) there
is a change of greater than 50 miles in the location of Executive's place of
work.
(b) "Changed Circumstances Date" shall be the effective date for a
Changed Circumstance.
(c) A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred on the
earliest of the following dates:
(i) The date any entity or person (including a "group" within
the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any
comparable successor provisions) shall have become the beneficial owner of, or
shall have obtained voting control over, fifty percent (50%) or more of the then
outstanding shares of the Company; or
(ii) (1) The closing datethe stockholders of Genesis Energy,
L.P. ("MLP") approve a definitive agreement of any transaction to sell or
otherwise dispose of substantially all the assets of Genesis Energy, L.P. (the
"MLP"), or to merge or consolidate the MLP with or into another partnership or
corporation, in which the MLP is not the continuing or surviving partnership or
corporation or pursuant to which any common shares of the MLP would be converted
into cash, securities or other property of another partnership or corporation,
other than a merger of the MLP in which holders of common shares immediately
prior to the merger have the same proportionate ownership of common stock of the
surviving partnership or corporation immediately after the merger as immediately
before, or (2) the closing date the Company closes on a binding agreementof any
transaction to sell or otherwise transfer (including without limitation by
merger or consolidation) to one or more unaffiliated entities or persons not
less than a majority of the outstanding interests in the Company.
(d) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(e) "Termination" shall be deemed to have occurred upon the Company
terminating the Executive's employment on or after a Changed Circumstance Date
or the Executive terminating employment within 30 days after a Changed
Circumstance Date pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
(f) "Termination Date" shall mean the date of Termination.
(g) "Termination for Cause" shall mean:
(i) a conviction of any crime involving the misuse or
misappropriation of Company assets;
(ii) a material violation of Company policy;
(iii) a material violation of any rule or regulation of any
regulatory body to which the Company or any subsidiary partnership is subject;
or
(iv) a material breach by the Executive of Executive's fiduciary
responsibilities to the Company.
2. Benefits upon Termination. At any time after the Executive's
Termination, the Company shall be required to provide the following benefits to
Executive:
(a) The Company shall pay to the Executive concurrently with the
Termination Date and subject to the terms of the Release attached as Exhibit A,
a cash lump sum payment of the annual salary of Executive on the Termination
Date, but in no event less than 270,000.00$270,000; and
(b) In addition to the cash benefits payable pursuant to Section 2(a)
hereof, all Phantom Units (as defined in the Restricted Unit Plan) and similar
awards granted to Executive by the Company shall immediately vest on the
Termination Date, notwithstanding any existing vesting schedule or other terms
set forth in any plan or agreement governing the term of such restricted stock
awards and similar awards.
(c) In the event the Executive elects to continue medical and/or
dental coverage under COBRA, the Company will pay the required premiums for a
period of six months.
(d) Any incentive compensation due in accordance with any Incentive
Compensation Plan then in effect.
(e) The Company shall make any payment required to be made under this
Agreement in cash and on demand. Any payment required to be paid by the Company
under this Agreement which is not paid within five days of receipt by the
Company of Executive's demand therefor shall thereafter be deemed delinquent,
and the Company shall pay to Executive immediately upon demand interest at the
highest nonusurious rate per annum allowed by applicable law from the date such
payment becomes delinquent to the date of payment of such delinquent sum.
(f) In the event that there is any change to the Code which results
in the recodification of Section 280G (Excess Parachute Payments) or Section
4999 of the Code, or in the event that either such section of the Code is
amended, replaced or supplemented by other provisions of the Code of similar
import ("Successor Provisions"), then this Agreement shall be applied and
enforced with respect to such new Code provisions in a manner consistent with
the intent of the parties as expressed herein, which is to assure that Executive
is in the same after-tax position and has received the same benefits that he
would have been in and received if any taxes imposed by Section 4999 or any
Successor Provisions had not been imposed.
(g) As a condition to Executive receiving severance compensation, the
employee will execute a severance and release agreement in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit A.
(h) Executive shall not be entitled to any of the benefits of this
Agreement if Terminated for Cause as defined herein.
3. Executive is employed as Company's Chief Executive Officer and
PresidentPresident. As President and Chief Executive OfficerPresident,
Executive will report directly to the Chairman of the Board, the Non-Executive
Chairman of the Board and the Board of DirectorsNon-Executive Chairman of the
Board and will have such duties and responsibilities with respect to the
Company, Genesis MLP and Genesis OLP as customarily would be undertaken by the
president and chief executive officer President of companies engaged in business
similar to, or competitive with, the Company. Executive will act in the best
interest of Company, Genesis MLP and Genesis OLP and their subsidiaries and
affiliates in the performance of Executive's services and duties. Executive
will not actively engage in any other business or business activity without the
prior consent of the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of DirectorsChairman of
the Board, the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board and the Board of Directors of
the Company. Nothing herein contained will limit the right of Executive to
manage Executive's personal investment activities, provided that such personal
investment activities do not materially interfere with the performance of
Executive's duties and responsibilities to the Company or otherwise materially
conflict with any policies which have been promulgated and distributed by the
Company.
4. Full Settlement. The Company's obligations to perform hereunder shall
not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other
claim, right or action that the Company may have against the Executive. In no
event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any
other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under
any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the Executive
may incur as a result of any contest by the Company or others of the validity or
the enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement.
As consideration for Company entering into this Agreement with Executive,
Executive agrees to release and hold harmless Company from any and all
obligations that Company may otherwise have to Executive pursuant to the terms
of that certain Severance Agreement with Executive dated October 29, 1999, as
amended. If a Change in Control, as defined in this Agreement, occurs on or
before June 30, 2001, then the benefits described in Section 2 of the Severance
Agreement dated October 29, 1999 will be paid to the Executive concurrently with
such Change in Control, as defined in this Agreement, and no benefits will be
paid pursuant to this Agreement.
5. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or
limit the Executive's continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus,
incentive or other plans, programs, policies or practices provided by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries and for which the Executive may qualify, nor
shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may
have under any stock option, restricted stock or other agreements with the
Company or any of its subsidiaries except for any benefit, bonus, incentive or
right to which the Executive would be entitled to which are released pursuant to
Section 4 of this Agreement. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the
Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or
program of the Company or any of its subsidiaries on the Change in Control or
Termination Date shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice
or program.
6. Funding. The Company shall pay the benefits under this Agreement out
of its general assets pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. There shall be
no special fund out of which benefits shall be paid, nor shall the Executive be
required to make a contribution as a condition of receiving benefits.
7. Tax Withholding. The Company may withhold or cause to be withheld from
any benefits payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other
taxes that are required by any law or governmental regulation or ruling.
8. Notices. Any notice required or desired to be given under this
Agreement or other communications relating to this Agreement shall be in writing
and delivered personally or mailed, return receipt requested, to the party
concerned at the address set forth below:
If to the Company: Genesis Energy, L.L.C.
000 Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
General Counsel
If to Executive: At his residence address as maintained by the
Company in the regular course of its business
for payroll purposes.
9. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the
parties hereto with respect to severance payments and supersedes any prior
agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether oral or written, between the
Company and Executive concerning severance payments.
10. Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and enforced
according to, the laws of the State of Texas. The invalidity of any provision
shall be automatically reformed to the extent permitted by applicable law and
shall not affect the enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof.
Executive hereby waives any objection which he may now or hereafter have to the
laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to
this Agreement brought in the District Court of Xxxxxx County, State of Texas,
or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, and
hereby further waives any claims that any such suit, action or proceeding
brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
11. Assignment. The rights and obligations under this Agreement of the
Company and Executive may not be assigned, except that the Company may, at its
option, assign one or more of its rights or obligations under this Agreement to
any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, provided that in each case the Company
shall remain responsible for its obligation hereunder.
12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several identical
counterparts, and by the parties hereto on separate counterparts, and each
counterpart, when so executed and delivered, shall constitute an original
instrument, and all such separate counterparts shall constitute but one and the
same instrument.
13. Modification. This Agreement may be modified only by written
agreement signed by Executive and by the President or Secretary of the Company.
The failure to insist upon compliance with any provision hereof shall not be
deemed a waiver of such provision or any other provision hereof.
14. Term. This Agreement shall commence as of March 31, 2001, and shall
terminate on March 31, 2002; provided, however, that if any Change in Control
occurs before March 31, 2002, and a Changed Circumstance occurs within one year
of the Change in Control Date, then the provisions of this Agreement shall be
applicable to the benefit of Executive.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned parties have executed this Agreement
effective as of the date first written above.
GENESIS ENERGY, L.L.C.
By:
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Name:
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Title:
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By:
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Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
President and CEO
