EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.2
AGREEMENT entered into as of December ___, 2020, by and between XXXXXXXX CORPORATION, an Iowa corporation (the “Company” or “Xxxxxxxx”), and XXXXXXXXX XXXXXX (“Xxxxxx”), to be effective as of November 30, 2020 (“Effective Date”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to employ Xxxxxx pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof, and in order to induce Xxxxxx to enter into this agreement (the “Agreement”) and to secure the benefits to accrue from her performance hereunder is willing to undertake the obligations assigned to it herein; and
WHEREAS, Xxxxxx is willing to be employed by the Company under the terms hereof and to enter into the Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.Position.
Xxxxxxxx will employ Xxxxxx as President, National Media Group. While employed hereunder, Xxxxxx shall have the duties, responsibilities, powers, and authority customarily associated with the position of President, National Media Group. Xxxxxx agrees to devote substantially all of her full time and attention and give her best efforts and skills to furthering the business and interests of the Company, which may include Xxxxxx volunteering her time and efforts, as reasonably requested, on behalf of charitable, civic, or professional organizations. Xxxxxx shall not serve on the board of any other for-profit corporation or entity without the prior written authorization of the CEO of Xxxxxxxx, except that nothing herein shall prohibit Xxxxxx from continuing to serve on the board of Xxxxxxxx.xxx.
2.Office Location.
Xxxxxx’x primary office location shall be at Meredith’s offices in New York, New York, but Xxxxxx shall make herself available at Meredith’s various offices as deemed necessary or appropriate by the CEO to meet Meredith’s business needs, upon reasonable notice.
3.Base Salary.
Xxxxxx’x minimum base salary under this Agreement will be Six Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($675,000) (“Base Salary”). Xxxxxx will be eligible for merit increases at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (“Compensation Committee”). Base Salary shall include all such increased amounts, and Base Salary shall not be decreased.
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4.Incentive Plans.
4.1 While employed under this Agreement, Xxxxxx will continue to be eligible to participate in Meredith’s Annual Management Incentive Plan (or any successor or replacement annual incentive plan of Xxxxxxxx) (“MIP”) for such periods as it continues in effect, subject to the terms of the MIP and to the discretion vested in the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors by the MIP. As of the Effective Date, the percentage of Base Salary payable as a target bonus under the MIP shall not be less than eighty percent (80%) (actual Company financial results may eventuate in an actual bonus paid to Xxxxxx equal to, less than, or more than eighty percent (80%) of Base Salary). For the avoidance of doubt, in FY2021 any target bonus payout will be calculated at 50% of Base Salary from July 1 through the Effective Date and 80% of Base Salary from the Effective Date through June 30. Any MIP payment will be paid out in August following the applicable Fiscal Year (the Company’s Fiscal Year runs from July 1 through June 30), and is conditioned on Xxxxxx’x active employment with Xxxxxxxx at the end of the performance period (June 30) for the applicable Fiscal Year. For sake of clarity, if Xxxxxx is actively employed with Xxxxxxxx at the end of the applicable performance period, Xxxxxx shall receive any MIP payment regardless of whether Xxxxxx remains actively employed on the date of payment.
4.2 While employed under this Agreement, Xxxxxx will participate in an annual three-year Cash Long-Term Incentive Program (“Program” or “LTIP”), the first such Program shall be FY 22-24, in which she will have the opportunity to earn an additional cash payment of Two Hundred and Forty Thousand Dollars ($240,000) conditioned upon the achievement of certain specified financial objectives. Any payment under this Program will be made after the first regular August meeting of Meredith’s Board of Directors immediately following the conclusion of the three-year Program, subject to the terms of the Program and to the discretion vested in the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
4.3 Xxxxxx is also currently participating in a three-year (FY 20-22) Cash Long-Term Incentive Program with a $100,000 target, conditioned upon the achievement of certain specified financial objectives. Under the Program, payment will made after the first regular August meeting of Meredith’s Board of Directors immediately following the conclusion of the three-year Program, subject to the terms of the Program and to the discretion vested in the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Xxxxxx is also currently participating in a three-year (FY 21-23) Cash Long-Term Incentive Program with a $100,000 target, conditioned upon the achievement of certain specified financial objectives. Under the Program, payment will made after the first regular August meeting of Meredith’s Board of Directors immediately following the conclusion of the three-year Program, subject to the terms of the Program and to the discretion vested in the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
4.4 While employed under this Agreement, Xxxxxx will continue to be eligible to participate in Meredith’s 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) for such periods as it continues in effect. Each fiscal year, beginning in August 2021, Xxxxxx will be eligible for an annual grant of non-qualified stock options and restricted stock units, which annual grant shall have an estimated total value of at least Three Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($360,000), three-year xxxxx xxxx, subject to the terms of the Plan and to the discretion and approval of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. In addition, Xxxxxxxx will recommend that Xxxxxx receive
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a special, one-time, promotion equity grant of non-qualified stock options and restricted stock units with an estimated total value or $180,000, subject to the terms of the Plan and to the discretion and approval of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors at the January 2021 Board of Directors meeting.
4.5 While employed under this Agreement, Xxxxxx will be eligible to participate in in Meredith’s Supplemental Benefit Plan for such periods as it continues in effect, subject to the terms of the Plan.
4.6 Xxxxxx acknowledges and agrees that she shall be subject to Xxxxxxxx Corporation’s Incentive Compensation Clawback Policy or any successor or replacement clawback policy for such periods as it continues in effect. Xxxxxxxx agrees that any successor or replacement to the Incentive Compensation Clawback Policy shall have no greater adverse effect on Xxxxxx than on all other similarly situated executives.
5.Perquisites and Short-Term Disability.
5.1 Perquisites. During her employment under this Agreement, Xxxxxx shall receive or be eligible to participate in, to the extent permitted by law, the various perquisites and plans generally available to officers of Xxxxxxxx, in accordance with the provisions thereof as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation, professional fee reimbursement for tax preparation and financial planning, supplemental executive life insurance, executive long term disability insurance, the Xxxxxxxx Supplemental Benefit Plan, the Amended and Restated Severance Agreement Between Xxxxxxxx Corporation and Executive Officers, and a minimum of four (4) weeks of vacation per year. Xxxxxx will similarly be provided with an automobile allowance of $11,050/year under Meredith’s executive automobile allowance policy and reimbursement for the initiation fees and regular dues in a country club in the New York, New York area, subject to Xxxxxxxx policy and applicable withholding and deductions. Furthermore, Xxxxxx will be entitled to reimbursement, in accordance with Xxxxxxxx policy, for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the performance of her duties with Xxxxxxxx, provided Xxxxxx properly accounts therefor.
5.2 Short-Term Disability. During any period of short-term disability, the Company will continue to pay Xxxxxx the Base Salary throughout the period of short-term disability, up to a maximum of six (6) months of Base Salary payments pursuant to this Section 5.2. In addition, Xxxxxx will continue to receive all rights and benefits under the benefit plans and programs of the Company in which Xxxxxx is a participant, as determined in accordance with the terms of such plans and programs, and Xxxxxx shall be eligible to receive the benefit of her MIP target bonus for the initial year in which the short-term disability occurs without reduction for the period of the short-term disability. In the event of Xxxxxx'x death during a period of short-term disability, the provisions of Section 6.5 shall apply. For purposes of this Agreement, short-term disability shall be defined as the incapacitation of Xxxxxx by reason of sickness, accident or other physical or mental disability for a period of time. All benefits provided under this Section 5.2 shall be in replacement of and not in addition to benefits payable under the Company’s short-term and long-term disability plans, except to the extent that such disability plans provide greater benefits than the disability benefits provided under this Agreement, in which case the disability plans would supersede the applicable provisions of this Agreement. In the event Xxxxxx is
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determined to have a long-term disability (as described in Section 6.4), the provisions of Section 6.4 shall apply.
6.Termination of Employment.
6.1 Termination for Cause. This Agreement and Xxxxxx’x employment hereunder may be terminated by Xxxxxxxx at any time for “Cause,” in which case Xxxxxx will receive only her Base Salary through the date of such termination. Upon such termination, Xxxxxx shall be entitled to no further benefits under this Agreement, except that any rights and benefits Xxxxxx may have under the employee benefit plans and programs of the Company, in which Xxxxxx is a participant, shall be determined in accordance with the terms and provisions of such plans and programs. Xxxxxx understands and agrees that in the event of the termination of employment and termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 6.1, all awards of restricted stock units, stock options and any other benefits under the Incentive Plans shall be handled in accordance with the terms of the relevant plan and agreements entered into between Xxxxxx and the Company with respect to such awards, but that the obligations of Xxxxxx under Section 7 shall remain in full force and effect. “Cause” is defined as (i) the willful and continued failure of Xxxxxx to attempt to perform substantially her duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from disability), after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to Xxxxxx, which specifically identifies the manner in which Xxxxxx has not attempted to substantially perform her duties and for those matters which are subject to cure, a ten (10) day notice to cure is provided or (ii) the engaging by Xxxxxx in willful misconduct which is materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, no act, or failure to act, on the part of Xxxxxx shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by Xxxxxx in bad faith and without reasonable belief that Xxxxxx’x act or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by Xxxxxx in good faith and in the best interests of the Company. Under no circumstances will Xxxxxx be entitled to more than three (3) ten (10) day notice to cure periods during Xxxxxx’x employment with Xxxxxxxx.
6.2 Termination Without Cause. This Agreement and Xxxxxx’x employment hereunder may be terminated by Xxxxxxxx at any time without Cause and without prior notice. In the event Xxxxxx’x employment is terminated without Cause by Xxxxxxxx, then in return for a signed separation agreement that includes a full release of all employment-related claims (it being understood that the separation agreement will not impose on Xxxxxx any additional restrictive covenants or other post-employment restrictions in excess of those contained in Section 7 of this Agreement), Xxxxxx will receive the following: (a) her Base Salary, minus applicable withholding and deductions, through the date on which notice is given; (b) separation payments equivalent to her regular biweekly Base Salary, minus applicable withholding and deductions, for a period of eighteen (18) months following the date of notice to her; (c) a lump sum payment equal to her annual Management Incentive Plan target bonus, minus applicable withholding and deductions, pro-rated for the year in which such termination occurs through the date on which notice of termination is given; (d) a lump-sum payment equal to 1.5 times her MIP target bonus, minus applicable withholding and deductions; and (e) COBRA subsidy benefits as and to the extent set forth in Section 2.4(b) of the Xxxxxxxx Corporation Severance Pay Plan in
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effect as of the Effective Date. If Xxxxxx does not execute the above-mentioned release, Xxxxxx will receive only her Base Salary through the date on which notice of termination is given. It is understood that if as a result of Xxxxxx’x termination without Cause hereunder Xxxxxx could qualify for a severance payment under the Xxxxxxxx Corporation Severance Pay Plan or the Amended and Restated Severance Agreement Between Xxxxxxxx Corporation and Executive Officers, Xxxxxx may be treated under either this Agreement or one of the above referenced plans, whichever provides the greater compensation to Xxxxxx, as determined by Xxxxxx, but Xxxxxx is not entitled to receive the consideration provided for under this Agreement and any of the above referenced plans under any circumstances.
Upon such termination, Xxxxxx shall be entitled to no further benefits under this Agreement, except that any rights and benefits Xxxxxx may have under the employee benefit plans and programs of the Company, in which Xxxxxx is a participant, shall be determined in accordance with the terms and provisions of such plans and programs.
6.3 Employee Voluntary. In the event Xxxxxx terminates her employment of her own volition, except for a termination described in Section 6.6, such termination shall constitute a voluntary termination and in such event Meredith’s only obligation to Xxxxxx shall be to make Base Salary payments provided for in this Agreement through the date of such voluntary termination. Any rights and benefits Xxxxxx may have under the employee benefit plans and programs of the Company, in which she is a participant, shall be determined in accordance with the terms and provisions of such plans and programs. All awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options and any other benefits under the Incentive Plans shall be handled in accordance with the terms of the relevant plan and agreements entered into between Xxxxxx and the Company with respect to such awards.
6.4 Employee Disability. If Xxxxxx shall be determined to have a Long-Term Disability (as defined below), then the employment of Xxxxxx hereunder and this Agreement may be terminated by Xxxxxx or the Company upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to the other party following such determination. After the thirty (30)-day written notice is provided, Xxxxxx’x employment shall end and the Company shall pay to Xxxxxx, at such times as Base Salary would normally be paid, one hundred percent (100%) of Base Salary for the first twelve (12) months following said termination, seventy-five percent (75%) of the Base Salary for the next twelve (12)-month period, and fifty percent (50%) of Base Salary for the final twelve (12)-month period. Furthermore, nothing contained in this Section 6.4 shall preclude Xxxxxx from receiving the benefit of her MIP target bonus for the initial year in which a short-term disability occurs pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.2. Following the termination pursuant to this Section 6.4, the Company shall pay or provide Xxxxxx such other rights and benefits of participation under the employee benefit plans and programs of the Company to the extent that such continued participation is not otherwise prohibited by applicable law or by the express terms and provisions of such plans and programs. All benefits provided under this Section 6.4 shall be in replacement of and not in addition to benefits payable under the Company’s short-term and long-term disability plans, except to the extent that such disability plans provide greater benefits than the disability benefits provided under this Agreement, in which case the applicable disability plans(s) would supersede the applicable provisions of this Agreement. All awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options and any other benefits under the Incentive Plans shall be handled in accordance with terms of the relevant plan and agreements entered into between
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Xxxxxx and the Company with respect such awards. For purposes of this Section 6.4, Long-Term Disability shall be defined and determined pursuant to the terms of the long-term disability plan in effect for employees of the Company, and if no such plan exists, then Long-Term Disability shall be defined consistent with the definition of disability set forth in Section 409A of the Code.
6.5 Employee Death. In the event Xxxxxx’x employment ends due to her death, this Agreement shall terminate and all obligations to Xxxxxx shall cease as of the date of death, except that the Company will pay to the legal representative of her estate in substantially equal installments the Base Salary until the end of the month of the first anniversary of Xxxxxx'x death. Any annual MIP bonus (or amounts in lieu thereof), payable for the fiscal year in which Xxxxxx’x death occurs, shall be determined by the Compensation Committee at its meeting following the end of such fiscal year, pro-rated to the date of death, and promptly paid to Xxxxxx’x estate. All rights and benefits of Xxxxxx under the benefit plans and programs of the Company in which Xxxxxx is a participant, will be provided as determined in accordance with the terms and provisions of such plans and programs. All awards of restricted stock units, stock options and any other benefits under the Incentive Plans shall be handled in accordance with terms of the relevant plan and agreements entered into between Xxxxxx and the Company with respect such awards
6.6 Change in Title, Duties Location, or Compensation. If at any time during Xxxxxx’x employment with the Company under the terms of this Agreement (a) a change is made to Xxxxxx’x title as President, National Media Group, (b) there is a material change in Xxxxxx having at least the same level of responsibility and authority associated with being President, National Media Group as she has on date this Agreement is executed, (c) an involuntary change is made to the location of Xxxxxx’x principal office more than twenty-five (25) miles from the New York, New York area, or (d) Xxxxxxxx makes an involuntary reduction in Xxxxxx’x Base Salary or target annual Management Incentive Plan bonus opportunity, Xxxxxx shall have the right to terminate her employment with the Company by giving written notice within ninety (90) days after the date of Xxxxxx receiving written notice of such action, and the Company shall have a period of thirty (30) days to cure such action, and, if the Company does not cure, such termination shall be deemed to be Termination Without Cause by the Company and such termination shall be treated in accordance with the terms of Section 6.2.
6.7 Officers and Directors Insurance. The Company agrees to maintain Xxxxxx’x coverage under such directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies as shall from time to time be in effect for active officers and employees for not less than six (6) years following Xxxxxx’x termination of employment.
7.Covenants of Xxxxxx.
7.1 Xxxxxx acknowledges that as a result of the services to be rendered to the Company hereunder, Xxxxxx will be brought into close contact with many confidential affairs of the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates, not readily available to the public. Xxxxxx further acknowledges that the services to be performed under this Agreement are of a special, unique, unusual, extraordinary and intellectual character; that the business of the Company is international in scope; that its goods and services are marketed throughout the United States and
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various parts of the world and that the Company competes with other organizations that are or could be located in nearly any part of the United States and in various parts of the world.
7.2 In recognition of the foregoing, Xxxxxx covenants and agrees that, except as is necessary in providing services under this Agreement or to the extent necessary to comply with law or the valid order of a court or government agency of competent jurisdiction, Xxxxxx will not knowingly use for her own benefit nor knowingly divulge any Confidential Information and Trade Secrets of the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliated entities, which are not otherwise in the public domain and, so long as they remain Confidential Information and Trade Secrets not in the public domain, will not intentionally disclose them to anyone outside of the Company either during or after her employment. For the purposes of this Agreement, "Confidential Information and Trade Secrets" of the Company means information which is secret to the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliated entities. It may include, but is not limited to, information relating to the magazines, books, publications, products, services, television stations, real estate franchise operations, new and future concepts and business of the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates, in the form of memoranda, reports, computer software and data banks, customer lists, employee lists, books, records, financial statements, manuals, papers, contracts and strategic plans. As a guide, Xxxxxx is to consider information originated, owned, controlled or possessed by the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliated entities which is not disclosed in printed publications stated to be available for distribution outside the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliated entities as being secret and confidential. In instances where doubt does or should reasonably be understood to exist in Xxxxxx'x mind as to whether information is secret and confidential to the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliated entities, Xxxxxx agrees to request an opinion, in writing, from the Company. Notwithstanding the above,
(a) Xxxxxx understands that she has immunity from criminal or civil liability for disclosure of a trade secret: (1) made in confidence to a Federal, State, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (2) made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal; and (3) in a lawsuit against Xxxxxxxx for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of law, Xxxxxx may disclose a trade secret to her attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if Xxxxxx files under seal any document containing the trade secret, and does not disclose the trade secret except pursuant to court order.
(b) Nothing in this Section 7.2 prohibits Xxxxxx from reporting possible violations of law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity or making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation.
(c) Xxxxxx shall disclose to the public and discuss such information as is customary or legally required to be disclosed by a Company whose stock is publicly traded, or that is otherwise legally required to disclose, or that is in the best interests of the Company to do so.
(d) Xxxxxx will deliver promptly to the Company on the termination of her employment with the Company, or at any other time the Company may so request, all
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memoranda, notes, records, reports and other documents relating to the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliated entities, and all property owned by the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliated entities, which Xxxxxx obtained while employed by the Company, and which Xxxxxx may then possess or have under her control.
7.3 Xxxxxx agrees that during her employment with Xxxxxxxx and, provided any applicable termination payments have been paid pursuant to Section 6, for a period of eighteen (18) months after her employment ends (whether her employment is ended voluntarily or involuntarily by Xxxxxx or Xxxxxxxx), Xxxxxx will not, directly or indirectly, whether as a sole proprietor, partner, venture, stockholder, director, officer, employee, consultant, or in any other capacity as a principal or agent or through any person, subsidiary, affiliate, or employee acting as nominee or agent, engage in any of the following activities:
(a) Knowingly interfere with, disrupt or attempt to disrupt, any then existing relationship, contractual or otherwise, between the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliated entities, and any customer, client, supplier, or agent;
(b) Hire, solicit or attempt to hire or solicit any person who is employed by Xxxxxxxx or attempt to influence any such person to terminate employment with Xxxxxxxx (for the avoidance of doubt, this provision shall in no way prohibit job postings of general applicability, provided they are not specifically targeted at employees of the Company); or
(c) Render services directly or indirectly as an employee, officer, director, consultant, independent contractor or in any other capacity to, conduct or engage in any activities for the benefit of, or be interested in or associated with, any of the entities listed on Exhibit A hereto (“Competitor”), or take any action to finance or guarantee or knowingly to provide other material assistance to any Competitor.
7.4 Xxxxxx will promptly disclose to the Company all inventions, processes, original works of authorship, trademarks, patents, improvements and discoveries related to the business of the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliated entities (collectively "Developments"), conceived or developed during Xxxxxx'x employment with the Company and based upon information to which she had access during the term of employment, whether or not conceived during regular working hours, through the use of the Company time, material or facilities or otherwise. All such Developments shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company, and upon request Xxxxxx shall deliver to the Company all outlines, descriptions and other data and records relating to such Developments, and shall execute any documents deemed necessary by the Company to protect the Company's rights hereunder. Xxxxxx agrees upon request to assist the Company to obtain United States or foreign letters patent and copyright registrations covering inventions and original works of authorship belonging to the Company hereunder. If the Company is unable because of Xxxxxx'x mental or physical incapacity to secure Xxxxxx'x signature to apply for or to pursue any application for any United States or foreign letters patent or copyright registrations covering inventions and original works of authorship belonging to the Company hereunder, then Xxxxxx hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as her agent and attorney in fact, to act for and in her behalf and stead to execute and file any such applications and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution
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and issuance of letters patent or copyright registrations thereon with the same legal force and effect as if executed by her . Xxxxxx hereby waives and quitclaims to the Company any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, that she may hereafter have for infringement of any patents or copyright resulting from any such application for letters patent or copyright registrations belonging to the Company hereunder.
7.5 Xxxxxx agrees to cooperate with Xxxxxxxx in the truthful and honest prosecution and/or defense of any claim in which Xxxxxxxx xxx have an interest (with the right of reimbursement for reasonable expenses actually incurred) which may include, without limitation, being available to participate in any proceeding involving Xxxxxxxx, permitting interviews with representatives of Xxxxxxxx, appearing for depositions and trial testimony, and producing and/or providing any documents or names of other persons with relevant information in Xxxxxx’x possession or control arising out of her employment in a reasonable time, place and manner.
7.6 Xxxxxx agrees that the remedy at law for any breach or threatened breach of any covenant contained in this Section 7 may be inadequate and that the Company, in addition to such other remedies as may be available to it, in law or in equity, shall be entitled to injunctive relief without bond or other security.
7.7 Although the restrictions contained in Section 7 are considered by the parties hereto to be fair and reasonable in the circumstances, it is recognized that restrictions of such nature may fail for technical reasons, and accordingly it is hereby agreed that if any of such restrictions shall be adjudged to be void or unenforceable for whatever reason, but would be valid if part of the wording thereof were deleted, or the period thereof reduced or the area dealt with thereby reduced in scope, the restrictions contained in Section 7 shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law, and the parties consent and agree that such scope or wording may be accordingly judicially modified in any proceeding brought to enforce such restrictions.
7.8 Notwithstanding that Xxxxxx'x employment hereunder may be terminated as provided in Section 6 above, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect insofar as is necessary to enforce the covenants and agreements of Xxxxxx contained in this Section 7.
8.Arbitration.
8.1 The parties shall use their best efforts and good will to settle all disputes by amicable negotiations. The Company and Xxxxxx agree that, with the express exception of any dispute or controversy arising under Section 7 of this Agreement or under any distinct severance or benefit plan or program with its own, express dispute resolution provisions, any controversy or claim arising out of or in any way relating to Xxxxxx’x employment with the Company, including, without limitation, any and all disputes concerning this Agreement and the termination of this Agreement that are not amicably resolved by negotiation, shall be settled by arbitration in Des Moines, Iowa, or such other place agreed to by the parties, as follows:
(a) An arbitration may be commenced by any party to this Agreement by the service of a written Request for Arbitration upon the other affected party. Such Request for Arbitration shall summarize the controversy or claim to be arbitrated. No Request for Arbitration shall be valid if it relates to a claim, dispute, disagreement or controversy that
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would have been time barred under the applicable statute of limitations had such claim, dispute, disagreement or controversy been submitted to the courts of Iowa.
(b) The arbitration will be conducted before an impartial arbitrator appointed as follows. Within sixty (60) days of the Request for Arbitration the parties shall mutually agree to an arbitrator. If the parties fail to mutually agree to an arbitrator within sixty (60) days, then within seventy-five (75) days following Request for Arbitration, each party shall produce to the other a list of three (3) potential arbitrators. Within ninety (90) days of the Request for Arbitration the parties will meet in person or by conference call to select an arbitrator from the combined list. Each party will first strike two (2) names from the other party’s list. The arbitrator will then be selected by lot from the two potential arbitrators whose names have not been stricken. The parties will evenly split the costs of the arbitrator. Legal fees and costs may be awarded by the arbitrator in accordance with applicable law.
(c) Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
(d) It is intended that controversies or claims submitted to arbitration under this Section 8 shall remain confidential, and to that end it is agreed by the parties that neither the facts disclosed in the arbitration, the issues arbitrated, nor the views or opinions of any persons concerning them, shall be disclosed by third persons at any time, except to the extent necessary to enforce an award or judgment or as required by law or in response to legal process or in connection with such arbitration. In addition, Xxxxxx and the Company shall be entitled to disclose the facts disclosed in arbitration, the issues arbitrated, and the views or opinions of any persons concerning them to legal and tax advisors so long as such advisors agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.
9.Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be deemed a contract made under, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Iowa without reference to the principles of conflict of laws.
10. Entire Agreement; Modification; Waiver.
This Agreement, and those plans and agreements referenced herein contain all the understandings and representations between Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx pertaining to Xxxxxx’x employment with Xxxxxxxx and supersede all other negotiations, discussions, correspondence, communications, understandings, and agreements between the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement may be modified only in writing signed by Xxxxxx and an authorized representative of Xxxxxxxx. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, no waiver by either party hereto of any breach by the other party of any condition or provision of the Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of a similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any prior or subsequent time.
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11. Headings.
Headings of the sections of this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and no provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the title of any section.
12. Severability.
In the event that any provision or portion of this Agreement shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions or portions of this Agreement shall be unaffected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.
13. Withholding.
Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, all payments required to be made by the Company hereunder to Xxxxxx or her beneficiaries, shall be subject to withholding and deductions as the Company may reasonably determine it should withhold or deduct pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. In lieu of withholding or deducting, such amounts, in whole or in part, the Company may, in its sole discretion, accept other provision for payment as permitted by law, provided it is satisfied in its sole discretion that all requirements of law affecting its responsibilities to withhold such taxes have been satisfied.
14. Section 409A.
This Agreement is intended to be interpreted and operated to the fullest extent possible so that the payments and benefits under this Agreement either shall be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or, to the extent such payments are not exempt from Section 409A of the Code, such payments and benefits shall be interpreted and operated to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Payments payable under this Agreement triggered by a termination of employment that are deferred compensation subject to (but not otherwise exempt from) Section 409A of the Code shall not be made unless such termination of employment constitutes a separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, if Xxxxxx is a “specified employee” on the date of her separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(h), payments and benefits payable under this Agreement due to a separation from service that are deferred compensation subject to (but not otherwise exempt from) Section 409A of the Code that would otherwise be paid or provided during the six-month period commencing on the separation from service, will be deferred until the first day of the seventh month following the separation from service if such deferral is necessary to avoid the additional tax under Section 409A of the Code. In the case of a series of payments, the first payment shall include the amounts Xxxxxx would have been entitled to receive during the six-month waiting period. Each payment made under this Agreement shall be designated as a “separate payment” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. If the period during which Xxxxxx has discretion to execute or revoke the separation agreement described in Section 6.2 straddles two calendar years, the cash severance or other benefits shall be paid or commence being paid, as applicable, as soon as practicable in the second of the two calendar years, regardless of within which calendar year Xxxxxx actually delivers the executed
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separation agreement to the Company, subject to the separation agreement first becoming effective. Consistent with section 409A of the Code, Xxxxxx may not, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, if any payment made pursuant to this Agreement is a substitute or replacement for a right to payment that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, including, to the extent applicable, amounts payable under another plan or agreement between Xxxxxx and the Company or its subsidiaries, parents and affiliated entities, then any such payment amount shall be paid at the time and in the form as required by Section 409A of the Code.
To the extent required by Section 409A of the Code, each reimbursement or in-kind benefit provided under this Agreement shall be provided in accordance with the following: (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, during each calendar year cannot affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other calendar year; (ii) any reimbursement of an eligible expense shall be paid to Xxxxxx on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred; and (iii) any right to reimbursements or in-kind benefits under this Agreement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
15. Section 280G.
If any portion of the payments or benefits under this Agreement, or under any other agreement with Xxxxxx or plan of the Company or its affiliates (in the aggregate, “Total Payments,” and each a “Payment”), would constitute an “excess parachute payment” and would, but for this Section 16, result in the imposition on Xxxxxx of an excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) under Section 4999 of the Code, then, to the extent reasonably practicable and permitted by applicable law, the Total Payments to be made to Xxxxxx shall either be (i) delivered in full, or (ii) delivered in such amount so that no portion of such Total Payments would be subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing results in the receipt by Xxxxxx of the greatest benefit on an after-tax basis (taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax). The determination required by this Section 16 shall be made by the Company in its reasonable determination and in reliance on its tax advisors. The reduction of the amounts payable under this Agreement, if applicable, shall be made by reducing taxable Payments before non-taxable Payments, and Payments nearest in time before Payments later in time, unless an alternative method of reduction is elected by Xxxxxx to the extent consistent with Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of reducing the Total Payments, only amounts payable under this Agreement (and no other Payments) shall be reduced.
16. Successors and Assigns.
16.1 Assignment by the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company.
16.2 Assignment by Xxxxxx. Xxxxxx may not assign this Agreement or any part thereof; provided, however, that nothing herein shall preclude one or more beneficiaries of Xxxxxx from receiving any amount that may be payable following the occurrence of Xxxxxx’x legal incompetency or her death and shall not preclude the legal representative of her estate from
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receiving such amount or from assigning any right hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereto under her will or, in the case of intestacy, to the person or persons entitled thereto under the laws of the intestacy applicable to her estate.
17. Notices.
Any notice to be given hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by overnight mail, such as Federal Express, addressed to the party concerned at the address indicated below or to such other address as such party may subsequently give notice of hereunder in writing:
If to Company:
Xxxxxxxx Corporation
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Senior Vice President, Human Resources
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxxx Corporation
Legal Department
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000-0000
If to Xxxxxx:
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
President, National Media Group
000 Xxxxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
18. Knowledge and Representation.
Xxxxxx acknowledges that the terms of this Agreement have been fully explained to her, that Xxxxxx understands the nature and extent of the rights and obligations provided under this Agreement, and that Xxxxxx has been afforded an adequate opportunity to be represented by legal counsel in the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
XXXXXXXX CORPORATION By: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx Dated: | XXXXXXXXX XXXXXX Dated: | |||||||
| By: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | ||||||||
| /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | /s/ Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||||||
Dated: 12/1/2020 | Dated: 12/1/2020 | |||||||
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Exhibit A
•Amazon
•Apple
•Buzzfeed
•Conde Nast/Advance
•Discovery/Scripps Network
•Facebook
•Google
•Hearst
•IAC
•NBC Universal
•Refinery 29
•Snap, Inc.
•New York Times
•Verizon/Oath
•Vox Media
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