NOTICE (Notice of Waiver of Rights)
Exhibit
10.13
Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx
Dear Xx.
Xxxxxx:
This
letter will describe the various components of your separation
package:
NOTICE
(Notice
of Waiver of Rights)
PLEASE
READ THIS NOTICE AND THE ACCOMPANYING SEPARATION AGREEMENT (“AGREEMENT”)
CAREFULLY. BE ADVISED THAT THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDES A RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS YOU
MAY HAVE AGAINST XXXXXXX’S PRIDE CORPORATION AND/OR ITS RESPECTIVE SUBSIDIARIES
AND/OR AFFILIATES (HEREINAFTER COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS EITHER “THE COMPANY”
OR “PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION”).
Resignation
Your
active employment with the Company will terminate on December 16, 2008
(“Termination Date”). You hereby resign, and the Company hereby
accepts such resignation, as a director, officer, employee or in any other
capacity of the Company and its subsidiaries effective as of the Termination
Date. You will be paid all earned and unpaid salary together with any
unused vacation days, less deductions required or permitted by law on your last
regular payroll check.
You
acknowledge and agree that the Company will file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a report on Form 8-K and the Company will issue a
press release, each of which will disclose your resignation as an officer and as
a director of the Company. You acknowledge and agree that you have
received and reviewed a copy of the Form 8-K that will be filed with the SEC
concerning your resignation, agree fully with the statements made by the Company
therein and you have not provided and you will not provide to the Company any
written correspondence concerning the circumstances surrounding his
resignation. The Company and you agree that the information in the
press release concerning your resignation as an officer and as a director of the
Company will be substantially the same to the statements made in such report on
Form 8-K. You agree not to issue any press release or make any public
statement concerning your resignation from the Company or its subsidiaries that
would conflict with the statements made by the Company in the Form 8-K provided
to you under this paragraph.
In
addition to the foregoing to which you are entitled, if you sign and do not
revoke this Agreement you will be eligible for the consideration described in
Sections 1 through 2 below to which you would otherwise not be entitled in
exchange for an agreement to release all claims known or unknown against the
Company. You are not entitled to receive severance benefits under any
other Company severance plan or practice.
1.
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Salary and Benefits
Continuation
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a.
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You
will be eligible for a payment of $143,241.98. This sum
shall be paid in a lump sum, single payment ten (10) days after the
Termination Date or, if later, ten (10) days after the Company’s receipt
of this signed unrevoked Agreement provided the Agreement is received by
the Company within 45 days of your Termination
Date.
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b.
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You
will be eligible to continue your Pilgrim’s Pride health plan for a period
of 21 weeks by making appropriate payments on a monthly
basis. These payments will be based on employee contribution
rates for any health, dental or vision plans in which you are enrolled.
When your Pilgrim’s Pride health plan at employee contribution rates ends,
due to acquiring coverage at a new employer or due to the end of the
covered period, you will be eligible for any continuation coverage you may
have under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985
(“COBRA”). Please note that you can continue, at your option,
vision or dental coverage as separate COBRA coverage if these plans are
not available at your new employer.
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c.
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You
and the Company agree that the Change in Control Agreement (herein so
called) dated October 21, 2008 between you and the Company is hereby
terminated and shall be of no further force and
effect.
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2.
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Outplacement
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You will
be eligible for outplacement services as selected and provided by the Company
which will be available upon the Company’s receipt of this signed, unrevoked
Agreement and for three (3) months thereafter, unless the Company agrees, at its
sole discretion, to extend the outplacement services provide to you for three
(3) additional months.
3.
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Directors and Officers
Liability Insurance
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The
Company agrees to continue and maintain a directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy covering you to the extent the Company provides such coverage
for its current executive officers for a period of one year commencing on the
Termination Date.
4.
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Section 409A of the
Internal Revenue Code of
1986
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Anything
in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, no amount payable under this
Agreement that is "nonqualified deferred compensation" subject to Section 409A
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), shall be paid
prior to the earlier of, (i) the first business day after the date that is six
(6) months following the date you experience a “separation from service” (within
the meaning of U.S. Treas. Reg. 1.409A-1(h)) or (ii) the date of your death, to
the extent such delayed commencement is otherwise required in order to avoid a
prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2) of the Code. Upon
the expiration of such deferral period, all deferral payments that are delayed
pursuant to this Section shall be paid in a lump sum to you and any remaining
payments due under this Agreement shall be paid in accordance with the terms
specified herein.
5.
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Post-Employment
Obligations
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You agree
to make yourself reasonably available to the Company, and will:
a.
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Personally
provide assistance and cooperation in providing or obtaining information
for the Company, and its representatives, concerning any Company matter of
which you are knowledgeable. Such assistance and cooperation
will generally be in the form of responses to telephone
inquiries.
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b.
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Personally
provide to the Company, or its representatives, assistance and cooperation
relating to any pending or future lawsuits or claims, about which you are
knowledgeable, or where you are designated by a party as a person having
knowledge.
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c.
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Immediately
notify the Company if you receive any request from anyone other than the
Company for information regarding any potential claims or proposed
litigation against the Company or any of its
affiliates.
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d.
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Refrain
from engaging in any conduct, or making comments, or statements, the
purpose or effect of which is to harm the reputation, good will, or
commercial interests of the Company, or any of its officers, directors or
employees. You further agree not to make defamatory or
disparaging comments about the Company and each of its past and present
agents, officers, directors, insurers, investigators, attorneys,
shareholders, partners, and employees, and you also agree not to initiate,
and will avoid, all communications with third-parties or public
communications related to the Company’s business practices unless
otherwise required by law.
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e.
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Refrain
from providing any information related to any claim or potential
litigation against the Company, or its affiliates to any non-Company
representatives, without having either the prior written permission of the
Company or being required to provide information pursuant to legal
process. If the latter, you must notify the Company prior to providing
information and allow the Company an opportunity to legally oppose the
release of information, if so
desired.
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f.
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If
required by law to provide sworn testimony regarding the Company or
affiliate-related matters, you will immediately notify one the Company,
and consult with and have legal counsel designated by the Company present
for such testimony. The Company will be responsible for the costs of such
designated counsel and you will bear no cost for the same. You will
confine your testimony to items about which you have actual knowledge
rather than speculation, and will cooperate fully with designated legal
counsel.
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g.
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You
agree that for a period of five (5) years commencing on the Termination
Date, you will cooperate fully and reasonably with the Company in
connection with any future or currently pending matter, proceeding
litigation or threatened litigation involving the Company or any director,
officer or employee (acting in such capacity) of the
Company. You acknowledge that such cooperation may entail
making yourself available upon reasonable notice at reasonable times and
place to consult with the Company or testify in any action as reasonably
requested by the Company. The Company agrees to promptly
reimburse you for your reasonable out-of-pocket expenses provided in such
cooperation.
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h.
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For
a period of two (2) years following the Termination Date, you agree not,
to directly or indirectly, solicit, or take away, or attempt to hire,
solicit or take away, any consultants, employees or officers of the
Company, or encourage any consultants, employees or officers of the
Company to terminate their relationships with the Company, nor shall you
encourage, directly or indirectly, any other employees of the Company to
participate in or initiate any claims or litigation against the
Company.
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6.
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Confidentiality
Agreement
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During
the period in which you have provided or may provide services to the Company,
whether as an employee, consultant, agent or otherwise, you may have obtained or
may obtain commercially valuable confidential and/or proprietary technical and
non-technical information which is vital to the success of the Company’s
business. You acknowledge that the Company utilizes confidential
information, trade secrets and proprietary customer information in promoting and
selling its products and services. For purposes of this Agreement,
you also acknowledge that “Confidential Information” is information acquired by
you during the course and scope of your employment with, or future strategic
consulting activities for, the Company that may be designated or marked by the
Company as "Confidential" or that the Company indicates through its policies,
procedures or other instructions should not be disclosed to anyone outside of
the Company. Without limitation, examples of protected Confidential
Information under this Agreement include: internal financial data, corporate
strategic plans and budgets, long-range plans, litigation strategies and other
matters protected by the attorney client privilege, research and development
regarding existing and developmental products, marketing plans, sales data,
internal market studies or surveys, customer contacts and information, customer
purchasing needs and preferences, pricing and related information concerning the
Company’s products, information with respect to the particular competencies and
experiences of the Company’s employees and other personnel information, and
information concerning the Company’s contractual and/or business relationships
with its independent growers. Confidential Information does not
include information that has become public other than as a result of a breach of
this Agreement, is available on a non-confidential basis prior to it's
disclosure to you by the Company, or becomes available to you on a
non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company, provided such
source was not bound by a confidentiality agreement with the
Company. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to prevent you from
disclosure of Confidential Information if, in the written opinion of counsel,
such disclosure is legally required to be made and you notify the Company in
advance of such intended disclosure and, if applicable, give the Company a
reasonable opportunity to obtain a protective order or confidentiality
treatment.
You agree
not to disclose any of the Company's Confidential Information, directly or
indirectly, to any unauthorized person, and not to use such information in any
way, either during the term of any consulting relationship with the Company or
any time thereafter, except as required for the benefit of the
Company. In addition, you agree not to disclose any private, personal
and/or other nonpublic information about the Company’s current or past (i)
employees, (ii) agents, (iii) directors, (iv) customers, (v) vendors, (vi)
independent contract growers, or (vii) other representatives. Nothing
contained herein shall be deemed to prevent you from disclosure if, in the
written opinion of counsel, such disclosure is legally required to be made and
you notify the Company in advance of such intended disclosure and, if
applicable, give the Company a reasonable opportunity to obtain a protective
order or confidentiality treatment. Similarly, the Company agrees not
to disclose any private, personal or any non-public information about you;
provided that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to prevent such
disclosure as is legally required to be made.
7.
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RELEASE OF PILGRIM’S
PRIDE CORPORATION
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IN
EXCHANGE FOR THE SEVERANCE BENEFITS PROVIDED TO YOU BY XXXXXXX’S PRIDE
CORPORATION, YOU, ON BEHALF OF YOUR HEIRS, SPOUSE AND ASSIGNS, HEREBY RELEASE
PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION AND EACH OF ITS AGENTS, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS,
EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVE, ATTORNEYS, AFFILIATES, AND ITS AND THEIR
PREDECESSORS, SUCCESSORS, HEIRS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS AND ASSIGNS, AND ALL
PERSONS ACTING BY, THROUGH, OR UNDER IN CONCERT WITH ANY OF THEM (COLLECTIVELY
“RELEASEES”), OR ANY OF THEM, OF AND FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS OF ANY NATURE
WHATSOEVER, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, FORESEEN OR UNFORESEEN, IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHICH
YOU EVER HAD, NOW HAVE, OR MAY HAVE RELATING TO YOUR EMPLOYMENT, OR TERMINATION
OF EMPLOYMENT. THIS INCLUDES (I) ALL CLAIMS RELATING TO DISPUTED WAGES TO THE
FULL EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW, OVERTIME, VACATION PAY, INCENTIVE BONUS PLANS AND/OR
SEVERANCE PAY, AND ANY AND ALL OTHER FRINGE BENEFITS, FOR WHICH YOU WERE
ELIGIBLE DURING YOUR EMPLOYMENT (II) ALL CLAIMS UNDER ANY EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT,
THE CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT OR OTHER AGREEMENTS BETWEEN YOU AND PILGRIM’S
PRIDE CORPORATION, AND/OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES OR AFFILIATES; AND (III) ALL CLAIMS
YOU MAY HAVE AGAINST THE COMPANY OR ITS EMPLOYEES UNDER TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL
RIGHTS ACT OF 1964; THE AGE DISCRIMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 1967 (“ADEA”) AS
AMENDED BY THE OLDER WORKERS BENEFITS PROTECTION ACT (“OWBPA”); THE EMPLOYEE
RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974; THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT; OR
ANY OTHER FEDERAL LAW, STATE LAW, LOCAL LAW, COMMON LAW OR REGULATION REGARDING
YOUR EMPLOYMENT, TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR OTHERWISE.
This
release shall not preclude an action to enforce the specific terms of this
Agreement; to any claims based on acts or events after this Agreement has become
effective; to any challenges or claims brought in good faith to review the
validity of this Agreement under the ADEA as amended by the OWBPA; to any
unemployment or workers compensation benefits to which you may be entitled; nor
to benefits in which you have become vested under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act.
You agree
that you will not share in any recovery from any claim, charge, lawsuit, or
other claim brought against the Company by any third party including, but not
limited to, any state or local civil rights commission or labor department
and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Nothing
in this Agreement shall prohibit you from participating in any proceeding before
any governmental agency. Notwithstanding the above, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, if any third party asserts any claim against
the Company or any related entity on behalf of you, or if any third party
includes you as a class member in any class action involving any claim, then you
will not be entitled to any personal recovery in any proceeding relating to or
arising from such claim.
8.
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Miscellaneous
Provisions
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a.
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You
agree that, should you challenge or contest this Agreement or any of its
provisions, or should you assert any cause of action or lawsuit against
the Company, except as to any action involving an alleged breach of this
Agreement or any claim brought as to the validity of this Agreement under
the ADEA as amended by the OWBPA, you agree that the Company will be
entitled to seek as recovery, in addition to any other relief to which it
may be entitled, all of the consideration paid to you pursuant to this
Agreement. Except with respect to claims not released, you
further agree to pay the Company for any and all attorney’s fees incurred
or expended by it to enforce this Agreement or any of its provisions, or
defend any action or cause of action against the Company brought by you,
your agents, representatives or
assigns.
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b.
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Should
you in any manner, whether directly or indirectly fail to perform any
covenant of yours provided herein or breach this Agreement in any respect,
the Company shall have no further or continuing obligation to perform any
covenants of it for which this Agreement provides, including payment of
any sums for which this Agreement
provides.
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c.
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If
the Company suffers damages as a result of your conduct which is in
violation of this Agreement or otherwise, the Company shall be entitled to
recover all provable damages resulting from your wrongful conduct, which
amount will be increased by any amount you fail to pay or return pursuant
to Section 8a. of this Agreement. The forfeiture pursuant to Section 8a.
of the funds paid under this Agreement and the forfeiture of future
benefits for which Section 8b. provides, are not a penalty, but are
liquidated damages for the minimum amount of damage the Company will
suffer in such circumstances.
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D.
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THE
COMPANY AND YOU DECLARE THAT EACH HAS CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT, THAT
EACH HAS HAD A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW ITS TERMS WITH THEIR
COUNSEL OF CHOICE, IF SO DESIRED, AND THAT EACH FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY
EXECUTES AND AGREES TO THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT FOR THE
PURPOSE OF MAKING A FULL AND FINAL ADJUSTMENT AND RESOLUTION OF THE
MATTERS CONTAINED HEREIN.
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e.
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This
Agreement constitutes and contains the entire agreement and understanding
between the Company and you and completely supersedes any and all prior
agreements or understandings pertaining to the employment relationship
between the parties, the termination thereof or the rights, remedies,
duties or obligations arising there from. Any waiver,
alteration or modification of any provisions of this Agreement shall not
be valid unless in writing and signed by the Company and
you.
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f.
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If
a dispute arises from or relates to this agreement or any other
transactions between you and the Company (the “parties”), the parties
shall endeavor to settle the dispute first through direct discussions and
negotiations. If the dispute cannot be settled through direct
discussions, the parties shall endeavor to settle the dispute by mediation
under the Mediation Rules of the American Arbitration Association before
recourse to the arbitration procedures contained in this
Agreement. If the dispute cannot be settled by mediation within
ninety (90) days of the date either party receives written notice of the
existence of such dispute, the parties shall submit the dispute to binding
arbitration in Dallas, Texas, unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties,
in accordance with the Rules of the American Arbitration
Association.
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g.
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The
provision for this Agreement between the parties will be deemed to have
been made and will be construed and interpreted in accordance with the
laws of the State of Texas. If any matters in dispute may be
settled by litigation or enforcement of any arbitration, such trials will
be decided by a judge. THE PARTIES WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY
IN ANY SUCH ACTION(S) AND CONFIRM THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL
INDUCEMENT TO THEIR BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS. For any such
action(s) related to their business transactions or enforcement of
any arbitration, the parties submit themselves to the jurisdiction of the
state or federal courts located in Dallas,
Texas.
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h.
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Should
any provision of this Agreement be held invalid or unenforceable, such
provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or
unenforceability, without invalidating the remainder of such provision of
the remaining portions of this
Agreement.
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i.
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The
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original, and all of which, together, shall constitute one
and the same instrument, but in making proof hereof, it shall never be
necessary to exhibit more than one such
counterpart.
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j.
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By
signing this Agreement, you acknowledge that additional facts may be
discovered later relating to your employment or otherwise, but that it is
your intention to fully, finally, and forever, settle and release all of
your matters, rights, claims, and any controversies whatsoever, known or
unknown, which now exist or formerly have existed against the Company. You
acknowledge that this Agreement shall be and will remain in effect as a
full and complete general release of such matters, notwithstanding this
discovery or existence of any additional or different facts unless such
facts arise after the execution of this
Agreement.
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k.
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By
signing this Agreement, you acknowledge that you have returned all Company
property including any data or information relating to Company business
that is proprietary or confidential. Any information that is stored on
non-company electronic devices has been permanently
deleted.
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9.
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Age
Discrimination
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PLEASE
READ CAREFULLY. THIS SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE INCLUDES A RELEASE
OF ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS.
Pursuant
to the ADEA as amended by the OWBPA, please be advised of the
following:
a.
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You
are advised in writing that you should consult with an attorney prior to
executing this Agreement.
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b.
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You
are knowingly and voluntarily releasing all claims relating to your
termination from employment under the ADEA as amended by the OWBPA. This
Agreement does not apply to any age discrimination claims that may arise
after the date you sign this
Agreement.
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c.
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You
have forty-five (45) days from the date of receipt to review this
Agreement and return it to the
Company.
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d.
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You
may revoke this Agreement within seven (7) days of the execution of this
Agreement.
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e.
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You
are advised that nothing in this Agreement prevents or precludes you from
challenging or seeking a determination in good faith of the validity of
this Agreement under the ADEA as amended by the OWBPA, nor does it impose
any condition precedent, penalties or costs for doing so, unless
specifically authorized by federal
law.
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f.
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Before
signing this Agreement, the Company has also advised you of all
individuals by job title and age in the same job classification or
organizational unit who have been selected for the November 28, 2008
layoff, and the job title and ages of all individuals in the same job
classification or organizational unit who were not selected for the
November 28, 2008 layoff. You acknowledge and agree that a
complete list of these individuals by job title and age is provided to you
concurrently with the execution of this
Agreement.
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g.
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By
executing this Agreement, you represent that you fully understand all
provisions of the Agreement and understand the consequences of executing
this Agreement. You further acknowledge that you understand that you have
signed this Agreement in exchange for adequate consideration that is in
addition to anything of value you would be currently entitled to without
this Agreement.
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BY
SIGNING THIS LETTER AGREEMENT THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS AGREEMENT
COMPLETELY AND ADEQUATELY RESOLVES ALL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PARTIES ARISING
OUT OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH XXXXXXX’S PRIDE CORPORATION AND YOUR TERMINATION
THEREFROM AS WELL AS YOUR SERVICES TO PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION IN ANY OTHER
CAPACITY.
If the
above meets with your agreement, please sign and return one copy of this letter
to my attention at Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, PO Box 93, Pittsburg, TX
75686.
Sincerely,
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Executive Vice President Human
Resources
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ACCEPTED
BY:
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/s/ Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx
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December 22,
2008
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Signature
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Date
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PPCIAS45
DALDMS/654084.1