EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 10.2
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the 1st day of January, 2003, by and between XXXXXX X. XXXXXX (“Executive”) and SAXON CAPITAL, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company “).
RECITALS
AGREEMENT
ARTICLE I.
EMPLOYMENT
ARTICLE II.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
2.2. Annual Performance Bonus.
(b) Pro-Rated Bonus Upon Change in Control or Death. Within thirty (30) days following the consummation of a Change in Control (as defined below) or Executive’s death, the Company shall pay to Executive or to his estate or heirs a pro-rated cash bonus equal to 100% of Executive’s annual Base Salary, pro-rated from January 1 of the year in which such Change in Control or death occurs through and including the date of such Change in Control or death (the “Pro-Rated Bonus”).
ARTICLE III.
TERMINATION , SEVERANCE PAY AND CHANGE IN CONTROL
3.1. Termination by the Company.
(i) In the event that Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company for Cause (as defined below), Executive shall not be entitled to any Severance Pay (as defined below) or employee benefits (including Other Benefits) after the date of such termination.
(ii) In the event that Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company other than for Cause, then, subject to Section 3.5 and in consideration of Executive’s compliance with his obligations under Articles IV and V and Executive’s execution of a general release in favor of the Company and its affiliates, Executive shall be entitled to severance pay in the form of monthly payments to Executive in an amount equal to 1/12th of the sum of (A) Executive’s annual Base Salary plus (B) 100% of the maximum targeted Bonus for the fiscal year in which termination occurs, less deductions required by law (“Severance Pay”) payable in accordance with the normal payroll practices of the Company, for twelve (12) months following such termination (the “Severance Payout Period”). Alternatively, provided that Executive executes and delivers the said general release within fifteen (15) days following such a termination of employment by the Company other than for Cause, at the Executive’s sole election the Executive’s Severance Pay shall be payable at the time of such delivery of the general release and shall consist of a lump sum equal to the sum of the amounts described in clauses (A) and (B) of this subsection. Executive acknowledges and agrees that in the event Executive breaches any provision of Articles IV or V or the general release, his right to receive Severance Pay under this Section 3.1(a)(ii) shall automatically terminate and Executive shall repay all Severance Pay received.
3.2. Termination by Executive.
(i) In the event Executive voluntarily terminates his employment with the Company without Good Reason, Executive shall not be entitled to any Severance Pay or employee benefits (including Other Benefits).
(ii) In the event Executive voluntarily terminates his employment with the Company for Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled, subject to Section 3.5, to Severance Pay; provided, that (i) Executive gives written notice of his resignation within thirty (30) days of the occurrence of such Good Reason and advises, as part of such resignation, that he is resigning because of the Good Reason, and (ii) the occurrence of the Good Reason was not based on Cause. Executive acknowledges and agrees that in the event Executive breaches any provision of Articles IV or V or the general release, his right to receive Severance Pay under this Section 3.2(b)(ii) shall automatically terminate and Executive shall repay all Severance Pay received.
(iii) For purposes of this Agreement, a resignation tendered by Executive pursuant to a direct request of the Board or another officer with higher executive status shall, for purposes of this Agreement, be treated as an involuntary termination, entitling Executive to Severance Pay in accordance with the provisions of Sections 3.1(a) and 3.1(b) so long as the request was not based on Cause.
3.5. Change in Control; Certain Tax Effects
(a) Upon the consummation of a Change in Control as defined in this Section 3.5(a), Executive shall be entitled to pay in the form of monthly payments to Executive in an amount equal to 1/12th of the sum of (A) Executive’s annual Base Salary plus (B) the maximum Bonus for the fiscal year in which the consummation of a Change in Control occurs, less deductions required by law, payable in accordance with the normal payroll practices of the Company, for twelve (12) months following consummation of such Change in Control (“Change in Control Payment”). Alternatively, at the Executive’s sole election, the Executive’s Change in Control Payment shall consist of a lump sum equal to 100 percent (100%) of the sum of the amounts described in clauses (A) and (B) of this subsection. The Change in Control Payment shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, Executive’s Base Salary and Bonus, if any, payable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In addition, upon the consummation of a Change in Control, all options with respect to Company stock or other “Award”, as that term is defined in the Company’s 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, shall if not sooner vested, vest as of such consummation, notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of the grant of such option or other Award. Following the consummation of a Change in Control, Executive shall not be entitled to receive, and hereby waives all right to, Severance Pay pursuant to Section 3.1 or 3.2 in the event Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason. For purposes of this Section 3.5, “Change in Control” shall mean:
(i) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization, if more than 50% of the combined voting power of the continuing or surviving entity’s securities outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation or other reorganization is owned by persons who were not stockholders of the Company immediately priorto such merger, consolidation or other reorganization; provided, however, that a public offering of the Company’s securities shall not constitute a corporate reorganization;
(ii) The sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets;
(iii) A change in the composition of the Board of Directors, as a result of which fewer than 50% of the incumbent directors are directors who either (x) had been directors of the Company on the date 24 months prior to the date of the event that may constitute a Change in Control (the “original directors”) or (y) were elected, or nominated for election, to the Board of Directors with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the aggregate of the original directors who were still in office at the time of the election or nomination and the directors whose election or nomination was previously so approved; or
(iv) Any transaction as a result of which any person is the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing at least 30% of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding voting securities. For purposes of this Paragraph (iv), the term “person” shall have the same meaning as when used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, but shall exclude (x) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Parent or Subsidiary and (y) a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the common stock of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction; nor shall a “Change in Control” be deemed to have occurred as a result of the consummation of the transactions provided for in the Company’s Stock Purchase Agreement, dated July, 2001 or the resale of any securities under its Form S-1 Registration Statement.
If Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company other than for Cause at any time following the public announcement of a prospective Change in Control, then, notwithstanding such termination, the Company shall pay to Executive, the Change in Control Payment based on Executive’s Base Salary in effect on the date of such termination, and all options and other Awards shall immediately vest as provided in this section 3.5(a); provided, however, that such Change in Control Payment shall be reduced by the total amount of any Severance Pay received by Executive, and Executive thereafter shall not be entitled to any further payments of Severance Pay.
(b) In the event that any payments, distributions or benefits provided or to be provided to the Executive, whether pursuant to this Agreement or from other plans or arrangements maintained by the Company or any of the Consolidated Subsidiaries (excluding the Adjusted Gross Up Payment and Additional Gross Up Payment (as such terms are hereinafter defined)) (collectively, the “Payment”) would be subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code (such excise tax and any penalties and interest collectively, the “Penalty Tax”), the Company shall pay to the Executive in cash an additional amount equal to the Adjusted Gross Up Payment. The “Adjusted Gross Up Payment” shall be an amount such that after payment by the Executive of all federal, state, local, employment and medicare taxes thereon (and any penalties and interest with respect thereto), the Executive retains on an after tax basis a portion of such amount equal to the aggregate of 80% of the Penalty Tax imposed upon the Payment and 100% of the Penalty Tax imposed upon the Adjusted Gross Up Payment.
(i) For purposes of determining the amount of the Adjusted Gross Up Payment, the value of any non-cash benefits and deferred payments or benefits subject to the Penalty Tax shall be determined by the Company’s independent auditors in accordance with the principles of Section 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code. In the event that, after the Adjusted Gross Up Payment is made, the Executive becomes entitled to receive a refund of any portion of the Penalty Tax, the Executive shall promptly pay to the Company 80% of such Penalty Tax refund attributable to the Payment (together with 80% of any interest paid or credited thereon by the Internal Revenue Service) and 100% of the Penalty Tax refund attributable to the Adjusted Gross Up Payment (together with 100% of any interest paid or credited thereon by the Internal Revenue Service).
(ii) As a result of the uncertainty regarding the application of Section 4999 of the Code, it is possible that the Internal Revenue Service may assert that the Penalty Tax due is in excess of the amount of the anticipated Penalty Tax used in calculating the Adjusted Gross Up Payment (such excess amount is hereafter referred to as the Underpayment”). In such event, the Company shall pay to the Executive, in immediately available funds, at the time the Underpayment is assessed or otherwise determined, an additional amount equal to the Additional Gross Up Payment. The “Additional Gross Up Payment” shall be an amount such that after payment by the Executive of all federal, state, local, employment and medicare taxes thereon (and any penalties and interest with respect thereto), the Executive retains on an after tax basis a portion of such amount equal to the aggregate of (i) 80% of the portion of the Underpayment attributable to the Payment, (ii) 100% of the portion of the Underpayment attributable to the Adjusted Gross Up Payment and (iii) 100% of the Penalty Tax imposed on the Additional Gross Up Payment.
ARTICLE IV.
NONDISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
ARTICLE V.
NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION
ARTICLE VI.
MISCELLANEOUS
6.4. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws and decisions of the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof).
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Employment Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
SAXON CAPITAL, INC. BY: /S/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX —————————————— XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER |
EXECUTIVE BY: /S/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX —————————————— XXXXXX X. XXXXXX ADDRESS |
EXHIBIT A
MUTUAL AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE CLAIMS
Executive recognizes that differences may arise between the Company and Executive during or following Executive’s employment with the Company, and that those differences may or may not be related to Executive’s employment. Executive understands and agrees that by entering into the Employment Agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) with the Company into which this Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate Claims is incorporated by reference (this “Arbitration Agreement”), Executive anticipates gaining the benefits of a speedy, impartial dispute-resolution procedure.
Executive understands that any capitalized terms used but not defined in this Arbitration Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Employment Agreement, provided that any reference in this Arbitration Agreement to the Company will also be a reference to all subsidiary and affiliated entities; all benefit plans; the benefit plans’ sponsors, fiduciaries, administrators, affiliates; and all successors and assigns of any of them.
Claims Covered by this Arbitration Agreement
The Company and Executive mutually consent to the resolution by arbitration of all claims (“claims”), whether or not arising out of Executive’s employment (or its termination), that the Company may have against Executive or that Executive may have against the Company or against its officers, directors, employees or agents in their capacity as such or otherwise. The claims covered by this Arbitration Agreement include, but are not limited to, claims for wages or other compensation due; claims for breach of any contract or covenant (express or implied); tort claims; claims for discrimination (including, but not limited to, race, sex, religion, national origin, age, marital status, medical condition, or disability); claims for benefits (except where an employee benefit or pension plan specifies that its claims procedure shall culminate in an arbitration procedure different from this one), and claims for violation of any federal, state, or other governmental law, statute, regulation, or ordinance, except claims excluded in the Claims Not Covered section below.
Except as otherwise provided in this Arbitration Agreement, both the Company and Executive agree that neither shall initiate or prosecute any lawsuit or administrative action (other than an administrative charge of discrimination) in any way related to any claim covered by this Arbitration Agreement.
Claims Not Covered by this Arbitration Agreement
Claims Executive may have for workers’ compensation or unemployment compensation benefits are not covered by this Arbitration Agreement.
Also not covered are claims by the Company for injunctive and/or other equitable relief for unfair competition and/or the use and/or unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets or confidential information, as to which Executive understands and agrees that the Company may seek and obtain relief from a court of competent jurisdiction.
Required Notice of All Claims and Statutes of Limitations
The Company and Executive agree that the aggrieved party must give written notice of any claim to the other party within one (1) year of the date the aggrieved party first has knowledge of the event giving rise to the claim; otherwise the claim shall be void and deemed waived even if there is a federal or state statute of limitations which would have given more time to pursue the claim.
Written notice to the Company, or its officers, directors, employees or agents, shall be sent to its General Counsel at the Company’s then-current address. Executive will be given written notice at the last address recorded in Executive’s personnel file.
The written notice shall identify and describe the nature of all claims asserted and the facts upon which such claims are based. The notice shall be sent to the other party by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.
Discovery
Each party shall have the right to take the deposition of one individual and any expert witness designated by another party. Each party also shall have the right to propound requests for production of documents to any party. The subpoena right specified below shall be applicable to discovery pursuant to this paragraph. Additional discovery may be had only where the Arbitrator selected pursuant to this Agreement so orders, upon a showing of substantial need.
At least thirty (30) days before the arbitration, the parties must exchange lists of witnesses, including any expert, and copies of all exhibits intended to be used at the arbitration.
Each party shall have the right to subpoena witnesses and documents for the arbitration.
The Company and Executive agree that, except as provided in this Arbitration Agreement, any arbitration shall be in accordance with the then-current Model Employment Arbitration Procedures of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) before an Arbitrator who is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia (“Arbitrator”). The arbitration shall take place at the Company’s headquarters in Richmond, Virginia.
The Arbitrator shall be selected as follows. The AAA shall give each party a list of eleven (11) arbitrators drawn from its panel of labor-management dispute arbitrators. Each party may strike all names on the list it deems unacceptable. If only one common name remains on the lists of all parties, that individual shall be designated as the Arbitrator. If more than one common name remains on the lists of all parties, the parties shall strike names alternately until only one remains. The party who did not initiate the claim shall strike first. If no common name remains on the lists of all parties, the AAA shall furnish an additional list or lists until the Arbitrator is selected.
The Arbitrator shall apply the substantive law (and the law of remedies, if applicable) of the state in which the claim arose, or federal law, or both, as applicable to the claim(s) asserted. The Federal Rules of Evidence shall apply. The Arbitrator, and not any federal, state, or local court or agency, shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability or formation of this Agreement, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this Agreement is void or voidable. The arbitration shall be final and binding upon the parties.
The Arbitrator shall have jurisdiction to hear and rule on pre-hearing disputes and is authorized to hold pre-hearing conferences by telephone or in person as the Arbitrator deems necessary. The Arbitrator shall have the authority to entertain a motion to dismiss and/or a motion for summary judgment by any party and shall apply the standards governing such motions under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Either party, at its expense, may arrange for and pay the cost of a court reporter to provide a stenographic record of proceedings.
Either party, upon request at the close of hearing, shall be given leave to file a post-hearing brief. The time for filing such a brief shall be set by the Arbitrator.
The Arbitrator shall render an award and opinion in the form typically rendered in labor arbitrations.
The Company and Executive shall equally share the fees and costs of the Arbitrator. Each party will deposit funds or post other appropriate security for its share of the Arbitrator’s fee, in an amount and manner determined by the Arbitrator, 10 days before the first day of hearing. Each party shall pay for its own costs and attorneys’ fees, if any. However, if any party prevails on a statutory claim which affords the prevailing party attorneys’ fees, or if there is a written agreement providing for fees, the Arbitrator may award reasonable fees to the prevailing party.
Judicial Review
Either party may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to compel arbitration under this Agreement and to enforce an arbitration award. A party opposing enforcement of an award may not do so in an enforcement proceeding, but must bring a separate action in any court of competent jurisdiction to set aside the award, where the standard of review will be the same as that applied by an appellate court reviewing a decision of a trial court sitting without a jury.
Executive understands and agrees that the Company is engaged in transactions involving interstate commerce and that Executive’s employment involves such commerce.
Requirements for Modification or Revocation
This Arbitration Agreement shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment. It can only be revoked or modified by a writing signed by the parties which specifically states an intent to revoke or modify this Arbitration Agreement.
This is the complete agreement of the parties on the subject of arbitration of disputes, except for any arbitration agreement in connection with any pension or benefit plan. This Agreement supersedes any prior or contemporaneous oral or written understanding on the subject. No party is relying on any representations, oral or written, on the subject of the effect, enforceability or meaning of this Arbitration Agreement, except as specifically set forth in this Arbitration Agreement.
If any provision of this Arbitration Agreement is adjudged to be void or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, such adjudication shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Arbitration Agreement.
The promises by the Company and by Executive to arbitrate differences, rather than litigate them before courts or other bodies, provide consideration for each other.
This Arbitration Agreement is not, and shall not be construed to create, any contract of employment, express or implied.
Voluntary Agreement
EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT EXECUTIVE HAS CAREFULLY READ THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT, THAT EXECUTIVE UNDERSTANDS ITS TERMS, THAT ALL UNDERSTANDINGS AND AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND EXECUTIVE RELATING TO THE SUBJECTS COVERED IN THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT ARE CONTAINED IN IT, AND THAT EXECUTIVE HAS ENTERED INTO THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT VOLUNTARILY AND NOT IN RELIANCE ON ANY PROMISES OR REPRESENTATIONS BY THE COMPANY OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT ITSELF.
EXECUTIVE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT EXECUTIVE HAS BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT WITH EXECUTIVE’S PRIVATE LEGAL COUNSEL AND HAS AVAILED HIM/HERSELF OF THAT OPPORTUNITY TO THE EXTENT EXECUTIVE WISHES TO DO SO.