EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.9

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into, by the parties, by and between Express, LLC (hereinafter the “Company”), and [ ] (the “Executive”) (hereinafter collectively referred to as “the parties”) and is effective on the date of execution by the parties.

WHEREAS, the Executive is employed as the [INSERT TITLE] for Express, LLC and is experienced in various phases of the Company’s business and does possess an intimate knowledge of the business and affairs of the Company and its policies, procedures, methods, and personnel; and

WHEREAS, the Company has determined that it is essential and in its best interests to retain the services of key management personnel and to ensure their continued dedication and efforts; and

WHEREAS, this Agreement supersedes and replaces in its entirety that certain [INSERT REFERENCE TO EXISTING EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, IF ANY] or any other employment or severance agreement entered into by the Executive, on the one hand, and the Company or its affiliates, on the other (as well as any employment or severance agreement that was entered into by the Executive and Limited Brands, Inc. or its affiliates and assumed by the Company or its affiliates) provided, however, nothing in this Agreement shall cancel or modify any previous grant of units which was previously granted to the Executive or any rights to repurchase such units.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective agreements of the parties contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1. Term. The initial term of employment under this Agreement shall be for the period commencing on the date of execution hereof (the “Commencement Date”) and ending on the fifth anniversary of the Commencement Date; provided, however, that thereafter this Agreement shall be automatically renewed from year to year, unless (a) either the Company or the Executive shall have given written notice to the other at least thirty (30) days prior thereto that the term of this Agreement shall not be so renewed or (b) the Agreement is terminated pursuant to the provisions of Section 8 of this Agreement.

2. Employment.

(a) Position. The Executive shall be employed as [INSERT TITLE OF PERSON] or such other position of reasonably comparable or greater status and responsibilities, as may be determined by the Company’s board of managers (the “Board”). The Executive shall perform the duties, undertake the responsibilities, and exercise the authority customarily performed, undertaken, and exercised by persons employed in a similar executive capacity. The Executive shall report to [INSERT TITLE OF PERSON] or such other designee appointed by [INSERT TITLE OF PERSON].

(b) Obligations. The Executive agrees to devote the Executive’s full business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company. The foregoing, however, shall not preclude the Executive from serving on corporate, civic, or charitable boards or committees or managing personal investments, so long as such activities do not interfere with the performance of the Executive’s responsibilities hereunder.

3. Base Salary. The Company agrees to pay the Executive an annual base salary at the rate of [ ($ )], less applicable withholding (the “Base Salary”). The Base Salary will be subject to annual review and may be increased from time to time in the discretion of the Company, based on factors such as the Executive’s responsibilities, compensation of similar executives within the Company and in other companies, the Executive’s performance, and other pertinent factors. Such Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s customary practices applicable to its executives.

4. Equity Compensation. The Executive may be eligible for future equity- based awards as may be commensurate with the Executive’s position and performance; it being agreed any such awards shall be awarded, if at all, in the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board.

5. Employee Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in all employee benefit plans, practices, and programs maintained by the Company and made available to senior executives generally and as may be in effect from time to time. The Executive’s participation in such plans, practices and programs shall be on the same basis and terms as are applicable to senior executives of the Company generally.

6. Bonus. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company’s applicable incentive compensation plan at a target level of [ ( %)] of the Executive’s Base Salary on such terms and conditions as determined from time to time by the Board.

7. Other Benefits.

(a) Expenses. Subject to applicable Company policies, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement of all expenses reasonably incurred in connection with the performance of the Executive’s duties hereunder or for promoting, pursuing, or otherwise furthering the business or interests of the Company. For purposes of compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), (i) all expenses or other reimbursements hereunder shall be made on or prior to the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which such expenses were incurred by the Executive, (ii) any right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, and (iii) no such reimbursement, expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided in any taxable year shall in any way affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year.

(b) Office and Facilities. The Executive shall be provided with appropriate offices and with such secretarial and other support facilities as are commensurate with the Executive’s status with the Company and adequate for the performance of the Executive’s duties hereunder.

(c) Paid Time Off (PTO) Program. The Executive shall be entitled to paid time off in accordance with the policies as periodically established by the Company for senior executives of the Company.

8. Termination. The Executive’s employment hereunder is subject to the following terms and conditions:

(a) Disability. The Company shall be entitled to terminate the Executive’s employment after having established the Executive’s Disability. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” means a physical or mental infirmity which impairs the Executive’s ability to substantially perform the Executive’s duties under this Agreement for a period of at least six months in any twelve-month calendar period as determined in accordance with the Company’s Long-Term Disability Plan.

(b) Cause. The Company shall be entitled to terminate the Executive’s employment for “Cause” without prior written notice. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean that the Executive (1) failed to perform the Executive’s material duties with the Company (other than a failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness); or (2) has pleaded “guilty” or “no contest” to or has been convicted of an act which is defined as a felony under federal or state law; or (3) engaged in misconduct in bad faith which could reasonably be expected to materially harm the Company’s business or its reputation. The Executive shall be given written notice by the Company of a termination for Cause, which shall state in detail the particular act or acts or failures to act that constitute the grounds on which the termination for Cause is based.

(c) Termination by the Executive. The Executive may terminate employment hereunder without “Good Reason” by delivering to the Company, not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Termination Date, a written notice of termination. The Executive may terminate employment hereunder for “Good Reason” by delivering to the Company not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Termination Date, a written notice of termination setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances which constitute Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” means (i) the failure to continue the Executive in a capacity contemplated by Section 2(a) above; (ii) the assignment to the Executive of any duties materially inconsistent with the Executive’s positions, material duties, authority, responsibilities or reporting requirements as set forth in Section 2(a) hereof; (iii) a reduction in or a material delay in payment of the Executive’s total cash compensation and benefits from those required to be provided in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; (iv) the Company, the Board or any person controlling the Company requires the Executive to be based outside of the United States, other than on travel reasonably required to carry out the Executive’s obligations under the Agreement; or (v) the failure of the Company to obtain the assumption in writing of its obligation to perform this Agreement by any successor to all or substantially all of the assets of the Company within 15 days after a merger, consolidation, sale, or similar transaction; provided, however, that “Good Reason” shall not include (A) acts not taken in bad faith which are cured by the Company in all material respects not later than thirty (30) days from the date of receipt by the Company of a written notice of termination identifying in reasonable detail the act or acts constituting “Good Reason” or (B) acts taken by the Company by reason of the Executive’s physical or mental infirmity which infirmity impairs the Executive’s ability to substantially perform his duties under this Agreement.

(d) Termination Date, Etc. “Termination Date” shall mean in the case of the Executive’s death, the date of death, or in all other cases of termination by the Company, the date specified in writing by the Company as the Termination Date; provided, however, that if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company either for (i) reasons other than Cause or (ii) Disability, the date specified as the Termination Date shall be at least thirty (30) days from the date that written notice of the termination date is given to the Executive.

9. Compensation Upon Certain Terminations by the Company.

(a) If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause (including a termination by reason of the Company’s written notice to the Executive of its decision not to extend the Agreement pursuant to Section 1 hereof) or by the Executive for Good Reason, the Company’s sole obligations hereunder shall be as follows:

(i)

the Company shall pay the Executive the Accrued Compensation;

(ii)

the Company shall continue to pay the Executive the Base Salary for a period of one (1) year following the Termination Date; and

(iii)

in consideration of the Executive signing a general release in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, the Company shall pay the Executive any incentive compensation under the plan described in Section 6 that the Executive would have received if the Executive had remained employed with the Company for a period of one (1) year after the Termination Date.

(b) If during the term of the Agreement (including any extensions thereof), the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or by reason of the Executive’s death, or if the Executive gives the Company a written notice of termination other than one for Good Reason, the Company’s sole obligation hereunder shall be to pay the Executive the following amounts earned hereunder but not paid as of the Termination Date: (i) Base Salary, (ii) reimbursement for any and all monies advanced or expenses incurred pursuant to Section 7(a) through the Termination Date, and (iii) any earned compensation which the Executive had previously deferred (including any interest earned or credited thereon) pursuant to the Company’s Supplemental Retirement Plan (collectively, the “Accrued Compensation”). The Executive’s entitlement to any other benefits shall be determined in accordance with the Company’s employee benefit plans then in effect.

(c) If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company by reason of the Executive’s Disability, the Company’s sole obligations hereunder shall be as follows:

(i)

the Company shall pay the Executive the Accrued Compensation; and

(ii)

the Executive shall be entitled to receive any disability benefits available under the Company’s Long-Term Disability Plan.

(d) For up to twelve (12) months during the period the Executive is receiving salary continuation pursuant to Section 9(b)(ii) hereof, the Company shall, at its expense, provide to the Executive and the Executive’s beneficiaries medical and dental benefits similar in the aggregate to the those provided to the Executive immediately prior to the date of the Executive’s termination of employment; provided, however, that the Company’s obligation to provide such benefits shall cease upon the earlier of (i) the Executive’s becoming eligible for such benefits as the result of employment with another employer and (ii) the expiration of the Executive’s right to continue such medical and dental benefits under applicable law (such as COBRA).

(e) The amounts payable to the Executive pursuant to this Section 9 will be paid to the Executive at such times as the Executive would have otherwise been entitled to receive such amounts had the Executive not been terminated (determined in accordance with the Company’s payroll practices at the time of termination) and only so long as the Executive has not breached the provisions of Section 10 hereof.

(f) Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Section 9 by seeking other employment or otherwise and no such payment or benefit shall be eliminated, offset or reduced by the amount of any compensation provided to the Executive in any subsequent employment, except as provided in Section 9(d).

(g) Except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 9 above, all of the Executive’s rights to salary, bonuses, fringe benefits and other compensation hereunder (if any) which accrue or become payable after the Termination Date will cease upon the Termination Date. The Executive’s termination of employment with the Company for any reason shall be deemed to automatically remove the Executive, without further action, from any and all offices held by Executive with the Company or its affiliates.

(h) Notwithstanding any other payment schedule provided herein to the contrary, if the Executive is deemed on the date of termination to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B), then each of the following shall apply:

(i)

With regard to any payment that is considered deferred compensation under Code Section 409A payable on account of a “separation from service,” such payment shall be made on the date which is the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of such “separation from service” of the Executive, and (B) the date of the Executive’s death (the “Delay Period”) to the extent required under Code Section 409A. Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this Section shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum, and all remaining payments due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein; and

(ii)

To the extent that any benefits to be provided during the Delay Period is considered deferred compensation under Code Section 409A provided on account of a “separation from service,” and such benefits are not otherwise

exempt from Code Section 409A, the Executive shall pay the cost of such benefits during the Delay Period, and the Company shall reimburse the Executive, to the extent that such costs would otherwise have been paid by the Company or to the extent that such benefits would otherwise have been provided by the Company at no cost to the Executive, the Company’s share of the cost of such benefits upon expiration of the Delay Period, and any remaining benefits shall be reimbursed or provided by the Company in accordance with the procedures specified herein.

(i) To the extent that severance payments or benefits pursuant to this Agreement are conditioned upon the execution and delivery by the Executive of a release of claims, the Executive shall forfeit all rights to such payments and benefits unless such release is signed and delivered (and no longer subject to revocation, if applicable) within sixty (60) days following the date of the Executive’s termination of employment. If the foregoing release is executed and delivered and no longer subject to revocation as provided in the preceding sentence, then such payments or benefits shall be made or commence upon the sixtieth (60) day following the Executive’s termination of employment. The first such cash payment shall include payment of all amounts that otherwise would have been due prior thereto under the terms of this Agreement had such payments commenced immediately upon the Executive’s termination of employment, and any payments made thereafter shall continue as provided herein. The delayed benefits shall in any event expire at the time such benefits would have expired had such benefits commenced immediately following the Executive’s termination of employment.

(j) The Company may deduct or withhold from any amounts owing from the Company to Executive all federal, state and local income, employment or other taxes as may be required to be withheld by any applicable law or regulation.

10. Employee Covenants.

(a) For the purposes of this Section 10, the term “Company” shall include Express, LLC and all of its subsidiaries and affiliates thereof.

(b) Confidentiality. The Executive shall not, during the term of this Agreement and thereafter, make any Unauthorized Disclosure. For purposes of this Agreement, “Unauthorized Disclosure” shall mean use by the Executive for [his/her] own benefit, or disclosure by the Executive to any person other than a person to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance by the Executive of duties as an executive of the Company or as may be legally required, of any confidential information relating to the business or prospects of the Company (including, but not limited to, any information and materials pertaining to any Intellectual Property as defined below); provided, however, that Unauthorized Disclosure shall not include the use or disclosure by the Executive of any publicly available information (other than information available as a result of disclosure by the Executive in violation of this Section 10(b)). This confidentiality covenant has no temporal, geographical or territorial restriction.

(c) Non-Competition. During the Non-Competition Period described below, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Board, own, manage, operate, join, control, be employed by, consult with or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected with (as a stockholder, partner, or otherwise), any business, individual, partner, firm, corporation, or other entity that competes or plans to compete, directly or indirectly, with the Company or any of its products; provided, however, that the “beneficial ownership” by the Executive after termination of employment with the Company, either individually or as a member of a “group,” as such terms are used in Rule 13d of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of not more than two percent (2%) of the voting stock of any publicly held corporation shall not be a violation of Section 10 of this Agreement.

The “Non-Competition Period” means the period the Executive is employed by the Company plus the longer of (a) one (1) year from the Termination Date or (b) the period during which the Executive receives salary continuation as described in Section 9(b) above.

(d) Non-Solicitation. During the No-Raid Period described below, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit, induce or attempt to influence any employee to leave the employment of the Company, nor assist anyone else in doing so. Further, during the No-Raid Period, the Executive shall not, either directly or indirectly, alone or in conjunction with another party, interfere with or harm, or attempt to interfere with or harm, the relationship of the Company, with any person who at any time was an employee, customer or supplier of the Company, or otherwise had a business relationship with the Company.

The “No-Raid Period” means the period the Executive is employed by the Company the longer of (a) one (1) year from the Termination Date or (b) the period during which the Executive receives salary continuation as described in Section 9(b) above.

(e) Intellectual Property. The Executive agrees that all inventions, designs and ideas conceived, produced, created, or reduced to practice, either solely or jointly with others, during the Executive’s employment with the Company including those developed on the Executive’s own time, which relate to or are useful in the Company’s business (“Intellectual Property”) shall be owned solely by the Company. The Executive understands that whether in preliminary or final form, such Intellectual Property includes, for example, all ideas, inventions, discoveries, designs, innovations, improvements, trade secrets, and other intellectual property. All Intellectual Property is either work made for hire for the Company within the meaning of the United States Copyright Act, or, if such Intellectual Property is determined not to be work made for hire, then the Executive irrevocably assigns all rights, titles and interests in and to the Intellectual Property to the Company, including all copyrights, patents, and/or trademarks. The Executive agrees to, without any additional consideration, execute all documents and take all other actions needed to convey the Executive’s complete ownership of the Intellectual Property to the Company so that the Company may own and protect such Intellectual Property and obtain patent, copyright and trademark registrations for it. The Executive also agrees that the Company may alter or modify the Intellectual Property at the Company’s sole discretion, and the Executive waives all right to claim or disclaim authorship. The Executive represents and warrants that any Intellectual Property that the Executive assigns to the Company, except as otherwise disclosed in writing at the time of assignment, will be the Executive’s sole exclusive original work. The Executive also represents that the Executive has not previously invented any Intellectual Property or has advised the Company in writing of any prior inventions or ideas.

(f) Remedies. The Executive agrees that any breach of the terms of this Section 10 would result in irreparable injury and damage to the Company for which the Company would have no adequate remedy at law; the Executive therefore also agrees that in the event of said breach or any threat of breach, the Company shall be entitled to an immediate injunction and restraining order to prevent such breach and/or threatened breach and/or continued breach by the Executive and/or any and all persons and/or entities acting for and/or with the Executive, without having to prove damages. The terms of this paragraph shall not prevent the Company from pursuing any other available remedies for any breach or threatened breach hereof, including but not limited to the recovery of damages from the Executive. The Executive and the Company further agree that the confidentiality provisions and the covenants not to compete and solicit contained in this Section 10 are reasonable and that the Company would not have entered into this Agreement but for the inclusion of such covenants herein. The parties agree that the prevailing party shall be entitled to all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, in addition to any other remedies to which either may be entitled at law or in equity. Should a court determine, however, that any provision of the covenants is unreasonable, either in period of time, geographical area, or otherwise, the parties hereto agree that the covenant should be interpreted and enforced to the maximum extent which such court deems reasonable.

(g) The provisions of this Section 10 shall survive any termination of this Agreement, and the existence of any claim or cause of action by the Executive against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of the covenants and agreements of this Section 10; provided, however, that this paragraph shall not, in and of itself, preclude the Executive from asserting or defending a legal claim regarding the enforceability of the covenants and agreements of this Section 10.

11. Employee Representation. The Executive expressly represents and warrants to the Company that the Executive is not a party to any contract or agreement and is not otherwise obligated in any way, and is not subject to any rules or regulations, whether governmentally imposed or otherwise, which will or may restrict in any way the Executive’s ability to fully perform the Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement.

12. Successors and Assigns.

(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns, and the Company shall require any successor or assign to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession or assignment had taken place. The term “the Company” as used herein shall include any such successors and assigns to the Company’s business and/or assets. The term “successors and assigns” as used herein shall mean a corporation or other entity acquiring or otherwise succeeding to, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all the assets and business of the Company (including this Agreement) whether by operation of law or otherwise.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any right or interest hereunder shall be assignable or transferable by the Executive, the Executive’s beneficiaries or legal representatives, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal personal representative.

13. Arbitration. Except with respect to the remedies set forth in Section 10(f) hereof, any controversy or claim between the Company or any of its affiliates and the Executive arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its termination shall be settled and determined by a single arbitrator whose award shall be accepted as final and binding upon the parties. The American Arbitration Association, under its Employment Arbitration Rules, shall administer the binding arbitration. The arbitration shall take place in Columbus, Ohio. The Company and the Executive each waive any right to a jury trial or to a petition for stay in any action or proceeding of any kind arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its termination and agree that the arbitrator shall have the authority to award costs and attorney fees to the prevailing party.

14. Notice. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement (including the notice of termination) shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or upon receipt if overnight delivery service or facsimile is used, addressed as follows:

To the Executive:

[ ]

To the Company:

Express, LLC

Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx

Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000

Attn: Human Resources Director

15. Settlement of Claims. The Company may offset any amounts the Executive owes it or its subsidiaries or affiliates against any amounts it owes the Executive hereunder.

16. Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived, or discharged unless such waiver, modification, or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreement or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

17. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof.

18. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.

19. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, if any, understandings and arrangements, oral or written, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

20. Section 409A Compliance. The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with Code Section 409A and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith. In no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalty that may be imposed on the Executive by Code Section 409A or damages for failing to comply with Code Section 409A.

* * * * *

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer and the Executive has executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.


EXPRESS, LLC

By:
Name:
Title:
Date:


[NAME OF EXECUTIVE]
Date:

Document Metadata

Table of Contents

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Document Metadata