EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.22
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of November 30, 2020 by and between SEABOARD FOODS LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company (together with any Successor thereto, the “Company”), and Xxxxx Xxxxx (“Executive”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ and secure the exclusive services of Executive upon the terms set forth in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Executive desires to accept employment on such terms and conditions;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:
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Executive shall not have a duty to mitigate the costs to the Company under this Section 8(f)(i), nor shall any payments from the Company to Executive hereunder be reduced, offset or canceled by any compensation or fees earned by (whether or not paid currently) or offered to Executive during the remainder of the fiscal year of the Company that includes the Date of Termination by a subsequent the Company or other Person (as defined below in Section 18(k) below) for which Executive performs services, including, but not limited to, consulting services.
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“Competitor” means any business, individual, partnership, joint venture, association, firm, corporation or other entity, other than the Company and its affiliates, that is engaging or actively planning to engage, wholly or partly, in activities (“Competitive Activities”) that directly compete or would compete with the Company or its affiliates in the Company Activities (as hereinafter defined) in the Territory (as hereinafter defined).
“Competitive Position” means (i) the direct or indirect ownership or control of all or any portion of a Competitor; or (ii) any employment or independent contractor arrangement with any Competitor whereby Executive will serve such Competitor in the Territory
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in any managerial, sales, executive or consultant capacity with respect to Competitive Activities in the Territory.
“The Company Activities” means the businesses of animal production and processing, meat processing (including any further processed meats) and any business acquired or commenced by the Company hereafter or in which the Company owns any interest in.
“Non-Compete Period” or “Non-Solicitation Period” means the time period during the Employment Period and continuing thereafter until the date which is one (1) year after the Date of Termination, no matter whether terminated by the Executive or the Company for any or no reason.
“Territory” means the entire United States of America, Japan, China, South Korea and Mexico and such other geographic areas in which the Company engages in the Company Activities.
Nothing contained in this Section 10 shall prohibit Executive from acquiring not more than five percent (5%) of any company whose common stock is publicly traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market.
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Seaboard Foods LLC
0000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx 00000
Attention:President
With a copy to:
Seaboard Corporation
0000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx 00000
Attention:General Counsel
Telephone:(000) 000-0000
Facsimile:(000) 000-0000
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“Affiliate” with respect to any Person, means any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, (i) Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with the first Person, including, but not limited to, a Subsidiary of any such Person, or (ii) has an ownership interest in the first Person, or has an interest owned by the first Person.
“Control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “Controlling,” “Controlled by” and “under common Control with”): with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Person” any natural person, firm, partnership, limited liability company, association, corporation, company, trust, business trust, governmental authority or other entity.
“Subsidiary” with respect to any Person, each corporation or other Person in which the first Person owns or Controls, directly or indirectly, capital stock or other ownership interests representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting stock or other ownership interests of such corporation or other Person.
“Successor” of a Person means a Person that succeeds to the first Person’s assets and liabilities by merger, liquidation, dissolution or otherwise by operation of law, or a Person to which all or substantially all the assets and/or business of the first Person are transferred.
(l)Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement shall be interpreted and applied so that the payments and benefits set forth herein either shall be exempt
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from or shall comply with the requirements of Section 409А. The Company and Executive intend that the compensation and severance payments to be paid to Executive shall comply with either or both of the short-term deferral or separation pay exceptions to the requirements of Section 409А of the Code, as described in Treasury Regulation §§ 1.409А--(b)(4) and 1(b)(9)(iii) and, therefore, be exempt from the application of Section 409А. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, any payments and benefits provided under this Agreement that constitute “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A shall not commence in connection with Executive’s termination of employment unless and until Executive has also incurred a “separation from service” (as defined for purposes of Section 409A). The Company makes no representation or warranty and shall have no liability to Executive or any other person if any provisions of this Agreement are determined to constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A but do not satisfy an exemption from, or the conditions of, Section 409A.
(m)With respect to any reimbursement of expenses of, or any provision of in-kind benefits to, the Executive, as specified under the Employment Agreement, such reimbursement any expenses or provision of in-kind benefits that are Deferred Compensation shall be subject to the following conditions: (A) the expenses eligible for reimbursement or the amount of in-kind benefits provided in one taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement or the amount of in-kind benefits provided in any other taxable year, except for any medical reimbursement arrangement providing for the reimbursement of expenses referred to in Section 105(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and related regulations; (B) the reimbursement of an eligible expense shall be made no later than the end of the year after the year in which such expense was incurred; and (C) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
(n)“Termination of employment,” “termination,” “resignation” or words of similar import, as used in the Employment Agreement mean, for purposes of any payments of Deferred Compensation under the Employment Agreement, the Executive’s “separation from service” as defined in Section 409A; provided that for this purpose, a “separation from service” is deemed to occur on the date that the Company and the Executive reasonably anticipate that the level of bona fide services the Executive would perform after that date (whether as an employee or independent contractor) would permanently decrease to no more than twenty percent (20%) of the average level of bona fide services provided in the immediately preceding thirty six (36) months.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this Agreement by its authorized representatives, and Executive has hereunto set his hand, in each case effective as of the date first above written.
THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THAT ARBITRATION PURSUANT TO THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION NATIONAL RULES FOR THE RESILUTION OF EMPLOYMENT DISPUTES IS THE EXCLUSIVE MEANS FOR RESOLVING ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO AS TO THIS AGREEMENT.
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SEABOARD FOODS LLC
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By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |
| Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Vice President | |
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Executive: | ||
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By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | |
| Xxxxx Xxxxx |
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RELEASE AND DISCHARGE OF ALL CLAIMS
This Release and Discharge of All Claims (“Release”) is made and entered into by and between _________________________________ (hereinafter “You”), and Seaboard Foods LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company (“Seaboard”).
For and in consideration of the following promises, the parties agree to the following:
1. | You acknowledge that your employment with Seaboard has ended effective _______________ in accordance with the terms of the Employment Agreement between You and Seaboard (“Employment Agreement”). |
2. | Subject to the conditions set forth in Section 8(f)(i) of the Employment Agreement, Seaboard agreed to pay You the amounts described in said Section 8(f)(i) (“Severance”) and take certain actions. The effectiveness of this Release is conditioned on Seaboard making the payments and taking the actions provided in Section 8(f)(i). If such payments are not made or such actions are not taken, this Release shall be of no effect. |
3. | You agree to, and do, hereby remiss, release and forever discharge Seaboard, Seaboard’s parent corporation, Seaboard Corporation, and any and all companies affiliated with Seaboard, and their respective agents, officers, employees, successors and assigns (hereinafter collectively the “Released Parties”), from and against any and all matters, claims, demands, damages, causes of action, debts, liabilities, controversies, judgments, and suits of every kind and nature whatsoever, foreseen, unforeseen, known or unknown, which You now have, or hereinafter may have against Seaboard based on any and all aspects of your employment with Seaboard or the termination of You prior to the date hereof. This release of claims includes, but is not limited to, any rights or claims You may have under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Equal Pay Act; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended; the Employment Retirement Income Security Act; the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act; the Americans With Disabilities Act; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Kansas Acts Against Discrimination; the Kansas Age Discrimination in Employment Act; the Fair Labor Standard Act; any claims for wrongful discharge or breach of contract; severance; claims under worker’s compensation laws; or any other federal, state or local laws or regulations relating to employment and wages arising from events occurring prior to the date of execution of this Agreement. You agree that this Agreement includes a release of all claims based on theories of contract or tort (e.g., negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, assault, battery, false imprisonment, wrongful termination, etc.), whether based on common law or otherwise. The foregoing list is meant to be illustrative rather than exhaustive. Further, You declare that as of the date of this Agreement, You have not suffered any on the job or work-related accident, injury, occupational disease or disability whether temporary, permanent, partial or total. |
YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT THIS RELEASE IS A FULL AND FINAL BAR TO ANY AND ALL CLAIMS OF ANY TYPE THAT YOU MAY NOW HAVE AGAINST ANY OF THE RELEASED PARTIES.
4. | You waive the rights and claims set forth above, and also agree not to institute, or have instituted, a lawsuit against any of the Released Parties on any such claims or rights or to submit or file any charges, claims, complaints or actions with any agency, court, organization, or judicial forum. You further acknowledge and agree that with respect to the rights and claims You are waiving, You are waiving not only your right to recover money or any other relief action You might commence, but also your rights to recover any action brought on your behalf by any other party, including, but not limited to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any other federal, state, or local governmental agency or department. |
5. | Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Release shall not constitute any release or waiver of any claims for retirement benefits, insurance or welfare benefits or any other benefits of employment with Seaboard which accrued or arose prior to the date your employment ended and in which You are vested. |
6. | The parties to this Agreement agree that nothing in this Agreement is an admission by any party hereto of any wrongdoing, either in violation of an applicable law or otherwise, and that nothing in this Agreement is to be construed as such by any person. |
7. | You and Seaboard agree that neither will publicize this Agreement either directly or indirectly, either in specific or as to general content, to either the public generally, to any employee of Seaboard or to any other person. |
8. | You hereby acknowledge that You have been advised to consult an attorney, and that You fully understand the Agreement and the effect of signing the Agreement. You further represent, declare and agree that You voluntarily accept the payment described above for the purposes of making a full and final compromise, adjustment and settlement of all claims hereinabove described. |
9. | The foregoing Agreement, together with your Employment Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement among the parties and there are no other understandings or agreements, written or oral, between them on the subject. Separate copies of this document shall constitute original documents which may be signed separately, but which together will constitute one single agreement. |
10. | You covenant and agree as follows: |
a. | You shall protect and safeguard the trade secrets and confidential and proprietary information of Seaboard and its parent and subsidiaries and affiliate companies, including, but not limited to, the identity of its customers and suppliers, its arrangements with customers and suppliers, and its technical and financial data, records, compilations of information, processes and specification relating to its |
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customers, suppliers, products and services; |
b. | You shall not disclose any of such trade secrets and confidential and proprietary information; |
c. | You shall not use, directly or indirectly, for your own benefit or for the benefit of another, any of such trade secrets and confidential and proprietary information; and |
d. | You agree not to make any disparaging comment in any format, whether written, electronic or oral, to any customer, employee, the press or any other individual or entity regarding Seaboard that relates to Seaboard’s business or related activities or the relationship between the parties. |
11. | All files, records, documents, drawings, specifications, memoranda, notes, or other documents relating to the business of Seaboard, whether prepared by You or otherwise coming into your possession, shall be the exclusive property of Seaboard, and shall be delivered to Seaboard and not retained by You for any reason whatsoever. It is expressly agreed that the remedy at law for the breach of any such covenant is inadequate and injunctive relief shall be available to prevent the breach or any threatened breach thereof. |
13. | This Agreement shall be construed and governed by the laws of the State of Kansas. |
THE PARTIES HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD AND FULLY CONSIDERED THIS RELEASE AND DISCHARGE OF ALL CLAIMS, AND ARE MUTUALLY DESIROUS OF ENTERING INTO SUCH RELEASE AND DISCHARGE OF ALL CLAIMS. THE TERMS OF THIS RELEASE AND DISCHARGE OF ALL CLAIMS ARE THE PRODUCT OF MUTUAL NEGOTIATION AND COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE PARTIES, HAVING ELECTED TO EXECUTE THIS RELEASE AND DISCHARGE OF ALL CLAIMS, TO FULFILL THE PROMISES SET FORTH HEREIN, AND TO RECEIVE THEREBY THE COMPENSATION SET FORTH IN THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. THE PARTIES FREELY AND KNOWINGLY, AND AFTER DUE CONSIDERATION, VOLUNTARILY ENTER INTO THIS RELEASE AND DISCHARGE OF ALL CLAIMS.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned parties have executed this Settlement Agreement and Release.
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| | SEABOARD FOODS LLC | |||
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Date:_______________________ | | By: | | ||
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Date:_______________________ | | By: | | ||
| | | Employee | ||
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STATE OF_________________) | | | | ||
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COUNTY OF_______________) | | | |
On this ____ day of ___________, 20__, before me ___________, to me personally known, who, after being duly sworn, acknowledged that he/she executed the foregoing Agreement and Release as his/her free act and deed.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal the day and year first above written.
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| Notary Public |
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My commission expires: | |
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