May 20, 2022 Via Hand Delivery Personal and Confidential [Redacted] Mr. Joseph H. Reniers [Redacted]
Exhibit 10.1
[Certain identified information has been excluded from this Exhibit 10.1 because it is both not material and is the type of information that the Company treats as private or confidential.]
May 20, 2022
Via Hand Delivery
Personal and Confidential
[Redacted]
Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
[Redacted]
Re: Transition Assistance; Potential for Enhanced Transition Assistance
Dear Xxx:
This Letter Agreement (“Agreement”) memorializes our conversations in which I advised of the decision to chart new directions for the KDS businesses that you have been leading. As a consequence of this decision, your employment and leadership/officer/committee roles with the Company will end May 20, 2022.
For purposes of this Agreement, “Company” means Xxxxx Corporation and its subsidiaries, affiliates, and partnerships.
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
AND LEADERSHIP/OFFICER/COMMITTEE ROLES
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MUTUAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS
By signing this Agreement, it is your intent to waive and release all claims and potential claims that may be legally released against the Released Parties. In the unlikely event that a claim or potential claim has been omitted from this Release provision, you assign said claims and potential claims to Company in exchange for its obligations in this Agreement.
By signing this Agreement, you are not waiving any right to file a charge/claim with, or participate in an investigation by, any local, state or federal agency; provided, however, that you are waiving your right to recover any monetary relief as a result of such charge or investigation other than a bounty award. You are also not waiving any (a) claims that may arise after the date that you execute this Agreement, or (b) your vested benefits.
The earliest date you may execute this Agreement is close of business on your Termination Date.
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CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION;
ASSIGNMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Confidential Information also means any information disclosed by Company to you, either directly or indirectly, in writing, orally or by inspection of tangible objects, including without limitation, information and technical data contained in Company’s manuals, booklets, publications, training modules, and equipment of every kind and character, as well as documents, prototypes, samples, prospects, inventions, trade secrets, product ideas, technical know-how, processes, plans (including without limitation, marketing plans and strategies), specifications, designs, methods of operation, techniques, technology, formulas, software, improvements, financial and marketing information, forecasts, research, targeted industries and market segments for future growth, and the identity of any and all customers, prospective customers, consultants, vendors and suppliers. Confidential Information shall also include information disclosed to Company by one or more customers to which Company is under a confidentiality obligation.
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COMPENSATION PAID IN CONNECTION WITH TERMINATION
Irrespective of your consent to this Agreement, Company shall pay you the sums in Terms 9 and 10, in a lump sum, less appropriate state and federal deductions:
Conditioned upon your acceptance, consent and unrevoked execution of this Agreement, and as additional consideration for your obligations in this Agreement, Company shall pay you the sums in Terms 11 and 12, in a lump sum, less appropriate state and federal deductions:
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Payment of Items 11 and 12 will be made as soon as administratively practical following your execution of the Agreement and the expiration of the revocation period without action by you to revoke. In the unlikely event Company pays you for Items 11 and 12 above and you timely revoke acceptance, you covenant to repay Company the total sums advanced for 11 and 12 within 15 days of revocation.
Upon termination of employment, you have the right to maintain your balance in Company’s 401k Plan or to transfer the balance per the terms of the Plan. In either event, in light of termination of your employment, the Company shall make no future contributions on your behalf to the Company’s 401k Plan.
NO CRITICAL REMARKS
In exchange for Company’s obligations in this Agreement, you covenant to refrain from communicating (in any form: oral, written, electronic, or other) remarks criticizing, or portraying in a negative light, Company and/or its directors, officers, employees, products and/or services. This obligation does not supersede your obligation to provide truthful testimony should you be called upon to do so by lawfully issued legal process.
COOPERATION
In exchange for Company’s obligations in this Agreement, you agree to cooperate fully with Company and its counsel with respect to any matter (e.g. threatened litigation, litigation, investigations, governmental proceedings/investigations) relating to matters with which you were involved during your employment with Company. Your cooperation shall include truthful recollection of events.
GOVERNING LAW; VENUE; ARBITRATION
This Agreement is made and entered into in the State of Texas and shall be construed and enforced under the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Texas. The normal rule of construction that ambiguities shall be construed against the drafter shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement. You and Company agree that the sole and exclusive jurisdiction and venue for any disputes arising out of or related to this Agreement among you, Company, the Company Releasees, or any other person released hereby shall be in Xxxxxx County, Texas, subject to the arbitration obligations in this Agreement.
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Additionally, you and Company agree that any future disputes involving claims for money damages shall be exclusively resolved via arbitration in which the costs of arbitration shall be borne by Company. Costs of arbitration shall not include your costs and expenses for legal representation, if any, which shall be borne by you. Pursuant to this provision, you and Company will agree to a single Arbitrator and shall conduct any Arbitration pursuant to the employment provisions of the American Arbitration Association Rules.
Notwithstanding the agreement to arbitrate, Company shall have the right to see injunctive and/or declaratory relief in a court of competent jurisdiction in Xxxxxx County, Texas should Company believe you have violated any provision of this Agreement.
TERMINATION OF RIGHTS PURSUANT TO FEBRUARY 25, 2021
INCENTIVE AND RETENTION AWARD AGREEMENT
Pursuant to the letter of February 25, 2021 (attached as Exhibit D), you acknowledge and agree that termination of employment in May 2022 terminates any right to any additional installments of Cash Retention Bonus which would have vested in December 2022 and December 2023 respectfully. Similarly, you acknowledge and agree that termination of employment in May 2022 terminates any right to vest in a Retention RSU Award of 9,850 restricted stock units in light of the January 2024 vesting date and the requirement that you be employed on the vesting date.
ENTIRE AGREEMENT; ENHANCED TRANSITION ASSISTANCE
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Company with respect to the cessation of your employment. You acknowledge and agree that no promises have been made to you that are not reflected in this Agreement and that you have not relied upon any representation, written or oral, not set forth in this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the above paragraph, attached hereto as Exhibit E is a true and correct copy of an Enhanced Transition Assistance Agreement that memorializes additional compensation and benefits available to you should you voluntarily elect to accept them.
ACCEPTANCE AND REVOCATION
You have a reasonable time period up to 21 days from receipt of the Agreement to accept the terms of and sign this Agreement. You may accept and sign this Agreement before the expiration of this time period, if you choose. You have been advised to consult with an attorney of your own choosing regarding the matters set forth in this Agreement prior to signing it.
In order to accept this Agreement and receive the Severance Benefits, you must return a copy of this letter within 21 days of receiving this Agreement to Xxx Xxxxxx, Chief Human Resource Officer, Xxxxx Corporation, 00 Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000; telephone: 713-435-****; email: Xxx.Xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx.
The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act gives you the right to revoke acceptance of this Agreement within 7 days after you sign and accept it. By signing and accepting this Agreement,
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you acknowledge that you have been advised in writing to consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement, that you have had the opportunity to have the provisions of this Agreement explained to you by your own counsel, that you fully understand the terms and significance of this Agreement; that you voluntarily agree to all the terms and conditions contained herein; and that you are signing this Agreement of your own free will and voluntarily. You acknowledge that the settlement and release of any claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and its state law equivalent is not effective until the eighth day following your acceptance of this Agreement. Accordingly, no rights or obligations contained in this Agreement with regard to settlement and release of any claims under the ADEA will be enforceable before the end of the seven-day revocation period. If you decide to revoke this Agreement with regard to the settlement and release of any claims under the ADEA, you must deliver to the Company by delivering to Xxx Xxxxxx, Chief Human Resource Officer, Xxxxx Corporation, 00 Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000; telephone: 713-435-****; email: Xxx.Xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx, a signed notice of revocation within 7 days after the date you signed this Agreement on the line provided below for your signature.
CONCLUSION
The benefits outlined in this Agreement and the attached Enhanced Transition Assistance Agreement reflect the Company’s thanks for your service and for your many contributions. You leave with our very best wishes for future endeavors.
Sincerely,
/s/ Xxxxx X Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
President and Chief Executive Officer
The earliest date you may execute this Agreement is close of business on your Termination Date.
I have read and understand the terms and conditions of this Agreement and voluntarily accept and agree to them.
Signature: |
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
|
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
Date of Signature: |
June 5, 2022 |
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EXHIBIT A
CURRENT LEADERSHIP AND OFFICER POSITIONS
[Redacted]
EXHIBIT B
LETTER OF INTRODUCTION
[Redacted]
EXHIBIT C
INVENTIONS RETAINED AND LICENSED
[Redacted]
EXHIBIT D
FEBRUARY 25, 2021 LETTER
[Redacted]