AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
99.4
AGREEMENT
This
Agreement is made this 14th day of February, 2008, by and between AutoZone, Inc.
(“AutoZone”) and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, III (“Executive”).
1. Employment. Executive
is the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of AutoZone
and is employed by a subsidiary of AutoZone. Executive acknowledges that his
employment is at will and his service on the Board of Directors is subject to
his election as a director by AutoZone’s stockholders.
2. Severance. In
the event that Executive’s employment is terminated by AutoZone without Cause
(defined below), and provided that at that time, Executive executes a release of
all claims against AutoZone accrued as of the date of such release in a form
acceptable to AutoZone and such release has become irrevocable, Executive will
be entitled to the severance benefits set forth in Exhibit A to this Agreement
(the “Enhanced Severance”). Executive acknowledges that the Enhanced
Severance benefits are greater than those to which he would be entitled under
AutoZone’s standard severance policy, and that he is not eligible for severance
under AutoZone’s standard severance policy. Executive (or his estate)
will not be entitled to the Enhanced Severance in the event of (i) his
termination for Cause (defined below); (ii) his voluntary resignation, including
retirement; (iii) his death; or (iv) a determination by AutoZone that he is
“totally disabled,” as that term is defined in AutoZone’s long term disability
plan.
3. Covenants. In
consideration of Executive’s employment or continued employment, and the
Enhanced Severance benefits provided herein, Executive and AutoZone hereby agree
as follows:
(a) Non-Competition. Executive
acknowledges that because of his skills, Executive’s position with AutoZone, and
the customer relationships and/or confidential information to which Executive
shall have access on account of such employment with AutoZone, competition by
Executive with AutoZone would damage AutoZone in a manner which could not be
adequately compensated by damages or an action at law. In view of
such circumstances, Executive agrees that, during his employment with AutoZone
and for a period of three (3) years thereafter (the “Non-Compete Term”),
Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, control, be
employed by, consult for, participate in or be connected in any manner with the
ownership, management, operation or control of any business that derives
revenues from the retail, wholesale, or commercial sale, manufacture, or
distribution of aftermarket automobile parts and accessories, motor oil or
related chemicals in any state, province, territory or foreign country in which
AutoZone operates during the Non-Compete Term, including, but not limited to,
Advance Auto Parts, Inc., CSK Auto, Inc. (Checkers/Schucks/Kragen), General
Parts, Inc. (CARQUEST Auto Parts), Genuine Parts Corporation (NAPA), X’Xxxxxx
Automotive, Inc., The Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Xxxx, and Wal-Mart Stores,
Inc. Nothing in this Subsection 3(a) shall preclude Executive from
accepting employment with a company that derives less than five percent (5%) of
its annual gross revenues from the retail, wholesale or commercial sale,
manufacture or distribution of aftermarket automobile parts and accessories,
motor oil or related chemicals (other than those companies specifically listed
above), provided that Executive does not provide advice and consultation to such
company concerning the retail, wholesale or commercial sale, manufacture or
distribution of aftermarket automobile parts and accessories, motor oil or
related chemicals.
(b) Non-Solicitation. Executive
further agrees that, during Executive’s employment with AutoZone, and for a
period of three (3) years thereafter, Executive shall not, directly or
indirectly, whether on his own behalf or on behalf of a third party, solicit,
divert, influence, or attempt to divert or influence any customer of AutoZone or
seek to cause any customer of AutoZone to refrain from doing business with or
patronizing AutoZone. Executive also agrees that, during Executive’s
employment with AutoZone, and for a period of three (3) years thereafter, he
shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on his own behalf or on behalf of a
third party, solicit or attempt to solicit the employees of AutoZone or seek to
cause them to resign their employment with AutoZone.
(c) Confidentiality. Executive
acknowledges that he possesses and will continue to possess information which
has been created, discovered or developed by AutoZone in the conduct of its
business that is valuable, special and unique to AutoZone and not generally
known by third parties, including but not limited to, its methods of operations,
its lists of customers and employees, its pricing lists, its pricing and
purchasing strategies, and other information Executive has reason to know
AutoZone would like to treat as confidential. Unless previously
authorized in writing by AutoZone, Executive will not, at any time, disclose to
others, or use, or allow anyone else to disclose or use, any confidential
information except as may be necessary in the performance of Executive’s
employment with AutoZone.
4. Reasonable
Limitations. Given the nature of the position Executive holds
with AutoZone, the nature of AutoZone’s business, and the sensitive nature of
the information and duties Executive will have with AutoZone, the parties
acknowledge that the limitations provided for herein, including but not limited
to, the scope of activities prohibited, the geographic area covered, and the
time limitations, are reasonable and have been specifically negotiated by
sophisticated commercial parties.
5. Remedies
for Breach. In the event of an actual or threatened breach by
Executive of any of the covenants of this Agreement, AutoZone, in addition to
any other rights and remedies existing in its favor, shall be entitled to
obtain, without the necessity for any bond or other security, specific
performance and/or injunctive relief in order to enforce or prevent the breach
of any of the covenants of this Agreement. Further, if Executive
violates any of the covenants of this Agreement, his entitlement to the
severance benefits set forth on Exhibit A shall immediately cease, and the term
and covenant violated shall be automatically extended to a like period of time
from the date on which Executive ceases such violation or from the date of the
entry by a court of competent jurisdiction of an order or judgment enforcing
such covenants, whichever period is later. In the event Executive is
found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be in breach of any of the
covenants of this Agreement, AutoZone shall be entitled to its costs and
reasonable attorney’s fees associated with enforcing such covenant or
covenants.
6. Reaffirmation
of Scope or Duration. The parties hereto intend that this
Agreement be enforced as written. However, if any provision, or any
part thereof, is held to be unenforceable because of the duration of such
provision or the area covered thereby, the parties hereto agree that the court
making such determination shall have the power to reduce the duration and/or
area of such provision and/or delete specific words or phrases and in its
reduced or revised form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be
enforced.
7. Definition
of Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall be
defined as the willful engagement in conduct which is demonstrably or materially
injurious to AutoZone, monetarily or otherwise; provided, however, no act or
failure to act will be considered "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done,
by Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his action or
omission was in the best interest of AutoZone.
8. Compliance
with Section 409A. For purposes of this Agreement and the
Enhanced Severance described in Exhibit A, in the event that Executive is
terminated by AutoZone without Cause, AutoZone and Executive reasonably
anticipate that Executive will either (i) perform no further services for
AutoZone, whether as an employee, independent contractor, or otherwise, after
the effective date of such termination, or (ii) after the effective date of such
termination, permanently decrease the level of services performed by Executive
for AutoZone to no more than twenty percent (20%) of the average level of
services performed for AutoZone in any capacity, whether as an employee,
independent contractor or otherwise, over the immediately preceding 36-month
period (or the full period of services if Executive has been providing services
to AutoZone for less than thirty-six (36) months).
9. Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the state of Tennessee, without regard to its choice of
law provisions. Executive agrees that the exclusive venue for any
disputes arising out of or related to this Agreement shall be the state or
federal courts located in Memphis, Tennessee.
10. Entire
Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement, with Exhibit A, contains
the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes any prior understandings and
agreements between them respecting the subject matter of this
Agreement. It may not be changed orally, but only by agreement in
writing signed by the parties hereto.
11. Waiver of
Breach; Severability. The waiver by AutoZone of a breach of
any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of
any subsequent breach. In the event any provision of this Agreement
is found to be invalid or unenforceable, it may be severed from the Agreement
and the remaining provisions of the Agreement shall continue to be binding and
effective.
12. Non-Assignability. This
Agreement and the benefits hereunder are personal to AutoZone and are not
assignable or transferable by Executive, nor may the services to be performed
hereunder be assigned by AutoZone to any person, firm or corporation, except a
parent or affiliate of AutoZone; provided, however, that this Agreement and the
benefits hereunder may be assigned by AutoZone to any person, firm or
corporation acquiring all or substantially all of the assets of AutoZone or its
subsidiary or to any corporation or other entity into which AutoZone or its
subsidiary may be merged or consolidated and this Agreement and the benefits
hereunder will be deemed automatically assigned to any such corporation or
entity.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date and
year first stated above.
EXECUTIVE
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx,
III
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, III
AUTOZONE,
INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxxx
Its: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx
Its: Xxx Xxxxxx, SVP
EXHIBIT
A
To
Agreement dated February 14, 2008
Between
AutoZone, Inc.
and
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, III (“the Agreement”)
1.
|
General.
|
The
benefits afforded to Executive hereunder will be in lieu of benefits under any
other plan, program or agreement, including without limitation, AutoZone’s
standard severance policy.
2.
|
Commencement of
Benefits.
|
Enhanced
Severance benefits will commence as of the date of termination of employment
unless
Executive is deemed by AutoZone to be or have been a “specified employee” within
the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A at any relevant time, in which
case payment of all or a portion of the Enhanced Severance benefits will be
delayed until the date that is at least six months and one day after the date of
Executive’s termination. All amounts that would otherwise have been
paid during such six-month period shall instead be paid in a lump sum on the
first pay day following such six-month period.
Except as
otherwise provided in the Agreement, all compensation and benefits end upon
termination of employment.
3.
|
Severance
Payments.
|
Executive
will receive a severance payment in an amount equal to 2.99 times his
then-current base salary.
4.
|
Medical, Vision and
Dental Benefits.
|
Medical,
vision and dental insurance coverage may be continued up to a maximum of 18
months after the date of termination of employment if Executive makes a COBRA
election. The cost to Executive for this coverage will be the same as
he was paying immediately prior to termination, subject to increases affecting
plan participants generally. AutoZone will pay the difference between
Executive’s cost and the amount of the COBRA premiums.
5.
|
Stock
Options.
|
The terms
of the applicable Stock Option Agreements govern treatment of stock options upon
termination of employment. Stock Option Agreements generally provide
that options remain exercisable for 30 days from the date of termination without
Cause, and that stock options that are unvested as of the termination date will
be forfeited.
6.
|
Bonus
Incentives.
|
A
lump-sum, prorated share of any bonus incentives earned during the period prior
to Executive’s termination will be paid to Executive when incentives are paid
generally to similarly-situated employees. Eligibility for additional
bonuses ceases upon termination. See individual plan documentation
for detailed information about eligibility and when incentives are
earned.
7.
|
Other
Benefits.
|
An
appropriate level of outplacement services, as determined by AutoZone in its
discretion, will be provided to Executive based on his individual
circumstances.
Some
optional life and disability insurance policies may have portability features
which allow Executive to continue the coverage at Executive’s cost.
8.
|
Internal Revenue Code
Section 409A.
|
To the
extent applicable, this Program shall be interpreted in accordance with Internal
Revenue Code Section 409A. AutoZone may, in its sole discretion, take
any actions it deems necessary or appropriate, including without limitation,
amendment or termination of this Program, to (a) exempt these payments and
benefits from the application of Code Section 409A, or (b) comply with the
requirements of Code Section 409A.
9.
|
Amendments and
Administration.
|
AutoZone
reserves the right to terminate, suspend, withdraw, amend or modify the benefits
contained in the Policy, but any such action will not affect the benefits for
Executive under the Agreement. The plan administrator has sole authority to
interpret the provisions of the Policy and otherwise construe AutoZone’s intent
in case of any dispute.