EXHIBIT 10.19
SEPARATION AGREEMENT
This Separation Agreement ("Agreement") is hereby made and entered into
by and between Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx ("Employee") and Xxxxxxx Company, a Delaware
corporation ("Kellogg") this 30th day of December, 2004.
WHEREAS, Employee currently serves as Chairman, and Chief Executive
Officer of Kellogg; and
WHEREAS, Employee has been nominated by the President of the United
States to serve as Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce
("Secretary of Commerce"), and anticipates resigning from Kellogg prior to his
assumption of such office; and
WHEREAS, Kellogg and Employee wish to formalize the terms governing
Employee's separation from service with Kellogg in order to serve as Secretary
of Commerce;
NOW, THEREFORE, Kellogg and Employee agree as follows:
1. Effectiveness of Agreement and Separation From Service. This
Agreement shall, subject to Paragraph 19, become effective on the date (the
"Effective Date") on which Employee is sworn in as Secretary of Commerce
immediately prior to such swearing-in. In the event that the nomination of
Employee to serve as Secretary of Commerce is not made or is made but withdrawn,
or the United States Senate fails to confirm such nomination, or for any other
reason Employee shall not assume the office of Secretary of Commerce, this
Agreement shall be null and void ab initio and of no further force and effect.
Employee's last day of active employment with Kellogg will be the Effective
Date, and such active employment will terminate on the Effective Date
immediately before his swearing-in as Secretary of Commerce. Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, Employee acknowledges that as of the Effective Date,
Employee's participation will cease in all of the benefit plans of Kellogg and
any of its subsidiaries, divisions or affiliates (collectively, the "Company").
Employee will resign, effective as of the Effective Date immediately before his
swearing-in as Secretary of Commerce, from the Board of Directors of Kellogg
(the "Board"), and from all other positions he then holds as an officer or
director of any affiliate of Kellogg.
2. Incentive and Retirement Plans.
(a) Effective as of the Effective Date and subject to the approval
of the Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Compensation Committee"), the
following stock options to purchase Kellogg common stock previously granted to
Employee shall, to the extent not previously vested, vest in full and shall
remain exercisable up to 90 days following the Effective Date: (i) the 230,000
stock options granted to Employee on February 21, 2003 pursuant to the Xxxxxxx
Company 2001 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "2001 LTIP") that are currently
scheduled to vest on February 21, 2005, and (ii) the 376,250 stock options
granted to Employee on February 20, 2004 pursuant to the Xxxxxxx Company 2003
Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "2003 LTIP") that are currently scheduled to vest
on February 20, 2005. All other awards granted to Employee under the 2001 LTIP
and the 2003 LTIP or any other equity compensation plan shall be governed by the
terms of the applicable plan and the award agreements thereunder, and Employee
acknowledges that as a result, all stock options and other awards granted under
such plans (and all other plans) that are unvested as of the Effective Date will
be forfeited. Employee hereby waives any and all rights that he might otherwise
have to be granted "accelerated ownership" or "reload" options in connection
with any option exercise or otherwise under the 2001 LTIP or the 2003 LTIP or
any other equity compensation plan. Employee's right to, and the amount of,
payments pursuant to the 2002-2004 Executive Performance Plan (the "2004 EPP")
and the 2004 Senior Executive Annual Incentive Plan will be governed by the
terms of such plans, provided that, subject to Compensation Committee and Board
approval, (i) Employee will receive any such payments prior to the Effective
Date, and (ii) Employee will receive his 2004 EPP payment in cash rather than
stock. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee hereby releases, waives and forfeits
any and all right, title and interest in and to any other unvested options or
any payment under the 2003-2005 Executive Performance Plan and under the 2005
Annual Incentive Plan.
(b) On each date that Employee or his spouse, if applicable,
receives a benefit payment pursuant to the Xxxxxxx Company Salaried Pension Plan
(the "Qualified Plan") or the Xxxxxxx Company Supplemental Retirement Plan (the
"Supplemental Plan," and together with the Qualified Plan, the "Pension Plans"),
Kellogg will pay to Employee or his spouse, as applicable, an additional amount
equal to the excess of (x) the Unreduced Pension Amount (as defined below) for
such date over (y) the sum of the aggregate amounts payable to Employee or his
spouse, as applicable, on such date pursuant to the Pension Plans. The Unreduced
Pension Amount for any date means the aggregate amounts that would have been
payable to Employee or his spouse, as applicable, on such date pursuant to the
Pension Plans assuming that an Early Commencement Factor (as defined in Section
2.2(b) of the Qualified Plan) of zero had been applied to calculation of
Employee's pension thereunder (but still calculating such pension based upon
Employee's actual credited years of service and historical compensation as of
the Effective Date for purposes of determining the accrued benefit). Employee
hereby commits to elect to commence his benefit payments under the Pension Plan
on March 15, 2009 (which commitment shall be irrevocable except to the extent
that a different election may be made under circumstances which both (x) do not
result in compensation provided under this Paragraph 2(b) being provided on a
schedule different from the schedule of benefit payments under the Pension Plans
and (y) do not result in any noncompliance with Section 409A of the Internal
Revenue Code (enacted pursuant to the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004)
("Section 409A")), and waives all rights to receive a lump-sum payment of his
pension benefits pursuant to the Supplemental Plan. Employee hereby acknowledges
that he has no right to receive any benefits under the Xxxxxxx Company Excess
Benefit Retirement Plan. The parties are of the view that no provision of this
Paragraph 2(b) constitutes a material modification (within the meaning of
Section 885(d)(2)(B) of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004) of the
Supplemental Plan and that the compensation provided under this Paragraph 2(b)
complies with Section 409A, but agree that if Kellogg determines, after
consultation with its tax advisors, that any provision of this Paragraph 2(b)
does constitute such a material modification or does not so comply, such
provision shall be revised in a manner that the Company and Employee agree,
after consultation with appropriate advisors, (i) provides Employee with
substantially the same benefits (economic or otherwise) as the intended
benefits, (ii) does not result in such a material modification, (iii) complies
with Section 409A, and (iv) avoids any adverse tax consequences for Employee and
other participants in the nonqualified Pension Plans.
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(c) Pursuant to the terms of the Xxxxxxx Company Supplemental
Savings and Investment Plan (Restoration Plan) and the Xxxxxxx Company Executive
Compensation Deferral Plan, Employee will receive a lump-sum distribution of his
account balances under such plans as soon as practicable following the Effective
Date.
3. No Other Compensation or Benefits Owing. Employee acknowledges and
agrees that, except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement and
except for benefits that are vested and accrued prior to the Effective Date
pursuant to benefit plans and programs of the Company (e.g., vacation pay and
conversion rights under Company welfare plans), Employee is not and will not be
due any other compensation or benefits whatsoever from the Company and the
Company shall have no further obligations of any kind or nature to Employee.
Without limiting the foregoing, Employee acknowledges that as a result of his
resignation on the Effective Date, he will have no entitlement to receive
severance or retiree medical benefits from the Company or to receive benefits
under the Xxxxxxx Company Executive Survivor Income Plan.
4. No Other Representations. Employee represents and warrants that no
promise or inducement has been offered or made except as herein set forth and
that Employee is entering into and executing this Agreement without reliance on
any statement or representation not set forth within this Agreement by the
Company, or any person(s) acting on its behalf.
5. Non-Assignment of Rights. Employee represents and warrants that
Employee has not sold, assigned, transferred, conveyed or otherwise disposed of
to any third party, by operation of law or otherwise, any action, cause of
action, debt, obligation, contract, agreement, covenant, guarantee, judgment,
damage, claim, counterclaim, liability or demand of any nature whatsoever
relating to any matter covered in this Agreement.
6. Non-Compete. In further consideration of the foregoing, Employee
agrees that, for a period beginning with the date of Employee's termination of
continuous government service and ending on the second anniversary of such date
(the "Restricted Period") (it being agreed that in the event Employee returns to
government service during the Restricted Period, such period shall be tolled
during such government service), Employee shall not, without the prior written
consent of Kellogg:
(a) directly or indirectly, accept any employment, consult for or
with, or otherwise provide or perform any services of any nature to, for or on
behalf of any person, firm, partnership, corporation or other business or entity
that manufactures, produces, distributes, sells or markets any of the Products
(as hereinafter defined) in the Geographic Area (as hereinafter defined); or
(b) directly or indirectly, permit any business, entity or
organization which Employee, individually or jointly with others, owns, manages,
operates, or controls, to engage in the manufacture, production, distribution,
sale or marketing of any of the Products in the Geographic Area.
For purposes of this Paragraph, the term "Products" shall mean
ready-to-eat and hot cereal products; toaster pastries; cereal bars; granola
bars; frozen waffles, pancakes, and
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French toast; fruit snacks; crispy marshmallow squares, cookies, crackers, ice
cream cones, any other grain-based convenience food, or meat substitutes; and
the term "Geographic Area" shall mean any country in the world where the Company
manufactures, produces, distributes, sells or markets any of the Products at any
time during the applicable Restricted Period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Paragraph 6 shall not be construed to
impair, restrict, or limit Employee's ability to fulfill his responsibilities as
Secretary of Commerce.
7. Non-Solicitation. In further consideration of the foregoing,
Employee agrees that during the Restricted Period, Employee shall not, without
the prior written consent of the General Counsel of Kellogg, directly or
indirectly employ, or solicit the employment of (whether as an employee,
officer, director, agent, consultant or independent contractor) any person who
is or was at any time during the year prior to such employment or solicitation
an officer, director, or employee of the Company (except for solicitation
pursuant to an advertisement of general solicitation not directed at such
parties). For avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge that Employee shall
not be deemed to employ any person unless Employee is involved or has otherwise
provided input into the decision to hire such individual. For example, if
Employee is a senior executive of a company and that company hires an employee
of Kellogg without Employee's involvement or input, Employee will not be deemed
to have "employed" such person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Paragraph 7 shall
not be construed to impair, restrict, or limit Employee's ability to fulfill his
responsibilities as Secretary of Commerce.
8. Non-Disparagement of the Company. Employee agrees not to engage in
any form of conduct or make any statements or representations that disparage,
criticize or otherwise are critical, or otherwise impair the reputation,
goodwill or commercial interests, of the Company, or its past, present and
future subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, successors, officers, directors,
attorneys, agents and employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Paragraph 8
shall not be construed to impair, restrict, or limit Employee's ability to
fulfill his responsibilities as Secretary of Commerce.
9. Employment Status. Employee understands and agrees that (i)
Employee's active employment with the Company ends effective as of the Effective
Date; and (ii) the Company has no obligation to reinstate, rehire, reemploy,
recall, or hire Employee in the future.
10. Disclosure of Any Material Information. As of the date Employee
signs this Agreement, Employee represents and warrants that Employee has
disclosed to Kellogg any information in Employee's possession concerning any
conduct involving the Company or any of its officers, directors,
representatives, agents or employees that Employee has any reason to believe may
be unlawful, or a material violation of Company policy applicable to Employee.
11. Return of Property. Employee agrees to return to the Company, no
later than the Effective Date, all property of the Company, regardless of the
type or medium (i.e., computer disk, CD-ROM) upon which it is maintained,
including, but not limited to, all files, documents, correspondence, memoranda,
customer and client lists, prospect lists, subscription lists, contracts,
pricing policies, operational methods, marketing plans or strategies, product
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development techniques or plans, business acquisition plans, employee records,
technical processes, designs and design projects, inventions, research project
presentations, proposals, quotations, data, notes, records, photographic slides,
photographs, posters, manuals, brochures, internal publications, books, films,
drawings, videos, sketches, plans, outlines, computer disks, computer files,
work plans, specifications, credit cards, keys (including elevator, pass,
building and door keys), identification cards, and any other documents, writings
and materials that Employee came to possess or otherwise acquired as a result of
and/or in connection with Employee's employment with the Company. Should
Employee later find any Company property in Employee's possession, Employee
agrees to immediately return it. Employee further agrees not to maintain any
copies of said property or make any copies of said property available to any
third party.
12. Non-Admission of Liability. Employee understands and agrees that
this Agreement does not and shall not be deemed or construed as an admission of
liability or responsibility by the Company for any purpose.
13. Releases, Representations and Covenants. In consideration of the
compensation and benefits provided pursuant to this Agreement, the sufficiency
of which is hereby acknowledged, Employee, for Employee and for any person who
may claim by or through Employee, irrevocably (except with respect to Paragraph
19 below) and unconditionally releases, waives and forever discharges the
Company and its past, present and future subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates,
successors, and their respective officers, directors, attorneys, agents and
employees, from any and all claims or causes of action that Employee had, has or
may have, known or unknown, relating to Employee's employment with and/or
departure from the Company up until the date of this Agreement, including but
not limited to, any claims arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, as amended, Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as amended, the
Civil Rights Act of 1991, as amended, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended by the Older Workers Benefit
Protection Act of 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act; claims under any other federal, state or local
statute, regulation or ordinance; claims for discrimination or harassment of any
kind, breach of contract or public policy, wrongful or retaliatory discharge,
defamation or other personal or business injury of any kind; and any and all
other claims to any form of legal or equitable relief, damages, compensation or
benefits (except as set forth in subparagraph (d), below), or for attorneys fees
or costs. Employee additionally waives and releases any right Employee may have
to recover in any lawsuit or proceeding against the Company brought by Employee,
an administrative agency, or any other person on Employee's behalf or which
includes Employee in any class.
(a) No Pending Claims/Withdrawal of Claims. Employee represents and
warrants that, as of the date Employee signs this Agreement, Employee has no
charges, claims or lawsuits of any kind pending against the Company or any of
its past, present and future subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, successors, or
their respective officers, directors, attorneys, agents and employees that would
fall within the scope of the Release set forth in this Paragraph 13. To the
extent that Employee has such pending charges, claims or lawsuits as of the date
Employee signs this Agreement, Employee agrees to seek and obtain immediate
dismissal with prejudice and provide written confirmation immediately (i.e.,
court order, and/or agency determination) as a condition precedent to Kellogg's
obligations under this Agreement on and
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after the date Employee signs this Agreement (including, but not limited to,
providing any compensation or benefits under this Agreement).
(b) Covenant Not to Xxx. To the maximum extent permitted by law,
Employee agrees not to xxx or to institute or cause to be instituted any action
in any federal, state, or local agency or court against the Company, including,
but not limited to, the claims released in this Paragraph 13.
(c) Remedies for Breach. If Employee breaches any portion of this
Agreement, or disavows any portion of the Release, Employee acknowledges and
agrees that, in addition to any damages, Employee shall be liable for all
expenses, including costs and reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by any entity
released in defending the lawsuit or claim. Employee also hereby agrees and
acknowledges that if he breaches this Agreement, because it would be impractical
and excessively difficult to determine the actual damages to the Company as a
result of such breach, any remedies at law (such as a right to monetary damages)
would be inadequate. Employee therefore agrees that, if he breaches this
Agreement, the Company shall have the right (in addition to, and not in lieu of,
any other right or remedy available to it) to temporary and permanent injunctive
relief from a court of competent jurisdiction, without posting any bond or other
security and without proof of actual damage.
(d) Exclusion for Certain Claims. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Kellogg and Employee agree that the Release shall not apply to any claims
arising after the date Employee signs this Agreement, nor shall anything herein
prevent Employee or the Company from instituting any action to enforce the terms
of this Agreement. In addition, Employee and Kellogg agree that nothing herein
shall be construed to prevent Employee from enforcing any rights Employee may
have under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to recover any
vested benefits.
14. Preservation of Company Confidential Information. Employee
acknowledges and agrees that previously executed Company confidentiality or
non-disclosure agreements, if any, will continue to remain in effect after the
Effective Date. In addition, Employee agrees that he shall not (without first
obtaining the prior written consent in each instance from Kellogg) during the
term of this Agreement or thereafter, disclose, make commercial or other use of,
give or sell to any person, firm or corporation, any information from the
Company or acquired or developed in the course of Employee's employment,
including, by way of example only, trade secrets (including organizational
charts, reporting relationships, employee information such as credentials,
individual performance, skill sets, salaries and background information),
inventions, methods, designs, formulas, systems, improvements, prices,
discounts, business affairs, products, product specifications, manufacturing
processes, data and know-how and technical information of any kind whatsoever
unless such information has been publicly disclosed by authorized officials of
the Company.
15. Cooperation. Employee agrees to cooperate truthfully and fully with
the Company in connection with any and all existing or future investigations or
litigation of any nature brought against the Company involving events that
occurred during Employee's employment with the Company. Employee agrees to
notify the Company immediately if subpoenaed or asked to appear as a witness in
any matter related to the Company. The Company
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will reimburse Employee for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and, if approved
in advance by the General Counsel of Kellogg (such approval not to be
unreasonably withheld), reasonable attorneys' fees incurred as a result of such
cooperation.
16. General.
(a) Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is found by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable, in whole or in part, then
that provision will be eliminated, modified or restricted in whatever manner is
necessary to make the remaining provisions enforceable to the maximum extent
allowable by law.
(b) Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon, enforceable
by, and inure to the benefit of Employee and Kellogg, and Employee's personal or
legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs,
distributees, devisees and legatees, and to any successor or assignee of
Kellogg, but neither this Agreement, nor any rights, payments, or obligations
arising hereunder may be assigned, pledged, transferred, or hypothecated by
Employee or Kellogg.
(c) Controlling Law and Venue. Employee agrees that the internal
laws of the State of Michigan shall govern this Agreement. Employee also agrees
that any controversy, claim or dispute between the parties, directly or
indirectly, concerning this Agreement or the breach of thereof shall only be
resolved in the Circuit Court of Xxxxxxx County, or the United States District
Court for the Western District of Michigan, whichever court has jurisdiction
over the subject matter thereof, and the parties hereby submit to the
jurisdiction of said courts.
(d) Tax Withholding. Employee acknowledges and agrees that: (i)
usual and customary withholding for tax purposes will be withheld from any
payments made to Employee pursuant to this Agreement, to the extent required by
law, and (ii) all tax liability, with respect to any and all payments or
services received by Employee under this Agreement (other than employer
withholding and employer payroll taxes) will be Employee's responsibility.
(e) Waiver. No claim or right arising out of a breach or default
under this Agreement can be discharged by a waiver of that claim or right unless
the waiver is in writing signed by the party hereto to be bound by such waiver.
A waiver by either party hereto of a breach or default by the other party of any
provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of future compliance
therewith and such provision shall remain in full force and effect.
(f) Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
regarding this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered in person or sent by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, and
properly addressed as follows:
To Kellogg: Xxxxxxx Company
One Kellogg Square
X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
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With a copy to: Xxxxxxx Company
One Kellogg Square
X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
To Employee: To the last address on file with Kellogg (or
to any subsequent address provided to Kellogg
in accordance with this section).
(g) Continuation of Indemnification and Insurance. Kellogg shall
continue to indemnify Employee in accordance with the By Laws to the fullest
extent permitted by law for his acts while an officer or director of the
Company, and shall continue to provide coverage under Kellogg's Directors and
Officers Insurance policy for such acts.
17. Entire Agreement/Amendment. Employee agrees that this Agreement
constitutes the entire agreement between Employee and Kellogg, and that this
Agreement supersedes any and all prior and/or contemporaneous written and/or
oral agreements, relating to the termination of Employee's employment with the
Company under the circumstances contemplated hereby. In addition, as of the
Effective Date, this Agreement shall supersede any and all prior and/or
contemporaneous written and/or oral agreements, relating to Employee's
employment by the Company and the termination thereof. Employee acknowledges
that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Employment Agreement
between Employee and Kellogg, dated July 26, 2000 shall expire by its terms upon
the Effective Date. Employee acknowledges that this Agreement may not be
modified except by a written document signed by Employee and Kellogg.
18. Knowing and Voluntary Action. Employee acknowledges that Employee
has been advised to consult an attorney before signing this Agreement. Employee
further acknowledges that Employee has read this Agreement; has been given a
period of at least twenty-one (21) days to consider this Agreement; understands
its meaning and application; and is signing of Employee's own free will with the
intent of being bound by it. If Employee elects to sign this Agreement prior to
the expiration of twenty-one (21) days, Employee has done so voluntarily and
knowingly, without any improper inducement or coercion by the Company.
19. Revocation of Agreement. Employee further acknowledges that
Employee may revoke this Agreement at any time within a period of seven (7) days
following the date Employee signs this Agreement. Notice of revocation shall be
made in writing addressed to Kellogg in accordance with Paragraph 16(g) above.
Such revocation must be received by Kellogg by the close of business of the
first day following the end of the seven (7) day revocation period. This
Agreement shall not become effective until after the time period for revocation
has expired.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and agreed to this
Agreement.
EMPLOYEE XXXXXXX COMPANY
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
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