EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit (e)(15)
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into this 4th day of May,
2010, by and between Burger King Corporation, a Florida corporation (together with any Successor
thereto, the “Company”), and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx (“Executive”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ and secure the exclusive services of Executive on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Executive desires to accept such 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:
l. Agreement to Employ. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to employ Executive, and Executive hereby accepts such
employment with the Company, in each case commencing on the “Commencement Date” (as defined below
in Section 2(a)).
2. Term; Position and Responsibilities; Location.
(a) Term of Employment. Commencing on May 17, 2010 (the “Commencement Date”),
and unless Executive’s employment shall sooner terminate pursuant to Section 9, the Company shall
continue to employ Executive on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement from the
date first written above through June 30, 2011 (the “Initial Term”). Effective upon the
expiration of the Initial Term and each Additional Term (as defined below), Executive’s employment
hereunder shall be deemed to be automatically extended, upon the same terms and conditions, for an
additional period of one (1) year (each, an “Additional Term”), in each such case,
commencing upon the expiration of the Initial Term or the then current Additional Term, as the case
may be, unless the Company shall have given written notice to Executive, at least ninety (90) days
prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or such Additional Term, of its intention not to extend
the Employment Period (as defined below) hereunder. Executive’s Separation from Service (as
defined below) with the Company pursuant to any such notice of non-extension delivered by the
Company to Executive shall occur upon expiration of the relevant Term or Additional Term (as
applicable) and shall be deemed to constitute her Separation from Service due to termination of her
employment by the Company Without Cause (as defined below) pursuant to Section 9(c) and 9(f)(i)
hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, “Separation from Service” has the meaning given to such
term in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the regulations (as amended) promulgated under Xxxxxxx 000X xx xxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The period during which
Executive is employed by the
Company pursuant to this Agreement, including any extension thereof in accordance with this
section, shall be referred to as the “Employment Period.”
(b) Position and Responsibilities. During the Employment Period, Executive shall
serve as Executive Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer, and shall have such duties
and responsibilities as are customarily assigned to individuals serving in such position and such
other duties consistent with Executive’s title and position as the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company and the Board of Directors (or any committee thereof) of the Company (the Board or such
committee referred to as the “Board”) specifies from time to time (it being understood by
the parties that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company is free, at any time and from time to
time, to reorganize its business operations, and that Executive’s duties and scope of
responsibility may change in connection with such reorganization). Executive shall devote all of
her skill, knowledge, commercial efforts and business time to the conscientious and good faith
performance of her duties and responsibilities for the Company to the best of her ability.
(c) Location. During the Employment Period, Executive’s services shall be performed
primarily in the Miami-Dade metropolitan area. However, Executive may be required to travel in and
outside of Miami-Dade as the needs of the Company’s business dictate.
3. Reimbursement of Relocation Expenses. The Company will pay or reimburse Executive,
in accordance with the provisions of the Company’s Relocation Policy applicable to employees at
Executive’s pay band, as in effect from time to time, for the reasonable, direct expenses incurred
by Executive in connection with her move from Atlanta, Georgia to Miami, Florida. All payments and
reimbursements made pursuant to this Section 3 shall be made subject to Section 20(k) of this
Agreement.
4. Base Salary; Signing Bonus.
(a) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Company shall pay Executive an initial
base salary at an annualized rate of $350,000, payable in installments on the Company’s regular
payroll dates. The Board shall review Executive’s base salary annually during the Employment
Period and may increase (but not decrease) such base salary from time to time, based on its
periodic review of Executive’s performance in accordance with the Company’s regular policies and
procedures. The annual base salary payable to Executive from time to time under this Section 4
shall hereinafter be referred to as the “Base Salary.”
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(b) Signing Bonus. Executive will receive a one-time signing bonus in the gross amount of
$191,000 (the “Signing Bonus”). The Signing Bonus is payable in two (2) equal installments, the
first being due and payable at the time of the Company’s first regular payroll following the
Commencement Date and the second being due and
payable at the time of the Company’s first regular payroll date following the one (1) year
anniversary of the Commencement Date. Executive and the Company agree that the Signing Bonus is
not part of Executive’s Base Salary. If Executive experiences a Separation from Service (defined
below) due to (i) her voluntary termination of Employment with the Company (excluding a termination
by Executive for Good Reason) or (i) a termination by the Company for Cause (as defined in Section
9(b) of this Agreement), in either case within one (1) year following the payment of any
installment of the Signing Bonus, Executive shall be required to repay that portion of the Signing
Bonus which was paid within the one (1) year period immediately preceding such Separation from
Service. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4(b) to the contrary, unless the Separation from
Service is due to a termination by the Company Without Cause or a termination by Executive of her
employment with the Company for Good Reason, Executive will receive each respective installment
under this Section 4(b) if and only if Executive is still employed by the Company on each
applicable payment date.
5. Annual Incentive Compensation. Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual
bonus (“Annual Bonus”) with respect to each fiscal year ending during the Employment
Period. The Annual Bonus shall be determined under the 2006 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus
Plan”) or such other annual incentive plan maintained by the Company for similarly situated
employees that the Company designates, in its sole discretion (any such plan, the “Bonus
Plan”), in accordance with the terms of such plan as in effect from time to time. For each
such fiscal year, Executive shall be eligible to earn a target Annual Bonus equal to seventy
percent (70%) of Executive’s Base Salary for such fiscal year, if the Company achieves the target
performance goals established by the Board for such fiscal year in accordance with the terms of the
Bonus Plan. In the case of the Annual Bonus for the 2010 fiscal year of the Company ending June
30, 2010, the amount payable to Executive for the 2010 fiscal year shall be pro-rated by
multiplying the Annual Bonus amount, if any, for the 2010 fiscal year by a fraction, the numerator
of which equals the number of days of Executive’s employment with the Company during the 2010
fiscal year and the denominator of which equals 365. If the Company does not achieve the threshold
performance goals established by the Board for a fiscal year, Executive shall not be entitled to
receive an Annual Bonus for such fiscal year. If the Company exceeds the target performance goals
established by the Board for a fiscal year, Executive may be entitled to earn an additional Annual
Bonus for such year in accordance with the terms of the applicable Bonus Plan. The Annual Bonus
for each year shall be payable at the same time as bonuses are paid to other senior executives of
the Company in accordance with the terms of the applicable Bonus Plan, but in no event later than
two and a half (21/2) months following the end of the applicable fiscal year in which such Annual
Bonus was earned. Executive shall be entitled to receive any Annual Bonus that becomes payable in
a lump-sum cash payment, or, at her election, (A) up to fifty percent (50%) of the Annual Bonus in
the form of a grant of restricted stock units of Common Stock (as defined below) or (B) in any form
that the Board generally makes available to the Company’s executive management team,
provided that any such
election is made by Executive in compliance with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder.
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6. Equity Incentive Compensation. During the Employment Period, Executive shall be
eligible to receive annual performance-based equity grants in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Omnibus Plan or such other plan providing for equity-based incentive compensation
maintained by the Company for employees at Executive’s grade level that the Company designates, in
its sole discretion.
7. Employee Benefits.
(a) General. During the Employment Period, Executive will be eligible to participate
in the employee and executive benefit plans and programs maintained by the Company from time to
time in which executives of the Company at Executive’s grade level are eligible to participate,
including to the extent maintained by the Company, life, medical, dental, accidental and disability
insurance plans and retirement, deferred compensation and savings plans, in accordance with the
terms and conditions thereof as in effect from time to time.
(b) Benefit Allowance. Subject to Section 20(k)(iii) herein, with respect to each
year during the Employment Period, Executive will be entitled to receive a perquisite allowance of
$48,500 (the “Benefits Allowance”), which the Company shall pay to Executive in equal
installments, in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll policies, during such fiscal year,
subject to Executive’s continued employment with the Company.
8. Expenses; Etc.
(a) Business Travel, Lodging, etc. Subject to Section 20(k)(iii) herein, during the
Employment Period, the Company will reimburse Executive for reasonable travel, lodging, meal and
other reasonable expenses incurred by her in connection with the performance of her duties and
responsibilities hereunder upon submission of evidence satisfactory to the Company of the
incurrence and purpose of each such expense, provided that such expenses are permitted
under the terms and conditions of the Company’s business expense reimbursement policy applicable to
executives at Executive’s grade level, as in effect from time to time. Subject to Section
20(k)(iii) herein, during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay or reimburse Executive for
the annual membership dues for two (2) airline club memberships of Executive’s choosing, subject
to, and contingent upon, Executive’s continued employment with the Company.
(b) Vacation. During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to vacation
on an annualized basis in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, currently four (4) weeks
per year for an individual in Executive’s position, without
carry-over accumulation. Executive shall also be entitled to Company-designated holidays.
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9. Termination of Employment.
(a) Termination Due to Death or Disability. Executive’s employment shall
automatically terminate upon Executive’s death and may be terminated by the Company due to
Executive’s Disability (as defined below in this subsection (a)). In the event that Executive’s
employment is terminated due to her Disability or death, no termination benefits shall be payable
to or in respect of Executive except as provided in Section 9(f)(ii). For purposes of this
Agreement, “Disability” means a physical or mental disability that prevents or would
prevent the performance by Executive of her duties hereunder for a continuous period of six (6)
months or longer. The determination of Executive’s Disability will (i) be made by an independent
physician agreed to by the parties, or if the parties are unable to agree within ten (10) days
after a request for designation by a party, by an independent physician identified by the Company’s
disability insurance provider, (ii) be final and binding on the parties hereto and (iii) be based
on such competent medical evidence as shall be presented to such independent physician by Executive
and/or the Company or by any physician or group of physicians or other competent medical experts
employed by Executive and/or the Company to advise such independent physician.
(b) Termination by the Company for Cause. Executive’s employment may be terminated by
the Company for Cause (as defined below in this subsection (b)). In the event of a termination of
Executive’s employment by the Company for Cause, no termination benefits shall be payable to or in
respect of Executive except as provided in Section 9(f)(ii). For purposes of this Agreement,
“Cause” means (i) a material breach by Executive of any provision of this Agreement; (ii) a
material and willful violation by Executive of any of the Policies (as defined in Section 13);
(iii) the failure by Executive to reasonably and substantially perform her duties hereunder (other
than as a result of physical or mental illness or injury); (iv) Executive’s willful misconduct or
gross negligence that has caused or is reasonably expected to result in material injury to the
business, reputation or prospects of the Company or any of its Affiliates; (v) Executive’s fraud or
misappropriation of funds; or (vi) the commission by Executive of a felony or other serious crime
involving moral turpitude; provided that in the case of any breach of clauses (i), (ii) or
(iii) that is curable, no termination there under shall be effective unless the Company shall have
given Executive notice of the event or events constituting Cause and Executive shall have failed to
cure such event or events within thirty (30) business days after receipt of such notice. If, in
the event Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company Without Cause (as defined in
subsection (c) below) and, on or before the 12-month anniversary of the applicable Date of
Separation from Service of such termination Without Cause, it is determined in good faith by the
Board that Executive’s employment could have been terminated for Cause under clauses (iv), (v) or
(vi) hereof, Executive’s employment shall, at the election of the Board, be deemed to have
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been
terminated for Cause, effective as of the date of the occurrence of the events
giving rise to the Cause termination. Upon such determination, the Company shall (x)
immediately cease paying any termination benefits pursuant to Section 9 hereof and (y) Executive
shall be obligated to immediately repay to the Company all amounts theretofore paid to Executive
pursuant to Section 9. In addition, if not repaid, the Company shall have the right to set off, in
accordance with (and to the extent permitted by) Section 409A of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder, from any amounts otherwise due to Executive any amounts previously paid
pursuant to Section 9(f) (other than the Accrued Obligations).
(c) Termination Without Cause. Executive’s employment may be terminated by the
Company Without Cause (as defined below in this subsection (c)) at any time. In the event of a
termination of Executive’s employment by the Company Without Cause, no termination benefits shall
be payable to or in respect of Executive except as provided in Section 9(f)(i). For purposes of
this Agreement, a termination “Without Cause” shall mean a termination of Executive’s
employment by the Company other than due to Executive’s death or Disability as described in Section
9(a) and other than for Cause as described in Section 9(b).
(d) Termination by Executive. Executive may resign from her employment for any
reason, including for Good Reason (as defined below in this subsection (d)). In the event of a
termination of Executive’s employment by Executive’s resignation other than for Good Reason, no
termination benefits shall be payable to or in respect of Executive except as provided in Section
9(f)(ii) and in the event of a termination of Executive’s employment by Executive for Good Reason,
no termination benefits shall be payable to or in respect of Executive except as provided in
Section 9(f)(i). For purposes of this Agreement, a termination of employment by Executive for
“Good Reason” shall mean a resignation by Executive from her employment with the Company within
thirty (30) days following the occurrence, without Executive’s consent, of any of the following
events: (i) a material diminution in the Executive’s position, authority or responsibilities (it
being understood that a change to Executive’s duties and/or scope of responsibility in connection
with the reorganization of the Company’s operations will not trigger this sub-section (i) unless
accompanied by a demotion from the “Executive Vice President” level); (ii) any decrease in
Executive’s Base Salary or a material decrease in the Executive’s incentive compensation
opportunities as set forth in Sections 5 and 6 or; (iii) any other material breach by the Company
of any material provision of this Agreement (including without limitation any failure by the
Company to obtain agreement by any Successor thereto to expressly assume and agree to perform this
Agreement as required by Section 16 herein); provided that the Executive shall have given the
Company notice of the event or events constituting Good Reason and the Company shall have failed to
cure such event or events within thirty (30) business days after receipt of such notice.
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(e) Procedure for Termination of Employment.
(i) Notice of Termination. Any termination of Executive’s employment by the Company
or by Executive (other than as a result of Executive’s death) shall be communicated by a written
Notice of Termination addressed to the other party to this Agreement. A “Notice of
Termination” shall mean a notice stating that Executive or the Company, as the case may be, is
electing to terminate Executive’s employment with the Company (and thereby terminating the
Employment Period), stating the proposed effective date of such termination, indicating the
specific provision of this Section 9 under which such termination is being effected and, if
applicable, setting forth in reasonable detail the circumstances claimed to provide the basis for
such termination.
(ii) Date of Separation from Service. The term “Date of Separation from Service”
shall mean, with respect to Executive’s Separation from Service with the Company, (A) if the
Separation from Service occurs due to Executive’s death, the date of her death, (B) if the
Separation from Service occurs due to termination of Executive’s employment by the Company by
reason of Executive’s Disability, a date which is at least six (6) months following the occurrence
of the event giving rise to the Disability, (C) if the Separation from Service occurs due to a
termination of Executive’s employment by Executive for any reason, a date which is at least 30 days
following the issuance of the Notice of Termination and (D) if the Separation from Service occurs
due to termination of Executive’s employment for any other reason, the effective date of
termination specified in such Notice of Termination. The Employment Period shall expire on the
Date of Separation from Service.
(iii) Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section
9(e)(ii), the determination of whether and when the Date of Separation from Service occurs for the
purpose of determining when any amount that is “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to
Section 409A of the Code becomes due and payable shall be made in a manner consistent with, and
based on the presumptions set forth in, Section 1.409A-1(h) of the regulations promulgated under
Section 409 of the Code. Solely for purposes of the determination referred to in the preceding
sentence, “Company” shall include all persons with whom the Company would be considered a single
employer under Sections 414(b) and 414(c) of the Code. In the event that the Date of Separation
from Service, as determined in accordance with this Section 9(e)(iii), occurs before the applicable
notice period specified in Section 9(e)(ii) has elapsed, the Company may elect to pay, or commence
payment of, any amounts to which this Section 9(e)(iii) applies following the completion of such
notice period, but not later than the end of the taxable year in which the Date of Separation from
Service occurs.
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(f) Payments Upon Certain Terminations.
(i) In the event of Executive’s Separation from Service with the Company due to a termination
of her employment by the Company Without Cause or
Executive’s resignation from employment for Good Reason during the Employment Period, the
Company shall pay to Executive, within thirty (30) days of the Date of Separation from Service, her
(x) Base Salary through the Date of Separation from Service, to the extent not previously paid, (y)
reimbursement for any unreimbursed business expenses incurred by Executive prior to the Date of
Separation from Service that are subject to reimbursement pursuant to Section 8(a) and (z) payment
for vacation time accrued as of the Date of Separation from Service but unused (such amounts under
clauses (x), (y) and (z), collectively the “Accrued Obligations”). In addition, in the
event of Executive’s Separation from Service as described in this Section 9(f)(i), provided that
Executive executes and delivers to the Company, within the applicable period of time provided for
under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, and in no event later than
sixty (60) days following the Executive’s Date of Separation from Service, an irrevocable
Separation Agreement and General Release substantially in the form approved by the Company,
Executive shall be entitled to the following payments and benefits:
(A) payments of an amount equal to the sum of (x) Executive’s Base Salary and (y) the annual
amount of the Benefits Allowance described in Section 7(b), which amount shall be payable in equal
installments in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll policies, during the period beginning
on the first business day immediately following the six (6) month anniversary of the Date of
Separation from Service and ending on the one (1) year anniversary of the Date of Separation from
Service;
(B) a portion of Executive’s Annual Bonus for the fiscal year of the Company during which
Executive was employed that includes the Date of Separation from Service, such portion to equal the
product (such product, the “Pro-Rata Bonus”) of (1) the Annual Bonus that would have been
payable to Executive for such fiscal year had Executive remained employed for the entire fiscal
year, determined based on the extent to which the Company actually achieves the performance goals
for such year established pursuant to Section 5, multiplied by (2) a fraction, the numerator of
which is equal to the number of days in such fiscal year that precede the Date of Separation from
Service and the denominator of which is equal to 365, such amount to be payable to Executive on the
date (the “Bonus Payment Date”) annual bonuses for such fiscal year are actually paid by
the Company to its active executives, but in no event later than two and a half (21/2) months
following the end of the applicable fiscal year in which such Annual Bonus was earned;
(C) subject to Section 20(k)(iii) herein, continued coverage during the period commencing on
the Date of Separation from Service and ending on the one year anniversary of the Date of
Separation from Service (the “Severance Period”) under the Company’s medical, dental and life
insurance plans referred to in Section 7(a) for Executive and her eligible dependents participating
in such plans immediately prior to the Date of Separation from Service, subject to timely payment
by Executive of all premiums, contributions and other co-payments required to be paid by active
senior
executives of the Company under the terms of such plans as in effect from time to time; and
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(D) at the discretion of the Company, the services of an outplacement agency as selected by
and for such period of time as determined by the Chief Human Resources Officer of the Company;
provided that in no event will the duration of such outplacement services exceed the Severance
Period and that any reimbursement to be paid by the Company for such services will be made by the
end of the year following the year in which the Date of Separation from Service occurs.
(E) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 9(f)(i), if a Change in Control (as
defined below) occurs within twelve (12) months following the Commencement Date and, within twelve
months (12) months following the date of such Change in Control, Executive experiences a Separation
from Service with the Company due to the Company’s termination of her employment Without Cause or
Executive’s resignation for Good Reason, then the amounts payable to Executive under Section
9(f)(i)(A) and Section 9(f)(i)(B) shall be multiplied by two (2), but otherwise payable in
accordance with Section 9(f)(i)(A) and Section 9(f)(i)(B), respectively. For purposes of this
Agreement, the term “Change in Control” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Omnibus
Plan or such other plan providing for equity-based incentive compensation maintained by the Company
for employees at Executive’s grade level that the Company designates, in its sole discretion.
Executive shall not have a duty to mitigate the costs to the Company under this Section
9(f)(i), nor shall any payments from the Company to Executive pursuant to this Section 9(f) be
reduced, offset or canceled by any compensation or fees earned by (whether or not paid currently)
or offered to Executive during the Severance Period by a subsequent employer or other Person (as
defined in Section 20(l) below) for which Executive performs services, including but not limited to
consulting services. The foregoing notwithstanding, should Executive receive or be offered health
or medical benefits coverage during the Severance Period by a subsequent employer or Person for
whom Executive performs services, Executive shall notify the Company of this within seven (7)
business days of such receipt or offer, as applicable, and all similar health and medical benefits
coverage provided by the Company to Executive shall terminate as of the effective date of such new
coverage.
(ii) In the event of Executive’s Separation from Service due to a termination of her
employment (x) upon her death or (y) by the Company for Cause or as a result of Executive’s
Disability or (z) by Executive without Good Reason, in any such case during the Employment Period,
the Company shall pay to Executive (or, in the event of Executive’s death, to her estate) the
Accrued Obligations within thirty (30) days following the Date of Separation from Service. In
addition, if Executive’s employment shall terminate upon her death or be terminated by the Company
as a result of Executive’s Disability during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to
Executive (or, in the event of Executive’s death, to her estate) the Pro-Rata Bonus, if
any, in one lump sum on the Bonus Payment Date for the fiscal year of the Company that
includes the Date of Separation from Service, but in no event later than two and a half (21/2) months
following the end of the applicable fiscal year in which such Annual Bonus was earned.
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(iii) Except as specifically set forth in this Section 9(f), no termination benefits shall be
payable to or in respect of Executive’s employment with the Company or its Affiliates.
(g) Resignation upon Termination. Effective as of any Date of Separation from Service
under this Section 9 or otherwise as of the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the
Company, Executive shall resign, in writing, from all Board and Board committee memberships and
other positions then held by her, or to which she has been appointed, designated or nominated, with
the Company and its Affiliates.
10. Restrictive Covenants. Each of the Company and Executive agrees that the
Executive will have a prominent role in the management of the business, and the development of the
goodwill, of the Company and its Affiliates, and will establish and develop relations and contacts
with the principal franchisees, customers and suppliers of the Company and its Affiliates
throughout the world, all of which constitute valuable goodwill of, and could be used by Executive
to compete unfairly with, the Company and its Affiliates. In addition, Executive recognizes that
she will have access to and become familiar with or exposed to Confidential Information (as such
term is defined below), in particular, trade secrets, proprietary information, customer lists, and
other valuable business information of the Company pertaining or related to the quick service
restaurant business. Executive agrees that Executive could cause grave harm to the Company if she,
among other things, worked for the Company’s competitors, solicited the Company’s employees away
from the Company or solicited the Company’s franchisees upon the termination of Executive’s
employment with the Company or misappropriated or divulged the Company’s Confidential Information,
and that as such, the Company has legitimate business interests in protecting its good will and
Confidential Information, and, as such, these legitimate business interests justify the following
restrictive covenants:
(a) Confidentiality.
(i) Executive acknowledges and agrees that the terms of this Agreement, including all
addendums and attachments hereto, are confidential. Except as required by law or the requirements
of any stock exchange, Executive agrees not to disclose any information contained in this Agreement
to anyone, other than to Executive’s lawyer, financial advisor or immediate family members. If
Executive discloses any information contained in this Agreement to her lawyer, financial advisor or
immediate family members as permitted herein, Executive agrees to immediately tell
each such individual that he or she must abide by the confidentiality restrictions contained
herein and keep such information confidential as well.
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(ii) Executive agrees that during her employment with the Company and thereafter, Executive
will not, directly or indirectly (A) disclose any Confidential Information to any Person (other
than, only with respect to the period that Executive is employed by the Company, to an employee or
outside advisor of the Company who requires such information to perform his or her duties for the
Company), or (B) use any Confidential Information for Executive’s own benefit or the benefit of any
third party. “Confidential Information” means confidential, proprietary or commercially
sensitive information relating to (Y) the Company or its Affiliates, or members of their respective
management or boards or (Z) any third parties who do business with the Company or its Affiliates,
including franchisees and suppliers. Confidential Information includes, without limitation,
marketing plans, business plans, financial information and records, operation methods, personnel
information, drawings, designs, information regarding product development, other commercial or
business information and any other information not available to the public generally. The
foregoing obligation shall not apply to any Confidential Information that has been previously
disclosed to the public or is in the public domain (other than by reason of a breach of Executive’s
obligations to hold such Confidential Information confidential). If Executive is required or
requested by a court or governmental agency to disclose Confidential Information, Executive must
notify the General Counsel of the Company of such disclosure obligation or request no later than
three (3) business days after Executive learns of such obligation or request, and permit the
Company to take all lawful steps it deems appropriate to prevent or limit the required disclosure.
(iii) Executive agrees that she will not provide BKC with any confidential or proprietary
information of The Coca-Cola Company or McDonalds Corporation, including but not limited to
information Executive received directly from The Coca-Cola Company and/or McDonalds Corporation or
any of their respective employees, former employees, franchisees or any other source.
(b) Non-Competition. Executive agrees that during her employment with the Company,
Executive shall devote all of her skill, knowledge, commercial efforts and business time to the
conscientious and good faith performance of her duties and responsibilities to the Company to the
best of her ability and Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, be employed by, render
services for, engage in business with or serve as an agent or consultant to any Person other than
the Company. Executive further agrees that during her employment with the Company and for the
period of one (1) year following Executive’s Separation from Service with the Company, Executive
shall not directly or indirectly engage in any activities that are competitive with the quick
service restaurant business conducted by the Company, and Executive shall not, directly or
indirectly, become employed by, render services for, engage in business with, serve as an agent or
consultant to, or become a partner, member, principal,
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stockholder or other owner of, any Person or
entity that engages in or provides advertising or marketing
services to a Person or entity that engages in, the quick serve restaurant business anywhere
in the World, including the Company, provided that Executive shall be permitted to hold a one
percent (1%) or less interest in the equity or debt securities of any publicly traded company.
Executive’s duties and responsibilities involve, and/or will affect, the operation and management
of the Company on a worldwide basis. Executive will obtain Confidential Information that will
affect the Company’s operations throughout the world. Accordingly, Executive acknowledges that the
Company has legitimate business interests in requiring a worldwide geographic scope and application
of this non-compete provision, and agrees that this non-compete provision applies on a worldwide
basis.
(c) Non-Solicitation of Employees and Franchisees. During the period of Executive’s
employment with the Company and for the one (1)-year period following Executive’s Separation from
Service with the Company, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, by herself or through any
third party, whether on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other Person or entity, (i)
solicit or induce or endeavor to solicit or induce, divert, employ or retain, (ii) interfere with
the relationship or potential relationship of the Company or any of its Affiliates with, or (iii)
attempt to establish a business relationship of a nature that is competitive with the business of
the Company with any Person that is or was (during the last twelve (12) months of Executive’s
employment with the Company) (A) an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates or (B) engaged
to provide services to the Company, including vendors who provide or have provided advertising,
marketing or other services, or (C) a franchisee of the Company or any of its Affiliates.
11. Work Product. Executive agrees that all of Executive’s work product (created
solely or jointly with others, and including any intellectual property or moral rights in such work
product), given, disclosed, created, developed or prepared in connection with Executive’s
employment with the Company, whether ensuing during or after Executive’s employment with the
Company (“Work Product”) shall exclusively vest in and be the sole and exclusive property of the
Company and shall constitute “work made for hire” (as that term is defined under Section 101 of the
U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101) with the Company being the person for whom the work was
prepared. In the event that any such Work Product is deemed not to be a “work made for hire” or
does not vest by operation of law in the Company, Executive hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers
and conveys to the Company, exclusively and perpetually, all right, title and interest which
Executive may have or acquire in and to such Work Product throughout the world, including without
limitation any copyrights and patents, and the right to secure registrations, renewals, reissues,
and extensions thereof. The Company and its Affiliates or their designees shall have the exclusive
right to make full and complete use of, and make changes to all Work Product without restrictions
or liabilities of any kind, and Executive shall not have the right to use any such materials, other
than within the legitimate scope and purpose of Executive’s employment with the Company. Executive
shall promptly disclose to the Company the creation or existence of any Work Product and shall take
whatever additional lawful action may be necessary, and sign
whatever documents the Company may require, in order to secure and vest in the Company or its
designee all right, title and interest in and to all Work Product and any intellectual property
rights therein (including full cooperation in support of any Company applications for patents and
copyright or trademark registrations).
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12. Return of Company Property. In the event of termination of Executive’s employment
for any reason, Executive shall return to the Company all of the property of the Company and its
Affiliates, including without limitation all materials or documents containing or pertaining to
Confidential Information, and including without limitation, any Company car, all computers
(including laptops), cell phones, keys, PDAs, Blackberries, credit cards, facsimile machines,
televisions, card access to any Company building, customer lists, computer disks, reports, files,
e-mails, work papers, Work Product, documents, memoranda, records and software, computer access
codes or disks and instructional manuals, internal policies, and other similar materials or
documents which Executive used, received or prepared, helped prepare or supervised the preparation
of in connection with Executive’s employment with the Company. Executive agrees not to retain any
copies, duplicates, reproductions or excerpts of such material or documents.
13. Compliance With Company Policies. During Executive’s employment with the Company,
Executive shall be governed by and be subject to, and Executive hereby agrees to comply with, all
Company policies, procedures, rules and regulations applicable to employees generally or to
employees at Executive’s grade level, including without limitation, the Burger King Companies’ Code
of Business Ethics and Conduct, in each case, as they may be amended from time to time in the
Company’s sole discretion (collectively, the “Policies”).
14. Data Protection & Privacy.
(a) Executive acknowledges that the Company, directly or through its Affiliates, collects and
processes data (including personal sensitive data and information retained in email) relating to
Executive. Executive hereby agrees to such collection and processing and further agrees to execute
the Burger King Corporation Employee Consent to Collection and Processing of Personal Information,
a copy of which is attached to this Agreement as Attachment 1, unless a previously executed copy of
such Consent is on file with the Company.
(b) To ensure regulatory compliance and for the protection of its workers, customers,
suppliers and business, the Company reserves the right to monitor, intercept, review and access
telephone logs, internet usage, voicemail, email and other communication facilities provided by the
Company which Executive may use during her employment with the Company. Executive hereby
acknowledges that all communications and activities on Company equipment or premises cannot be
presumed to be private.
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15. Injunctive Relief with Respect to Covenants; Forum, Venue and Jurisdiction.
Executive acknowledges and agrees that a breach by Executive of any of Section 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14
is a material breach of this Agreement and that remedies at law may be inadequate to protect the
Company and its Affiliates in the event of such breach, and, without prejudice to any other rights
and remedies otherwise available to the Company, Executive agrees to the granting of injunctive
relief in the Company’s favor in connection with any such breach or violation without proof of
irreparable harm, plus attorneys’ fees and costs to enforce these provisions. Executive further
acknowledges and agrees that the Company’s obligations to pay Executive any amount or provide
Executive with any benefit or right pursuant to Section 9 is subject to Executive’s compliance with
Executive’s obligations under Sections 10 through 14 inclusive, and that in the event of a breach
by Executive of any of Section 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14, the Company shall immediately cease paying
such benefits and Executive shall be obligated to immediately repay to the Company all amounts
theretofore paid to Executive pursuant to Section 9. In addition, if not repaid, the Company shall
have the right to set off, in accordance with (and to the extent permitted by) Section 409A of the
Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, from any amounts otherwise due to Executive any
amounts previously paid pursuant to Section 9(f) (other than the Accrued Obligations). Executive
further agrees that the foregoing is appropriate for any such breach inasmuch as actual damages
cannot be readily calculated, the amount is fair and reasonable under the circumstances, and the
Company would suffer irreparable harm if any of these Sections were breached. All disputes not
relating to any request or application for injunctive relief in accordance with this Section 15
shall be resolved by arbitration in accordance with Section 20 (b).
16. Assumption of Agreement. The Company shall require any Successor thereto, by
agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Executive, 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 had taken place. Failure of the Company to obtain
such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this
Agreement.
17. Indemnification. The Company agrees both during and after the Employment Period
to indemnify Executive to the fullest extent permitted by its Certificate of Incorporation
(including payment of expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding) against actions or
inactions of Executive during the Employment Period as an officer, director or employee of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or as a fiduciary of any benefit plan of any of
the foregoing. The Company also agrees to provide Executive with directors and officers insurance
coverage both during and, with regard to matters occurring during the Employment Period, after the
Employment Period. Such coverage shall be at a level at least equal to the level being maintained
at such time for the then current officers and directors or, if then being maintained at a higher
level with regard to any prior period activities for officers or directors during such prior
period, such higher amount with regard to Executive’s activities during such prior period.
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18. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. All prior correspondence and proposals
(including but not limited to summaries of proposed terms) and all prior promises, representations,
understandings, arrangements and agreements relating to such subject matter (including but not
limited to those made to or with Executive by any other Person and those contained in any prior
employment, consulting or similar agreement entered into by Executive and the Company or any
predecessor thereto or Affiliate thereof) are merged herein and superseded hereby.
19. Survival. The following Sections shall survive the termination of Executive’s
employment with the Company and of this Agreement: 9(b), 9(f), 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19 and 20.
20. Miscellaneous.
(a) Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the
benefit of the Company and its Successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement shall also be
binding on and inure to the benefit of Executive and her heirs, executors, administrators and legal
representatives. This Agreement shall not be assignable by any party hereto without the prior
written consent of the other parties hereto, provided, however, that the Company
may effect such an assignment without prior written approval of Executive upon the transfer of all
or substantially all of its business and/or assets (by whatever means), provided that the
Successor to the Company shall expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in accordance
with the provisions of Section 16.
(b) Arbitration. The Company and Executive agree that any dispute or controversy
arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be resolved by final and binding
arbitration before the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). The arbitration shall be
conducted in accordance with AAA’s National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes then in
effect at the time of the arbitration. The arbitration shall be held in Miami, Florida. The
dispute shall be heard and determined by one arbitrator selected from a list of arbitrators who are
members of AAA’s Regional Employment Dispute Resolution roster. If the parties cannot agree upon a
mutually acceptable arbitrator from the list, each party shall number the names in order of
preference and return the list to AAA within ten (10) days from the date of the list. A party may
strike a name from the list only for good cause. The arbitrator receiving the highest ranking by
the parties shall be selected. Depositions, if permitted by the arbitrator, shall be limited to a
maximum of two (2) per party and to a maximum of four (4) hours in duration. The arbitration shall
not impair either party’s right to request injunctive or other equitable relief in accordance with
Section 15 of this Agreement.
(c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Florida without reference to principles of conflicts of laws.
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(d) Taxes. The Company may withhold from any payments made under this Agreement all
applicable taxes, including but not limited to income, employment and social insurance taxes, as
shall be required by law.
(e) Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such modification, waiver or discharge is approved in writing by the Board or a Person
authorized thereby and is agreed to in writing by Executive. No waiver by any party hereto at any
time of any breach by any 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 waiver of
any provision of this Agreement shall be implied from any course of dealing between or among the
parties hereto or from any failure by any party hereto to assert its rights hereunder on any
occasion or series of occasions.
(f) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this
Agreement shall be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected
thereby. In the event that one or more terms or provisions of this Agreement are deemed invalid
or unenforceable by the laws of Florida or any other state or jurisdiction in which it is to be
enforced, by reason of being vague or unreasonable as to duration or geographic scope of activities
restricted, or for any other reason, the provision in question shall be immediately amended or
reformed to the extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable by the court of such jurisdiction
charged with interpreting and/or enforcing such provision. Executive agrees and acknowledges that
the provision in question, as so amended or reformed, shall be valid and enforceable as though the
invalid or unenforceable portion had never been included herein.
(g) Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be delivered
under this Agreement shall be (i) in writing, (ii) delivered personally, by courier service or by
certified or registered mail, first-class postage prepaid and return receipt requested, (iii)
deemed to have been received on the date of delivery or, if mailed, on the third business day after
the mailing thereof, and (iv) addressed as follows (or to such other address as the party entitled
to notice shall hereafter designate in accordance with the terms hereof):
(A) | If to the Company, to it at: Burger King Corporation 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000-0000 Attention: Chief Human Resources Officer Telephone: 000-000-0000 Facsimile: 000-000-0000 with a copy to: General Counsel Telephone: 000-000-0000 Facsimile: 000-000-0000 |
(B) | if to Executive, to her residential address as currently on file with the Company. |
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(h) Voluntary Agreement; No Conflicts. Executive represents that she is entering into
this Agreement voluntarily and that Executive’s employment hereunder and compliance with the terms
and conditions of this Agreement will not conflict with or result in the breach by Executive of any
agreement to which she is a party or by which she or her properties or assets may be bound.
(i) Counterparts/Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (including
by facsimile), each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
(j) Headings. The section and other headings contained in this Agreement are for the
convenience of the parties only and are not intended to be a part hereof or to affect the meaning
or interpretation hereof.
(k) Section 409A Compliance.
(i) The intent of the parties hereto is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply
with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (except to
the extent exempt as short-term deferrals or otherwise) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent
permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith.
(ii) It is intended that each installment, if any, of the payments and benefits, if any,
provided to Executive under Section 9(f) hereof shall be treated as a separate “payment” for
purposes of Section 409A of the Code. Neither the Company nor Executive shall have the right to
accelerate or defer the delivery of any such payments or benefits except to the extent specifically
permitted or required by Section 409 of the Code.
(iii) All reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement (including without
limitation Sections 7(b), 8(a) and 9(f)(i) herein) shall be made or provided in accordance with the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code to the extent that such reimbursements or in-kind benefits
are subject to Section 409A of the Code. All expenses or other reimbursements paid pursuant hereto
that are taxable income to Executive shall in no event be paid later than the end of the calendar
year next following the calendar year in which Executive incurs such expense or pays such related
tax. With regard to any provision herein that provides for reimbursement of costs and expenses or
in-kind benefits, except as permitted by Section 409A of the
Code, (A) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation
or exchange for another benefit and (B) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or
in-kind benefits provided, during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for
reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year.
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(l) Certain other Definitions.
“Affiliate”: with respect to any Person, means any other Person that, directly or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common
Control with the first Person, including but not limited to a Subsidiary of any such 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.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this Agreement by its authorized
representatives, and Executive has hereunto set her hand, in each case effective as of the date
first above written.
BURGER KING CORPORATION |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer |
|||
Executive: |
||||
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||||
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||||
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