EXHIBIT 10.29
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), effective as of September 28, 2020, between PVH CORP., a Delaware corporation (“PVH” and, together with its affiliates and subsidiaries, the “Company”), and JULIE FULLER (the “Executive”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the Executive on a full-time basis in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Employment.
(a) Employment Period. The Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to be employed by the Company, in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof. The Executive shall be an employee at will and this Agreement shall not constitute a guarantee of employment. Each of the parties acknowledges and agrees that either party may terminate the Executive’s employment at any time, for any reason, with or without Cause (as defined in Section 3(a)(i)). The period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the effective date of the termination of the Executive’s employment is hereinafter referred to as the “Employment Period.”
(b) Position and Duties. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer In Transition of PVH until December 31, 2020, shall hold the title Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer of PVH effective January 1, 2021 and shall thereafter serve in such position or in such other position or positions within the Company as the Board of Directors of PVH (which, for purposes hereof, other than Section 3(f)(i)(A), includes any Committee thereof (the “Board”)) or Chief Executive Officer of PVH (the “Chief Executive Officer”) may designate from time to time). The Executive shall (i) perform such duties and services as shall from time to time be assigned to the Executive, (ii) devote all of the Executive’s business time to the services required of the Executive hereunder, excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, and (iii) use the Executive’s best efforts, judgment, skill and energy to perform such duties and services. As used in this Section 1, “business time” shall be determined in accordance with the usual and customary standards of the Company.
2. Compensation.
(a) Base Salary. The Company shall pay the Executive a salary at the annual rate of $650,000 (the “Base Salary”), payable in accordance with the normal payroll procedures of the Company in effect from time to time. The Executive’s Base Salary shall be reviewed for increase at least annually by the Board pursuant to its normal performance review policies for “executive officers” (as defined under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. The Company or the Board may from time to time, in its sole and absolute discretion, increase the Base Salary by any amount it determines to be appropriate. Base Salary shall not be reduced after any
increase. The term Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to the Executive’s annual base salary as then in effect.
(b) Incentive and Bonus Compensation. The Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Company’s existing and future bonus and stock plans and other incentive compensation programs for similarly situated executives (each a “Plan,” collectively, the “Plans”), to the extent that the Executive is qualified to participate in any such Plan under the generally applicable provisions thereof in effect from time to time. Such eligibility is not a guarantee of participation in or of the receipt of any award, payment or other compensation under any Plan. To the extent the Executive does participate in a Plan and the Plan does not expressly provide otherwise, the Company, the Chief Executive Officer or the Board, as appropriate, may determine all terms of participation (including, without limitation, the type and size of any award, payment or other compensation and the timing and conditions of receipt thereof by the Executive) in their sole and absolute discretion. Nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit the Company or the Board from amending or terminating any and all Plans in their sole and absolute discretion. The terms of each Plan, and any agreement issued thereunder, shall govern the Executive’s rights and obligations in respect to the Plan and awards or benefits thereunder during the Executive’s employment and upon the termination thereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the definition of “Cause” hereunder shall not supersede the definition of “cause” in any Plan (unless the Plan expressly defers to the definition of “cause” under an executive’s employment agreement) and any rights of the Executive hereunder upon and subsequent to the termination of the Executive’s employment shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any right of the Executive under any Plan then in effect upon or subsequent to a termination of employment.
(i) Fiscal 2020 Awards. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
(A) the Executive shall be eligible to participate in PVH’s Performance Incentive Bonus Plan with respect to fiscal year 2020, with a threshold bonus opportunity equal to 37.5% of the Executive’s Base Salary, a target bonus opportunity equal to 75% of the Executive’s Base Salary and a maximum bonus opportunity equal to 150% of the Executive’s Base Salary for such fiscal year of the Executive’s Base Salary for such fiscal year, pro rated for the number of days during such fiscal year that the Executive was employed by the Company; provided, however, that the Executive’s bonus amount for fiscal year 2020 shall be no less than the Executive’s target bonus opportunity for such fiscal year, pro rated for the number of days during such fiscal year that the Executive was employed by the Company.
(B) the Executive shall be granted an award of restricted stock units (the “FY 2020 RSU Award”) on the first business day of the month following the commencement of her employment (the “Grant Date”), which award shall have a value on the Grant Date of approximately $433,333, based on the closing price of PVH’s common stock on the Grant Date. The FY 2020 RSU Award shall be granted under and in accordance with PVH’s Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Stock Incentive Plan”), and the policies and procedures in effect with regard thereto. The FY 2020 RSU Award shall vest at a rate of 25% on each of the first four anniversaries of the Grant Date, subject to the terms and conditions of the Stock Incentive Plan and the underlying award
agreement. The Executive shall not be entitled to receive any equity incentive awards during or with respect to PVH’s 2020 fiscal year other than as set forth in this Section 2(b)(i)(B) and in Section 2(b)(ii).
(ii) Make-Whole Awards.
(A) The Executive shall be granted on the Grant Date a deferred cash award in an aggregate amount of $700,000 (the “Make-Whole Cash Award”). The Make-Whole Cash Award shall vest $300,000 on the first anniversary of the Grant Date and $200,000 on each of the second and third anniversaries of the Grant Date, except as otherwise provided in the terms and conditions of the award agreement to be entered into in connection therewith and in Section 3(f)(iii).
(B) The Executive shall be granted an award of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) totalling 17,971 RSUs (the “Make-Whole RSU Award”). The Make-Whole RSU Award shall be granted under and in accordance with the Stock Incentive Plan and PVH’s policies and procedures in effect with regard thereto. The Make-Whole RSU Award shall vest with respect to 9,359 RSUs on the first anniversary of the Grant Date, 5,865 RSUs on the second anniversary and 2,747 RSUs on the third anniversary, except as otherwise provided in the terms and conditions of the award agreement to be entered into in connection therewith and in Section 3(f)(iii).
(iii) Fiscal 2021 Equity Awards. The Executive shall be granted the equity awards set forth below during PVH’s 2021 fiscal year at the same time annual grants of the same type of awards are made to similarly situated executives of the Company. Each such award shall be granted under and in accordance with the Stock Incentive Plan and the policies and procedures in effect with regard thereto. The Executive shall not be entitled to receive any equity awards during fiscal 2021 other than as set forth in this Section 2(b)(iii).
(A) The Executive shall be granted an award of performance stock units (“PSUs”) with a grant date value at threshold level performance of approximately $150,000, target level performance of approximately $300,000 and at maximum level performance of approximately $600,000. The PSUs will have a three-year performance cycle from the date of grant and will vest (or not) based on PVH’s performance against the same measures and on the same weighted basis as the PSU awards granted at the same time to the similarly situated executives. The PSUs shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Stock Incentive Plan and the underlying award agreement in PVH’s standard form.
(B) The Executive shall be granted an award of non-qualified stock options with a grant date value of approximately $500,000. The stock options shall vest at a rate of 25% on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date, shall have a 10-year term and shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Stock Incentive Plan and the underlying award agreement in PVH’s standard form.
(C) The Executive shall be granted an award of RSUs with a value on the grant date of approximately $500,000. The RSUs shall vest at a rate of 25% on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date, subject to the terms and
conditions of the Stock Incentive Plan and the underlying award agreement in PVH’s standard form.
(c) Benefits. The Executive shall be eligible to participate in all employee benefit and insurance plans sponsored or maintained by the Company for similarly situated executives (including any savings, retirement, life, health and disability plans), to the extent that the Executive is qualified to participate in any such plan under the generally applicable provisions thereof in effect from time to time. Nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit the Company or the Board from amending or terminating any such plan in its sole and absolute discretion. Except as otherwise provided herein, the terms of each such plan shall govern the Executive’s rights and obligations thereunder during the Executive’s employment and upon the termination thereof.
(d) Relocation. The Executive shall be eligible to receive the Company’s standard executive-level relocation benefits, subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s relocation policy.
(e) Expenses. The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for reasonable expenses incurred or paid by the Executive in the performance of the Executive’s duties hereunder in accordance with the generally applicable policies and procedures of the Company, as in effect from time to time and subject to the terms and conditions thereof. Such procedures include the reimbursement of approved expenses within 30 days after approval. Section 409A (as defined in Section 7(l)) prohibits reimbursement payments from being made any later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the applicable expense is incurred or paid. Also under Section 409A, (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during any calendar year may not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year, and (ii) the right to reimbursement under this Section 2(e) cannot be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
3. Termination of Employment. The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate, or shall be subject to termination at any time, as described in this Section 3. A termination of employment shall mean that the Executive has ceased to provide any services as an employee of the Company.
(a) Termination for Cause by the Company. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment with the Company at any time for Cause. Upon such termination, the Company shall have no further obligation to the Executive hereunder except for the payment or provision, as applicable, of (w) the portion of the Base Salary for periods prior to the effective date of termination accrued but unpaid (if any), (x) any accrued but unused vacation time as of the effective date of termination, to the extent required by applicable law, (y) all unreimbursed expenses (if any), subject to Section 2(e), and (z) other payments, entitlements or benefits, if any, in accordance with terms of the applicable plans, programs, arrangements or other agreements of the Company (other than any severance plan or policy) as to which the Executive held rights to such payments, entitlements or benefits, whether as a participant, beneficiary or otherwise on the date of termination (“Other Benefits”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Executive shall have no right to receive any amounts under the Company’s severance policy (as then in effect, if any) upon the Executive’s termination for Cause.
(i) For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall be defined as: (A) gross negligence or willful misconduct, as the case may be, (1) in the performance of the material responsibilities of the Executive’s office or position, which results in material economic harm to the Company or (2) that results in material reputational harm to the Company; (B) the willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform substantially the Executive’s duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board or the Company that specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or the Company believes that the Executive has not substantially performed the Executive’s duties, and the Executive has not cured such failure to the reasonable satisfaction of the Board or the Company within 20 days following the Executive’s receipt of such written demand; (C) the Executive is convicted of, or pleads guilty or nolo contendere, or enters a plea to a similar effect, to a felony within the meaning of U.S. Federal, state or local law or a crime of moral turpitude; (D) the Executive having willfully divulged, furnished or made accessible any Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined) to anyone other than the Company, its directors, officers, employees, auditors and legal advisors, as appropriate in the ordinary course of business; (E) any act or failure to act by the Executive, which, under the provisions of applicable law, disqualifies the Executive from acting in any or all capacities in which the Executive is then acting for the Company; or (F) any material breach of this Agreement, the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or any other material Company policy.
(ii) For purposes of Section 3(a)(i), no act or failure to act, on the part of the Executive, shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the Executive’s action or omission was in the best interests of the Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or upon the instructions of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or PVH’s President, Chief Financial Officer or Chief Operating Officer or based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company.
(b) Termination without Cause by the Company or for Good Reason by the Executive Prior to a Change in Control. The Company may also terminate the Executive’s employment with the Company at any time without Cause, and the Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment with the Company at any time for Good Reason (as defined in Section 3(f)(i)(B)).
(i) If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment without Cause or the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment with the Company for Good Reason, other than during the two-year period following a Change in Control (as defined in Section 3(f)(i)(A)), the Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company (A) the portion of the Executive’s Base Salary for periods prior to the effective date of termination accrued but unpaid (if any); (B) any accrued but unused vacation time as of the effective date of termination; (C) all unreimbursed expenses (if any), subject to Section 2(e); (D) an aggregate amount (the “Severance Amount”) equal to two times the sum of (1) the Base Salary plus (2) an amount equal to the bonus that would be payable if “target” level performance were achieved under the Company’s annual bonus plan (if any) in respect of the fiscal year during which the termination occurs (or the prior fiscal year, if bonus levels have not yet been established for the year of termination); and (E) the payment or provision of any Other Benefits. The Severance Amount
shall be paid in 48 semi-monthly substantially equal installment payments and on the same schedule that Base Salary was paid immediately prior to the Executive’s date of termination, commencing on the first such scheduled payroll date that occurs on or following the date that is 30 days after the Executive’s termination of employment, subject to the Executive’s compliance with the requirement to deliver the release contemplated pursuant to Section 4(a). Each such installment payment shall be treated as a separate payment as defined under Treasury Regulation §1.409A-2(b)(2). If the Executive is a “specified employee” (as determined under the Company’s policy for identifying specified employees) on the date of the Executive’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) and if any portion of the Severance Amount would be considered “deferred compensation” under Section 409A, all payments of the Severance Amount (other than payments that satisfy the short-term deferral rule, as defined in Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(4), or that are treated as separation pay under Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) or §1.409A-1(b)(9)(v)) shall not be paid or commence to be paid on any date prior to the first business day after the date that is six months following the Executive’s separation from service. The first payment that can be made shall include the cumulative amount of any amounts that could not be paid during such six-month period. In addition, interest will accrue at the 10-year T-bill rate (as in effect as of the first business day of the calendar year in which the separation from service occurs) on all payments not paid to the Executive prior to the first business day after the sixth month anniversary of the Executive’s separation from service that otherwise would have been paid during such six-month period had this delay provision not applied to the Executive and shall be paid with the first payment after such six-month period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, payments delayed pursuant to this six-month delay requirement shall commence earlier in the event of the Executive’s death prior to the end of the six-month period. For purposes hereof, the Executive shall have a “separation from service” upon the Executive’s death or other termination of employment for any reason.
(ii) If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment with the Company without Cause or the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment with the Company for Good Reason, then the Company shall also provide to the Executive, during the two-year period following the Executive’s date of termination, medical, dental and life insurance coverage for the Executive and the members of the Executive’s family which is not less favorable to the Executive than the group medical, dental and life insurance coverage carried by the Company for the Executive and the members of the Executive’s family immediately prior to such termination of employment, subject to the Executive’s compliance with the requirement to deliver the release contemplated pursuant to Section 4(a); provided, however, that the obligations set forth in this sentence shall terminate to the extent the Executive obtains comparable medical, dental or life insurance coverage from any other employer during such period, but the Executive shall not have any obligation to seek or accept employment during such period, whether or not any such employment would provide comparable medical and dental insurance coverage; and provided further, however, that the Executive shall be obligated to pay an amount equal to the active employee contribution, if any, for each such coverage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time the Company determines that its partial subsidy of the Executive’s premiums would result in a violation of the nondiscrimination rules of Section 105(h)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or any other Code section, law or regulation of similar effect (including but not limited to the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the 2010 Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act), then in lieu of subsidizing the premiums on the medical, dental and life insurance described in the preceding sentence, the Company shall pay (in addition to any amounts payable pursuant to clauses (A) through (E) of
Section 3(b)(i)) a fully taxable monthly cash payment in an amount such that, after payment by the Executive of all taxes on such payment, the Executive retains an amount equal to the Company’s portion of the applicable premiums for such month, with such monthly payment being made on the last day of each month for the remainder of the two-year period.
(iii) For the avoidance of doubt, the payment of the Severance Amount shall be in lieu of any amounts payable under the Company’s severance policy (as then in effect, if any) and the Executive hereby waives any and all rights thereunder.
(c) Termination by Voluntary Resignation (without Good Reason) by the Executive. The Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment with the Company without Good Reason at any time by voluntary resignation. Upon such termination, the Company shall have no further obligation to the Executive hereunder except for the payment of (i) the portion of the Base Salary for periods prior to the effective date of termination accrued but unpaid (if any), (ii) any accrued but unused vacation time as of the effective date of termination, (iii) all unreimbursed expenses (if any), subject to Section 2(e), and (iv) the payment or provision of any Other Benefits. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall provide no less than 90 days’ prior written notice of the effective date of the Executive’s resignation (other than for Good Reason). The Company shall continue to pay the Executive the Executive’s Base Salary during such 90-day period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion, may waive the requirement for prior notice of the Executive’s resignation or decrease the notice period, in which event the Company shall have no continuing obligation to pay the Executive’s Base Salary or shall only have such obligation with respect to the shortened period, as the case may be.
(d) Disability. The Executive’s employment shall be terminable by the Company, subject to applicable law and the Company’s short-term and long-term disability policies then in effect, if the Executive becomes physically or mentally disabled, whether totally or partially, such that the Executive is prevented from performing the Executive’s usual duties and services hereunder for a period of 120 consecutive days or for shorter periods aggregating 120 days in any 12-month period (a “Disability”). If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company due to the Executive’s Disability, the Company shall have no further obligation to the Executive hereunder, except for the payment to the Executive or the Executive’s legal guardian or representative, as appropriate, of (i) the portion of the Base Salary for periods prior to the effective date of termination accrued but unpaid (if any), (ii) any accrued but unused vacation time as of the effective date of termination, (iii) all unreimbursed expenses (if any), subject to Section 2(e), and (iv) the payment or provision of any Other Benefits.
(e) Death. If the Executive shall die during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate on the date of the Executive’s death and the Company shall have no further obligation to the Executive hereunder except for the payment to the Executive’s estate of (i) the portion of the Base Salary for periods prior to the effective date of termination accrued but unpaid (if any), (ii) any accrued but unused vacation time as of the effective date of termination, (iii) all unreimbursed expenses (if any), subject to Section 2(e), and (iv) the payment or provision of any Other Benefits.
(f) Termination by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason Subsequent to a Change in Control.
(i) For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
A. “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the first to occur of the following events:
(1) Any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) becomes a “beneficial owner,” as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, of 25% or more of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of PVH entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that, for purposes of this Section 3(f)(i)(A)(1), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition directly from PVH, other than an acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege unless the security being so converted was itself acquired directly from PVH, (ii) any acquisition by PVH, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by PVH or any of its affiliates, or (iv) any acquisition pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (a), (b) and (c) of Section 3(f)(i)(A)(3) below;
(2) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by PVH’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the Board;
(3) Consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of PVH (each, a “Business Combination”), in each case unless, following such Business Combination, (a) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the outstanding shares of common stock of PVH (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, immediately prior to such Business Combination, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock and more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation that, as a result of such transaction, owns PVH or all or substantially all of PVH’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (b) no person (other than PVH, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of PVH or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (c) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination, whichever occurs first; or
(4) The approval by the stockholders of PVH of a complete liquidation or dissolution of PVH.
B. “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events or circumstances without the Executive’s prior written consent:
(1) the assignment to the Executive without the Executive’s consent of any duties inconsistent in any material respect with the Executive’s position (including status and title), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 1(b) (or following a Change in Control, as in effect immediately prior to such Change in Control), or any other action by the Company that results in a material diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose (A) an isolated, insubstantial or inadvertent action not taken in bad faith (B) any action that is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive and (C) the assignment of additional or alternate duties or responsibilities to the Executive in connection with the Executive’s professional development or the reallocation of some of the Executive’s duties or responsibilities to other executives of the Company in connection with the evolution of the Executive’s position;
(2) a change in the Executive’s reporting relationship such that the Executive no longer reports directly to the Board or Chief Executive Officer;
(3) a reduction of the Executive’s Base Salary, unless the Board imposes similar reductions in base salaries for other similarly situated executives;
(4) the taking of any action by the Company that substantially diminishes (a) the aggregate value of the Executive’s total compensation opportunity or (b) the aggregate value of the employee benefits
provided to the Executive, in each case relative to all other similarly situated senior executives pursuant to the Company’s employee benefit and insurance plans as in effect on the effective date of this Agreement (or, following a Change in Control, as in effect immediately prior to such Change in Control);
(5) the Company requiring that the Executive’s services be rendered primarily at a location or locations more than 75 miles from the location of the Executive’s principal office at which the Executive performs the Executive’s duties hereunder, except for travel, and visits to Company offices and facilities worldwide, reasonably required for the Executive to perform the Executive’s duties and responsibilities and to attend to the Company’s business; or
(6) the failure of the Company to require any successor to the Company (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly 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.
The Executive can only terminate employment for Good Reason if: (a) the Company receives a Notice of Termination (as defined below) from the Executive within 60 days following the occurrence of the event claimed to give rise to the right to resign for Good Reason, (b) the Company fails to cure the event constituting Good Reason within 30 days after receipt of the Notice of Termination, and (c) the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment in writing within 30 days following the expiration of such cure period.
(ii) If within two years after the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment with the Company for Good Reason or the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for any reason other than death, Disability or Cause, the Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company, or the consolidated, surviving or transferee person in the event of a Change in Control pursuant to a consolidation, merger or sale of assets, (A) the portion of the Base Salary for periods prior to the effective date of termination accrued but unpaid (if any); (B) any accrued but unused vacation time as of the effective date of termination; (C) all unreimbursed expenses (if any), subject to Section 2(e); (D) an aggregate amount equal to two times the sum of (1) the Base Salary plus (2) an amount equal to the bonus that would be payable if the “target” level performance were achieved under the Company’s annual bonus plan (if any) in respect of the fiscal year during which the termination occurs (or the prior fiscal year, if bonus levels have not yet been established for the year of termination); and (E) the payment or provision of any Other Benefits. The severance amount described in clause (D) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be paid (x) in a lump sum, if the Change in Control event constitutes a “change in the ownership” or a “change in the effective control” of PVH or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of a corporation’s assets” (each within the meaning of Section 409A), or (y) in 48 semi-monthly substantially equal installment payments, if the Change in Control event does not so comply with Section 409A. The lump sum amount shall be paid, or the installment payments shall commence, as applicable, on the first scheduled payroll date (in accordance with the Company’s payroll schedule in effect for
the Executive immediately prior to such termination) that occurs on or following the date that is 30 days after the Executive’s termination of employment; provided, however, that the payment of such severance amount is subject to the Executive’s compliance with the requirement to deliver the release contemplated pursuant to Section 4(a). Any such installment payment shall be treated as a separate payment as defined under Treasury Regulation §1.409A-2(b)(2). If the Executive is a “specified employee” (as determined under the Company’s policy for identifying specified employees) on the date of the Executive’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) and if any portion of the severance amount described in clause (D) would be considered “deferred compensation” under Section 409A, such severance amount shall not be paid or commence to be paid on any date prior to the first business day after the date that is six months following the Executive’s separation from service (unless any such payment(s) shall satisfy the short-term deferral rule, as defined in Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(4), or shall be treated as separation pay under Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) or §1.409A-1(b)(9)(v)). If paid in installments, the first payment that can be made shall include the cumulative amount of any amounts that could not be paid during such six-month period. In addition, interest will accrue at the 10-year T-bill rate (as in effect as of the first business day of the calendar year in which the separation from service occurs) on such lump sum amount or installment payments, as applicable, not paid to the Executive prior to the first business day after the sixth month anniversary of the Executive’s separation from service that otherwise would have been paid during such six-month period had this delay provision not applied to the Executive and shall be paid at the same time at which the lump sum payment or the first installment payment, as applicable, is made after such six-month period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a payment delayed pursuant to the preceding three sentences shall commence earlier in the event of the Executive’s death prior to the end of the six-month period. Upon the termination of employment with the Company for Good Reason by the Executive or upon the involuntary termination of employment with the Company of the Executive for any reason other than death, Disability or Cause, in either case within two years after the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company, or the consolidated, surviving or transferee person in the event of a Change in Control pursuant to a consolidation, merger or sale of assets, shall also provide, for the period of two consecutive years commencing on the date of such termination of employment, medical, dental and life insurance coverage for the Executive and the members of the Executive’s family which is not less favorable to the Executive than the group medical, dental and life insurance coverage carried by the Company for the Executive and the members of the Executive’s family either immediately prior to such termination of employment or immediately prior to the occurrence of such Change in Control, whichever is greater, subject to the Executive’s compliance with the requirement to deliver the release contemplated pursuant to Section 4(a); provided, however, that the obligations set forth in this sentence shall terminate to the extent the Executive obtains comparable medical, dental or life insurance coverage from any other employer during such two-year period, but the Executive shall not have any obligation to seek or accept employment during such two-year period, whether or not any such employment would provide comparable medical, dental and life insurance coverage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time the Company determines that its partial subsidy of the Executive’s premiums would result in a violation of the nondiscrimination rules of Section 105(h)(2) of the Code or any other Code section, law or regulation of similar effect (including but not limited to the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the 2010 Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act), then in lieu of subsidizing the premiums on the medical, dental and life insurance described in the preceding sentence, the Company shall pay (in addition to any amounts payable pursuant to clauses (A) through (E) of this Section 3(f)(ii)) a fully taxable
monthly cash payment in an amount such that, after payment by the Executive of all taxes on such payment, the Executive retains an amount equal to the Company’s portion of the applicable premiums for such month, with such monthly payment being made on the last day of each month for the remainder of the two-year period. For the avoidance of doubt, the amounts payable under clause (D) of this Section 3(f)(ii) as severance shall be in lieu of any amounts payable under the Company’s severance policy and the Executive hereby waives any and all rights thereunder.
(iii) If within two years after the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment with the Company for Good Reason or the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for any reason other than death, Disability or Cause, then, subject to the Executive’s compliance with the requirement to deliver the release contemplated pursuant to Section 4(a), the Make-Whole Cash Award and the Make-Whole RSU Award, in each case to the extent then-outstanding, shall become fully vested as of the Executive’s date of termination and shall be settled in accordance with the applicable underlying award agreement.
(iv) Excise Taxes. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, if Independent Tax Counsel (as that term is defined below) determines that the aggregate payments and benefits provided or to be provided to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, and any other payments and benefits provided or to be provided to the Executive from the Company or any successors thereto constitute “parachute payments” as defined in Section 280G of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) (“Parachute Payments”) that would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then, except as otherwise provided in the next sentence, such Parachute Payments shall be reduced to the extent the Independent Tax Counsel shall determine is necessary (but not below zero) so that no portion thereof shall be subject to the Excise Tax. If Independent Tax Counsel determines that the Executive would receive in the aggregate greater payments and benefits on an after tax basis if the Parachute Payments were not reduced pursuant to this Section 3(f)(iv), then no such reduction shall be made. The determination of which payments or benefits shall be reduced to avoid the Excise Tax shall be made by the Independent Tax Counsel, provided that the Independent Tax Counsel shall reduce or eliminate, as the case may be, payments or benefits in the order that it determines will produce the required reduction in total Parachute Payments with the least reduction in the after-tax economic value to the Executive of such payments. If the after-tax economic value of any payments are equivalent, such payments shall be reduced in the inverse order of when the payments would have been made to the Executive until the reduction specified herein is achieved. The determination of the Independent Tax Counsel under this Section 3(f)(iv) shall be final and binding on all parties hereto. For purposes of this Section 3(f)(iv), “Independent Tax Counsel” shall mean a lawyer, a certified public accountant with a nationally recognized accounting firm, or a compensation consultant with a nationally recognized actuarial and benefits consulting firm with expertise in the area of executive compensation tax law, who shall be selected by the Company and shall be acceptable to the Executive (the Executive’s acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld), and whose fees and disbursements shall be paid by the Company. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Section 3(f)(iv) shall be interpreted (and, if determined by the Company to be necessary, reformed) to the extent necessary to fully comply with Section 409A of the Code; provided that the Company agrees to maintain, to the maximum extent practicable, the original intent and economic benefit to the Executive of the applicable provision without violating the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.
(g) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company or by the Executive, other than a termination by reason of the Executive’s death, shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 7(c). “Notice of Termination” means a written notice that (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated, and (iii) if the date of termination is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the date of termination.
(h) Date of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement the Executive’s date of termination of employment shall be:
(i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company with or without Cause, or due to the Executive’s Disability, the date of termination shall be the date on which the applicable party receives the Notice of Termination, unless a later date is mutually agreed; provided, however, that, for the avoidance of doubt, if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause pursuant to Section 3(a)(i)(B), then the date of termination shall be the date on which the Board or Company gives notice that the Executive has failed to cure the failure included in its demand, which notice can be given no earlier than the expiration of the 20 day cure period set forth in Section 3(a)(i)(B);
(ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive for Good Reason, the date of termination shall be the date the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment in writing as set forth in Section 3(f)(i)(B), unless a different date is mutually agreed; provided, however, that the date of termination must occur within 30 days following the expiration of the 30 day cure period set forth in Section 3(f)(i)(B), with the Company having failed to cure the event constituting Good Reason;
(iii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive other than for Good Reason, the 90th day following the Company’s receipt of the Notice of Termination, unless the Company waives or reduces such period as provided in Section 3(c); or
(iv) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of death, the date of termination shall be the date of death.
(i) Resignation. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason, the Executive agrees to resign, effective as of the date of termination, from any positions that the Executive holds with the Company, the Board (and any committees thereof), unless the Board requests otherwise and the Executive agrees, and the board of directors (and any committees thereof) of any of PVH’s subsidiaries and affiliates.
4. Effect of Termination.
(a) Full Settlement. The amounts paid to the Executive pursuant to Section 3(b) or 3(f), as applicable, following termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason shall be in full and complete satisfaction of the Executive’s rights under this Agreement and any other claims the Executive may have with respect to the Executive’s employment by the Company and the termination thereof, other than as expressly provided in Section 2(b). Such amounts shall constitute
liquidated damages with respect to any and all such rights and claims. In consideration of the Executive’s receipt thereof, the Executive shall execute a release in favor of the Company, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. Pursuant to said release, the Company shall be released and discharged from any and all liability to the Executive in connection with this Agreement and otherwise in connection with the Executive’s employment with the Company and the termination thereof, including, without limitation, any claims arising under federal, state or local labor, employment and employment discrimination laws, but excluding claims with respect to this Agreement and any Plan. The payments and provision of benefits to the Executive required by Sections 3(b) and 3(f), other than amounts that are required to be paid to the Executive under applicable law, shall be conditioned upon the Executive’s delivery (and non-revocation prior to the expiration of the revocation period contained in the release) of such release in favor of the Company, provided that such conditions are met on or before the date that is 30 days after the date of the Executive’s termination of employment. If such conditions are not met by such date, the Executive shall forfeit such payments and benefits. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall be construed to release the Company from its obligations to indemnify the Executive (as set forth in Section 7(h)).
(b) No Duplication; No Mitigation; Limited Offset. In no event shall the Executive be entitled to duplicate payments or benefits under different provisions of this Agreement or pursuant to the terms of any other plan, program or arrangement of the Company. In the event of any termination of the Executive’s employment under Sections 3(b) or 3(f), the Executive shall be under no obligation to seek other employment, and, there shall be no offset against amounts due the Executive under this Agreement or pursuant to any plan of the Company on account of any remuneration attributable to any subsequent employment or any claim asserted by the Company, except with respect to the continuation of benefits under Sections 3(b) and 3(f)(ii), which shall terminate immediately upon obtaining comparable coverage from another employer.
5. Restrictive Covenants.
(a) Confidentiality. The Executive recognizes that any knowledge and information of any type whatsoever of a confidential nature relating to the business of the Company, including, without limitation, all types of trade secrets, vendor and customer lists and information, employee lists and information, consumer data, information regarding product development, marketing plans, management organization information, operating policies and manuals, sourcing data, performance results, business plans, financial records, network configuration and architecture, proprietary software, and other financial, commercial, business and technical information (collectively, “Confidential Information”), must be protected as confidential, not copied, disclosed or used, other than for the benefit of the Company, at any time. The Executive further agrees that during the Employment Period and thereafter the Executive will not divulge to anyone (other than the Company or any person employed or designated by the Company), publish or make use at any time of any Confidential Information without the prior written consent of the Company (in its sole and absolute discretion), except (i) as (and only to the extent) required by an order of a court having competent jurisdiction or under subpoena from an appropriate government agency and then only after providing the Company with the reasonable opportunity to prevent such disclosure or to receive confidential treatment for the Confidential Information required to be disclosed, (ii) with respect to any litigation, arbitration or mediation involving this Agreement, including, but not limited to the enforcement
of this Agreement or (iii) as to Confidential Information that becomes generally known to the public or within the relevant trade or industry other than due to the Executive’s violation of this Section 5(a). The Executive further agrees that following the termination of the Employment Period for whatever reason, (A) the Company shall keep all tangible property assigned to the Executive or prepared by the Executive and (B) the Executive shall not misappropriate or infringe upon the Confidential Information (including the recreation or reconstruction of Confidential Information from memory).
(b) Non-Interference. The Executive acknowledges that information regarding the Company’s business and financial relations with its vendors, customers and other business partners (“Business Partner Information”) is Confidential Information and proprietary to the Company and that any interference with such relations based directly or indirectly on the use of such information would cause irreparable damage to the Company. The Executive acknowledges that by virtue of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive may gain knowledge of Business Partner Information and that the Executive would inevitably have to draw on Business Partner Information and on other Confidential Information if the Executive were to solicit or service the Company’s vendors, customers and other business partners (collectively, “Business Partners”) on behalf of a competing business enterprise. The Executive agrees that during the Employment Period and for a period of 18 months following the termination thereof for any reason (the “Restricted Period”), the Executive will not, on behalf of the Executive or any other individual, company, partnership, corporation or other entity (for purposes of this Section 5(b) and Sections 5(c), 5(d) and 5(g), each, a “person”), other than the Company, directly or indirectly do business with, solicit the business of, or perform any services for any actual Business Partner, any person that has been a Business Partner within the 12-month period preceding such termination or any prospective Business Partner that was actively solicited within such 12-month period preceding the termination of employment and as to whom or which the Executive provided any services or as to whom or which the Executive has knowledge of Business Partner Information or Confidential Information. The foregoing restrictive covenant shall only apply to business activities engaged in by the Executive on behalf of the Executive or any other person that are in competition with either (i) the businesses or products of the Company as of the Executive’s date of termination or (ii) any business that the Company is planning to engage in or products that the Company is planning to develop or launch. The Executive further agrees that, during the Employment Period and the Restricted Period, the Executive will not, directly or indirectly, seek to encourage or induce any such Business Partner to cease doing business with, or lessen its business with, the Company, or otherwise interfere with or damage (or attempt to interfere with or damage) any of the Company’s relationships with its Business Partners, except in the ordinary course of the Company’s business.
(c) Non-Competition. The Executive agrees that, during the Employment Period and the Restricted Period, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, on the Executive’s behalf or on behalf of any other person, firm, corporation, association or other entity, as an employee, director, investor, advisor, partner, consultant or otherwise, engage in any business of, provide services to, enter the employ of, or have any interest in, any other person, firm, corporation or other entity anywhere in the world that is engaged in a business that is in competition with either (i) the businesses or products of the Company as of the Executive’s date of termination or (ii) any business that the Company is planning to engage in or products that the Company is planning to develop or launch. Nothing included in this Section 5(c) shall restrict the Executive from owning, for personal investment
purposes only, less than 5% of the voting stock of any publicly held corporation or 2% of the ownership interest in any non-publicly held company, provided that the Executive has no connection or relationship with the issuer of such securities other than as a passive investor.
(d) Non-Solicitation of Employees. The Executive agrees that during the Employment Period and the Restricted Period, the Executive shall not hire or solicit to hire, whether on the Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person (other than the Company), any employee of the Company or any individual who had left the employ of the Company within 12 months of the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company (each, a “Relevant Employee”). Furthermore, during the Employment Period and the Restricted Period, the Executive will not, directly or indirectly, encourage or induce any employee of the Company to leave the Company’s employ, except in the ordinary course of the Company’s business. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Executive agrees that during the Restricted Period, the Executive shall (i) respond to any unsolicited request from any Relevant Employee by stating that the Executive is prohibited from discussing job opportunities or career paths during the Restricted Period; (ii) not discuss any career opportunities with any Relevant Employee; (iii) not contact a Relevant Employee in order to persuade the employee to re-consider employment with the Company; and (iv) not be involved in any manner in the application process of any Relevant Employee with any person who, after the Employment Period, employs the Executive or to whom the Executive provides services.
(e) Public Comment. The Executive, during the Employment Period and at all times thereafter, shall not make any derogatory comment concerning the Company or any of its current or former directors, officers, stockholders or employees. Similarly, the then-current members of the Company’s senior management shall not make any derogatory comment concerning the Executive.
(f) Blue Penciling. If any of the covenants and obligations of the Executive set forth in Section 5(a), Section 5(b), Section 5(c), Section 5(d) or Section 5(e) shall for any reason be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be excessively broad as to duration, geographical scope, activity or subject, such restrictions shall be construed so as thereafter to be limited or reduced to be enforceable to the extent compatible with the applicable law; it being understood that by the execution of this Agreement, (i) the parties hereto regard such restrictions as reasonable and compatible with their respective rights and (ii) the Executive acknowledges and agrees that the restrictions will not prevent the Executive from obtaining gainful employment subsequent to the termination of the Executive’s employment. The existence of any claim or cause of action by the Executive against the Company shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of the foregoing restrictive covenants and such claim or cause of action shall be determined separately.
(g) Injunctive Relief. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the covenants and obligations of the Executive set forth in each of Section 5(a), Section 5(b), Section 5(c), Section 5(d) and Section 5(e) relate to special, unique and extraordinary services rendered by the Executive to the Company and that a violation of any of the terms of such covenants and obligations will cause the Company irreparable injury for which adequate remedies are not available at law. The Executive agrees that the Company shall be entitled to seek an injunction, restraining order or other temporary or permanent equitable relief (without the requirement to post bond) restraining the Executive from committing any violation of the covenants and
obligations contained herein. These injunctive remedies are cumulative and are in addition to any other rights and remedies the Company may have at law or in equity. Furthermore, the Executive commits to informing any person with whom the Executive seeks employment or to whom the Executive seeks to provide services after the Employment Period of the existing restrictive covenants set forth in Section 5(a), Section 5(b), Section 5(c) and Section 5(d), in each case so long as such covenant remains in effect.
(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Executive understands that nothing in this Agreement restricts or prohibits the Executive from initiating communications directly with, responding to any inquiries from, providing testimony before, providing confidential information to, reporting possible violations of law or regulation to, or from filing a claim or assisting with an investigation directly with a self-regulatory authority or a government agency or entity, or from making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of state or federal law or regulation, and pursuant to 18 USC § 1833(b), an individual may not be held liable under any criminal or civil federal or state trade secret law for disclosure of a trade secret: (i) made in confidence to a government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law or (ii) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. Additionally, an individual suing an entity for retaliation based on the reporting of a suspected violation of law may disclose a trade secret to the individual’s attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, so long as any document containing the trade secret is filed under seal and the individual does not disclose the trade secret except pursuant to court order. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to conflict with 18 USC § 1833(b) or create liability for disclosures of trade secrets that are expressly allowed by 18 USC § 1833(b).
6. Intellectual Property Rights.
(a) The Executive agrees that all marketing, operating and training ideas, sourcing data, processes and materials, including all inventions, discoveries, improvements, enhancements, written materials and development related to the business of the Company (“Proprietary Materials”) to which the Executive may have access or that the Executive may develop or conceive while employed by the Company shall be considered works made for hire for the Company and prepared within the scope of employment and shall belong exclusively to the Company. The Company shall have a right to freely develop and alter such Proprietary Materials and to license and assign them to third parties.
(b) Any Proprietary Materials developed by the Executive that, under applicable law, may not be considered works made for hire, are hereby assigned to the Company without the need for any further consideration, and the Executive agrees to take such further action, including executing such instruments and documents as the Company may reasonably request, to evidence such assignment.
(c) The Executive agrees and undertakes without any additional compensation to execute all such deeds and documents that, in the Company’s sole discretion, are necessary or desirable in order for the Company to be able to protect, register, maintain and in any other way fully enjoy the Company’s rights referred to under this Section 6.
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Assignment and Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legatees, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, the Executive may not assign any of the Executive’s rights or obligations under this Agreement without first obtaining the written consent of the Company. The Company may assign this Agreement in connection with a sale of all or substantially all of its business and/or assets (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) and will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to 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. “Company” means the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid that assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law or otherwise.
(b) Survival. The provisions of Sections 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 3.
(c) Notices. Any notices to be given hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, costs paid by the sender as follows:
If to the Executive, addressed to the Executive at the address then shown in the Executive’s employment records
If to the Company at:
PVH Corp.
200 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10016
Attention: Chairman
With a copy to:
PVH Corp.
200 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10016
Attention: Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Any party may change the address to which notices are to be sent by giving notice of such change of address to the other party in the manner provided above for giving notice. Notice shall be deemed given when delivered personally or when signed for.
(d) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles thereof relating to the conflict of laws.
(e) Consent to Jurisdiction. Any judicial proceeding brought against the Executive with respect to this Agreement may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the Borough of Manhattan in the City and State of New York and, by execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Executive:
(i) accepts, generally and unconditionally, the nonexclusive jurisdiction of such courts and any related appellate courts, and irrevocably agrees to be bound by any final judgment (after exhausting all appeals therefrom or after all time periods for such appeals have expired) rendered thereby in connection with this Agreement; and
(ii) irrevocably waives any objection the Executive may now or hereafter have as to the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court or that such court is an inconvenient forum.
(f) Severability. The invalidity of any one or more provisions of this Agreement or any part thereof shall not affect the validity of any other provision of this Agreement or part thereof. In the event that one or more provisions contained herein shall be held to be invalid, the Agreement shall be reformed to make such provisions enforceable.
(g) Waiver. The Company, in its sole discretion, may waive any of the requirements imposed on the Executive by this Agreement. The Company, however, reserves the right to deny any similar waiver in the future. Each such waiver must be express and in writing and there will be no waiver by conduct. Pursuit by the Company of any available remedy, either in law or equity, or any action of any kind, does not constitute waiver of any other remedy or action. Such remedies and actions are cumulative and not exclusive. The Executive’s or the Company’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason or the Company’s right to terminate the Executive’s employment for Cause, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.
(h) Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify the Executive and hold the Executive harmless from and against any claim, loss or cause of action arising from or out of the Executive’s performance as an officer, director or employee of the Company or in any other capacity, including any fiduciary capacity, in which the Executive serves at the request of the Company to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law; provided, however, that the Executive shall not be entitled to indemnification hereunder with respect to any expense, loss, liability or damage which was caused by the Executive’s own gross negligence, willful misconduct or reckless disregard of the Executive’s duties hereunder or as prohibited by applicable law. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable legal fees incurred by the Executive in the defense of any such claim on a current basis, provided, however, that the Executive shall be obligated to reimburse the Company for any fees that it is determined the Executive is not entitled to have paid by the Company under applicable law. The Company shall have the right to select counsel reasonably acceptable to the Executive to defend such claim and
to have the same counsel represent the Company and its officers and directors unless there is a material conflict of interest between the Company, on the one hand, and the Executive, on the other, in which case the Executive may select and retain the Executive’s own counsel at the Company’s expense, subject to the consent of the Company, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Executive shall not settle any action or claim against the Executive without the prior written consent of the Company.
(i) Legal Fees. The Company agrees to reimburse the Executive (within 10 days following the Company’s receipt of an invoice from the Executive), at any time from the effective date of this Agreement through the Executive’s remaining lifetime (or, if longer, through the 20th anniversary of the effective date) to the fullest extent permitted by law, for all legal fees and expenses that the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof (including as a result of any contest by the Executive about the amount of any payment pursuant to this Agreement), provided, however, that the foregoing does not apply to any actions involving any claims related to the Restrictive Covenants set forth in Section 5, including the validity or enforceability thereof. In order to be entitled to Legal Fees, the Executive must prevail with respect to at least one substantive issue in dispute. In order to comply with Section 409A, in no event shall the payments by the Company under this Section 7(i) be made later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which any such contest is finally resolved, provided, that the Executive shall have submitted an invoice for such fees and expenses at least 10 days before the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which such contest is finally resolved. The amount of such legal fees and expenses that the Company is obligated to pay in any given calendar year shall not affect the legal fees and expenses that the Company is obligated to pay in any other calendar year, and the Executive’s right to have the Company pay such legal fees and expenses may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit.
(j) Section Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(k) Withholding. Any payments provided for hereunder shall be reduced by any taxes or other amounts required to be withheld by the Company, and any benefits provided hereunder shall be subject to taxation if and to the extent provided, from time to time under applicable employment or income tax laws or similar statutes or other provisions of law then in effect.
(l) Section 409A of the Code. The provisions of this Agreement and any payments made herein are intended to comply with, and should be interpreted consistent with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and any related regulations or other effective guidance promulgated thereunder (collectively, “Section 409A”). The time or schedule of a payment to which the Executive is entitled under this Agreement may be accelerated at any time that this Agreement fails to meet the requirements of Section 409A and any such payment will be limited to the amount required to be included in the Executive’s income as a result of the failure to comply with Section 409A. If any provision of this Agreement or any payment made hereunder fails to meet the requirements of Section 409A, the Company shall have no liability for any tax, penalty or interest imposed on the Executive by Section 409A, and the Executive
shall have no recourse against the Company for payment of any such tax, penalty, or interest imposed by Section 409A.
(m) Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company and the Executive hereby waive, as against the other, trial by jury in any judicial proceeding to which they are both parties involving, directly or indirectly, any matter in any way arising out of, related to or connected with this Agreement.
(n) Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire understanding, and cancels and supersedes all prior agreements and any agreement in principle or oral statement, letter of intent, statement of understanding or guidelines of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement does not cancel or supersede the Plans (as defined in Section 2(b)) or the plans referred to in Section 2(f). This Agreement may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified only by a written document executed by each of the parties hereto or their respective successors or assigns. The Executive acknowledges that the Executive is entering into this Agreement of the Executive’s own free will and accord with no duress, and that the Executive has read this Agreement and understands it and its legal consequences.
(o) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. A signed copy of this Agreement delivered by facsimile, e-mail or other means of electronic transmission is deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of a manually executed copy of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement on the day and year first above written.
PVH CORP.
By /s/ Mark D. Fischer
Name: Mark D. Fischer
Title: Executive Vice President
/s/ Julie Fuller
Julie Fuller
EXHIBIT A
RELEASE
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME OR MAY CONCERN, KNOW THAT JULIE FULLER (the “Releasor”), on behalf of the Releasor and the Releasor’s heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives, in consideration of the severance to be paid and other benefits to be provided pursuant to Section 3(b), 3(f) of the Employment Agreement between the Releasor and PVH Corp., effective as of September 28, 2020 (the “Agreement”) and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, hereby irrevocably, unconditionally, generally and forever releases and discharges PVH Corp., together with its current and former affiliates and subsidiaries (the “Company”), each of their respective current and former officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives and advisors and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, receivers, affiliates, beneficial owners, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Releasees”), from, and hereby waives and settles, any and all, actions, causes of action, suits, debts, promises, damages, or any liability, claims or demands, known or unknown and of any nature whatsoever and which the Releasor ever had, now has or hereafter can, shall or may have, for, upon, or by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever from the beginning of the world to the date of this Release arising directly or indirectly pursuant to or out of the Releasor’s employment with the Company or the termination of such employment (collectively, “Claims”), including, without limitation, any Claims (i) arising under any federal, state, local or other statutes, orders, laws, ordinances, regulations or the like that relate to the employment relationship and/or worker or workplace protection, and/or specifically prohibit discrimination based upon age, race, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or any other unlawful bases, including, without limitation, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, as amended, the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1871, as amended, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, as amended, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (“OWBPA”), the Equal Pay Act, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification (“WARN”) Act, the New York and New Jersey WARN statutes, the New York State and New York City Human Rights Laws, as amended, New York State Labor Laws, the laws of the States of New York and New Jersey, the City of New York and Somerset County, New Jersey relating to discrimination and employment, including, the New Jersey Family Leave Act, the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act, the New York and New Jersey Constitutions, and any and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to or concerning any of the foregoing statutes; (ii) arising under or pursuant to any contract, express or implied, written or oral, including, without limitation, the Agreement; (iii) for wrongful dismissal or termination of employment; (iv) for tort, tortious or harassing conduct, infliction of mental or emotional distress, fraud, libel or slander; and (v) for damages, including, without limitation, punitive or compensatory damages or for attorneys’ fees, expenses, costs, wages, injunctive or equitable relief. This Release shall not apply to any claim that the Releasor may have for a breach of Section 3(b), 3(f), 5(e), 7(h), or 7(i) of the Agreement or any plan or program of the type referred to in Sections 2(b) and 2(f) of the Agreement in which the Releasor was a participant.
The Releasor agrees not to file, assert or commence any Claims against any Releasee with any federal, state or local court or any administrative or regulatory agency or body. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall constitute a release by the Releasor of a claim to the extent such
claim is not waivable as a matter of applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing herein shall affect any right to file an administrative charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, subject to the restriction that if any such charge is filed, the Releasor agrees not to violate the confidentiality provisions of the Agreement and further agrees and covenants that should the Releasor or any other person, organization, or other entity file, charge, claim, sue or cause or permit to be filed any charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, civil action, suit or legal proceeding against the Releasees (or any of them) involving any matter occurring at any time in the past, the Releasor will not seek or accept any personal relief (including, but not limited to, a monetary award, recovery, relief or settlement) in such charge, civil action, suit or proceeding.
The Releasor represents and warrants that there has been no assignment or other transfer of any interest in any Claim which the Releasor may have against the Releasees, or any of them, and the Releasor agrees to indemnify and hold the Releasees, and each of them, harmless from any Claims, or other liability, demands, damages, costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred by the Releasees, or any of them, as a result of any person asserting any such assignment or transfer. It is the intention of the parties that this indemnity does not require payment as a condition precedent to recovery by the Releasees against the Releasor under this indemnity.
The Releasor agrees that if the Releasor hereafter commences, joins in, or in any manner seeks relief through any suit arising out of, based upon, or relating to any Claim released hereunder, or in any manner asserts against the Releasees, or any of them, any Claim released hereunder, then the Releasor shall pay to the Releasees, and each of them, in addition to any other damages caused to the Releasees thereby, all attorneys’ fees incurred by the Releasees in defending or otherwise responding to said suit or Claim.
The Releasor hereby waives any right to, and agrees not to, seek reinstatement of the Releasor’s employment with the Company or any Releasee. The Releasor acknowledges that the amounts to be paid to the Releasor under Section 3(b), 3(f) of the Agreement include benefits, monetary or otherwise, which the Releasor has not earned or accrued, or to which the Releasor is not already entitled.
The Releasor acknowledges that the Releasor was advised by the Company to consult with the Releasor’s attorney concerning the waivers contained in this Release, that the Releasor has consulted with counsel, and that the waivers the Releasor has made herein are knowing, conscious and with full appreciation that the Releasor is forever foreclosed from pursuing any of the rights so waived.
The Releasor has a period of 21 days from the date on which a copy of this Release has been delivered to the Releasor to consider whether to sign it. In addition, in the event that the Releasor elects to sign and return to PVH Corp. a copy of this Release, the Releasor has a period of seven days (the “Revocation Period”) following the date of such return to revoke this Release, which revocation must be in writing and delivered to PVH Corp., 200 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016, Attention: General Counsel, within the Revocation Period. This Release, and the Releasor’s right to receive the amounts to be paid to the Releasor under Section 3(b), 3(f), shall not be effective or enforceable until the expiration of the Revocation Period without the Releasor’s exercise of the Releasor’s right of revocation.
This Release shall not be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in any way except in a writing signed by the Releasor and PVH Corp.
This Release shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its principles of conflicts of law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Releasor has caused this Release to be executed as of ___________________, 20__.
________________________________
JULIE FULLER
SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED
BEFORE ME THIS ____ DAY OF
____________________, 20__.
_____________________________
Notary Public
