Executive Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Michael Betz
Exhibit 10.43
ADTALEM GLOBAL EDUCATION INC. EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is
made and entered into as of May 17, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Adtalem Global Education Inc. (“Adtalem”), and Michael Betz (the “Executive”). Adtalem and the Executive are sometimes hereinafter referred to individually as a “Party” and together as “Parties.”
Unless otherwise defined in the body of this Agreement, capitalized terms shall be defined as provided in Appendix I to this Agreement.
In consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
Salary may be increased by the CEO in coordination with the Compensation Committee (but subject to any applicable Adtalem policy, law, or exchange listing requirement); provided, however, the Base Salary under this Agreement, including as subsequently adjusted upwards, may not be decreased thereafter except in the case of an across-the-board percentage reduction in base salaries of executives at the Executive’s level affecting such executives equally. All amounts payable to the Executive under this Agreement will be subject to all required withholding by Adtalem.
(a) Management Incentive. In addition to the Base Salary, the Executive will be eligible to receive an annual payment under Adtalem’s annual Management Incentive Plan (MIP), as in effect from time to time, upon the achievement of specific Adtalem-wide and personal performance goals that will be determined each fiscal year by the CEO and/or the Compensation Committee as necessary and appropriate to comply with Adtalem policy; provided, however, the MIP Award may be based on a higher or lower percentage of the MIP Target for performance which is in excess of target goals or below target goals, respectively. Executive’s MIP Award is targeted at 75% of Base Salary with a potential maximum of 200% of this target. Executive is eligible for the MIP on a pro-rated basis for fiscal year 2023 based on the Effective Date. Any MIP Award due and owing hereunder with respect to any fiscal year shall be paid no later than the fifteenth day of the third month following the end of Adtalem’s fiscal year in which the MIP Award was earned. During the first fiscal year of the Executive’s employment, the Adtalem-wide goals will be pro-rated to the Effective Date.
(b) Value Capture Incentive. In addition to the Base Salary and the MIP, the Executive will be eligible to participate on a pro rata basis in the Executive Officer Component of the Value Capture Incentive Program, as in effect from time to time, upon the achievement of total realized value capture goals that will be determined by the CEO and/or the Compensation Committee in their sole discretion.
the Release, then the Executive will be entitled to receive:
(C) | Other Benefits.thefollowing“Additional |
Benefits”:
shall provide Executive with a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the number of months of coverage to which Executive is entitled times the then applicable premium for the relevant health plan in which Executive participated. Such lump sum amount will be paid during the second month following the month in which such coverage expires.
the Release, then the Executive will be entitled to receive:
Information. The Executive will notify Adtalem and the appropriate Affiliates promptly and in writing of any circumstances of which the Executive has knowledge relating to any possession or use of any Confidential Information by any Person other than those authorized by the terms of this Agreement.
(12) months of the Executive’s employment with Adtalem; or
Nothing herein will prohibit the Executive from being a passive owner of not more than one percent (1%) of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly traded, so long as the Executive has no active participation in the business of such corporation.
Notices to the Executive:
Michael Betz
At such home address which is on record with Adtalem
Notices to Adtalem:
Adtalem Global Education Inc.
Attn: President and Chief Executive Officer 500 West Monroe
Chicago, IL 60661
with copies to (which will not constitute notice to Adtalem):
Douglas Beck, SVP & General Counsel Adtalem Global Education
500 West Monroe
Chicago, IL 60661
or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient Party will have specified by prior written notice to the sending Party. Any notice under this Agreement will be deemed to have been given when so delivered, sent or mailed.
* * * * *
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.
ADTALEM GLOBAL EDUCATION INC.
By: /s/ Stephen W. Beard
Printed: Stephen W. Beard
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
EXECUTIVE
/s/ Michael Betz_____________________
Printed:
Michael Betz________________________
Date:
04/22/2022__________________________
APPENDIX I
DEFINITIONS
“Accrued Benefits” means (a) Base Salary earned through the Termination Date; (b) except in the event of a termination by Adtalem with Cause, the balance of any awarded (i.e., the amount and payment of the specific award has been fully approved by the Board) but as yet unpaid, annual cash incentive or other incentive awards for any fiscal year prior to the fiscal year during which the Executive’s Termination Date occurs; (c) a payment representing the Executive’s accrued but unused vacation; and (d) anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) the payment of any vested, but not forfeited, benefits as of the Termination Date under Adtalem’s employee benefit and incentive plans payable in accordance with the terms of such plans and (ii) the availability of such benefit continuation and conversion rights to which Executive is entitled in accordance with the terms of such plans.
“Affiliates” means any company, directly or indirectly, controlled by, controlling or under common control with Adtalem, including, but not limited to, Adtalem’s subsidiary entities, parent, partners, joint ventures, and predecessors, as well as its successors and assigns.
“Base Salary” means the amount specified in Section 3(a) of the Agreement, as adjusted from time to time.
“Board” means the Board of Directors of Adtalem Global Education Inc.
“Business” means (a) the provision of educational services to individuals at the secondary through post-secondary levels of education and/or training services to individuals seeking professional certifications or professional education by (i) a market funded institution offering degree and non-degree programs (ii) at classroom locations in multiple states and/or through an online curriculum delivery mechanism, and (b) any other business directly engaged in by Adtalem and its Affiliates during the Employment Period.
“Cause” means (i) the commission of a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude or the commission of any other act or omission involving misappropriation, dishonesty, fraud, illegal drug use or breach of fiduciary duty, (ii) willful failure to perform duties as reasonably directed by the CEO, (iii) the Executive’s gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the performance of the Executive’s duties hereunder, (iv) obtaining any personal profit not fully disclosed to and approved by the Board in connection with any transaction entered into by, or on behalf of, Adtalem, or (v) any other material breach of this Agreement or any other agreement between the Executive and Adtalem.
“CEO” means the President and Chief Executive Officer of Adtalem Global Education Inc.
“Change in Control” means such term as defined in the Adtalem Global Education Inc. Incentive Plan of 2013.
“Change in Control Period” means the period commencing on the date of a Change in Control and ending on the twelve (12) month anniversary of such date.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Code of Business Conduct and Ethics” means such code as maintained by Adtalem Global Education Inc., as amended from time to time.
“Compensation Committee” means that committee of the Board which shall have authority over the compensation (cash and non-cash) of certain aspects of Adtalem, including, but not limited to, all officers and executives of Adtalem, including Adtalem’ s CEO and all option grants for any employee, executive, officer, director or consultant of Adtalem.
“Copyright Act” means the United States Copyright Act of 1976, as amended. “Customer” means any Person:
“Good Reason” means, without the Executive’s consent, (i) material diminution in title, duties, responsibilities or authority; (ii) reduction of Base Salary, MIP Target or employee benefits except for across-the-board changes for executives at the Executive’s level; (iii) exclusion from executive benefit/compensation plans; (iv) material breach of the Agreement that Adtalem has not cured within thirty (30) days after the Executive has provided Adtalem notice of the material breach which shall be given within sixty (60) days of the Executive’s knowledge of the occurrence of the material breach; (v) requirement to relocate to an employment location more than 50 miles from Executive’s current employment location or (vi) resignation in compliance with securities, corporate governance or other applicable law (such as the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act) as specifically applicable to such Executive.
“MIP Award” means the amount actually awarded Executive under Adtalem’s annual Management Incentive Plan, as in effect from time to time, upon the achievement of specific Adtalem-wide and personal performance goals of the Executive that will be determined each fiscal year by the CEO and/or the Compensation Committee as necessary and appropriate to comply with Adtalem policy.
“MIP Target” means the percentage of Executive’s Base Salary established as the target under Adtalem’s Management Incentive Plan as adjusted from time to time.
“Permanent Disability” means mental, physical or other illness, disease or injury, which has prevented the Executive from substantially performing Executive’s duties hereunder for the greater of: (a) the eligibility waiting period under the Adtalem long term disability program in which he/she participates, if any, (b) an aggregate of six (6) months in any twelve (12) month period, or (c) a period of three (3) consecutive months.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or partnership, proprietorship, other business organization, trust, union, association or governmental or regulatory entities, department, agency or authority.
“Release” means the waiver and release agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A.
“Restricted Area” means (a) throughout the world, but if such area is determined by judicial action to be too broad, then it means (b) within North America, but if such area is determined by judicial action to be too broad, then it means (c) within the continental United States, but if such area is determined by judicial action to be too broad, then it means (d) within any state in which Adtalem and its Affiliates is engaged in Business.
“Termination Date” means the last day of Executive’s employment with Adtalem Global Education Inc.