WAIVER AND RELEASE AGREEMENT

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Release Agreements
EX-10.1 2 d508114dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

Waiver and Release Agreement

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WAIVER AND RELEASE AGREEMENT

I, Brian Cunkelman, understand my last day of employment with Gardner Denver, Inc. (“GDI”) is January 18, 2013 (“Termination of Employment Date”), and I accept the following, which GDI promises to me, in consideration for the promises I make in this Waiver and Release Agreement (this “Release” or “Agreement”):

 

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Payment of the sum of Five Hundred and Sixty Thousand Dollars ($560,000), less applicable withholdings, representing the sum of my current base salary and target annual bonus opportunity as provided for under the terms and conditions of the Company’s executive severance program. This payment will be made within fifteen (15) days of my establishing U.S. tax residency status;

 

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Payment of a sum equivalent to eighteen (18) months of COBRA medical and dental insurance premiums, to be made payable to me in lump sum, less applicable withholdings, payable within fifteen (15) days of my establishing U.S. tax residency status; and

 

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Payment, representing my 2012 executive annual bonus award under the Gardner Denver, Inc. Executive Annual Bonus Plan for the pro-rated performance period starting April 1, 2012 and ending December 31, 2012. The payment, if any, will be based on the actual results achieved under the terms of the executive annual bonus plan as determined by the Management Development and Compensation Committee (the “MDCC”) at its first regularly scheduled meeting in 2013. The payment, less applicable withholdings, will be made upon the first practical payroll date occurring after the MDCC determines the actual results achieved at the aforementioned meeting. Any such payment is subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Executive Annual Bonus Plan.

 

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Other Benefits:

 

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Reasonable executive outplacement benefits, as contracted by the Company, for a period of up to eighteen (18) months, with a maximum benefit of $50,000.

 

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Repatriation benefits to support the return of my family and I to the United States. These benefits consist of one-way economy airfare for me, my spouse and children, as well as transcontinental shipment of my household goods to my local US address. These repatriation benefits shall be provided no later than December 31, 2013. I acknowledge that I am not entitled to any other repatriation allowance, temporary living, storage or other benefits under any agreement with GDI.

 

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All expatriate benefits and allowances currently provided under the Summary of International Assignment Provisions dated October 28, 2011 will cease effective January 31, 2013, with the following exceptions noted: housing rental and school assistance payments will terminate February 28, 2013. The Company-leased vehicle will be returned by January 31, 2013.

 

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My eligibility and right to payment under the GDI retirement savings plan and supplemental excess defined contribution plan will be governed exclusively by the terms and conditions of applicable plan document(s), using my Termination of Employment Date as my separation from service and/or termination date as such is defined in the applicable plan document(s). I understand that my contributions and the company contributions will cease on my Termination of Employment Date, except to the extent otherwise required under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to avoid the adverse tax consequences thereunder.

 

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Waiver and Release Agreement

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Vesting on all unvested stock options terminates on my Termination of Employment Date. Any stock options that have vested prior to my Termination of Employment Date, but have not been exercised by me, may be exercised until April 17, 2013. Thereafter, I have forfeited any vested and unexercised options. The parties agree that these provisions amend, to the extent required, the applicable award agreements for such awards, which agreements, and the forfeiture provisions therein, shall otherwise continue to apply.

 

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All unvested restricted stock unit awards terminate on my Termination of Employment Date.

 

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Except as set forth above with respect to my annual 2012 bonus, my participation in any GDI bonus plans, including but not limited to the Executive Annual Bonus Plan, Management Incentive Plan and the Long-Term Incentive Plan, will cease as of my Termination of Employment Date.

 

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In accordance with, and subject to, that certain Relocation Acknowledgement Clause dated October 28, 2011, I am not obligated to repay or reimburse GDI for any GDI-paid relocation expenses or other relocation or expatriate benefits.

 

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I understand that I will continue to receive GDI’s executive tax return preparation service regarding my 2012 and 2013 tax returns through PricewaterhouseCoopers (2012) and Rubin Brown (2013) and will continue to qualify for tax equalization payments related to GDI paid income as otherwise described in that International Assignment Tax Equalization Agreement entered into with the Company on October 31, 2011 for my 2012 and 2013 tax years. Any such tax return preparation services and any tax equalization payments due me shall be provided no later than December 31, 2014. I will continue to be bound by the terms of the International Assignment Tax Equalization Agreement, including any repayment obligations I have in accordance with that agreement.

 

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I understand that I will have the right to elect COBRA benefits under the GDI medical and dental plans in accordance with federal law.

 

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I understand that I will be paid for any accrued but unpaid base salary and for any unused vacation through the Termination of Employment Date. Such payment will be made at the next practicable payroll date.

 

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I understand that all other company benefits cease on my Termination of Employment Date. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, I specifically acknowledge that I am not entitled to any additional severance or separation payments under any other agreement, plan, program, policy or arrangement, and hereby waive any claim thereto.

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, any payments described in this Agreement shall be subject to all applicable tax withholdings.

(1.) Complete and General Release. In consideration for receiving the pay and benefits set forth above, I, for myself and my heirs, agents, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, release, relinquish, waive and forever discharge GDI, its subsidiaries, affiliates and all other related entities; its and their predecessors, successors and assigns; the past, present and future officers, directors, shareholders, trustees, members, employees, attorneys and agents of any of the previously listed entities; any benefits plan maintained by any of the previously listed entities at any time; and the past, present and future sponsors, insurers, trustees, fiduciaries and administrators of such benefit plans (collectively “Released Parties”) from all

 

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Waiver and Release Agreement

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claims, liabilities, demands and causes of action or suits of any kind, known or unknown, fixed or contingent, of whatsoever kind or nature that I ever had, now have or may claim to have as of the date of the signing of this Agreement, including but not limited to, those arising out of my employment with GDI and my separation from that employment. This Release includes, but is not limited to, a release of the following types of claims:

(a) Claims of discrimination, harassment or retaliation, whether based on race, color, religion, gender, sex, age, sexual orientation, handicap and/or disability, national origin, whistle blowing or any other legally protected class;

(b) Claims under the FEDERAL AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT, 29 U.S.C. section 621 et seq., and all other federal, state and local laws, statutes and ordinances governing or concerning employment;

(c) Claims under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act;

(d) Claims under federal, state or local laws, regulations, ordinances or court decisions of any kind;

(e) Contract claims (whether express or implied);

(f) Tort claims, including without limitation, wrongful termination, defamation, negligence, invasion of privacy or emotional distress;

(g) Claims under the Family and Medical Leave Act;

(h) Claims under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act; and

(i) Claims for attorney’s fees and costs.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Release, the following are not barred by this Release: (i) claims relating to the validity of this Release; (ii) claims by either party to enforce this Release; (iii) claims that may arise after the date this Release is signed; and (iv) claims that are not legally waivable. This Release includes all claims for accrued or future wages, salary, or benefits, but does not extend to my right to vested accrued benefits as set forth in the plan documents of GDI governing such benefit programs and the right under federal or state law to continue certain benefit coverages. I understand that any and all claims for, and any rights to, any such vested accrued benefits are governed exclusively by the plan documents of GDI, and that I have no rights or entitlement arising from any contract or any other source to any such benefits from GDI other than as provided by such plan documents as modified or limited by this Agreement.

In addition, this Release will not operate to limit or bar my right to file an administrative charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or to testify, assist or participate in an investigation, hearing or proceeding conducted by the EEOC. However, this Release does bar my right to recover any personal or monetary relief, including if I or anyone on by behalf seeks to file a lawsuit on the same basis as the charge of discrimination.

(2.) Return of All GDI Property. I agree that on my Termination of Employment Date, I will return to my immediate supervisor all property and possession of GDI, its subsidiaries, affiliates and all other related entities, including but not limited to keys, access cards, credit cards, electronics, storage media, machinery, computer files and documents, and any other GDI property in my possession related to GDI’s business or customer information.

 

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Waiver and Release Agreement

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(3.) No Admission of Liability. I acknowledge that this Agreement is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing by GDI or any other Released Party.

(4.) Non-Competition/Non-Solicitation. I agree that for a period of twenty-four (24) months following the termination of my employment, I will not (i) compete with GDI by performing work for a direct competitor of GDI, its subsidiaries or its affiliates; and/or (ii) be or become a partner, owner, investor, officer, director, member, employee, independent contractor, agent of, consultant to or give financial or other assistance to, any corporation, partnership, joint venture or any other entity, person or contemplated enterprise engaging in or planning to engage in any activities competitive with GDI, its subsidiaries or its affiliates. For the avoidance of doubt, this prohibition specifically applies, but is in no way limited to, any such entity, person or contemplated enterprise contemplating a purchase of GDI, some or all of GDI’s business, or all of (or substantially all of) GDI’s assets.

I further agree that for a period of twenty-four (24) months following the termination of my employment, I shall not directly or indirectly (i) induce, solicit, request or advise any Customers (as defined below) to patronize any business which competes with any business of GDI or its affiliates for which I have had any management responsibility during my affiliation with GDI; or (ii) entice, solicit, request or advise any employee of GDI or its affiliates to accept employment (or other affiliation) with any other person, firm or business. As used above, “Customers” means all customers of any business of GDI or its affiliates with which I had contact or for which I had management responsibility during my affiliation with GDI.

I acknowledge and agree that my breach of the covenants contained in this paragraph 4 will cause immediate and irreparable harm to GDI, that the restrictions of this paragraph are reasonable, and that GDI shall be entitled to injunctive relief to enjoin any continuing breach of this paragraph and to actual and consequential damages resulting therefrom (including attorney fees to enforce this provision).

(5.) Confidential and Proprietary Information of the Company. During my employment with GDI, I had access to much of GDI’s confidential information including but not limited to: product margins, product strengths and weaknesses, GDI policies, objectives, strategies, long range plans, plans for market product development, financial information, payroll information, personnel information and other similar information. For purposes of this paragraph, “Confidential Information” includes all information developed by or for GDI of which I gained or acquired knowledge by reason of my employment with GDI that is not generally known in the industry or not publicly available. I agree that I will keep all Confidential Information in trust for the use and benefit of GDI and not disclose the same to any third party, except as required by applicable law or as authorized in writing by GDI. I will also continue to abide by all confidentiality restrictions pursuant to other agreements which I have executed with GDI prior to the date of this Agreement.

(6.) Non-Disparagement. I agree not to disparage, denigrate, or defame GDI, its affiliates, directors, employees and/or executive officers, or any of its or their business products or services.

(7.) Cooperation. I agree that I will cooperate with GDI and its attorneys in the prosecution or defense of any litigation, or matters concerning which litigation subsequently arises, which occurred or accrued during my employment, and I understand that I will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred through such cooperation.

(8.) Consideration Period / Right to Revoke Period. I understand that I have until and including February 8, 2013, a period of twenty-one (21) days to review and consider this Agreement. I may return this Agreement in less than the full consideration period only if my decision to shorten it was knowing and voluntary and was not induced in any way by GDI. I understand that I have a seven-day period after signing this Agreement to revoke or rescind this Agreement. Such revocation must be in writing and directed to Susan A. Gunn, 1500 Liberty Ridge Drive, Suite 3000, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087.

 

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Waiver and Release Agreement

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(9.) Savings Clause. I agree that if any part or provision of this Agreement is deemed by any court to be invalid, void or unenforceable for any reason, the remainder of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

(10.) Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and enforced in accordance with the laws and jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

I hereby acknowledge that I have carefully read and fully understand the provisions of this Agreement. I have not relied upon any other representation or statement, written or oral, except for those set forth in this Agreement. I also hereby acknowledge that GDI has recommended that I consult with an attorney and personal, financial and tax advisors prior to signing this Agreement, and I acknowledge that I have had adequate time to do so. I am entering into this Agreement knowingly and voluntarily and not as a result of any pressure, coercion or duress.

___/s/ Brian Cunkelman__________

Brian Cunkelman

Dated:__January 30, 2013__________

Accepted by:

GARDNER DENVER, INC.

By: __/s/ Susan Gunn_____________

Name:_Susan Gunn_______________

Title:_VP, Human Resources_________

Dated:__2/4/2013_________________

 

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