Employment Agreement by and between NCL (Bahamas) Ltd. and Harry Sommer, entered into on March 15, 2023
Exhibit 10.1
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into this 15th day of March 2023, by and between NCL (Bahamas) Ltd., a company organized under the laws of Bermuda (the “Company”), and Harry Sommer (the “Executive”).
RECITALS
THE PARTIES ENTER THIS AGREEMENT on the basis of the following facts, understandings and intentions:
A. The Executive is party to an Employment Agreement dated as of January 10, 2019 by and between the Executive and NCL (Corporation) Ltd. (the “Prior Employment Agreement”), which sets forth the terms of the Executive’s employment with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., a company organized under the laws of Bermuda (“Parent”), and its Affiliates.
B. The Company desires to offer the Executive the benefits set forth in this Agreement and provide for the services of the Executive on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
C. The Executive desires to be employed by the Company on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
D. This Agreement shall govern the employment relationship between the Executive and the Company and all of its affiliates effective as of the Effective Date (as defined below), and supersedes and negates any previous agreements with respect to such relationship (including, without limitation, the Prior Employment Agreement) effective as of the Effective Date. Provided, however, that Executive’s interim title change to President and Chief Executive Officer-Elect of the Company and change in responsibilities will take effect beginning April 1, 2023 and such employment from April 1, 2023 through the Effective Date will be under the terms of the Prior Employment Agreement.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals incorporated herein and the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby expressly acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
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| (a) | The Company shall pay the Executive (or, in the event of Executive’s death, the Executive’s estate) any Accrued Obligations (as such term is defined in Section 5.5); |
| (b) | Unless the provisions of Section 5.3(c) or (d) apply, if, during the Period of Employment, the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated (1) by the Company without Cause (and other than due to the Executive’s death or in connection with a good faith determination by the Board that the Executive has a Disability), (2) by the Executive for Good Reason, (3) as a result of the Company’s provision of notice to the Executive that this Agreement shall not be extended or further extended, or (4) in the case of Sections 5.3(b)(v) and (vi) only, as a result of the Executive’s death or Disability, the Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits: |
| (i) | The Company shall pay the Executive (in addition to the Accrued Obligations), subject to tax withholding and other authorized |
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| deductions, an amount equal to two times Executive’s Base Salary at the annualized rate in effect on the Severance Date. Such amount is referred to hereinafter as the “Severance Benefit.” Subject to Section 5.7(a), the Company shall pay the Severance Benefit to the Executive in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices over a period of twelve (12) consecutive months, with the first installment payable in the month following the month in which the Executive’s Separation from Service (as such term is defined in Section 5.5) occurs. (For purposes of clarity, each such installment shall equal the applicable fraction of the aggregate Severance Benefit.) |
| (ii) | Subject to the Executive’s continued payment of the same percentage of the applicable premiums as he was paying on the Severance Date, the Company will pay or reimburse the Executive for Executive’s premiums charged to continue medical, vision, and dental coverage pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”), and the Executive shall also be entitled to continued participation in the MERP, at the same or reasonably equivalent medical coverage for the Executive (and, if applicable, the Executive’s eligible dependents) as in effect immediately prior to the Severance Date, to the extent that the Executive elects such continued coverage (the “COBRA Benefit”); provided that the Company’s obligation to make any payment or reimbursement pursuant to this clause (ii) shall, subject to Section 5.7(a), commence with continuation coverage for the month following the month in which the Executive’s Separation from Service occurs and shall cease with continuation coverage for the eighteenth month following the month in which the Executive’s Separation from Service occurs (or, if earlier, shall cease upon the first to occur of the Executive’s death, the date the Executive becomes eligible for coverage under the health plan of a future employer, or the date the Company ceases to offer group medical coverage or the MERP to its active executive employees or the Company is otherwise under no obligation to offer COBRA continuation coverage to the Executive). To the extent the Executive elects COBRA coverage, he shall notify the Company in writing of such election prior to such coverage taking effect and complete any other continuation coverage enrollment procedures the Company may then have in place. |
| (iii) | The Company shall pay to the Executive, subject to tax withholding and other authorized deductions, any Incentive Bonus that would otherwise be paid to the Executive had his or her employment with the Company not terminated with respect to any fiscal year that ended before the Severance Date, to the extent not theretofore paid (the “Prior-Year Bonus”). Any Prior-Year Bonus that becomes |
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| payable will be paid if and when the Incentive Bonus for active employees is paid (following the completion of the audit for the relevant year). |
| (iv) | The Company shall pay the Executive, subject to tax withholding and other authorized deductions, a pro-rata portion of the Incentive Bonus for the fiscal year in which the Executive’s employment terminates (the “Pro-Rata Bonus”). The Pro-Rata Bonus shall equal the Incentive Bonus for the fiscal year of termination multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Severance Date and the denominator is 365. Any Pro-Rata Bonus that becomes payable will be paid if and when the Incentive Bonus for active executive employees is paid (following the completion of the audit in the following calendar year). |
| (v) | At the Severance Date, all then outstanding and unvested equity awards granted on or after the Effective Date that are subject to vesting requirements based on continued employment but not performance-based vesting requirements, including any awards originally subject to performance-based vesting conditions that have been satisfied and remain outstanding subject to only time-based vesting conditions (“Time-Based Awards”) shall receive full accelerated vesting. |
| (vi) | All then-outstanding and unvested equity awards granted on or after the Effective Date that are not Time-Based Awards shall, subject to compliance with the requirements of Section 409A and 457A of the Code, remain outstanding and will be paid (subject to the applicable performance conditions) as though the Executive’s employment had not terminated (with any time-based vesting conditions that would otherwise extend beyond the end of the applicable performance period deemed satisfied as of the end of the applicable performance period). |
| (c) | If, during the Period of Employment and within three months prior to a Change in Control or twenty-four months following a Change in Control, the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated (1) by the Company without Cause (and other than due to the Executive’s death or in connection with a good faith determination by the Board that the Executive has a Disability), or (2) by the Executive for Good Reason, or (3) as a result of the Company’s provision of notice to the Executive that this Agreement shall not be extended or further extended, the Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits in lieu of the benefits described under Section 5.3(b): |
| (i) | The Company shall pay the Executive (in addition to the Accrued Obligations), subject to tax withholding and other authorized |
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| deductions, an amount equal to two times Executive’s Base Salary at the annualized rate in effect on the Severance Date. Such amount is referred to hereinafter as the “Change in Control Severance Benefit.” Subject to Section 5.7(a), the Company shall pay the Change in Control Severance Benefit to the Executive in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices over a period of twelve (12) consecutive months, with the first installment payable in the month following the month in which the Executive’s Separation from Service (as such term is defined in Section 5.5) occurs. (For purposes of clarity, each such installment shall equal the applicable fraction of the aggregate Change in Control Severance Benefit.) |
| (ii) | The Company shall provide the COBRA Benefit described in Section 5.3(b)(ii) above on the terms and conditions specified in that section until the eighteenth month following the month in which the Executive’s Separation from Service occurs. |
| (iii) | The Company shall pay the Executive, subject to tax withholding and other authorized deductions, the Prior-Year Bonus and Pro-Rata Bonus, as described in Section 5.3(b)(iii) and (iv) above. |
| (iv) | At the Severance Date, all then outstanding and unvested equity awards granted under the Parent Equity Plan or any predecessor equity incentive plan shall receive full accelerated vesting. |
| (d) | If the Executive meets the Retirement Qualifications during the Period of Employment and wishes to receive the benefits described in 5.3(d)(i)-(v) below, Executive must provide at least six months of notice to the Company requesting a retirement date. Executive and the Company must agree to a retirement date (the “Retirement Date”), not later than one year from the date that notice is provided, by written agreement. If Executive satisfies the Retirement Qualifications and remains employed through the Retirement Date, upon the Retirement Date, Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits: |
| (i) | All then outstanding and unvested Time-Based Awards granted on or after the Effective Date shall receive full accelerated vesting if they were granted one or more years before the Retirement Date and pro-rata vesting if they were granted less than one year from the Retirement Date. The pro-rata vesting will be calculated as follows: (number of shares subject to the award ÷ number of days from award date to original vesting date specified in the award agreement (including both beginning and end date)) x number of days from the award date to the Retirement Date. Any partial shares will be rounded down to the nearest whole share. |
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| (ii) | All then-outstanding and unvested equity awards granted on or after the Effective Date that are not Time-Based Awards shall, subject to compliance with the requirements of Section 409A and 457A of the Code and any potential changes needed to address these provisions, remain outstanding and will be paid (subject to the applicable performance conditions) as though the Executive’s employment had not terminated (with any time-based vesting conditions that would otherwise extend beyond the end of the applicable performance period deemed satisfied as of the end of the applicable performance period). |
| (iii) | The Company shall pay the Executive, subject to tax withholding and other authorized deductions, the Prior-Year Bonus and Pro-Rata Bonus, as described in Section 5.3(b)(iii) and (iv) above. |
| (iv) | Executive will be entitled to continue to participate in the employee cruise benefits available to active employees at the President and Chief Executive Officer level following the Retirement Date. |
| (v) | The Company shall provide the COBRA Benefit described in Section 5.3(b)(ii) above on the terms and conditions specified in that section until the eighteenth month following the month in which the Executive’s Separation from Service occurs. |
| (e) | Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.3, if the Executive breaches Executive’s obligations under Section 6 of this Agreement at any time, from and after the date of such breach and not in any way in limitation of any right or remedy otherwise available to the Company, the Executive will no longer be entitled to, and the Company will no longer be obligated to pay, any remaining unpaid portion of the Severance Benefit or Change in Control Severance Benefit, the Prior-Year Bonus or the Pro-Rata Bonus, equity acceleration for any outstanding and unvested equity awards that remain outstanding at the time of the breach, continued cruise benefits, or the COBRA Benefit; provided that, if the Executive provides the release contemplated by Section 5.4, in no event shall the Executive be entitled to a Severance Benefit or Change in Control Severance Benefit payment of less than $5,000, which amount the parties agree is good and adequate consideration, in and of itself, for the Executive’s release contemplated by Section 5.4. |
| (f) | The foregoing provisions of this Section 5.3 shall not affect: (i) the Executive’s receipt of benefits otherwise due terminated employees under group insurance coverage consistent with the terms of the applicable Company welfare benefit plan; or (ii) the Executive’s rights under COBRA to continue participation in medical, dental, hospitalization and life insurance coverage. |
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| (a) | This Section 5.4 shall apply notwithstanding anything else contained in this Agreement or any stock option or other equity-based award agreement to the contrary. As a condition precedent to any Company obligation to the Executive pursuant to Sections 5.3(b), (c) or (d), the Executive shall, upon or promptly following his or her last day of employment with the Company (and in any event within twenty-one (21) days following the Executive’s last day of employment), execute a general release agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit A (with such amendments that may be necessary to ensure the release is enforceable to the fullest extent permissible under then applicable law), and such release agreement shall have not been revoked by the Executive pursuant to any revocation rights afforded by applicable law. |
| (b) | The Executive agrees that the payments and benefits contemplated by Section 5.3 (and any applicable acceleration of vesting of an equity-based award in accordance with the terms of such award in connection with the termination of the Executive’s employment) shall constitute the exclusive and sole remedy for any termination of Executive’s employment and the Executive covenants not to assert or pursue any other remedies, at law or in equity, with respect to any termination of employment. The Company and the Executive acknowledge and agree that there is no duty of the Executive to mitigate damages under this Agreement. All amounts paid to the Executive pursuant to Section 5.3 shall be paid without regard to whether the Executive has taken or takes actions to mitigate damages. The Executive agrees to resign, on the Severance Date, as an officer and director of the Company and any Affiliate of the Company, and as a fiduciary of any benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, and to promptly execute and provide to the Company any further documentation, as requested by the Company, to confirm such resignation. |
| (a) | As used herein, “Accrued Obligations” means: |
| (i) | any Base Salary that had accrued but had not been paid on or before the Severance Date (including accrued and unpaid vacation time of up to 80 hours in accordance with the Company’s policy in effect at the applicable time); and |
| (ii) | (ii) any reimbursement due to the Executive pursuant to Section 4.4 for expenses reasonably incurred by the Executive on or before the Severance Date and documented and pre-approved, to the extent applicable, in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policies in effect at the applicable time. |
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| (b) | As used herein, “Affiliate” of the Company means a Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company. As used in this definition, the term “control,” including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or any partnership or other ownership interest, by contract or otherwise) of a Person. |
| (c) | As used herein, “Cause” shall mean, as reasonably determined by the majority of the members of the Board based on the information then known by the Board, that one or more of the following has occurred: |
| (i) | the Executive has committed a felony (under the laws of the United States or any relevant state, or a similar crime or offense under the applicable laws of any relevant foreign jurisdiction), other than through vicarious liability not related to the Company or any of its Affiliates; |
| (ii) | the Executive has engaged in acts of fraud, dishonesty or other acts of willful misconduct; |
| (iii) | the Executive willfully fails to perform or uphold Executive’s duties under this Agreement and/or willfully fails to comply with reasonable lawful directives of the Board after there has been delivered to the Executive a written demand for performance from the Company and the Executive fails to remedy such condition(s) within ten (10) days of receiving such written notice thereof; or |
| (iv) | any breach by the Executive of the provisions of Section 6, or any material breach by the Executive of any other contract he is a party to with the Company or any of its Affiliates. |
| (d) | As used herein, “Change in Control” shall mean the following: |
| (i) | The consummation by the Parent of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination, other than a transaction: |
| (A) | Which results in the Parent’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Parent or the Person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Parent or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Parent’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Parent (the Parent or such person, the “Successor Entity”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined |
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| voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and; |
| (B) | After which no person or group (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) beneficially owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this Section 5.5(d)(i)(B) as beneficially owning 50% or more of combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Parent prior to the consummation of the transaction; or |
| (ii) | A sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Parent’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions; or |
| (iii) | A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any person or group (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Parent, any of its subsidiaries, an employee benefit plan maintained by the Parent or any of its subsidiaries or a person or group that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Parent) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Parent and immediately after such acquisition possesses more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Parent’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or |
| (iv) | Individuals who, on the Effective Date, constitute the Board together with any new director(s) whose election by the Board was not in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof. |
| (e) | As used herein, “Disability” shall mean a physical or mental impairment which, as reasonably determined by an independent physician mutually agreed to by the parties, renders the Executive unable to perform the essential functions of Executive’s employment with the Company for more than 90 days in any 180-day period, unless a longer period is required by federal or state law, in which case that longer period would apply. Executive shall not be deemed to have a Disability if he is able to perform the essential functions of Executive’s employment with a reasonable accommodation. |
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| (f) | As used herein, “Good Reason” shall mean that the Executive has complied with the "Good Reason Process" following the occurrence of any of the following events (referred to individually as a "Good Reason Event" and collectively as "Good Reason Events"): (A) any substantial adverse change, not consented to by the Executive in a writing signed by the Executive, in the nature or scope of the Executive's responsibilities, authorities, powers, functions, or duties; (B) an involuntary reduction in the Executive's Base Salary; (C) a breach by the Company of any of its material obligations under this Agreement; or (D) the requirement that the Executive be relocated from the Company's primary offices at which the Executive is principally employed to a location more than sixty (60) miles from the Company's current principal offices, or the requirement by the Company for the Executive to be based anywhere other than the Company's principal offices at such current location (or more than sixty (60) miles therefrom) on an extended basis, except for required travel on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with the Executive's current business travel obligations. |
| (g) | As used herein, "Good Reason Process" shall mean that (i) the Executive reasonably determines in good faith that a Good Reason Event has occurred; (ii) the Executive notifies the Company in writing (such notice to be delivered in accordance with Section 18) of the occurrence of the Good Reason Event within 10 days thereof and the Executive’s intent to terminate employment as a result thereof; and (iii) one or more of the Good Reason Events continues to exist for a period of more than thirty (30) days following such notice and has not been modified or cured in a manner acceptable to the Executive, in which case the Executive’s employment shall automatically terminate on the thirty-first (31st) day after the date such notice is given. |
| (h) | As used herein, the term “Person” shall be construed broadly and shall include, without limitation, an individual, a partnership, a limited liability company, a corporation, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof. |
| (i) | As used herein, “Retirement Qualifications” means that, as of the agreed Retirement Date, Executive: (i) is 55 years or older, (ii) has been employed by the Company or one of its Affiliates for ten or more years and (iii) the Executive’s age plus the number of years the Executive has been employed with the Company or its Affiliates is greater than or equal to 70. |
| (j) | As used herein, a “Separation from Service” occurs when the Executive dies, retires, or otherwise has a termination of employment with the Company that constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)(1), without regard to the optional alternative definitions available thereunder. |
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| (a) | If the Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(i) as of the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service, the Executive shall not be entitled to any payment or benefit pursuant to Sections 5.3(b), (c) or (d) until the earlier of (i) the date which is six (6) months after Executive’s Separation from Service for any reason other than death, or (ii) the date of the Executive’s death. The provisions of this paragraph shall only apply if, and to the extent, required to avoid the imputation of any tax, penalty or interest pursuant to Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of clarity, the six (6) month delay shall not apply in the case of any short-term deferral as contemplated by Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) or severance pay contemplated by Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) to the extent of the limits set forth therein. Any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive upon or in the six (6) month period following the Executive’s Separation from Service that are not so paid by reason of this Section 5.7(a) shall be paid (without interest) as soon as practicable (and in all events within thirty (30) days) after the date that is six (6) months after the Executive’s Separation from Service (or, if earlier, as soon as practicable, and in all events within thirty (30) days, after the date of the Executive’s death). |
| (b) | To the extent that any benefits pursuant to Sections 5.3(b)(ii), (c)(ii) or (d)(v) or reimbursements pursuant to Section 4 are taxable to the Executive, any reimbursement payment due to the Executive pursuant to any such provision shall be paid to the Executive on or before the last day of the Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the related expense was incurred. The benefits and reimbursements pursuant to Sections 5.3(b)(ii), (c)(ii) and (d)(v) and Section 4 are not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit and the amount of such benefits and reimbursements that the Executive receives in one taxable year shall not affect the amount of such benefits or reimbursements that the Executive receives in any other taxable year. |
| (c) | Any installment payments provided for in this Agreement shall be treated as separate payments for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. To the extent required to avoid the imputation of any tax, penalty or interest pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, the definition of Change in Control will be interpreted to mean a change in the ownership, effective control or ownership of a substantial portion of assets of Parent within the meaning of |
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| Section 409A of the Code. This Agreement is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A and 457A of the Code and shall be interpreted consistent with this intent so as to avoid the imputation of any tax, penalty or interest pursuant to Section 409A and 457A of the Code. |
| (a) | The Executive shall not disclose or use at any time, either during the Period of Employment or thereafter, any Confidential Information (as defined below) of which the Executive is or becomes aware, whether or not such information is developed by Executive, except to the extent that such disclosure or use is directly related to and required by the Executive’s performance in good faith of duties for the Company. The Executive will take all appropriate steps to safeguard Confidential Information in Executive’s possession and to protect it against disclosure, misuse, espionage, loss and theft. The Executive shall deliver to the Company at the termination of the Period of Employment, or at any time the Company may request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, computer tapes and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential Information or the Work Product (as hereinafter defined) of the |
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| business of the Company or any of its Affiliates which the Executive may then possess or have under Executive’s control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may truthfully respond to a lawful and valid subpoena or other legal process, but shall give the Company the earliest possible notice thereof, shall, as much in advance of the return date as possible, make available to the Company and its counsel the documents and other information sought, and shall assist the Company and such counsel in resisting or otherwise responding to such process. Nothing in this Agreement prohibits Executive from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity, or making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation. Executive does not need the prior authorization to make any such reports or disclosures and is not required to notify the Employer of such reports or disclosures. Pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, the Executive acknowledges that he may not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of confidential information that: (a) is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (b) is made in a complaint or other document that is filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, provided that such filing is made under seal. Further, the Executive understands that the Company will not retaliate against him in any way for any such disclosure made in accordance with the law. In the event a disclosure is made, and the Executive files any type of proceeding against the Company alleging that the Company retaliated against the Executive because of his disclosure, the Executive may disclose the relevant confidential information to his attorney and may use the confidential information in the proceeding if (x) the Executive files any document containing the confidential information under seal, and (y) the Executive does not otherwise disclose the confidential information except pursuant to court order. |
| (b) | As used in this Agreement, the term “Confidential Information” means information that is not generally known to the public and that is used, developed or obtained by the Company or its Affiliates in connection with their businesses, including, but not limited to, information, observations and data obtained by the Executive while employed by the Company or any predecessors thereof (including those obtained prior to the Effective Date) concerning (i) the business or affairs of the Company (or such predecessors), (ii) products or services, (iii) fees, costs and pricing structures, (iv) designs, (v) analyses, (vi) drawings, photographs and reports, (vii) computer software, including operating systems, applications and program listings, (viii) flow charts, manuals and documentation, (ix) data bases, (x) accounting and business methods, (xi) inventions, devices, new developments, methods and processes, whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice, (xii) customers and clients and customer or client lists, (xiii) other copyrightable works, (xiv) all production |
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| methods, processes, technology and trade secrets, and (xv) all similar and related information in whatever form. Confidential Information will not include any information that has been published (other than a disclosure by the Executive in breach of this Agreement) in a form generally available to the public prior to the date the Executive proposes to disclose or use such information. Confidential Information will not be deemed to have been published merely because individual portions of the information have been separately published, but only if all material features comprising such information have been published in combination. |
| (c) | As used in this Agreement, the term “Work Product” means all inventions, innovations, improvements, technical information, systems, software developments, methods, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, service marks, trademarks, trade names, logos and all similar or related information (whether patentable or unpatentable, copyrightable, registerable as a trademark, reduced to writing, or otherwise) which relates to the Company’s or any of its Affiliates’ actual or anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or services and which are conceived, developed or made by the Executive (whether or not during usual business hours, whether or not by the use of the facilities of the Company or any of its Affiliates, and whether or not alone or in conjunction with any other person) while employed by the Company (including those conceived, developed or made prior to the Effective Date) together with all patent applications, letters patent, trademark, trade name and service mark applications or registrations, copyrights and reissues thereof that may be granted for or upon any of the foregoing. All Work Product that the Executive may have discovered, invented or originated during Executive’s employment by the Company or any of its Affiliates prior to the Effective Date or that he may discover, invent or originate during the Period of Employment or at any time prior to the Severance Date, shall be the exclusive property of the Company and its Affiliates, as applicable, and Executive hereby assigns all of Executive’s right, title and interest in and to such Work Product to the Company or its applicable Affiliate, including all intellectual property rights therein. Executive shall promptly disclose all Work Product to the Company, shall execute at the request of the Company any assignments or other documents the Company may deem necessary to protect or perfect its (or any of its Affiliates’, as applicable) rights therein, and shall assist the Company, at the Company’s expense, in obtaining, defending and enforcing the Company’s (or any of its Affiliates’, as applicable) rights therein. The Executive hereby appoints the Company as Executive’s attorney-in-fact to execute on Executive’s behalf any assignments or other documents deemed necessary by the Company to protect or perfect the Company’s (and any of its Affiliates’, as applicable) rights to any Work Product. |
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| (a) | This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal representatives. |
| (b) | This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, the Company 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 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. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or assignee, as applicable, which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law or otherwise. |
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if to the Company:
NCL (Bahamas) Ltd.
7665 Corporate Center Drive
Miami, FL 33126
Attn: Executive Vice President and Chief Talent Officer
with a copy to:
NCL (Bahamas) Ltd.
7665 Corporate Center Drive
Miami, FL 33126
Attn: Executive Vice President and General Counsel
if to the Executive, to the address most recently on file in the payroll records of the Company.
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(Signature Page to Follow)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have executed this Agreement as of the date hereof.
“COMPANY”
NCL (Bahamas) Ltd.
a company organized under the laws of Bermuda
By: /s/Lynn White
Name: Lynn White
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Talent Officer
“EXECUTIVE”
/s/Harry Sommer
Harry Sommer
Exhibit A
FORM OF RELEASE AGREEMENT
This Release Agreement (this “Release Agreement”) is entered into this ___ day of ___________ 20__, by and between [__________], an individual (“Executive”), and NCL (Bahamas) Ltd., a company organized under the laws of Bermuda (the “Company”).
WHEREAS, Executive has been employed by the Company or one of its subsidiaries; and
WHEREAS, Executive’s employment by the Company or one of its subsidiaries has terminated and, in connection with the Executive’s Employment Agreement with the Company, dated as of [______________] (the “Employment Agreement”), the Company and Executive desire to enter into this Release Agreement upon the terms set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants undertaken and the releases contained in this Release Agreement, and in consideration of the obligations of the Company to pay severance and other benefits (conditioned upon this Release Agreement) under and pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Executive and the Company agree as follows:
1.Termination of Employment. Executive’s employment with the Company terminated on [_________, __________] (the “Separation Date”). In exchange for severance and other benefits payable under Section 5.3 of the Employment Agreement in accordance with the terms of the Employment Agreement Executive waives any right or claim to reinstatement as an employee of the Company and each of its affiliates. Executive hereby confirms that Executive does not hold any position as an officer, director or employee with the Company and each of its affiliates. Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive has received all amounts owed for Executive’s regular and usual salary (including, but not limited to, any overtime, bonus, accrued vacation, commissions, or other wages), reimbursement of expenses, sick pay and usual benefits.
2.Release. Executive, on behalf of Executive, Executive’s descendants, dependents, heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, and successors, and each of them, hereby covenants not to sue and fully releases and discharges the Company and each of its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, past and present, as well as its and their trustees, directors, officers, members, managers, partners, agents, attorneys, insurers, employees, stockholders, representatives, assigns, and successors, past and present, and each of them, hereinafter together and collectively referred to as the “Releasees,” with respect to and from any and all claims, wages, demands, rights, liens, agreements or contracts (written or oral), covenants, actions, suits, causes of action, obligations, debts, costs, expenses, attorneys’ fees, damages, judgments, orders and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, and whether or not concealed or hidden (each, a “Claim”), which he now owns or holds or he has at any time heretofore owned or held or may in the future hold as against any of said Releasees (including, without limitation, any Claim arising out of or in any way connected with Executive’s service as an officer, director, employee, member or manager of any Releasee, Executive’s separation from Executive’s position as an officer, director, employee, manager and/or member, as applicable, of any Releasee, or any other transactions, occurrences, acts or
omissions or any loss, damage or injury whatever), whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, resulting from any act or omission by or on the part of said Releasees, or any of them, committed or omitted prior to the date of this Release Agreement including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, or any other federal, state or local law, regulation, or ordinance, or any Claim for severance pay, equity compensation, bonus, sick leave, holiday pay, vacation pay, life insurance, health or medical insurance or any other fringe benefit, workers’ compensation or disability (the “Release”); provided, however, that the foregoing Release does not apply to any obligation of the Company to Executive pursuant to any of the following: (1) any equity-based awards previously granted by the Company or its affiliates to Executive, to the extent that such awards continue after the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company in accordance with the applicable terms of such awards (and subject to any limited period in which to exercise such awards following such termination of employment); (2) any right to indemnification that Executive may have pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Bylaws of the Company, its Articles of Incorporation or under any written indemnification agreement with the Company (or any corresponding provision of any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company) or applicable state law with respect to any loss, damages or expenses (including but not limited to attorneys’ fees to the extent otherwise provided) that Executive may in the future incur with respect to Executive’s service as an employee, officer or director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates; (3) with respect to any rights that Executive may have to insurance coverage for such losses, damages or expenses under any Company (or subsidiary or affiliate) directors and officers liability insurance policy; (4) any rights to continued medical, vision, or dental coverage that Executive may have under COBRA (or similar applicable state law); (5) any rights to the severance and other benefits payable under Section 5.3 of the Employment Agreement in accordance with the terms of the Employment Agreement; or (6) any rights to payment of benefits that Executive may have under a retirement plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or its affiliates that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In addition, this Release does not cover any Claim that cannot be so released as a matter of applicable law. Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has received any and all leave and other benefits that he has been and is entitled to pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.
3.ADEA Waiver. Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that by entering into this Release Agreement, Executive is waiving any and all rights or Claims that he may have arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (the “ADEA”), which have arisen on or before the date of execution of this Release Agreement. Executive further expressly acknowledges and agrees that:
A.In return for this Release Agreement, the Executive will receive consideration beyond that which the Executive was already entitled to receive before entering into this Release Agreement;
B.Executive is hereby advised in writing by this Release Agreement to consult with an attorney before signing this Release Agreement;
C.Executive has voluntarily chosen to enter into this Release Agreement and has not been forced or pressured in any way to sign it;
D.Executive was given a copy of this Release Agreement on [_________, 20__] and informed that he had twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this Release Agreement and that if he wished to execute this Release Agreement prior to expiration of such 21-day period, he should execute the Endorsement attached hereto;
E.Executive was informed that he had seven (7) days following the date of execution of this Release Agreement in which to revoke this Release Agreement, and this Release Agreement will become null and void if Executive elects revocation during that time. Any revocation must be in writing and must be received by the Company during the seven-day revocation period. In the event that Executive exercises Executive’s right of revocation, neither the Company nor Executive will have any obligations under this Release Agreement;
F.Nothing in this Release Agreement prevents or precludes Executive from challenging or seeking a determination in good faith of the validity of this waiver under the ADEA, nor does it impose any condition precedent, penalties or costs from doing so, unless specifically authorized by federal law.
4.Non-Disparagement. Executive agrees not to make, directly or indirectly, whether verbal or in writing, any damaging or disparaging statements, representations or remarks about or concerning Employer or any of the Releasees.
5.No Transferred Claims. Executive warrants and represents that the Executive has not heretofore assigned or transferred to any person not a party to this Release Agreement any released matter or any part or portion thereof and he shall defend, indemnify and hold the Company and each of its affiliates harmless from and against any claim (including the payment of attorneys’ fees and costs actually incurred whether or not litigation is commenced) based on or in connection with or arising out of any such assignment or transfer made, purported or claimed.
6.Severability. It is the desire and intent of the parties hereto that the provisions of this Release Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of this Release Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable under any present or future law, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Release Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction; furthermore, in lieu of such invalid or unenforceable provision there will be added automatically as a part of this Release Agreement, a legal, valid and enforceable provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Release Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
7.Counterparts. This Release Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement. This Release Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, shall bear the signatures of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories. Photographic or other electronic copies of such signed counterparts may be used in lieu of the originals for any purpose.
8.Successors. This Release Agreement is personal to Executive and shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, be assignable by Executive. This Release Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its respective successors and assigns and any such successor or assignee shall be deemed substituted for the Company under the terms of this Release Agreement for all purposes. As used herein, “successor” and “assignee” shall include any person, firm, corporation or other business entity which at any time, whether by purchase, merger, acquisition of assets, or otherwise, directly or indirectly acquires the ownership of the Company, acquires all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, or to which the Company assigns this Release Agreement by operation of law or otherwise.
9.Governing Law. THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNITED STATES FEDERAL LAW AND, TO THE EXTENT NOT PREEMPTED BY UNITED STATES FEDERAL LAW, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICTING PROVISION OR RULE (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN UNITED STATES FEDERAL LAW AND THE LAW OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO BE APPLIED. IN FURTHERANCE OF THE FOREGOING, APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAW AND, TO THE EXTENT NOT PREEMPTED BY APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAW, THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, WILL CONTROL THE INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT, EVEN IF UNDER SUCH JURISDICTION’S CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT OF LAW ANALYSIS, THE SUBSTANTIVE LAW OF SOME OTHER JURISDICTION WOULD ORDINARILY APPLY.
10.Amendment and Waiver. The provisions of this Release Agreement may be amended and waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and Executive, and no course of conduct or failure or delay in enforcing the provisions of this Release Agreement shall be construed as a waiver of such provisions or affect the validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Release Agreement or any provision hereof.
11.Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings of this Release Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Release Agreement.
12.Construction. Where specific language is used to clarify by example a general statement contained herein, such specific language shall not be deemed to modify, limit or restrict in any manner the construction of the general statement to which it relates. The language used in this Release Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.
13.Nouns and Pronouns. Whenever the context may require, any pronouns used herein shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns and pronouns shall include the plural and vice-versa.
14.Legal Counsel. Each party recognizes that this is a legally binding contract and acknowledges and agrees that they have had the opportunity to consult with legal counsel of their choice. Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has read and understands this Release Agreement completely, is entering into it freely and voluntarily, and has been advised to seek counsel prior to entering into this Release Agreement and he has had ample opportunity to do so.
The undersigned have read and understand the consequences of this Release Agreement and voluntarily sign it. The undersigned declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Florida that the foregoing is true and correct.
EXECUTED this ____ day of _________ 20__, at _________
“Executive”
Print Name:
NCL (Bahamas) Ltd.,
a company organized under the laws of Bermuda,
By:
Name:
Title:
ENDORSEMENT
I, ________________, hereby acknowledge that I was given 21 days to consider the foregoing Release Agreement and voluntarily chose to sign the Release Agreement prior to the expiration of the 21-day period.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States and the State of Florida that the foregoing is true and correct.
EXECUTED this [____] day of [__________ 20__].
Print Name:
