Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, made effective as of November 1, 2013, between Ralph Lauren Corporation and Jackwyn L. Nemerov

 

 

 

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made effective as of the 1st day of November, 2013 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Ralph Lauren Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and Jackwyn Nemerov (the “Executive”).

 

WHEREAS, the Executive has been employed with the Corporation pursuant to an Employment Agreement dated October 14th, 2009 (the “2009 Employment Agreement”), which terminated on March 31, 2013; and

 

WHEREAS, the Corporation and Executive wish to amend and restate such 2009 Employment Agreement effective as of the date hereof;

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and premises contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

1.1           Employment Term.  The Corporation hereby agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby agrees to serve the Corporation, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, and in the Executive’s term sheet dated September 17, 2013, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1 (the “Term Sheet”).  The employment of the Executive by the Corporation shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall continue until the close of business on April 1, 2017 (the “Term”), unless terminated earlier in accordance with Article II hereof.  The Term shall be automatically extended so as to end on the last day of each subsequent fiscal year thereafter unless either party notifies the other in writing of its intention not to extend the Term at least 180 days prior to the commencement of the next scheduled extension (a “NonExtension Notice”).

 

1.2           Position and Duties.  During the Term, the Executive shall faithfully, and in conformity with the directions of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and any Committee thereof (the “Board”) or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, perform the duties of her employment, and shall devote to the performance of such duties her full time and attention.  During the Term, the Executive shall serve in the position of President and Chief Operating Officer.  During the Term, the Executive may engage in outside activities provided those activities do not conflict with the duties and responsibilities enumerated hereunder, and provided further that the Executive receives written approval in advance from the Corporation for any outside business activity that may require significant expenditure of the Executive’s time in which the Executive plans to become involved, whether or not such activity is pursued for profit.  The Executive shall be excused from performing any services hereunder

 

 

 

 

 

during periods of temporary incapacity and during vacations in accordance with the Corporation’s disability and vacation policies.

 

1.3           Place of Performance.  The Executive shall be employed at the principal offices of the Corporation located in New York, New York, except for required travel on the Corporation’s business.

 

1.4           Compensation and Related Matters.

 

(a)           Base Compensation.  In consideration of her services during the Term, the Corporation shall pay the Executive cash compensation at an annual rate of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) (“Base Compensation”), less applicable withholdings.  Executive’s Base Compensation shall be subject to such increases as may be approved by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.  The Base Compensation shall be payable as current salary, in installments not less frequently than monthly, and at the same rate for any fraction of a month unexpired at the end of the Term.

 

(b)           Bonus.  During the Term, the Executive shall have the opportunity to earn an annual bonus in accordance with any annual bonus program that the Corporation maintains that would be applicable to the Executive and that is in accordance with the Executive’s Term Sheet.

 

(c)           Stock Awards.  During the Term, the Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Ralph Lauren Corporation 2010 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, or any successor thereto (the “Incentive Plan”).  All grants to the Executive of stock options, restricted shares and restricted performance share units (“RPSUs”), if any, are governed by the terms of the Incentive Plan and are subject, in all cases, to approval by the Compensation and Organizational Development Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) in its sole discretion.  In accordance with the Executive’s Term Sheet and with the terms of the Incentive Plan, the Executive shall receive, during the Term, annual grants of stock options and RPSUs that are equivalent to the award amounts specified in the Executive’s Term Sheet, subject to Executive’s continued employment at the time of each such grant.  Such stock options and RPSUs shall vest in accordance with the terms of the Incentive Plan.

 

(d)           Car and Driver Allowance.  During the Term, the Corporation shall reimburse the Executive for the use of a car and driver.

 

(e)           Expenses.  During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in performing services hereunder, including all reasonable expenses of travel and living while away from home, provided that such expenses are incurred and accounted for in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Corporation.

 

(f)           Vacations.  During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to the number of vacation days in each fiscal year, and to compensation in respect of earned but

 

 

 

 

(g)           Other Benefits.  The Executive shall be entitled to participate in all of the Corporation’s employee benefit plans and programs in effect during the Term as would by their terms be applicable to the Executive, including, without limitation, any pension and retirement plan, supplemental pension and retirement plan, deferred compensation plan, incentive plan, stock option plan, life insurance plan, medical insurance plan, dental care plan, accidental death and disability plan, and vacation, sick leave or personal leave program.  The Corporation shall not make any changes in such plans or programs that would adversely affect the Executive’s benefits thereunder, unless such change occurs pursuant to a program applicable to other similarly situated employees of the Corporation and does not result in a proportionately greater reduction in the rights or benefits of the Executive as compared with other similarly situated employees of the Corporation. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, nothing paid to the Executive under any plan or program presently in effect or made available in the future shall be in lieu of the Base Compensation or any bonus payable under Sections 1.4(a) and 1.4(b) hereof.

 

(h)           Air Travel.  For purposes of security and efficiency, the Executive and her family members, to and only to the extent such family members are traveling with the Executive, may use the Corporation’s aircraft for any of Executive’s travel.

 

ARTICLE II

 

2.1           Termination of Employment.  The Executive’s employment may terminate prior to the expiration of the Term under the following circumstances:

 

(a)           Without Cause.  The Executive’s employment may terminate upon the Corporation notifying the Executive that her services will no longer be required.

 

(b)           Death.  The Executive’s employment shall terminate upon the Executive’s death.

 

(c)           Disability.  If, as a result of the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness, the Executive shall have been absent and unable to perform the duties hereunder on a full-time basis for an entire period of six consecutive months, the Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Corporation following such six-month period.

 

(d)           Cause.  The Corporation may terminate the Executive’s employment for Cause.  For purposes hereof, “Cause” shall mean: (1) the willful and continued failure by the Executive to substantially perform her duties hereunder after demand for substantial performance is delivered to her by the Corporation that specifically identifies the manner in which the Corporation believes the Executive has not substantially performed her duties, (2) Executive’s conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a crime (whether or not involving the Corporation) constituting any felony or (3) the willful engaging by the Executive

 

 

 

(e)           Voluntary Termination.  The Executive may voluntarily terminate the Executive’s employment with the Corporation at any time, with or without Good Reason.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean a termination of employment by the Executive within one (1) year following the occurrence of (A) a material diminution in or adverse alteration to Executive’s title, base salary, benefits, position, status or duties, provided that the removal of particular business units or functions from Executive’s purview shall not constitute a material diminution in or adverse alteration to the Executive’s “duties” for this purpose, (B) the relocation of the Executive’s principal office outside the area which comprises a fifty (50) mile radius from New York City, (C) a failure of the Corporation to comply with any material provision of this Agreement, or (D) the Corporation requires the Executive to report to any person other than Ralph Lauren or to the Board; provided, that the events described in clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D) above shall not constitute Good Reason (1) until the Executive provides written notice to the Corporation of the existence of such diminution, change, reduction, relocation or failure within ninety (90) days of its occurrence and (2) unless such diminution, change, reduction or failure (as applicable) has not been cured within thirty (30) days after written notice of such noncompliance has been given by the Executive to the Corporation.

 

2.2           Nonrenewal.  The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate at the end of the Term if either party elects not to extend the Term of this Agreement by delivery of a NonExtension Notice as contemplated by Section 1.1.

 

2.3           Date of Termination.  The date of termination shall be:

 

(a)           if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive’s death, the date of the Executive’s death;

 

(b)           if the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of Executive’s disability pursuant to Section 2.1(c) or by the Corporation pursuant to Sections 2.1(a) or 2.1(d), the date specified by the Corporation;

 

(c)           if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive, the date on which the Executive notifies the Corporation of her termination; and

 

(d)           if the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of the NonExtension Notice pursuant to Section 2.2, the expiration date of the Term.

 

2.4           Effect of Termination of Employment.

 

(a)           Except as provided in Section 2.4(b), if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Corporation Without Cause pursuant to Section 2.1(a), or if the Executive resigns for Good Reason pursuant to Section 2.1(e), the Executive shall only be entitled to the following:

 

(i)           Severance.  Subject to Section 4.1(a) hereof, the Corporation shall: (a) beginning with the first payroll period following the forty-fifth (45th) day following the date of termination of Executive’s employment, continue to pay the Executive, in accordance with the Corporation’s normal payroll practice, Executive’s Base Compensation, as in effect immediately prior to such termination of employment, for the longer of the balance of the Term or the one-year period commencing on the date of such termination, provided that under no circumstances shall Executive be paid her Base Compensation for a period longer than two years (whichever period is applicable shall be referred to herein as the “Severance Period”), and provided that the initial payment shall include Base Compensation amounts for all payroll periods from the date of termination through the date of such initial payment; and (b) pay to the Executive, on the last business day of the Severance Period, an amount equal to the Executive’s target bonus as in effect at the time of termination of Executive’s employment (the “Target Bonus”).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company provides the Executive with a release and waiver of claims against the Corporation, its successors, affiliates, and assigns, no later than fifteen (15) days after the Executive’s date of termination, in order to receive any severance benefits under this Section 2.4(a)(i), or any awards under Section 2.4(a)(ii) below, the Executive must sign such release and waiver of claims against the Corporation, its successors, affiliates, and assigns, in a form acceptable to the Corporation and such release must become irrevocable on or prior to the forty-fifth (45th) day following the date of termination of Executive’s employment.

 

(ii)           Stock Awards.  The Executive shall immediately vest in any unvested stock options (or other equity awards with only service-based vesting conditions) as of the date of termination of the Executive’s employment.  With respect to vested stock options, if any (including stock options that vest pursuant to the preceding sentence), the Executive shall have one year from the date of termination of Executive’s employment to exercise such vested options, but in no event later than the expiration date of such vested options.  With respect to any unvested pro-rata RPSUs and unvested cliff RPSUs (or any other equity awards with performance-based vesting conditions) awarded through the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates, except as provided for in Section 4.1(a): (1) any unvested pro-rata RPSUs (or other performance-based equity awards with pro-rata vesting) will fully vest upon the Corporation’s attainment of the applicable performance goals and will be paid in their entirety as per the terms of the Incentive Plan as soon as practicable (but in no event later than 30 days) after each applicable vesting date without regard to Executive’s

 

 

 

 

(iv)           Retirement Plans.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is specifically provided that the Executive shall not accrue additional benefits under any pension plan of the Corporation (whether or not qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) during the Severance Period.

 

(b)           If the Executive resigns for Good Reason pursuant to Section 2.1(e)(D) as a result of being required to report to a Chief Executive Officer other than Ralph Lauren then, subject to Section 4.1(a) hereof, the Executive shall only be entitled to the following:

 

(i)           Severance.  The Corporation shall: (a) beginning with the first payroll period following the forty-fifth (45th) day following the date of termination of Executive’s employment, continue to pay the Executive, in accordance with the Corporation’s normal payroll practice, Executive’s Base Compensation, as in effect immediately prior to such termination of employment, for the one-year period commencing on the date of such termination (the “Special Severance Period”), and provided that the initial payment shall include Base Compensation amounts for all payroll periods from the date of termination through the date of such initial payment; and (b) pay to the Executive, on the last business day of the Special Severance Period, the Target Bonus.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company provides the Executive with a release and waiver of claims against the Corporation, its successors, affiliates, and assigns, no later than fifteen (15) days after the Executive’s date of termination, in order to receive any severance benefits under this Section 2.4(b)(i), or any awards under Section 2.4(b)(ii) below, the Executive must sign such release and waiver of claims against the Corporation, its successors, affiliates, and assigns, in a form acceptable to the Corporation and such release must become irrevocable on or prior to the forty-fifth (45th) day following the date of termination of Executive’s employment.

 

(ii)           Stock Award.  The Executive shall continue to vest in all unvested stock awards outstanding as of the date of termination of the Executive’s employment as if the Executive's employment had continued during the Special Severance Period and all stock options held by the Executive and outstanding as of the date of termination of Executive’s employment shall remain outstanding as if the Executive's

 

 

(iv)           Retirement Plans.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is specifically provided that the Executive shall not accrue additional benefits under any pension plan of the Corporation (whether or not qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) during the Special Severance Period.

 

(c)           If the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of the Executive’s death or disability, pursuant to Section 2.1(b) or 2.1(c), the Corporation shall pay any amounts due to the Executive through the date of her death or the date of her termination due to disability, including a Pro Rata Target Annual Incentive Bonus (as defined below), in a lump sum within forty-five (45) days following such termination of employment, and the treatment of any then outstanding stock awards shall be as set forth in Section 2.4(a)(ii); provided, that any then outstanding stock options shall be exercisable by the Executive (or, in the case of death, her estate) until the earlier to occur of (I) the third anniversary of the date of such termination of employment and (II) the expiration date of such option term.  Except as provided in this Section 2.4(c), the Corporation will have no further obligations to the Executive under this Agreement following the Executive’s termination of employment under the circumstances described in this Section 2.4(c).  For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Pro Rata Target Annual Incentive Bonus” means the Target Bonus multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days from the first day of the fiscal year in which such termination occurs until the date of termination and the denominator of which is 365.

 

(d)           If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Corporation for Cause or by the Executive without Good Reason, the Executive shall receive only that portion of the Executive’s then current Base Compensation payable through the Executive’s termination date.  The Executive’s rights with respect to any stock awards provided to the Executive by the Corporation shall be governed by the provisions of the Corporation’s Incentive Plan and the respective award agreements, if any, under which such stock awards were provided.

 

(e)           If the Executive’s employment terminates at the end of the Term as a result of delivery by either party of a NonExtension Notice as contemplated by Section 1.1, then subject to Article III hereof, (i) the Executive shall be entitled to any annual bonus payable with respect to the Corporation’s fiscal year in which the Term ends, such annual bonus to be payable when such annual bonus would have otherwise been paid pursuant to Section 1.4(b) had the Executive’s employment not terminated; (ii) the Executive shall be

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

3.1           Non-Compete.

 

(a)           The Corporation and the Executive acknowledge that: (i) the Corporation has a special interest in and derives significant benefit from the unique skills and experience of the Executive; (ii) the Executive will use and have access to proprietary and valuable Confidential Information (as defined in Section 3.2 hereof) during the course of the Executive’s employment; and (iii) the agreements and covenants contained herein are essential to protect the business and goodwill of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees.  Accordingly, except as hereinafter noted, the Executive covenants and agrees that during the Term and for the period of one (1) year following the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, the Executive shall not provide any labor, work, services or assistance (whether as an officer, director, employee, partner, agent, owner, independent contractor, consultant, stockholder or otherwise) to a “Competing Business.”  For purposes hereof, “Competing Business” shall mean any business engaged in the designing, marketing or distribution of premium lifestyle products, including but not limited to apparel, home, accessories and fragrance products, which competes in any material respects with the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees, and shall include, without limitation, those brands and companies that the Corporation and the Executive have jointly designated in writing on the date hereof, which is incorporated herein by reference and which is attached as Schedule A, as being in competition with the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees as of the date hereof.  Thus, Executive specifically acknowledges that Executive understands that she may not become employed by any Competing Business in any capacity during the time periods in which she is restricted herein, provided that the Executive may own, solely as an investment, securities of any entity which are traded on a national securities exchange if the Executive is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group that

 

 

controls such entity and does not, directly or indirectly, own 2% or more of any class of securities of such entity.

3.2           Confidential Information.

 

(a)           The Corporation owns and has developed and compiled, and will own, develop and compile, certain proprietary techniques and confidential information as described below which have great value to its business (referred to in this Agreement, collectively, as “Confidential Information”).  Confidential Information includes not only information disclosed by the Corporation and/or its affiliates, subsidiaries and licensees to Executive, but also information developed or learned by Executive during the course of, or as a result of, employment hereunder, which information Executive acknowledges is and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Corporation.  Confidential Information includes all proprietary information that has or could have commercial value or other utility in the business in which the Corporation is engaged or contemplates engaging, and all proprietary information the unauthorized disclosure of which could be detrimental to the interests of the Corporation.  Whether or not such information is specifically labeled as Confidential Information by the Corporation is not determinative.  By way of example and without limitation, Confidential Information includes any and all information developed, obtained or owned by the Corporation and/or its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees concerning trade secrets, techniques, know-how (including designs, plans, procedures, processes and research records), software, computer programs, innovations, discoveries, improvements, research, development, test results, reports, specifications, data, formats, marketing data and plans, business plans, strategies, forecasts, unpublished financial information, orders, agreements and other forms of documents, price and cost information, merchandising opportunities, expansion plans, designs, store plans, budgets, projections, customer, supplier and subcontractor identities, characteristics and agreements, and salary, staffing and employment information.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information shall not in any event include (A) Executive’s personal knowledge and know-how relating to merchandising and business techniques which Executive has developed over her career in the apparel business and of which Executive was aware prior to her employment, or (B) information which (i) was generally known or generally available to the public prior to its disclosure to Executive; (ii) becomes generally known or generally available to the public subsequent to disclosure to Executive through no wrongful act of any person or (iii) which Executive is required to disclose by applicable law or regulation (provided that Executive provides the Corporation with prior notice of the contemplated disclosure and reasonably cooperates with the Corporation at the Corporation’s expense in seeking a protective order or other appropriate protection of such information).

 

 

 

 

(d)           During the Term, Executive shall disclose to the Corporation all designs, inventions and business strategies or plans developed for the Corporation, including without limitation any process, operation, product or improvement.  Executive agrees that all of the foregoing are and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Corporation and that Executive shall at the Corporation’s request and cost do whatever is necessary to secure the rights thereto, by patent, copyright or otherwise, to the Corporation.

 

3.3           Non-Solicitation of Employees.  The Executive covenants and agrees that during the Term, and for a period of two (2) years following the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason whatsoever hereunder, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit or influence any other employee of the Corporation, or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees, to terminate such employee’s employment with the Corporation, or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees, as the case may be, or to become employed by a Competing Business.  As used herein, “solicit” shall include, without limitation, requesting, encouraging, enticing, assisting, or causing, directly or indirectly.

 

3.4           Nondisparagement. The parties agree that during the Term and thereafter whether or not the Executive is receiving any amounts pursuant to Sections 2.3 and 4.1, the parties shall not make any statements or comments that reasonably could be considered to shed an adverse light on the Executive or the business or reputation of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees, the Board or any officer of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensees; provided, however, the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) compliance with legal process or subpoena, or (ii) statements in response to an inquiry from a court or regulatory body.

 

3.5           Remedies.

 

(a)           If the Executive breaches, or threatens to commit a breach of, any of the provisions of this Article III, the Corporation shall have the following rights and remedies, each of which rights and remedies shall be independent of the other and severally

 

 

 

(b)           If any court or arbitrator determines that any of the obligations in this Article III, or any part thereof, is invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the obligations in this Article III shall not thereby be affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the invalid portion. In addition, if any court or arbitrator construes any of the obligations in this Article III, or any part thereof, to be unenforceable because of the duration of such provision or the area covered thereby, such court shall have the power to reduce the duration or area of such provision and, in its reduced form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced.

 

3.6           The provisions of this Article III shall survive the termination of this Agreement and Executive’s Term of employment.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

4.1           Change in Control.

 

(a)           Effect of a Change in Control.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if the Executive’s employment is terminated within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control (as defined in Section 4.1(b) hereof) during the Term by the Corporation for any reason other than Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, then:

 

(i)           Severance.  The Corporation shall pay to the Executive, in lieu of any amounts otherwise due to her under Section 2.4(a) hereof, within fifteen (15) days of the Executive’s termination of employment, or within the timeframe required by Section 5.12 hereof if applicable, a lump sum amount equal to two (2) times the sum of: (A) the Executive’s Base Compensation, as in effect immediately prior to such termination of employment; and (B) the bonus paid to the Executive for the most recently completed fiscal

 

 

year prior to the fiscal year in which her employment is terminated.Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any portion of the severance pay that would have otherwise been due to the Executive under Section 2.4 (had a Change in Control not occurred during the twelve-month period prior to such termination of employment) would have been subject to Code Section 409A by reason of its failure to qualify as a short-term deferral for purposes of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) or as non-deferred separation pay under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(9) (the “409A Severance Pay”) and that the exception set forth in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(c) is not available, the 409A Severance Pay shall be deducted from the amount otherwise payable in a lump sum in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 4.1(a)(i) and shall instead be payable to Executive in the form and on the schedule specified in the applicable subsection in Section 2.4 as if the Executive’s employment had been terminated pursuant to the applicable subsection in Section 2.4 hereof rather than within a twelve-month period following a Change in Control.

 

(ii)           Stock Awards.  The Executive shall immediately become vested in any unvested stock options granted to the Executive by the Corporation prior to the Change in Control and Executive will have one (1) year from the date of termination under this circumstance to exercise all vested options (but in no event later than the expiration date of such options).  In addition, any other outstanding equity awards that are unvested shall be deemed vested immediately prior to such Change in Control.  Payments to the Executive with respect to any RPSUs (or other equity awards with performance-based vesting conditions) whose vesting accelerates as described in this Section 4.1(a)(ii) will be calculated as if any applicable performance goals had been achieved at the specified target level and made as per the terms of the Incentive Plan but in no event later than thirty (30) days after the applicable vesting date.

 

(b)           Section 280G.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) in the event the Corporation (or its successor) and the Executive both determine, based upon the advice of the independent public accountants for the Corporation, that part or all of the consideration, compensation or benefits to be paid to the Executive under this Agreement constitute “parachute payments” under Section 280G(b) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and the Department of Treasury Regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder (collectively, the “Code”), then, if the aggregate present value of such parachute payments, singularly or together with the aggregate present value of any consideration, compensation or benefits to be paid to the Executive under any other plan, arrangement or agreement which constitute “parachute payments” (collectively, the “Parachute Amount”) exceeds 2.99 times the Executive’s “base amount”, as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code (the “Executive Base Amount”), the amounts constituting “parachute payments” which would otherwise be payable to or for the benefit of the Executive shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that the Parachute Amount is equal to 2.99 times the Executive Base Amount (the “Reduced Amount”); provided that such amounts shall not be so reduced if the Executive determines, based upon the advice of an independent nationally recognized public accounting firm (which may, but need not be the independent public accountants of the Corporation), that without such reduction the Executive would be entitled to receive and retain, on a net after tax basis (including, without limitation, any excise taxes payable under

 

(B)           In the case of a reduction in the Parachute Amount pursuant to Section 4.1(b), the Parachute Amount shall be reduced in the following order: (i) payments that are payable in cash that are valued at full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24(a) will be reduced (if necessary, to zero), with amounts that are payable last reduced first; (ii) payments and benefits due in respect of any equity valued at full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24(a), with the highest values reduced first (as such values are determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24) will next be reduced; (iii) payments that are payable in cash that are valued at less than full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24, with amounts that are payable last reduced first, will next be reduced; (iv) payments and benefits due in respect of any equity valued at less than full value under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24, with the highest values reduced first (as such values are determined under Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 24) will next be reduced; and (v) all other non-cash benefits not otherwise described in clauses (ii) or (iv) will be next reduced pro-rata.  Within ten days following such determination hereunder, the Corporation shall pay or distribute to or for the benefit of the Executive such amounts as are then due to the Executive under this Agreement and shall promptly pay or distribute to or for the benefit of the Executive such amounts as become due to the Executive under, and in accordance with the terms of, this Agreement.

 

(C)           As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 280G of the Code at the time of a determination hereunder, it is possible that payments will be made by the Corporation which should not have been made under clause (A) of this Section 4.1(b) (“Overpayment”) or that additional payments which are not made by the Corporation pursuant to clause (A) of this Section 4.1(b) should have been made (“Underpayment”).  In the event that there is a final determination by the Internal Revenue Service, a final determination by a court of competent jurisdiction or a change in the provisions of the Code or regulations pursuant to which an Overpayment arises, any such Overpayment shall be treated for all purposes as a loan to the Executive which the Executive shall repay to the Corporation together with interest at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code.  In the event that there is a final determination by the Internal Revenue Service, a final determination by a court of competent jurisdiction or a change in the provisions of the Code or regulations pursuant to which an Underpayment arises under this Agreement, any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Corporation to or for the benefit of the Executive, together with interest at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code; but in no event later than the Executive’s taxable year following the year in which such final determination or change is made.

 

(c)           Definition.  For purposes hereof, a “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following:

(i)           the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation to any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”)) other than Permitted Holders;

 

(ii)           any person or group is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Act, except that a person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all shares that any such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50 percent of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Corporation, including by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise; provided, however, that for purposes of this Agreement, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (I) any acquisition by the Corporation or any Affiliate, (II) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Corporation or any Affiliate, (III) any acquisition by one or more of the Permitted Holders, or (IV) any acquisition which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection (v) below;

 

(iii)           during any period of twelve (12) consecutive  months, Present and/or New Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board;

 

(iv)           the Permitted Holders’ beneficial ownership of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Corporation falls below 30 percent and either Ralph Lauren is not nominated for a position on the Board of Directors, or he stands for election to the Board of Directors and is not elected;

 

(v)           the consummation of a reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Corporation that requires the approval of the Corporation’s stockholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a “Business Combination”), unless immediately following such Business Combination: (A) more than 50% of the total voting power of (x) the entity resulting from such Business Combination (the “Surviving Company”), or (y) if applicable, the ultimate parent entity that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of sufficient voting securities eligible to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Surviving Company (the “Parent Company”), is represented by the shares of voting stock of the Corporation that were outstanding immediately prior to such Business Combination (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which the shares of voting stock of the Corporation were converted pursuant to such Business Combination), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power was among the holders of the shares of voting stock of the Corporation that were outstanding immediately prior to the Business Combination, (B) no person (other than any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Company or the Parent Company, or one or more Permitted Holders), is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect members of the board of directors of the Parent Company (or the analogous governing body) (or, if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company) and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Parent Company (or, if there is no Parent Company, the

 

 

Surviving Company) following the consummation of the Business Combination were Board members at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Business Combination; or

 

 

5.1           Notice.  For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or by facsimile or mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

 

with a copy to:

Miriam Wugmeister, Esq. Morrison & Foerster LLP 1290 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10104 Fax: (212) 468-7900

 

If to the Corporation:

Ralph Lauren Corporation 650 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10022 Attn:  Mitchell A. Kosh Senior Vice President - Human Resources Fax: (212) 318-7277

 

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

5.2           Modification or Waiver; Entire Agreement; End of Term.  No provision of this Agreement may be modified or waived except in a document signed by the Executive and the Corporation.  This Agreement, along with the Term Sheet and any other documents incorporated herein by reference, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties regarding their employment relationship and supersedes all prior agreements, promises, covenants, representations or warranties, including, without limitation, the Executive’s 2009 Employment Agreement with the Corporation.  To the extent that this Agreement is in any way inconsistent with any prior or contemporaneous stock award agreements between the parties, this Agreement shall control.  No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party that are not set forth expressly in this Agreement.  Any extensions or renewals of this Agreement must be in writing and must be agreed to by both the Corporation and the Executive.  Absent such extensions or renewals, this Agreement and all of its terms and conditions, except for those provisions in Article III as specified therein, shall expire upon the end of the Term.

 

5.3           Governing Law.  The validity, interpretation, construction, performance, and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York without reference to New York’s choice of law rules.

 

5.4           Arbitration. The Corporation and the Executive mutually agree that any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach thereof, or any other dispute between the parties arising from or related to Executive’s employment with the Corporation, shall be submitted to mediation before a mutually agreeable mediator.  In the event mediation is unsuccessful in resolving the claim or controversy, such claim or controversy shall be resolved by arbitration.The Corporation and Executive agree that arbitration shall be held in New York, New York, before a mutually agreed upon single arbitrator licensed to practice law.  The arbitrator shall have authority to award or grant legal, equitable, and declaratory relief.  Such arbitration shall be final and binding on the parties and fees for any arbitration shall be paid by the losing party.  If the parties are unable to agree on an arbitrator, the matter may be submitted to JAMS Dispute Resolution solely for appointment of an arbitrator.  Any fees for mediation shall be split between the parties.  The provisions of this Section 5.4 shall not apply to any action by the Corporation seeking relief under Article III of this Agreement.

 

5.5           No Mitigation or Offset.  In the event the Executive’s employment with the Corporation terminates for any reason, the Executive shall not be obligated to seek other employment following such termination and there shall be no offset of the payments or benefits set forth herein.

 

5.6           Withholding.  All payments required to be made by the Corporation hereunder to the Executive or the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries shall be subject to the withholding of such amounts as the Corporation may reasonably determine it should withhold pursuant to any applicable law.

 

 

 

5.10         Miscellaneous.  No right or interest to, or in, any payments shall be assignable by the Executive; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude the Executive from designating in writing one or more beneficiaries to receive any amount that may be payable after the Executive’s death and shall not preclude the legal representative of the Executive’s estate from assigning any right hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereto.  If the Executive should die while any amounts would still be payable to the Executive hereunder, all such amounts shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive’s written designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive’s estate.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, the Executive, the Executive’s heirs and legal representatives and the Corporation and its successors.  The section headings shall not be taken into account for purposes of the construction of any provision of this Agreement.

 

5.11         Meaning of Signing This Agreement.  By signing this Agreement, Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that (a) she has carefully read it and fully understands what it means; (b) she has been advised in writing to discuss this Agreement with an independent attorney of her own choosing before signing it and has had a reasonable opportunity to confer with her attorney and has discussed and reviewed this Agreement with her attorney prior to executing it and delivering it to the Corporation; (c) she has had answered to her satisfaction any questions she has with regard to the meaning and significance of any of the provisions of this Agreement; and (d) she has agreed to this Agreement knowingly and

 

 

 

5.12         Compliance with Section 409A.

 

(a)           The parties acknowledge and agree that, to the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with, and the parties agree to use their best efforts to achieve timely compliance with, Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”).  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Corporation determines that any compensation or benefits payable or provided hereunder may be subject to Section 409A, the Corporation reserves the right (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify the Executive for failure to do so), after consulting with and securing the approval of the Executive (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), to adopt such limited amendments to this Agreement and appropriate policies and procedures, including amendments and policies with retroactive effect, that the Corporation reasonably determines are necessary or appropriate to (i) exempt the compensation and benefits payable under this Agreement from Section 409A and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the compensation and benefits provided with respect to this Agreement or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, no amounts that become payable under this Agreement on account of the Executive’s termination of employment shall be payable unless the Executive’s termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Department of Treasury Regulations.  If the Executive is determined to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then any amount that becomes payable under this Agreement on account of the Executive’s “separation from service” (the “Severance Payment”) shall not be paid to the Executive until the first business day following the expiration of the six (6) month period immediately following the Executive’s “separation from service” (or if earlier, the date of the Executive’s death), but rather, all such payments shall be made on the date that is five business days after the expiration of that six month period, if and to the extent that the Severance Payment constitutes deferred compensation (or may be nonqualified deferred compensation, as mutually agreed by the Corporation and the Executive, such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed by the Executive) under Section 409A of the Code and such deferral is required to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  For the avoidance of doubt, no portion of the Severance Payment shall be delayed for six (6) months after the Executive’s “separation from service” if such portion (x) constitutes a “short term deferral” within the meaning of Section 1.409A-1(a)(4) of the Department of Treasury Regulations, or (y) (A) it is being paid due to the Corporation’s termination of the Executive’s employment without Cause or the Executive’s termination of employment for Good Reason; (B) it does not exceed two times the lesser of (1) the Executive’s annualized compensation from the Corporation for the calendar year prior to the calendar year in which the termination of the Executive’s employment occurs, or (2) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a qualified plan pursuant to Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for the year in which the Executive’s employment terminates; and (C) the payment is required under this Agreement to be paid no later than the last day of the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective as of the date and year first above written.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abercrombie & Fitch Co.

Ann Taylor Stores Corp.

Brooks Brothers

Burberry Limited

Campagnie Financiere Richemont SA

Chanel S.A.

Coach, Inc.

Crate & Barrel (aka Euromarket Designs, Inc.)

Dillard’s Inc.

Dolce & Gabbana

Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc.

Gap Inc.

Giorgio Armani Corp.

Hermes International

Hudson’s Bay Company

Hugo Boss AG

J. Crew Group, Inc.

Jones Apparel Group, Inc.

Limited Brands, Inc.

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A.

Macy’s Inc.

Michael Kors, Inc.

Neiman Marcus Group, Inc.

Nordstrom, Inc.

PPR Group

Prada (aka I Pellettieri d’Italia S.P.A.)

PVH Corp.

Saks Inc.

Salvatore Ferragamo Italia S.P.A.

TJX Companies, Inc.

VF Corporation

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---