AMENDED AND RESTATEDEMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT Effectiveas of January 1, 2008

EX-10.9 3 tfoc8k05052008ex10-9.htm EXHIBIT 10.9 tfoc8k05052008ex10-9.htm

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Effective as of January 1, 2008

This Agreement is entered into and made effective as of January 1, 2008 (the “Effective Date”) between Tanger Properties Limited Partnership (the “Company”) and JOSEPH NEHMEN (the “Executive”).  The Company and the Executive are sometimes referred to individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.

RECITALS

A.           The Company and the Executive have agreed upon the terms and conditions of the Executive’s employment by the Company. Company and Executive entered into an Employment Agreement dated January 1, 1995 which was amended and restated as of January 1, 1999 and July 1, 2003 (the “Prior Agreement”).

B.           The Parties intend to set forth herein the entire agreement between them with respect to Executive’s employment by the Company.  The Parties intend to modify, amend and restate their Prior Agreement upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.

Now therefore in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the promises contained herein the Parties agree as follows:

1.           EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES.

1.1           Employment.  During the Contract Term (as defined herein), the Company will employ the Executive and the Executive shall serve the Company as a full-time employee upon and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.  The Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated before the end of the Contract Term only as provided in Section 5 of this Agreement.

1.2           Position and Responsibilities.  Executive has been elected and is currently serving as Senior Vice President of Operations.  During the Executive’s employment hereunder, his  primary duties, functions, responsibilities and authority will include overseeing the operations of the Company’s retail facilities.  Further, Executive shall perform such other duties as are assigned to him by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and/or the Board of Directors.

1.3           Time and Effort.  During the Contract Term, Executive shall be employed on a full-time basis and shall devote his best efforts and substantially all of his attention, business time and effort (excluding sick leave, vacation provided for herein and reasonable time devoted to civic and charitable activities) to the business and affairs of the Company.

 
 

 
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, Executive may perform consulting or employment services which do not materially interfere with the performance of his duties as a full time employee of the Company as follows:

(a)           For a purchaser of any of the assets or capital stock of Merchants Wholesalers of Missouri, Inc. (the company in which he was formerly a part owner and with whom he was employed) in connection with the purchaser's conduct of a business for the wholesale and retail sale of cigarettes, candy, tobacco and similar items and so long as the purchaser is not engaged in activities which are in competition with the business currently conducted by the Company; and

(b)           For Dolgin & Associates (a firm in which Executive owns an interest) in connection with that firm's conduct of the business of providing tax consultation and advice and so long as that firm  is not engaged in activities which are in competition with the business currently conducted by the Company.

2.           PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT.

2.1           Initial Contract term.   The period of employment pursuant to this Agreement shall begin on January 1, 2008 (the “Commencement Date”) and shall extend through December 31, 2010 (the “Initial Contract Term”), unless earlier terminated as provided in Section 5 or extended as provided in this Section 2.  The calendar year beginning January 1, 2008 and each calendar year thereafter during the Contract Term is sometimes herein referred to as a “Contract Year”.

2.2           Extended Contract Term.  On January 1, 2009 and on the first day of January of each calendar year thereafter (an “Extension Date”), the Contract Term shall be automatically extended by one year unless (i) Executive’s employment has been earlier terminated as provided in Section 5 or (ii) the Company gives written notice to Executive one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the Extension Date that the Contract Term shall not be automatically extended.   For purposes of illustration, if Executive’s employment has not been terminated as provided in Section 5 and if the Company has not given written notice to Executive at least 180 days prior to January 1, 2009 that the Contract Term will not be extended, on January 1, 2009, the Contract Term will be extended to and including December 31, 2011.

If the Contract Term is extended as provided herein, Executive’s employment may be terminated (other than upon expiration) only as provided in Section 5. References herein to the "Contract Term" shall refer to the Initial Contract Term as extended pursuant to this Section 2.

3.           COMPENSATION.

3.1           Base Salary.  As compensation for Executive’s services performed pursuant to this Agreement, Employer will pay Executive an “Annual Base Salary” of $295,470 for
 
 
 

 
the Contract Year beginning January 1, 2008  and, with respect to each Contract Year thereafter an amount agreed upon by Executive and the Company but not less than $295,470.  The Annual Base Salary shall be paid in equal installments in arrears in accordance with Employer's regular pay schedule.

3.2           Bonus or Incentive Compensation.  As additional compensation for services rendered, the Executive shall receive such bonus or bonuses as the Company’s Board of Directors  may from time to time approve including without limitation awards under the Company’s Incentive Award  Plan.  Such bonuses may be payable in cash (a “Cash Bonus”) and/or in the form of equity based compensation as allowed under the Company’s Incentive Award Plan.

4.           EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

4.1           Executive Benefit Plans.  Executive shall participate in the employee benefit plans (including group medical and dental plans, a group term life insurance plan, a disability plan and a 401(k) Savings plan) generally applicable to employees of the Company, as those plans may be in effect from time to time.

4.2           Expenses.  The Company shall promptly reimburse the Executive for all reasonable travel and other business expenses incurred by the Executive in the performance of his duties to the Company hereunder.  Executive shall observe and comply with the Company’s policies with respect to such reimbursements as in effect from time to time.  At least monthly, Executive will submit such records and paid bills supporting the amount of the expenses incurred and to be reimbursed as the Company shall reasonably request or as shall be required by applicable laws.

4.3           Vacation.  Executive shall have the number of days of paid vacation during each calendar year that are provided to employees of the Company with the same number of years of service as Executive has pursuant to the Company’s vacation policy described in the Company’s employee handbook in effect on the first day of that calendar year.

5.           TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

5.1           Termination Circumstances.  Executive's employment hereunder may be terminated prior to the end of the Contract Term by the Company or the Executive, as applicable, without any breach of this Agreement only under the following circumstances:

(a)           Death. Executive's employment hereunder shall terminate upon his  death.

(b)           Disability. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment upon his Disability.

(c)           Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's employment hereunder for Cause.
 
 
 
 

 

(d)           Good Reason. Executive may terminate his employment for Good Reason.

(e)           Without Cause.  The Company may terminate Executive’s employment hereunder other than for Cause for any or no reason upon 30 days notice.

(f)           Resignation without Good Reason. The Executive may resign his employment without Good Reason upon 90 days written notice to the Company.

Except as may otherwise be expressly provided in Section 7.1(a) or in any written agreement between the Company and Executive with respect to the issuance of awards under the Company’s Incentive Award Plan, upon termination of Executive's employment, Executive shall be entitled to receive only the compensation accrued but unpaid for the period of employment prior to the date of such termination of employment and shall not be entitled to additional compensation.

5.2           Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive's employment hereunder by the Company or by the Executive (other than by reason of the Executive's death) shall be communicated by a notice of termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a “notice of termination” shall mean a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in the Agreement relied upon, (ii) sets forth in reasonable detail any facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the provision indicated and (iii) specifies the effective date of the termination.

6.           AGREEMENT NOT TO COMPETE.

6.1           Covenant Against Competition.  Executive agrees that during the term of Executive's employment hereunder and (i) if Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason, for one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of such termination or (ii) if Executive receives the Severance Payment described in Section 7.1(a) if this Agreement because of a termination of his employment by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason, from the date of such termination through the first anniversary of such termination date, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, as an employee, employer, shareholder, proprietor, partner, principal, agent, consultant, advisor, director, officer, or in any other capacity,

(1)           engage in activities involving the development or operation of a manufacturers outlet shopping center which is located within a radius of fifty (50) miles of a retail shopping facility which, within the 365 day period ending on the date of the termination of Executive’s employment hereunder, was owned (with an effective ownership interest of 50% or more), directly or indirectly, by the Company or was operated by the Company;

(2)           engage in activities involving the development or operation of a manufacturers outlet shopping center which is located within a radius of fifty (50) miles of any site which, within the 365 day period ending on the date of the termination of Executive’s employment hereunder, the Company or its affiliate negotiated to acquire and/or lease for the development or operation of a retail shopping facility;

 
 

 
(3)           engage in activities involving the development or operation of any other type of retail shopping facility which is located within a radius of five (5) miles of, and competes directly for tenants with, a retail shopping facility which, within the 365 day period ending on the date of the termination of Executive’s employment hereunder, was (i) under development by the Company or its affiliate; (ii) owned (with an effective ownership interest of 50% or more), directly or indirectly, by the Company; or (iii) operated by the Company.

6.2           Disclosure of Information.  Executive acknowledges that in and as a result of his employment hereunder, he may be making use of, acquiring and/or adding to confidential information of a special and unique nature and value relating to such matters as financial information, terms of leases, terms of financing, financial condition of tenants and potential tenants, sales and rental income of shopping centers and other specifics about Company's development, financing, construction and operation of retail shopping facilities. Executive covenants and agrees that he shall not, at any time during or following the term of his employment, directly or indirectly, divulge or disclose for any purpose whatsoever any such confidential information that has been obtained by, or disclosed to, him as a result of his employment by Company.

6.3           Reasonableness of Restrictions.

(a)           Executive has carefully read and considered the foregoing provision of this Section, and, having done so, agrees that the restrictions set forth in this Section, including but not limited to the time period of restriction set forth in the covenant against competition are fair and reasonable and are reasonably required for the protection of the interests of Company and its officers, directors and other employees.

(b)           In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any of the provisions of this Section shall be held invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions thereof shall nevertheless continue to be valid and enforceable as though the invalid or unenforceable parts had not been included herein.  In the event that any provision of this Section relating to the time period and/or the areas of restriction shall be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to exceed the maximum time period or areas such court deems reasonable and enforceable, the time period and/or areas of restriction deemed reasonable and enforceable by the court shall become and thereafter be the maximum time period and/or areas.

6.4           Consideration.  Executive promises in this Section not to compete with the Company and not to disclose information obtained during his employment by the Company are made in consideration of the Company's agreement to pay the compensation provided for herein for the period of employment provided herein.  Such promises by Executive constitute the material inducement to Company to employ Executive for the term and to pay the compensation provided for in this Agreement and to make and to continue to make confidential information developed by Company available to Executive.

 
 

 
6.5           Company's Remedies.  Executive covenants and agrees that if he shall violate any of his covenants or agreements contained in this Section, the Company shall, in addition to any other rights and remedies available to it at law or in equity, have the following rights and remedies against Executive:

(a)           The Company shall be relieved of any further obligation to Executive under the terms of this agreement;

(b)           The Company shall be entitled to an accounting and repayment of all profits, compensation, commissions, remunerations or other benefits that Executive, directly or indirectly, has realized and/or may realize as a result of, growing out of or in connection with, any such violation; and

(c)           Company shall be entitled to a permanent injunction to prevent or restrain the breach or violation of the agreements contained herein by Executive or by Executive's partners, agents, representatives, servants, employees and/or any and all persons directly acting for or with Executive.

The foregoing rights and remedies of the Company shall be cumulative and the election by the Company to exercise any one or more of them shall not preclude the Company's exercise of any other rights described above or otherwise available under applicable principals of law or equity.

7.           SEVERANCE BENEFITS.

7.1           Description of Benefits.

(a)           Termination without Cause or for Good Reason: If Executive's  employment shall be terminated (i) by the Company other than for Cause or (ii) by the Executive for Good Reason, subject to the limitation in Section 7.2 hereof, the Company shall pay Executive an amount equal to three hundred percent (300%) of  his Annual Base Salary.  Such amount shall be paid in equal consecutive monthly or bi-weekly installments in accordance with the Company’s regular pay schedule over a twelve (12) month period beginning on the effective date of the termination of Executive’s employment.

(b)           Termination by Death or Disability.  Upon the termination of the Executive's employment by reason of his death or Disability, the Company shall pay to the Executive or to the personal representatives of his estate (i) within thirty (30) days after the termination, a lump-sum amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Executive’s Annual Base Salary for the Contract Year in which the termination occurs and (ii) on or before the day on which the Executive’s Cash Bonus for the Contract Year in which the
 
 
 

 
 
termination occurs would have been payable if the termination had not occurred, an amount equal to the Cash Bonus the Executive would have received for that Contract Year if the termination had not occurred multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days in that Contract Year before the date of termination and the denominator of which is 365.  This subsection 9(b) shall not limit the entitlement of the Executive, his estate or beneficiaries to any disability or other benefits then available to the Executive under any life, disability insurance or other benefit plan or policy which is maintained by the Company for the Executive's benefit.

(c)           Termination for Cause or Without Good Reason.  If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or by the Executive without Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to all Annual Base Salary and all Benefits accrued through the date of termination.

(d)           Survival. Neither the termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder nor the expiration of the Contract Term shall impair the rights or obligations of any party hereto which shall have accrued hereunder prior to such termination or expiration.

(e)           Mitigation of Damages. In the event of any termination of the Executive's employment by the Company, the Executive shall not be required to seek other employment to mitigate damages, and any income earned by the Executive from other employment or self-employment shall not be offset against any obligations of the Company to the Executive under this Agreement.

7.2           Limitation on Severance Benefits.

(a)           Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, and except as provided in paragraph 7.2(b) below, payments and benefits to which Executive would otherwise be entitled under the provisions of this Agreement will be reduced (or the Executive shall make reimbursement of amounts previously paid) to the extent necessary to prevent the Executive from having any liability for the federal excise tax levied on certain “excess parachute payments” under section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code as it exists as of the date of this Agreement.

(b)           The Executive may determine the amount (if any) of reduction for each payment or benefit that he would otherwise be entitled to receive.  The extent to which the payments or benefits to the Executive are to be reduced pursuant to paragraph 7.2(a) will be determined by the accounting firm servicing the Company on the date that the Executive’s employment is terminated.  The Company shall pay the cost of such determination.

(c)           If the final determination of any reduction in any benefit or payment pursuant to this Section has not been made at the time that the Executive is entitled to receive such benefit or payment, the Company shall pay or provide an estimated amount based on a recommendation by the accounting firm making the determination under subparagraph 10(b).  When the final determination is made, the Company shall pay the Executive any additional amounts that may be due or the Executive shall reimburse the Company for any estimated amounts paid to the Executive that were in excess of the amount payable hereunder.

 
 

 
8.           DEFINITIONS.

“Annual Base Salary” is defined in Section 3.

“Cash Bonus” is defined in Section 3.

“Cause”   For purposes of this Agreement, the Company shall have "Cause" to terminate Executive's employment hereunder upon (i) a finding by the Board of Trustees of the Company’s general partner, Tanger GP Trust that Executive has materially harmed the Company through a material act of dishonesty in the performance of his duties hereunder, (ii) his conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude, fraud or embezzlement, or (iii) a finding by Tanger GP Trust’s  Board of Trustees that Executive has willfully failed to perform his material duties under this Agreement (other than a failure due to disability) after written notice specifying the failure and a reasonable opportunity to cure (it being understood that if his failure to perform is not of a type requiring a single action to cure fully, that he may commence the cure promptly after such written notice and thereafter diligently prosecute such cure to completion).

“Change of Control”  shall mean (A) the sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (other than pursuant to internal reorganization) by the Company or Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (“TFOC”) of more than 50% of its assets to a single purchaser or to a group of associated purchasers; (B) a merger, consolidation or similar transaction in which TFOC or the Company does not survive as an independent, publicly owned corporation or TFOC or an entity wholly owned by TFOC ceases to be the sole general partner of the Company; or (C) the acquisition of securities of TFOC or the Company in one or a related series of transactions (other than pursuant to an internal reorganization) by a single purchaser or a group of associated purchasers (other than Executive or any of his lineal descendants, lineal ancestors or siblings) which results in their ownership of twenty-five (25%) percent or more of the number of Common Shares of TFOC (treating any Partnership Units or Preferred Shares acquired by such purchaser or purchasers as if they had been converted to Common Shares) that would be outstanding if all of the Partnership Units and Preferred Shares were converted into Common Shares; (D) a merger involving TFOC if, immediately following the merger, the holders of TFOC’s shares immediately prior to the merger own less than fifty (50%) of the surviving company’s outstanding shares having unlimited voting rights or less than fifty percent (50%) of the value of all of the surviving company’s outstanding shares; or (E) a majority of the members of the  Company’s Board of Directors are replaced during any twelve month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board  prior to the date of the appointment or election.

Contract Term” is defined in Section 2.

Contract Year” is defined in Section 2.

Disability”  shall mean the absence of Executive from Executive's duties to the Company on a full-time basis for a total of 16 consecutive weeks during any 12 month period as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company and acceptable to Executive or Executive's legal representative (such agreement as to acceptability not to be withheld unreasonably).

 
 

 
“Good Reason”  The Executive shall have “Good Reason” to terminate his employment hereunder if (i) the Company fails to make payment of amounts due to Executive hereunder within thirty (30) days after Executive has made written demand therefor upon Company; (ii) Company commits a material breach of its obligations under this Agreement and fails to cure such breach after a thirty (30) day written notice thereof; (iii) if, after a Change of Control, the principal duties of Executive are required to be performed at a location other than the Greensboro, North Carolina metropolitan area without his consent; (iv) if Executive elects to terminate his employment by written notice to the Company within the 180 day period following a Change of Control; (v) there is a material adverse change in Executive’s job titles, duties, responsibilities, perquisites granted hereunder or authority without his consent; and (vi) the Company’s headquarters are relocated outside of the Greensboro, North Carolina Metropolitan area without Executive’s consent.

9.           MISCELLANEOUS.

9.1           Binding on Successors.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Partnership, the Company, the Executive and their respective successors, assigns, personal and legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees, as applicable.

9.2           Governing Law.  This Agreement is being made and executed in and is intended to be performed in the State of North Carolina, and shall be governed, construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of North Carolina without any reference to principles of conflicts or choice of law under which the law of any other jurisdiction would apply.

9.3           Validity.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

9.4           Notices. All notices, demands, requests or other communications (collectively, “Notices”) required to be given or which may be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be sent by (a) certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (b) national overnight delivery service, or (c) facsimile transmission (provided that the original shall be simultaneously delivered by national overnight delivery service or personal delivery), or (d) personal delivery, addressed as follows:
 
 
 

 

If to Company, to:
Tanger Properties Limited Partnership
3200 Northline Avenue
Suite 360
Greensboro, NC 27408
Attention: ____________________
With a copy to:
______________________
______________________
______________________
If to Executive, to:
JOSEPH NEHMEN
402 Waycross Drive
Greensboro, NC 27410
With a copy to:
 
Any Notice so sent by certified or registered mail, national overnight delivery service or personal delivery shall be deemed given on the date of receipt or refusal by the intended recipient as indicated on the return receipt, or the receipt of the national overnight delivery service or personal delivery service.  Any Notice sent by facsimile transmission shall be deemed given when received by the intended recipient as confirmed by the telecopier electronic confirmation receipt.  A Notice may be given either by a party or by such party’s attorney.  A Party may (i) change the address to which any Notice to that Party hereunder is to be delivered or (ii) designate additional or substituted parties to whom Notices hereunder to such Party should be sent with any such change or designation to be effective five (5) Business Days after delivery of notice thereof to the other Party in the manner herein provided.  As used herein the term “Business Day” shall mean every day, other than Saturdays, Sundays and any other day on which banks in the State in which the Center is located are not generally open for the conduct of banking business during normal business hours.

9.5           Entire Agreement.  The terms of this Agreement are intended by the parties to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the employment of the Executive by the Partnership and the Company and may not be contradicted by evidence of any prior or contemporaneous agreement. The parties further intend that this Agreement shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of its terms and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be

 
 

 



introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to vary the terms of this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement in duplicate originals as of the day and year first above written.

TANGER PROPERTIES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
(Company)

By:   /s/ Stanley K. Tanger


Print Name:     Stanley K. Tanger

Print Title:  Chairman of the Board & CEO


/s/ Joseph H. Nehmen (SEAL)
Executive

Print Name: JOSEPH NEHMEN