Consulting Services Agreement dated May 3, 2022 between Tripadvisor LLC and Stephen Kaufer
Exhibit 10.2
CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT
This Consulting Services Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of May 3, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), is made between Tripadvisor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company with an address of 400 First Avenue, Needham, MA 02494 (the “Company”), and Stephen Kaufer (“Co-Founder”).
WHEREAS, Co-Founder is currently employed by Tripadvisor, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Tripadvisor”), and its subsidiaries (including the Company), as its President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to that certain Employment Agreement between Co-Founder and the Company, dated March 31, 2014, as amended effective November 28, 2017, and its Standard Terms and Conditions (collectively referred to as the “Employment Agreement”);
WHEREAS, Co-Founder intends to retire from the Company effective July 1, 2022 (“the Termination Date”);
WHEREAS, in order to facilitate an orderly transition to a successor President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the “Executive”), the Company desires to engage Co-Founder as an independent contractor after the Termination Date to perform certain strategic advisory and consulting services (as described in Section 1.1 hereof, the “Services”); and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises and undertakings herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE ONE
CONSULTING SERVICES
ARTICLE TWO
COVENANTS AND WARRANTIES
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ARTICLE THREE
COMPENSATION
ARTICLE FOUR
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INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
ARTICLE FIVE
TERM AND TERMINATION
ARTICLE SIX
Nondisclosure, Developments and Non-Competition
6.1 Co-Founder acknowledges that during the Term, he will have access to and will be entrusted with confidential information and trade secrets relating to the business of the Company. As a result, to protect the Company’s substantial investment of time and money in the creation and maintenance of its confidential information and goodwill with its customers, clients, and collaborators, this Agreement is contingent upon Co-Founder’s signing the Company's Non-Disclosure, Developments and Non-Competition Agreement contained in Exhibit B hereto (the “NDA
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Agreement”) and his continued willingness to abide by its terms. Co-Founder acknowledges and agrees that the promises contained in the NDA Agreement are in addition to any covenants relating to the same or similar conduct in the Employment Agreement.
ARTICLE SEVEN
MISCELLANEOUS
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the dates below.
TRIPADVISOR LLC
By: /s/ Seth J. Kalvert Name: Seth J. Kalvert Title: Chief Legal Officer Date: May 3, 2022
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CO-FOUNDER
/s/ Stephen Kaufer Stephen Kaufer Date: May 3, 2022
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EXHIBIT A
EQUITY AWARDS
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Grant Date | Grant Type | QTY - Granted | QTY – Unvested as of the Effective Date | ||
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11/28/2017 | RSU | 478,224 | 239,112 |
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2/23/2021 | RSU | 13,094 | 13,094 |
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12/31/2021 | RSU | 106,382 | 106,382 |
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11/28/2017 | NQ | 780,000 | 390,000 |
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12/31/2021 | NQ | 110,026 | 110,026 |
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12/31/2021 | NQ | 115,200 | 115,200 |
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EXHIBIT B
Nondisclosure, Developments and Non-Competition Agreement
THIS NONDISCLOSURE, DEVELOPMENTS AND NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT, effective as of the date first written below, (this "Agreement"), is between Tripadvisor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and Stephen Kaufer (hereinafter called the "Signatory") and is made for the express benefit and protection of the Company, and any parent, subsidiary, division, unit or affiliate thereof that Signatory provides services to or that Signatory receives Confidential Information from or about (collectively the “Company Group”).
WHEREAS, the Signatory is about to become a consultant to the Company pursuant to a Consulting Services Agreement; and
WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the commencement of the Signatory's association with the Company as a consultant that the Signatory shall enter into this Agreement with the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, the parties hereby mutually agree as follows:
1. Confidential Information.
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2. Inventions; Assignment.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Inventions” shall mean all inventions, improvements, developments, ideas, processes, prototypes, plans, drawings, designs, models, formulations, specifications, methods, techniques, shop-practices, discoveries, innovations, creations, technologies, formulas, algorithms, data, computer databases, reports, laboratory notebooks, papers, writings, photographs, source and object codes, software programs, other works of authorship, and know-how (including all records pertaining to any of the foregoing), whether or not reduced to writing and whether or not patented or patentable or registered or registrable under patent, copyright, trademark or similar statute. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Assigned Inventions" shall mean (i) any and all Inventions that are made, conceived, invented, discovered, originated, authored, created, learned or reduced to practice by the Signatory, either alone or together with others, in the course of performing the Services to the Company during the Term (regardless of whether or not such Inventions were made, conceived, invented, discovered, originated, authored, created, learned or reduced to practice by the Signatory at the Company Group's facilities or during regular business hours or utilizing resources of the Company Group) or (ii) any and all Inventions that arise out of or are based upon any Confidential Information. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Proprietary Rights" shall mean (x) any and all rights under or in connection with any patents, patent applications, copyrights, copyright applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, service mark applications, trade names, trade name applications, mask works, trade secrets and/or other intellectual property rights with respect to Assigned Inventions and (y) the goodwill associated with any and all of the rights referred to in the foregoing clause (x).
(b) The Signatory hereby agrees to hold any and all Assigned Inventions and Proprietary Rights in trust for the sole right and benefit of the Company, and the Signatory hereby assigns to the Company all of the Company's right, title and interest in and to any and all Assigned Inventions and Proprietary Rights. The Signatory agrees to give the Company prompt written notice of any Assigned Invention or Proprietary Right and agrees to execute such instruments of transfer, assignment, conveyance or confirmation and such other documents as the Company may request to evidence, confirm or perfect the assignment of all of the Signatory's right, title and interest in and to any Assigned Invention or Proprietary Right pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2(b). The Signatory hereby waives and quitclaims to the Company any and all claims of any nature whatsoever that the
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Signatory may now or hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assigned hereunder to the Company.
(c) The Signatory hereby acknowledges and agrees that those Assigned Inventions that are original works of authorship protectable by copyright are "works made for hire," as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act.
(d) At the request of the Company, the Signatory will assist the Company in every proper way (including, without limitation, by executing patent applications) to obtain and enforce in any country in the world Proprietary Rights relating to any or all Assigned Inventions. The Signatory's obligation under this Section 2(d) shall continue after the conclusion of the Term.
(e) By this Agreement, the Signatory hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Company as its attorney-in-fact for the purpose of executing, in the Signatory's name and on its behalf, (i) such instruments or other documents as may be necessary to evidence, confirm or perfect any assignment pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2 or (ii) such applications, certificates, instruments or documents as may be necessary to obtain or enforce any Proprietary Rights in any country of the world. This power of attorney is coupled with an interest on the part of the Company and is irrevocable.
3. Non-Competition. In consideration of the good and valuable consideration provided in the Consulting Services Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by Signatory, Signatory hereby agrees and covenants that from the period commencing on July 2, 2022 and continuing until July 1, 2024 (the "Restricted Period"), Signatory shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in, assist or become associated with a Competitive Activity. For purposes of this Section 3: (i) a "Competitive Activity" means any business or other endeavor in any jurisdiction of a kind being conducted by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates during the Term of the Consulting Services Agreement (or demonstrably anticipated by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates), in
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any jurisdiction; and (ii) Signatory shall be considered to have become "associated with a Competitive Activity" if Signatory becomes directly or indirectly involved as an owner, principal, employee, officer, director, independent contractor, representative, stockholder, financial backer, agent, partner, advisor, lender, or in any other individual or representative capacity with any individual, partnership, corporation or other organization that is engaged in a Competitive Activity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Signatory may make and retain investments during the Restricted Period, for investment purposes only, in less than 5% of the outstanding capital stock of any publicly-traded corporation engaged in a Competitive Activity if stock of such corporation is either listed on a national stock exchange or on the NASDAQ National Market System if Signatory is not otherwise affiliated with such corporation; (ii) Signatory may serve as an employee or partner (or otherwise invest or hold an ownership interest) in an investment firm that has an ownership interest in a partnership, corporation or other organization that is engaged in a Competitive Activity, provided that such ownership interest does not constitute greater than 20% of such investment firm's total assets under management and Signatory is not directly involved with the provision of direction or management of such entity engaged in the Competitive Activity, including the investment decisions thereof; and (iii) Signatory may serve as an employee of or partner (or otherwise hold an ownership interest) in a consultancy or investment bank engaged in providing advisory services to entities engaged in Competitive Activities; provided that Signatory is not directly involved in the provision of the advisory services to such entities engaged in the Competitive Activity.
4. Non-Solicitation of Employees. Signatory recognizes that he will possess Confidential Information about employees, officers, directors, agents, consultants and independent contractors of the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates relating to their education, experience, skills, abilities, compensation and benefits, and inter-personal relationships with suppliers to and customers of the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates. Signatory recognizes that the information he will possess about these employees, officers, directors, agents, consultants and independent contractors is not generally known, is of substantial value to the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates in developing their respective businesses and in securing and retaining customers and will be acquired by Signatory because of Signatory's business position with the Company. Signatory agrees (i) that, during the Restricted Period, Signatory will not, directly or indirectly, hire or solicit or recruit the employment or services of (i.e., whether as an employee, officer, director, agent, consultant or independent contractor), or encourage to change such person's relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, any employee, officer, director, agent, consultant or independent contractor of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, provided, however, that a general solicitation of the public for employment (and any hiring pursuant thereto) shall not constitute a solicitation hereunder so long as such general solicitation is not designed to target, or does not have the effect of targeting, any employee, officer, director, agent, consultant or independent contractor of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, provided, further, that the hiring, solicitation or engagement (i.e., on a non-exclusive basis) of third-party professional advisors (e.g., law firms, accountancies) shall not constitute recruitment hereunder and (ii) that Signatory will not convey any Confidential Information or trade secrets about any employees, officers, directors, agents, consultants and independent contractors of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates to any other person except within the scope of Signatory's duties hereunder.
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5. Non-Solicitation of Customers, Suppliers, Partners. During the Restricted Period, Signatory shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, solicit, attempt to do business with, or do business with any customers of, suppliers (including providers of travel inventory) to, business partners of or business affiliates of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates (collectively, "Trade Relationships") on behalf of any entity engaged in a Competitive Activity, or encourage (regardless of who initiates the contact) any Trade Relationship to use the services of any competitor of the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates, or encourage any Trade Relationship to change its relationship with the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates.
6. Unique Nature of Agreement; Specific Enforcement. The Company and the Signatory agree and acknowledge that the rights and obligations set forth in this Agreement are of a unique and special nature and that the Company (and, as applicable, the Signatory) is, therefore, without an adequate legal remedy in the event of a violation of any of the covenants set forth in this Agreement. The Company and the Signatory agree, therefore, that, in addition to all other rights and remedies, at law or in equity or otherwise, that may be available to the Company or the Signatory, each of the covenants made by under this Agreement shall be enforceable by injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief, without any requirement that any person have to post a bond in securing such relief. The parties hereby agree, in connection with any action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, to waive any claim or defense that there is an adequate remedy at law.
7. Consideration; Time to Review. Signatory acknowledges and agrees that the vesting of Equity Grants, as described in Article Three of the Consulting Services Agreement constitutes mutually-agreed upon and fair and reasonable consideration for the covenants contained this Agreement, including Sections 3 through 5. Signatory has been advised to consult with a lawyer regarding this Agreement and has been provided at least ten (10) business days before the commencement of the Consulting Services Agreement.
8. Miscellaneous.
8.1. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the arrangements contemplated hereby. No prior agreement, whether written or oral, shall be construed to change, amend, alter, repeal or invalidate this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument executed in one or more counterparts by the parties.
8.2. Waiver. No consent to or waiver of any breach or default in the performance of any obligations hereunder shall be deemed or construed to be a consent to or waiver of any other breach or default in the performance of any of the same or any other obligations hereunder. Failure on the part of either party to complain of any act or failure to act of the other party or to declare the other party in default, irrespective of the duration of such failure, shall not constitute a waiver of rights hereunder and no waiver hereunder shall be effective unless it is in writing, executed by the party waiving the breach or default hereunder.
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8.3. Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement may be assigned by the Company for no additional consideration and without Signatory’s consent to any Affiliate of the Company and to a successor of its business to which this Agreement relates (whether by purchase or otherwise). "Affiliate of the Company" means any person which, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with the Company and, for the purposes of this definition, "control" (including the terms "controlled by" and "under common control with") shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of another whether through the ownership of voting securities or holding of office in another, by contract or otherwise. The Signatory may not assign or transfer any or all of his, her or its rights or obligations under this Agreement.
8.4. Jurisdiction and Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial. In case of any dispute hereunder, the parties mutually agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Superior Court of Massachusetts sitting in Suffolk County and will comply with all requirements necessary to give such court jurisdiction over the parties and the controversy. Either the civil session or the Business Litigation Session shall have jurisdiction to hear the dispute. EACH PARTY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL, WHERE PERMITTED BY LAW.
8.5. Severability. All headings and subdivisions of this Agreement are for reference only and shall not affect its interpretation. In the event that any provision of this Agreement should be held unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such court is hereby authorized to amend such provision so as to be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law, and all remaining provisions shall continue in full force without being impaired or invalidated in any way.
8.6. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, excluding choice of law rules thereof.
8.7. Communications With Governmental Entities. Nothing in this Agreement, including but not limited to Sections 1 and 2, prohibits Signatory from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity, including but not limited to the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any agency Inspector General, or making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation. Signatory does not need the prior authorization of the Company to make any such reports or disclosures and Signatory is not required to notify the company that he has made such reports or disclosures.
Further, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Signatory shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of any trade secret of the Company if the disclosure is (a) made in confidence to a federal, state or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney and solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (2) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. An individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the
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employee files any document containing the trade secret under seal and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.
THE SIGNATORY HAS HAD SUFFICIENT TIME TO READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY AND UNDERSTANDS ITS TERMS. The parties enter into this Agreement voluntarily and will not claim it was entered into under coercion or duress, or without full knowledge of its terms.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, have executed and delivered this Agreement as an instrument under seal as of the date first written below.
ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED AS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE:
Signatory
Sign:
Date:
ACCEPTED:
Tripadvisor LLC
Sign:
Title: ________________________
Date:
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EXHIBIT C
GENERAL RELEASE AND WAIVER OF CLAIMS
For good and valuable consideration, as specifically set out in the Consulting Services Agreement, Stephen Kaufer (“Executive”) for himself, and for his heirs, executors, estates, agents, representatives, attorneys, insurers, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Releasors”), hereby voluntarily releases and forever discharges Tripadvisor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Company”), its parent company, Tripadvisor, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and each of their subsidiaries (direct and indirect), affiliates, related companies, divisions, and predecessor and successor companies, and each of its and their present, former and future shareholders, officers, directors, managers, employees, agents, representatives, attorneys, insurers and assigns (collectively, the “Releasees”) from all actions, causes of action, suits, debts, sums of money, accounts, covenants, contracts, agreements, promises, damages, judgments, demands and claims which you ever had, or now have, for, upon or by reason of any matter or cause whatsoever, whether known or unknown, in law or equity, whether statutory or common law, whether federal, state, local or otherwise, including but not limited to claims arising out of or in any way related to any claims arising or relating to Executive’s employment by the Company, the termination thereof, any contract of employment, or any related matters including but not limited to claims, if any, arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, as amended, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) of 1974, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 151B, the state anti-discrimination laws, the Massachusetts Equal Rights Act (M.G.L. Chapter 93, Section 102), the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act (M.G.L. Chapter 12, Sections 11H & 11I), the Massachusetts Payment of Wages law (M.G.L. Chapter 149, Sections 148 and 150), any whistleblower claims under state or federal law and any other claims under federal or state common law or any other applicable federal, state or local law, statute, regulation or ordinance.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in the General Release and Waiver of Claims (“Release”) shall preclude Executive from filing a charge of discrimination with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) or equivalent state agency or participating in or cooperating with an investigation by the EEOC or equivalent state agency, but Executive agrees that he will not be entitled to any monetary or other relief from the EEOC, state agency or from any Court as a result of litigation brought on the basis of or in connection with such charge, investigation or proceeding.
Further, nothing in this Release prohibits Executive from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity, including but not limited to the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any agency Inspector General, or making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation. Executive does not need the prior authorization of the Company to make any such reports or disclosures and Executive is not required to notify the Company that he has made such reports or disclosures.
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By signing below, Executive represents that:
(a) The Company has advised Executive to consult with an attorney of his choosing concerning the rights waived in this Release;
(b) Executive has carefully read this document and that Executive is fully aware of the Release’s contents and legal effect, including the waiver of any legal claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act;
(c) Executive is voluntarily signing the Release;
(d) Executive understands that he is receiving benefits that Executive would not otherwise be entitled to if he did not sign the Release;
(e) Executive acknowledges that the Company has provided him information in accordance with the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act and that he has carefully considered that information; and
If the terms of this Release are acceptable, please sign and return it either electronically via DocuSign or hard copy to the Chief People Officer, Tripadvisor LLC, 400 1st Avenue, Needham, MA 02494 after the Executive’s Termination Date, but no later than July 6, 2022. Executive may not sign this Release prior to his Termination Date.
Signed this 3rd day of May, 2022.
Stephen Kaufer
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