FORM OF O’CHARLEY’S INC. EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) O’CHARLEY’S INC. (the “Company”) and __________________ (“Executive”) November 6, 2007 BACKGROUND
EXHIBIT 10.1
O’CHARLEY’S INC.
(the “Company”)
(the “Company”)
and
__________________
(“Executive”)
(“Executive”)
November 6, 2007
BACKGROUND
| A. | Executive is currently employed as the Company’s ___ and is party to certain agreements with respect to Executive’s employment, potential severance and change-in-control payments and certain other terms, including Executive’s confidentiality and noncompetition obligations to the Company. |
| B. | The Company and Executive desire to incorporate the terms of Executive’s employment in a single agreement that replaces and supersedes any and all existing employment-related agreements. |
ARTICLE I.
EMPLOYMENT, DUTIES AND TERM
EMPLOYMENT, DUTIES AND TERM
1.1 Employment. Upon the terms and condition set forth in this Agreement, the Company hereby
employs Executive as ___, and Executive accepts such employment.
1.2 Duties. Executive shall devote his full-time and best efforts to the Company and to
fulfilling the duties of his position, which shall include such duties as may from time to time be
assigned to him by the Company. The Executive may devote reasonable time and attention to civic,
charitable, business and social organizations so long as such activities do not interfere with the
performance of Executive’s responsibilities under this Agreement and provided that Executive shall
obtain the prior written approval of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer prior to joining the
Board of Directors or other governing body of any such civic, charitable, business or social
organization in addition to any such Board of Directors or governing body on which Executive serves
as of the date of this Agreement. Executive shall comply with the Company’s policies and
procedures to the extent they are not inconsistent with this Agreement, in which case the
provisions of this Agreement shall prevail. The Executive agrees to serve without any additional
compensation as an officer and/or director of the board of directors of any subsidiary of the
Company as requested. If the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason, the Executive shall
resign as an officer and director of the Company and all of its subsidiaries.
1.3 Term. Subject to the provisions of Articles III, IV and V herein,
this Agreement and Executive’s employment shall continue until August 29, 2010 (the “Initial Term”)
and shall automatically renew for successive one year periods (each, a “Renewal Term”) upon all
terms, conditions and obligations set forth herein unless either party shall provide written notice
to the other not less than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or any
Renewal Term, as applicable. For purposes hereof, the Initial Term, together with any Renewal
Term, are hereinafter referred to as the “Term.”
ARTICLE II.
COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES
COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES
2.1 Base Salary. For services rendered under this Agreement during the Term, the Company
shall pay Executive a base salary at the rate in effect on the date hereof. Executive’s base alary
shall be reviewed annually by the Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the Board (the
“Committee”) and may be increased in the sole discretion of the Committee (such base salary, as it
may be increased from time to time during the Term, is hereinafter referred to as the “Base
Salary”).
2.2 Bonus and Incentive. The Executive shall be eligible to participate in such bonus and
incentive plans during the Term as the Committee may determine appropriate.
2.3 Business Expenses. The Company shall, consistent with its policies in effect from time to
time, bear all ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred by Executive in performing
Executive’s duties as an employee of the Company, provided, that Executive incurs and
accounts promptly for such expenses to the Company in the manner prescribed by the Company.
2.4 Benefits. During the Term, the Company shall provide Executive with those benefits
provided generally to members of senior management, including a car allowance in an amount at least
equal to the amount as in effect on the date hereof.
ARTICLE III.
SEVERANCE PRIOR TO CHANGE IN CONTROL
SEVERANCE PRIOR TO CHANGE IN CONTROL
3.1 Severance. This Article III shall not apply to termination following a Change in
Control (as hereinafter defined), which is governed solely by Article IV.
3.2 Severance Payment.
(a) It is understood and agreed that if Executive’s employment with the Company should be
terminated at any time prior to the expiration of the Term as a result of a Termination Without
Cause (defined below) or a Termination With Good Reason (defined below), and if Executive is not
then or thereafter in material breach of this Agreement, and upon the execution and delivery to the
Company by Executive of an agreement, in a form presented by the Company and accepted by Executive,
which acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, releasing all claims which
Executive may have against the Company (other than claims for indemnification pursuant to
Section 6.7 hereunder and claims under this Agreement), Executive shall receive, in full
and complete settlement of any claims for compensation which Executive may have, and in lieu of any
severance pay under any policy of the Company or otherwise, the following:
(i) continued monthly payments, in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll
practices, for a period of twelve (12) months after the date of termination equal to the sum
of (1) one-twelfth (1/12) of Executive’s Base Salary, and (2) one-twelfth (1/12) of
Executive’s target annual bonus for the fiscal year in which the date of termination occurs;
(ii) any payments and benefits which Executive or Executive’s spouse, dependents,
beneficiaries or estate would have been entitled to receive pursuant to any employee benefit
plan or program of the Company during the twelve (12)-month period following Executive’s
termination had Executive remained an employee during that period, with such benefits
provided to Executive at no less than the same coverage level and at no more of a cost to
Executive as in effect as of the date of Executive’s termination subject to such reduction
in coverage or increases in cost as shall become in effect for senior executive employees of
the Company generally, provided, however, that such continued payments and
benefits shall terminate on the date or dates Executive receives substantially similar
coverage and benefits,
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without waiting period or pre-existing condition limitations, under the plans and
programs of a subsequent employer (such coverage and benefits to be determined on a
coverage-by-coverage or benefit-by-benefit basis).
(b) As used in this Article III, “Termination Without Cause” means any termination of
Executive’s employment by the Company other than a Termination With Cause (defined below).
(c) As used in this Article III, “Termination With Cause” means termination
by the Company of Executive’s employment at any time after the Company believes in good faith it
has actual knowledge of the occurrence of any of the following events: gross neglect of duty,
material breach of this Agreement, a material act of dishonesty or disloyalty, the inability by
Executive to discharge Executive’s material duties due to alcohol or drug addiction, or gross
misconduct inimical to the best interests of the Company; provided, however, that
termination of employment solely due to unsatisfactory job performance shall not be considered a
Termination With Cause; and, provided further, that a “Termination With Cause”
shall not be deemed existing unless and until the Company has delivered to Executive a copy of a
resolution duly adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors at a meeting of the Board duly called
(after reasonable (but in no event less than seven (7) days) notice to Executive and an opportunity
for Executive, together with Executive’s counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in
the good faith opinion of the Board, Executive had engaged in the conduct set forth above and
specifying the particulars thereof in reasonable detail.
(d) As used in this Article III, “Termination with Good Reason” means Executive’s
termination of employment at any time within the earlier of two (2) years after Executive has
actual knowledge of the occurrence or the expiration of the Term, without Executive’s written
consent, of one of the following events: (i) a material reduction in Executive’s Base Salary or a
material reduction in the health and welfare insurance, retirement and other benefits available to
Executive as of the commencement of employment, except for reductions in such benefits as shall
become in effect for senior executive employees of the Company generally; (ii) the reassignment of
Executive to a position resulting in Executive not being the Company’s
___ and resulting in a material diminution in Executive’s authority,
duties or responsibilities, or a reporting relationship other than to the Chief Executive Officer,
President or Chief Operating Officer of the Company; or (iii) the relocation of Executive’s
principal office to a location more than fifty (50) miles from ___;
provided that Executive shall have notified the Company of the existence of a condition described
in items (i), (ii) or (iii), within ninety (90) days of Executive’s actual knowledge of the initial
existence of the condition, and the Company shall have failed to remedy the condition within thirty
(30) days of receiving such notice. For the avoidance of doubt, subsequent occurrences of these
events shall start new time periods described in this paragraph.
(e) In the event Executive voluntarily terminates his employment for any reason other than as
a result of a Termination with Good Reason or following a Change in Control (as defined in
Article IV) prior to the third anniversary of the date of Executive’s initial hire date,
Executive agrees to reimburse the Company for any and all amounts reimbursed by the Company or paid
by the Company in respect of Executive’s relocation to Nashville, Tennessee.
(f) The amounts payable to Executive under this Article III are not eligible earnings
under any pension, savings, deferred compensation, bonus, incentive, supplemental retirement
benefit or other benefit plan of the Company.
ARTICLE IV.
CHANGE IN CONTROL
CHANGE IN CONTROL
4.1 Change In Control. No compensation shall be payable under this Article IV unless
and until (a) there shall have been a Change in Control of the Company during the Term and (b)
Executive’s
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employment by the Company thereafter shall have been terminated in accordance with Section
4.2. For purposes of this Agreement, a Change in Control means the happening of any of the
following:
(a) any person or entity, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, other than the Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary thereof, any employee
benefit plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries becomes the beneficial owner of the
Company’s securities having 30% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding
securities of the Company that may be cast for the election of directors of the Company (other than
as a result of an issuance of securities initiated by the Company in the ordinary course of
business); or
(b) as the result of, or in connection with, any cash tender or exchange offer, merger or
other business combination, sale of assets or contested election, or any combination of the
foregoing transactions, less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding
securities of the Company or any successor corporation or entity entitled to vote generally in the
election of the directors of the Company or such other corporation or entity after such transaction
are held in the aggregate by the holders of the Company’s securities entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors of the Company immediately prior to such transaction; or
(c) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of any such
period constitute the Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless
the election, or the nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, of each director of the
Company first elected during such period was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
directors of the Company then still in office who were directors of the Company at the beginning of
any such period.
4.2 Termination. If a Change in Control of the Company shall have occurred during the Term,
Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided in Section 4.3 upon the subsequent
termination of Executive’s employment with the Company by Executive or by the Company within
eighteen months of the Change in Control of the Company unless such termination is as a result of
(i) Executive’s death; (ii) Termination by Reason of Disability (as defined in Section
4.2(a)); (iii) Termination by Reason of Retirement (as defined in Section 4.2(b); (iv)
Termination With Cause (as defined in Section 4.2(c)); or (v) termination by the Executive
other than a Termination for Good Reason (as defined in Section 4.2(d)).
(a) As used in this Article IV, “Termination by Reason of Disability” means a
termination of the Executive by the Company by reason of Executive’s inability, as determined by
the Board, to perform his regular duties and responsibilities due to physical or mental illness
which has lasted for six months and within 30 days after written notice of termination is
thereafter given by the Company, Executive shall not have returned to the full-time performance of
Executive’s duties.
(b) As used in this Article IV, “Termination by Reason of Retirement” means a
termination by the Company or Executive of Executive’s employment based on Executive’s having
reached age 65 or such other age as shall have been fixed in any arrangement established with
Executive’s consent with respect to Executive.
(c) As used in this Article IV, “Termination With Cause” means the termination of the
Executive’s employment on the basis of fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement on the part of
Executive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the termination of Executive’s employment shall not be
deemed to have been a Termination With Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to
Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than
three-quarters of the membership of the Company’s Board of Directors (excluding Executive if
Executive is then a member of the Board of Directors) at a meeting of the Board called and held for
the purpose (after reasonable notice to Executive and an opportunity for Executive, together with
Executive’s counsel, to be heard before the
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Board), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board Executive was guilty of conduct
set forth in the first sentence of this Section 4(c) and specifying the particulars thereof
in detail.
(d) As used in this Article IV, “Termination for Good Reason” means a termination by
the Executive upon the occurrence of any of the following (without Executive’s express written
consent):
(i) the assignment to Executive by the Company of duties that constitute a material
diminution of Executive’s position, duties, responsibilities and status with the Company
immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or a change in Executive’s titles
or offices as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company, or any
removal of Executive from or any failure to reelect Executive to any of such positions,
except in connection with a Termination by Reason of Disability, a Termination by Reason of
Retirement, a Termination With Cause, a termination by the Executive other than a
Termination for Good Reason or as a result of Executive’s death (each as defined in this
Article IV);
(ii) a material reduction by the Company in Executive’s Base Salary or a material
reduction in the health and welfare insurance, retirement and other benefits available to
Executive as of immediately prior to the Change in Control, except for reductions in such
benefits as shall become in effect for senior executive employees of the Company generally;
(iii) a relocation of the Company’s principal executive offices to a location outside
of Nashville, Tennessee, or Executive’s relocation to any place other than the location at
which Executive performed Executive’s duties prior to a Change in Control of the Company,
except for required travel by Executive on the Company’s business to an extent substantially
consistent with Executive’s business travel obligations at the time of a Change in Control
of the Company;
(iv) any material breach by the Company of any provision of this Agreement; or
(v) any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of this Agreement by any
successor or assign of the Company;
provided that Executive shall have notified the Company of the existence of a condition described
in items (i), (ii) or (iii), within ninety (90) days of Executive’s actual knowledge of the initial
existence of the condition, and the Company shall have failed to remedy the condition within thirty
(30) days of receiving such notice. For the avoidance of doubt, subsequent occurrences of these
events shall start new time periods described in this paragraph.
(e) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company under this Article
IV shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice
of Termination” shall mean a written notice which indicates those specific termination provisions
in this Agreement relied upon and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances
claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executive’s employment under the provisions so
indicated. For purposes of this Agreement, no such purported termination by the Company shall be
effective without such Notice of Termination.
(f) Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” shall mean (a) if Executive’s
employment is terminated by the Company, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given, or (b)
if Executive terminates his employment pursuant to Section 4.2(d), the expiration of the
thirty (30) day cure period without the Company remedying the applicable condition described in
Section 4.2(d)(i) to v.
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4.3 Compensation Upon Termination of Employment.
(a) If the Company shall terminate Executive’s employment within eighteen months following a
Change in Control other than pursuant to Section 4.2(a), 4.2(b) or 4.2(c)
or if Executive shall terminate his employment within eighteen months following a Change in Control
by reason of a Termination for Good Reason, then the Company shall pay to Executive as severance
pay in a lump sum, in cash, on the fifth day following the Date of Termination, an amount equal to
the sum of (i) 150% of the average of the Base Salary paid to Executive by the Company during the
three calendar years preceding the Change in Control and (ii) 150% of the highest bonus
compensation paid to Executive for any of the three calendar years preceding the Change in Control;
provided, however, that if the lump sum severance payment under this Section
4.3, either alone or together with other payments which Executive has the right to receive from
the Company, would constitute a “parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)), at the written election of the Executive such lump
sum severance payment shall be reduced to the largest amount as shall result in no portion of the
lump sum severance payment under this Section 4.3 being subject to the excise tax imposed
by Section 4999 of the Code.
(b) In addition to the lump sum payment provided in Section 4.3(a), if the Company
shall terminate Executive’s employment within eighteen months following a Change in Control other
than pursuant to Section 4.2(a), 4.2(b) or 4.2(c) or if Executive shall
terminate his employment within eighteen months following a Change in Control by reason of a
Termination for Good Reason, then the Company shall provide to Executive health insurance
equivalent to that provided to Executive immediately prior to the Date of Termination until the
earlier of: (i) eighteen months following the Date of Termination or (ii) such time as Executive is
employed by another employer and is covered or permitted to be covered by benefit plans of another
employer providing substantially similar coverage.
ARTICLE V.
NONCOMPETITION, NONSOLICITATION AND CONFIDENTIALITY
NONCOMPETITION, NONSOLICITATION AND CONFIDENTIALITY
5.1 Noncompetition.
(a) So long as Executive remains employed by the Company, Executive shall not compete,
directly or indirectly, with the Company. In accordance with this restriction, but without limiting
its terms, Executive shall not:
(i) enter into or engage in any business which competes with the business of the
Company; or
(ii) promote or assist, financially or otherwise, any person, firm, association or
corporation or any other entity engaged in any business which competes with the business of
the Company.
(b) For a period of twelve (12) months following termination of Executive’s employment with
the Company (the “Non-compete Period”), Executive shall not enter into or engage in any business
that competes with the Company’s business.
(c) During the Non-compete Period, Executive shall not promote or assist financially or
otherwise, any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, or any other entity engaged in
any business which competes with the Company’s business.
(d) For the purposes of this Section 5.1, Executive understands that he shall be
competing if he engages in any or all of the activities set forth herein directly as an individual
on his own account, or indirectly as a partner, joint venturer, employee, agent, consultant,
officer and/or director of any firm, association, corporation, or other entity, or as a stockholder
of any corporation in which
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Executive owns, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, more than one
percent (1%) of the outstanding stock; provided, however, that at such time as he
is no longer employed by the Company, Executive’s direct or indirect ownership as a stockholder of
less than five percent (5%) of the outstanding stock of any publicly traded corporation shall not
by itself constitute a violation of this Section 5.1.
(e) For the purposes of this Section 5.1, the Company’s business is defined as owning,
operating and/or franchising restaurants in the casual dining segment of the restaurant industry
and such other segments of the restaurant industry in which the Company shall own, operate or
franchise restaurants during the Term and as of the date of termination of Executive’s employment
with the Company. Executive understands that the activities described in this Section 5.1,
shall be prohibited only within the United States. If it shall be judicially determined that
Executive has violated any of his obligations under this Section 5.1, then the period
applicable to the obligation which Executive shall have been determined to have violated shall
automatically be extended by a period of time equal in length to the
period during which said
violation(s) occurred.
violation(s) occurred.
(f) In the event of a termination of Executive’s employment under circumstances where
Executive is not entitled to receive severance pay pursuant to Section 3.2(a) or Section 4.3 of
this Agreement, prior to engaging in any of the activities set forth in Section 5.1(b) or 5.1(c)
during the Non-compete Period (a “Competitive Activity”), Executive shall give 30 days prior
written notice to the Company describing in reasonable detail the proposed Competitive Activity and
a copy of any written offer of employment or engagement relating thereto. At its sole option, the
Company may, by written notice to Executive provided within 20 days of receipt of Executive’s
notice meeting the requirements of this Section 5.1(f), waive the restrictions on the ability of
the Executive to engage in the Competitive Activity set forth in Executive’s notice. In such
event, Executive shall be entitled to engage in the Competitive Activity set forth in Executive’s
notice. In the event Executive has provided notice to the Company pursuant to this Section 5.1(f),
Executive has not engaged in the Competitive Activity described in the notice as a result of his
non-competition obligations set forth in this Section 5.1 and the Company has not waived the
restrictions on the ability of the Executive to engage in such Competitive Activity in accordance
with this Section 5.1(f), the Company shall pay Executive an amount equal to the usual rate of
Executive’s Base Salary and proportionate share of target annual bonus for the fiscal year in which
Executive’s date of termination occurred in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices
until the end of the Non-compete Period.
5.2 Nonsolicitation. Executive agrees that he shall not directly or indirectly at any time
solicit or induce or attempt to solicit or induce any employee(s) (at the level of director or
above) of the Company or any of its parent, subsidiary or affiliate entities to terminate their
employment with the Company or such entity.
5.3 Confidentiality.
(a) During the Term and at any time thereafter, Executive shall not disclose, furnish,
disseminate, make available or, except in the ordinary course of performing his duties on behalf of
the Company, use any trade secrets or confidential business and technical information of the
Company, or its parent, subsidiaries or affiliated entities without limitation as to when it was
acquired by Executive or whether it was compiled or obtained by, or furnished to Executive while he
was employed by the Company. Such trade secrets and confidential business and technical information
are considered to include, without limitation, development plans, financial statistics, research
data, or any other statistics and plans contained in monthly and annual review books, profit plans,
capital plans, critical issues plans, strategic plans, or marketing, real estate, or store
operations plans. Executive specifically acknowledges that all such information, whether reduced to
writing or maintained in Executive’s mind or memory and whether compiled by the Company and/or
Executive derives independent economic value from not being readily known to or ascertainable by
proper means by others who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, that reasonable
efforts have been put forth by the Company to maintain the secrecy of
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such information, that such information is and shall remain the sole property of the Company
and that any retention and use of such information during or after the termination of Executive’s
relationship with the Company (except in the course of Executive’s performance of his duties) shall
constitute a misappropriation of the Company’s trade secrets; provided, however, that this
restriction shall not apply to information which is in the public domain or otherwise made public
by others through no fault of Executive.
(b) The above restrictions on disclosure and use of confidential information shall not prevent
Executive from: (i) using or disclosing information in the good faith performance of his duties on
behalf of the Company; (ii) using or disclosing information to another employee to whom disclosure
is required to perform in good faith the duties of either person on behalf of the Company; (iii)
using or disclosing information to another person or entity bound by a duty or an agreement of
confidentiality as part of the performance in good faith of Executive’s duties on behalf of the
Company or as authorized in writing by the Company; (iv) at any time after the period of
Executive’s employment using or disclosing information to the extent such information is, through
no fault or disclosure of Executive, generally known to the public; (v) using or disclosing
information which was not disclosed to Executive by the Company or otherwise during the period of
Executive’s employment which is then disclosed to Executive after termination of Executive’s
employment with the Company by a third party who is under no duty or obligation not to disclose
such information; or (vi) disclosing information as required by law. If Executive becomes legally
compelled to disclose any of the confidential information, Executive shall (i) provide the Company
with reasonable prior written notice of the need for such disclosure such that the Company may
obtain a protective order; (ii) if disclosure is required, furnish only that portion of the
confidential information which, in the written opinion of Executive’s counsel delivered to the
Company, is legally required; and (iii) exercise reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurances
that confidential treatment shall be accorded to the confidential information.
(c) Executive expressly agrees and understands that the remedy at law for any breach by
Executive of this Article V will be inadequate and that the damages flowing from such
breach are not readily susceptible to being measured in monetary terms. Accordingly, it is
acknowledged that upon any violation of any provision of this Article V, the Company will
be entitled to immediate injunctive relief and may obtain a temporary order restraining any
threatened or further breach without the necessity of proof of actual damage. Nothing in this
Agreement shall be deemed to limit the Company’s remedies at law or in equity for any further
breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Agreement which may be pursued or availed of
by the Company.
ARTICLE VI.
MISCELLANEOUS
MISCELLANEOUS
6.1 Notice. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for
in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or
mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company:
|
O’Charley’s Inc. | |||
| ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| Attention: Chair, Compensation and | ||||
| Human Resources Committee | ||||
If to Executive: |
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| ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ | ||||
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ |
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or such other address as either 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.
6.2 Modification. No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged
unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in a writing signed by Executive and the
Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of,
or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other
party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at
any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or
implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party that are not set
forth expressly in this Agreement.
6.3 Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any 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.
6.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
6.5 Legal Fees and Expenses. In the event either party hereto shall institute litigation
against the other party hereto relating to the interpretation or enforcement of this Agreement, the
prevailing party in such litigation shall be entitled to recover from the other party any and all
attorneys’ and related fees and expenses incurred by the prevailing party in such litigation.
6.6 No Obligation to Mitigate Damages; No Effect on Other Contractual Rights. Executive shall
not be required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement
by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by Executive as the result of employment by
another employer after the Term, or otherwise.
6.7 Indemnification. It is understood and agreed that the Company will indemnify Executive
(including advancing expenses) to the fullest extent permitted by Tennessee law and the Company’s
Charter and Bylaws for any judgments, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including
reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by Executive in connection with the defense of any lawsuit or
other claim to which Executive is made a party by reason of being an officer, director or employee
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
6.8 Assignment; Successor to the Company. This Agreement is not assignable by either party
without the prior written consent of the other except that the Company may assign it without such
consent to any parent, subsidiary or affiliated entity, and upon such entity’s assumption of the
Company’s duties and obligations hereunder, such entity shall succeed to each of the Company’s
rights hereunder. Upon such assignment and assumption, Executive agrees to and becomes an employee
of such entity, and all references to the Company in this Agreement shall, as the context requires,
be deemed to be to the entity to which such assignment, assumption and employment relate. The
Company will require any successor or assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the
Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, expressly, absolutely
and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the
same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession or assignment
had taken place. Any failure of the Company to obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of
any such succession or assignment shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle
the Executive to terminate the Executive’s employment and such termination shall constitute a
Termination for Good Reason under Article IV. As used in this Agreement,
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“Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor or assign to its
business and/or assets as aforesaid which executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this
Section 6.8 or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by
operation of law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Agreement, in the event of
the death of Executive, shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s personal
and legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributes, devisees and
legatees. If Executive should die while any amounts are still payable to him hereunder, all such
amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement to Executive’s devisee, legatee, or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to
Executive’s estate.
6.9 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement and any amendments thereto shall become and
shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal, substantive laws of the State
of Tennessee. Executive agrees that the state and federal courts located in the State of Tennessee
shall have jurisdiction in any action, suite or proceeding against Executive arising out of this
Agreement and Executive hereby: (a) submits to the personal jurisdiction of such courts; (b)
consents to service of process in connection with any action, suite or proceeding against
Executive; and (c) waives any other requirement (whether imposed by statute, rule of court or
otherwise) with respect to personal jurisdiction, venue or service of process.
6.10 Section 409A Provisions. It is intended that (i) each payment or installment of payments
provided under this Agreement is a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code and
(ii) that the payments satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the
application of Code Section 409A, including those provided under Treasury Regulations
1.409A-1(b)(4) (regarding short-term deferrals), 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) (regarding the two-times, two
year exception), and 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) (regarding reimbursements and other separation pay).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Company determines (i) that on
the date of Executive’s termination of employment or at such other time that the Company determines
to be relevant, the Executive is a “specified employee” (as such term is defined under Treasury
Regulation 1.409A-1(i)(1)) of the Company and (ii) that any payments to be provided to the
Executive pursuant to this Agreement are or may become subject to the additional tax under Code
Section 409A(a)(1)(B) or any other taxes or penalties imposed under Code Section 409A (“Section
409A Taxes”) if provided at the time otherwise required under this Agreement, then (A) such
payments shall be delayed until the date that is six (6) months after the date of the Executive’s
termination of employment with the Company, or such shorter period that, as determined by the
Company, is sufficient to avoid the imposition of Section 409A Taxes (the “Payment Delay Period”).
Any payments delayed pursuant to this Section 6.10 shall be made in a lump sum on the first day of
the seventh month following the Executive’s termination of employment, or such earlier date that,
as determined by the Company, is sufficient to avoid the imposition of any Section 409A Taxes.
6.11 Entire Agreement. This Agreement supersedes the provisions of each and every other
agreement or understanding, whether oral or written, between the undersigned and the Company
relating to the subject matter contained herein, and any such agreement or understanding shall be
of no further force and effect, provided, the provisions of this Agreement, and any payment
provided for hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise payable, or in any way diminish
Executive’s existing rights, or rights which would accrue solely as a result of the passage of
time, under any benefit plan, incentive plan or stock option plan or agreement. The provisions of
this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions may be determined to be illegal or
otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions and any partially
unenforceable provision, to the extent enforceable in any jurisdiction, shall, nevertheless, be
binding and enforceable. The parties hereto agree that when fully executed, the foregoing shall
constitute a legally enforceable agreement between the parties, which also shall inure the benefit
of the Company’s successors and assigns.
6.12 Review of Agreement by Executive. Executive represents that prior to signing this
Agreement, he has read, fully understood and voluntarily agrees to the terms and conditions as
stated
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above, that he was not coerced to sign this agreement, that Executive was not under duress at
the time he signed this Agreement and that, prior to signing this Agreement, Executive had adequate
time to consider entering into this Agreement, including without limitation, the opportunity to
discuss the terms and conditions of this Agreement, as well as its legal consequences, with an
attorney of his choice. This Agreement shall become effective as of the commencement date of
Executive’s employment with the Company.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above
written.
| O’CHARLEY’S INC. |
||||
| By: | ||||
| Name: | ||||
| Title: | ||||
| EXECUTIVE |
||||
| Name: | ||||
| Title: | ||||
Signature Page to O’Charley’s Inc. Executive Employment Agreement
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