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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Employee Retention Agreement

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT | Document Parties: DARWIN PROFESSIONAL UNDERWRITERS INC You are currently viewing:
This Employee Retention Agreement involves

DARWIN PROFESSIONAL UNDERWRITERS INC

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Title: EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Governing Law: New York     Date: 8/8/2008
Industry: Insurance (Prop. and Casualty)     Sector: Financial

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, Parties: darwin professional underwriters inc
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Exhibit 10.6

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

          This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 27th day of June 2008 by and between Darwin Professional Underwriters, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Mark I. Rosen (“ Employee ”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

          WHEREAS, Employee is currently employed by the Company;

          WHEREAS, Employee is a party to an amended and restated employment agreement with Company, dated November 11, 2005 (the “ Prior Agreement ”); and

          WHEREAS, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Company desires to enter into a new agreement (this “ Agreement ”) embodying the terms of Employee’s continued employment with the Company that will, except as otherwise provided herein, supersede the Prior Agreement and cause the Prior Agreement to terminate and be of no further force or effect, and Employee desires to enter into this Agreement and to accept such employment, subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are mutually acknowledged, the Company and Employee hereby agree as follows:

          Section 1. Definitions .

          (a) “ Accrued Obligations ” shall mean (i) all accrued but unpaid Base Salary through the date of termination of Employee’s employment; (ii) any unpaid or unreimbursed expenses incurred in accordance with Company policy, including amounts due under Section 7 hereof to the extent incurred prior to termination of employment; (iii) any benefits provided under the Company’s employee benefit plans upon a termination of employment, in accordance with the terms therein, including rights to equity in Holdings pursuant to any plan or grant; and (iv) rights to indemnification by virtue of Employee’s position as an employee.

          (b) “ Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

          (c) “ Annual Bonus ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(b) below.

          (d) “ Base Salary ” shall mean the salary provided for in Section 4(a) or any increased salary granted to Employee pursuant to Section 4(a) below.

          (e) “ Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

          (f) “ Cause ” shall mean (i) Employee’s willful failure (except where due to physical or mental incapacity), willful neglect or willful refusal to substantially perform his duties; (ii) any willful or intentional act of Employee with regard to any member of the Company

 


 

Group that has the effect of injuring the reputation or business of any member of the Company Group in a material manner; (iii) Employee’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, the commission of a criminal act that would constitute a felony in the United States; (iv) the commission by Employee of an act of fraud, embezzlement or material dishonesty against any member of the Company Group (other than a good faith expense account dispute); or (v) Employee’s breach of any material provision of this Agreement.

          (g) “ Closing Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.

          (h) “ Code ” shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

          (i) “ Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

          (j) “ Company Group ” means Holdings together with any direct or indirect subsidiary.

          (k) “ Competitive Activities ” shall mean any business activities in which any member of the Company Group is engaged, or has committed plans to engage, during the Term of Employment.

          (l) “ Confidential Information ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(a) below.

          (m) “ Darwin ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

          (n) “ Delay Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 16.

          (o) “ Developments ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(e) below.

          (p) “ Disability ” shall mean any physical or mental disability or infirmity that has prevented the performance of Employee’s duties in all material respects for a period of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive calendar days.

          (q) “ Employee ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

          (r) “ Good Reason ” shall mean, without Employee’s written consent, (i) a material diminution in Employee’s employment duties or responsibilities, or the assignment to Employee of duties that are materially inconsistent with his position; (ii) any reduction in Base Salary or an established Annual Bonus (if any); (iii) a change in Employee’s principal place of employment beyond a 35 mile radius from the location in Section 3(c), (iv) Holdings’ failure to offer to Employee prior to June 30, 2009, the position of global head of claims of Allied World Assurance Company, Ltd, which offer shall not require Employee to relocate his principal place of employment from the location in Section 3(c) (it being acknowledged that such position will likely require substantial travel outside the U.S. for business purposes); or (v) any breach by the Company of any material provision of this Agreement.

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          (s) “ Holdings ” shall mean Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd, a Bermuda corporation and the Company’s ultimate parent.

          (t) “ Interfering Activities ” shall mean (i) encouraging, soliciting or inducing, or in any manner attempting to encourage, solicit or induce, any Person employed by, as agent of, or a service provider to, any member of the Company Group, to terminate (or, in the case of an agent or service provider, reduce) such Person’s employment, agency or service, as the case may be, with any member of the Company Group; provided, that the foregoing shall not be violated by general advertising not targeted at employees of any member of the Company Group nor by serving as a reference upon an employee’s request with regard to an entity with which Employee is not affiliated; or (ii) encouraging, soliciting or inducing, or in any manner attempting to encourage, solicit or induce any customer, supplier (including insurance brokers), licensee or other business relation of any member of the Company Group to cease doing business with or reduce the amount of business conducted with any member of the Company Group, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier (including insurance brokers), licensee or business relation and any member of the Company Group.

          (u) “ Merger Agreement ” shall mean that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June [ ], 2008, by and among Darwin, Holdings, and [MergerCo].

          (v) “ Non-Interference Period ” shall mean the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the twelve (12) month anniversary of the date of such termination.

          (w) “ Non-Compete Period ” shall mean the period commencing on the Closing Date and:

          (i) in the case of Employee’s termination of employment hereunder by the Company for Cause, ending on the date of such termination;

          (ii) in the case of Employee’s termination of employment hereunder by the Company without Cause or by Employee for Good Reason, ending on the twelve (12) month anniversary of the date of such termination; or

          (iii) in the case of Employee’s termination of employment hereunder by the Employee without Good Reason or as a result of his Disability, ending on the date of such termination; provided, however , that the Company may elect to extend the Non-Compete Period up to an additional twelve (12) months following the date of such termination by providing Employee written notice of such election within five (5) business days following such termination specifying the applicable period of extension, in which case, the Company shall be required to continue, through the end of the Non-Compete Period, as so extended, (A) to pay Employee his Base Salary, in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practices, and (B) to provide participation under the Company’s health and other insurance plans, or if such continued participation in is not permissible, provide Employee with coverage that is economically equivalent to Employee through alternative arrangements, or the cash value of such coverage, in a manner that places the Employee in a net economic position that is at least equivalent to

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the position in which the Employee would have been had such alternative arrangements not been used by the Company.

          (x) “ Person ” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust (charitable or non-charitable), unincorporated organization or other form of business entity.

          (y) “ Prior Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

          (z) “ Release Expiration Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(g) below.

          (aa) “ Severance Term ” shall mean the twelve (12) month period immediately following Employee’s termination by the Company without Cause or by Employee with Good Reason.

          (bb) “ Term of Employment ” shall mean the period specified in Section 2 below.

          Section 2. Acceptance and Term of Employment .

          The Company agrees to employ Employee and Employee agrees to serve the Company on the terms and conditions set forth herein. The Term of Employment shall commence on the Closing Date and shall continue until Employee is terminated as provided in Section 8 hereof.

          Section 3. Position, Duties and Responsibilities; Place of Performance .

          (a) During the Term of Employment, Employee shall be employed and serve as the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Claims Officer of the Company (together with such other position or positions consistent with Employee’s title as the Board or the officer of the Company Group to which Employee reports shall specify from time to time) and shall have such duties typically associated with such title. In the event the position of global head of claims becomes available, Employee shall be offered such position in addition to those positions set forth herein and shall have such duties typically associated with such additional title. Subject to the foregoing, Employee also agrees to serve as an officer and/or director of any other member of the Company Group, in each case without additional compensation.

          (b) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, Employee shall devote his full business time, attention and efforts to the performance of his duties under this Agreement and shall not engage in any other business or occupation during the Term of Employment, including, without limitation, any activity that (x) conflicts with the interests of any member of the Company Group, (y) interferes with the proper and efficient performance of his duties for the Company or (z) interferes with the exercise of his judgment in the Company’s best interests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall preclude Employee from (i) serving, with the prior written consent of the Company, as a member of the board of directors or advisory boards (or their equivalents in the case of a non-corporate entity) of non-competing businesses and charitable organizations, (ii) engaging in charitable activities and community

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affairs, and (iii) subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 9 hereof, managing his personal investments and affairs; provided, however , that the activities set out in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) shall be limited by Employee so as not to materially interfere, individually or in the aggregate, with the performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder.

          (c) Employee’s principal place of employment shall be at the Company’s Farmington, Connecticut, office, although Employee understands and agrees that he may be required to travel from time to time for business reasons.

          Section 4. Compensation .

          During the Term of Employment, Employee shall be entitled to the following compensation:

          (a) Base Salary . Employee shall be paid an annualized Base Salary, payable in accordance with the regular payroll practices of the Company, of not less than $346,094, subject to increase, if any, as may be approved in writing by the Company, but not to decrease from the then current Base Salary.

          (b) Annual Bonus . Employee shall be eligible for an annual incentive bonus award determined by the Company in respect of each fiscal year during the Term of Employment (the “ Annual Bonus ”). The Annual Bonus shall be earned and payable in accordance with the policies of the Company as in effect from time to time.

          (c) Equity Plan Participation . During the Term of Employment, Employee shall be eligible to participate in the equity incentive plans maintained by Holdings.

          (d) Darwin LTIP . For purposes of clarification but without providing duplication of benefits under the Prior Agreement, upon the Closing Date, (i) all LTIP interests held by Employee under the Darwin Professional Underwriters, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan (as amended, effective November 11, 2005) shall fully and immediately vest, with payouts to the Employee in respect of his interests in outstanding “Profit Pools” thereunder to be made at the times, in the amounts, and in the manner provided therein as if the Closing Date had not occurred, and (ii) all shares of restricted Darwin stock held by Employee as of the Closing Date shall fully and immediately vest.

          (e) Parachute Payments . With respect to any “parachute payments” (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code) that are paid to Employee in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the provisions of Section 8 of the Prior Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

          Section 5. Employee Benefits .

          During the Term of Employment, Employee shall be entitled to participate in health, insurance, retirement and other perquisites and benefits generally provided to other similarly situated employees of the Company that are made available and as are in effect from time to time. Employee shall also be entitled to the same number of holidays, vacation and sick

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days as are generally allowed to similarly situated employees of the Company in accordance with the Company policy in effect from time to time.

          Section 6. “Key-Man” Insurance .

          At any time during the Term of Employment, the Company shall have the right to insure the life of Employee for the sole benefit of the Company, in such amounts, and with such terms, as it may determine. All premiums payable thereon shall be the obligation of the Company. Employee shall have no interest in any such policy, but agrees to reasonably cooperate with the Company in taking out such insurance by submitting to physical examinations, supplying all information reasonably required by the insurance company, and executing all necessary documents, provided that no financial obligation or liability is imposed on Employee by any such documents.

          Section 7. Reimbursement of Business Expenses .

          Employee is authorized to incur reasonable business expenses in carrying out his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement and the Company shall promptly reimburse him for all such reasonable business expenses incurred in connection with carrying out the business of the Company, subject to documentation in accordance with the Company’s policy, as in effect from time to time.

          Section 8. Termination of Employment .

          (a) General . The Term of Employment shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of (i) Employee’s death, (ii) a termination by reason of a Disability, (iii) a termination by the Company with or without Cause, and (iv) a termination by Employee with or without Good Reason. Upon any termination of Employee’s employment for any reason, except as may otherwise be requested by the Company in writing and agreed upon in writing by Employee, Employee shall resign from any and all directorships, committee memberships or any other positions Employee holds with any member of the Company Group. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the payment (or commencement of a series of payments) hereunder of any nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) upon a termination of employment shall be delayed until such time as Employee has also undergone a “separation from service” as defined in Treas. Reg. 1.409A-1(h), at which time such nonqualified deferred compensation (calculated as of the date of Employee’s termination of employment hereunder) shall be paid (or commence to be paid) to Employee on the schedule set forth in this Section 8 as if Employee had undergone such termination of employment (under the same circumstances) on the date of his ultimate “separation from service.”

          (b) Termination due to Death or Disability . Employee’s employment shall terminate automatically upon his death. The Company may terminate Employee’s employment immediately upon the occurrence of a Disability, such termination to be effective upon Employee’s receipt of written notice of such termination. In the event Employee’s employment is terminated due to his death or Disability, Employee or his estate or his beneficiaries, as the case may be, shall be entitled to:

          (i) The Accrued Obligations;

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          (ii) Any unpaid Annual Bonus in respect to any completed fiscal year which has ended prior to the date of such termination, such amount to be paid at the same time it would otherwise be paid to Employee had no such termination occurred, but in no event later than the last day of the Company’s fiscal year in which such termination occurs;

          (iii) A pro rata Annual Bonus (determined using any target Annual Bonus if such termination occurs during the fiscal year in which the Closing Date falls, and using the highest Annual Bonus paid or payable for the two immediately prior fiscal years for terminations after the fiscal year in which the Closing Date falls) based on the number of days elapsed from the commencement of such fiscal year through and including the date of such termination, such amount to be paid within five (5) business days of such termination; and

          (iv) Vesting, as of the date of such termination, in the number of equity-based awards, if any, which would otherwise have vested during the one (1) year period immediately following such termination (without regard to any subsequent vesting events).

Except as set forth in this Section 8(b), following Employee’s termination by reason of his death or Disability, Emplo


 
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