EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of
November 11, 2008, by and between Iconix Brand Group, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Andrew
Tarshis (the “Executive”).
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Executive is currently Senior Vice
President and General Counsel of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive entered into
a three-year Employment Agreement dated as of September 22, 2006
(the “Prior Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the Company wishes, among other things,
to continue the Executive’s employment with the Company
beyond the term currently provided by the Prior Agreement pursuant
to the terms as provided herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, and for other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is
hereby acknowledged, the Company and Executive hereby agree as
follows:
1.
Engagement of Executive;
Duties. During the
Term (as hereinafter defined in Section 3 below), the
Executive shall have the titles of Executive Vice President and
General Counsel of the Company, which shall be the most senior
legal position of the Company, and shall have such duties as may be
from time to time delegated to him by the Chief Executive Officer
of the Company. The Executive shall faithfully and diligently
discharge his duties hereunder and use his best efforts to
implement the policies established by the Company. The Executive
shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company.
2.
Time.
The Executive shall devote
substantially all of his professional time to the business affairs
of the Company.
3.
Term.
The Executive’s engagement
shall commence effective the date hereof and shall continue for
three (3) years (the “Term”) unless otherwise
terminated as provided herein.
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Base
Salary . Executive's base
salary for the first year of the Term will be at a rate of not less
than $350,000 per annum and Executive’s base salary for the
second year of the Term will be at a rate of not less than $400,000
per annum and Executive’s base salary for the third year of
the Term will be at a rate of not less than $400,000 per annum, in
each case, paid in accordance with the Company's payroll practices
and policies then in effect, with such increases as determined by
the Board of Directors of the Company (“Board”) or the
Compensation Committee of the Board from time to time (such salary,
as increased from time to time, the “Base
Salary”).
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Bonus . Executive shall be entitled to participate in
the Company’s executive bonus program then in effect.
Executive shall be eligible for an annual bonus (“Annual
Bonus”) of up to 100% of Executive’s Base Salary, to be
superseded by the maximum amount available under the
Company’s executive bonus program and any other bonus program
generally applicable to senior executives of the Company. In the
event that the Annual Bonus payment for a calendar year, if any, is
based in whole or in part on the results of the audit by the
Company’s independent public accountants of the
Company’s financial statements for such calendar year, such
Annual Bonus shall be paid as soon as reasonably practicable
following the completion of such audit; otherwise such Annual Bonus
shall be paid by March 15 of the calendar year immediately
following the calendar year to which it relates.
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The Company
shall grant to the Executive upon approval by the Board and
stockholders of the Company of the Company’s 2009 Equity
Incentive Plan or a similar plan that covers awards of common stock
to the Company’s officers (the “Plan”) an award
(the “Award”) equal to a number of shares of the
Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share
(“Common Stock”), with a Fair Market Value (as defined
below in this sub-section) of $750,000, subject to terms and
conditions set forth set forth in the Restricted Stock Agreement
between the Executive and the Company substantially in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Restricted Stock
Agreement”) and any Plan pursuant to which the Award may be
issued. The restrictions on the shares covered by the Award shall
lapse with respect to one-third of such shares on each of the first
three (3) anniversaries of the date hereof (each a “Stock
Vesting Date”), in accordance with the terms and conditions
of the Restricted Stock Agreement. In the event that stockholder
approval of the grant is obtained after the passing of a particular
Stock Vesting Date, the vesting of the shares that would have
vested upon the occurrence of that Stock Vesting Date shall occur
immediately upon stockholder approval of the grant and the
remaining shares shall vest in accordance with the remaining Stock
Vesting Dates as provided above. The number of shares of Common
Stock to be issued under the Award shall be determined by dividing
$750,000 by the Fair Market Value. For the purposes of this
Section, “Fair Market Value” means the average of the
last sale prices reported for a share of Common Stock for each of
the five (5) trading days preceding the date this Agreement is
signed by the parties, as reported on the NASDAQ Stock
Market.
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Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the event that stockholder approval of the grant
of the Award is not obtained prior to the earlier of (i) the
expiration of the Term or (ii) a termination of Executive’s
employment prior to the end of the Term for the reasons set forth
in Sections 5(a)(1), (2), (3) or (6) hereof, then in lieu of
the grant of the Award to the Executive, the Company shall pay to
the Executive an amount equal to $750,000 (the “Alternate
Payment”). The Alternate Payment, if any, shall be deemed
earned over a three (3) year period, such that one-third of the
Alternate Payment shall vest on each of the first three (3)
anniversaries of the date hereof, and the entire amount of the
Alternate Payment shall be paid within thirty (30) days of the date
of expiration or termination of the Executive’s employment
hereunder as set forth above.
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In the event of
a Change in Control (as hereinafter defined in
Section 5(d)(iii) below), any remaining restrictions relating
to any portion of the Award granted to the Executive that has not
vested shall immediately lapse, notwithstanding any provision to
the contrary contained in the Plan or Restricted Stock Agreement,
or if the Award has not theretofore been granted, the Executive
shall be paid the Alternate Payment.
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Fringe
Benefits . Executive
shall receive the fringe benefits generally given to other
executive officers of the Company including, but not limited to,
major medical, dental, life insurance, and pension including any
401(k) or other profit sharing plan. Executive shall also be added
or continued, as the case may be, as an insured under the Company's
officers and directors insurance and all other polices which
pertain to officers of the Company. The Company shall pay Executive
a car allowance of $1,500 per month during the Term of this
Agreement.
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Reimbursement of Expenses
. The Company shall pay to Executive
the reasonable expenses incurred by him in the performance of his
duties hereunder, including, without limitation, expenses related
to cell phones, blackberrys and laptop computers and such other
expenses incurred in connection with business related travel or
entertainment in accordance with the Company’s policy, or, if
such expenses are paid directly by the Executive, the Company shall
promptly reimburse the Executive for such payments, provided that
the Executive (i) properly accounts for such expenses in
accordance with the Company’s policy and (ii) has
received prior approval by the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company for major expenses.
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Vacation . Executive shall be entitled to four weeks of
paid vacation per year. The Executive shall use his vacation
in the calendar year in which it is accrued.
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5.
Termination of
Employment.
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General . The Executive’s employment under this
Agreement may be terminated without any breach of this Agreement
only on the following circumstances:
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(1) Death . The Executive’s employment under this
Agreement shall terminate upon his death.
(2)
Disability . If the
Executive suffers a Disability (as defined below in this
sub-section (2)), the Company may terminate the Executive’s
employment under this Agreement upon thirty (30) days prior written
notice; provided that the Executive has not returned to full time
performance of his duties during such thirty (30) day period. For
purposes hereof, “Disability” shall mean the
Executive’s inability to perform his duties and
responsibilities hereunder, with or without reasonable
accommodation, due to any physical or mental illness or incapacity,
which condition either (i) has continued for a period of 180 days
(including weekends and holidays) in any consecutive 365-day
period, or (ii) is projected by the Board in good faith after
consulting with a doctor selected by the Company and consented to
by the Executive (or, in the event of the Executive’s
incapacity, his legal representative), such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld, that the condition is likely to continue for
a period of at least six (6) consecutive months from its
commencement.
(3)
Good Reason . The
Executive may terminate his employment under this Agreement for
Good Reason at any time on or prior to the 120 th day
after the occurrence of any of the Good Reason events set forth in
the following sentence. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good
Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following
events without the Executive’s consent:
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the failure by the Company to timely comply
with its material obligations and agreements contained in this
Agreement;
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a material diminution of the authorities,
duties or responsibilities of the Executive set forth in
Section 1 above (other than temporarily while the Executive is
physically or mentally incapacitated and unable to properly perform
such duties, as determined by the Board in good
faith);
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the loss of the titles of the Executive with
the Company set forth in Section 1 above;
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the re-location of the Executive to an office
outside of New York, New York (the borough of
Manhattan);
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the assignment to the Executive of duties or
responsibilities which represent a material diminution of his
duties and responsibilities set forth in Section 1 above;
or
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a change in the reporting structure so that the
Executive reports to someone other than the Chief Executive
Officer.
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provided ,
however , that, within ninety (90) days of any such events
having occurred, the Executive shall have provided the Company with
written notice that such events have occurred and afforded the
Company thirty (30) days to cure same. The parties agree that a
termination for Good Reason shall be treated as an involuntary
separation under Code Section 409A (as hereinafter defined in
Section 9(a) below); provided , however , that
in the event it is finally determined that any taxes are due and
payable in connection with the receipt of such consideration by the
Executive, then the Executive agrees to pay any taxes, penalties
and interest that may arise in connection therewith, and shall
indemnify and hold harmless the Company from any taxes, penalties
and interest that result therefrom.
(4)
Without Good Reason
.
The Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment under this
Agreement without Good Reason upon written notice by the Executive
to the Company at least sixty (60) days prior to the effective date
of such termination (which termination the Company may, in its sole
discretion, make effective earlier than the date set forth in the
Notice of Termination (as hereinafter defined in sub-section (b)
below)).
(5)
Cause . The Company
may terminate the Executive’s employment under this Agreement
at any time for Cause. Termination for “Cause” shall
mean termination of the Executive’s employment because of the
occurrence of any of the following as determined by the
Board:
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the willful and continued failure by the
Executive to attempt in good faith to substantially perform his
obligations under this Agreement (other than any such failure
resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to a
Disability); provided , however , that the Company
shall have provided the Executive with written notice that such
actions are occurring and the Executive has been afforded at least
thirty (30) days to cure same;
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the indictment of the Executive for, or his
conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a
felony or any other crime involving moral turpitude or
dishonesty;
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the Executive’s willfully engaging in
misconduct in the performance of his duties for the Company
(including theft, fraud, embezzlement, and securities law
violations or a violation of the Company’s Code of Conduct or
other written policies) that is injurious to the Company,
monetarily or otherwise; or
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the Executive’s willfully engaging in
misconduct other than in the performance of his duties for the
Company (including theft, fraud, embezzlement, and securities law
violations) that is materially injurious to the Company or, in the
good faith determination of the Board, is potentially materially
injurious to the Company, monetarily or
otherwise.
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For purposes of this Section 5(a)(5), no act,
or failure to act, on the part of the Executive shall be considered
“willful,” unless done, or omitted to be done, by him
in bad faith and without reasonable belief that his action or
omission was in, or not opposed to, the best interest of the
Company (including reputationally).
(6)
Without Cause . The Company
may terminate the Executive’s employment under this Agreement
without Cause immediately upon written notice by the Company to the
Executive.
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Notice of
Termination . Any
termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company or
by the Executive (other than termination by reason of the
Executive’s death) shall be communicated by written Notice of
Termination to the other party of this Agreement. For purposes of
this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a
written notice which shall indicate the specific termination
provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in
reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a
basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the
provision so indicated.
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Date of
Termination . The
“Date of Termination” shall mean (a) if the
Executive’s employment is terminated by his death, the date
of his death, (b) if the Executive’s employment is
terminated pursuant to subsection 5(a)(2) above, thirty (30) days
after Notice of Termination is given (provided that the Executive
shall not have returned to the performance of his duties on a
full-time basis during such thirty (30) day period), (c) if
the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to
subsections 5(a)(3) or 5(a)(5) above, the date specified in the
Notice of Termination after the expiration of any applicable cure
periods, (d) if the Executive’s employment is terminated
pursuant to subsection 5(a)(4) above, the date specified in the
Notice of Termination which shall be at least sixty (60) days after
Notice of Termination is given, or such earlier date as the Company
shall determine, in its sole discretion, and (e) if the
Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to
subsection 5(a)(6), the date on which a Notice of Termination
is given.
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Compensation
Upon Termination .
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Termination
for Cause or without Good Reason . If the
Executive’s employment shall be terminated by the Company for
Cause or by the Executive without Good Reason, the Executive shall
receive from the Company: (a) any earned but unpaid Base Salary
through the Date of Termination, paid in accordance with the
Company’s standard payroll practices; (b) reimbursement for
any unreimbursed expenses properly incurred and paid in accordance
with Section 4(e) through the Date of Termination; (c) payment for
any accrued but unused vacation time in accordance with Company
policy; (d) such vested accrued benefits, and other payments, if
any, as to which the Executive (and his eligible dependents) may be
entitled under, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of,
the employee benefit arrangements, plans and programs of the
Company as of the Date of Termination, other than any severance pay
plan ((a) though (d), the “Amounts and Benefits”), and
(e) all vested shares in respect of the Award or, if the Award has
not theretofore been granted, the vested portion of the Alternate
Payment, and the Company shall have no further obligation with
respect to this Agreement other than as provided in Section 8 of
this Agreement. In addition, any portion of the Award or Alternate
Payment, as the case may be, that remains unvested on the Date of
Termination shall be forfeited as of the Date of
Termination.
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Termination
without Cause or for Good Reason . If, prior to the expiration of the Term, the
Executive resigns from his employment hereunder for Good Reason or
the Company terminates the Executive’s employment hereunder
without Cause (other than a termination by reason of death or
Disability), and the Executive has not received and is not entitled
to any payment under Section 5(d)(iii) hereof, then the
Company shall pay or provide the Executive the Amounts and Benefits
and, subject to Section 9
hereof:
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an amount equal
to the sum of all applicable Base Salary for the balance of the
Term determined as if such termination had not occurred, which
shall be payable in full in a lump sum cash payment to be made to
the Executive within thirty (30) days of the Date of
Termination;
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any Annual
Bonus earned but unpaid for a prior year (the “Prior Year
Bonus”), which shall be payable in full in a lump sum cash
payment to be made to the Executive within thirty (30) days of the
Date of Termination;
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in the event
such resignation or termination occurs following the
Company’s first fiscal quarter of any year, a pro-rata
portion of the Executive’s Annual Bonus for the fiscal year
in which the Executive’s termination occurs based on actual
results for such year (determined by multiplying the amount of such
Annual Bonus which would be due for the full fiscal year by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days during the
fiscal year of termination that the Executive is employed by the
Company and the denominator of which is 365), paid in accordance
with Section 4(b) (“Pro Rata Bonus”). In the event
that the Company has not established an executive bonus plan
covering the year of the Term during which the Executive was
terminated the pro-rata portion of the bonus due to the Executive
shall be based upon the prior year’s Annual Bonus received by
the Executive;
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subject to the
Executive’s (a) timely election of continuation coverage
under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985,
as amended (“COBRA”), with respect to the
Company’s group health insurance plans in which the Executive
participated immediately prior to the Date of Termination
(“COBRA Continuation Coverage”), and (b) continued
payment by Executive of premiums for such plans at the
“active employee” rate (excluding, for purposes of
calculating cost, an employee’s ability to pay premiums with
pre-tax dollars), the Company shall provide COBRA Continuation
Coverage for the Executive and his eligible dependents until the
earliest of (x) the Executive or his eligible dependents, as the
case may be, ceasing to be eligible under COBRA, (y) eighteen (18)
months following the Date of Termination, and (z) the Executive
becoming eligible for coverage under the health insurance plan of a
subsequent employer (the benefits provided under this sub-section
(4), the “Medical Continuation Benefits”); and
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in the event a
Change in Control shall not have theretofore occurred, all
remaining restrictions relating to any portion of the Award granted
to the Executive that has not vested shall immediately lapse,
notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in the
Plan or Restricted Stock Agreement, or if the Award has not
theretofore been granted, the Executive shall be paid the Alternate
Payment.
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Termination
Following Change in Control . If the Company terminates Executive’s
employment without Cause or Executive terminates Executive’s
employment for Good Reason within 12 months after a Change in
Control, then the Company shall pay to Executive, in a lump sum, in
cash, within 15 days after the date of Executive’s
termination, an amount equal to $100 less than three times the
Executive’s “annualized includable compensation for the
base period” (as defined in Section 280G of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”)); provided, however,
that if such lump sum severance payment, either alone or together
with other payments or benefits, either cash or non-cash, that the
Executive has the right to receive from the Company, including, but
not limited to, accelerated vesting or payment of any deferred
compensation, options, stock appreciation rights or any benefits
payable to Executive under any plan for the benefit of employees,
which would constitute an “excess parachute payment”
(as defined in Section 280G of the Code), then such lump sum
severance payment or other benefit shall be reduced to the largest
amount that will not result in receipt by the Executive of an
excess parachute payment. In addition to the foregoing, upon a
termination of Executive’s employment as set forth above,
Executive shall be entitled to receive the payments in the amounts
contemplated, and on the dates specified, by
sub-section 5(d)(ii)(1),(2), (3) and (4).
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For purposes of
this Agreement, a “Change in Control” shall mean any of
the following:
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any
consolidation or merger of the Company in which the Company is not
the continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to which shares
of the Company’s Common Stock would be converted into cash,
securities or other property, other than a merger of the Company in
which the holders of the Company Common Stock immediately prior to
the merger have the same proportionate ownership of Common Stock of
the surviving corporation immediately after the merger;
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any sale,
lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series
of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Company;
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any approval by
the stockholders of the Company of any plan or proposal for the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
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the cessation
of control (by virtue of their not constituting a majority of
directors) of the Board by the individuals (the “Continuing
Directors”) who (x) at the date of this Agreement were
directors or (y) become directors after the date of this Agreement
and whose election or nomination for election by the
Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then in office who were directors at
the date of this Agreement or whose election or nomination for
election was previously so approved); or
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(A) the
acquisition of beneficial ownership (“Beneficial
Ownership”), within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), of an aggregate of 25% or more of the voting power of
the Company’s outstanding voting securities by any person or
group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act)
who beneficially owned less than 10% of the voting power of the
Company’s outstanding voting securities on the effective date
of this Agreement, (B) the acquisition of Beneficial Ownership
of an additional 15% of the voting power of the Company’s
outstanding voting securities by any person or group who
beneficially owned at least 10% of the voting power of the
Company’s outstanding voting securities on the effective date
of this Agreement, or (C) the execution by the Company and a
stockholder of a contract that by its terms grants such stockholder
(in its, hers or his capacity as a stockholder) or such
stockholder’s Affiliate (as defined in Rule 405
promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933
(an “Affiliate”)) including, without limitation,
such stockholder’s nominee to the Board (in its, hers or his
capacity as an Affiliate of such stockholders), the right to veto
or block decisions or actions of the Board provided ,
however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, the events
described in items (A), (B) or (C) above shall not constitute a
Change in Control hereunder if the acquiror is (aa) a trustee or
other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan
of the Company or one of its affiliated entities and acting in such
capacity, (bb) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the
stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions
as their ownership of voting securities of the Company or (cc) a
person or group meeting the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) of
Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act;
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subject to
applicable law, in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding, the
appointment of a trustee or the conversion of a case
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