Exhibit
10.1
Execution
Copy
March 31,
2009
Thomas
Joyce
545 Washington
Boulevard
Jersey City,
NJ 07310
Dear
Tom:
This Letter
Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions of your continued
employment with Knight Capital Group, Inc. (the
“Company”), and amends and restates the Letter
Agreement we entered into on December 24, 2008. Capitalized
terms not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in
paragraph 7(d) below.
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1.
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Term
.
Except as expressly set forth herein, this Letter Agreement will
govern the terms and conditions of your employment, and any
termination thereof, from December 31, 2008 (the
“Effective Date”) until December 31, 2012 (the
“Term”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, should a Change
in Control occur on or after January 1, 2011 and prior to
expiration of the Term, the Term will automatically be extended
from the date of the Change in Control until the second anniversary
thereof (the “Extended Term”). The portion of the Term,
or if applicable, the Extended Term, during which you are actually
employed is referred to as the “Employment Period”.
Until the Effective Date and except as otherwise provided in this
Letter Agreement, the terms and conditions of your employment, and
any termination thereof, shall be governed by the Letter Agreement
between you and the Company, dated December 2, 2005 (the
“Prior Agreement”), and upon the Effective Date, such
Letter Agreement (which otherwise expires by its terms on
December 31, 2008) shall be of no further force and
effect.
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2.
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Position;
Duties . During the
Employment Period, you will continue to be employed by the Company
as its Chief Executive Officer, and the Board of Directors of the
Company (the “Board”) will continue to nominate you to
serve as Chairman of the Board. You will report to the Board and
shall perform such duties as are consistent with your position as
Chief Executive Officer. You agree to use your best efforts to
perform such duties faithfully, to devote all of your working time,
attention and energies to the businesses of the Company, and while
you remain employed, not to engage in any other business activity
that is in conflict with your duties and obligations to the
Company. You will also be employed as the senior executive officer
of such other subsidiaries as designated by the Board and approved
by the board of directors of such subsidiaries without additional
compensation.
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3.
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Base
Salary . During the
Employment Period, you will be entitled to an annual base salary
(“Base Salary”) of $750,000, payable in accordance with
the Company’s normal payroll practices. The Compensation
Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”)
shall review your Base Salary at least annually to determine, in
its discretion, whether an increase is warranted. Your Base Salary
shall not be reduced after any increase and the term Base Salary as
utilized in this Letter Agreement shall refer to annual Base Salary
as it may be increased from time to time.
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(a)
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Bonus
Entitlement . Commencing
with the 2009 calendar year, you will be entitled to a bonus (an
“Annual Bonus”) for each calendar year that ends during
the Employment Period based on achievement of performance targets
and such other terms and conditions established by the Compensation
Committee no later than March 31 of each such year.
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(b)
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Timing and Form
of Payment . Each Annual
Bonus for a calendar year will be paid in the following calendar
year, and unless administratively impracticable, no later than
March 15 of such following calendar year, unless you have
elected to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus pursuant to an
arrangement that meets the requirements of Section 409A of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
Sixty percent (60%) of each Annual Bonus shall be paid in
cash, and 40% shall be paid in shares of common stock of the
Company (“Shares”) or units representing a right to
receive Shares upon vesting (“Bonus Shares”), based on
a per Share value as determined in accordance with Company policy
as in effect with respect to executive officers of the Company at
the time the Bonus Shares are granted. The Bonus Shares shall vest
and be distributed to you in three equal installments on each
anniversary of the date they are awarded, subject to accelerated
vesting and distribution upon certain terminations of employment as
set forth in paragraph 7. Except as set forth in paragraph 7, upon
your termination of employment for any reason, any Bonus Shares
that have not then vested shall be forfeited to the Company for no
consideration. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the
Bonus Shares shall be granted under, and subject to such other
terms and conditions of, one of the Company’s
stockholder-approved stock plans as then in effect, and such other
terms and conditions as are generally applicable to similar awards
made to other senior executives of the Company (including, without
limitation, change in control, retirement, and other vesting
terms). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if no stockholder-approved
stock plans are then in effect or the Bonus Shares cannot be
granted pursuant to any such plan, then in lieu of Bonus Shares,
you shall receive an award that replicates the economics of the
Bonus Shares, but is payable in cash on the vesting dates described
above and otherwise has terms and conditions that are no less
favorable than those that would generally be applicable to Bonus
Shares (as described above). The Bonus Shares (or any substitute
cash settled award) shall contain terms and conditions consistent
with this Letter Agreement and shall be structured in a manner that
is intended not to result in adverse tax consequences to you due to
the application of Section 409A of the Code.
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(c)
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Clawback
.
If the Board reasonably determines, within three years following
the end of the calendar year with respect to which an Annual Bonus
was awarded, that all or any portion of an Annual Bonus that was
paid or awarded to you was based on a calculation of the measure on
which the Annual Bonus was based that is later determined to have
been overstated (other than in an immaterial and insubstantial
manner), the Board, may in its discretion, after taking into
account all of the facts and circumstances of such over-statement
(which shall include, without limitation, whether the overstatement
was a result of misconduct by you, the amount and percentage of the
Annual Bonus that resulted from the overstatement, the
Company’s best interests in the circumstances, whether the
overstatement results in the Company’s financial results
becoming subject to a material negative restatement, and any other
legal or other facts or circumstances the Board reasonably deems
are appropriate for consideration in the exercise of its fiduciary
obligations to the Company and its shareholders and fairness to
you) demand that you promptly return to the Company an amount up to
the amount of any such Annual Bonus attributable to such
overstatement (or, to the extent elected by you, forfeit or return
any portion of such Annual Bonus paid in Bonus Shares, provided
that no more than 40% of the amount to be returned may be satisfied
by way of a forfeiture of unvested Bonus Shares). Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the event that, during the undertaking described
above, the Board cannot reasonably determine that you knew or
should have reasonably known of the facts resulting in such
overstatement, the amount and timing of such return obligation
shall in no event exceed the sum of (i) the after-tax amount
of such overpayment, plus (ii) if and when obtained or
realized, any amount realized by you by virtue of any refund of
income or other taxes relating to, or your ability to take a loss
on a tax return for, any such returned amounts or Bonus Shares,
which refund or loss-taking you agree to use reasonably best
efforts to obtain or realize from the applicable tax authority as
soon as reasonably
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practicable. If
the Board reasonably determines, within three years following the
end of the calendar year with respect to which an Annual Bonus was
awarded, that all or any portion of an Annual Bonus that was paid
or awarded to you was based on a calculation of the measure on
which the Annual Bonus was based that is later determined to have
been understated (other than in an immaterial and insubstantial
manner), the Company shall pay to you the amount of any such Annual
Bonus that otherwise would have been paid but for such
understatement, less the amount of the Annual Bonus previously
paid. The provisions of this paragraph 4(c) are without limitation
of other rights or remedies that may exist under applicable
law.
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(d)
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2008
Bonus .
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary or the
expiration of the Prior Agreement, your annual bonus in respect of
the 2008 calendar year shall be determined in accordance with
paragraph 4(c) of the Prior Agreement, with the cash portion
thereof to be paid at such time as annual bonuses are generally
paid to senior executives of the Company and, unless
administratively impracticable, in no event later than
March 15, 2009, unless you have elected to defer the receipt
of such annual bonus pursuant to an arrangement that meets the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
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5.
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Stock
Awards . Pursuant to
the Company’s 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2006
Plan”), subject to your continued employment on the
applicable date of grant, you will receive Stock Awards in the form
of Restricted Stock Units (as such terms are defined in the 2006
Plan) for a total of 1.5 million Shares (collectively, the
“Incentive Award”), as follows:
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(a)
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2008
Award . On
December 31, 2008, you will be awarded Restricted Stock Units
relating to the lesser of (i) 1.5 million Shares and
(ii) such number of Shares as is equal to $10 million divided
by the “Fair Market Value” (as defined in the 2006
Plan) of a Share on December 31, 2008 (the “2008
Award”).
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(b)
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2009
Award . On
January 2, 2009, you will be awarded Restricted Stock Units
relating to such number of Shares as is equal to 1.5 million
less the number of Shares subject to the 2008 Award (the
“2009 Award”).
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(1)
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The Incentive
Award, as it relates to the first 500,000 Shares (the “First
Tranche”), shall vest in four equal installments on
December 31, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, provided that no
installment shall vest, and the entire First Tranche shall be
forfeited, if neither the Company’s pre-tax income for
calendar year 2009 nor the Company’s pre-tax income for
calendar year 2010 (in each case determined based on the
Company’s audited financial statements in a manner consistent
with past practice, without regard to non-operating and
extraordinary items) is positive.
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(2)
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The Incentive
Award, as it relates to the second 500,000 Shares (the
“Second Tranche”), shall vest when the Company’s
per Share price has closed at or above $25 per share for ten
consecutive trading days or 15 trading days during any 20-day
trading period, provided that if such condition is not met by
December 31, 2012, the Second Tranche shall be
forfeited.
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(3)
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The Incentive
Award, as it relates to the third 500,000 Shares (the “Third
Tranche”), shall vest when the Company’s per Share
price has closed at or above $30 for ten consecutive trading days
or 15 trading days during any 20-day trading period, provided that
if such condition is not met by December 31, 2012, the Third
Tranche shall be forfeited.
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(4)
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Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 11.4 of the 2006 Plan to the
contrary, upon a Change in Control, the First Tranche shall
immediately vest, the Second Tranche shall vest only if the Change
in Control Price is at least $25, and the Third Tranche shall vest
only if the Change in Control Price is at least $30, provided that
if the Change in Control Price is more than $25, but less than $30,
such percentage of the Third Tranche shall vest as is equal to a
fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the
difference between the Change in Control Price and $25, and the
denominator of which is $5. For this purpose, Change in Control
Price shall mean (i) in the case of a stock-for-stock
transaction (or a transaction in which Shares are exchanged for a
mix of cash and stock), the higher of (x) the reported sales
price, regular way, of a Share in any transaction reported on the
New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape or other national exchange
on which such shares are listed or on NASDAQ on the date of the
announcement of the transaction which results in such Change in
Control or (y) the highest sales price, as so reported, during
the 30-day period prior to and including the date of a Change in
Control, or (ii) if the Change in Control is the result of a
tender or exchange offer or an all cash Business Combination (as
defined in the 2006 Plan), the highest price per Share paid in such
tender or exchange offer or Business Combination. If (A) in
connection with any Change in Control all or substantially all of
the outstanding Shares are converted to or otherwise purchased for
cash, the right to any Second Tranche and Third Tranche Shares that
do not vest as a result of such Change in Control shall be
forfeited and (B) in connection with any Change in Control all
or substantially all of the outstanding Shares are converted to
securities of another entity, any Second Tranche and/or Third
Tranche Shares that do not vest as a result of such Change in
Control shall remain outstanding and the number and type of Shares
subject to and the performance goals with respect to such Incentive
Awards shall be adjusted in accordance with Article XI of the 2006
Plan.
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(5)
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Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Letter Agreement to the contrary, except
as provided in clause (4) above, in no event shall any portion
of the Incentive Award vest prior to the first anniversary of the
date such portion was awarded. If your employment terminates prior
to such first anniversary under circumstances pursuant to which any
portion of the Incentive Award would have vested upon or prior to
such termination but for the preceding sentence, you will be
entitled to a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value (as
defined in the 2006 Plan and determined as of your date of
termination) of the Shares underlying such portion on the date such
Shares would otherwise have been delivered to you.
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(6)
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The provisions
of this paragraph 5(c) and of paragraph 7 below shall set forth the
sole circumstances pursuant to which the Incentive Award shall
vest, and shall override any provision of the 2006 Plan (or any
successor plan) to the contrary, including any provision that
provides for vesting upon retirement or any prior agreement between
you and the Company, including any agreement related to vesting
upon death or disability.
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(d)
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Termination of
Employment .
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary:
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(1)
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Upon your
termination of employment for any reason, the Second Tranche and
the Third Tranche, to the extent not yet vested shall be forfeited,
and, except as set forth in paragraph 7, the unvested portion of
the First Tranche shall be forfeited as well.
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(2)
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Upon a
termination of your employment for Cause, any right to Shares not
yet delivered shall be forfeited.
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(e)
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Delivery of
Shares; Withholding Taxes; Transfer Restrictions
.
Subject to the terms of the 2006 Plan, upon or as soon as
practicable after vesting of any portion of the Incentive Award,
the number of Shares that vest shall be delivered to you; provided
that any installment of the First Tranche that has vested based on
satisfaction of the time vesting and performance vesting conditions
set forth above shall be delivered as soon as practicable after the
determination of vesting, but in no event later than March 15
of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the
vesting conditions are satisfied. The withholding tax obligation
arising by reason of such delivery shall be satisfied either
through an immediate resale of a sufficient number of Shares to be
delivered, or, at your election (subject to the consent of the
Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), the
withholding of a sufficient number of Shares from those otherwise
deliverable. You agree that you will not sell, pledge, encumber or
otherwise transfer 80% of the aggregate number of vested Shares
originally subject to the Incentive Award that remain after
satisfaction of the tax withholding obligation (the
“Remaining Shares”) until the earliest of (w) a
Change in Control, (x) December 31, 2012, (y) except
to the extent clause (z) applies, termination of your
employment for any reason, and (z) as to one-half of the
Remaining Shares, the date that is six months following termination
of employment where such termination is by you other than for Good
Reason or is by the Company for Cause. For purposes of determining
the Remaining Shares, the Excess Shares (as defined below) to the
extent vested, shall be considered as held by you and shall count
toward satisfaction of the 80% standard. Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Letter Agreement to the contrary, to the extent
the grant date Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the 2009
Award on January 2, 2009 exceeds $10 million, Shares having a
Fair Market Value (determined on January 2, 2009) equal to
such excess (the “Excess Shares”), once vested, shall
be delivered on the earliest to occur of (i) the date that is
six months following termination of your employment for any reason
(other than due to your death), (ii) your death (whether or
not your employment had previously terminated) and (iii) the
occurrence of a Change in Control that is also a “change in
control event” within the meaning of Section 409A of the
Code. The Excess Shares shall first be attributable to the Third
Tranche, then the Second Tranche and then the First
Tranche.
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(f)
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Adjustments
.
The number of Shares subject to the awards made pursuant to this
paragraph 5, and the Share price targets set forth paragraph 5(c)
shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Article XI of the
2006 Plan, and if an event described in Article XI occurs prior to
the grant of either the 2008 Award or 2009 Award, adjustments will
be made as if such awards were outstanding, to be effective upon
grant of the awards.
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6.
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Benefits
.
During the Employment Period, you will be entitled to such
retirement benefits (except as to the Incentive Award and any
equity-based awards granted prior to the Effective Date or in
respect of periods that commenced prior to the Effective Date,
including your calendar-year 2008 Annual Bonus), fringe benefits
and insurance coverages that are no less favorable than those made
generally available to other senior executives of the Company.
Without limiting the foregoing, during the Employment Period you
shall be entitled to a car and driver for your daily commute
between your home and the office plus a tax gross-up attributable
thereto, a Company-paid gym membership, and reimbursement of your
annual dues for membership at Liberty National Golf
Club.
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7.
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Termination of
Employment .
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(a)
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Generally
.
Notwithstanding the Term, or, if applicable, the Extended Term, you
will be free to resign from the Company at any time, and the
Company will be free to terminate your employment at any time. Upon
any such termination or resignation, you will be entitled to
(i) a lump sum cash payment within 30 days of your date of
termination equal to the sum of (x) any
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accrued but
unpaid Base Salary, (y) any accrued vacation pay through your
date of termination, and (z) reimbursement of any business
expenses submitted in accordance with Company policy, (ii) to
the extent not theretofore paid or provided, amounts or benefits
required to be paid or provided or which you are eligible to
receive under the terms of any benefit plan referred to in
paragraph 6 above, and (iii) to the extent and in the manner
and time payable pursuant to paragraph 5(e), the Excess Shares
(collectively, the “Accrued Obligations”).
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(b)
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Termination
without Cause; Resignation for Good Reason . If, prior to
the expiration of the Term (or, if applicable, the Extended Term),
the Company terminates your employment other than for Cause or
other than by reason of your death or Disability, or you resign for
Good Reason, then, in lieu of any other severance benefits
otherwise payable under any Company policy, or any other damages
payable in connection with such termination, you will be entitled
to the following payments and benefits:
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(i) the
Accrued Obligations;
(ii) vesting
(and if applicable, delivery) of the Shares underlying any unvested
Bonus Share award (including with respect to awards granted in
respect of annual bonuses for periods that commenced prior to the
Effective Date, including your calendar-year 2008 Bonus Share
award) and vesting and exercisability of any stock options granted
to you in respect of any annual bonus award in respect of a period
commencing prior to the Effective Date, 100% of which shall vest
and, if applicable, become immediately exercisable or be delivered
within 15 days following the Release Date (as defined below) (the
“Vesting Bonus Shares”);
(iii) vesting
(and, if applicable, exercisability or delivery) of (A) the
unvested portion of the First Tranche, 50% of which shall vest and
be delivered within 15 days following the Release Date (such 50%,
the “Initial Vesting First Tranche”), and 50% of which
shall vest and be delivered on the earlier of the date that is six
months following such termination or March 15 of the year
following the year of such termination (provided that such vesting
and delivery shall be conditional upon, and in no event occur
until, a determination that the performance criteria relating to
pre-tax income as set forth in paragraph 5(c) has been satisfied)
(such 50%, the “Delayed Vesting First Tranche”), and
(B) any time-based vesting awards that have been granted to
you in respect of periods commencing before the Effective Date
(other than any Bonus Share awards), 50% of which shall vest (and,
if applicable, become exercisable or be delivered) within 15 days
following the Release Date (such 50%, the “Initial Vesting
Time-Based Awards”) and 50% of which shall vest (and, if
applicable become exercisable or be delivered) on the earlier of
the date that is six months following such termination or
March 15 of the year following the year of such termination
(such 50% the “Delayed Vesting Time-Based
Awards”);
(iv) a cash
payment equal to $5 million, 50% of which is payable within 15 days
following the Release Date (such 50%, the “Initial Cash
Payment” and together with the Initial Vesting First Tranche
and the Initial Vesting Time Based Awards, the “Initial
Awards and Payments”), and 50% of which is payable on the
earlier of the date that is six months following such termination
or March 15 of the year following the year of such termination
(such 50%, the “Delayed Cash Payment” and together with
the Delayed Vesting First Tranche and the Delayed Vesting
Time-Based Awards, the “Delayed Awards and
Payments”);
(v) payment of
the Annual Bonus in respect of the year in which such termination
occurs at the time such Annual Bonus would otherwise have been paid
had your employment not
terminated
(determined based on actual performance consistent with this Letter
Agreement), provided that the amount shall be prorated to reflect
the portion of the year that you were actually employed and shall
be paid all in cash (the “Pro-Rata Bonus”);
(
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