AMENDED AND RESTATED
EMPLOYMENT LETTER
This AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT LETTER,
dated as of August 10, 2009 (the “Employment
Letter”), is between A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts, Inc., a
Pennsylvania corporation (“Company”), and Joseph A.
Jeffries (“Executive”) and amends and restates in
entirety the Employment Letter between Company and Executive dated
November 28, 2007, as amended by the First Amendment to
Employment Letter between Company and Executive dated
August 6, 2008 .
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
covenants contained herein and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties
agree as follows:
1. Employment; Change of Control
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(a) The Company is pleased to continue
Executive’s employment with the Company as set forth in this
Employment Letter.
(b) The Board of Directors of the Company
(the “Board”) has determined that it is in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure that the
Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive,
notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change
of Control (as defined in Appendix I) of the Company. The
Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable
distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal
uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change
of Control and to encourage the Executive’s full attention
and dedication to the Company currently and in the event of any
threatened or pending Change of Control, and to provide the
Executive with compensation and benefits arrangements upon a Change
of Control which ensure that the compensation and benefits
expectations of the Executive will be satisfied and which are
competitive with those of other corporations. Therefore, in order
to accomplish these objectives if a Change of Control occurs,
paragraphs 2 through 12 of this Employment Letter (except paragraph
10 which shall continue) shall be superseded by
Appendix I.
2. Effectiveness . This Employment
Letter shall be effective as of the date hereof.
3. Position; Start Date .
Executive’s title is Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer. Executive will report directly to the Chief
Executive Officer. Executive’s employment with the Company
began on November 28, 2007 (the “Start
Date”).
4. Base Salary .
Executive’s annual base salary is $307,700, payable in
regular installments in accordance with the Company’s general
payroll practices. Executive’s performance and salary will be
reviewed annually on a schedule consistent with the Company’s
practice for officers (such schedule currently contemplated to be
May of each year).
5. Sign-on Bonus . On the Start
Date, Executive received a cash lump sum sign-on bonus in the
amount of $120,000 (the “Sign-on Bonus”). Each month
(or any portion of such month) that Executive remained and
continues to remain employed by the Company, Executive earns
one-twenty-fourth (1/24th) of the Sign-on Bonus. If Executive
resigns his employment with the Company for any reason or is
terminated by the Company for cause (as defined below in
paragraph 11) within twenty-four (24) months of the Start
Date, Executive will repay the unearned portion of the Sign-on
Bonus to the Company.
If
Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for cause
(as defined below) or by Executive without Good Reason, Executive
shall repay the unearned portion of the Sign-on Bonus to Company.
In the event that the Executive’s employment is terminated by
the Company without cause (as defined below) or by Executive with
Good Reason after the payment of the sign-on bonus, Executive shall
be deemed to have earned One Hundred Percent (100%) of the Sign-on
Bonus as of the effective date of the termination of his
employment, and Executive shall not be required to repay any
portion of the Sign-on Bonus. For purposes solely of this
Employment Agreement, and without reference or relation to, or
otherwise superseding the definition of Good Reason in
Appendix I, Good Reason shall mean the occurrence of any one
or more of the following events without Executive’s prior
written consent, unless Company fully cures the circumstances
constituting Good Reason (provided such circumstances are capable
of cure) within thirty (30) business days of receipt of
written notice of such circumstances by Company from Executive:
(i) A material reduction in Executive’s titles, duties,
authority and responsibilities, or the assignment to Executive of
any duties materially inconsistent with Executive’s position,
authority, duties or responsibilities without the written consent
of Executive; (ii) Company’s reduction of
Executive’s annual base salary or bonus opportunity under the
Annual Incentive Plan (as defined below), each as in effect on the
date hereof or as the same may be increased from time to time;
(iii) the relocation of Company’s headquarters to a
location more than thirty-five (35) miles from Company’s
current headquarters in which Executive is employed, as
contemplated by this Employment Agreement; or
(iv) Company’s failure to cure a material breach of its
obligations under this Employment Agreement within thirty
(30) days after written notice is delivered to the Board by
Executive which specifically identifies the manner in which
Executive believes that Company has breached its obligations under
the Agreement.
6. Annual Incentive Plan .
During each fiscal year in which Executive continues to be employed
by the Company, he will be entitled to participate in the
Company’s annual incentive bonus plan (the “ Annual
Incentive Plan ”) as administered and determined by the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. In 2007 and 2008,
executive vice presidents were eligible to receive 75% of base
salary at target. The Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors restructured the 2009 Annual Incentive Plan as a
discretionary plan. If the Board or the Compensation Committee
modifies such Annual Incentive Plan in subsequent years, Executive
shall continue to participate at a level no lower than the highest
level established for any Executive Vice President of the Company
as administered and determined by the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors.
7. Long-Term Incentive Compensation
. Executive will be eligible to participate in the
Company’s long-term incentive plan as administered and
determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors.
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8. Benefits . Executive will
be entitled to receive benefits generally provided to officers of
the Company consistent with the Company’s practices,
including without limitation, the following:
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Medical, dental and prescription
benefits.
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Life insurance equal to 1.5 times
his annual base salary, with a maximum amount of $450,000; optional
voluntary life insurance.
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Long-term disability benefits; New
Jersey short-term disability benefits.
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Participation in the Company’s
401(k) plan.
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Vacation (three (3) weeks in
2009).
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Reimbursement for business
expenses/use of a corporate credit card.
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9. Relocation . The Company
provided Executive with relocation benefits (“Relocation
Benefits”). For each month (or any portion of such month)
that Executive remained and continues to remain employed by the
Company after the Start Date, Executive earns one-twenty-fourth
(1/24th) of the Relocation Benefits. If his employment is
terminated by Executive for any reason or by the Company for
cause (as defined below in paragraph 11) within twenty-four
(24) months of the Start Date, Executive will repay the
unearned portion of the Relocation Benefits to the Company. If
Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for cause
(as defined below) or by Executive without good reason (as
described below), Executive shall repay the unearned portion of the
Relocation Benefits to Company. In the event that the Executive is
terminated by the Company without cause (as defined below) or by
Executive with Good Reason after the payment of the Relocation
Benefits, Executive shall be deemed to have earned One Hundred
Percent (100%) of the Relocation Benefits as of the effective date
of the termination of his employment, and Executive shall not be
required to repay any portion of the Relocation
Benefits.
(a) In consideration of the compensation to
be paid to Executive as set forth in this Employment Letter, the
sufficiency of which Executive hereby acknowledges, Executive
agrees that for a period of twelve (12) months after
termination of his employment (the “ Non-Compete
Period ”), Executive will not directly or indirectly own
any interest in, manage, control, participate in, consult with,
render services for, or in any manner engage in any business
competing with the businesses of the Company or its subsidiaries
(such businesses being the retail sale of arts and crafts and
related products), as such businesses exist or are in process on
the date of the termination of his employment, within a fifty
(50) mile radius of any geographic location in which the
Company or its subsidiaries engage in such businesses or actively
plan to engage in such businesses. Nothing herein shall prohibit
Executive from being a passive owner of not more than 2% of the
outstanding stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly
traded and which competes with the businesses of Company and its
subsidiaries, so long as Executive has no direct or indirect active
participation in the business of such corporation.
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(b) During the Non-Compete Period,
Executive shall not directly or indirectly through another person
or entity (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the
Company or any subsidiary to leave the employ of the Company or
such subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship
between the Company or any subsidiary and any employee thereof,
(ii) hire an employee of the Company or any subsidiary, or
(iii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier,
licensee, licensor, franchisee or other business relation of the
Company or any subsidiary to cease doing business with the Company
or such subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship
between any such customer, supplier, licensee, licensor,
franchisee, or business relation and the Company or any subsidiary
(including, without limitation, making any negative statements or
communications about the Company or its subsidiaries).
(c) The provisions of this paragraph 10
will be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by the law in the
state in which Executive resides or is employed at the time of the
enforcement of the provision. If, at the time of enforcement of
this paragraph 10, a court shall hold that the duration, scope or
area restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under
circumstances then existing, the parties agree that the maximum
duration, scope or area reasonable under such circumstances shall
be substituted for the stated duration, scope or area and that the
court shall be allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein
to cover the maximum period, scope and area permitted by law.
Executive agrees that the restrictions contained in this paragraph
10 are reasonable. In the event of the breach or a threatened
breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this paragraph 10,
the Company, in addition and supplementary to other rights and
remedies existing in its favor, may apply to any court of law or
equity of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or
injunctive or other relief in order to enforce or prevent any
violations of the provisions hereof (without posting a bond or
other security). In addition, in the event of an alleged breach or
violation by Executive of this paragraph 10, the Non-Compete Period
shall be tolled until such breach or violation has been duly
cured
11. Severance and Benefits Prior to a
Change of Control . If Executive’s employment is
terminated at any time by the Company without c ause (as
defined below) prior to a Change of Control , Executive will
receive (i) severance payments in the amount of six
(6) months’salary continuation at his then current rate,
less any required withholdings or authorized deductions, in equal
monthly installments, plus (ii) health insurance benefits
pursuant to the Company’s programs as in effect from time to
time, to the extent Executive participated immediately prior to the
date of such termination (“Insurance Benefits”) plus
(iii) pro rata bonus (as defined below). Should Executive
remain continuously unemployed for six (6) months from the
date of his termination, he will receive an additional month of
salary continuation at his then current rate and Insurance Benefits
for each month after the six (6) months that Executive remains
unemployed, up to a maximum of six (6) additional months of
severance in the form of salary continuation at his then current
rate and Insurance Benefits. The total amount of salary
continuation severance benefit to be paid pursuant to this
paragraph 11 shall not equal more than twelve
(12) months’ base salary at Executive’s then
current rate. Likewise, Insurance Benefits will be provided for no
more than twelve (12) months following the termination date.
Severance benefits in the form of salary continuation shall be paid
at the same time the Executive’s salary would have been paid
based on the Company’s normal payroll practices had the
Executive continued employment through the severance term.
Severance in the form of pro rata bonus shall be paid within sixty
(60) days of the effective date of termination of employment.
Executive agrees to (a) actively seek employment in good faith
and (b) notify the Company immediately upon obtaining
employment.
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Cause shall mean the a determination in good faith by
the Company of either (i) failure of the Executive to perform
substantially the Executive’s duties with the Company or one
of its affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from
incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after a written
demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by
the Chief Executive Officer which specifically identifies the
manner in which the Chief Executive Officer believes that the
Executive has not substantially performed the Executive’s
duties; provided however, that Executive shall have one opportunity
to cure the failure so identified for sixty days from the written
demand, or (ii) the engaging by the Executive in illegal
conduct or gross misconduct, in either case, in violation of the
Company’s Code of Business. Any act, or failure to act, based
upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the
Board or upon the instructions of the Chief Executive Officer or
based upon the advice of counsel for the Company shall be
conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the
Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company.
The cessation of employment of the Executive shall not be deemed to
be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to
the Executive a written notice from the Chief Executive Officer, a
copy of which notice has been previously delivered to the Board of
Directors, finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Chief
Executive Officer, the Executive is guilty of the conduct described
in subsection the aforementioned sections (i) or
(ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in
detail.
Pro rata bonus shall mean the pro rata portion (calculated as
if the “target” amount under such plan has been
reached) under any current Annual Incentive Plan from the first day
of the Company’s fiscal year of the year of termination
through the termination date.
No payment of
any sum pursuant to this paragraph 11 will be made unless Executive
shall have executed and delivered to the Company a release of any
and all claims against the Company and its subsidiaries (and their
respective present and former officers, directors, employees and
agents), all in form and substance as provided by counsel to the
Company (the “Release”) and any waiting period or
revocation period provided by law for the effectiveness of the
Release shall have expired without Executive having revoked the
Release.
12. At Will . Executive may
terminate his employment with the Company at any time and for any
reason whatsoever. Likewise, the Company may terminate his
employment at any time and for any reason whatsoever, with or
without cause or advance notice. This at-will employment
relationship cannot be changed except in writing signed by an
officer of the Company so authorized.
13. No Confidences . During his
employment, Executive shall not improperly use, communicate,
disclose, provide commentary regarding or make available any
proprietary information or trade secrets of any former employer or
any other person or entity to whom or to which Executive has any
duty of confidentiality. Further, Executive warrants that Executive
shall not bring onto the Company’s premises or transfer to
the Company’s electronic media any documents or information
that is not generally known to the public, belonging to any former
employer or other person or entity to whom or to which Executive
owes a duty of confidentiality unless Executive has written consent
from the former employer or other person or entity. Executive
acknowledges that Executive is taking employment with the Company
and is agreeing to all of the terms of this letter voluntarily and
without any coercion or restraint.
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14. Other Agreements . Consistent
with the Company’s practices, Executive will enter into
agreements relating to confidentiality and arbitration, along with
equity agreements from time to time, with the Company as a
condition of his employment. This Employment Letter replaces and
supersedes any and all prior discussions, offers, communications or
agreements of any sort whatsoever previously provided to Executive
by the Company.
15. Counterparts. This Employment
Letter may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is
deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute
one and the same letter.
16. Code Section 409A . Unless
otherwise expressly provided, any payment of compensation by
Company to the Executive, whether pursuant to this Agreement or
otherwise, shall be made within two and one-half months (2
1 / 2
months) after the end of the later
of the calendar year or the Company’s fiscal year in which
the Executive’s right to such payment vests (i.e., is not
subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture for purposes of
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(“Code Section 409A”)).
All payments of “nonqualified deferred
compensation” (within the meaning of Code Section 409A
are intended to comply with the requirements of Code
Section 409A, and shall be interpreted in accordance
therewith. Neither party individually or in combination may
accelerate, offset or assign any such deferred payment, except in
compliance with Code Section 409A, and no amount shall be paid
prior to the earliest date on which it is permitted to be paid
under Code Section 409A. In the event that an amount becomes
payable to the Executive after termination of employment, the
Company shall determine whether such payment is subject to the
requirements of Code Section 409A (a) (2)(A)(i) and Code
Section 409A (a)(2)(B)(i) (her
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