EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE/NON-COMPETE
AGREEMENT
In this Executive
Severance/Non-Compete Agreement dated as of
, 2005 (the “ Agreement ”), Sears Holdings
Corporation and its controlled affiliates and subsidiaries (“
Sears ”), and
(“ Executive ”), intending to be legally bound
and for good and valuable consideration, agree as
follows:
(a)
Continuation of Compensation . In the event that
(x) Executive’s employment is terminated by each Sears
entity by which she is employed (the “Company”) for any
reason other than Cause (as defined below), death or Disability (as
defined below) or (y) Executive’s employment is
terminated by Executive for Good Reason (as defined below), subject
to the provisions of Sections 6(e) and (f) and 10 herein, the
Company shall pay to Executive his annual base salary as in effect
immediately prior to the date of termination for a period of one
(1) year and Executive’s target bonus for the year in
which the date of termination has occurred or, if no target bonus
has been set for the year in which the date of termination has
occurred, Executive’s target bonus for the year immediately
preceding the year in which the date of termination has occurred
(the “Target Bonus”); provided that, in any event,
Sears’ obligations under this clause 1 shall be reduced on a
dollar-for-dollar basis (but not below zero) to the extent that
Executive earns fees, salary or wages from a subsequent employer
(including those arising from self-employment) during the Salary
Continuation Period (as defined below). The amount described in
Section 1(a) shall be paid on each regular payroll period following
the date of termination (the “ Salary Continuation
Period ”) provided that if at the time that the executive
terminates employment the executive is a “key employee”
or “specified employee” within the meaning of Code
Section 409A and regulations issued thereunder, then, if
necessary to comply with Section 409A, payment to the
executive shall not commence until six months after the
executive’s termination of employment. In addition to the
foregoing, a lump sum payment will be made to Executive within ten
(10) days following the date of termination in an amount equal
to the sum of any accrued base salary through the date of
termination to the extent not theretofore paid and any vacation
benefits that accrued prior to the date of termination. No vacation
will accrue after the date active employment ends. All salary
continuation payments and benefits will terminate and forever lapse
if Executive is employed by a “ Sears Competitor
” as defined in Section 6(b) herein.
(b)
Continuation of Benefits . During the Salary Continuation
Period, Executive will be entitled to all benefits (other than as
specified above) for which Executive was eligible to participate
prior to the end of active employment, with the exception of
Long-Term Disability and Flexible Spending Accounts. Executive and
eligible dependents shall be entitled to continue to participate in
the Company’s medical and dental plans in accordance with the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985
(“COBRA”). The cost of such COBRA coverage for
Executive and his dependents will be subsidized by the Company, so
that Executive will be paying the same premium for medical and
dental plan coverage during the Salary Continuation Period as an
active employee. However, in the event Executive becomes employed
by another employer and is covered by such employer’s health
benefits plan or
program, the
medical and dental benefits provided by the Company hereunder shall
be secondary to such employer’s health benefits plan or
program in accordance with the terms of the Company’s health
benefit plans.
(c)
Long-Term Performance Program . The Long Term Performance
Incentive Program grant for any multi-year performance period will
be treated at termination of active employment in accordance with
the provisions of its respective program document or grant
letter.
(d)
Outplacement . From the date of termination pursuant to the
first sentence of Section 1(a), Executive will be immediately
eligible for outplacement services at the Company’s expense.
The Company and Executive will mutually agree on which outplacement
firm, among current vendors used by the Company, will provide these
services. Such services will be provided for up to one
(1) year from the beginning of the Salary Continuation Period
or until employment is obtained, whichever occurs first.
2.
Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the definitions as set forth below:
(a)
“ Cause ” shall mean (1) a material breach
by Executive (other than a breach resulting from Executive’s
incapacity due to a mental or physical disability) of
Executive’s duties and responsibilities which breach is
demonstrably willful and deliberate on Executive’s part, is
committed in bad faith or without reasonable belief that such
breach is in the best interests of Sears and is not remedied in a
reasonable period of time after receipt of written notice from
Sears specifying such breach, (2) the commission by Executive
of a felony involving moral turpitude, or (3) dishonesty or
willful misconduct in connection with Executive’s employment;
and
(b)
“ Disability ” shall mean disability as defined
under the long-term disability plan of Sears applicable to
Executive.
(c)
“ Good Reason ” shall mean, without
Executive’s written consent, (i) a reduction of more
than 10% in the sum of Executive’s annual base salary and
target bonus from those in effect as of the date of this Agreement,
(ii) a change in reporting relationship such that Executive
reports to anyone other than the Chief Executive Officer, the
Chairman of the Board, the Board of directors, (iii) a
reduction in title or a material diminution in duties,
(iv) Executive’s mandatory relocation to an office more
than 50 miles from the primary location at which Executive is
required to perform Executive’s duties immediately prior to
the date of this Agreement or (v) failure of a successor company to
assume or fulfill the obligations under this Agreement.
3.
Non-Disparagement . Executive will not take any actions
detrimental to the interests of Sears, nor make derogatory
statements, either written or oral to any third party, or otherwise
publicly disparage Sears, its products, services, or present or
former employees, officers or directors, and will not authorize
others to make derogatory or disparaging statements on
Executive’s behalf.
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4.
Intellectual Property Rights . Executive acknowledges that
Executive’s development, work or research on any and all
inventions or expressions of ideas, patentable or not, hereafter
made or conceived solely or jointly within the scope of employment
at Sears, provided such invention or expression of an idea relates
to the business of Sears, or relates to Sears actual or
demonstrably anticipated research or development, or results from
any work performed by Executive for or on behalf of Sears, are
hereby assigned to Sears, including Executive’s entire
rights, title and interest. Executive will promptly disclose such
invention or expression of an idea to Executive’s management
and will, upon request, promptly execute a specific written
assignment of title to Sears. If Executive currently holds any
inventions or expressions of an idea, regardless of whether they
were published or filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,
or is under contract to not so assign, Executive will list them on
the last page of this Agreement.
5.
Confidentiality . Executive agrees that the existence and
terms of the Agreement, including the compensation paid to
Executive, and discussions with Sears regarding this Agreement,
shall be considered confidential and shall not be disclosed or
communicated in any manner except: (a) as required by law or
legal process; (b) to Executive’s spouse, domestic
partner, or financial/legal advisors, all of whom shall agree to
keep such information confidential.
6.
Protective Covenants . Executive acknowledges that this
Agreement provides for additional consideration beyond what Sears
is otherwise obligated to pay. In consideration of the opportunity
for severance benefits and special payments specified above, and
other good and valuable consideration, Executive agrees to the
following:
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(a)
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Non-Disclosure and
Non-Solicitation . Executive acknowledges that
Executive has previously or has simultaneously executed and will
continue to be bound by an Executive Non-Disclosure and
Non-Solicitation of Employees Agreement, which agreement sets
forth, among other things, the definition of Sears Confidential
Information and is incorporated by reference herein.
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(b)
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Non-Competition
. Executive acknowledges
that as a result of Executive’s position at Sears, Executive
has learned or developed, or will learn or develop, Sears
Confidential Information and that use or disclosure of such
Confidential Information is likely to occur if Executive were to
render advice or services to any Sears Competitor.
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i.
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Therefore, for one (1) year
from Executive’s last day of active employment, whether or
not Executive receives severance benefits pursuant to
Section 1 hereto (“Severance Pay”), Executive will
not, directly or indirectly, aid, assist, participate in, consult
with, render services for, accept a position with, become employed
by, or otherwise enter into any relationship with (other than
having a passive ownership interest in or being a customer of) any
Sears Competitor.
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