Employment Agreement - Albertson's Inc. and Robert Dunst
November 16, 2001
Mr. Robert Dunst
35551 Palomares Road
Castro Valley, CA 94552
Dear Bob:
I am pleased to confirm my verbal offer of employment for the position of
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Albertson's,
Inc. (the "Company"). In this assignment, you will report directly to Larry
Johnston, our CEO. Your employment with the Company will commence on
November 19, 2001 (the "Effective Date").
Your initial base salary ("Base Salary") will be $350,000 per annum,
payable in accordance with the Company's policies relating to salaried
employees. Your Base Salary may be increased (but not decreased) by the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Compensation Committee") in its sole discretion.
Commencing with the fiscal year of the Company ("Fiscal Year") in which the
Effective Date occurs, you will have the opportunity to earn a bonus for each
Fiscal Year as recommended by the Compensation Committee in accordance with the
Company's annual bonus plan applicable to the Company's senior officers (the
"Annual Bonus Plan"). The amount of each annual bonus shall be set by the
Compensation Committee and is currently equal to seventy percent (70%) of Base
Salary if the applicable "target" performance goals (as defined in the Annual
Bonus Plan for such period) are met (the "Target Bonus"), except that the bonus
cannot exceed one hundred five percent (105%) of Base Salary. The criteria for
determining the amount of any Target Bonus and the bases upon which such Target
Bonus shall be payable shall be no less favorable to you than those used for
other senior executives of the Company, such criteria and bases to be determined
in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee.
As of the Effective Date, you will be granted 40,000 shares of deferrable
restricted stock units of the Company ("Restricted Stock Unit Award") in
accordance with the form of grant used by the Company for grants made to its
senior executive officers. Such grants shall vest at twenty percent (20%) per
year on the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth anniversaries of the
Effective Date; provided in each case that you have been continuously employed
as a senior executive with the Company from the Effective Date through the
applicable vesting date, except as otherwise provided in this letter agreement
and in such deferrable restricted stock unit agreement. To the extent that
dividends are paid on Company common stock after the Effective Date and prior to
the date that the Company common stock that is subject to a Restricted Stock
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Mr. Robert Dunst
November 16, 2001
Page 2
Unit Award is issued to you, you shall be entitled to receive a cash payment in
an amount equal to the dividends you would have been entitled to receive had you
been the owner of such unissued shares on the date such dividends are paid. Such
cash payment shall be made at the same time payment of dividends are made to
other shareholders of Company common stock.
You will be entitled to receive grants of stock options to purchase shares
of common stock of the Company from time to time as recommended by the
Compensation Committee in its sole discretion in accordance with the Company's
usual form of grant; provided that not later than December 31, 2001, the
Compensation Committee will grant to you an option to purchase shares of Company
common stock which has a value equal to three million dollars ($3,000,000), the
number of shares of which shall be equal to three million dollars ($3,000,000)
divided by the closing New York Stock Exchange price of the Company's stock on
the date of such grant (which would be approximately 88,000 shares based on the
current stock price), and vesting at the rate of twenty percent (20%) of the
total shares granted on each of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth
anniversaries of the date of such grant. Subsequent annual option awards
otherwise shall be subject to the terms and conditions as generally apply to
stock options granted to other senior executive officers who participate in the
Company's equity incentive plans.
The Company will maintain, for your benefit, officer liability insurance in
a form it maintains for its other senior executive officers. You will be
indemnified by the Company against liability as an officer of the Company and
any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company to the same extent as the Company's
other senior executive officers. Your rights to such indemnification and
insurance will continue so long as you may be subject to liability, whether or
not your employment may have terminated prior thereto.
You will be provided with four (4) weeks of paid vacation per year
beginning with the 2002 calendar year and sick leave and paid holidays in
accordance with the Company's standard policy regarding these benefits for
senior executive officers of the Company.
You will also be eligible to participate in each fringe, welfare,
retirement and incentive programs adopted from time to time by the Company for
the benefit of, and which generally apply to, its highest level of senior
executive officers from time to time, including the Company's 401(k) and profit
sharing plans, in accordance with the terms of such plans and programs. The
Company will waive any otherwise applicable waiting periods for its medical
benefit and life insurance plans.
The Company will reimburse you in accordance with the Company's relocation
policy provided under its "Full Service Move Program for Senior Executive
Officers" (the "Relocation Program"), a copy of which has been provided to you
previously, in connection with your relocation to Boise, Idaho. Pursuant to the
Relocation Program, you will be entitled to a "gross-up" payment with respect to
those reimbursement payments described in the Relocation Program in an amount
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Mr. Robert Dunst
November 16, 2001
Page 3
such that, after payment of all applicable taxes on such reimbursement payments
and "gross-up" payment, you retain an amount equal to the amount of such
reimbursement payments.
In the event of your termination of employment by the Company within two
(2) years of the Effective Date for any reason other than cause, you shall be
entitled to receive :
(a) Any earned, but unpaid, Base Salary;
(b) Any earned, but unpaid, bonus for any Fiscal Year that ended prior to
the Fiscal Year in which the date of termination occurs;
(c) The cash equivalent of any accrued, but unused, vacation; and
(d) Any accrued employee benefits, subject to the terms of the applicable
employee benefit plans.
In addition, if your employment is terminated by the Company for any reason
other than cause, you shall be entitled to receive a lump sum severance payment
equal to $595,000.
Please understand that this offer is subject to the Company having
completed to its satisfaction any background or reference checks as it may deem
appropriate. Further, this letter shall not be construed to create an employment
contract of any kind, express or implied, and your employment status shall be
and remain "employment at will"; provided, however, that upon termination you
shall be entitled to the benefits as set forth in this letter.
As a condition to receipt of any severance payments or continued benefits
under this letter upon your termination for any reason, you will execute a
release agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Company releasing any and all
claims arising out of your employment with the Company.
In the event of any conflict between the terms of this letter agreement and
the terms of any other agreement, award or arrangement contemplated hereby, the
terms of this letter agreement shall control.
If the terms outlined above reflect your understanding of our offer and you
accept employment based on these terms, please indicate your acceptance by
signing the two original letters provided. Please keep one letter for your
records and return the other to me.
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Mr. Robert Dunst
November 16, 2001
Page 4
We are extremely pleased to have you join the Albertson's team, and I look
forward to our association with you in this important role at Albertson's.
Sincerely,
/s/ Kathy Herbert
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Kathy Herbert
Executive Vice President, Human Resources
Accepted and agreed to this
19th day of November, 2001