Severance Agreement - Lance Inc. and Gregory M. Venner
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
AGREEMENT
COUNTY OF MECKLENBURG
THIS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as of March 6, 2000
by and between LANCE, INC., a North Carolina corporation (the "Company"), and
GREGORY M. VENNER ("Venner").
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Venner has been employed by the Company since February 26, 1997. On
November 7, 1997, the Company and Venner entered into an Executive Severance
Agreement (the "Severance Agreement"), whereby the Company provided Venner with
certain benefits. Venner currently holds the title of Vice President of
Marketing.
The Company has decided to permanently eliminate the job Venner is
performing for the Company. The Company and Venner have entered into
negotiations with a view toward resolving all issues relating to Venner's
employment with the Company and the termination of that employment.
As a result of these negotiations, Venner and the Company have agreed
that Venner and the Company will terminate their relationship on the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Statement of Purpose and the
terms and provisions of this Agreement, the parties hereto mutually agree as
follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement that are not
expressly defined herein but are defined in the Severance Agreement have the
respective meanings given those terms in the Severance Agreement. In addition,
as used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Affiliate" with reference to the Company means any
Person that directly or indirectly is controlled by,
or is under common control with, the Company. For
purposes of this definition the term "control" means
the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power
to direct or cause the direction of the management
and policies of a Person, whether through ownership
of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
(b) "Person" means any individual, corporation,
association, partnership, business trust, joint stock
company, limited liability company, foundation,
trust, estate or other entity or organization of
whatever nature.
(c) "Effective Date" with reference to this Agreement
means the eighth (8th) day following the execution of
this Agreement, if not a Saturday, Sunday
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or legal holiday, and if such day is a Saturday,
Sunday or legal holiday, then the first business day
following such eighth (8th) day.
2. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT; RESIGNATION FROM OFFICES. As the result
of the permanent elimination of his job, the Company does hereby terminate
Venner's employment and as requested by the Company, Venner hereby resigns from
all offices, committees and positions he holds with the Company and its
Affiliates, including but not limited to, Vice President of Marketing of the
Company, with said termination and resignation to be effective as of March 27,
2000. Venner will remain on the payroll through March 27, 2000 and will be
considered during the period March 6, 2000 to March 27, 2000 as being on
vacation, and in such connection will have no duties or responsibilities except
to consult from time to time with Company officials regarding the transfer of
his responsibilities to others. If requested by the Company, Venner will execute
any additional resignation letters, forms or other documents which acknowledge
his resignation from such employment, positions, committees and offices.
3. PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY. The Company agrees to pay or provide Venner
with the following:
(a) Compensation and benefits to which Venner is
otherwise entitled as an employee of the Company at
Venner's current rate and status through March 27,
2000, in accordance with the Company's generally
applicable policies and procedures (payment for the
period March 6, 2000 through March 27, 2000 shall be
treated as vacation pay and shall exhaust Venner's
accrued vacation entitlement);
(b) Compensation and benefits to which Venner is
otherwise entitled under the Severance Agreement in
accordance with the terms of the Severance Agreement.
For purposes hereof, the Company acknowledges and
agrees that Venner shall be considered to have been
involuntarily terminated Without Cause, and shall be
due all payments and benefits set forth in paragraph
4 of the Severance Agreement. The parties agree that
Venner is entitled to be paid $256,680 under
Paragraph 4(a) of the Severance Agreement, that the
payments described in Paragraph 3(a) in this
Agreement satisfy the obligations described in
Paragraph 4(b) of the Severance Agreement and that
Venner is entitled to receive under Paragraph 4(c) of
the Severance Agreement the greater of (i) $23,207 or
(ii) the actual bonus earned through the Termination
Date. While it is not obligated to make any payment
under Paragraph 4(c) of the Severance Agreement at
this time, the Company agrees to pay Venner $23,207
within thirty (30) days after the Effective Date. If
a larger amount is determined to be due under
Paragraph 4(c) of the Severance Agreement, the
Company will pay the difference between the amount
paid and the amount due at the same time as payments
are made to the Company's other employees under the
Company's Annual Corporate Performance Incentive Plan
for Officers.
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(c) Possession of the Company automobile used by Venner
in connection with his employment together with
conveyance of title to said automobile promptly
following the Effective Date of this Agreement;
(d) Health benefits for Venner under the Company's group
medical plan until the earlier of (a) the date Venner
becomes eligible for coverage under another
employer's plan, (b) his death or (c) March 27, 2001.
During this period, Venner will be required to pay
those amounts the Company's employees are customarily
required to pay from time to time for such coverage
and will be entitled to obtain at his expense
optional family/dependent medical coverage under the
Company's group medical plan. After March 27, 2001,
Venner may continue his coverage to the extent (if
any) and in the manner provided by the "COBRA"
provisions of federal law.
(e) Venner has participated in various Company sponsored
benefit plans including the Profit-Sharing
Retirement, 401-(k), Employee Stock Purchase and
Incentive Equity plans. Venner's vested interest in
these plans shall be paid when and as provided in,
and otherwise subject to, the terms, provisions and
conditions of said plans, and nothing in this
Agreement shall modify or override the terms,
provisions or conditions of those plans.
(f) The Company will provide Venner, at no expense to
him, outplacement services through Manchester
Services or another provider selected by the Company
for a period of up to six months (or longer in the
Company's sole discretion) at a cost not to exceed
$12,500.
(g) In consideration for the non-competition portion of
this agreement, in Section 7, Lance agrees to pay
Venner the sum of $49,575. No with-holdings for
income or employment taxes shall be made from the
amount paid pursuant to this section 3(g).
4. TERMINATION OF THE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS ASSURANCE AGREEMENT AND
ALL OTHER BENEFITS NOT SPECIFIED IN THIS AGREEMENT. On November 7, 1997, Venner
and the Company entered into a Compensation and Benefits Assurance Agreement
which was intended to provide Venner with certain compensation and benefits in
the event of the termination of his employment under certain specified
circumstances in connection with a Change in Control, as defined in the
Compensation and Benefits Assurance Agreement. It is agreed that this Agreement
is not being entered into in connection with a Change in Control, that Venner is
not entitled to receive any compensation or benefits under the Compensation and
Benefits Assurance Agreement, that the Compensation and Benefits Assurance
Agreement is hereby terminated and that neither party has any further rights and
obligations thereunder. The Company and Venner acknowledge and agree that all
other benefits and perquisites related to or resulting from Venner's employment
and positions with the Company and its Affiliates, which are not
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described and provided for in this Agreement, terminate on the Effective Date,
and that the Company has no further obligations with respect thereto.
5. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND COMPANY PROPERTY. Venner acknowledges
that by reason of Venner's employment by the Company, Venner has had access to
certain Company "Trade Secrets" (as defined in the North Carolina Trade Secrets
Protection Act, N.C.G.S. ss.66-152) and confidential product formulations
(collectively "Confidential Information"). Venner agrees that he shall not
directly or indirectly use, reveal, disclose or remove from the Company's
premises Confidential Information or material containing Confidential
Information, without the prior written consent of the Company. In addition,
Venner agrees that he will turn over and return to the Company no later than
March 27, 2000 all property whatsoever of the Company now in his possession
(including keys and credit cards).
6. EMPLOYMENT TAXES AND WITHHOLDINGS. Venner acknowledges and agrees
that the Company shall withhold from the payments and benefits described in this
Agreement all taxes, including income and employment taxes, required to be so
deducted or withheld under applicable law.
7. NON-COMPETITION. Venner agrees that in consideration of the payments
and benefits described in Paragraphs 3(c), (d) and (f) and the accelerated
payment of amounts due under Paragraph 4(c) of the Severance Agreement, he will
not during the period March 27, 2000 through September 27, 2000, become employed
by, perform services for or consult with the following corporations, their
subsidiaries or affiliates which are involved in the manufacture or sale of
sandwich crackers, or their successors or assigns: Frito Lay, Nabisco and
Keebler.
8. RELEASE OF THE COMPANY. Venner, on behalf of himself and his heirs,
personal representatives, successors and assigns, hereby releases and forever
discharges the Company and its Affiliates, and each and every one of their
respective present and former shareholders, directors, officers, employees and
agents, and each of their respective successors and assigns, from and against
any and all claims, demands, actions, causes of action, damages, costs and
expenses, including without limitation all "Employment-Related Claims," which
Venner now has or may have by reason of any thing occurring, done or omitted to
be done to the date of this Agreement; provided, however, this release shall not
apply to any claims which Venner may have for the payments or benefits expressly
provided for Venner or otherwise specifically referred to in this Agreement. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Employment-Related Claims" means all rights and
claims Venner has or may have:
(i) related to his employment by or status as an employee
of the Company or any of its Affiliates or the
termination of that employment or status or to any
employment practices and policies of the Company, or
its Affiliates; or
(ii) under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment
Act of 1967, as amended ("ADEA").
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9. SPECIAL ADEA WAIVER ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. VENNER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES
THAT HE HAS READ THIS AGREEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY AND THAT THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS
A GENERAL RELEASE OF ALL KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS, INCLUDING RIGHTS AND CLAIMS
ARISING UNDER THE FEDERAL AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 1967, AS
AMENDED ("ADEA"). VENNER FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT:
(a) THIS AGREEMENT DOES NOT RELEASE, WAIVE OR DISCHARGE
ANY RIGHTS OR CLAIMS THAT MAY ARISE AFTER THE DATE OF
THIS AGREEMENT;
(b) HE IS ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND RELEASING,
WAIVING AND DISCHARGING RIGHTS OR CLAIMS ONLY IN
EXCHANGE FOR CONSIDERATION WHICH HE IS NOT ALREADY
ENTITLED TO RECEIVE;
(c) HE HAS BEEN ADVISED, AND IS BEING ADVISED IN THIS
AGREEMENT, TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE
EXECUTING THIS AGREEMENT;
(d) HE HAS BEEN ADVISED, AND IS BEING ADVISED IN THIS
AGREEMENT, THAT HE HAS UP TO TWENTY-ONE DAYS (21)
DAYS WITHIN WHICH TO CONSIDER THIS AGREEMENT AND THAT
IF HE EXECUTES THIS AGREEMENT PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION
OF THE TWENTY-ONE (21) DAY PERIOD, THEN HE EXPRESSLY
WAIVES HIS RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE REMAINING TIME
AND THAT THE AGREEMENT WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE
FOLLOWING THE EXPIRATION OF THE SEVEN (7) DAY PERIOD
REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH 9 (e) BELOW; AND
(e) HE IS AWARE THAT THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BECOME
EFFECTIVE OR ENFORCEABLE UNTIL SEVEN (7) DAYS
FOLLOWING HIS EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THAT HE
MAY REVOKE THIS AGREEMENT AT ANY TIME DURING SUCH
PERIOD BY DELIVERING (OR CAUSING TO BE DELIVERED) TO
THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE COMPANY NOTICE OF HIS
REVOCATION OF THIS AGREEMENT NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M.
EASTERN TIME ON THE SEVENTH (7TH) FULL DAY FOLLOWING
HIS EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT.
10. CONFIDENTIALITY OF THIS AGREEMENT; EMPLOYMENT REFERENCE. Venner
shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, discuss with or disclose to
anyone (other than to members of his immediate family, his attorney, his tax
advisors and the appropriate taxing authorities or as otherwise required by law,
hereinafter "Qualified Persons") the terms of this Agreement, including the
amounts payable hereunder. Venner further agrees that he shall not discuss with
anyone other than Qualified Persons the circumstances surrounding the
termination of his
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employment. If any person asks Venner about the above matters, he will simply
say that he resigned from the Company and all issues relating to his employment
have been resolved. Venner further agrees that for a period of five years from
the Effective Date, he will refrain from making derogatory comments about the
Company or its agents or affiliates to the Company's customers, suppliers or
employees. The Company agrees that for a period of five years from the Effective
Date, the Company and its officers will likewise refrain from making derogatory
comments about Venner to the Company's customers, suppliers or employees. The
Company further agrees that if any person makes inquiry concerning Venner, the
Company will advise such person only as to the dates of Venner's employment with
the Company, the positions held and that he voluntarily resigned from the
Company.
11. APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement is made and executed with the
intention that the construction, interpretation and validity hereof shall be
determined in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of North
Carolina.
12. BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to
the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of Venner, his heirs, executors and
administrators.
13. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and
cancels all prior or contemporaneous oral or written agreements and
understandings between them with respect to the subject matter hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be signed
by its duly authorized officers and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed,
and Venner has hereunto set his hand and seal, all as of the day and year first
above written.
LANCE, INC.
[CORPORATE SEAL]
ATTEST: By s/ E. D. Leake
-------------------------------------
s/ Robert S. Carles Vice President
------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------
Secretary Title
s/ Gregory M. Venner [SEAL]
---------------------------------
Gregory M. Venner
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