Exhibit 10.4
July 14, 2009
William L. McComb,
141 Hodge Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
Re: Severance Benefits Agreement
Dear Bill:
This is your Severance Benefits Agreement (this “Agreement”) with Liz Claiborne,
Inc. (the “Company”). It sets forth certain terms and conditions of your
continued employment with the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates from
time to time (together, the “Group”) during the term of this Agreement (the
“Agreement Term”). This Agreement shall be deemed to extend and renew your term
of employment with the Company as its Chief Executive Officer under your Amended
and Restated Employment Agreement with the Company dated December 24, 2008 (the
“Former Employment Agreement”). This Agreement supersedes the Former Employment
Agreement, and all prior agreements, understandings or representations related
to your employment and severance arrangements with the Group, other than the
Amended and Restated Executive Termination Benefits Agreement dated as of the
date of this Agreement (the “Change in Control Agreement”). By entering into
this Agreement, you acknowledge that the Former Employment Agreement is hereby
terminated, and that you are due no payments, including but not limited to any
non-renewal payment, under the Former Employment Agreement. Your future
employment and severance rights and entitlements will be governed by this
Agreement and the Change in Control Agreement, which remains in full force and
effect, as modified to reflect the replacement of your Former Employment
Agreement with this Agreement (it being understood for clarity that any future
compensation grants by the Company or agreements entered into between the
parties hereto after the date of this Agreement shall be governed by such terms
as may be agreed or specified in such grant or agreement, as the case may be).

 

 

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William L. McComb
1. Term of Agreement.
(a) Term. The Agreement Term will begin on the date first written above (the
“Effective Date”), and will end at the close of business on the third
anniversary of the Effective Date, subject to the next sentence. On the first
day of each month following the Effective Date, the Agreement Term will
automatically renew and extend for an additional period of one month, unless
written notice of non-renewal is delivered from the Company to you, or from you
to the Company, at any time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may
be terminated with immediate effect at any time in accordance with Section 3
hereof. The period from the Effective Date through the termination date of this
Agreement, regardless of the time or reason for such termination, will
constitute the “Agreement Term.”
(b) Non-Extension. Either party providing notice of non-renewal of this
Agreement to the other party shall not result in any payment or benefits, or
constitute Good Reason, under this Agreement or any other agreement you may have
with the Company or the Group.
2. Continuing Terms of Legacy Equity Awards; Recoupment.
(a) Legacy Equity Awards. (1) As an inducement to your agreement to join the
Company as its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), on November 6, 2006 (your “Start
Date”), you were (A) granted options to purchase 185,200 shares of the Company’s
common stock with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the
Company’s common stock at the close of business on the Start Date, (B) granted
options to purchase 63,150 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise
price equal to 1.2 multiplied by the fair market value of the Company’s common
stock at the close of business on the Start Date (the options described in
(A) and (B), the “Sign-On Options”), (C) awarded 76,355 restricted shares of the
Company’s common stock (your “Make-Whole Restricted Stock”) and (D) awarded
62,500 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock (your “Other Restricted
Stock”).
(2) All shares of Company common stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of
options (including the Sign-On Options) and the vesting and delivery of stock
awards (excluding the Make-Whole Restricted Stock but including the Other
Restricted Stock) remain subject to the following restrictions on sale and
transferability (except as limited below): With respect to any exercise of
options prior to December 31, 2009 and any stock that vests and is delivered
prior to December 31, 2009, you will be immediately permitted to sell only 25%
of (A) with respect to options, the net shares acquired pursuant to such
exercise, and (B) with respect to stock, the net shares acquired pursuant to the
vesting and delivery of such restricted stock or restricted stock units, and you
must retain the remainder of the net shares in accordance with the following:
you will be permitted to sell half of such remaining net shares only on or after
December 31, 2009, and you will be permitted to sell the remaining half of such
remaining net shares only on or after December 31, 2010. With respect to any
exercise of options or any stock that vests and is delivered on or after
December 31, 2009 but prior to December 31, 2010, you will be immediately
permitted to sell 62.5% of the net shares, and you will be permitted to sell the
remaining 37.5% of such net shares only on or after December 31, 2010.

 

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William L. McComb
The foregoing restrictions on sale and transferability will be limited by each
of the following: (x) you will be permitted at any time to transfer shares to
any one or more of your spouse, children, or grandchildren, one or more trusts
for the primary benefit of you or any or all of them, or limited partnerships or
other entities wholly-owned by you or any one or more of the individuals or
entities referred to in this clause (x), provided that such transferred shares
will be deemed to be held by you for purposes of the restrictions on sale and
transfer under this Section 3(c)(2), (y) the restrictions on sale and transfer
will not apply to any involuntary transfer or a transfer by operation of law,
such as upon the consummation of a merger or other change in control of the
Company or in connection with a bankruptcy proceeding, and (z) the restrictions
on sale and transfer will automatically terminate upon your death or your
Disability. Additionally, upon a termination of your employment by the Company
without Cause or by you for Good Reason, the Company will determine in good
faith whether to waive the foregoing restrictions on sale and transferability,
it being agreed that the Company will, in making such determination, operate
under a presumption that such restrictions will generally be waived.
For purposes of this Section 2(a)(2), the (1) “net shares acquired pursuant” to
a stock option exercise will mean (A) the number of shares which are purchased
pursuant to such exercise minus (B) any such shares which are not distributed to
you in order to satisfy applicable tax withholding or in order to pay the
exercise price (or which are sold by you to reimburse yourself or any advance of
any such withholding or exercise price) and (2) “net shares acquired pursuant
to” the vesting and delivery of restricted stock or restricted stock units will
mean (C) the number of shares that actually vest minus (D) any such shares which
are not distributed to you in order to satisfy applicable tax withholding (or
which are sold by you to reimburse yourself for any advance of any such
withholding).
(b) Recoupment. The Company shall recover any compensation received by you that
is required to be recovered under law or in equity, including, without
limitation, under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. In addition, to the extent
permitted by law, the Board shall seek to recover from you the after-tax value
of any compensation received by you (in whole or in part) as it deems
appropriate if (i) the award was based on the achievement of certain financial
results that were subsequently the subject of a material restatement of the
Company’s financial statements filed with the SEC, and (ii) the amount or
vesting of the bonus, equity award, equity equivalent or other incentive
compensation would have been less had the financial statements been correct . In
the event that the aforementioned restatement was caused or substantially caused
by your grossly negligent or intentional misconduct, then the Board shall
instead seek to recover from you the pre-tax value of the such compensation (in
whole or in part) as it deems appropriate.

 

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William L. McComb
3. Termination of Your Employment.
(a) No Reason Required. You or the Company may terminate your employment prior
to the end of the Agreement Term at any time for any reason, or for no reason,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
(b) Termination by the Company for Cause.
(1) “Cause” means any of the following:
(A) Your willful or intentional failure or refusal to perform or observe any of
your material duties, responsibilities or obligations as Chief Executive Officer
of the Company, if such breach is not cured, if curable, within 30 days after
notice thereof to you by the Company;
(B) Any willful or intentional act or any willful or intentional failure to act,
either of which of a material nature, involving fraud, misrepresentation, theft,
embezzlement, dishonesty or moral turpitude affecting the Group or any customer,
supplier or employee of the Group;
(C) Your conviction of (or plea of nolo contendere to) an offense which is a
felony in the jurisdiction involved or a misdemeanor in the jurisdiction
involved but which involves moral turpitude;
(D) Any willful or intentional act which could reasonably be expected to
materially injure the reputation, business or business relationships of the
Group, or your reputation or business relationships, if such breach is not
cured, if curable, within 30 days after notice thereof to you by the Company; or
(E) Your willful or intentional failure to comply with any reasonable and lawful
request or direction of the Board not contrary to the provisions of this
Agreement and the policies of the Company, if such breach is not cured, if
curable, within 30 days after notice thereof to you by the Company.
For this definition, no act, or failure to act, on your part will be deemed
“willful” or “intentional” unless done, or omitted to be done, by you without
reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best interests of the
Group.
(2) To terminate your employment “for Cause”, the Board must determine in good
faith that Cause has occurred and must endeavor in good faith to provide you
with a prompt hearing before the Board (at which you may be accompanied by
counsel) prior to such determination.

 

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William L. McComb
(3) The Company may place you on paid leave for up to 30 consecutive days while
it is determining whether there is a basis to terminate your employment for
Cause. This leave will not constitute Good Reason.
(c) Termination by You for Good Reason.
(1) “Good Reason” means any of the following:
(A) A change so that you are no longer serving as Chief Executive Officer of the
Company or a member of the Board, a change so that you no longer report solely
and directly to the Board, or a material adverse change in your duties,
including the assignment to you of duties materially inconsistent with your
position (including as a director), in any case without your prior written
consent, which is not cured within 30 days after written notice of such
circumstances by you to the Company;
(B) A material adverse change in the nature or scope of your authority, power,
function, duties or responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
without your prior written consent, which is not cured within 30 days after
written notice of such circumstances by you to the Company;
(C) A material diminution in the rate of your base salary, target annual
incentive, or guideline LTI, or any diminution in your Company-provided
long-term disability coverage, in each case as of immediately prior to the
Company’s actions giving rise to Good Reason hereunder, except as consistent
with broad-based executive reductions only in salary, target annual incentive,
or guideline LTI, as the case may be, by the Company;
(D) The Company’s moving its principal executive offices by more than 35 miles
if such move increases your commuting distance by more than 35 miles, without
your prior written consent; or
(E) A material breach by the Company of any of its material obligations under
this Agreement, without your prior written consent, which is not cured within 30
days after written notice thereof is given by you to the Company.
(2) To terminate your employment “for Good Reason”, Good Reason must have
occurred. Unless you will give the Company notice of any event which, after any
applicable notice and the lapse of any applicable 30-day grace period, would
constitute Good Reason within 90 days of the initial existence of such event,
such event will cease to be an event constituting Good Reason. Subject to the
Company’s cure rights described above, you may terminate your employment by
written notice to the Company at any time that Good Reason for the termination
exists.

 

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William L. McComb
(d) Termination on Disability or Death.
(1) Your employment will terminate, at the Group’s option, by written notice to
you (or your legal representative) upon your Disability. “Disability” means your
inability to perform your duties and responsibilities as contemplated under this
Agreement for a period of more than 180 consecutive days due to physical or
mental incapacity or impairment. A determination of Disability will be made by a
licensed physician satisfactory to both you and the Company; provided that if
you and the Company cannot agree as to a licensed physician, then each will
select a licensed physician and these two together will select a third licensed
physician, whose determination as to Disability will be binding on you and the
Company. You, your legal representative or any adult member of your immediate
family will have the right to present to the Company and such licensed physician
such information and arguments on your behalf as you or they deem appropriate,
including the opinion of your personal physician.
(2) Your employment will terminate automatically on your death.
4. The Company’s Obligations in Connection With Your Termination.
(a) General Effect. On a termination of your employment in accordance with
Section 3 hereof, your employment will end, and the Group will have no further
obligations to you, except as provided in this Section 4.
(b) For Good Reason or Without Cause. If, during the Agreement Term, the Company
terminates your employment without Cause or you terminate your employment for
Good Reason:
(1) The Company will pay your accrued but unpaid annualized base salary through
the date of such termination.
(2) The Company will pay a pro-rated annual cash bonus for the year of your
termination, subject to the terms of the Company’s Section 162(m) cash bonus
plan, based on actual performance.
(3) The Company will pay, as a severance payment, an amount equal to the sum of
two times your then current annualized base salary and two times your then
current target annual incentive bonus. In the event that you terminate your
employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 3(c)(1)(C), the annualized base
salary and/or target annual incentive bonus amount(s) used to calculate your
severance payment under this Section 4(b)(3) will be the amount(s) in effect
immediately prior to the Company’s actions giving rise to Good Reason under
Section 3(c)(1)(C).

 

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William L. McComb
(4) Your Make-Whole Restricted Stock (but, for purposes of clarity, not your
Sign-On Options) and Other Restricted Stock will immediately vest in full. As
set forth in Section 2(a)(2), the Company will determine in good faith whether
to waive the restrictions on the sale and transferability of your Sign-On
Options and Other Restricted Stock set forth in Section 2(a)(2) and will, in
making such determination, operate under a presumption that such restrictions
will generally be waived.
(5) For two (2) years, the Company will provide you and your family with
coverage substantially identical to that provided to you immediately prior to
termination in the Group’s medical, dental, vision, long-term disability and
life insurance programs (subject in the case of life insurance to insurability
at standard rates). In regard to such coverage in the Company’s long-term
disability programs, you will specifically be entitled to a disability benefit
equal to 100% of your annualized base salary then in effect, in accordance with
the terms and conditions of the Company’s short-term and group long term
disability plans, as the same may be supplemented by individual long-term
disability policies. For purposes of providing continued health benefits, to
avoid potential tax issues, the Company will pay you a monthly amount equal to
the applicable COBRA premium, which payment will be paid in advance on the first
payroll day of each month, commencing with the month immediately following your
termination, and subject to your execution of a release hereunder, as described
in Section 4(e).
(c) For Cause or without Good Reason, for your Disability or Death. In the event
that your employment is terminated due to (i) a termination by the Company for
Cause, (ii) your resignation without Good Reason, or (iii) a termination of your
employment on account of your death or Disability, the Company will pay to you
an amount equal to your accrued but unpaid annualized base salary then in effect
through the date of such termination, and, in the case of death or Disability,
(x) the Company will continue to provide you and/or your family with coverage
substantially identical to that provided to other senior executives of the Group
in its medical and dental programs for 12 months following the date of such
termination and (y) all unvested equity awards (including but not limited to all
equity awards provided for in Section 2(a) hereof) will immediately vest.
(d) Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that your
employment is terminated under circumstances constituting a Covered Termination
(as defined in Change in Control Agreement) during the Protected Period (as
defined in the Change in Control Agreement), this Section 4 will be of no force
or effect, and the provisions of the Change in Control Agreement will govern.
(e) Condition. The Company expressly conditions its provision of all payments
and benefits due to you pursuant to this Section 4 on receipt from you and
non-revocation of a full release of all claims against the Group, and its
officers, directors, and affiliates, in substantially the form attached as
Exhibit A. The Company shall furnish to you the form of release no later than
five (5) days following the end of the Agreement Term.

 

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William L. McComb
(f) Timing. The benefits provided in this Section 4 will begin at the end of
your employment, and any cash payments owed to you under this Section 4 will be
paid in one lump sum payment within 55 days of the end of your employment (but
in no event later than 3 business days after the effective date of the release
required by Section 4(e) hereof) or at any earlier time required by applicable
law.
(g) Sole Remedy. Your rights set out in this Section 4 will constitute your sole
and exclusive rights and remedies as a result of your actual or constructive
termination of employment without Cause or for Good Reason, and you hereby waive
any such other claims against the Group in such event.
5. Proprietary Information.
(a) The Group owns and has developed and compiled, and will own, develop and
compile, certain proprietary techniques and confidential information which have
great value to its business (referred to in this Agreement, collectively, as
“Confidential Information”). Confidential Information includes not only
information disclosed by the Group to you, but also information developed or
learned by you during the course or as a result of employment hereunder, which
information you acknowledge is and will be the sole and exclusive property of
the Group. Confidential Information includes all proprietary information that
has or could have commercial value or other utility in the business in which the
Group is engaged or contemplates engaging, and all proprietary information the
unauthorized disclosure of which could be detrimental to the interests of the
Group, whether or not such information is specifically labeled as Confidential
Information, and includes any and all information developed, obtained or owned
by the Group concerning trade secrets, techniques, know-how (including designs,
plans, procedures, merchandising know-how, processes and research records),
software, computer programs, innovations, discoveries, improvements, research,
development, tests results, reports, specifications, data, formats, marketing
data and plans, business plans, strategies, forecasts, unpublished financial
information, orders, agreements and other forms of documents, price and cost
information, merchandising opportunities, expansion plans, designs, store plans,
budgets, projections, customer, supplier and subcontractor identities,
characteristics and agreements, and salary, staffing and employment information.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information will not in any event
include information that (i) was generally known or generally available to the
public prior to its disclosure to you; (ii) becomes generally known or generally
available to the public subsequent to disclosure to you through no wrongful act
of any person or (iii) you are required to disclose by applicable law,
regulation, or legal process (provided, that unless prohibited by law, you
provide the Company with prior notice of the contemplated disclosure and
reasonably cooperate with the Company at the Company’s expense in seeking a
protective order or other appropriate protection of such information).

 

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William L. McComb
(b) You acknowledge and agree that in the performance of your duties hereunder
the Group will from time to time disclose to you and entrust you with
Confidential Information. You also acknowledge and agree that the unauthorized
disclosure of Confidential Information, among other things, may be prejudicial
to the Group’s interests, an invasion of privacy and an improper disclosure of
trade secrets. You agree that you will not, directly or indirectly, use, make
available, sell, disclose or otherwise communicate to any corporation,
partnership, individual or other third party, other than in the course of your
assigned duties and for the benefit of the Group, any Confidential Information,
either during the Agreement Term or thereafter.
(c) In the event your employment with the Company ceases for any reason, you
will not remove from the Group’s premises without its prior written consent any
records, files, drawings, documents, equipment, materials or writings received
from, created for or belonging to the Group, including those which relate to or
contain Confidential Information, or any copies thereof. Upon request or when
your employment with the Company terminates, you will immediately deliver the
same to the Company.
(d) During the Agreement Term, you will disclose to the Company all designs,
inventions and business strategies or plans developed by you during such period
which relate directly or indirectly to the business of the Group, including
without limitation any process, operation, product or improvement. You agree
that all of the foregoing are and will be the sole and exclusive property of the
Group and that you will at the Company’s request and cost do whatever is
necessary to secure the rights thereto, by patent, copyright or otherwise, to
the Group.
(e) You and the Company agree that you will not disclose to the Group or use for
the Group’s benefit, any information which may constitute trade secrets or
confidential information of third parties, to the extent you have any such
secrets or information.
6. Ongoing Restrictions on Your Activities.
(a) You acknowledge and agree (1) that the services to be rendered by you for
the Group are of a special, unique, extraordinary and personal character,
(2) that you have and will continue to develop a personal acquaintance and
relationship with one or more of the Group’s customers, employees, suppliers and
independent contractors, which may constitute the Group’s primary or only
contact with such customers, employees, suppliers and independent contractors,
and (3) that you will be uniquely identified by customers, employees, suppliers,
independent contractors and retail consumers with the Group’s products. You
acknowledge that you have been represented by counsel and fully understand the
provisions of this Agreement. Consequently, you agree that it is fair,
reasonable and necessary for the protection of the business, operations, assets
and reputation of the Group that you make the covenants contained in this
Section 6.
(b) You agree that, during the Agreement Term and for a period of 18 months
thereafter, you will not, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join,
control, participate in, invest in or otherwise be connected or associated with,
in any manner, including as an officer, director, employee, partner, consultant,
advisor, proprietor, trustee or investor, any Competing Business in the United
States; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 6(b) will
prevent you from owning less than 2% of the voting stock of a publicly held
corporation for investment purposes. For purposes of this Section 6(b), the term
“Competing Business” will mean a business engaged in the design, manufacture,
distribution or marketing of better apparel and related products that competes
with any business then being operated by the Company (except where such
competition is de minimis) provided that the Company was operating such business
during the Agreement Term.

 

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William L. McComb
(c) You agree that, during the Agreement Term and for a period of 18 months
thereafter, you will not, directly or indirectly,
(1) persuade or seek to persuade any customer of the Group to cease to do
business or to reduce the amount of business which any customer has customarily
done or contemplates doing with the Group, whether or not the relationship
between the Group and such customer was originally established in whole or in
part through your efforts;
(2) seek to employ or engage, or assist anyone else to seek to employ or engage,
any person (other than your executive assistant) who at any time during the year
preceding the termination of your employment hereunder was in the employ of the
Group or was an independent contractor providing material manufacturing,
marketing, sales, financial or management consulting services in connection with
the business of the Group and with whom you had regular contact; or
(3) interfere in any manner in the relationship of the Group with any of its
suppliers or independent contractors, whether or not the relationship between
the Group and such supplier or independent contractor was originally established
in whole or in part by your efforts.
As used in this Section 6, the terms “customer” and “supplier” will mean and
include any individual, proprietorship, partnership, corporation, joint venture,
trust or any other form of business entity which is then a customer or supplier,
as the case may be, of the Group or which was such a customer or supplier at any
time during the one-year period immediately preceding the date of termination of
employment.
(d) You and the Company agree that, during your employment and for a period of
18 months thereafter, you and it will take no action which is intended, or would
be reasonably expected, to harm, in the case of you, the Group or its reputation
or which would reasonably be expected to lead to unwanted or unfavorable
publicity to the Group and, in the case of the Company, you or your reputation
or which would reasonably be expected to lead to unwanted or unfavorable
publicity to you.

 

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William L. McComb
(e) You acknowledge that the Company and the Group would sustain irreparable
harm and injury in the event of a violation by you of any of the provisions of
Sections 5 and 6 hereof, and by reason thereof, you consent and agree that if
you violate any of such provisions, in addition to any other remedies available,
the Company and the Group will be entitled to a decree specifically enforcing
such provisions, and will be entitled to a temporary and permanent injunction
restraining you from committing or continuing any such violation, from any court
of competent jurisdiction (as more fully described in Section 9(d) hereof),
without the necessity of proving actual damages, posting any bond or seeking
arbitration in any forum.
7. Successors.
(a) Payments on Your Death. If you die and any amounts become payable under this
Agreement, we will pay those amounts to your estate within 30 days of the date
of your death.
(b) Assignment by You. You may not assign this Agreement without the Company’s
consent. Also, except as required by law, your right to receive payments or
benefits under this Agreement may not be subject to execution, attachment, levy
or similar process. Any attempt to effect any of the preceding in violation of
this Section 7(b), whether voluntary or involuntary, will be void.
(c) Company’s Successors. The rights and obligations of the Company hereunder
will be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company and run in favor
of any successor and any assignee of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company provided that such successor or assignee agrees in writing to assume
all of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement. No such assumption
will relieve the Company of its liability to you under this Agreement.
8. Life Insurance.
You agree that the Group will have the right to obtain and maintain life
insurance on your life, at its expense, and for its benefit. You agree to
cooperate fully with the Group in obtaining such life insurance, to sign any
necessary consents, applications and other related forms or documents and to
take any required medical examinations.
9. Disputes.
(a) Employment Matter. This Section 9 applies to any controversy or claim
between you and the Group arising out of or relating to or concerning this
Agreement or any aspect of your employment with the Group or the termination of
that employment (together, an “Employment Matter”).
(b) Mandatory Arbitration. Subject to the provisions of this Section 9, any
Employment Matter will be finally settled by arbitration in the County of New
York administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial
Arbitration Rules then in effect. However, the rules will be modified in the
following ways: (1) each arbitrator will agree to treat as confidential evidence
and other information presented to the same extent as the information is
required to be kept confidential under Section 5 hereof, (2) a decision must be
rendered within 10 business days of the parties’ closing statements or
submission of post-hearing briefs and (3) the arbitration will be conducted
before a panel of three arbitrators, one selected by you within 10 days of the
commencement of arbitration, one selected by the Company in the same period and
the third selected jointly by these arbitrators (or, if they are unable to agree
on an arbitrator within 30 days of the commencement of arbitration, the third
arbitrator will be appointed by the American Arbitration Association; provided
that the arbitrator will be a partner or former partner at a nationally
recognized law firm).

 

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William L. McComb
(c) Limitation on Damages. You and the Group agree that there will be no
punitive damages payable as a result of any Employment Matter and agree not to
request punitive damages.
(d) Injunctions and Enforcement of Arbitration Awards.
You or the Group may bring an action or special proceeding in a state or federal
court of competent jurisdiction sitting in the County of New York to enforce any
arbitration award under Section 9(b) hereof. Also, the Group may bring such an
action or proceeding, in addition to its rights under Section 9(b) hereof and
whether or not an arbitration proceeding has been or is ever initiated, to
temporarily, preliminarily or permanently enforce any part of Sections 5 and 6
hereof.
(e) Jurisdiction and Choice of Forum. You and the Group irrevocably submit to
the exclusive jurisdiction of any state or federal court located in the County
of New York over any Employment Matter that is not otherwise arbitrated or
resolved according to Section 9(b) hereof. This includes any action or
proceeding to compel arbitration or to enforce an arbitration award. Both you
and the Group (1) acknowledge that the forum stated in this Section 9(e) has a
reasonable relation to this Agreement and to the relationship between you and
the Group and that the submission to the forum will apply even if the forum
chooses to apply non-forum law, (2) waive, to the extent permitted by law, any
objection to personal jurisdiction or to the laying of venue of any action or
proceeding covered by this Section 9(e) in the forum stated in this Section,
(3) agree not to commence any such action or proceeding in any forum other than
the forum stated in this Section 9(e) and (4) agree that, to the extent
permitted by law, a final and non-appealable judgment in any such action or
proceeding in any such court will be conclusive and binding on you and the
Group. However, nothing in this Agreement precludes you or the Group from
bringing any action or proceeding in any court for the purpose of enforcing the
provisions of Section 9(b) hereof and this Section 9(e).
(f) Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in
accordance with the law of the State of New York applicable to contracts made
and to be performed entirely within that State.
(g) Costs. In the event that (1) you make a claim against the Company under this
Agreement, (2) the Company disputes such claim, and (3) you prevail with respect
to such disputed claim, then the Company will reimburse you for your reasonable
costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by you in
pursuing such disputed claim.

 

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William L. McComb
10. Tax Matters.
(a) Withholding. You and the Group will treat all payments to you under this
Agreement as compensation for services as an employee. Accordingly, the Group
will withhold from any payment any taxes that are required to be withheld under
any law, rule or regulation (and, for the purpose of clarity, all amounts set
forth herein will represent gross amounts in U. S. dollars, prior to the
deduction for employment and income taxes).
(b) Section 409A.
(1) Full Compliance. It is the parties’ intention that the payments and benefits
to which you could become entitled in connection with this Agreement be exempt
from or comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (“IRC”)
and the regulations and other guidance promulgated thereunder. The provisions of
this Section 10(b) shall qualify and supersede all other provisions of this
Agreement as necessary to fulfill the foregoing intention. If you or the Company
believes, at any time, that any of such payment or benefit is not exempt or does
not so comply, you or it will promptly advise the other party and will negotiate
reasonably and in good faith to amend the terms of such arrangement such that it
is exempt or complies with IRC Section 409A (with the most limited possible
economic effect on you and on the Company) so as to eliminate to the maximum
extent practicable any additional tax, interest and/or penalties that may apply
under IRC Section 409A. The Company agrees that it will not, without your prior
written consent, knowingly (or as to which it should have known) take any
action, or knowingly (or as to which it should have known) refrain from taking
any action, other than as required by law, that would result in the imposition
of tax, interest and/or penalties upon you under IRC Section 409A, unless such
action or omission is pursuant to your written request.
(2) Separate Payments. To the extent applicable, each and every payment made
pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment
and not as a series of payments treated as a single payment for purposes of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii).
(3) Specified Employee. If you are a “specified employee” (determined by the
Company in accordance with IRC Section 409A and Treasury
Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(2)) as of your “separation from service” (as such
term is defined for purposes of IRC Section 409A and the Treasury Regulations
promulgated thereunder (a “Separation from Service”)) with the Group, and if any
payment, benefit or entitlement provided for in this Agreement or otherwise both
(i) constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of IRC
Section 409A (“Nonqualified Deferred Compensation”) and (ii) cannot be paid or
provided in a manner otherwise provided herein without subjecting you to
additional tax, interest and/or penalties under IRC Section 409A, then any such
payment, benefit or entitlement that is payable during the first 6 months
following the date of termination shall be paid or provided to you in a lump sum
cash payment (including interest thereon calculated using the prime rate of
interest as reported in the Wall Street Journal on the date which is 5 business
days prior to the date of payment) to be made on the earlier of (x) your death
and (y) the first business day of the seventh month immediately following your
Separation from Service.

 

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William L. McComb
(4) Expense Reimbursements. Except to the extent any reimbursement, payment or
entitlement under this Agreement does not constitute Nonqualified Deferred
Compensation, (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement or the
provision of any in-kind benefit (as defined in IRC Section 409A) to you during
any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for
reimbursement or provided as in-kind benefits to you in any other calendar year
(subject to any lifetime and other annual limits provided under the Company’s
health plans), (ii) the reimbursements for expenses for which you are entitled
shall be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the
calendar year in which the applicable expense is incurred, (iii) the right to
payment or reimbursement or in-kind benefits may not be liquidated or exchanged
for any other benefit and (iv) in no event shall the Company’s obligations to
make such reimbursements or to provide such in-kind benefits apply later than
your remaining lifetime (or if longer, through the 20th anniversary of the date
first above written).
(5) Reimbursement of Expenses in Connection with a Separation from Service. Any
payment or benefit paid or provided under Section 4 hereof or otherwise paid or
provided due to a Separation from Service that is exempt from IRC Section 409A
pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) will be paid or
provided to you only to the extent the expenses are not incurred or the benefits
are not provided beyond the last day of your second taxable year following your
taxable year in which the Separation from Service occurs; provided, however,
that the Company reimburses such expenses no later than the last day of the
third taxable year following your taxable year in which your Separation from
Service occurs.
(6) Involuntary Separation due to Good Reason. It is the parties’ intention that
the definition of Good Reason and the separation-from-service procedures
specified in Section 3 hereof satisfy the conditions set forth in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.409A-1(n)(2) for a termination for Good Reason to be
treated as an “involuntary separation from service” for purposes of IRC
Section 409A.
(7) Dispute Resolution Payments. Any dispute resolution payment (including
related reimbursable expenses, fees and other costs) that does not constitute a
“legal settlement” in accordance with Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(11) will
be paid by the Company to you not later than the last day of your taxable year
following the year in which the dispute is resolved.
(8) Separation from Service. Any payment, benefit or entitlement provided for in
this Agreement that constitutes Nonqualified Deferred Compensation due upon a
termination of employment shall be paid or provided to you only upon a
Separation from Service.

 

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William L. McComb
11. General Provisions.
(a) Construction. (1) References (A) to Sections are to sections of this
Agreement unless otherwise stated; (B) to any contract (including this
Agreement) are to the contract as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced
from time to time; (C) to any statute, rule or regulation are to the statute,
rule or regulation as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to
time (and, in the case of statutes, include any rules and regulations
promulgated under the statute) and to any section of any statute, rule or
regulation include any successor to the section; (D) to any governmental
authority include any successor to the governmental authority; (E) to any plan
include any programs, practices and policies; (F) to any entity include any
corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, business trust
and similar organization and include any governmental authority; and (G) to any
affiliate of any entity are to any person or other entity directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by or under common control with the first entity.
(2) The various headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only
and in no way define, limit or describe the scope or intent of any provisions or
Sections of this Agreement.
(3) Unless the context requires otherwise, (A) words describing the singular
number include the plural and vice versa, (B) words denoting any gender include
all genders and (C) the words “include”, “includes” and “including” will be
deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”
(4) It is your and the Group’s intention that this Agreement not be construed
more strictly with regard to you or the Group.
(5) This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement between the
parties concerning the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements, understandings, discussions, negotiations and undertakings, whether
written or oral, between the parties with respect thereto.
(6) If any provision of any agreement, plan, program, policy, arrangement or
other written document between or relating to the Company and you conflicts with
any provision of this Agreement, the provision of this Agreement will control
and prevail.
(b) No Conflict. You represent and warrant that you are not a party to or
subject to any agreement, contract, understanding, covenant, judgment or decree
or under any obligation, contractual or otherwise, in any way restricting or
adversely affecting your ability to act for the Group in all of the respects
contemplated hereby. The Company represents and warrants that it is fully
authorized and empowered to enter into this Agreement and that the performance
of its obligations under this Agreement will not violate any agreement between
it and any other person, firm or organization.

 

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William L. McComb
(c) Indemnification. The Company shall provide you with director and officer
indemnification to the fullest extent permissible under the Company’s charter
and by-laws as in effect from time to time.
(d) Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is found by any court of
competent jurisdiction (or legally empowered agency) to be illegal, invalid or
unenforceable for any reason, then (1) the provision will be amended
automatically to the minimum extent necessary to cure the illegality or
invalidity and permit enforcement and (2) the remainder of this Agreement will
not be affected. In particular, if any provision of Section 6 hereof is so found
to violate law or be unenforceable because it applies for longer than a maximum
permitted period or to greater than a maximum permitted area, it will be
automatically amended to apply for the maximum permitted period and maximum
permitted area.
(e) No Set-off or Mitigation. Your and the Company’s respective obligations
under this Agreement will not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim,
recoupment or other right you or any member of the Group may have against each
other or anyone else. You do not need to seek other employment or take any other
action to mitigate any amounts owed to you under this Agreement, and those
amounts will not be reduced if you do obtain other employment (except as this
Agreement specifically states).
(f) Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this
Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed given (1) on the business day
sent, when delivered by hand or facsimile transmission (with confirmation)
during normal business hours, (2) on the business day after the business day
sent, if delivered by a nationally recognized overnight courier or (3) on the
third business day after the business day sent if delivered by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, in each case to the following address
or number (or to such other addresses or numbers as may be specified by notice
that conforms to this Section11(f)):
If to you, to the address stated in the heading of this Agreement, or any
changed address on the books and records of the Company from time to time, and
with a copy to:
Stewart Reifler, Esq.
Vedder Price P.C.
1633 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
Facsimile: (212) 407-7799
If to the Company or any other member of the Group, to:
Liz Claiborne, Inc.
One Claiborne Avenue
North Bergen, NJ 07047
Attention: General Counsel

 

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William L. McComb
(g) Amendments and Waivers. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or
waived but only if the amendment or waiver is in writing and signed, in the case
of an amendment, by you and the Company or, in the case of a waiver, by the
party that would have benefited from the provision waived. Except as this
Agreement otherwise provides, no failure or delay by you or the Group to
exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement will operate as a waiver, and
no partial exercise of any right or remedy will preclude any further exercise.
(h) Survival. To the extent that any provision of this Agreement would require
the survival of such provision beyond the Agreement Term in order to effectuate
its intent, such provision shall survive the Agreement Term according to its
terms.
(i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which
will constitute an original and all of which, when taken together, will
constitute one agreement.

 

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William L. McComb

                          Very truly yours,    
 
                        Liz Claiborne, Inc.    
 
               
 
      By:   /s/ Nicholas Rubino
 
   
 
               
ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
               
 
               
/s/ William L. McComb
 
William L. McComb
               

 

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Exhibit A
GENERAL RELEASE
GENERAL RELEASE (this “Release”), by [Name] (the “Executive”) in favor of Liz
Claiborne, Inc. (the “Company”), its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers,
directors, employees, shareholders, attorneys and agents and their predecessors,
successors and assigns, individually and in their official capacities (together,
the “Released Parties”).
WHEREAS, Executive has been employed as Chief Executive Officer of the Company;
and
WHEREAS, Executive is seeking payments under his Severance Benefits Agreement,
dated July 14, 2009, with the Company that are conditioned on the effectiveness
of this Release.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements hereinafter set
forth, the parties agree as follows:
1. General Release. Executive knowingly and voluntarily waives, terminates,
cancels, releases and discharges forever the Released Parties from any and all
actions, causes of action, claims, allegations, rights, obligations,
liabilities, or charges (collectively, “Claims”) that he (or his heirs,
executors, administrators, successors and assigns) has or may have, whether
known or unknown, by reason of any matter, cause or thing occurring at any time
before and including the date of this Release arising under or in connection
with Executive’s employment or termination of employment with the Company,
including, without limitation, claims for compensation or bonuses (including,
without limitation, any claim for an award under any compensation plan or
arrangement); breach of contract; tort; wrongful, abusive, unfair, constructive,
or unlawful discharge or dismissal; impairment of economic opportunity
defamation; age and national origin discrimination; sexual harassment; back pay;
front pay; benefits; attorneys’ fees; whistleblower claims; emotional distress;
intentional infliction of emotional distress; assault; battery, pain and
suffering; punitive or exemplary damages; violations of the Equal Pay Act, Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”), the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1991, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the
Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act, the Family Medical Leave Act,
the New York State and New York City Human Rights Laws, including all amendments
to any of the aforementioned acts; and violations of any other federal, state,
or municipal fair employment statutes or laws, including, without limitation,
violations of any other law, rule, regulation, or ordinance pertaining to
employment, wages, compensation, hours worked, or any other matters related in
any way to Executive’s employment with the Company and its affiliates (together,
as constituted from time to time, the “Group”) or the termination of that
employment. In addition, in consideration of the provisions of this Release, the
Executive further agrees to waive any and all rights under the laws of any
jurisdiction in the United States, or any other country, that limit a general
release to those claims that are known or suspected to exist in Executive’s
favor as of the Effective Date (as defined below).

 

 

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2. Surviving Claims. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this
Release shall not:

  (i)   release any Claims relating to the payments and benefits set forth in
Section 4 of the Severance Benefits Agreement;     (ii)   release any Claims
arising after the date of this Release;     (iii)   limit or prohibit in any way
Executive’s (or his beneficiaries’ or legal representatives’) ability to bring
an action to enforce the terms of this Release;     (iv)   release any claim for
employee benefits under plans covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended, to the extent that such claims may not lawfully be
waived or for any payments or benefits under any plans of the Group that have
vested according to the terms of those plans; or     (v)   release any claims
for indemnification in accordance with applicable laws and the corporate
governance documents of the Company or any other member of the Group, including
any right to contribution, in accordance with their terms as in effect from time
to time or pursuant to any applicable directors and officers insurance policy
with respect to any liability incurred by Executive as an officer or director of
the Company or any member of the Group or any right Executive may have to obtain
contribution as permitted by law in the event of entry of judgment.

3. Additional Representations. Executive further represents and warrants that he
has not filed any civil action, suit, arbitration, administrative charge, or
legal proceeding against any Released Party nor has he assigned, pledged, or
hypothecated as of the Effective Date his claim to any person and no other
person has an interest in the claims that he is releasing.
4. Acknowledgements by Executive. Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has
read this Release in its entirety and that this Release is a general release of
all known and unknown claims, including, without limitation, to rights and
claims arising under ADEA. Executive further acknowledges and agrees that:

  (i)   this Release does not release, waive or discharge any rights or claims
that may arise for actions or omissions after the date of this Release;

 

 

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  (ii)   Executive is entering into this Release and releasing, waiving and
discharging rights or claims only in exchange for consideration which he is not
already entitled to receive;     (iii)   Executive has been advised, and is
being advised by the Release, to consult with an attorney before executing this
Release; Executive acknowledges that he has consulted with counsel of his choice
concerning the terms and conditions of this Release;     (iv)   Executive has
been advised, and is being advised by this Release, that he has twenty-one
(21) days within which to consider the Release; and     (v)   Executive is aware
that this Release shall become null and void if he revokes his agreement to this
Release within seven (7) days following the date of execution of this Release.
Executive may revoke this Release at any time during such seven-day period by
delivering (or causing to be delivered) to the [Contact] written notice of his
revocation of this Release no later than 5:00 p.m. eastern time on the seventh
(7th) full day following the date of execution of this Release (the “Effective
Date”). The Executive agrees and acknowledges that a letter of revocation that
is not received by such date and time will be invalid and will not revoke this
Release

5. Additional Agreements. Executive agrees that should any person or entity file
or cause to be filed any civil action, suit, arbitration, or other legal
proceeding seeking equitable or monetary relief concerning any claim released by
Executive herein, Executive shall not seek or accept any personal relief from or
as the result of such civil action, suit, arbitration, or other legal
proceeding.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive has signed this Release on the date set forth on
the first page hereof.

                 
 
           
 
[Executive]    
 
                Accepted and agreed:            
 
                Liz Claiborne, Inc.            
 
               
By: