Exhibit 10.1

 

 

 

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated June 9, 2019, between Liberty
Tax, Inc. a Delaware corporation (“Company”), JTH Tax Inc., a Delaware
corporation (“Subco” and together with Company, the “Employers”), and any of
their respective successors, and Michael Brent Turner (the “Executive”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Employers desire to employ the Executive on an interim basis as the
Chief Executive Officer and President, and the Executive desires to serve the
Employers, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                  Term of Employment. Unless the Executive’s employment shall
sooner terminate pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement, the Employers shall
employ the Executive on a month-to-month basis, commencing on June 9, 2019, (the
“Effective Date”) and continuing on the first day of each successive month,
unless the Executive or either of the Employers, as the case may be, at least
fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the end of the applicable month, provides
written notice to the other of its or his intention not to renew such
employment. The period during which the Executive is employed pursuant to this
Agreement shall be referred to as the “Employment Period.”

 

2.                  Duties and Responsibilities.

 

(a)               The Executive shall serve as the Interim Chief Executive
Officer and President of Company and Subco. The Executive will have such duties
and authorities as are commensurate with such position and such additional
duties and responsibilities as are determined from time to time by the Board of
Directors of Company (the “Board”). The Executive has the authority to make
organizational and policy changes to drive culture, performance and
efficiencies. As Interim Chief Executive Officer and President, the Executive
will report directly to the Board. All employees of the Employers other than the
General Counsel, the Chief Financial Officer and all employees who report
directly or indirectly to the General Counsel or the Chief Financial Officer
will report to the Executive. Executive has final decision-making authority over
all hiring and separation decisions excluding the Legal Department, Finance
Department, and their direct reports; provided, however that hiring and
separation decisions will conform with Employers’ policies, not exceed the
Employers’ annual budget and may be subject to Board approval. While the General
Counsel and the Chief Financial Officer have reporting authority to the Board,
both positions will also have day to day reporting responsibilities to the
Executive.

 

(b)               During the Employment Period, the Executive shall devote all
business time and best efforts necessary to fully perform his duties hereunder.

 

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(c)               Executive agrees to comply with Employers’ policies, including
but not limited to the Code of Conduct and the Insider Trading Policy.

 

3.                  Compensation and Benefits.

 

(a)               Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall
be paid a monthly base salary by the Employers of Forty-One Thousand Six Hundred
Sixty-Seven Dollars ($41,667.00), payable in regular installments in accordance
with the Employers’ usual payment practices. The Board shall review Executive’s
monthly base salary annually during the Employment Period (beginning after the
fiscal year ending April 30, 2020), and may increase (but not decrease) that
monthly base salary from time-to-time, based on its periodic review of
Executive’s performance in accordance with the Company’s regular policies and
procedures. The Executive’s monthly base salary as in effect from time to time
is hereinafter referred to as the “Base Salary.”

 

(b)               Equity and Cash Incentive Plan. To the extent approved by the
Board, the Executive may be granted annual equity or cash incentive awards
pursuant to the Employers’ Equity and Cash Incentive Plan, which may be amended
or terminated by the Employers at Employers’ discretion. Executive’s eligibility
for equity or cash incentive awards shall be determined on a basis consistent
with other named executive officers of the Company (as defined under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934).

 

(c)               Benefits. During the Employment Period, Executive will be
eligible to participate in the employee and executive benefit plans and programs
maintained by the Employers from time-to-time in which executive officers of the
Employers are eligible to participate, including, to the extent maintained by
the Employers, life, medical, dental, accidental and disability insurance plans,
retirement plans, incentive stock award and stock compensation plans, and
deferred compensation and savings plans, in accordance with the terms and
conditions thereof as in effect from time to time. Executive shall be eligible
to participate in the Employers’ existing 401(k) plan, in accordance with its
terms, and the Employers shall match Executive’s contributions in accordance
with the terms of that plan, provided that the matching does not violate any
provisions of the 401(k) plan. All benefit programs are subject to change from
time to time in the Employers’ discretion.

 

(d)               Vacation. During the Employment Period, Executive shall be
entitled to vacation on the same basis as other executive officers of the
Employers. Executive shall also be entitled to Employer-designated holidays, but
in no event shall Executive have less than four weeks of vacation per year.

 

(e)               Business Expenses. During the Employment Period, the Employers
shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all reasonable expenses incurred or
paid by the Executive in the performance of his duties pursuant to this
Agreement, upon presentation of expense statements or vouchers and such other
information as the Employers may require and in accordance with the generally
applicable policies and procedures of the Employers.

 

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(f)                Sarbanes-Oxley/Dodd-Frank Act Compliance: Repayment of Bonus
and Profits: Executive understands that, in accordance with The Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 and the Dodd—Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of
2010 (together, “Applicable Law”), if the Company is required to prepare an
accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company with any
financial reporting requirement under securities laws, Executive shall reimburse
the Company, to the extent reimbursement is required by Applicable Law, for: (i)
the amount of any bonus or other incentive- based or equity-based compensation
received by Executive from the Company during the three-year period following
the first public issuance or filing with the SEC (whichever first occurs) of the
financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement, but only to
the extent that the amount of incentive compensation received exceeds the amount
of incentive-based compensation that otherwise would have been paid had it been
determined based on the accounting restatement; and (ii) any profits realized
from the sale of securities of the Company during that three-year period, but
only to the extent that the amount of profits received exceeds the amount of
profits that otherwise would have been paid had it been determined based on the
accounting restatement.

 

4.                  Termination of Employment.

 

(a)               Early Termination of the Employment Period. If, during the
Employment Period, the Executive’s employment terminates for any reason,
including but not limited to, the Executive’s death or Disability (as
hereinafter defined), termination by the Employers with or without Cause (as
hereinafter defined) or voluntary termination by the Executive, the Employment
Period shall thereupon end and, except as otherwise provided herein, this
Agreement shall terminate upon the effective date of such termination.

 

(b)               Termination by the Employers with or without Cause. The
Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by the Employers with or
without Cause prior to the end of a month, effective immediately upon delivery
of a Notice of Termination to the Executive. “Cause” shall mean the Executive’s
(i) grossly negligent failure to substantially perform his duties under this
Agreement; (ii) the Executive’s violation of the Employers’ Code of Conduct or
Insider Trading Policy; (iii) the Executive’s conviction of, or plea of nolo
contendere to a crime constituting (x) a felony under the laws of the United
States or any state thereof or (y) a misdemeanor under the laws of the United
States or any state thereof (not including any traffic offense) involving moral
turpitude, deceit, dishonesty or fraud that relates to the Employers’ property;
(iv) conduct of the Executive which is materially injurious to either of the
Employers, monetarily or otherwise; or (v) the Executive’s breach of Section 6
or Section 7 of this Agreement.

 

(c)               Termination due to Death or Disability. The Executive’s
employment hereunder shall terminate upon the Executive’s death or in the event
of a termination by the Employers due to the Executive’s Disability.
“Disability” shall mean (i) a finding by the Board that the Executive has been
unable to perform his job functions by reason of a physical or mental impairment
for a period of 90 consecutive days or any 90 days within a period of 180
consecutive days. The Board’s good faith determination of Disability shall be
final, binding and conclusive.

 

(d)               Delivery of Non-Renewal Notice. In the event the Employers or
the Executive delivers a notice of non-renewal in conformity with Section 1
hereof, the Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon the expiration
of the applicable month.

 

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(e)               Voluntary Termination by the Executive. The Executive may
voluntarily terminate his employment with the Employers by delivering a Notice
of Termination to the Employers no less than fifteen (15) days prior to the
effective date of such termination.

 

(f)                Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive’s
employment by the Employers or by the Executive (other than by reason of death)
in connection with Section 4(b), (c) or (e) shall be communicated by a written
Notice of Termination addressed to the other parties to this Agreement. A
“Notice of Termination” shall mean a written notice stating that the Executive’s
employment with the Employers has been or will be terminated.

 

5.                  Payments upon Certain Terminations.

 

(a)               In General. Within thirty (30) days following the termination
of the Executive’s employment for any reason, the Employers shall pay the
Executive: (i) the Base Salary earned but not yet paid for services rendered to
the Employers on or prior to the date on which the Employment Period ends; (ii)
any business expenses incurred on or prior to the date on which the Employment
Period ends that are eligible for reimbursement in accordance with the
Employers’ expense reimbursement policies as then in effect; and (iii) any
vested benefits to which the Executive is entitled under the Employers’ employee
benefit plans and any welfare benefits to which he is entitled in accordance
with the terms of the Company’s welfare plans. The amounts described in this
Section 5(a) are collectively referred to herein as the “Accrued Rights.”

 

(b)               Termination by Reason of the Executive’s Death or Disability
or as a Result of Delivery of Notice of Non-Renewal. In the event the Employment
Period ends by reason of the Executive’s death or a termination of the
Executive’s employment by the Employers for Disability or the Executive delivers
a notice of non-renewal as described in Section 1 hereof, the Employers’ sole
obligation to the Executive shall be to pay the Executive an amount equal to the
Accrued Rights, as set forth in Section 5(a) hereof.

 

(c)               Termination by the Employers without Cause. Subject to Section
5(d) hereof and provided that the Executive is in compliance with his
obligations under Section 6 and Section 7 hereof, in the event the Employment
Period ends prior to the expiration of a month by reason of a termination of the
Executive’s employment by the Employers without Cause, including by delivery of
a notice of non-renewal by the Employers, the Executive shall be entitled to:

 

(i)                 The Accrued Rights.

 

(ii)              To the extent any incentive stock awards, such as stock
options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, dividend equivalent
rights, or any other form of incentive stock compensation granted Executive
shall have not vested, such incentive stock awards that have been granted but
have not yet vested shall immediately become fully (100%) vested and
exercisable.

 

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(iii)            Continued medical insurance at Employers’ expense for the six
(6) months following the date of termination; provided, however, that if
Executive becomes reemployed with another employer and is eligible to receive
comparable medical or other welfare benefits under another employer provided
plan, the medical and other welfare benefits described herein shall be secondary
to those provided under such other plan during the applicable period of
eligibility provided that the costs of obtaining those medical and other welfare
benefits is less than the cost of those benefits to Executive immediately prior
to the date of termination, and provided further continued participation at the
Company’s expense or otherwise shall not be allowed if the Company determines
that such participation or any payment by the Company would be considered
discriminatory under applicable law. The coverage provided pursuant to this
Section 5(c)(iii) shall run concurrently with and shall be offset against any
continuation coverage under Part 6 of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended (“COBRA Coverage”). Employers’ payment of
premiums shall be treated as taxable income to the Executive if the medical plan
is self-insured or if otherwise required to avoid penalties under the Affordable
Care Act or other applicable law.

 

(d)               Execution of Release. As a condition of the Executive’s right
to receive any of the payments or benefits described in Section 5, the Executive
shall, within sixty (60) days after the Executive’s date of termination of
employment, deliver to the Employers a full, complete and irrevocable release of
all claims or causes of action the Executive may have in respect of the
Executive’s employment by the Employers, substantially in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit A (such condition, the “Release Condition”).

 

(e)               Effect of Failure. In the event the Executive fails to satisfy
the Release Condition, the Executive shall not be entitled to any of the
payments or benefits described in Section 5, other than the Accrued Rights. In
the event that the Executive materially breaches any of his obligations under
Section 6 or Section 7 hereof, the Employers’ obligations to provide the
payments and benefits under Section 5(c) hereof, as applicable, shall thereupon
cease and the Employers shall be entitled to recover from the Executive the
after-tax proceeds of the amounts theretofore paid to the Executive pursuant to
such Section 5(c).

 

(f)                Certain Property and Information. Upon termination of the
Employment, Executive will deliver to the Company any and all property owned or
leased by the Company or any Affiliate and any and all materials and information
(in whatever form) relating to the business of the Company or any Affiliate,
including without limitation all customer lists and information, financial
information, business notes, business plans, documents, keys, credit cards,
phones, computers and other Company-provided equipment. All Company property
will be returned promptly and in the condition it was received except for normal
wear.

 

(g)               Full Settlement. The Company’s obligations to make the
payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform the Company’s
obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action that the Company may have
against Executive or others. In no event, shall Executive be obligated to seek
other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts
payable to Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such
amounts shall not be reduced whether or not Executive obtains other employment.

 

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6.                  Proprietary Information.

 

(a)               Confidentiality. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that
his work for the Employers will bring him into close contact with many
confidential affairs of the Employers not readily available to the public,
including plans for further developments or activities by the Employers or their
subsidiaries or affiliates. The Executive agrees that during the Employment
Period and at all times thereafter, he shall keep and retain in the strictest
confidence all confidential matters (“Confidential Information”) of the
Employers and their subsidiaries and affiliates, including but not limited to,
“know how,” sales and marketing information or plans; business or strategic
plans; salary, bonus or other personnel information; information about or
concerning existing, new or potential customers, franchisees, clients or
shareholders; trade secrets; pricing policies; operational methods; technical
processes; inventions and research projects; and other business affairs of the
Employers and their subsidiaries or affiliates, in each case that the Executive
may develop or learn in the course of his employment, and shall not remove such
Confidential Information from the Employers’ premises (other than for the
purpose of working from home), use such Confidential Information for personal
gain or disclose such Confidential Information to anyone outside of the
Employers, either during or after the Employment Period, except (i) in good
faith, in the course of performing his duties under this Agreement; (ii) with
the prior written consent of the Board; (iii) it being understood that
Confidential Information shall not be deemed to include any information that is
or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of
disclosure by the Executive; or (iv) to the extent disclosure is compelled by a
court of competent jurisdiction, arbitrator, agency, or other tribunal or
investigative body in accordance with any applicable statute, rule or regulation
(but only to the extent any such disclosure is compelled, and no further).
Further, nothing herein shall prevent the Executive from cooperating with any
investigation or inquiry conducted by the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission regarding any employment practice or policy of the Employers. In
addition, pursuant to Section 7 of the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (which
added 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b)), the Executive acknowledges that he shall not have
criminal or civil liability under any federal or state trade secret law for the
disclosure of a trade secret that (A) is made (i) in confidence to a federal,
state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an
attorney and (ii) solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a
suspected violation of law; or (B) is made in a complaint or other document
filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.
Nothing in this Agreement is intended to conflict with 18 U.S.C. § 1833(b) or
create liability for disclosures of trade secrets that are expressly allowed by
such Section. Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment with the
Employers, or at any time the Employers may so request, the Executive shall
return to the Employers all tangible embodiments (in whatever medium) relating
to Confidential Information and Work Product (as hereinafter defined) that he
may then possess or have under her control.

 

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(b)               Ownership of Property. The Executive acknowledges that all
discoveries, concepts, ideas, inventions, innovations, improvements,
developments, methods, processes, programs, designs, analyses, drawings,
reports, patent applications, copyrightable work and mask work (whether or not
including any Confidential Information) and all registrations or applications
related thereto, all other proprietary information and all similar or related
information (whether or not patentable) that relate to the Employers’ or any of
their subsidiaries’ or affiliates’ actual or anticipated business, research and
development, or existing or future products or services and that are conceived,
developed, contributed to, made, or reduced to practice by the Executive (either
solely or jointly with others) while employed by the Employers or any of their
subsidiaries or affiliates, including any of the foregoing that constitutes any
proprietary information or records (“Work Product”) belonging to the Employers
or such subsidiary or affiliate, and the Executive hereby assigns, and agrees to
assign, all of the above Work Product to the Employers or to such subsidiary or
affiliate, as applicable. Any copyrightable work prepared in whole or in part by
the Executive in the course of his work for any of the foregoing entities shall
be deemed a “work made for hire” under the copyright laws, and the Employers or
their respective subsidiary or affiliate shall own all rights therein. To the
extent that any such copyrightable work is not a “work made for hire,” the
Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the Employers or such
respective subsidiary or affiliate all right, title, and interest, including
without limitation, copyright in and to such copyrightable work. The Executive
shall perform all actions reasonably requested by the Board, at the Employers’
sole expense, to establish and confirm the Employers’ or such subsidiary’s or
affiliate’s ownership (including, without limitation, assignments, consents,
powers of attorney, and other instruments) in Work Product and copyrightable
work identified by the Board. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement,
Executive shall not be required to assign, nor shall Executive be deemed to have
assigned, any of Executive’s rights in any invention that Executive develops
entirely on his own time without using Employers’ equipment, supplies,
facilities, or trade secrets, which Executive developed before Executive came to
work for Employers and that are described on the attached Exhibit B hereto.

 

(c)               Third Party Information. The Executive understands that the
Employers and their subsidiaries and affiliates will receive from third parties
confidential or proprietary information (“Third Party Information”) subject to a
duty on the Employers’ and their subsidiaries’ and affiliates’ part to maintain
the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited
purposes. During the Executive’s employment with the Employers and thereafter,
and without in any way limiting the provisions of Section 6(a) of this
Agreement, the Executive shall hold Third Party Information in the strictest
confidence and shall not disclose to anyone (other than personnel and
consultants of the Employers or their subsidiaries and affiliates who need to
know such information in connection with their work for the Employers or such
subsidiaries and affiliates) or use, except in connection with his work for the
Employers or their subsidiaries and affiliates, Third Party Information unless
expressly authorized by the Board in writing.

 

7.                  Restrictive Covenants. The Executive acknowledges that (i)
in the course of his employment with the Employers and their subsidiaries and
affiliates, he will become familiar with the Employers’ and their subsidiaries’
and affiliates’ trade secrets and with other Confidential Information concerning
the Employers and such subsidiaries and affiliates; (ii) his services will be of
special, unique and extraordinary value to the Employers and such subsidiaries
and affiliates; (iii) the agreements and covenants of the Executive contained in
Section 6 and Section 7 hereof are essential to the business and goodwill of the
Employers; and (iv) the Employers would not have entered into this Agreement but
for the covenants and agreements set forth in Section 6 and Section 7 hereof.
Therefore, the Executive agrees that, without limiting any other obligation
pursuant to this Agreement:

 

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(a)               Non-Solicitation. Except with prior written permission of the
Board, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly (individually or on
behalf of other persons), during the Employment Period and for a period of
twelve (12) months thereafter, for any reason hire, offer to hire or entice away
any officer, employee, franchisee, supplier, vendor, or agent of the Employers
or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates (or any former officer, employee or
agent of the Employers or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates who was
employed by the Employers or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates at any time
during the twelve (12) month period prior to the Executive’s cessation of
employment; provided that the foregoing shall not be violated by general
advertisements not targeted at employees or consultants of either Employer.

 

(b)               Non-Disparagement. At any time during or within twenty-four
(24) months after the Employment Period, the Executive shall not make (whether
directly or through any other Person) any public or private statements (whether
oral or in writing) which are derogatory or damaging to the Employers or their
direct or indirect parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, together with each of
their current and former principals, officers, directors, direct or indirect
equity holders, general and limited partners, agents, representatives and
employees, or any of their businesses, activities, operations, affairs,
reputations or prospects, and the Employers will not authorize any of their
officers, directors or employees to make disparaging or derogatory statements
about the Executive (and will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent such
individuals from making such statements) except, in each case, to the extent
required by law, and only after consultation with the other party to the maximum
extent possible to maintain the goodwill of such party.

 

(c)               Injunctive Relief with Respect to Covenants. Executive
acknowledges and agrees that in the event of any material breach by Executive of
any of section of this Agreement that remedies at law may be inadequate to
protect the Employers, and, without prejudice to any other legal or equitable
rights and remedies otherwise available to the Employers, Executive agrees to
the granting of injunctive relief in the Employers’ favor in connection with any
such breach or violation without proof of irreparable harm.

 

(d)               Enforcement. If, at the time of enforcement of Section 6
hereof or this Section 7, a court or other body of legal authority holds that
the restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then
existing, the parties hereto agree that the maximum duration, scope or
geographical area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for
the stated period, scope or area and that the court may revise such restrictions
to cover the maximum duration, scope and area permitted by law and reasonable
under such circumstances. Because the Executive’s services are unique and
because the Executive has access to Confidential Information, the parties hereto
agree that the Employers and their subsidiaries and affiliates would be
irreparably harmed by, and money damages would be an inadequate remedy for, any
breach of this Agreement. Therefore, in the event of a breach or threatened
breach of this Agreement, the Employers and their subsidiaries and affiliates
and/or their respective successors or assigns may, in addition to other rights
and remedies existing in their favor, apply to any court 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).

 

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8.                  Miscellaneous.

 

(a)               Survival. To the extent necessary to give effect to such
provisions, the provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation,
Sections, 6 and 7 hereof) shall survive the termination of this Agreement,
whether such termination shall be by expiration of the Employment Period, an
earlier termination pursuant to Section 4 hereof or otherwise.

 

(b)               Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding on, and shall
inure to the benefit of, the Employers and any person or entity that succeeds to
the interest of the Employers (regardless of whether such succession occurs by
operation of law) by reason of the sale of all or a portion of the Employers’
equity securities, a merger, consolidation or reorganization involving the
Employers or, unless the Employers otherwise elect in writing, a sale of all or
a portion of the assets of the business of the Employers. This Agreement shall
also inure to the benefit of the Executive’s heirs, executors, administrators
and legal representatives.

 

(c)               Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by the
Executive. The Employers may assign their rights, together with its obligations,
hereunder (i) to any affiliate or subsidiary, provided that the assignor
continues to be responsible for the obligations set forth herein until
discharged, or (ii) to third parties in connection with any sale, transfer or
other disposition of all or substantially all of its business or assets. The
Company will require any successor to assume expressly and agree to perform this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be
required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.

 

(d)               Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with Exhibit A
hereto, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect
to the matters referred to herein and supersedes any and all prior agreements,
whether written or oral, including the “Consulting Agreement,” dated September
20, 2018, which is hereby void and of no effect. No other agreement relating to
the terms of the Executive’s employment by the Employers, oral or otherwise,
shall be binding between the parties unless it is in writing and signed by the
party against whom enforcement is sought. There are no promises,
representations, inducements or statements between the parties other than those
that are expressly contained herein. The Executive acknowledges that he is
entering into this Agreement of his own free will and accord, and with no
duress, that he has read this Agreement and that he understands it and its legal
consequences.

 

(e)               Severability; Reformation. In the event that one or more of
the provisions of this Agreement shall become invalid, illegal or unenforceable
in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby. In the event any
covenant contained herein is not enforceable in accordance with its terms, the
Executive and the Employers agree that such provision shall be reformed to make
such covenant enforceable in a manner that provides as nearly as possible the
result intended by this Agreement.

 

(f)                Waiver. Waiver by any party hereto of any breach or default
by the other party of any of the terms of this Agreement shall not operate as a
waiver of any other breach or default, whether similar to or different from the
breach or default waived. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be
implied from any course of dealing between the parties hereto or from any
failure by either party hereto to assert its or his rights hereunder on any
occasion or series of occasions.

 

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(g)               Notices. Any notice required or desired to be delivered under
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, by courier
service, by registered mail, return receipt requested, or by nationally
recognized overnight carrier and shall be effective upon actual receipt by the
party to which such notice shall be directed, and shall be addressed as follows
(or to such other address as the party entitled to notice shall hereafter
designate in accordance with the terms hereof):

 

If to the Employers:

 

JTH Tax Inc.

1716 Corporate Landing Parkway

Virginia Beach, VA 23454

Attention: Vice President of Human Resources

 

If to the Executive:

 

with a copy which shall not constitute notice to:

 

Brent Turner

6900 Reverchon Court

Colleyville, TX 76034

 

(h)               Amendments. This Agreement may not be altered, modified or
amended except by a written instrument signed by each of the parties hereto.

 

(i)                 Headings. Headings to sections in this Agreement are for the
convenience of the parties only and are not intended to be part of or to affect
the meaning or interpretation hereof.

 

(j)                 Counterparts; Electronic Transmission. This Agreement may be
executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Transmission by one
party to the others of fully executed copies of this Agreement by electronically
shall bind the parties to the same extent as by the exchange of manually signed
originals.

 

(k)               Withholding. Any payments provided for herein shall be reduced
by any amounts required to be withheld by the Employers under applicable
federal, state or local income or employment tax laws or similar statutes or
other provisions of law then in effect.

 

(l)                 Indemnification. The Executive shall be indemnified to the
same extent as other senior executives and officers of the Employers with
respect to the Executive’s service as an employee of the Employers or any of the
Employers’ subsidiaries or affiliates. During the Employment Period, the
Employers shall maintain a directors and officers’ liability insurance policy
(or policies) providing coverage to the Executive to the extent that the
Employers provide such coverage for any other senior executives or officers of
the Employers. Following the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled
to such coverage to the extent that the Employers provide such coverage for any
other current or former senior executive or officer of the Employers. The
Employers shall advance to the Executive an amount necessary to cover any
reasonable fees incurred by the Executive in accordance with this Section 8(1).

 

 10 

 

 

(i)                 Right of Indemnification. The Employers shall indemnify and
hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently
exists or may hereafter be amended, the Executive if he is made or is threatened
to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by
reason of the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative,
is or was a director or officer of the Employers or, while a director or officer
of the Employers, is or was serving at the request of the Employers as a
director, officer, manager, employee or agent of another Employers or of a
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, enterprise or
nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans,
against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including reasonable
attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by the Executive. Notwithstanding the
preceding sentence, the Employers shall be required to indemnify, or advance
expenses to, the Executive in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof)
commenced by the Executive only if the commencement of such Proceeding (or part
thereof) by the Executive was authorized by the Board of Directors.

 

(ii)              Advancement of Expenses. The Employers shall to the fullest
extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the reasonable expenses (including
reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Executive in defending any
Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that, to the
extent required by law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final
disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking
by the Executive to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately
determined that the Executive is not entitled to be indemnified.

 

(iii)            Claims. A claim for indemnification (following the final
disposition of the Proceeding with respect to which indemnification is sought,
including any settlement of such Proceeding) or advancement of expenses under
this Section 8 is not paid in full within thirty days after a written claim
therefor by the Executive has been received by the Employers, the Executive may
file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole
or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim
to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. In any such action the
Employers shall have the burden of proving that the Executive is not entitled to
the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses.

 

(iv)             Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on the
Executive by this Agreement shall not be exclusive of any other rights which the
Executive may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, any provision of the
Employers’ articles of incorporation, bylaws, or any agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

(m)             Voluntary Agreement: No Conflicts. Executive represents that he
is entering into this Agreement voluntarily and that Executive’s employment
hereunder and compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement will
not conflict with or result in the breach by Executive of any agreement to which
he is a party or by which he or his properties or assets may be bound.

 

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(n)               Governing Law. The parties agree that: (i) any litigation
involving any enforcement of, noncompliance with or breach of the Agreement, or
regarding the interpretation, validity and/or enforceability of the Agreement,
shall be interpreted in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of
Delaware, without regard for any conflict of law principles; (ii) jurisdiction
and venue shall be laid solely and exclusively in the Circuit Court for the City
of Virginia Beach or the United States District Court for the Eastern District
of Virginia, Norfolk Division, at the option of Employers (or any of them).

 

(o)               Code Section 409A. The intent of the parties is that payments
and benefits under this Agreement comply with or be exempt from Section 409A
(“Section 409A”) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”),
and this Agreement shall be interpreted and administered accordingly.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Executive shall
not be considered to have terminated employment with the Employers for purposes
of this Agreement, unless the Executive would be considered to have incurred a
“separation from service” from the Employers within the meaning of Section 409A
(a “Separation from Service”). Each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided
under this Agreement shall be construed as a separate identified payment for
purposes of Section 409A, and any payments described in Section 5 of this
Agreement that are due within the “short-term deferral period” as defined in
Section 409A shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless applicable law
requires otherwise. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, if, at the time of the Executive’s Separation from Service, the stock
of the Employers (or any successor entity) is treated as “publicly traded” under
Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(1) of the Code and the Executive is deemed to be a
“specified employee” within the meaning of said section, all payments which are
subject to Section 409A as deferred compensation and which would otherwise be
required to be made upon such Separation from Service shall be made on the
earlier of (i) the first day of the first month commencing at least six (6)
months following Executive’s Separation from Service or (ii) the date of the
Executive’s death. To the extent required to avoid an accelerated or additional
tax under Section 409A, amounts reimbursable to the Executive under this
Agreement shall be paid to the Executive on or before the last day of the year
following the year in which the expense was incurred and the amount of expenses
eligible for reimbursement during any one year may not effect amounts
reimbursable or provided in any subsequent year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 12 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Employers have caused this Agreement to be executed by a
duly authorized officer and the Executive has hereunto set his hand as of the
day and year first above written.

 

  COMPANY:       BY: /s/ Patrick A. Cozza   Its:  Compensation Committee
Chairman       Date: June 9, 2019       SUBCO     BY: /s/ Patrick A. Cozza   Its
:  Compensation Committee Chairman       Date: June 9, 2019          
EXECUTIVE:    /s/ Michael Brent Turner       Date:  June 9, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 13 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Release

 

RELEASE AGREEMENT (this “Release Agreement”), dated as of -___________, 2019,
between Liberty Tax, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“COMPANY”), JTH Tax, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (“Subco” and together with COMPANY, the “Company”), and M.
Brent Turner (“Executive”).

 

1.                  Release.

 

(a)               In consideration of the payments set forth in Section 5(c) of
the Employment Agreement, as applicable, between the Company and Executive dated
as of June __, 2019 (the “Employment Agreement”), Executive, on behalf of
himself and his heirs, executors, successors and assigns, knowingly and
voluntarily releases, remises, and forever discharges the Company and its direct
or indirect parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, together with each of their
current and former principals, officers, directors, direct or indirect
equityholders, general and limited partners, agents, representatives and
employees, and each of their heirs, executors, successors and assigns
(collectively, the “Releasees”), from any and all debts, demands, actions,
causes of actions, accounts, covenants, contracts, agreements, claims, damages,
omissions, promises, and any and all claims and liabilities whatsoever, of every
name and nature, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, both in law and
equity (“Claims”), which Executive ever had, now has, or may hereafter claim to
have against the Releasees by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever
arising from the beginning of time to the time he signs this Release Agreement
(the “General Release”). This General Release of Claims shall apply to any Claim
of any type, including, without limitation, any and all Claims of any type that
Executive may have arising under the common law, under Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act of 1967, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, the Americans
With Disabilities Act of 1967, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
each as amended, and any other federal, state or local statutes, regulations,
ordinances or common law, or under any policy, agreement, contract,
understanding or promise, written or oral, formal or informal, between any of
the Releasees and Executive, including but not limited to the Employment
Agreement, and Company’s Equity and Cash Incentive Plan and shall further apply,
without limitation, to any and all Claims in connection with, related to or
arising out of Executive’s employment relationship, or the termination of his
employment, with the Company.

 

(b)               Except as provided in Section 5(c) of the Employment
Agreement, as applicable, Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company has
fully satisfied any and all obligations owed to his arising out of his
employment with the Company, and no further sums are owed to him by the Company
or by any of the other Releasees at any time.

 

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2.                  Consultation with Attorney; Voluntary Agreement. The Company
advises Executive to consult with an attorney of his choosing prior to signing
this Release Agreement. Executive understands and agrees that he has the right
and has been given the opportunity to review this Release Agreement and,
specifically, the General Release in Paragraph 1 above, with an attorney.
Executive also understands and agrees that he is under no obligation to consent
to the General Release set forth in Paragraph 1 above. Executive acknowledges
and agrees that the payments set forth in Section 5(c) of the Employment
Agreement, as applicable, are sufficient consideration to require him to abide
with his obligations under this Release Agreement, including but not limited to
the General Release set forth in Paragraph 1. Executive represents that he has
read this Release Agreement, including the General Release set forth in
Paragraph 1 and understands its terms and that he enters into this Release
Agreement freely, voluntarily, and without coercion. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing contained herein shall prevent Executive from filing an
administrative charge of discrimination with the EEOC or state or local fair
employment practices agency. No federal, state or local government agency is a
party to this Agreement and none of the provisions of this Agreement restrict or
in any way affect a government agency’s authority to investigate or seek relief
in connection with any of the claims released. Moreover, nothing in this Release
Agreement or in any other agreement is intended to or will be used in any way to
limit employee’s rights to communicate with a government agency, as provided
for, protected under or warranted by applicable law. However, if a government
agency were to pursue any matters falling within the released claims, which it
is free to do, the parties agree that this Agreement shall control as the
exclusive remedy and full settlement of all claims between the parties.
Executive agrees that Executive shall not seek, accept, or be entitled to any
monetary relief, whether individually or as a member of a class or group,
arising from an EEOC charge filed by Executive or on Executive’s behalf.

 

3.                  No Admission of Liability. Nothing in this Agreement is
intended to or will be construed as an admission by the Company that it or any
of its officer’s directors or employees, violated any law, interfered with any
right, breached any obligation, or otherwise engaged in any improper or illegal
conduct, the Released Parties expressly denying any such conduct.

 

4.                  Effective Date; Revocation. Executive acknowledges and
represents that he has been given twenty-one (21) days during which to review
and consider the provisions of this Release Agreement and, specifically, the
General Release set forth in Paragraph 1 above, although he may sign and return
it sooner if he so desires. Executive further acknowledges and represents that
he has been advised by the Company that he has the right to revoke this Release
Agreement for a period of seven (7) days after signing it. Executive
acknowledges and agrees that, if he wishes to revoke this Release Agreement, he
must do so in a writing, signed by him and received by the Company no later than
5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the seventh (7th) day of the revocation period. If no
such revocation occurs, the General Release and this Release Agreement shall
become effective on the eighth (8th) day following his execution of this Release
Agreement. Executive further acknowledges and agrees that, in the event that he
revokes this Release Agreement, it shall have no force or effect, and he shall
have no right to receive any payment pursuant to Section 5(c) of the Employment
Agreement, as applicable.

 

5.                  Time for Execution. The Executive shall execute this Release
Agreement not later than 21 days from the date it is provided to him

 

6.                  Severability. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions of this Release Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remainder of the
Release Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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7.                  Waiver. No waiver by either party of any breach by the other
party of any condition or provision of this Release Agreement to be performed by
such other party shall be deemed a waiver of any other provision or condition at
the time or at any prior or subsequent time. This Release Agreement and the
provisions contained in it shall not be construed or interpreted for or against
either party because that party drafted or caused that party’s legal
representative to draft any of its provisions.

 

8.                  Governing Law. This Release Agreement shall be governed by
and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
Virginia, without reference to its choice of law rules.

 

9.                  Entire Agreement. This Release Agreement constitutes the
entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the release of
claims provided for herein and supersedes all prior agreements, arrangements and
understandings, written or oral, between the parties with respect to such
release of claims. Executive acknowledges and agrees that he is not relying on
any representations or promises by any representative of the Company concerning
the meaning of any aspect of this Release Agreement. This Release Agreement may
not be altered or modified other than in a writing signed by Executive and an
authorized representative of the Company.

 

10.              Headings. All descriptive headings in this Release Agreement
are inserted for convenience only and shall be disregarded in construing or
applying any provision of this Release Agreement.

 

11.              Counterparts. This Release Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

 

 

 

 3 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Executive have executed this Release
Agreement, on the date and year set forth below.

 

  COMPANY:             BY:           Name:         Title:                   
Date:                  SUBCO               BY:            Name:         Title: 
                  Date:                            EXECUTIVE                   
                Date:     

 

 

  

 

 4 

 

 

EXHIBIT “B” – PRE-EXISTING INVENTIONS

 

 

(CHECK ONE)

 

☐       Executive does not have any interest in any inventions, patents,
trademarks or copyrights or other intellectual property developed before
Executive came to work for Employers.

 

-OR-

 

☐       Executive has an interest in the following inventions, patents,
trademarks or copyrights or other intellectual property developed before
Executive came to work for Employers, as follows:

 

 

                     

 

 

Executed this _________day of _____________________, _________.

 

 

 

__________________________________________
Executive

 

__________________________________________
(Print Name)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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