EX-10.6



 



Exhibit
10.6




TRANSITION/SEPARATION AGREEMENT






TRANSITION/SEPARATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) dated
as of December 20, 2005 by and between

BKF Capital Group, Inc. (“BKF”) and Glenn A. Aigen (“EXECUTIVE”).



          WHEREAS, Executive has heretofore been employed by BKF and each of its subsidiaries and
affiliates as Chief Financial Officer;




          WHEREAS, BKF and Executive wish to document their agreement regarding Executive’s transition
to resignation as Chief Financial Officer of BKF and its subsidiaries and affiliates and as an
employee and officer of BKF and its subsidiaries and affiliates as set forth more fully below.




          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth in this
Agreement, BKF and Executive agree as follows:




          1. Transition/Position/Assistance




          (a) Executive shall resign as Chief Financial Officer of BKF and of each of its subsidiaries
and affiliates in which he is currently serving as Chief Financial Officer and from all other
officer positions with BKF effective as of the close of business on January 15, 2006 and shall
resign from all other positions as an employee and officer of BKF, its subsidiaries and its
affiliates as of March 15, 2006 or, if earlier, the date that BKF’s Annual Report for the period
ending December 31, 2005 on Form 10-K (the “Form 10-K”) is filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the relevant date being referred to herein as the “Termination Date”). Except as
provided in the preceding sentence, Executive shall continue to maintain all other officer
positions that he currently holds in subsidiaries and affiliates of BKF through and including the
Termination Date unless BKF requests in writing that Executive resign from such other officer
positions as of an earlier date.




          (b) During the period January 1, 2006 through the Termination Date (the “Transition Period”),
Executive shall remain an employee of such BKF subsidiaries by which he is currently employed.
Executive shall make himself available for three weekdays per week (which will be Tuesday through
Thursday each week unless BKF and Executive otherwise agree from time to time) during BKF’s normal
business hours as currently in effect) during the Transition Period to perform services as an
employee at BKF’s offices in the operations and accounting area, including any transition matters
pertaining to his resignation as Chief Financial Officer. Executive will, however, be permitted
during the Transition Period to seek other employment opportunities commencing after the Transition
Period. In addition, Executive may arrange for job interviews to be conducted during office hours,
so long as such interviews do not unreasonably interfere with any work that he may be assigned
during the Transition Period. During the Transition Period, Executive shall report directly to the
Chief Executive Officer of BKF.




 









 








          (c) BKF acknowledges and agrees that Executive shall have no obligation to execute the Form
10-K, but he shall cooperate with and assist BKF, its then Chief Financial Officer (if one has then
been appointed) and BKF’s accountants in preparing such Form 10-K.




          (d) For the period immediately following the Termination Date through June 30, 2006 (the
“Assistance Period”), Executive shall make himself reasonably available to the Chief Financial
Officer of BKF (or, if no one is then serving as Chief Financial Officer of BKF, the Chief
Executive Officer of BKF) to assist in any transition matters not otherwise completed by the
Termination Date, provided that Executive shall not be required to provide such assistance during
the Assistance Period if it shall unreasonably interfere with Executive’s then employment or other
business enterprises or any short-term vacation or other short-term absences that Executive may
schedule during the Assistance Period.




          (e) For providing such assistance as may be requested by BKF during the Assistance Period,
Executive shall be paid $90,000, payable by BKF in a first instalment of $60,000 on March 15, 2006
and a final instalment of $30,000 on September 16, 2006. It is understood that Executive shall not
be employed by BKF during the Assistance Period and shall be personally responsible for payment of
all taxes on the $90,000 of aggregate payments. These amounts will be paid to Executive without
regard to the level of assistance actually required of Executive by BKF during the Assistance
Period.




          (f) Executive shall not be required during the Assistance Period to render any assistance
relating to material non-public matters which would impair his ability following the Termination
Date to acquire or sell BKF securities (to the extent not then already impaired).




          (g) Executive shall not be eligible to participate in any employee benefit plan of BKF or its
affiliates during the Assistance Period except as provided in Section 2(b) hereof.




          2. Compensation/Benefits




          (a) Until March 31, 2006, BKF shall continue to pay Executive his base salary at the current
rate of $253,234 per annum, subject to applicable withholding taxes. Executive shall receive two
special payments of $99,470.75 each. The first special payment shall be paid on February 15, 2006
and the second special payment shall be paid on or following the Termination Date (but no later
than March 15, 2006) provided that Executive has not voluntarily terminated his employment with the
BKF subsidiaries by which he is employed prior to the relevant payment dates described in the
preceding sentence (for the avoidance of doubt, provided he has not voluntarily terminated
employment prior to the Termination Date in the case of the second payment which is due on or
following the Termination Date). Executive shall continue to participate in all employee benefit
plans, programs and arrangements of BKF; however, Executive shall not be eligible for or entitled
to receive any annual bonus provided in respect of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006.




          (b) Executive (and his eligible dependents) shall be eligible for COBRA-mandated health
insurance continuation benefits for the 18-month period from and after April 1, 2006. For the
period from April 1, 2006 through June 30, 2006, BKF shall only charge Executive the monthly rate
(if any) charged by BKF to BKF’s similarly situated active employees for group health insurance
coverage. For the remainder of the 18-month COBRA period following June 30, 2006, Executive may be
charged the rate permitted by COBRA.




          (c) Notwithstanding any BKF policy to the contrary, on the Termination Date, Executive shall
be paid all accrued but unused vacation pay for calendar year 2005, which, for the avoidance of
doubt, is $16,557.58 as of the date hereof, reduced by any vacation days taken in the




 









 







remainder of calendar year 2005. Executive shall not accrue any additional vacation in 2006
during the Transition Period.




          (d) Executive shall continue to vest in all of his BKF-provided benefits which are subject to
a vesting schedule through and including the Termination Date.




          (e) Executive acknowledges that his 19,555 vested outstanding options as of the Termination
Date, by their respective terms, will remain exercisable for 30 days following the Termination
Date. In the event that Executive is unable to exercise his vested options and/or sell the shares
received upon exercise during such 30-day period due to securities law restrictions, BKF and
Executive shall negotiate in good faith to extend the post-employment option exercisability period
or to provide an immediate cash payment in lieu thereof (based upon a trailing 30-day average
closing price per share) to the extent any such approach does not result in adverse tax
consequences to Executive or securities law consequences to BKF or Executive. BKF acknowledges
that Executive shall vest on March 12, 2006 in 2,038 restricted stock units granted by BKF to him
on March 12, 2003 in accordance with the terms of such units, provided that Executive remains in
employment with BKF through the Termination Date. On the Termination Date, Executive shall vest in
1,384 shares of restricted stock granted by BKF to him on March 10, 2004 and 934 shares of
restricted stock granted by BKF to him on March 10, 2005, provided that Executive remains in
employment with BKF through the Termination Date.




          (f) BKF agrees that any delivery of equity awards to Executive which requires tax withholding
shall be satisfied by withholding of shares otherwise deliverable to Executive to the extent
permitted under the terms of the BKF equity plan under which such award was granted.




          3. Indemnification




          BKF shall indemnify and hold harmless Executive to the fullest extent permitted under
applicable law, including following termination of Executive’s employment.




          4. Mutual Releases




          Concurrent with the execution of this Agreement, Executive and BKF shall enter into mutual
general releases, in the form of Exhibits A and B hereto, respectively, releasing the other party
of all claims relating to matters occurring up to and including the signing of the Agreement, other
than claims to enforce the terms of the Agreement and Executive’s rights to benefits, if any, under
BKF’s employee benefit plans (in accordance with their terms) (and a bring down general release as
of the Termination Date for claims relating to matters occurring up to and including the
Termination Date); provided that BKF’s release of Executive shall not apply to any act or
acts of Executive which constituted (i) fraud resulting in a required restatement of BKF’s
financial statements or other fraud having a material adverse effect of BKF, (ii) a criminal act
under applicable law or regulation involving the assets or business of BKF or (iii) a willful
breach of duty of loyalty owed to BKF or any of it affiliates (or their respective shareholders),
other than (x) any such breach which any member of the Board knows about (or should have known
about) as of the date of the signing of the applicable release or (y) the matters set forth in this
Agreement.




          5. Nonsolicitation/noncompetition




          (a) BKF acknowledges that Executive may be solicited for employment at any time, and hired
after the Termination Date by any party, including, but not limited to, by John A. Levin (or by an
entity controlled by John A. Levin), notwithstanding any agreement between John A. Levin and BKF




 









 







to the contrary and agrees to take no action to prevent Executive and any other party
(including, but not limited to John A. Levin) from entering into an employment or other business
arrangement.




          (b) Executive agrees that the nonsolicitation provisions contained in Section 3 of the
September 28, 2005 letter between Executive and BKF shall extend through the Transition Period. In
addition, Executive agrees that he will not participate in any competitive activity with BKF’s
business interests at any time prior to the Termination Date; provided, however, that Executive may
make passive investments in any corporation or entity.




          6. Executive hereby certifies and acknowledges that:




          (a) He has read the terms of this Agreement and attached Release (the “Release”) and
understands its terms and effects, including the fact that he has agreed to release and forever
discharge BKF and its affiliates and related parties from any legally waivable claims arising out
of his employment relationship with BKF and its affiliates and related parties, the terms and
conditions of that employment relationship and the termination of that employment relationship.




          (b) He has been advised by BKF to consult with an attorney concerning the Agreement and
Release prior to signing it.




          (c) He has signed this Agreement and Release voluntarily and knowingly in exchange for
consideration provided to him. He is receiving certain payments under this Agreement to which he
would not otherwise be entitled and such amounts are payable, in part, as consideration for his
Release.




          (d) He has at least twenty-one (21) calendar days from the date of receipt of this Agreement
and Release to decide whether or not to execute this Agreement and Release and he has been informed
that if he does not execute it within that period, or any extension of it that BKF may grant, this
Agreement and Release will not become effective. Nothing herein shall preclude Executive from
executing this Agreement at any time during such 21-day period.




          (e) He has been informed that he has a period of seven (7) calendar days following his
execution of this Agreement and Release to revoke it. This Agreement and Release will not become
effective or enforceable until the revocation period has expired.




          7. Legal Fees/Governing Law




          (a) Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or any
breach thereof, shall be settled by final and binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of
the American Arbitration Association before a panel of three independent and impartial arbitrators
of whom each party shall designate one and the third shall be chosen by the arbitrators selected by
the parties. In all other respects, the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
Association shall govern the proceedings, which the American Arbitration Association will
administer. Judgment upon an award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having
jurisdiction there over. The arbitration shall be held in New York, New York or in such other
place as the parties may agree.




          (b) This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to
conflicts of laws principles thereof.




 









 








          8. Entire Agreement/Amendments.




          Except as provided in this Section 8, this Agreement contains the entire understanding of the
parties with respect to the employment and termination of employment of Executive with BKF and its
affiliates. There are no restrictions, agreements, promises, warranties, covenants or undertakings
between the parties with respect to the subject matter herein other than those expressly set forth
herein. This Agreement may not be altered, modified, or amended except by written instrument
signed by the parties hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall affect the
parties’ rights and obligations under a letter dated September 28, 2005 between Executive and BKF.
The change in control agreement dated June 1, 2005 between Executive and BKF is terminated as of
the date of this Agreement and shall be of no further force or effect.




          9. No Waiver.




          The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any
occasion shall not be considered a waiver of such party’s rights or deprive such party of the right
thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement.




          10. Severability.




          In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be or become
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.




          11. Assignment/Successors.




          This Agreement shall be assigned by BKF to any person or entity which is or becomes a
successor in interest to substantially all of the business operations of BKF. Upon such
assignment, the rights and obligations of BKF hereunder shall become the rights and obligations of
such successor person or entity. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees,
devisees and legatees.




          12. Notice




          For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or
overnight courier or three days after it has been mailed by United States registered mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set forth below in this
Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in
accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.




          If to BKF:




          BKF Capital Group, Inc.

          One Rockefeller Plaza

          New York, NY 10020

          Attention: General Counsel





          If to Executive:




          To the most recent address of Executive set forth in the personnel records of BKF.




 









 








          13. Prior Agreements




          Except as hereinabove provided, this Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings (including verbal agreements and draft term sheets and memorandum of understanding)
between Executive and BKF and/or its affiliates regarding the terms and conditions of Executive’s
employment, and termination of employment, with BKF and/or its affiliates.




          14. Counterparts




          This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the
same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.




 









 








          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this agreement as of the date first
above written.




	 	 	 	 	 	 
	BKF CAPITAL GROUP, INC.

	 	 	GLENN A. AIGEN
	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	By:
	/s/  Anson M. Beard, Jr.	 	 	 	/s/  Glenn A. Aigen
		 

	 	 	 	 
		Anson M. Beard, Jr.
	 	 	 	 
		Chairman of the Board of Directors
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	By:
	/s/  John C. Siciliano	 	 	 	 
		 


	 	 	 	 
		John C. Siciliano
	 	 	 	 
		President and Chief Executive Officer
	 	 	 	 






 









 






Exhibit A

(Executive Release)




          GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS (“Release”) dated as of December 20, 2005 by and between Glenn A.
Aigen (“Executive”) and BKF Capital Group, Inc. (“BKF”).




          Reference is made to the Transition/Separation Agreement dated as of December 20, 2005 between
Executive and BKF (the “Agreement”) to which this Release is attached as Exhibit A.




          (a) For and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth in the
Agreement, Executive does hereby agree on behalf of Executive, Executive’s agents, assignees,
successors, assigns, heirs and executors, to, and Executive does hereby, fully and completely
forever release BKF and its affiliates, predecessors and successors and all of their respective
past and/or present officers, directors, partners, members, managing members, managers, employees,
agents, representatives, administrators and fiduciaries in their individual and/or representative
capacities (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “BKF Releasees”), from any and all causes
of action, suits, agreements, promises, damages, disputes, controversies, contentions, differences,
judgments, claims, debts, dues, sums of money, accounts, reckonings, bonds, bills, specialities,
covenants, contracts, variances, trespasses, extents, executions and demands of any kind
whatsoever, which Executive or Executive’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns
ever had, now have or may have against the BKF Releasees or any of them, in law, admiralty or
equity, whether known or unknown to Executive, for, upon, or by reason of, any matter, action,
omission, course or thing whatsoever occurring up to the date this Release is signed by Executive,
including, without limitation, in connection with or in relationship to Executive’s employment or
other service relationship with BKF or its affiliates, the termination of any such employment or
service relationship; provided that such released claims shall not include (i) any claims
to enforce Executive’s rights under, or with respect to, the Agreement and (ii) Executive’s rights
to vested benefits, if any, under the employee benefit plans of BKF and its affiliates (such
released claims are collectively referred to herein as the “Released Claims”).




          (b) Notwithstanding the generality of clause (a) above, the Released Claims include, without
limitation, (i) any and all claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Civil Rights Act of 1971, the Civil Rights Act of
1991, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the
Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, and any and all other
federal, state or local laws, statutes, rules and regulations pertaining to employment or
otherwise, and (ii) any claims for wrongful discharge, except in connection with any purported
breach of agreement by BKF, breach of contract, fraud, misrepresentation or any compensation
claims, or any other claims under any statute, rule or regulation or under the common law,
including compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, costs, expenses and all claims
for any other type of damage or relief.




          (c) Executive represents that he has read carefully and fully understand the terms of this
Release, and that he has been advised to consult with an attorney and has had the opportunity to
consult with an attorney prior to signing this Release. Executive acknowledges that Executive is
executing this Release voluntarily and knowingly and that Executive has not relied on any
representations, promises or agreements of any kind made to Executive in connection with
Executive’s decision to accept the terms of this Release, other than those set forth in this
Release and the Agreement.




 









 








          This Release will be governed, construed and interpreted under the laws of the State of New
York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.




          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Release has been duly executed as of the date first above written:




	 	 	 
	 
	/s/  Glenn A. Aigen
	 	 
	 

Glenn A. Aigen

	 	 






 









 






Exhibit B

(BKF Release)




          GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS (“Release”) dated as of December 20, 2005 by and between BKF Capital
Group, Inc. (“BKF”) and Glenn A. Aigen (“Executive”).




          Reference is made to the Transition/Separation Agreement dated as of December 20, 2005 between
BKF and Executive (the “Agreement”) to which this Release is attached as Exhibit B.




          For and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth in the Agreement,
BKF does hereby agree on behalf of BKF and its affiliates, predecessors and successors and all of
their respective past and/or present officers, directors, partners, members, managing members,
managers, employees, agents, representatives, administrators, fiduciaries and assigns in their
individual and/or representative capacities (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “BKF
Releasors”) to, and BKF does hereby, fully and completely forever release Executive, Executive’s
family, estate, agents, successors and assigns (the “Executive Releasees”) from any and all causes
of action, suits, agreements, promises, damages, disputes, controversies, contentions, differences,
judgments, claims, debts, dues, sums of money, accounts, reckonings, bonds, bills, specialities,
covenants, contracts, variances, trespasses, extents, executions and demands of any kind
whatsoever, which any of the BKF Releasors ever had, now have or may have against the Executive
Releasees in law, admiralty or equity, whether known or unknown to BKF, for, upon, or by reason of,
any matter, action, omission, course or thing whatsoever occurring up to the date this Release is
signed by BKF, including, without limitation, in connection with or in relationship to Executive’s
employment or other service relationship with BKF or its affiliates, the termination of any such
employment or service relationship; provided that such released claims shall not include
(i) any claims to enforce BKF’s rights under, or with respect to, the Agreement and (ii) any claims
with respect to any act or acts of Executive which constituted (A) fraud resulting in a required
restatement of BKF’s financial statements or other fraud having a material adverse effect on BKF,
(B) a criminal act under applicable law or regulation involving the assets or business of BKF or
(iii) a willful breach of duty or loyalty owed to BKF or any of its affiliates (or their respective
shareholders), other than (x) any such breach which any member of the Board of Directors of BKF
knows about (or should have known about) as of the date of this Release or (y) the matters set
forth in the Agreement (such released claims are collectively referred to herein as the “Released
Claims”).




          (a) Notwithstanding the generality of clause (a) above, the Released Claims include, without
limitation any claims for breach of contract, fraud, misrepresentation or any compensation claims,
or any other claims under any statute, rule or regulation or under the common law, including
compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, costs, expenses and all claims for any
other type of damage or relief.




          (b) BKF represents that BKF has read carefully and fully understand the terms of this Release,
and that he has been advised to consult with an attorney and has had the opportunity to consult
with an attorney prior to signing this Release. BKF acknowledges that BKF is executing this
Release voluntarily and knowingly and that BKF has not relied on any representations, promises or
agreements of any kind made to BKF in connection with BKF’s decision to accept the terms of this
Release, other than those set forth in this Release and the Agreement.




          This Release will be governed, construed and interpreted under the laws of the State of New
York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.




 









 








          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Release has been duly executed as of the date first above written:




	 	 	 	 
	BKF CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
	 
	 
	 
	 	 
	By:
	/s/  Anson M. Beard, Jr.	 	 
		 

Anson M. Beard, Jr.

	 	 
		Chairman of the Board of Directors
	 	 
	 
	 
	 	 
	By:
	/s/  John C. Siciliano	 	 
		 

 John C. Siciliano

	 	 
		 President and Chief Executive Officer