EX-10.53



 Exhibit 10.53 
  





 
 September 25, 2013 

Mr. Jay L. Dubiner 
 105 Fifth Avenue 

Apt. 5E 
 New York, NY 10003 

Dear Jay: 
 I am pleased to provide this letter confirming our
offer of employment with Vince, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kellwood Company (“Company”), for the position of Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, with an expected start date of Monday, September 30,
2013. The terms of the employment offer are as follows: 
 Reporting Relationship 

You will report directly to the CEO of Vince, LLC.  

Base Salary and Incentive Bonus 
 Your annual base
salary will be $425,000. You will participate in the Company’s annual incentive bonus plan with a target bonus opportunity of 40% of your annual base salary, or $170,000, based on annual performance targets established each year. The maximum
bonus potential is equal to 200% of such target bonus. Your bonus will be pro-rated to reflect your length of service in the current year, provided, however, that your bonus for fiscal year 2013 shall not be less than $100,000. 

Equity Package 
 You will be recommended to the
Board for approval of a grant of 2,000 shares of Non-Voting, Non-Qualified Stock Options, as a participant in the stock option plan adopted by the Company. Any options granted to you under the stock option plan will vest over a five year period at a
rate of 20% per year, with the first 20% vesting on the first anniversary of your first day of employment with the Company. In addition, your options will vest on a sale of the Company or other change of control as defined in the plan.
Participation in this plan requires approval by our board of directors, which is in process at this time. 
 The exercise price will be set at the fair
market value of the stock at the time of the grant. The official grant agreement, which will cover the exercise price, vesting schedule, expiration rules, and other terms and conditions, will be provided at the time of the grant. 

Benefits 
 You will be entitled to participate in
and receive benefits under any existing employee benefit plans or similar arrangements generally available for employees at the Senior Vice President level as such benefits may change from time to time, including medical, dental, and vision 

  
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 coverage, 401k, disability, and life insurance. You will accrue four (4) weeks of vacation per annum and
all paid holidays in accordance with the Company’s standard vacation and holiday policies. In accordance with the Company’s clothing allowance policy, you will receive a $6,000 clothing allowance per fiscal year. 

You may be requested, from time to time, and for reasonable periods of time, to travel and all travel will be at the sole cost of the Company and will be paid
or reimbursed by the Company in accordance with the Company’s Travel & Entertainment Policy as in effect from time to time. 
 Severance

 If your employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” (as such term is defined in the Company’s stock option plan), then
subject to the execution of a satisfactory release by you, you will receive severance payments, equivalent to your then current base rate of pay, for the next twelve (12) months or until other employment is earlier secured. If you are, as of
the termination date, enrolled in the Company’s medical and dental plans, then you will continue to receive medical and dental coverage in accordance with the Company’s plans that are then in place until the end of the salary continuation
period or, at the Company’s option, coverage under another medical and/or dental plan. 
 Restrictive Covenants 

Non-Compete. During your employment and for a period of six (6) months thereafter you shall not directly or indirectly (i) source,
manufacture, produce, design, develop, promote, sell, license, distribute, or market anywhere in the world (the “Territory”) any contemporary apparel, accessories or related products (“Competitive Products”) or (ii) own,
manage, operate, be employed by, or participate in or have any interest in any other business or enterprise engaged in the design, production, distribution or sale of Competitive Products anywhere in the Territory; provided, however, that
nothing herein shall prohibit you from being a passive owner of not more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding stock of any class of securities of a corporation or other entity engaged in such business which is publicly traded, so long as
you have no active participation in the business of such corporation or other entity. This paragraph will not apply and will not be enforced by the Company with respect to post-termination activity by you that occurs in California or in any other
state in which this prohibition is not enforceable under applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prohibit you, after the termination of your employment, from the practice of law for any client or in respect of any
industry or business. 
 Non-solicit, Non-interference. During your employment and for a period of 12 months thereafter you shall not, except in
furtherance of your duties during your employment with the Company, directly or indirectly, individually or on behalf of any other person, firm, corporation or other entity, (A) solicit or induce any employee, consultant, representative or
agent of the Company or any of its affiliates, to leave such employment or retention or to accept employment with or render services to or with any other person, firm, corporation or other entity unaffiliated with the Company or hire or retain any
such employee, consultant, representative or agent, or take any action to materially assist or aid any other person, firm corporation or other entity in identifying, hiring or soliciting any such employee, consultant, representative or agent, or
(B) interfere, or aid or induce any other person or entity in interfering, with the relationship between the 

  
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 Company or any of its affiliates and their respective customers, suppliers, vendors, joint venturers,
distribution partners, franchisees, licensors, licensees or any other business relation of the Company or its affiliates. Any person described in subparagraph (A) above shall be deemed covered by this paragraph while so employed or retained and
for a period of six (6) months thereafter, unless such person’s employment has been terminated by the Company. 
 Non-disparagement. During
your period of employment and thereafter, you shall not make any negative comments or otherwise disparage the Company or any of its affiliates or any of the Company’s or its affiliates’ officers, directors, employees, shareholders, agents,
products or business, or take any action, including making any public statements or publishing or participating in the publication of any accounts or stories relating to any persons, entities, products or businesses which negatively impacts or
brings such person, entity, product or business into public ridicule or disrepute except if testifying truthfully under oath pursuant to subpoena or other legal process, in which event you agree to provide the Company, as appropriate, with notice of
subpoena and opportunity to respond. 
 Compliance with Law 

This letter is intended to comply with applicable law. Without limiting the foregoing, this letter is intended to comply with the requirements of section 409A
of the Internal Revenue Code (“409A”), and, specifically, with the separation pay and short term deferral exceptions of 409A. Notwithstanding anything in the letter to the contrary, separation pay may only be made upon a “separation
from service” under 409A and only in a manner permitted by 409A. For purposes of 409A, the right to a series of installment payments under this letter shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments. In no event may you, directly
or indirectly, designate the calendar year of a payment. All reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided in this letter shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of 409A (including, where applicable, the reimbursement rules set
forth in the regulations issued under 409A). If you are a “specified employee” of a publicly traded corporation on your termination date (as determined by the Company in accordance with 409A), to the extent required by 409A, separation pay
due under this letter will be delayed for a period of six months. Any separation pay that is postponed because of 409A will be paid to you (or, if you die, your beneficiary) within 30 days after the end of the six-month delay period. 

Miscellaneous 
 Please be advised that the offer is
contingent upon the favorable outcome of security, background and reference checks. Also please be advised that your employment is for an indefinite period and is terminable at the will of either the Company or you, with or without cause at any
time, subject only to such limitations as may be imposed by law and/or the terms of this letter. This offer of employment is contingent on you not being subject to any restrictive covenants which would impact your ability to perform the services
contemplated (or you having delivered to us an effective waiver thereof). By signing below, you are confirming to us that you are not presently subject to or otherwise bound by a non-compete, confidentiality or other restriction with any person or
company with respect to any prior or existing employment, investment or other relationship, that would affect your ability to perform your duties as Senior Vice President and General Counsel to the Company. 

  
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 We will send orientation and benefit plan enrollment materials to your home address that you should read and
complete prior to your first day. Two voided checks will also be required to set-up your direct deposit account for payroll. Please bring the entire packet and requested documentation with you on your first day. 

I am excited about you joining our team and look forward to working with you. Please sign a copy of this letter to acknowledge your agreement with its
conditions and return to me as soon as possible. 
 Sincerely, 

/s/ Jill
Granoff                                 

Jill Granoff 
 CEO 

 

									
	 Accepted:
	 	 /s/ Jay L. Dubiner
	  		  	 9/26/13
	  	
		 	Jay L. Dubiner	  		  	Date	  	


  
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