ex10-4.htm


    Exhibit
10.4

    


    TENTH
AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

    


    


    


    This
Tenth Amendment to Employment Agreement is made and entered into as of November
13, 2008 (the “Effective Date”), by and between PriceSmart, Inc., a Delaware
Corporation (“Employer”) and Jose Luis Laparte (“Executive”).

    


    


    Recitals

    


    
      	
              A)  

            	
              On
      June 3, 2004 an Employment Agreement was made and entered into by and
      between Employer and Executive;

            


    

    


    
      	
              B)  

            	
              Said
      Employment Agreement has been amended on nine prior occasions;
      and

            


    

    


    
      	
              C)  

            	
              Employer
      and Executive now desire to amend the Employment Agreement, as set forth
      herein, effective as of the Effective
Date:

            


    

    


    


    Agreement

    


    
      	
              1.  

            	
              Section
      4.1 of the Employment Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to
      provide as follows:

            


    

    


    “4.1           Benefits Upon
Termination.  Upon termination of this Agreement under Section
3.3 (Early Termination by Executive), Section 3.4 (Termination for Cause) or
Section 3.5 (Termination Due to Death or Disability), all salary and benefits of
Executive hereunder shall cease immediately.  Upon termination of this
Agreement by Employer for any reason other than those set forth in Section 3.4
or Section 3.5, Executive shall be entitled to the continuation of Executive's
base salary for one (1) year following the date of such termination, payable in
equal installments in conformity with Employer’s normal payroll period, provided
that such termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” for
purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”) and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (a “Separation
from Service”).  If this Agreement is not terminated, then, upon
expiration of the Employment Term and if neither of the
following happens:

    


    (i)
Executive’s employment term thereupon is offered for renewal for an additional
year by Employer with Executive’s annual base salary being at least the same as
set forth hereinabove;

    


    (ii)
Executive’s employment term thereupon is offered for renewal for an additional
year by Employer with Executive’s annual base salary less than that set forth
hereinabove, and such renewal on such terms is agreed to by
Executive,

    


    then,
provided that such termination constitutes a Separation from Service, Executive
shall be entitled to continuation of Executive’s base salary for one (1) year,
payable in equal installments in conformity with Employer’s normal payroll
period; provided, however, that:

    


    (i)
Within sixty (60) days of the termination of Executive’s employment, Executive
has executed and not revoked during any applicable revocation period a severance
agreement and general release of all claims (releasing Employer and its
agents/affiliated parties of all claims and demands), in a form as provided by
Employer to Executive;

    


    (ii)  any
payments that would otherwise have been made before Employer’s first normal
payroll date falling on or after the sixtieth (60th) day after the date of
termination of Executive’s employment (the “First Payment Date”) shall be made
on the First Payment Date; and

    


    (iii)  Employer’s obligation
to pay such installments after expiration of the Employment Term shall be
reduced by the amount of employment compensation (if any) received by Executive
from a subsequent employer of Executive during said one (1) year.

    


    During
the period of this severance pay, Executive shall cooperate with Employer in
providing for the orderly transition of Executive’s duties and responsibilities
to other individuals, as reasonably request by Employer.”

    


    
      	
              2.  

            	
              Effective
      as of the Effective Date, new Section 6.2 is incorporated into the
      Employment Agreement, with subsequent Sections renumbered accordingly, to
      read in its entirety as follows:

            


    

    


    “6.2           Section 409A.  This
Agreement is intended to be interpreted and construed in a manner that does not
cause Executive to incur federal tax liability under Section 409A of the
Code.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Agreement,
if Executive is deemed by Employer at the time of Executive’s Separation
from Service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section
409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, to the extent delayed commencement of any portion
of the benefits to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement is required
in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of
the Code, such portion of Executive’s benefits shall not be provided to
Executive prior to the earlier of (a) the expiration of the six-month period
measured from the date of Executive’s Separation from Service or (b) the
date of Executive’s death.  Upon the first business day following the
expiration of the applicable Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) period, all payments
deferred pursuant to this Section 6.2 shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive,
and any remaining payments due under the Agreement shall be paid as otherwise
provided herein.  To the extent that any reimbursements payable
pursuant to this Agreement are subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the
Code, any reimbursements payable to Executive shall be paid to Executive no
later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the cost was
incurred, the amount of expenses reimbursed in one year shall not affect the
amount eligible for reimbursement in any subsequent year,
and  Executive’s right to reimbursement under this Agreement will not
be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. For purposes of
Section 409A of the Code, Executive’s right to receive each payment of
compensation pursuant to the Agreement shall at all times be considered separate
and distinct from other payments.”

    


    
      	
              3.  

            	
              All
      other terms of the Employment Agreement shall remain unaltered and fully
      effective.

            


    

    


    Executed
in San Diego, California, as of the date first written above.

    


    


    EXECUTIVE                                                                                                EMPLOYER

    PRICESMART, INC.

    


    


    


    _______________________                                                                           _______________________

    Jose Luis
Laparte                                                                           By:

    Its:


    
      
        
          
 

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