Exhibit 10.2

 



 

COCA-COLA PLAZA

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

 

	
MUHTAR KENT
    	
 
    	
ADDRESS REPLY TO:
    
	
CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
    	
 
    	
P.O. BOX 1734
    
	
THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
    	
 
    	
ATLANTA, GA 30301
    
	
 
    	
 
    	    



    
	
 
    	
 
    	
404 676-4082
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
FAX: 404 676-7721
    


 

August 12, 2015

 

Ahmet C. Bozer

The Coca-Cola Company

Atlanta, Georgia

 

Dear Ahmet,

 

We thank you very much for all of your contributions to The Coca-Cola Company (the “Company”), our people and the Coca-Cola system. I personally wish you and your family all the best in your retirement.  This letter outlines the terms of your separation from the Company.  Except as otherwise provided below, all applicable elements of your separation package will be paid under the terms of the relevant policies and plans the Company.

 

1.              You will step down from your current position as President, Coca-Cola International, effective immediately.  From now through March 31, 2016, you will continue as Executive Vice President to facilitate a smooth transition and will also advise me on key strategic initiatives. You will separate from the Company on March 31, 2016 (“Separation Date”).

 

2.              If you sign the enclosed release, you will be eligible for a benefit under The Coca-Cola Company Severance Pay Plan equivalent to two years of base salary, based on your current annual salary.  This amount will be paid in a lump sum shortly after your Separation Date.  This amount is subject to all applicable tax and withholdings.

 

3.              You will receive an annual incentive award for 2015 and a prorated award for 2016 under the standard terms and conditions of the annual Performance Incentive Plan.  The actual payment amount is contingent upon actual Company performance and your performance.  Any such award will be paid at the same time such awards are paid to all other similar Company executives.  Your participation and any award made to you shall be determined by the Compensation Committee.

 

4.              The Compensation Committee has extended to you the terms of the Special Equity Program with respect to all equity granted prior to 2013 on the same terms and

 











 

conditions applicable to other eligible employees who are at least age 50 with at least 10 years of service. This is conditioned upon you signing the enclosed release.  For equity awards granted in 2013 and after, the existing terms of the plans and related agreements apply.  When you exercise your stock options or receive shares underlying PSU awards, you will be personally liable for paying any taxes owed except as expressly provided by the Company’s International Service Policy, Tax Equalization Policy or post-assignment tax policy.  You will not receive any additional equity awards.  Your equity awards will be treated as summarized below.

 

Stock Options

 

·                  All of your unvested options continue to vest for up to four years following your Separation Date.  As provided by the terms of the Special Equity Program, the plan documents and/or the grant agreements, as applicable, you will have up to four years, or, if earlier, the normal date of expiration, to exercise all of your stock options once they have vested.   This applies to all options, including those granted before and after 2013.

 

2013-2015 PSU Plan

 

·                  You continue to be eligible for a payment, if any, under this program based on performance.  However, please note that this plan is not currently expected to pay out.

 

2014-2016 PSU Plan

 

·                  The award shall be prorated for the number of months you work during the performance period (for example, 27/36ths for a Separation Date of March 31, 2016).  The award remains subject to the performance criteria.  The remaining shares will be forfeited.

 

2015-2017 PSU Plan

 

·                  Provided you remain employed at least through twelve months from the date of grant, the award shall be prorated for the number of months you work during the performance period (for example, 15/36ths for a Separation Date of March 31, 2016).  The award remains subject to the performance criteria.  The remaining shares will be forfeited.

 

6.              Your retirement benefits will consist of those benefits you have accrued under the standard terms and conditions of the plans in which you participate and in which benefits are vested as of your Separation Date.

 

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7.              You will continue to be reimbursed up to $10,000 per year in financial planning and related expenses incurred by you annually up through your Separation Date.

 

8.              The Company will provide at its expense outplacement services through a designated services provider.

 

9.              The terms and conditions in this letter are further conditioned upon your signing and adhering to the attached Full and Complete Release and Agreement on Competition, Trade Secrets and Confidentiality.

 

Ahmet, thank you again for your many years of dedicated service to the Company.  Please contact Ceree Eberly should you have any additional questions regarding the terms of this letter or the terms of any of the benefit plans.

 

Sincerely,

 

	
/s/   Muhtar Kent
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Muhtar   Kent
    	
 
    
	
Chief   Executive Officer
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Agreed   to and accepted this 12th day of August, 2015.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
/s/   Ahmet C. Bozer
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Attachment
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
cc:                                Ceree Eberly
    	
 
    


 

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FULL AND COMPLETE RELEASE

AND AGREEMENT ON COMPETITION,

TRADE SECRETS AND CONFIDENTIALITY

 

Release.

 

I, Ahmet  Bozer,  in  consideration  of  the  payments  and  benefits  under  The  Coca-Cola  Company  Severance  Pay  Plan,  the  benefits  and  payments  described  in  the  letter  dated  August 12,  2015,  and  other  good  and  valuable  consideration,  for  myself  and  my  heirs,  executors,  administrators  and  assigns,  do  hereby  knowingly  and  voluntarily  release  and  forever  discharge  The  Coca-Cola  Company  (“TCCC”),  and  its  subsidiaries,  affiliates,  joint  ventures,  joint  venture  partners,  and  benefit  plans  (collectively  with  TCCC,  referred  to  herein  as  the  “Company”),  and  their  respective  current  and  former  directors,  officers,  administrators,  trustees,  employees,  agents,  and  other  representatives,  (collectively  with  the  Company,  referred  to  herein  as  “Releasees”)  from  all  debts,  claims,  actions,  causes  of  action  (including  without  limitation  those  under  the  Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act  of  1974,  as  amended,  29 U.S.C.  § 1001  et  seq.;  the  Worker  Adjustment  and  Retraining  Notification  Act  of  1988,  29 U.S.C.  § 2101  et  seq.;  and  those  federal,  state,  local,  and  foreign  laws  prohibiting  employment  discrimination  based  on  age,  sex,  race,  color,  national  origin,  religion,  disability,  veteran  or  marital  status,  sexual  orientation,  or  any  other  protected  trait  or  characteristic,  or  retaliation  for  engaging  in  any  protected  activity,  including  without  limitation  the  Age  Discrimination  in  Employment  Act  of  1967,  29 U.S.C.  § 621  et  seq.  (“ADEA”),  as  amended  by  the  Older  Workers  Benefit  Protection  Act,  P.L. 101-433;  the  Equal  Pay  Act  of  1963,  9 U.S.C.§ 206,  et  seq.;  Title VII  of  The  Civil  Rights  Act  of  1964,  as  amended,  42 U.S.C.  § 2000e  et  seq.;  the  Civil  Rights  Act  of  1866,  42 U.S.C. § 1981;  the  Civil  Rights  Act  of  1991,  42  U.S.C.  §  1981a;  the  Americans  with  Disabilities  Act,  42 U.S.C. § 12101  et  seq.;  the  Rehabilitation  Act  of  1973,  29 U.S.C.  § 791

 

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et seq.; and comparable state, local, and foreign causes of action, whether statutory or common law), suits, dues, sums of money, accounts, reckonings, covenants, contracts, claims for costs or attorneys’ fees, controversies, agreements, promises, and all liabilities of any kind or nature whatsoever, at law, in equity, or otherwise, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, fixed or contingent, which I ever had, now have, or may have, or which I, my heirs, executors, administrators or assigns hereafter can, shall, or may have in the future, including without limitation those arising out of or related to my employment or separation from employment with the Company through the date of this Full and Complete Release and Agreement on Competition, Trade Secrets and Confidentiality (“Agreement”).

 

I fully understand and agree that:

 

1.              this Agreement is in exchange for the payments and benefits under The Coca-Cola Company Severance Pay Plan, the payments and benefits described in the letter dated August 12, 2015, and other compensation to which I would otherwise not be entitled;

 

2.              I am hereby advised to consult with an attorney before signing this Agreement;

 

3.              I have 21 days from my receipt of this Agreement within which to consider whether to sign it;

 

4.              I have seven days following my signature of this Agreement to revoke the Agreement; and

 

5.              this Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until the revocation period of seven days has expired.

 

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If I choose to revoke this Agreement, I must do so by notifying TCCC in writing.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision or paragraph of this Agreement, I do not hereby waive any rights or claims for which waivers or releases are prohibited by applicable law or any rights or claims under the ADEA that may arise after the date I sign this Agreement.

 

If there is any claim for loss of consortium, or any other similar claim, arising out of or related to my employment or separation of employment with TCCC, I will indemnify and hold Releasees harmless from any liability, including costs and expenses (as well as reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Releasees as a result of any such claim.

 

I acknowledge and represent that (i) I have received all leave required under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, as amended (“FMLA”), and (ii) do not claim that Releasees violated or denied me rights under the FMLA.  I further acknowledge and represent that I (i) was properly classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended (“FLSA”), (ii) have been fully paid for hours I worked for TCCC and (iii) do not claim that TCCC violated or denied me rights under the FLSA.

 

I additionally understand and agree that this Agreement is not and shall not be construed to be an admission of liability of any kind on the part any of the Releasees.

 

Future Cooperation.

 

I covenant and agree that I shall, to the extent reasonably requested in writing, cooperate with and serve in any capacity requested by the Company in any investigation and/or threatened or pending litigation (now or in the future) in which the Company is a party, and regarding which I, by virtue of my employment with TCCC, have knowledge or information relevant to said litigation, including, but not limited to (i) meeting with representatives of the Company to provide truthful information regarding my knowledge, (ii) acting as the Company’s

 

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representative, and (iii) providing, in any jurisdiction in which the Company requests, truthful testimony relevant to said litigation, provided the Company pays me reasonable compensation and reimburses me for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with such cooperation.

 

Trade Secrets and Confidential Information.

 

I covenant and agree that I have held and shall continue to hold in confidence all Trade Secrets of the Company that came into my knowledge during my employment by TCCC and shall not disclose, publish or make use of at any time such Trade Secrets for as long as the information remains a Trade Secret.  “Trade Secret” means any technical or non-technical data, formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, drawing, process, financial data, financial plan, product plan, list of actual or potential customers or suppliers or other information similar to any of the foregoing, which (i) derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can derive economic value from its disclosure or use, and (ii) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.

 

I also covenant and agree that, for the period beginning on the date I sign this Agreement and ending two years after I have signed this Agreement or two years after the date my employment ends, whichever is later (“Nondisclosure Period”), I will hold in confidence all Confidential Information of the Company that came into my knowledge during my employment by TCCC and will not disclose, publish or make use of such Confidential Information.  “Confidential Information” means any data or information, other than Trade Secrets, that is valuable to the Company and not generally known to the public or to competitors of the Company.

 

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The restrictions stated in this Agreement are in addition to and not in lieu of protections afforded to trade secrets and confidential information under applicable state law or any prior agreement I have signed or made with the Company regarding trade secrets, confidential information, or intellectual property.  Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall be interpreted as diminishing or otherwise limiting the Company’s right under applicable state law or any prior agreement I have signed or made with the Company regarding trade secrets, confidential information, or intellectual property.

 

Return of Materials.

 

I further covenant and agree that I have or shall promptly deliver to the Company all memoranda, notes, records, manuals or other documents, including all copies of such materials and all documentation prepared or produced in connection therewith, containing Trade Secrets or Confidential Information regarding the Company’s business, whether made or compiled by me or furnished to me by virtue of my employment with the Company.  I shall promptly deliver to the Company all vehicles, computers, credit cards, telephones, handheld electronic devices, office equipment, and other property furnished to me by virtue of my employment with the Company.

 

No Publicity.

 

During the Nondisclosure Period, I will not publish any opinion, fact, or material, deliver any lecture or address, participate in the making of any film, radio broadcast or television transmission, or communicate with any representative of the media relating to confidential matters regarding the business or affairs of the Company which I was involved with during my employment.

 

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Non Compete and Non Solicitation.

 

Definitions.

 

For the purposes of this Section, the following definitions apply:

 

(a)           “Non Solicitation Period” means the period beginning on the date I sign this Agreement and ending on March 31, 2018.

 

(b)           “Restricted Activities” means the involvement in, development of, or oversight of the manufacturing, distribution, marketing, sales, operation, innovation, commercial leadership, or any financial activities for Restricted Businesses.

 

(c)           “Territory” means North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Australia and Oceania.

 

(d)           “Restricted Businesses” means 1) companies whose primary business is the manufacture, sale, distribution and marketing of either carbonated soft drinks, coffee, tea, water, sports drinks, energy drinks, juices or fruit-based beverages (“Non-alcoholic Beverages”) or beverage enhancers, beverage solutions, beverage enablers or other additives, which additives primarily are intended for use in non-alcoholic beverages, (“Beverage Enhancers”), and 2) companies whose business activities includes the manufacture, sale, distribution and marketing of Non-alcoholic Beverages or Beverage Enhancers, but for whom such business(es) may not be the company’s primary business (“Non-Beverage Companies”).

 

(e)           “Competing Business Segment” means any subsidiary, division, or unit of the business of a company, where such subsidiary, division, or unit manufactures, sells, distributes, or markets Non-alcoholic Beverages or Beverage Enhancers.

 

Non Compete.

 

I hereby covenant with the Company that I will not, within the Territory prior to March 31, 2018, without the prior written consent of the Chief Executive Officer of TCCC (the

 

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“CEO”), directly or indirectly engage in any Restricted Activities for or on behalf of (including in a consulting capacity) any Restricted Business.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, I may perform services for Non-Beverage Companies (other than PepsiCo, its subsidiaries and affiliates, including but not limited to Pepsi Bottling Group) that have a Competing Business Segment, provided I do not perform Restricted Activities for such Competing Business Segment, and provided I notify the CEO of the nature of such service in writing within a reasonable time prior to beginning of such services.

 

Non Solicitation of Employees.

 

I hereby covenant and agree that I will not, during the Non Solicitation Period, without the prior written consent of the CEO, solicit or encourage, or attempt to solicit or encourage, directly or indirectly, for employment for or on behalf of any corporation, partnership, venture or other business entity any person who, on the last day of my employment with TCCC or within twelve months prior to that date, was employed by the Company as a manager or executive and with whom I had professional interaction during the last twelve months of my employment with TCCC to terminate his or her employment with the Company or to accept employment with any other person or entity (whether or not such person would commit a breach of contract by leaving the Company).

 

Non Solicitation of Customers.

 

I hereby covenant and agree that I will not, during the Non Solicitation Period, without the prior written consent of the CEO, solicit or encourage, or attempt to solicit or encourage, directly or indirectly, any of the Company’s customers, including actively sought prospective customers with whom I had professional interaction during my employment with the Company, to reduce the amount of business which any such customer has customarily done with

 

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the Company or contemplates doing with the Company by doing business instead with any of the Restricted Businesses.

 

Reasonable and Necessary Restrictions.

 

I acknowledge that during the course of my employment with TCCC I have received or will receive and had or will have access to Confidential Information and Trade Secrets of the Company, including but not limited to confidential and secret business and marketing plans, strategies, and studies, detailed client/customer/bottler lists and information relating to the operations and business requirements of those clients/customers/bottlers and, accordingly, I am willing to enter into the covenants contained in this Agreement in order to provide the Company with what I consider to be reasonable protection for its interests.

 

I acknowledge that the restrictions, prohibitions and other provisions hereof, are reasonable, fair and equitable in scope, terms and duration, and are necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the Company.  I covenant that I will not challenge the enforceability of this Agreement nor will I raise any equitable defense to its enforcement.

 

I acknowledge and agree that in the event I breach, or threaten in any way to breach, or it is inevitable that I will breach, any of the provisions of this Agreement, damages shall be an inadequate remedy and the Company shall be entitled, without bond, to injunctive or other equitable relief in addition to all other rights otherwise available to the Company at law or in equity.

 

Non-Disparagement.

 

I agree that I will not make any statement, written or verbal, in any forum or media, or take any action in disparagement of the Company, including but not limited to negative

 

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references to the Company or its products, services, corporate policies, or current or former officers or employees, customers, suppliers, or business partners or associates.

 

Complete Agreement.

 

This Agreement is the complete understanding between me and the Company in respect of the subject matter of this Agreement and, with the exception of any prior agreement I have signed or made with the Company regarding trade secrets, confidential information, or intellectual property, supersedes all prior agreements relating to the same subject matter.  I have not relied upon any representations, promises or agreements of any kind except those set forth herein in signing this Agreement.

 

Severability.

 

In the event that any provision of this Agreement should be held to be invalid or unenforceable, each and all of the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.  If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be modified as necessary to permit this Agreement to be upheld and enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law.

 

Governing Law.

 

Except to the extent preempted by Federal Law, this Agreement will be construed, interpreted, and applied in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia, without regard to principles of conflicts of law or giving effect to the choice-of-law provisions of the State of Georgia or any other jurisdiction and any legal action related to or arising out of this Agreement will be brought exclusively in the federal or state courts located in the State of Georgia.  I hereby consent to the jurisdiction of such courts.

 

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Successors and Assigns.

 

This Agreement inures to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns.

 

Amendment/Waiver.

 

No amendment, modification or discharge of this Agreement shall be valid or binding unless set forth in writing and duly executed by each of the parties hereto.

 

Acknowledgment.

 

I have carefully read this Agreement, fully understand each of its terms and conditions, and intend to abide by this Agreement in every respect.  As such, I knowingly and voluntarily sign this Agreement.

 

	
 
    	
/s/   Ahmet Bozer
    
	
 
    	
Ahmet   Bozer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Date:   August 12, 2015
    


 

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