Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

 

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AGREEMENT

 

 

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AGREEMENT

 

This Business Opportunity Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into on, and effective as of, the Closing Date (as defined herein), and is by and among the parties listed on the signature pages hereof (each a “Party” and collectively the “Parties”).

 

RECITALS:

 

The Parties desire by their execution of this Agreement to evidence their agreement, as more fully set forth in Article II, with respect to those business opportunities in which the Restricted Persons (as defined herein) will not engage unless the Partnership has declined to engage in any such business opportunity for its own account.

 

In consideration of the premises and the covenants, conditions and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
 DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1             Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

“AEHC” means AE Holdings Corp., a Massachusetts corporation.

 

“Affiliate” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

“Agreement” is defined in the introduction.

 

“Alliance” means Alliance Energy LLC, a Massachusetts limited liability company.

 

“Closing Date” means the date of the closing of the transaction by which AEHC will contribute the outstanding equity interest in Alliance pursuant to the Contribution Agreement.

 

“Common Units” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

“Conflicts Committee” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

“Contribution Agreement” means that certain Contribution Agreement, dated as of November 21, 2011, among AEHC and the Partnership together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder.

 

“control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of Voting Securities, by contract, or otherwise.

 

 

“General Partner” means Global GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

“Limited Partner” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

“Partnership” means Global Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership.

 

“Partnership Agreement” means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of December 9, 2009, as such agreement is in effect on the Closing Date, to which reference is hereby made for all purposes of this Agreement.  No amendment or modification to the Partnership Agreement subsequent to the Closing Date shall be given effect for the purposes of this Agreement unless consented to by each of the Parties to this Agreement.

 

“Partnership Entities” means the General Partner and each member of the Partnership Group.

 

“Partnership Entity” means any of the Partnership Entities.

 

“Partnership Group” means the Partnership, and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries, treated as a single consolidated entity.

 

“Party” and “Parties” are defined in the introduction to this Agreement.

 

“Person” means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

 

“Restricted Persons” is defined in Section 2.1.

 

“Slifka Restricted Businesses” is defined in Section 2.1.

 

“Slifka Restricted Persons” is defined in Section 2.1.

 

“Subsidiary” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

“Voting Securities” means securities of any class of a Person entitling the holders thereof to vote on a regular basis in the election of members of the board of directors or other governing body of such Person.

 

ARTICLE II
 SLIFKA BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

 

Section 2.1             Slifka Restricted Businesses.  Except as permitted by Section 2.2, Alfred A. Slifka and Richard Slifka (the “Slifka Restricted Persons”) shall be prohibited from engaging in, acquiring or investing in, and shall cause each of their Affiliates other than the Partnership Entities (together with the Slifka Restricted Persons, the “Restricted Persons”) not to engage acquire or invest, in any business having assets engaged in the following businesses (the “Slifka Restricted Businesses”):(x)wholesale marketing, retail marketing, sale, distribution

 

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and transportation (other than transportation by truck) of refined petroleum products, crude oil, natural gas, ethanol, propane or biofuels; (y) the storage of refined petroleum products, crude oil, natural gas, ethanol, propane, biofuels or asphalt in connection with any of the activities described in (x) above; and (z) such other activities in which the Partnership Group or any of their businesses are engaged or, to the knowledge of the Slifka Restricted Persons, are planning to become engaged.

 

Section 2.2             Slifka Permitted Exceptions.  Notwithstanding any provision of Section 2.1 to the contrary, the Restricted Persons may engage in the following activities under the following circumstances:

 

(a)           The ownership of equity interests in, and service as a director and/or officer of, any Partnership Entity and of AEHC;

 

(b)           The ownership, individually or collectively, of up to 9.9% of a publicly traded entity that engages in Slifka Restricted Businesses so long as neither Slifka Restricted Person serves on the board of directors of such entity; and

 

(c)           The acquisition of or investment in a Slifka Restricted Business; provided the Partnership has been offered the opportunity to acquire such Slifka Restricted Business in accordance with Section 2.3 and the Partnership (with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee) has elected not to purchase such Slifka Restricted Business.

 

Section 2.3             Procedures.  In the event that any Restricted Person becomes aware of an opportunity to acquire or invest in a Slifka Restricted Business as described in 0, then as soon as practicable, such Restricted Person shall notify the General Partner of such opportunity and deliver to the General Partner all information prepared by or on behalf of such Restricted Person relating to such potential transaction.  As soon as practicable but in any event within 30 days after receipt of such notification and information, the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, shall notify such Restricted Person that either (a) the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, has elected, with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee, not to cause a member of the Partnership Group to pursue the opportunity to acquire or invest in such Slifka  Restricted Business, or (b) the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, has elected (with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee) to cause a member of the Partnership Group to pursue the opportunity to acquire or invest in such Slifka Restricted Business.  If, at any time, the General Partner abandons such opportunity with the approval of the Conflicts Committee (as evidenced in writing by the General Partner following the request of such Restricted Person), such Restricted Person may pursue such opportunity.  Any Slifka Restricted Business that is permitted to be acquired or invested in by a Restricted Person must be so acquired or invested in (a) within 12 months of the later to occur of (i) the date that such Restricted Person becomes able to pursue such opportunity in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.3, and (ii) the date upon which all required governmental approvals to consummate such acquisition or investment have been obtained, and (b) on terms not materially more favorable to such Restricted Person than were offered to the Partnership.  If either of these conditions is not satisfied, the opportunity must be reoffered to the Partnership in accordance with this Section 2.3.

 

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Section 2.4             Enforcement.

 

(a)           The Slifka Restricted Persons agree and acknowledge that the Partnership does not have an adequate remedy at law for the breach by the Restricted Persons of the covenants and agreements set forth in this Article II, and that any breach by the Restricted Persons of the covenants and agreements set forth in this Article II would result in irreparable injury to the Partnership.  The Slifka Restricted Persons further agree and acknowledge that the Partnership may, in addition to the other remedies which may be available to the Partnership, file a suit in equity to enjoin the Slifka Restricted Persons from such breach, and consent to the issuance of injunctive relief under this Agreement.  No Slifka Restricted Person or any Person, directly or indirectly, controlled thereby shall be liable for the failure of any other Slifka Restricted Person or any Person, directly or indirectly, controlled thereby to comply with this Article II.

 

(b)           If any court determines that any provision of this Article II is invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of such provisions shall not thereby be affected and shall be given full effect without regard to the invalid provision. If any court construes any provision of this Article II, or any part thereof, to be unreasonable because of the duration of such provision or the geographic scope thereof, such court shall have the power to reduce the duration or restrict the geographic scope of such provision and to enforce such provision as so reduced or restricted.

 

ARTICLE III
 MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 3.1             Choice of Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.  This Agreement shall be subject to and governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, excluding any conflicts-of-law rule or principle that might refer the construction or interpretation of this Agreement to the laws of another state.  Each Party hereby submits to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to venue in Boston, Massachusetts.

 

Section 3.2             Notice.  All notices or other communications required or permitted under, or otherwise in connection with, this Agreement must be in writing and must be given by depositing same in the U.S. mail, addressed to the Person to be notified, postpaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested or by transmitting by national overnight courier or by delivering such notice in person or by facsimile to such Party.  Notice given by mail, national overnight courier or personal delivery shall be effective upon actual receipt.  Notice given by facsimile shall be effective upon confirmation of receipt when transmitted by facsimile if transmitted during the recipient’s normal business hours or at the beginning of the recipient’s next business day after receipt if not transmitted during the recipient’s normal business hours.  All notices to be sent to a Party pursuant to this Agreement shall be sent to or made at the address, in each case as follows:

 

if to the Slifka Restricted Persons:

 

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c/o Richard Slifka and Alfred Slifka
 800 South Street
 Suite 200
 Waltham, Massachusetts 02454

 

with copies to:

 

Thomas P. Jalkut, Esq.

Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP

World Trade Center West

155 Seaport Boulevard

Boston, MA  02110

Tel: (617) 439-2372

 

if to the Partnership:

 

Global Partners LP
 P.O. Box 9161
 800 South Street
 Suite 200
 Waltham, Massachusetts 02454
 Attention:  Edward J. Faneuil
 Fax:  (781) 398-4165

 

Section 3.3             Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties relating to the matters contained herein, superseding all prior contracts or agreements, whether oral or written, relating to the matters contained herein.

 

Section 3.4             Amendment or Modification.  This Agreement may be amended or modified from time to time only by the written agreement of all the Parties hereto; provided, however, that the Partnership may not, without the prior approval of the Conflicts Committee, agree to any amendment or modification of this Agreement that the General Partner determines will adversely affect the holders of Common Units.  Each such instrument shall be reduced to writing and shall be designated on its face an “Amendment” or an “Addendum” to this Agreement.

 

Section 3.5             Assignment.  No Party shall have the right to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other Parties hereto.

 

Section 3.6             Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signatory parties had signed the same document.  All counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

Section 3.7             Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable by a court or regulatory body of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

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Section 3.8             Further Assurances.  In connection with this Agreement and all transactions contemplated by this Agreement, each signatory party hereto agrees to execute and deliver such additional documents and instruments and to perform such additional acts as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, carry out and perform all of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement and all such transactions.

 

Section 3.9             Rights of Limited Partners.  The provisions of this Agreement are enforceable solely by the Parties to this Agreement, and no Limited Partner of the Partnership shall have the right, separate and apart from the Partnership, to enforce any provision of this Agreement or to compel any Party to this Agreement to comply with the terms of this Agreement.

 

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on, and effective as of, the Closing Date.

 

	
 
    	
ALFRED A. SLIFKA
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Alfred A. Slifka
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
RICHARD SLIFKA
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Richard Slifka
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GLOBAL PARTNERS LP
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
GLOBAL GP LLC,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
its General Partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Edward J. Faneuil
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Edward J. Faneuil
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Executive Vice President,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
General Counsel and Secretary
    
						

 

GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AGREEMENT

SIGNATURE PAGEExhibit 10.2

 

Execution Version

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) by and between Global GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Andrew P. Slifka (the “Executive”) shall be effective as of the Closing Date set forth and defined in the Contribution Agreement by and between Global Partners LP and AE Holdings Corp. dated November 21, 2011 (the “Effective Date”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive have agreed that the Executive will be employed as an Executive Vice President of the Company and shall serve as the President of the Alliance Gasoline Division of Global Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”) of which the Company is the general partner, and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive mutually desire to agree upon the terms of the Executive’s employment by the Company, and to agree as to certain benefits of such employment.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and obligations contained herein, the sufficiency of which the Company and the Executive each acknowledges, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

 

1.             Employment and Term of Employment.  Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the employment term hereunder will commence on the Effective Date and continue for thirty-six (36) months; provided that, commencing on the third anniversary of this Agreement (the “Renewal Date”), the term of the Executive’s employment by the Company shall be automatically renewed so as to terminate on the date that is thirty-six (36) months from such Renewal Date, unless the Company or the Executive provides the other with prior written notice of its or his desire not to renew delivered in accordance with Section 20 (“Notice”) at least ninety (90) days in advance of the Renewal Date.  The Company and the Executive agree to begin discussions concerning the renewal of this Agreement promptly following the second anniversary of this Agreement with the objective of reaching a final agreement within six months. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either the Company or the Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment with the Company at any time, subject to the terms and conditions of Section 7 hereof.  The employment period as described herein is referred to herein as the “Term.”

 

2.             Position and Duties.  During the Term, the Company shall employ the Executive as an Executive Vice President of the Company and the Executive shall serve as the President of the Alliance Gasoline Division of the Partnership, or in such other positions as the parties mutually agree.   The Executive shall have such powers and duties and responsibilities as are customary to such positions and as are assigned to the Executive by the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in connection with the Executive’s management and supervision of the Alliance Gasoline Division and related operations of the Company and of the Partnership.  The Executive’s employment shall also be subject to the policies maintained and established by the Company that are of general applicability to the Company’s employees as such policies may be amended from time to time.

 

 

3.             Other Interests. During the Term, the Executive shall devote his full time, attention, energies and business efforts during normal business hours to his duties and responsibilities as an Executive Vice President of the Company, including serving as the President of the Alliance Gasoline Division of the Partnership.   During the Term, except as otherwise restricted by the non-competition covenants set forth in Annex I attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, the parties recognize and agree that the Executive may engage in other business activities that do not conflict with the business and affairs of the Company or of the Partnership or interfere with the Executive’s performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder.  Additionally, the non-competition covenants set forth in Annex I shall apply to the Executive upon separation of service from the Company pursuant to Section 7(c) and Section 7(d) hereof, and in each case, said non-competition covenants shall continue until the first anniversary of the Date of Termination (as defined in Section 7(h) hereof).

 

4.             Duty of Loyalty.

 

(a) The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Executive owes a fiduciary duty of loyalty to act in the best interests of the Company and of the Partnership. In keeping with such duty, the Executive shall, during the Term, make full disclosure to the Company of all business opportunities pertaining to the business of the Company or of the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries and, during the Term, shall not appropriate for the Executive’s own benefit business opportunities concerning the business of the Company, the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries, except as otherwise permitted by the non-competition covenants set forth in Annex I or as consented to in writing by the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(b) The Company shall indemnify the Executive to the extent permitted by the Company’s limited liability company agreement, as amended from time to time, and by applicable law, against all costs, charges and expenses, including without limitation, attorney’s fees, incurred or sustained by the Executive in connection with any action, suit or proceeding to which the Executive may be made a party by reason of being an officer, director or employee of the Company or of the Partnership. In connection with the foregoing, the Executive will be covered under any liability insurance policy that protects the other officers of the Company.

 

5.             Place of Performance.  Subject to such business travel from time to time as may be reasonably required in the discharge of his duties and responsibilities as an Executive Vice President of the Company and in his role as President of the Alliance Gasoline Division of the Partnership, the Executive shall perform his obligations hereunder in, or within forty (40) miles of, Waltham, Massachusetts.

 

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6.             Compensation.

 

(a)           Base Salary.  During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to an annual base salary of $425,000, subject to increase as of each January 1 if so determined by the Compensation Committee.  The Executive’s base salary, as from time to time increased in accordance with this Section 6(a), is hereafter referred to as “Base Salary.” The Base Salary shall be paid in equal installments pursuant to the Company’s customary payroll policies and procedures in force at the time of payment, but in no event less frequently than monthly.

 

(b)           Bonus.  From time to time during the Term, the Executive may be eligible to receive a cash bonus (a “Bonus”) in an amount to be determined at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.

 

(c)           Incentive Compensation.  The Executive shall participate in the annual short-term incentive compensation plan set forth in attached Exhibit A (the “Short-Term Incentive Plan”), and the long-term incentive compensation plan set forth in attached Exhibit B (the “Long-Term Equity-Based Incentive Plan”), and as determined by the Compensation Committee may be eligible to participate in any other incentive plans in which management employees may participate.

 

(d)           Reimbursements.  During the Term, the Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive on business trips, and for all other business and entertainment expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him during the Term in the performance of his services under this Agreement, in accordance with past practice and with the Company’s expense reimbursement policy as in effect from time to time, upon presentation of expense statements or vouchers or such other supporting documentation as the Company may reasonably require.

 

(e)           Fringe Benefits.  During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company’s health insurance, 401(k) and other benefit plans in accordance with Company policies and on the same general basis as other executives of the Company.  Additionally, the Company shall pay on behalf of the Executive certain membership dues and professional fees for tax and estate planning services in an amount not to exceed $15,000 and the Executive shall be eligible to receive such other benefits as may be approved by the Compensation Committee.

 

(f)            Vacation.  During the Term, the Executive shall be eligible for 25 days of paid vacation each calendar year with any unused vacation days to be subject to the Company’s standard vacation policy with respect to the carryover or payment for any such unused vacation days.

 

7.             Separation from Service.

 

(a)           In General.  If the Executive’s employment is terminated for any reason, he (or his estate) shall be paid on the Date of Termination (i) all amounts of Base Salary due and owing up through the Date of Termination, (ii) any previously awarded but unpaid Bonus and short-term cash incentive plan amounts, (iii) all reimbursements of expenses appropriately and

 

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timely submitted, and (iv) any and all other amounts that may be due to him as of the Date of Termination (the “Accrued Obligations”). Additionally, the Executive shall be entitled to retain the following items currently supplied to him by the Company: personal computer, laptop computer and iPad. Promptly following the Date of Termination, the Executive shall return to the Company all confidential and proprietary information of the Company in his possession.

 

(b)           Termination Due to the Death or Disability of Executive.  The Executive’s employment hereunder shall be terminated automatically upon the death or Disability of the Executive.  The Company shall pay to the Executive (or his estate) or on his (or its) behalf upon his termination under this Section 7(b) on the Date of Termination or as soon as reasonably practical (but no more than ten days) thereafter the Accrued Obligations. Additionally, the Company shall continue to pay the Executive (or his estate) the Base Salary then in effect as well as all fringe benefits the Executive was receiving as of the Date of Termination through the end of the applicable Term. Furthermore, if the Executive’s employment is terminated due to his Disability, the Company shall pay the monthly amounts due for all group health, dental, life, disability, vision and similar insurance premiums on behalf of the Executive and his spouse and dependents, if any, for 24 months following the Date of Termination and shall pay to the Executive in 24 equal monthly installments commencing on the last day of the month following the last day of the Term an amount equal to the product of 75% and the sum of (i) the Base Salary in effect as of the Date of Termination; and (ii) the average of the aggregate Bonuses and short-term cash incentive amounts awarded to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, if any, for the two calendar years immediately preceding the termination of this Agreement.

 

(c) Termination by the Company Without Cause or by the Executive for Reasons Constituting Constructive Termination.  The Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for reasons constituting Constructive Termination.  The Company shall pay to the Executive upon his termination under this Section 7(c) on the Date of Termination or as soon as reasonably practical (but no more than ten days) thereafter the Accrued Obligations. Additionally, if the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to this paragraph 7(c), then (X) if the Date of Termination is before July 1, 2013, the Company shall (1) pay the Executive in a lump sum on the Date of Termination the Base Salary as in effect on the Date of Termination that would have been payable to the Executive for each year or portion of a year commencing on the Date of Termination and ending on the last day of the Term, (2) pay the Executive in a lump sum on the Date of Termination an amount equal to the aggregate Bonus and short-term cash incentive amounts awarded to the Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, if any, in the calendar year immediately preceding the Date of Termination, (3) provide the fringe benefits as in effect on the Date of Termination until the last day of the Term, and (4) pay the Executive, in a lump sum on the Date of Termination, an amount equal to the product of 75% and the sum of (i) the Base Salary as in effect on the Date of Termination and (ii) the average of any Bonuses and short-term cash incentive amounts awarded pursuant to this Agreement, if any, in the two calendar years immediately preceding the Date of Termination (the “Severance Amount”), or (Y) if the Date of Termination is on or after July 1, 2013, (1) all compensation and all benefits to the Executive hereunder shall continue to be provided until the last day of the Term pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and (2) the Executive shall be paid by the Company an amount equal to the product of 75% and the sum of (i) the Base Salary as in effect on the Date of Termination and (ii)

 

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the average of any Bonuses and short-term cash incentive amounts awarded pursuant to this Agreement, if any, in the two calendar years immediately preceding the Date of Termination in twenty-four (24) equal monthly installments commencing on the first day of the month following the month in which the Date of Termination occurs.

 

(d)           Termination by the Company for Cause.  The Company’s Board of Directors may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for Cause, in which case on the Date of Termination, the Executive will receive payment of the Accrued Obligations.  Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, prior to a termination for Cause, the following shall apply:  (i) the Company will provide notice to the Executive setting forth its intention to terminate the Executive for Cause, describing in detail the nature of the circumstances that support such determination, and the date and time established for a hearing before the Board, which hearing shall be not less than fifteen (15) business days from the date of such notice, (ii) the Executive will have the right to be heard by the Board, and the Executive shall be entitled to representation by counsel at such hearing, provided, however, that such counsel shall be subject to limitations on direct interaction with the Board members during such hearing as such limitations are established by the Board and provided to the Executive with the notice of the hearing, and (iii) following such hearing, the Board may authorize a termination of the Executive’s employment for Cause only with a 2/3 majority vote of the full Board. If the Executive retains counsel for the hearing with the Board, and the Board does not terminate Executive for Cause within five business days following the hearing, the Company shall promptly reimburse the Executive for any legal fees and expenses incurred by him in connection with such a hearing.

 

(e)           Nonrenewal of the Agreement.  If the Agreement is not renewed by the Company at the end of the applicable Term, and the Executive does not continue to serve as an Executive Vice President of the Company or President of the Alliance Gasoline Division of the Partnership following the expiration of this Agreement pursuant to a different employment agreement with the Company, the Company, upon the Executive’s separation of service from the Company, shall pay the Executive in 12 equal monthly installments an amount equal to the greater of (X) the product of 75% and the sum of (i) the Base Salary in effect as of the end of the Agreement; and (ii) the average of the aggregate Bonuses and short-term cash incentive amounts awarded to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, if any, for the two calendar years immediately preceding the expiration of this Agreement; and (Y) the Base Salary in effect as of the end of the Agreement.

 

(f)            Definitions.

 

(i)            For the purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean the Executive (A) has engaged in gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of his duties, (B) has committed an act of fraud, embezzlement or willful breach of a fiduciary duty to the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including the unauthorized disclosure of any material secret, confidential and/or proprietary information, knowledge or data of the Company or any of its subsidiaries); (C) has been convicted of a crime involving fraud or moral turpitude or any felony or (D) has breached any material provision of this

 

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Agreement.  The Executive must be provided a written notice from the Company, giving him at least 30 days to affect a cure of any claimed occurrence under (A), (B) or (D) above that is capable of being cured, prior to the delivery of any notice described under Section 7(d)(i) hereof.

 

(ii)           “Change in Control” shall occur upon: (A) the date that any one person, entity or group (other than Alfred Slifka, Richard Slifka or the Executive, or their respective family members or entities they control, individually or in the aggregate, directly or indirectly (collectively referred to hereinafter as the “Slifkas”)) acquires ownership of the membership interests of the Company that, together with the membership interests of the Company already held by such person, entity or group, constitutes more than 50% of the total voting power of the membership interests of the Company; provided, however, if any one person, entity or group is considered to control more than 50% of the total voting power of the membership interests of the Company, the acquisition of additional membership interests by the same person, entity or group shall not be deemed to be a Change in Control; (B) a consolidation or merger (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of the Company pursuant to which the holders of the Company’s equity securities immediately prior to such transaction or series of related transactions would not be the holders immediately after such transaction or series of related transactions of at least 50% of the voting power of the entity surviving such transaction or series of related transactions; or (C) the sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to a person other than the Slifkas or any of them. In all respects, the definition of “Change in Control” shall be interpreted to comply with Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) and any successor statute, and/or guidance thereunder, and the provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A and any successor regulation and guidance thereto; provided, however, an interpretation in compliance with Section 409A of the Code shall not expand the definition of Change in Control in any way or cause an acquisition by the Slifkas to result in a Change in Control.

 

(iii)          “Constructive Termination” means termination of this Agreement by the Executive as a result of any (A) substantial diminution, without the Executive’s written consent, in the Executive’s working conditions consisting of (1) a material reduction in the Executive’s duties and responsibilities, (2) any change in the reporting structure so that the Executive no longer reports solely to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, or (3) a relocation of the Executive’s place of work further than forty (40) miles from Waltham, Massachusetts, or (B) a material breach of this Agreement by the Company.  To be able to terminate his employment with the Company for Constructive Termination, the Executive must provide notice to the Company of the existence of any of the conditions set forth in the immediately preceding sentence within 90 days of the initial existence of such condition(s), and the Company must fail to remedy such condition(s) within 30 days of such notice.  In no event shall the

 

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Date of Termination in connection with a Constructive Termination occur any later than one year following the initial existence of the condition(s) constituting a Constructive Termination hereunder.

 

(iv)          “Disability” shall mean a physical or mental condition which (A) renders the Executive, with or without reasonable accommodation, unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (B) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, results in the Executive receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company.

 

(g)           Notice of Termination.  Any termination or non-renewal (except due to the death of Executive) by the Company or the Executive shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto.   For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which (i) shall state the effective date of such termination, (ii) shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and (iii) shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated.  Any such notice shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 20 hereof. Any notice of Constructive Termination by the Executive shall be given by the Executive within 90 days of the initial existence of the condition upon which the Constructive Termination is based.

 

(h)           Date of Termination.  The “Date of Termination” shall mean (i) the date of death, if the Executive’s employment is terminated because of death, (ii) the date the Executive is determined to have a Disability, if the Executive’s termination is based on his Disability, and (iii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated for any other reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, which date shall be in accordance with the timing rules set out in (d) or (g) of this Section 7, as applicable. With respect to any compensation payable under this Agreement that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, references to the Executive’s Date of Termination or termination of employment (and variations thereof) shall be deemed to refer only to the Executive’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 1.409A-1(h) of the U.S. Treasury Regulations, applying the default terms thereof.

 

(i)            Delayed Payments. Notwithstanding any other provision with respect to the timing of payments under this Section 7, if, at the time of the Executive’s termination, the Executive is deemed to be a “specified employee”  (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and any successor statute, regulation and guidance thereto) of the Company, then only to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, any payments to which the Executive may become entitled under Section 7 as a result of his “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and any successor statute, regulation and guidance thereto) which are subject to Section 409A of the Code (and not otherwise exempt from its application) will be withheld until the first business day of the seventh month following the termination of the Executive’s employment, at which time the Executive

 

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shall be paid an aggregate amount equal to six months of payments otherwise due to the Executive under the terms of this Section 7, as applicable, plus (to the extent not prohibited by Section 409A of the Code) interest on such amounts at the then applicable prime rate of interest as established from time to time by Bank of America Corporation or its successor.  After the first business day of the seventh month following the termination of the Executive’s employment and continuing each month thereafter, the Executive shall be paid the regular payments otherwise due to the Executive in accordance with the terms of this Section 7, as applicable.

 

(j)            Nonsolicitation of Employees.  The Executive agrees that for a period of one year following his Date of Termination he will not solicit or induce any employee of the Company or of the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries to terminate his/her employment with, or otherwise cease his/her relationship with the Company or the Partnership or its subsidiaries.

 

(k)           Nondisparagement.  Each of the Company and the Executive agree not to make any disparaging comments or remarks, orally or in writing, about the other party following the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

 

8.             Section 409A.  The parties hereto intend that this Agreement comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the regulatory guidance thereunder.   If any provision provided herein may result in the imposition of an additional tax or penalty under the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, the Executive and the Company agree to amend any such provision to avoid imposition of any such additional tax, to the extent possible, in the manner that the Executive and the Company mutually agree is appropriate to comply with Section 409A of the Code; provided that, to the extent possible, any such amendment shall minimize any decrease in the payments or benefits to the Executive contemplated herein.

 

9.             Confidential Information; Unauthorized Disclosure.

 

(a)           During the Term and for the period ending two years following the Date of Termination, the Executive shall not, without the written consent of the Board or a person authorized thereby, disclose to any person, other than an employee of the Company, the Partnership or its subsidiaries or a person to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance by the Executive of his duties as an Executive Vice President of the Company and the Partnership, any secret, confidential and/or proprietary information, knowledge or data obtained by him while in the employ of the Company or any of its affiliates with respect to the Company, the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries and their respective businesses, the disclosure of which he knows or should know will be damaging to the Company, the Partnership or any of its subsidiaries; provided however, that such information, knowledge or data shall not include (i) any information, knowledge or data known generally to the public (other than as a result of unauthorized disclosure by the Executive) or (ii) any information, knowledge or data which the Executive may be required to disclose by any applicable law, order, or judicial or administrative proceeding.

 

(b)           The Executive acknowledges that money damages would not be sufficient remedy for any breach of this Section 9 by the Executive, and the Company, the Partnership or its subsidiaries shall be entitled to enforce the provisions of this Section 9 by seeking specific

 

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performance and injunctive relief as remedies for such breach or any threatened breach.  Such remedies shall not be deemed the exclusive remedies for a breach of this Section 9 but shall be in addition to all remedies available at law or in equity, including the recovery of damages from the Executive and his agents.

 

10.          Payment Obligations Absolute.  Except as specifically provided in this Agreement, the Company’s obligation to pay the Executive the amounts and to make the arrangements provided herein shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company or the Partnership (including its subsidiaries) may have against him or anyone else.   All amounts payable by the Company shall be paid without notice or demand.  The Executive shall not be obligated to seek other employment in mitigation of the amounts payable or arrangements made under any provision of this Agreement, and except as provided in Section 7(c) above, the obtaining of any such other employment shall in no event effect any reduction of the Company’s obligations to make the payments and arrangements required to be made under this Agreement.

 

11.          Successors.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and permitted assigns and any such successor or permitted assignee shall be deemed substituted for the Company under the terms of this Agreement for all purposes. As used herein, “successor” and “assignee” shall be limited to any person, firm, corporation or other business entity which at any time, whether by purchase, merger or otherwise, directly or indirectly acquires the equity of the Company or to which the Company assigns this Agreement by operation of law or otherwise in connection with any sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, provided that any successor or permitted assignee promptly assumes in a writing delivered to the Executive this Agreement and, in no event, shall any such succession or assignment release the Company from its obligations hereunder. The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company 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. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as herein before defined and any successor to all or substantially all of its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

 

12.          Assignment.  The Executive shall not have any right to pledge, hypothecate, anticipate or assign this Agreement or the rights hereunder, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or delegate his duties or obligations hereunder.

 

13.          Governing Law.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with, and governed by, the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts without regard to principles of conflict of laws.

 

14.          Entire Agreement.  This Agreement together with the attached Annex I and Exhibits A and B constitute the entire agreement of the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof, and contain all of the covenants, promises, representations, warranties and agreements

 

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between the parties with respect to such subject matter.  Without limiting the scope of the preceding sentence, as of the Effective Date, all understandings and agreements preceding the Effective Date and relating to the subject matter hereof are hereby null and void and of no further force and effect, including, without limitation all prior employment and severance agreements, if any, by and between the Company and the Executive; provided that, nothing contained in the foregoing shall be deemed to supersede or make invalid any prior agreements between the Executive and the Company concerning long-term incentive plan awards and any agreement by and between the Executive and the Company, the Partnership or any affiliated entity or member of the Partnership in his capacity as an interest holder, including without limitation the Omnibus Agreement.

 

15.           Modification.  Any modification of this Agreement will be effective only if it is in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

 

16.           No Waiver.  No failure by either party hereto at any time to give notice of any breach by the other party of, or to require compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.

 

17.           Severability.  Any provision in this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction by reason of applicable law shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating or affecting the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

18.           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

19.           Withholding of Taxes and Other Employee Deductions.  The Company may withhold from any benefits and payments made pursuant to this Agreement all federal, state, city and other taxes as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling and all other normal employee deductions made with respect to the Company’s employees generally.

 

20.           Notice.  For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand, or by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service or mailed by U.S. registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the parties at their addresses set forth below, or to such other addresses as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

If to the Company:

 

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Global GP LLC
 P.O. Box 9161
 800 South Street
 Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9161
 Attention: General Counsel, the Chairman of the Board and the Vice Chairman of the Board

 

with a copy to:

 

Alan P. Baden
 Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
 666 Fifth Avenue
 25th Floor
 New York, New York 10103

 

If to the Executive:

 

At the Executive’s last known home address listed in the Company’s personnel records from time to time

 

with a copy to:

 

Michael A. Hickey

K & L Gates LLP
 One Lincoln Street
 Boston, Massachusetts 02111

 

21.           Headings.  The section headings have been inserted for purposes of convenience and shall not be used for interpretive purposes.

 

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

 

	
 
    	
GLOBAL GP LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Andrew Slifka
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Andrew   Slifka
    

 

11

 

Execution Version

 

ANNEX I

 

Non-Competition Provisions

 

1.             Definitions.           The following terms shall have the meanings respectively set forth below in this Annex I:

 

(a)          “Affiliate” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

(b)         “Assets”  means all assets conveyed, contributed or otherwise Transferred by the Sponsors and Affiliates thereof to the Partnership Group at any time, including any such assets held by a Person whose ownership interests were Transferred by the Sponsors and Affiliates thereof to the Partnership Group by means of operation of law or otherwise.

 

(c)          “Conflicts Committee” is defined in the Partnership Agreement.

 

(d)         “Contribution Agreement” means that certain Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement, dated as of October 4, 2005, among Global Petroleum Corp., a Massachusetts corporation, Montello Oil Corporation, a New Jersey corporation, Chelsea Terminal Limited Partnership, a Massachusetts limited partnership, Sandwich Terminal, LLC, a Massachusetts limited liability company, the Company, Global Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), Global Operating LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and certain other parties, together with the additional conveyance documents and instruments contemplated or referenced thereunder.

 

(e)          “Partnership Agreement” means the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of December 9, 2009, as amended from time to time.

 

(f)            “Partnership Group” means the Partnership and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries, treated as a single consolidated entity.

 

(g)         “Person” means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

 

(h)         “Retained Assets” means the assets and investments owned by the Sponsors and any of their Affiliates that were not conveyed, contributed or otherwise Transferred to the Partnership Group pursuant to the Contribution Agreement and other documents relating to the transactions referred to in the Contribution Agreement, and not otherwise subsequently Transferred to the Partnership Group, including, without limitation, the replacements and natural extensions thereof.

 

 

(i)             “Sponsors” means Alfred Slifka, Richard Slifka or the Executive, or their respective family members.

 

(j)             “Sponsor Persons” means the Sponsors and any Person controlled thereby individually or in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, other than the Company, the Partnership and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries.

 

(k)          “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.

 

(l)             “Transfer” including the correlative terms “Transferring” or “Transferred” means any direct or indirect transfer, assignment, sale, gift, pledge, hypothecation or other encumbrance, or any other disposition (whether voluntary, involuntary or by operation of law) of the Assets, any assets, property or rights.

 

Capitalized terms that are used and not defined in this Annex I shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in the Employment Agreement by and between the Company and the Executive to which this Annex I is attached.

 

2.             Restricted Investments and Businesses.  During the Term, except as expressly permitted by Section 3 below, the Executive and his Affiliates other than the Company, the Partnership and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries, shall be prohibited from engaging in or acquiring or investing in any business having assets engaged in the following businesses:

 

(a)                                  wholesale and/or retail marketing, sale, distribution and transportation (other than transportation by truck) of refined petroleum products, crude oil, natural gas, ethanol, propane and/or biofuels;

 

2

 

(b)                                 storage of refined petroleum products, crude oil, natural gas, ethanol, propane, biofuels and/or asphalt or asphalt products in connection with any of the activities described in 2(a) above; and

 

(c)                                  such other activities in which the Partnership or its subsidiaries are engaged at any time during the Term or, to the knowledge of the Executive, the Partnership or its subsidiaries are planning to become engaged.

 

                3.             Exceptions to Restricted Investments and Businesses.   Notwithstanding any provision of Section 2 to the contrary, the Executive and his Affiliates may engage in the following activities under the following circumstances:

 

(a)                                  the ownership and/or operation of (i) any of the Retained Assets, and (ii) any other ownership interests held by the Sponsors and/or their Affiliates as of the date of execution of this Agreement (the “Pre-Existing Holdings”);

 

(b)                                 the ownership, individually or collectively, of not more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) of ownership interests of a publicly traded entity that competes with the Partnership Group, so long as none of the Slifkas serves on the board of directors of such entity; provided, however, that Pre-Existing Holdings held by the Executive and his Affiliates may exceed the ownership threshold set forth in this Section 3(b), and

 

(c)                                  the acquisition of or the investment in any asset or business that competes with any business of the Partnership (each such asset or business, a “Competing Asset or Business”); provided the Partnership has been offered the opportunity to acquire such Competing Asset or Business in accordance with the provisions of Section 4 below and the Partnership (with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee) has elected not to purchase such Competing Asset or Business.

 

4.             Procedures.  In the event that the Executive and/or his Affiliates become aware of an opportunity to acquire or invest in a Competing Asset or Business, then as soon as practicable, the Executive and/or his Affiliates shall notify the Company of such opportunity and deliver to the Company all information prepared by or on behalf of the Executive and/or his Affiliates relating to such potential transaction.  As soon as practicable but in any event within 30 days after receipt of such notification and information, the Company, on behalf of the Partnership, shall notify the Executive and/or his Affiliates that either (a) the Company, on behalf of the Partnership, has elected, with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee, not to cause a member of the Partnership Group to pursue the opportunity to acquire or invest in the Competing Asset or Business, or (b) the Company, on behalf of the Partnership, has elected (with the concurrence of the Conflicts Committee) to cause a member of the Partnership Group to pursue the opportunity to acquire or invest in the Competing Asset or Business.  If, at any time, the Company abandons such opportunity with the approval of the Conflicts Committee (as evidenced in writing by the Company following the request of the Executive), the Executive and/or his Affiliates may pursue such opportunity.  Any Competing Asset or Business that is permitted to be acquired or invested in by the Executive and/or his Affiliates must be so acquired 

 

3

 

or invested in (A) within 12 months of the later to occur of (i) the date that the Executive and/or his Affiliates become able to pursue such opportunity in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4, and (ii) the date upon which all required governmental approvals to consummate such acquisition or investment have been obtained, and (B) on terms not materially more favorable to the Executive and/or his Affiliates than were offered to the Partnership.  If either of these conditions is not satisfied, the opportunity must be reoffered to the Partnership in accordance with this Section 4.

 

5.             The Executive for himself and his Affiliates agrees and acknowledges that the Partnership Group does not have an adequate remedy at law for the breach by the Executive and/or his Affiliates of the covenants and agreements set forth in this Annex I, and that any material breach by the Executive and/or his Affiliates of the covenants and agreements set forth in this Annex I would result in irreparable injury to the Partnership Group.  The Executive for himself and his Affiliates further agrees and acknowledges that any member of the Partnership Group may, in addition to the other remedies which may be available to the Partnership Group, file a suit in equity to enjoin the Executive and/or his Affiliates from such breach, and consents to the issuance of injunctive relief under this Agreement.

 

6.             If any court determines that any provision of this Annex I is invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of such provisions shall not thereby be affected and shall be given full effect without regard to the invalid provision. If any court construes any provision of this Annex I, or any part thereof, to be unreasonable because of the duration of such provision or the geographic scope thereof, such court shall have the power to reduce the duration or restrict the geographic scope of such provision and to enforce such provision as so reduced or restricted.

 

4

 

Execution Version

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Short-Term Annual Cash Incentive Plan

 

The Executive shall participate in an annual short-term cash incentive plan with 50% of any cash incentive amounts earned for a fiscal year to be determined based upon the achievement of financial metrics established by the Company’s Compensation Committee (the “financial metrics”) and 50% of such cash incentive amounts to be determined at the discretion of the Company’s Compensation Committee.  The annual “award target” cash incentive amount shall be $200,000, and the annual maximum cash incentive amount that may be awarded shall be $400,000.  The Company’s Compensation Committee may also establish threshold financial metrics required to be met for any cash incentive amount to be awarded, and a formula for the amount of the cash incentive that will be awarded relative to the amount by which the financial metrics threshold are or are not met or exceeded.  The targets, metrics (including any thresholds) and formula will be established by the Company’s Compensation Committee in the first calendar quarter of each fiscal year. Any amounts earned or awarded under any short-term cash incentive plan shall be paid within 2 and 1⁄2 months of the end of the fiscal year for which the cash incentives were earned or awarded.

 

 

Execution Version

 

EXHIBIT B

 

Long-Term Equity-Based Incentive Plan
 Performance-Restricted Units

 

Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Company’s Long-Term Equity-Based Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) throughout the term of the Employment Agreement.  The Company’s Compensation Committee shall determine whether and in what amounts to grant the Executive Performance-Restricted Units, Phantom Units or some functional equivalent of Global Partners LP, and shall establish the terms and conditions of such grants, including the timing of the grants, the vesting periods, if any, and any applicable milestones, all in accordance with the Plan and in compliance with Section 409A of the Code and any successor statute, regulation or guidance thereunder.

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