Document:

HNZ 10a(i)

Exhibit 10a(i)

SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE

This Separation Agreement and Release (the “Agreement”) is made and effective this 24th day of July, 2012 by and between H. J. Heinz Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates (hereinafter collectively, the “Company”) and Mr. C. Scott O'Hara (hereinafter “Mr. O'Hara”) (hereinafter, Mr. O'Hara and the Company may be referred to as the “Parties” or either of them as a “Party”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, Mr. O'Hara's role with the Company as an Executive Officer terminated as of June 26, 2012; and 

WHEREAS, Mr. O'Hara will continue to perform transitional services for the Company as an employee of the Company through August 1, 2012 and, on August 1, 2012, Mr. O'Hara's employment with the Company shall end; and

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to set forth the obligations of the Parties to each other and provide Mr. O'Hara with a separation package and receive from Mr. O'Hara a release of any claims; and

WHEREAS, this Agreement refers to Company benefit and compensation plans and related terms specified and described in Company plan documents and employee manuals.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises and covenants hereinafter contained, the Parties, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:

1.    Resignation from Employment.  

A.    By his execution of this Agreement, Mr. O'Hara irrevocably resigns his employment with the Company effective August 1, 2012.  As of that date, Mr. O'Hara's salary with the Company shall cease; and, also, Mr. O'Hara will cease as of that date, except as expressly provided herein, to be eligible to participate under any medical, dental, life insurance, retirement, and other compensation or benefit plan of the Company.  Mr. O'Hara covenants and agrees that the Company will not be obligated to employ or reemploy him or engage his services after August 1, 2012.

B.    Employment Until August 1, 2012.  Mr. O'Hara's service as Executive Vice President - President and Chief Executive Officer of Heinz North America ended on June 26, 2012.  Mr. O'Hara's status from June 26, 2012, until August 1, 2012, is a non-executive employee available to consult with the Company and provide transition services.  Mr. O'Hara shall not be an officer of the Company nor shall he be an officer or director of any subsidiary of the Company after June 26, 2012, and shall have no authority to act for, represent or bind the Company in any way.

2.    Undertakings by the Company.  The Company shall provide the following:

A.    Separation Allowance.  As soon as administratively possible, Mr. O'Hara will receive a separation allowance equal to 24 months of base pay, or $1,360,000 less deductions required by law and less any amounts owed by Mr. O'Hara to the Company. This separation allowance will not be eligible for Savings Plan contributions, the Company Match, or Company Contribution Account (CCA) contributions, and will be in lieu of any severance benefits available under any other Company program.  

B.    Restricted Stock Units.  All Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) granted to Mr. O'Hara under Mr. O'Hara's Restricted Stock Unit Award and Agreements (the “RSU Agreements”), that remain unvested as of Mr. O'Hara's termination date of August 1, 2012, shall continue to vest in accordance with the vesting schedule described in the RSU Agreements, consistent with treatment as an involuntary termination without cause subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the RSU Agreement and the plan under which the RSUs were granted.    

C.    Stock Options.  All stock options granted to Mr. O'Hara by the Company will continue to vest according to the terms of Mr. O'Hara's option agreements, and will remain exercisable until the earlier of five (5) years from the date of separation (August 1, 2012) or the original expiration date consistent with treatment as an involuntary termination without cause.  The options will continue to be subject to all of the other terms and conditions of the stock option award agreements between Mr. O'Hara and the Company and the terms of the plan under which the options were granted.  In no event shall any stock options granted to Mr. O'Hara be exercisable after the expiration of the original term of each grant.  A statement of RSUs and options is enclosed. The details of grant agreements and plan documents are available on www.netbenefits.fidelity.com

D.    Long Term Performance Program Award (Fiscal Years 2012 & 2013).  Mr. O'Hara will receive a payment currently anticipated to occur in June, 2013 for the FY12-13 LTPP award that is actually earned based on financial results against the established plan metrics.  Mr. O'Hara's FY12 -13 LTPP target award is $578,000.  

E.    Long Term Performance Program Award (Fiscal year 2013 and 2014).  Mr. O'Hara will receive a pro-rated 3/24ths (12.5%) payment currently anticipated to occur in June, 2014 of Mr. O'Hara's FY12-13 LTPP award actually earned based on financial results against the established plan metrics.  Mr. O'Hara's FY13-14 LTPP prorated target award is $72,250.

F.    Comprehensive Health Benefits.  Beginning with the first day of the month following Mr. O'Hara's last day worked on August 1, 2012, the Company will provide Company-paid COBRA (i.e., medical/RX drug and dental coverage) for Mr. O'Hara and his eligible dependents for a period of 18-months.  Vision coverage is excluded from Company-paid COBRA coverage since it is not a Company-sponsored plan.  Mr. O'Hara will have the opportunity to elect vision coverage and pay for it at his expense.  Within 14 days after the Company active health coverage ends (August 31, 2012), Mr. O'Hara should receive a COBRA election and Plan Alternatives form from the COBRA administrator. Upon receipt of this form, it will be Mr. O'Hara's responsibility to enroll in Company-paid COBRA by following the instructions provided on the form. It is imperative that Mr. O'Hara enroll in the Company-paid COBRA as soon as possible to avoid any breaks in coverage that could 

occur during this transition period.  Should Mr. O'Hara or his eligible dependents become eligible for another employer-sponsored group health plan, such as a medical or dental plan, at any time during the entire 18-month period of COBRA coverage Mr. O'Hara will be required to promptly notify the Company of such coverage and, as a result, the covered individual's COBRA coverage and, if applicable, the Company's payment for such COBRA coverage, shall automatically terminate.

G.    Outplacement.  Mr. O'Hara will be provided outplacement assistance available for the six (6) month period commencing August 1, 2012, through DBM in the amount of $6,000 paid to DBM by the Company.    

H.    Annual Incentive Plan (AIP).  Mr. O'Hara will remain eligible for an award, calculated on a pro rata basis for completed months of service, provided Mr. O'Hara works as an employee until August 1, 2012.  Accordingly, Mr. O'Hara would be eligible to receive a FY13 Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) payment based on actual financial performance results and an individual rating at “meets” at the normal payout time which the Company anticipates to be in June 2013.  Payment will be pro-rated 3/12ths (25%) or an estimated $170,000 (if Mr. O'Hara's business unit qualifies for AIP calculated at Target) to reflect a completed time period of 3 months (from April 30, 2012 - August 1, 2012) out of a total of 12 months during the fiscal year. 

I.    Retirement and Savings Plan.  Company Contributions to this Plan cease on August 1, 2012.  Mr. O'Hara is 100% vested in the value of his deferred salary and after-tax contributions to this Plan.  Also, Mr. O'Hara is 100% vested in the Company Match Account and Company Contribution Account. The vested portion of Mr. O'Hara's Retirement and Savings Plan can be distributed at any time after August 1, 2012, or, if Mr. O'Hara has at least $1,000 in his account, Mr. O'Hara may defer payment up to age 701⁄2.

J.    Excess Plan.  Since Mr. O'Hara has more than 5 years of service with the Company, Mr. O'Hara is eligible for a lump sum Excess Plan payment. However, since Mr. O'Hara is a “key employee” as defined by IRC Section 409A, Mr. O'Hara will have to wait six (6) months after August 1, 2012, before receiving any deferred compensation payments for benefits accrued or vested under the Excess plan.  

K.    Deferred Compensation.  Under terms of the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, Mr. O'Hara will receive his vested account balance in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable following August 1, 2012, regardless of whether Mr. O'Hara has elected a lump sum or installments.  However, since Mr. O'Hara is a “key employee” as defined by IRC Section 409A, Mr. O'Hara will have to wait six (6) months after August 1, 2012, before receiving certain deferred compensation payments.

L.    Short- and Long-Term Disability Coverage.  This coverage continues until, and terminates on, August 1, 2012.

M.    Accidental Death and Dismemberment Coverage.  This coverage continues until, and terminates on, August 1, 2012.

N.    Vacation.  Mr. O'Hara will receive a cash payment for all earned and unused 2012 vacation less any days already taken in 2012.  Any vacation days taken in 2012 will first be 

deducted from Mr. O'Hara's bank days, but bank days will not be paid, according to the vacation policy which can be found in the H.J. Heinz Company Salaried Employee Handbook. 

O.    Life Insurance.  Mr. O'Hara will receive information on his basic life insurance from the plan administrator shortly after Mr. O'Hara's separation date. This insurance benefit is portable, and if Mr. O'Hara chooses, he may continue the coverage at his own expense. Mr. O'Hara's options will be outlined in the material he will receive from the Company. If Mr. O'Hara has questions, he can contact Jeff Lounsbury directly at 800-331-8340.

P.    Global Stock Purchase Plan.  Mr. O'Hara should deal directly with Fidelity Investments (1-800-544-9354) when he wants to sell or transfer his shares from Mr. O'Hara's earlier participation in this plan.

Q.    Financial Planning.  Mr. O'Hara will remain eligible for the executive financial counseling program through December 31, 2012. Financial Planning assistance is also available to Mr. O'Hara as long as he is a participant in the Retirement and Savings Plan.  This service is available weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST (1-800-334-0811).  

R.    Heinz Life Management Program (EAP).  For 60 days following August 1, 2012, the Company will continue to provide Mr. O'Hara access to his EAP benefit. 

S.    IRC Section 409A.  It is the intent of the parties to comply in all respects with IRC Section 409A, and this Agreement and implementation thereof shall be deemed modified as necessary to assure such compliance.

Mr. O'Hara acknowledges and agrees that the Company's undertakings, as described above, are significant and substantial and provide sufficient consideration to Mr. O'Hara for his execution of this Agreement.  Mr. O'Hara acknowledges that he understands the portion of the benefits in this Section 2 he would receive without execution of this Agreement.  Mr. O'Hara shall not receive any payment or benefit from the Company other than that specified above and he understands and covenants that the Company does not have, and will not have, any obligation otherwise than as set forth herein to make any further payment, for any reason whatsoever, to him or on his behalf.  Mr. O'Hara shall be responsible for resolving any open expense account charges under the Company expense account policies promptly following the execution of this Agreement.  Unresolved expense account amounts may be deducted by the Company from amounts owed to Mr. O'Hara hereunder.

T.    Laurel Valley Golf Club.  Mr. O'Hara shall retain his Laurel Valley Golf Club membership in his name and is under no obligation to transfer or convey such membership to the Company.  

3.    Complete Release

A.    In General.  Mr. O'Hara agrees to irrevocably and unconditionally release any and all Claims, as defined below, he may now have against the Company and the Released Parties as set forth in this Section 3.

B.    Released Parties.  The Released Parties are H. J. Heinz Company, H.J. Heinz Company L.P., Heinz Management L.L.C., Heinz Europe Unlimited, and each of their related companies, subsidiaries, divisions, and affiliates, and, with respect to each such entity, all of its past and present employees, officers, directors, agents, attorneys, insurers, employee benefit plans, funds, programs, or arrangements providing pension, welfare, and fringe benefits and their respective administrators, and their successors and/or assigns, jointly and individually.

C.    Claims Released.  Mr. O'Hara understands and agrees that he is releasing all known and unknown claims, promises, causes of action, or similar rights of any type that he may have (the "Claims") against any Released Party arising out of or in any way related to his employment with the Company, the terms and conditions of his employment with the Company, the termination and resignation of his employment with the Company, and the continuing effects thereof. Mr. O'Hara further understands that the Claims he is releasing may arise under many different laws (including statutes, regulations, other administrative guidance, and common law doctrines), including, but by no means limited to;

(i)    all Claims under any legal, equitable, statutory, contractual, common law, or tort theory, such as Claims for wrongful or constructive discharge, physical or personal injury, infliction of emotional distress, fraud, negligence, defamation, invasion of privacy, interference with contract or with prospective economic advantage, breach of express or implied contract, breach of covenants of good faith and fair dealing, and similar or related Claims; 

(ii)     all Claims under any federal, state, or local law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or executive order, and any amendments thereto, that prohibits employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation based on age, ancestry, color, disability, handicap, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic proscribed by law or activity protected by law, including but not limited to, Claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, the Equal Pay Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, Executive Order 11246, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, the Pittsburgh City Code, and any other federal, state, or local law, and any amendments thereto, that prohibits employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation of any kind; 

(iii)     all Claims (to the extent permitted by law) under any other federal, state, or local law that restricts the termination of employment or that otherwise regulates employment, including the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, any wage payment and collection law, any law relating to veteran reemployment rights, and any law protecting "whistleblowers"; and

(iv)     all Claims for or relating to the payment of back or front pay; the recovery of compensatory, liquidated or punitive damages; the receipt of or entitlement to medical 

benefits, compensation, stock options, deferred compensation, bonuses, lost wages, unused accrued vacation, sick pay, or short-term or long-term disability benefits; the payment of severance under any Company-sponsored plan or similar benefits or for post‐employment health or group insurance benefits; the recovery of the fees, costs, or expenses of any attorneys who are or who have represented Mr. O'Hara in connection with this Agreement; and any other matters that have or which could have been asserted by him or on his behalf against any Released Party.

Mr. O'Hara understands that he is releasing Claims that he may not know about, which is Mr. O'Hara's knowing and voluntary intent, even though Mr. O'Hara recognizes that someday he might learn that some or all of the facts he currently believes to be true are untrue and even though he might then regret having signed this Agreement. Nevertheless, Mr. O'Hara is assuming that risk and he agrees that this Agreement shall remain effective in all respects in any such case. Mr. O'Hara expressly waives all rights that he might have under any law that is intended to protect him from waiving unknown claims and he understands the significance of doing so. Mr. O'Hara also covenants that, to his knowledge, he has not sustained any work-related injury during his employment at the Company.  

D.       Indemnification.   Mr. O'Hara hereby releases, indemnifies, and holds the Company and all Released Parties harmless from any and all claims or causes of action for any fees, costs, and expenses of any and all attorneys who have at any time or are now representing Mr. O'Hara in connection with any other matters covered by this Agreement.

E.       Claims Not Released.  Mr. O'Hara does not waive, nor shall this Agreement be construed to waive, any right which is not subject to waiver as a matter of law, or any right which arises after the effective date of this Agreement.

4.    Additional Obligations and Undertakings of Mr. O'Hara

A.    Pursuit of Released Claims.  Mr. O'Hara represents that he has not filed or caused to be filed, and agrees that he will not file or cause to be filed, any lawsuit of any kind arising out of or relating to his employment with the Company, the terms and conditions of that employment, the termination and resignation of that employment, or the continuing effects thereof.  He understands, though, that this Agreement does not prohibit him from filing an administrative charge of alleged employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, or the Equal Pay Act of 1963, however, he represents that he has not to date filed or caused to be filed any such administrative charge and agrees that he hereby waives any right to monetary or other recovery should any federal, state, or local administrative agency pursue any claim on his behalf arising out of or relating, his employment with the Company, the terms and conditions of that employment, the termination and resignation of that employment, or the continuing effects thereof.  By signing this Agreement, Mr. O'Hara has waived any right he had to obtain a recovery if an administrative agency pursues a claim against the Company or any of the Released Parties based on any action taken by the Company or any of the Released Parties up to the date of his signing of this Agreement and that he will have released the Company and the Released Parties of any and all claims of any nature arising up to the date of his signing of this Agreement. Mr. O'Hara also covenants that 

he has not assigned or transferred any Claim that he is releasing, nor has he purported to do so.

B.    Supplemental General Release.  Mr. O'Hara covenants and agrees that, within 5 business days of August 1, 2012, he intends to execute the Supplemental General Release in the form attached hereto as Schedule 4B and deliver said executed Supplemental General Release to Mr. Steve Clark, Chief People Office, at H.J. Heinz Company, 1 PPG Place, Suite 3100, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222. Mr. O'Hara understands and agrees that the undertakings by the Company, as set forth in Section 2 and this Agreement, are expressly contingent upon the Company's receipt from Mr. O'Hara of the fully executed Supplemental General Release.

C.    Taxes. Mr. O'Hara agrees that he is solely responsible for any tax liabilities and consequences which may result from his receipt of any money or consideration under this Agreement. 

D.    Nonadmission of Liability.  Mr. O'Hara agrees that the Company's entry into this Agreement is not to be construed as, and is not, an admission that the Company (or any Released Party) violated any of its duties or obligations to him or treated him improperly, unlawfully) or unfairly in any manner whatsoever. 

E.        Company Property.  On or before August 1, 2012 or at any earlier time as designated by Mr. Steve Clark of the Company, Mr. O'Hara promises to return to the Company all files, identification or access badges or cards, memoranda, documents, records, electronic records, software, copies of the foregoing, computers, telephones, blackberries, palm devices, credit cards, keys, and any other property of the Company or any other Released Party in his possession.   

F.    Non-Disparagement.  Mr. O'Hara agrees not to make any disparaging statement about the Company or any Released Party to any of the Company's past, present, or future customers, employees, clients, contractors, vendors, or to the media or to any other person either orally or by any other medium of communication, including Internet communication. As used herein, the term "disparaging statement" means any communication, oral or written, which would cause or tend to cause humiliation or embarrassment or to cause a recipient of such communication to question the business condition, integrity, product, service, quality, confidence, or good character of any of these persons or entities.  Mr. O'Hara's duty hereunder shall not restrict him from making any report to law enforcement authorities or providing testimony under subpoena.

G.    Confidential lnformation.  Mr. O'Hara acknowledges that during his employment with the Company he may have learned, conceived, discovered, or invented ideas, inventions, improvements, trade secrets, discoveries, formulas, recipes, standards, processes, and packaging relating to products that the Company produced, manufactured, sold, marketed, distributed, delivered, or had developed or has in development by or for it ("Product Information").  Mr. O'Hara also acknowledges that during his employment he may have learned certain information regarding the business, organization, sales, marketing, and distribution techniques and plans, financial data, and other information regarding the affairs of the Company ("Company Information").  Mr. O'Hara further acknowledges that all Product Information, whether of a patentable nature or not, and all Company Information constitutes the sole and absolute property of the Company.  As such, Mr. O'Hara agrees to keep all Product Information and Company Information confidential and shall not use it for any purposes or disclose such matters to anyone except to Company personnel and to 

others as the Company authorizes.  In addition, Mr. O'Hara agrees that he shall not divulge, furnish, or make accessible any other confidential information he acquired as a result of or in connection with the access to and use of the Product Information and Company Information or anything relating to the same to any competitor or other person, firm, or corporation except when the Company authorizes him in writing to do so.

H.    Continuing Plan Related Obligations.  All terms and conditions of Mr. O'Hara's long term incentive award agreements shall remain in full force and effect, including but not limited to Mr. O'Hara's ongoing noncompetition, nonsolicitation, and confidentiality undertakings and shall be in addition to and not in limitation of the other obligations of Mr. O'Hara's specified in this Agreement.  With regard to stock option awards granted prior to August 29, 2011, Mr. O'Hara's noncompetition obligations will be in effect for a period of 18 months following termination of employment, and Mr. O'Hara's nonsolicitation agreement shall terminate 12 months after separation.  For option awards granted on or after August 29, 2011, the time period for both noncompetition and nonsolicitation covenants is 18 months after termination of employment (August 1, 2012).  RSUs granted prior to August 29, 2011 contain nonsolicitation undertakings for a period of 12 months after separation.  Grants made on or after that date are subject to both noncompetition and nonsolicitation covenants for a period of 18 months after termination.   For all LTPP awards prior to the FY12-13 performance period, the nonsolicitation provisions are in effect for 12 months after separation, but commencing with the FY12-13 awards, the nonsolicitation period for LTPP awards is 18 months.  Stock option, RSU, and LTPP awards include ongoing confidentiality obligations.

5.    Review and Revocation

A.    Review.  Mr. O'Hara acknowledges and agrees that his waiver of rights under this Agreement is knowing and voluntary and complies in full with all criteria set forth under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, 43 P.S, § 951, et seq., and further complies in full with all criteria set forth in the regulations promulgated under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and any and all federal, state and local laws, regulations, and orders. Mr. O'Hara expressly warrants that he is advised hereby in writing of his right to consult with an attorney prior to executing this Agreement. Mr. O'Hara further expressly warrants that he has had the opportunity to consult with, and to be advised by, an attorney before executing this Agreement to help him fully understand and appreciate its legal effect. Mr. O'Hara acknowledges that he has been afforded the opportunity to consider this Agreement for a period of 21 days, which is a reasonable period of time. The parties agree, pursuant to 29 C.F.R. Section 1625.22(e)(4), that all changes made to this Agreement, whether material or immaterial, do not restart the running of the 21 day period in which to consider this Agreement. In the event that Mr. O'Hara executes this Agreement prior to the expiration of the aforesaid 21 day period, he acknowledges that his execution of the Agreement was knowing and voluntary and was not induced in any way by the Company or any other person. 

B.    Revocation.  Mr. O'Hara shall have a period of seven (7) days following his execution of this Agreement to revoke it, and this Agreement shall not be effective or enforceable prior to the expiration of that period.  Revocation can be made by delivering written notification via facsimile to the Company, Attention: Mr. Steve Clark, Chief People Office, at H.J. Heinz 

Company, 1 PPG Place, Suite 3100, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222. If Mr. O'Hara does not advise the Company in writing that he revokes this Agreement within seven days of his execution of it, this Agreement shall be forever enforceable and the eighth day following Mr. O'Hara's execution of this Agreement shall be deemed the Effective Date of this Agreement.

6.    Miscellaneous

A.    Entire Agreement/Certain Remedies.  Mr. O'Hara understands and agrees that the terms and conditions of this Agreement constitute the full and complete understandings, agreements, and promises between him and the Company with respect to all matters covered by this Agreement, that there are no other agreements, covenants, promises, or arrangements between him and the Company other than those set forth herein, and that the terms and conditions of this Agreement cancel and supersede any prior understandings or agreements that may have been between Mr. O'Hara and the Company with respect to all matters covered by this Agreement, or earlier versions of this Agreement, and that no other promise or inducement has been offered to him except as set forth herein.  Mr. O'Hara acknowledges and agrees that any actual or threatened breach by him of the confidentiality, non‐disparagement, non-competition or non-solicitation obligations contained in this Agreement would cause irreparable harm to the Company, and that the Company shall be entitled to an injunction prohibiting Mr. O'Hara from committing or continuing such breach, together with all other remedies and relief available at law or in equity or under this Agreement.

B.    Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended, modified, waived, or cancelled except by a writing signed by each party hereto. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective as against the waiving party unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the waiving party, Waiver by a party shall not be construed as or constitute either a continuing waiver or a waiver of any other matter by the waiving party.

C.    Severability.  If any term, condition, clause, or provision of this Agreement shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void or invalid at law, or for any other reason, then only that term, condition, clause, or provision, as is determined to be void or invalid, shall be stricken from this Agreement, and this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in all other respects.

D.    Successors. This Agreement binds Mr. O'Hara, his heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors, and assigns, and will inure to the benefit of all Released Parties and their respective heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors, and assigns. Likewise, the promises made herein by the Company shall ensure to the benefit of Mr. O'Hara's heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors and assigns.

E.    Interpretation and Disputes. This Agreement shall be construed as a whole according to its fair meaning. Captions are intended solely for convenience of reference and shall not be used in the interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be governed by the statutes, regulations, and common law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  The Parties acknowledge and agree that, in the event that any disagreement or dispute should arise between the Parties relating to the enforcement of this Agreement, or in the event that this Agreement is ever determined to be invalid or not enforceable with respect to any Claim or Claims, any such dispute, disagreement or 

Claim will be submitted, as applicable, to final and binding arbitration in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pursuant to the rules then in effect of the American Arbitration Association, before an arbitrator who is a member of the National Academy of Arbitrators.  Any arbitration shall be non‐public and conducted confidentially.  The decision of such Panel shall be final and binding upon the Parties, and judgment may be entered thereon in any court having jurisdiction.  The Panel shall not have the authority to alter, delete, or add to the provisions of this Agreement and the Panel's decision shall be based solely upon interpretation of the provisions of this Agreement.  Any monetary award shall be offset by amounts received by Mr. O'Hara from the Company in connection with this Agreement.  Nothing herein shall restrict the Company from seeking or obtaining injunctive relief as provided in Section 6.A. above.

F.    Counterparts.  This Agreement may be signed in two counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original when signed and shall constitute the same instrument.  Mr. O'Hara acknowledges that he has carefully read the foregoing Agreement, that he understands completely its contents, that he understands the significance and consequence of signing it, and that he intends to be legally bound by its terms.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, C. Scott O'Hara and H. J. Heinz Company have caused this Separation Agreement and Release to be executed as of the dates set forth below.

/s/ C. Scott O'Hara                        July 18, 2012                
C. Scott O'Hara                        Date

/s/ Steve Clark                        July 24, 2012                
H. J. Heinz Company                    Date
Name: Steve Clark        
Title: Chief People Officer

SCHEDULE 4B

SUPPLEMENTAL GENERAL RELEASE

            I, C. SCOTT O'HARA, make this Supplemental General Release pursuant to the Separation Agreement and Release that I executed on July 18, 2012.  
            On behalf of myself, my heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors and assigns, I do hereby irrevocably and unconditionally release and forever discharge the H.J. Heinz Company, H.J. Heinz Company, L. P., Heinz Management L.L.C., and Heinz Europe Unlimited, and each of their respective subsidiaries, divisions, and related Heinz entities, and, with respect to each such entity, all of its past and present employees, officers, directors, agents, attorneys, insurers, employee benefit plans, funds, programs, or arrangements providing pension, welfare, and fringe benefits and their respective administrators, and each of their successors and/or assigns, jointly and individually (hereinafter the "Released Parties") of and from any and all Claims ‐‐ as defined and enumerated in the aforementioned Separation Agreement and Release ‐‐ that I have or may have against any of the Released Parties for any act or omission occurring during the period from the date that I signed the Separation Agreement and Release up to and including the date that I sign this Supplemental General Release.  I also do hereby confirm and ratify my continuing understanding of, and continuing agreement to, all of the terms of the Separation Agreement and Release.  
            It is understood that this Supplemental General Release does not include the release of Claims regarding performance of the Separation Agreement and Release or the release of claims not subject to waiver as a matter of law.  
           I acknowledge that I have a period of seven days in which to revoke this Supplemental General Release.  I further acknowledge that I have agreed to and signed this Supplemental General Release for full and sufficient consideration.  
            The eighth day following the date listed below my signature is the Effective Date of this Supplemental General Release.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             /s/ C. Scott O'Hara                
C. Scott O'Hara

                                                                              July 18, 2012                    
                                                                              DateHNZ EX10a(ii)

Exhibit 10a(ii)
FY13 ANNUAL AWARDS- U.S.

Restricted Stock Unit Award and Agreement
 [DATE]

Dear _____________________:

H. J. Heinz Company is pleased to confirm that, effective as of ______, you have been granted an Award of Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Third Amended and Restated H. J. Heinz Company Fiscal Year 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).  This Award is also made under and governed by the terms and conditions of this letter agreement (“Agreement”), which shall control in the event of a conflict with the terms and conditions of the Plan.  For purposes of this Agreement, the “Company” shall refer to H. J. Heinz Company and its Subsidiaries.  Unless otherwise defined in this Agreement, all capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the same meanings as the capitalized terms in the Plan, which are hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement.  

		
	1.
	RSU Award.  You have been awarded a total of ____________ RSUs.  

		
	2.
	RSU Account.  RSUs entitle you to receive a corresponding number of shares of H. J. Heinz Company Common Stock (“Common Stock”) in the future, subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth in this Agreement, including, without limitation, the vesting conditions set forth in Section 3 below.  Your RSUs will be credited to a separate account established and maintained by the Company on your behalf or by a third party engaged by the Company for the purpose of implementing, administering, and managing the Plan.  Until the Distribution Date (as defined herein), the value of your unvested RSUs is subject to change based on increases or decreases in the market price of the Common Stock.  Because the RSUs are not actual shares of Common Stock, you cannot exercise voting rights on them until the Distribution Date.

		
	3.
	Vesting.  Provided the Management Development & Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “MDCC”) determines the Company achieves a [INSERT PERFORMANCE GOAL] (hereinafter the “Performance Goal”), you will become vested in the RSUs credited to your account according to the following schedule: _______________________.  

		
	4.
	Termination of Employment.  The termination of your employment with the Company during the vesting period will have the following effect on your RSUs:

		
	(a)
	Retirement.  If the termination of your employment with the Company is the result of Retirement, provided that the MDCC determines (either before or after such termination) that the Performance Goal specified in Section 3 is achieved, any RSUs granted hereunder that remain unvested as of your Date of Termination shall continue to vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in Section 3 above, subject to the requirements of Sections 5 and 6 of this Agreement.

		
	(b)
	Disability.  If the termination of your employment with the Company is the result of Disability, provided that the MDCC determines (either before or after such termination) that the Performance Goal specified in Section 3 is achieved, any RSUs granted hereunder that remain unvested as of your Date of Termination shall continue to vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in Section 3 above, subject to the requirements of Sections 5 and 6 of this 

Agreement, but in no event later than the last business day of the month of the one year anniversary of your Date of Termination.

		
	(c)
	Involuntary Termination without Cause.  Except as provided in subsection (e), if the termination of your employment with the Company is the result of involuntary termination without Cause, you shall forfeit on your Date of Termination any RSUs that remain unvested as of that date; provided, however, that if you execute a release of claims against the Company in the form provided by the Company within the applicable timeframe specified in Section 4(g)(2), and the MDCC determines (either before or after such termination) that the Performance Goal specified in Section 3 is achieved, any RSUs granted hereunder that remain unvested as of your Date of Termination shall continue to vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in Section 3 above, subject to the requirements of Sections 5 and 6 of this Agreement, but in no event later than the last business day of the month of the one year anniversary of your Date of Termination.

		
	(d)
	Death.  In the event that you should die while you are continuing to perform services for the Company or following Retirement, provided that the MDCC determines (either before or after your death) that the Performance Goal specified in Section 3 is achieved, any RSUs that remain unvested as of the date of your death shall continue to vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in Section 3 above, but in no event later than the last business day of the month of the one year anniversary of the date of your death.

		
	(e)
	Change in Control.  If your employment with the Company is terminated within 24 months following a Change in Control, and your termination is by the Company for reasons other than Cause or by you for Good Reason, the following rules shall apply:

		
	(1)
	If the MDCC determines (either before or after such termination) that the Performance Goal specified in Section 3 is achieved, all RSUs that remain unvested as of your Date of Termination shall continue to vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in Section 3 above, but in no event later than the last business day of the month of the one year anniversary of your Date of Termination.

		
	(2)
	If subsection (1) does not apply and the Change in Control occurs prior to the completion of the performance period (i.e., during the fiscal year of the grant), a pro rata portion of the RSUs shall continue to vest in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in Section 3 above, but in no event later than the last business day of the month of the one year anniversary of your Date of Termination. The previous sentence shall apply only if the RSUs have been earned on the basis of achievement of a pro rata portion of the Performance Goal specified in Section 3 relating to the portion of the performance period completed as of the date of the Change in Control, as determined by the MDCC.

		
	(3)
	If subsections (1) and (2) do not apply, no further vesting will occur and you will immediately forfeit all of your rights in any RSUs that remain unvested as of your Date of Termination.

		
	(f)
	Other Termination.  If your employment with the Company terminates for any reason other than as set forth in subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) above, including without limitation any voluntary termination of employment (other than a Good Reason termination described in subsection (e)) or an involuntary termination for Cause, no further vesting will occur and you will immediately forfeit all of your rights in any RSUs that remain unvested as of your Date of 

Termination.

		
	(g)
	For the avoidance of doubt, the following rules shall apply:

		
	(1) 
	If you are Retirement-eligible and

		
	(A)
	the termination of your employment with the Company is the result of

		
	(i)
	Disability, 

		
	(ii)
	death, 

		
	(iii)
	involuntary termination for Cause, or 

		
	(iv)
	termination by the Company for reasons other than Cause or by you for Good Reason within 24 months following a Change in Control (as described in subsection (e)), 

you shall be treated for purposes of this Section as if the termination of your employment with the Company is the result of Disability, death, involuntary termination for Cause, or termination by the Company for reasons other than Cause or by you for Good Reason within 24 months following a Change in Control, as applicable.

		
	(B)
	the termination of your employment with the Company is the result of involuntary termination without Cause (except as provided in subsection (e)), you shall be treated for purposes of this Section as if the termination of your employment with the Company is the result of Retirement.

		
	(2)
	If your right to a payment is contingent upon your execution of a release of claims, and you fail to execute the release by the date specified in the release or, if earlier, within the timeframe required in order for the payment to be made in a manner that complies with Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) section 409A, your right to the payment shall be forfeited.

		
	5.
	Non-Solicitation.  You agree that you shall not, during the term of your employment by the Company and for eighteen (18) months after the date of the termination of your employment with the Company, regardless of the reason for the termination, either directly or indirectly, solicit, take away or attempt to solicit or take away any employee of the Company, either for your own purpose or for any other person or entity.  You further agree that you shall not, during the term of your employment by the Company or at any time thereafter, use or disclose Confidential Information (as defined in Section 6 below) except as directed by, and in furtherance of the business purposes of, the Company.  You acknowledge (i) that the non-solicitation provision set forth in this Section 5 is essential for the proper protection of the business of the Company; (ii) that it is essential to the protection of the Company's goodwill and to the maintenance of the Company's competitive position that any Confidential Information be kept secret and not disclosed to others; and (iii) that the breach or threatened breach of this Section 5 will result in irreparable injury to the Company for which there is no adequate remedy at law because, among other things, it is not readily susceptible of proof as to the monetary damages that would result to the Company.  You consent to the issuance of any restraining order or preliminary restraining order or injunction with respect to any conduct by you that is directly or indirectly a breach or a threatened breach of this Section 5.  Any breach by you of the provisions of this Section 5 will, at the option of the Company (in its sole discretion) and in addition to all other rights and remedies 

available to the Company at law, in equity or under this Agreement, result in the forfeiture of all of your rights in any RSUs that remain unvested as of the date of such breach.

		
	6.
	Non-Competition/Confidential Information.  As used in this Section 6, the following terms shall have the respective indicated meanings:

“Affiliated Company or Companies” means any person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company.

“Confidential Information” means technical or business information about or relating to the Company and/or its products, processes, methods, engineering, technology, purchasing, marketing, selling, and services not readily available to the public or generally known in the trade, including but not limited to: inventions; ideas; improvements; discoveries; developments; formulations; ingredients; recipes; specifications; designs; standards; financial data; sales, marketing and distribution plans, techniques and strategies; customer and supplier information; equipment; mechanisms; manufacturing plans; processing and packaging techniques; trade secrets and other confidential information, knowledge, data and know-how of the Company, whether or not they originated with you or information which the Company received from third parties under an obligation of confidentiality.

“Conflicting Product” means any product or process of any person or organization, other than the Company, in existence or under development, (i) that competes with a product or process of the Company upon or with which you shall have worked during the two years prior to the termination of your employment with the Company or (ii) whose use or marketability could be enhanced by application to it of Confidential Information acquired by you in connection with your employment by the Company during such two-year period.  For purposes of this definition, it shall be conclusively presumed that you have knowledge of information to which you have been directly exposed through actual receipt or review of memoranda or documents containing such information or through actual attendance at meetings at which such information was discussed or disclosed.

“Conflicting Organization” means any person or organization that is engaged in or about to become engaged in research on or the development, production, marketing, or selling of, or the use in production, marketing, or sale of, a Conflicting Product.

In partial consideration for the RSUs granted to you hereunder, you agree that, for a period of eighteen (18) months after the date of the termination of your employment with the Company, you shall not render services, directly or indirectly, as a director, officer, employee, agent, consultant or otherwise to any Conflicting Organization in any geographic area or territory in which such Conflicting Organization is engaged in or about to become engaged in the research on or the development, production, marketing, or sale of, or the use in production, marketing, or sale of, a Conflicting Product.  The foregoing limitation does not apply to a Conflicting Organization whose business is diversified and that, as to that part of its business to which you render services, is not engaged in the development, production, marketing, use or, sale of a Conflicting Product, provided that the Company shall receive separate written assurances satisfactory to the Company from you and the Conflicting Organization that you shall not render services during such period with respect to a Conflicting Product or directly or indirectly provide or reveal Confidential Information to such organization.  

You acknowledge and agree that the non-competitive restrictions set forth in this Section 6 are reasonable and necessary to protect the goodwill and legitimate business interests of the Company and to prevent the disclosure of the Company's Confidential Information and trade secrets and, further, 

that you have the business experience and abilities such that you would be able to obtain employment in a business other than with a Conflicting Organization.  

Any breach by you of the provisions of this Section 6 will, at the option of the Company (in its sole discretion), and in addition to all other rights and remedies available to the Company at law, in equity, or under this Agreement, result in the forfeiture of all of your rights in any RSUs that remain unvested as of the date of such breach. 

In addition to the remedies stated in the preceding paragraph, the Company shall, if it shall so elect, be entitled to institute legal proceedings to obtain damages for a breach by you of this Section 6, or to enforce the specific performance of the Agreement by you and to enjoin you from any further violation of this Section 6, or to exercise such remedies cumulatively or in conjunction with all other rights and remedies provided by law.  You acknowledge, however, that the remedies at law for any breach by you of the provisions of this Section 6 may be inadequate and that the Company shall be entitled to obtain preliminary or permanent injunctive relief without the necessity of proving actual damages by reason of such breach or threatened breach and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, a temporary restraining order (or similar procedural device) may be granted immediately upon the commencement of such action.  

You agree that if any of the provisions herein shall for any reason be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be overly broad as to scope of activity, duration, or geography, such provision shall be limited or reduced so as to be enforceable to the extent compatible with existing law.

		
	7.
	Dividend Equivalents.  An amount equal to the dividends payable on the shares of Common Stock represented by your unvested RSUs will be accrued as of each quarterly period dividend payment record date and will be credited to your RSU account and distributed upon vesting of such RSUs, subject to forfeiture of unvested RSUs and undistributed cash dividend equivalents accrued on such unvested RSUs due to failure to achieve the Performance Goal or as described in Sections 4, 5 and 6.  These payments will be calculated based upon the number of such vesting RSUs that were in your account as of each quarterly period dividend record date prior to vesting.  These payments will be reported as income to the applicable taxing authorities, and federal, state, local and/or foreign income and/or any employment taxes will be withheld from such payments as and to the extent required by applicable law.

		
	8.
	Distribution.  All RSU distributions will be made in the form of actual shares of Common Stock and will be distributed to you as soon as administratively practicable after one of the following dates (each, a “Distribution Date”):

		
	(a)
	Default Distribution Date.    Shares of Common Stock representing your RSUs will be distributed to you on the date the RSUs vest, or, if such date is not a business day, on the next business day, unless you have already made an election to defer receipt to a later date, as provided in subsection (b) below.

		
	(b)
	Deferred Distribution Date.    To the extent permitted by the MDCC, you may have elected to defer distribution of your RSUs to a date subsequent to the default Distribution Date by providing a written election form to the Company in accordance with the provisions of Code section 409A.

		
	(c)
	Separation of Service of Specified Employee.  If your distribution is on account of your 

“separation from service” as defined in Code section 409A and the regulations thereunder, and if you are a “specified employee,” as defined in Code section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) on your Distribution Date, and your distribution constitutes the “deferral of compensation” as defined in Code section 409A and the regulations thereunder, your distribution will be automatically deferred until the date that is six (6) months after your “separation from service,” regardless of your default Distribution Date or your deferred Distribution Date election. This paragraph (c) shall apply only to distributions (including distributions deferred pursuant to Section 8(b)) that are triggered by your “separation from service” and which would otherwise be payable within the six-month period following your “separation from service.”

Subject to Section 8(c), certificates representing the distributed shares of Common Stock will be delivered to the firm maintaining your account as soon as practicable after a Distribution Date occurs.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to Sections 8(b) and 8(c), all vested RSUs will be distributed to you at the close of business on the day following the last day of your employment with the Company, or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter, if you terminate employment with the Company for any reason, and any RSUs that vest after the date of your termination will be distributed to you as soon as administratively practicable after they vest.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, RSU distributions will be made at a date other than as described above to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Code section 409A.

		
	9.
	Impact on Benefits.    Because your RSU Award is or is related to an annual RSU award, the Fair Market Value of the Award on the date of the RSU grant (the number of RSUs multiplied by the closing price, as listed on the New York Stock Exchange, of the shares of Common Stock represented by the RSUs on the date of the grant) will be included as compensation for the year of the grant pursuant to the H.J. Heinz Company Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (as amended and restated effective September 1, 2007) and the H.J. Heinz Company Employees Retirement and Savings Excess Plan (as amended and restated effective January 1, 2005), regardless of whether or not the RSUs subsequently vest. RSU Awards will not be included as compensation pursuant to any other plan of the Company except as expressly set forth in such plan(s).

		
	10.
	Tax Withholding.    On the Distribution Date, the Company will withhold a number of shares of Common Stock that is equal, based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Distribution Date, to the amount of the federal, state, local, and/or foreign income and/or employment taxes required to be collected or withheld with respect to the distribution, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the collection thereof; provided, however, that after such time that the MDCC determines that the Performance Goal set forth in Section 3 has been achieved, and after you have achieved retirement eligibility under the provisions of any formal retirement plan of the Company or Subsidiary, you will be required to remit to the Company a cash amount to satisfy Federal Insurance Contributions Act taxes on all unvested RSUs.

		
	11.
	Non-Transferability.    Your RSUs may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise encumbered except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  You may also designate a beneficiary(ies) in the event that you die before a Distribution Date occurs, who shall succeed to all your rights and obligations under this Agreement and the Plan.  If you do not designate a beneficiary, your RSUs will pass to the person or persons entitled to receive them under your will.  If you shall have failed to make a testamentary disposition of your RSUs in your will or shall have died intestate, your RSUs will pass to the legal representative or representatives of your estate.  

		
	12.
	Employment At-Will.    You acknowledge and agree that nothing in this Agreement or the Plan shall 

confer upon you any right with respect to future awards or continuation of your employment, nor shall it constitute an employment agreement or interfere in any way with your right or the right of Company to terminate your employment at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice. 

		
	13.
	Collection and Use of Personal Data.    You consent to the collection, use, and processing of personal data (including name, home address and telephone number, identification number, and number of RSUs held on your behalf) by the Company or a third party engaged by the Company for the purpose of implementing, administering, and managing the Plan and any other stock option or stock incentive plans of the Company (collectively, the “Plans”).  You further consent to the release of personal data (a) to such a third party administrator, which, at the option of the Company, may be designated as the exclusive broker in connection with the Plans, or (b) to any Subsidiary of the Company, wherever located.  You hereby waive any data privacy rights with respect to such data to the extent that receipt, possession, use, retention, or transfer of the data is authorized hereunder.  

		
	14.
	Future Awards.  The Plan is discretionary in nature and the Company may modify, cancel or terminate it at any time without prior notice in accordance with the terms of the Plan.  While RSUs or other awards may be granted under the Plan on one or more occasions or even on a regular schedule, each grant is a one-time event, is not an entitlement to an award of RSUs in the future, and does not create any contractual or other right to receive an award of RSUs, compensation or benefits in lieu of RSUs, or any other compensation or benefits in the future.

		
	15.
	Compliance with Stock Ownership Guidelines.  All RSUs granted to you under this Agreement shall be counted as shares of Common Stock that are owned by you for purposes of satisfying the minimum share requirements under the Company's Stock Ownership Guidelines (“SOG”), except if the Performance Goal set forth in Section 3 is not achieved, after which time they will no longer be counted.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, you acknowledge and agree that, with the exception of the number of shares of Common Stock withheld to satisfy income tax withholding requirements pursuant to Section 10 above, 75% of the shares of Common Stock represented by the RSUs granted to you hereunder cannot be sold or otherwise transferred, even after the Distribution Date, unless and until you have met the Company's SOG's minimum share ownership requirements.  The MDCC may not approve additional RSU awards to you unless you are in compliance with the terms of this Section 15 and the applicable SOG requirements.

		
	16.
	Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without regard to its choice of law provisions.

		
	17.
	Internal Revenue Code Section 409A.  It is intended that RSUs granted to you under this Agreement will not be taxable under Code section 409A.  Accordingly, this Agreement shall be interpreted and administered, to the extent possible, in a manner that does not result in a “plan failure” (within the meaning of Code section 409A(a)(1)).  This Agreement is designed to comply with Code section 409A (without incurring penalties).  In the event of an inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and Code section 409A, the terms of Code section 409A shall control.

This RSU Award is subject to your on-line acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Agreement through the Fidelity website.

H. J. HEINZ COMPANY

By:    ________________________
William R. Johnson
Chairman of the Board, President and 
Chief Executive Officer

Accepted:    Signed electronically

Date:        Acceptance Date

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