Document:

ex_349340.htm

Exhibit 10.4

 

 

Exhibit Includes Redactions

 

Certain information identified with brackets ([$***]) has been excluded from this exhibit in accordance with Item 601(b) of Regulation S-K because it is both not material and is the type that the registrant treats as private or confidential.

 

RETENTION AGREEMENT

 

This RETENTION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of July 8, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Superior Group of Companies, Inc. (the “Company”) and Jordan Alpert (the “Employee”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, Employee is employed by the Company; and

 

WHEREAS, Employee must be free to make decisions in the best interest of the Company and its members without being concerned about the immediate impact to Employee’s job security or compensation from a possible Change in Control of the Company (as defined below); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to incentivize Employee to remain continuously employed by the Company from the date of this Agreement through the closing date of a Change in Control and beyond.

 

TERMS OF AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and of the mutual promises and undertakings of the parties as hereinafter set forth, the parties covenant and agree as follows:

 

1.    Term of Agreement. This Agreement is effective on the Effective Date and shall remain in full force and effect until the date of the Employee’s Termination of Employment or, if the Employee becomes entitled to payment under Section 3 of this Agreement, the date the Company has fully performed its obligations under Section 3 of this Agreement, as applicable.

 

2.    Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

 

“Base Salary” shall mean the annualized base salary payable to Employee by the Company as of any particular date, and excludes all other cash and non-cash compensation paid or payable to Employee.

 

“Buyer” shall mean the person or entity acquiring the Company in a Change in Control.

 

 

 

 

“Cause” shall mean: (i) the Employee’s conviction under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof, or pleading nolo contendere to, a crime constituting a felony under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof, (ii) the Employee’s breach of a material term of this Agreement, (iii) the Employee’s breach of a material provision of any other agreement with the Company addressing the terms of the Employee’s employment (“Employment Agreement”), (iv) a material breach of any restrictive covenant or confidentiality provision set forth in this Agreement or any Employment Agreement, or (v) the Employee’s (A) intentional and continual, and without justification, (1) failure to substantially to perform his or her reasonably assigned duties with the Company or (2) failure to comply with corporate policies (other than a failure resulting from the Employee’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness, in each case without regard to whether such conduct occurred before or after a Change in Control), which failure continued for a period of at least thirty (30) days after a written notice of demand for substantial performance has been delivered to the Employee specifying in reasonable detail the manner in which the Employee has failed substantially to perform without the Employee undertaking actions reasonably likely to remedy or cure such non-performance, or (B) intentionally engaging in illegal conduct or gross misconduct which has directly caused material economic harm to the Company.

 

“Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of one (1) of the following:

 

(i)    an acquisition (other than directly from the Company) of any voting securities of the Company (the “Voting Securities”) by any person, immediately after which such person has “Beneficial Ownership” (within the meaning of Rule 13D-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) of thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, in determining whether a Change in Control has occurred, Voting Securities which are acquired in a Non-Control Transaction (as hereinafter defined) shall not constitute an acquisition which would cause a Change in Control;

 

(ii)    a merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar transaction or series of transactions involving the Company or involving any entity of which a majority of its voting power or its voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company (a “Subsidiary”), unless (A) the Voting Securities of the Company, immediately before such merger, consolidation or reorganization, continue immediately following such merger, consolidation or reorganization to represent, either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving corporation resulting from such merger, consolidation or reorganization or its parent (the “Surviving Corporation”), at least two-thirds of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Surviving Corporation; (B) the individuals who were members of the Board immediately before the execution of the agreement providing for such merger, consolidation or reorganization constitute two-thirds or more of the members of the board of directors of the Surviving Corporation; and (C) no person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary, any employee benefit plan (or any trust forming a part thereof) maintained by the Company, the Surviving Corporation or any Subsidiary, or any person who, immediately before such merger, consolidation or reorganization had Beneficial Ownership of thirty percent (30%) or more of the then outstanding Voting Securities) has Beneficial Ownership of thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the Surviving Corporation’s then outstanding voting securities (a transaction described in clauses (A) through (C) above shall herein be referred to as a “Non-Control Transaction”). Further, any transaction in which a Benstock Family Member or an affiliate of a Benstock Family Member acquires any capital stock of the Company (or its direct or indirect parent), including pursuant to transfers for estate planning purposes, will be considered a Non-Control Transaction. For this purpose, the Benstock Family Members will include any descendent of Gerald Benstock or his siblings, by marriage or blood.

 

(iii)    the approval by the Company’s shareholders of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or the consummation of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any person (other than a transfer to a Subsidiary) effected in one transaction or in a series of transactions.

 

 

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(iv)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event any payment due to Employee under this Agreement would also constitute “deferred compensation” within the meaning of the Section 409A of the Code, either by design or due to a subsequent modification in the terms of such payment or as a result in a change in the law occurring after the Effective Date, then to the extent such payment is not exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code by an applicable exemption, the term “Change in Control” shall mean an event that constitutes not only one (1) of the Change in Control events described above, but also constitutes a “change in control” within the meaning of the provisions of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of the definition of a “Change in Control” under this Agreement, the provisions of Section 318(a) of the Code regarding the constructive ownership of stock will apply to determine stock ownership; provided, that, Company stock underlying unvested stock options (including options exercisable for stock that is not substantially vested) will not be treated as owned by the individual who holds such stock options.

 

(v)    For purposes of the definition of a “Change in Control” under this Agreement, “Company” includes (x) the Company, (y) the parent of the Company, and (z) an entity that is a stockholder owning more than 50% of the total fair market value and total voting power (a “Majority Shareholder”) of the Company or the entity identified in (y) above, or any entity in a chain of entities in which each entity is a Majority Shareholder of another entity in the chain, ending in the Company or the entity identified in (y) above. “

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

“Company Group” shall mean the Company and its current and future affiliates and subsidiaries or any of their successors or assignees.

 

“Disability” shall mean the Employee’s inability to perform his or her material services for the Company for a period of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness, which is determined to be total and permanent. A determination of Disability shall be made by a physician reasonably satisfactory to both the Employee (or his or her guardian) and the Company, provided that the Employee (or his or her guardian) and the Company do not agree on a physician, the Employee and the Company shall each select a physician and these two together shall select a third physician, whose determination as to Disability shall be final, binding and conclusive with respect to all parties. Notwithstanding the above, eligibility for disability benefits under any policy for long-term disability benefits provided to the Employee by the Company shall conclusively establish the Employee’s Disability.

 

“Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of the following events or conditions, without the Employee’s express written consent:

 

(i)    the material reduction or diminution in the Employee’s authority, duties or responsibilities with the Company with regard to the Legal Department, including, but not limited to, the continuous assignment of Employee of any duties materially inconsistent with Employee’s position with the Company, or a material negative change in the nature or status of Employee’s responsibilities or the conditions of Employee’s employment with the Company with regard to the Legal Department from those in effect immediately prior to the Protected Period; or

 

 

(ii)    a material reduction in Employee’s annualized cash and benefits compensation opportunity, which shall include Employee’s base compensation, Employee’s annual target bonus opportunity and Employee’s aggregate employee benefits, as in effect immediately prior to the Protected Period, provided however that any changes in the compensation structure that are applied to all similarly situated individuals as a direct result of the changes to the corporate structure following a Change in Control will not constitute Good Reason; or

 

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(iii)    the relocation of the Employee to an office or location which would increase his or her daily commute distance by more than fifty (50) miles (one-way) from the location at which the Employee normally performed Employee’s services immediately prior to the Protected Period, except for travel reasonably required in the performance of the Employee’s responsibilities or the Employee being required to travel away from his or her office in the course of discharging his or her responsibilities or duties hereunder significantly more (in terms of either consecutive days or aggregate days in any calendar year) than was required of the Employee prior to the Protected Period.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee is required to give written notice to Company of his or her intent to resign for Good Reason, describing the reason for the resignation in sufficient detail in order to allow Company the opportunity to address the situation. Such notice must be provided within sixty (60) days of the event(s) constituting Good Reason and must be given at least thirty (30) days in advance of the effective date of resignation. Company shall be entitled to ninety (90) days after the date of Employee’s written notice during which it can cure the situation. If the situation has not been cured within ninety (90) days after the date of Employee’s written notice, Employee may then resign for Good Reason, by written notice, effective immediately, which date shall be the effective date of resignation; provided, that, if Employee does not resign within thirty (30) days following such cure period, then such situation shall not constitute Good Reason. For avoidance of doubt, Good Reason shall not exist following an isolated, insubstantial or inadvertent action that is remedied within the cure period described in the preceding sentences.

 

“Protected Period” shall mean the period commencing thirty (30) days prior to a Change in Control and ending twenty-four (24) months following a Change in Control.

 

“Qualifying Termination” shall mean a Termination of Employment as result of either (A) the Employee’s involuntary termination for any reason other than Cause, death or Disability or (B) the Employee’s resignation for Good Reason.

 

“Termination Date” shall mean the date of the Termination of Employment.

 

“Termination of Employment” shall mean the Employee’s “separation from service” with the Company within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h)(1)(ii).

 

3.    Retention Bonus Following a Change in Control. 

 

(a)    In the event the Employee remains employed with the Company for the twelve (12) month period immediately following a Change in Control, the Company shall pay the Employee an amount equal to one (1) times the Employee’s Base Salary as of the date that the twelve (12) month period ends (the “Retention Bonus”). For this purpose, the Company will be deemed to include the Buyer and any affiliate of the Buyer.

 

(b)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Employee incurs a Qualifying Termination after a Change in Control but prior to the expiration of the twelve (12) month period required under Section 3(a) above, the Employee will be entitled to receive the Retention Bonus described in Section 3(a) based on the Employee’s Base Salary as of the Termination Date or the Change in Control, whichever is higher. Any Retention Bonus paid under this Section 3(b) shall be in addition to any payment or benefit under any other section of this Agreement.

 

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4.    Timing and Conditions of Payment 

 

(a)    Amounts that the Employee is entitled to receive pursuant to Section 3(a) of this Agreement shall be paid within 30 days from the date the Employee completes twelve (12) months of employment following the Change in Control.

 

(b)    The payment of any amounts under Section 3(b) of this Agreement shall be conditioned upon the execution, non-revocation, and delivery of a general release that is similar in form to the general release attached hereto as Exhibit 1 (the “Release”) within forty-five (45) days of the date of Employee’s Termination Date. The payments due under Section 3(b) of this Agreement shall be made to the Employee on the sixtieth (60th) day following the Employee’s Termination Date, provided that the Company has received a properly executed Release by the Employee no later than the forty-fifth (45th) day following the Termination Date which has not been revoked by Employee. If the Employee fails to properly execute and deliver the Release during the allowed forty-five (45) day period following the Employee’s Termination Date, the Employee agrees that he or she shall not be entitled to receive the benefits described in Section 3(b) of this Agreement (if applicable).

 

5.    Confidential Information. Employee hereby acknowledges that, as an employee of the Company, the Employee will be making use of, acquiring and adding to confidential information of a special and unique nature and value relating to the Company and its strategic plan and financial operations. Confidential Information shall mean, for purposes of this Agreement, all proprietary and other information relating to the business and operations of the Company and/or any affiliate which has not been specifically designated for release to the public. The Employee further recognizes and acknowledges that all Confidential Information is the exclusive property of the Company, is material and confidential, and is critical to the successful conduct of the business of the Company. Accordingly, the Employee hereby covenants and agrees that he or she will use confidential information for the benefit of the Company only, that he or she shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, divulge, reveal, acknowledge or communicate any confidential information to any person, firm, employer or entity whatsoever other than an employee of the Company that is authorized to possess such Confidential Information, or use any confidential information for his or her own benefit or for the benefit of others. This provision does not replace or supersede any other confidentiality agreement between the Employee and the Company or an affiliate.

 

6.    Employment, Severance and Retention Agreements. The Retention Bonus provided in Section 3 shall not reduce or override any benefits, separation pay or compensation awards set forth in an individual employment, retention, change in control, or similar agreement between the Employee and the Company.

 

7.    Coordination with Other Compensation and Benefits. The Employee’s entitlement to any other compensation or benefits shall be determined in accordance with the Company’s employee benefit plans and other applicable programs, policies and practices then in effect.

 

8.    Binding Agreement.

 

(a)    This Agreement and all rights of the Employee hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Employee’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Employee should die while any amounts would still be payable to him hereunder if he or she had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Employee’s devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Employee’s estate.

 

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(b)    This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors, and the Company shall require any Buyer or other successor to enter into a written undertaking to expressly assume 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. The failure of the Company to obtain such a written agreement shall not adversely affect the right of the Employee to enforce the terms of this Agreement against any Buyer or other successor.

 

9.    Nonalienation. Neither this Agreement nor any right or interest hereunder shall be assignable or transferable by the Employee or by the Employee’s beneficiaries or legal representatives, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

 

10.    Notices. Any notice provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered, sent by reputable overnight courier service, or sent by email transmission, to the recipient at the address below indicated:

 

In the case of Employee, to Employee at the most recent address set forth in the payroll records of the Company, or by email at the email address included in the signature page to this Agreement or, if none is listed, the most recent email address set forth in the payroll records of the Company.

 

In the case of the Company, to:

 

Superior Group of Companies, Inc.

10055 Seminole Blvd.

Seminole, FL 33772

Attn: General Counsel

Email: SGC-Legal@superiorgroupofcompanies.com

 

Or, in each case, such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any notice under this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given when so delivered, sent or mailed.

 

11.    Modification or Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Employee and the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof, have been made by either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

12.    Further Assurances. The parties to this Agreement will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional or further documents, agreements or instruments and shall cooperate with one another in all respects for the purpose of carrying out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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13.    Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

14.    Venue; Process. The parties to this Agreement agree that jurisdiction and venue in any action brought pursuant to this Agreement to enforce its terms or otherwise with respect to the relationships between the parties shall properly lie in and only in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit of the State of Florida in and for Pinellas County (the “Circuit Court”) and the parties agree that jurisdiction shall not properly lie in any other jurisdiction provided, however, if jurisdiction does not properly lie with the Circuit Court, the parties agree that jurisdiction and venue shall properly lie in and only in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division. The parties hereby waive any objections which they may now or hereafter have based on venue and/or forum non conveniens and irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of any such court in any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement. The parties further agree that the mailing by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, of any process required by any such court shall constitute valid and lawful service of process against them, without the necessity for service by any other means provided by statute or rule of court. Employee affirms that Employee has sufficient contact with Florida such that Employee would reasonably anticipate being hauled into said courts in Florida regarding this Agreement or any other contract or issues arising between the parties to this Agreement. Company shall have the right, alternatively, to elect to enforce this Agreement in a state in which Employee resides and, if the Company so elects that state’s jurisdiction, Employee also agrees that Employee waives any and all personal rights under the laws of that state to object to jurisdiction and venue therein for purposes of the Company seeking to enforce this Agreement in that state using that state’s laws.

 

15.    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL/CLASS OR COLLECTIVE ACTION. (EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LAWSUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND/OR EMPLOYEE’S EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY. EMPLOYEE AGREES TO WAIVE ANY RIGHT EMPLOYEE MAY HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF A CLASS OR COLLECTIVE ACTION LAWSUIT OR A REPRESENTATIVE OF A CLASS OR COLLECTIVE ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COMPANY (AND/OR ITS OR THEIR OWNERS, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, MANAGERS, EMPLOYEES, OR AGENTS) ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH EMPLOYEE’S EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY AND/OR THE TERMINATION OF THAT EMPLOYMENT.

 

16.    Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the provisions hereof and the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. If any provision or term of this Agreement is susceptible to two or more constructions or interpretations, one or more of which would render the provision or term void or unenforceable, the parties agree that a construction or interpretation which renders the term or provision valid shall be favored.

 

17.    Construction. Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise clearly requires, (a) references to the plural include the singular, and references to the singular include the plural; (b) references to any gender include the other genders; (c) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” do not limit the preceding terms or words and shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (d) the terms “hereof”, “herein”, “hereunder”, “hereto” and similar terms in this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (e) the term “person” means and refers to any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization or governmental entity; and (f) the term “Company,” as used in this Agreement, shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any Buyer or other successor or assignee to the business or assets which by reason hereof becomes bound by this Agreement.

 

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18.    Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements, if any, understandings and arrangements, oral or written, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. No agreement or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

19.    Counterparts; Electronic Signature; Transmittal. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered shall be an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. An electronic signature (whether digital or encrypted, such as one transmitted via DocuSign) and/or a signature transmitted via electronic means (such as one transmitted via facsimile or in a PDF format via email) shall be effective to bind the party that transmitted the signature to the same extent as would a handwritten signature.

 

20.    No Implied Employment Contract. This Agreement shall not be deemed to give the Employee any right to be retained in the employ of the Company.

 

21.    Deduction for Tax Purposes. The Company’s obligations to make payments under this Agreement are independent of whether any or all of such payments are deductible expenses of the Company for federal income tax purposes. 

 

22.    Successor to Company. This Agreement shall bind any Buyer or other successor of the Company, its assets or its businesses (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise), in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be obligated under this Agreement if no succession had taken place. In the case of any transaction in which the Buyer would not by the foregoing provision or by operation of law be bound by this Agreement, the Company (or the applicable affiliate of the Company) shall require such Buyer or other successor expressly and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the Company’s obligations under this Agreement, in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such transaction or Change in Control had taken place and in such case all references in this Agreement to the “Company” shall include and be a reference to the Buyer.

 

23.    Withholding. All payments to the Employee in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be subject to applicable withholding of local, state, federal and foreign taxes, as determined in the sole discretion of the Company.

 

24.    Power and Authority of the Company. The Company represents and warrants that it has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and that the person signing this Agreement on behalf of the Company has been duly authorized and empowered by the proper authority of the Company to effect that execution.

 

25.    Acknowledgements. Employee acknowledges that he or she has read and understands the provisions of this Agreement, that Employee has been given an opportunity for his or her legal counsel to review this Agreement, that Employee’s legal counsel has reviewed and advised Employee regarding this Agreement (including, but not limited to, its choice of law, venue, and forum provisions), that the provisions of this Agreement are reasonable, that Employee enters into this Agreement voluntarily without duress or pressure from the Company (or any affiliate and with full knowledge and understanding of the contents, nature, and effect of this Agreement, and that Employee has received a copy of this Agreement.

 

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26.    Section 409A. It is intended that any amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement will either be exempt from or comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code (and any regulations and guidelines issued thereunder) and the Agreement shall be interpreted on a basis consistent with such intent. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if Employee is deemed on the date of Employee’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(h)) to be a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(i)), then with regard to any payment that is required to be delayed pursuant to Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, such payment shall not be made prior to the earlier of (a) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of Employee’s “separation from service,” or (b) the date of Employee’s death (the “Delay Period”). Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments delayed pursuant to this Section 26 (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid to Employee in a lump sum and any remaining payments due under this Agreement shall be paid in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent required to comply with Section 409A of the Code or an exemption thereto, for purposes of determining Employee’s entitlement to any compensation payable upon Employee’s termination of employment, Employee’s employment will be deemed to have terminated on the date of Employee’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(h)) with the Company Group. Whenever payments under this Agreement are to be made (i) pursuant to different provisions hereof or (ii) in installments, each such payment or installment shall be deemed to be a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. No action or failure to act, pursuant to this Section 26 shall subject the Company Group to any claim, liability, or expense, and the Company Group shall not have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise protect Employee from the obligation to pay any taxes pursuant to Section 409A of the Code. With respect to any reimbursement or in-kind benefit arrangements of the Company Group that constitute deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, the following conditions shall be applicable: (A) the amount eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, under any such arrangement in one calendar year may not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, under such arrangement in any other calendar year (except that the health and dental plans may impose a limit on the amount that may be reimbursed or paid if such limit is imposed on all participants), (B) any reimbursement must be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred, and (C) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

27.    Mobile Telephone Number. In addition to and separate from any other compensation or benefit provided by this Agreement, the Company acknowledges and agrees that the mobile telephone number [***] (“Phone Number”) is owned by and is the property of Employee, and only Employee. Neither the Company nor any entity within the Company Group, or any affiliate or individual of it or them, have any rights in and/or to the Phone Number. The Company acknowledges that Employee owned the Phone Number prior to his employment with the Company and shall maintain sole ownership of the Phone Number after his Termination of Employment from the Company or any of its affiliates. The Company and its affiliates shall use all reasonable best efforts to ensure that the Phone Number is owned by Employee and that Employee maintains ownership and use of the Phone Number at all times during his employment with the Company (and/or its affiliates or Buyer) and after his Termination of Employment with the Company (and/or its affiliates or Buyer) for any reason. This shall include, but not be limited to, communicating with the phone carrier to port the number to Employee upon Employee’s Termination of Employment. Additionally, the Company shall continue to pay for Employee’s use of the Phone Number while he is employed with the Company (and/or its affiliates), regardless of whether the Phone Number is listed as a Company number with the phone carrier (in which case the Company shall pay the phone carrier directly) or paid for directly by Employee (in which case Employee shall be reimbursed in full by the Company (and/or its affiliates)).

 

[Signature Page Follows.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

 

EMPLOYEE

 

By: /s/ Jordan Alpert                                    

 

Printed Name: Jordan Alpert                           

 

Email:          [***]                                             

 

 

SUPERIOR GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC.

 

By:                                                       

 

Printed Name:                                     

 

Title:                                                       

 

Email:          [***]                                             

 

 

 

 

 

10ex_349341.htm

Exhibit 10.5

 

 

Exhibit Includes Redactions

 

Certain information identified with brackets ([$***]) has been excluded from this exhibit in accordance with Item 601(b) of Regulation S-K because it is both not material and is the type that the registrant treats as private or confidential.

 

 

 

CONFIDENTIAL

 

SUPERIOR GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED PERFORMANCE SHARES AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED PERFORMANCE SHARES AWARD, dated July 1, 2021, amends, restates and replaces that certain PERFORMANCE SHARES AWARD, dated the 14th day of May, 2021 (the “Date of Grant”), granted by Superior Group of Companies, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”) to Dominic Leide (the “Grantee”) pursuant to the Company’s 2013 Incentive Stock and Awards Plan (the “Plan”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Plan.

 

WHEREAS, the Company believes it to be in the best interests of the Company, its subsidiaries and its shareholders for its officers and other key employees to obtain or increase their stock ownership interest in the Company so that they will have a greater incentive to work for and manage the Company’s affairs in such a way that its shares may become more valuable; and

 

WHEREAS, the Grantee is employed by the Company or one of its subsidiaries as an officer or other key employee and has been selected by the Board of Directors of the Company, directly or acting through its Compensation Committee (the “Committee”), to receive a Performance Shares award;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the services to be performed by the Grantee, the Company and the Grantee hereby agree as follows:

 

1.    GRANT

 

(a)    Number of Performance Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan, the Company grants to the Grantee an Award of 19,135 Performance Shares (as defined in the Plan) subject to vesting under Section 2 (the “Stretch Performance Shares” or “Performance Shares”). The price of the Performance Shares granted shall be determined using the closing price of a Share on the date immediately preceding the Date of Grant.

 

(b)    Performance Shares. Each Performance Share is a bookkeeping entry that records the equivalent of one Share. Upon the vesting of the Performance Shares as provided in Section 2, the vested Performance Shares will be settled as provided in Section 3.

 

 

 

 

 

2.    VESTING

 

(a)    Vesting of Stretch Performance Shares.

 

(i)    Fifty percent (50%) of the Stretch Performance Shares shall vest on May 14, 2026 (the “Vesting Date”), but if, and only if, (x) the Grantee remains continuously employed by the Company or one of its subsidiaries from the Date of Grant until the Vesting Date, and (y) the Cumulative Brand Sales (as defined below) equals $[***];

 

(ii)    One hundred percent (100%) of the Stretch Performance Shares shall vest on the Vesting Date, but if, and only if, (x) the Grantee remains continuously employed by the Company or one of its subsidiaries from the Date of Grant until the Vesting Date, and (y) the Cumulative Brand Sales (as defined below) equals or exceeds $[***];

 

(iii)    A prorated amount of the Stretch Performance Shares shall vest on the Vesting Date, but if, and only if, (x) the Grantee remains continuously employed by the Company or one of its subsidiaries from the Date of Grant until the Vesting Date, and (y) the Cumulative Brand Sales (as defined below) is between $[***] and $[***]; and

 

(iv)    No Stretch Performance Shares shall vest if the Cumulative Brand Sales (as defined below) is less than $[***] and no additional Stretch Performance Shares in excess of one hundred percent (100%) of the Stretch Performance Shares shall vest if the Cumulative Brand Sales (as defined below) is more than $[***]. In no event shall the total number of Stretch Performance Shares that vest exceed 19,135.

 

(b)    Change of Control. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if a Change of Control of the Company occurs prior to the Vesting Date, then all of the Stretch Performance Shares shall immediately vest.

 

(c)    Definitions.

 

(i)    “Performance Period” means the period of January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2025.

 

(ii)    “Brand Sales” means the sales of the Company from products or services comprising its Remote Staffing Solutions (The Office Gurus®) business segment, net of intersegment eliminations, all as determined in the sole discretion of the Company based on its normal accounting methods, principles and practices.

 

(iii)    “Cumulative Brand Sales” means Brand Sales for the Performance Period.

 

3.    SETTLEMENT

 

The Company shall settle the vested Performance Shares after the Vesting Date on a date selected by the Company (the “Settlement Date”), but not later than thirty (30) days after the Vesting Date. On the Settlement Date, the vested Performance Shares shall be settled by issuing and delivering to the Grantee one Share for each vested Performance Share, and the Company shall enter the Grantee’s name on the books of the Company as the shareholder of record with respect thereto. Upon such issuance, each settled Performance Share shall be cancelled.

 

 

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4.    RESTRICTIONS

 

(a)    No Transfer. The Performance Shares granted hereunder may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of; provided, that if the Grantee dies after the Vesting Date but prior to the Settlement Date, the vested Performance Shares shall be transferable by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The Company has the right, by notice to the Grantee, to cause the Performance Shares to be forfeited effective as of the date of the prohibited transfer or purported prohibited transfer thereof. In addition, the Grantee acknowledges that any Shares issued upon settlement of the Performance Shares may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed without (i) an effective registration statement or post-effective amendment to a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to such shares, or (ii) an opinion of counsel presented to the Company and satisfactory to the Company to the effect that the proposed disposition of such shares by the Grantee may lawfully be made otherwise than pursuant to an effective registration statement or post-effective amendment to a registration statement. Any prohibited transfer will be null and avoid ab initio and will be invalid and ineffective as to the Company, and the Company shall not be required (i) to transfer on its books any Performance Shares, or any shares issued upon settlement thereof, which shall have been sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of in violation of any of the provisions set forth in this Agreement, or (ii) to treat as owner of any such shares or to accord the right to vote as such owner or to pay dividends to any transferee to whom such shares shall have been so sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, or hypothecated.

 

(b)    No Rights of a Shareholder. The Grantee shall not have any of the rights or privileges of a shareholder (including the right to vote or receive dividends) or otherwise be deemed the holder of the Shares underlying the Performance Shares for any purpose, and nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon the Grantee any of the rights, privileges or obligations of a shareholder of the Company, unless and until Common Stock is actually issued to and held of record by the Grantee upon settlement of the Performance Shares under this Agreement.

 

5.    FORFEITURE; TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

 

(a)    Forfeiture of Unvested Performance Shares. If the Grantee’s employment with the Company and its subsidiaries terminates for any reason prior to the Vesting Date (including by reason of death, disability, retirement, resignation for any reason or termination by the Company or one of its subsidiaries for any reason (whether with or without cause)), then all of the Performance Shares shall be forfeited to the Company under Section 5(c) simultaneously with the employment termination. If, under the terms of Section 2, any of the Performance Shares do not vest based on the performance of the Company, such Performance Shares shall be forfeited to the Company under Section 5(c) as of the end of the Performance Period.

 

(b)         Leave of Absence. In addition, if the Grantee takes a military, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence from the Company and its subsidiaries, and the period of such leave exceeds 3 months, the Grantee will be considered to have terminated employment from the Company and its subsidiaries for purposes hereof on the later of (i) the first day immediately following such 3-month period, or (ii) the last day that the Grantee’s right to reemployment following the end of such leave is guaranteed by law or contract with the Company or a subsidiary.

 

(c)         Effect of Forfeiture. If Performance Shares are forfeited, then, effective as of the time of forfeiture, such Performance Shares shall be automatically and immediately cancelled and forfeited to the Company and shall no longer be outstanding, without payment of any consideration by the Company and without the need for notice from or any further action by the Company, and neither the Grantee nor any of Grantee’s successors, heirs, assigns or personal representatives shall thereafter have any further right, title or interest in or to such forfeited Performance Shares or the benefits of ownership thereof.

 

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6.    TAX WITHHOLDING

 

The Grantee shall make appropriate arrangements with the Company, in accordance with the Plan and in a manner deemed satisfactory to the Committee, to provide for the withholding or payment of the amount that the Company considers necessary to satisfy its withholding obligations upon the grant, vesting, lapse or settlement of the Performance Shares. The Grantee may satisfy any tax withholding obligation of the Company arising from settlement of this Award, in whole or in part, by paying such tax obligation in cash or by check made payable to the Company, or by electing to have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of settlement equal to the amount required to be withheld, subject to such rules as the Committee may adopt. In any event, the Company reserves the right to withhold from any compensation otherwise payable to the Grantee such amount as the Company determines is necessary to satisfy the Company’s tax withholding obligations arising from this Award.

 

7.    AMENDMENT OR MODIFICATION

 

Except as provided otherwise herein, no term or provision of this Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which or whom the enforcement of the amendment, modification or supplement is sought; provided, however, that this Agreement may be amended, modified, supplemented or cancelled without the Grantee’s consent in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

 

8.    LIMITED INTEREST

 

(a)    No Right to Employment. The grant of this Award shall not confer on the Grantee any right to continue as an employee, nor interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any subsidiary to terminate the Grantee at any time.

 

(b)    Capital Structure. The grant of this Award shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations, or other changes in the Company’s or any subsidiary’s capital structure or its business, or any merger, consolidation or business combination of the Company or any subsidiary, or any issuance or modification of any term, condition, or covenant of any bond, debenture, debt, preferred stock or other instrument ahead of or affecting the Common Stock or the rights of the holders of Common Stock, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any subsidiary, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business or any other Company or subsidiary act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

 

9.    GOVERNING LAW; PLAN

 

This Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the state of Florida as to all matters, including but not limited to matters of validity, construction, effect, performance and remedies. Any legal action or proceeding with respect to the Plan or the Performance Shares may only be brought and determined in a court sitting in the County of Hillsborough, or the Federal District Court for the Middle District of Florida sitting in the County of Hillsborough, in the State of Florida. The Company may require that the action or proceeding be determined in a bench trial.

 

ALL PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS PERFORMANCE SHARES AWARD IS GRANTED UNDER AND PURSUANT TO THE PLAN, WHICH SHALL GOVERN ALL RIGHTS, INTERESTS, OBLIGATIONS, AND UNDERTAKINGS OF BOTH THE COMPANY AND THE GRANTEE. ALL CAPITALIZED TERMS NOT OTHERWISE DEFINED IN THIS PERFORMANCE SHARES AGREEMENT SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS ASSIGNED TO SUCH TERMS IN THE PLAN.

 

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10.    SEVERABILITY

 

If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, or would disqualify this Award under any law the Committee deems applicable, then such provision will be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable law, or if the Committee determines that the provision cannot be construed or deemed amended without materially altering the intent of this Agreement, then the provision will be stricken and the remainder of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect.

 

11.    COUNTERPARTS

 

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

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer and the Grantee has executed this Agreement all as of the day and date first above written.

 

 

SUPERIOR GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC.                           

 

 

 

/s/ Michael Benstock___________________

By:          Michael Benstock                                                       

                Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

/s/ Dominic Leide                                             

Dominic Leide

(Grantee)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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