Document:

EX-10.4: AGREEMENT AS OF JAN. 27, 2004

 

Exhibit 10.4

— AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE —

          MICHAEL A. BLESS and ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC. have reached the following
Agreement. In this Agreement, “EMPLOYEE” refers to Michael A. Bless, and
“COMPANY” refers to Rockwell Automation, Inc.

     FIRST: Benefits.

     EMPLOYEE and COMPANY agree that EMPLOYEE will cease actively working for
COMPANY as of the close of business on January 31, 2004. Thereafter, EMPLOYEE
will remain on COMPANY’S active payroll for 24 months from January 31, 2004,
through the close of business on January 31, 2006 (hereafter referred to as his
“salary continuation” period), at which time EMPLOYEE will be placed on layoff.
EMPLOYEE will receive no additional pay or notice at the time of his layoff.
During his salary continuation period, EMPLOYEE will be paid at his current
monthly base salary rate as of January 31, 2004. EMPLOYEE will not be expected
to perform any work for COMPANY during his salary continuation period and will
not accrue vacation. In lieu of Stock Option Grant in October 2003, Employee
will receive a payment of $175,000, less all applicable federal, state and
local taxes and other applicable deductions on January 31, 2004; EMPLOYEE
further understands and agrees that he will not receive any further stock
option grants. EMPLOYEE acknowledges and agrees that the Change of Control
Agreement between him and COMPANY dated June 29, 2001 , is no longer valid or
operative, and EMPLOYEE further acknowledges and agrees that he is no longer
entitled to any of the benefits or

 

 

provisions of that Change of Control Agreement. EMPLOYEE will receive a
pro-rata (4/12ths) Fiscal Year 2004 Incentive Compensation (“ICP”) less all
applicable federal, state, and local taxes and other applicable deductions.
EMPLOYEE further understands and agrees that he will not receive any Fiscal
Year 2005 or 2006 ICP.

     Further, EMPLOYEE will also be provided the following:

	•	 	Relocation provisions as detailed in the attachment.
	 
	•	 	Eligibility to participate in the COMPANY savings plan through January 31, 2006.
	 
	•	 	Medical benefits coverage and officer dental, vision and liability insurance benefits through January 31, 2006.
	 
	•	 	Payment of all unused vacation accrued during EMPLOYEE’S employment with COMPANY through January 31, 2004.

     SECOND: No Obligation to Provide These Benefits Under Normal Policies.

     EMPLOYEE acknowledges that, under COMPANY’S normal policies and procedures
and absent this Agreement, he would not be entitled to receive any salary
continuation and/or benefits between the date he stops performing work for
COMPANY and the date of his layoff; he would not be eligible to participate in
the COMPANY’S savings plan for 24 months between the date he stops performing
work for COMPANY and the date of his layoff; and he would not be entitled to
relocation benefits, which benefits are set forth in Paragraph First.

-2-

 

     THIRD: Complete Mutual Release

     EMPLOYEE and COMPANY agree to release each other and each of their
predecessors, successors and assigns, any subsidiaries, any related companies,
and the employees, directors, officials, agents, officers, representatives and
attorneys of any of them, from all claims or demands EMPLOYEE or COMPANY may
have based on EMPLOYEE’S employment with COMPANY or the termination of that
employment. This includes, but is not limited to, a release of any rights or
claims EMPLOYEE may have under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or
under any other federal, state or local laws or regulations prohibiting
employment discrimination. This also includes, but is not limited to, a
release by EMPLOYEE of any claims for breach of contract or wrongful discharge.
Furthermore, this includes a release by EMPLOYEE of any claims under the
Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation statutes, or any other applicable state workers
compensation statutes, only as to injuries, if any, incurred prior to the date
of this Agreement. This release covers both claims that EMPLOYEE and COMPANY
know about and those they may not know about. and for the purpose of
implementing a full and complete release, EMPLOYEE and COMPANY expressly
acknowledge that this Agreement is intended to include all claims which they do
not know or suspect to exist in their favor at the time of their signatures on
the Agreement, and that this Agreement will extinguish any such claims.

     This release does not include, however, a release of EMPLOYEE’S rights, if
any, to pension, retiree, health or similar benefits under the COMPANY’S
standard retirement program, to EMPLOYEE’S rights under COMPANY’S stock option
plans, or to any claims arising after he signs this Agreement.

-3-

 

     FOURTH: No Future Lawsuits.

     EMPLOYEE promises never to file a lawsuit or request arbitration asserting
any claims that are released in the Third Paragraph.

     FIFTH: Consequences of Party’s Violation of Promises.

     If a party breaks its or his promise in the Fourth Paragraph of this
Agreement and files a lawsuit, request for arbitration or other claim or action
based on legal claims that the party has released, that party will pay for all
costs incurred by the other party, any related companies or the directors or
employees of any of them, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, in defending
against the claim.

     SIXTH: Confidentiality and Cooperation.

     EMPLOYEE and COMPANY agree not to make the existence or terms of this
Agreement and General Release public except as may be necessary to protect the
rights contained herein.

     Further, EMPLOYEE agrees to reasonable cooperation with COMPANY in the
defense or prosecution of any litigation, arbitration, or claim against or by
any person or party. COMPANY agrees to pay EMPLOYEE’S reasonable, documented,
out-of-pocket expenses in providing any such cooperation pursuant to the terms
of this Paragraph. EMPLOYEE shall not, however, be paid for his time or
inconvenience in providing cooperation pursuant to the terms of this Paragraph.
Employee shall be entitled to indemnification by COMPANY for any activities
for which indemnification is required under COMPANY Bylaws or otherwise.

-4-

 

     SEVENTH: Period for Review and Consideration of Agreement.

     EMPLOYEE understands that EMPLOYEE has been given a period of 21 days to
review and consider this Agreement before signing it. EMPLOYEE further
understands that EMPLOYEE may use as much of this 21-day period as EMPLOYEE
wishes prior to signing.

     EIGHTH: Non-Admission of Liability.

     By making this Agreement, neither the EMPLOYEE nor COMPANY admits that he
or it has done anything wrong.

     NINTH: Representation By Counsel.

     EMPLOYEE was advised by COMPANY to consult with an attorney before signing
this Agreement.

     TENTH: Arbitration.

     Any and all disputes regarding this Agreement will be resolved by binding
Arbitration pursuant to the “Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate Claims” between
EMPLOYEE and COMPANY, such arbitration to take place at the American
Arbitration Association’s offices nearest to COMPANY’S Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Headquarters.

-5-

 

     ELEVENTH: Entire Agreement.

     This is the entire Agreement between EMPLOYEE and COMPANY. COMPANY has
made no promises to EMPLOYEE other than those in this Agreement.

EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTANDS
IT AND IS ENTERING INTO IT VOLUNTARILY.
PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY. IT CONTAINS A RELEASE OF ALL
KNOWN AND UNKNOWN CLAIMS.
THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT TAKE EFFECT FOR SEVEN (7) DAYS AFTER
EMPLOYEE SIGNS IT.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC.	 	EMPLOYEE
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:	 	/s/ Nanette R. Clements	 	/s/ Michael A. Bless
	 	 	
 	 	
 
	 	 	NANETTE R. CLEMENTS	 	MICHAEL A. BLESS
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	

	 	Date:
	 	27 January, 2004
	 	Date:
	 	27 January, 2004
	

	 	 	 	
 
	 	 	 	
 

-6-<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.4e

                        AMENDMENT NO. 6, dated as of March 31, 2004 (this
                  "Amendment"), in respect of the Credit Agreement dated as of
                  July 16, 1999, as amended and restated as of July 17, 2000, as
                  further amended by Amendment No. 3 dated as of May 30, 2002,
                  as further amended by Amendment No. 4 dated as of March 31,
                  2003 (as heretofore amended, the "Credit Agreement" and, as
                  amended by this Amendment, the "Amended Credit Agreement"),
                  among Gartner, Inc. (the "Borrower"), the Lenders party
                  thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent (in
                  such capacity, the "Administrative Agent").

            The Borrower has requested that the Credit Agreement be amended to
effect the amendment set forth below, and the parties hereto are willing so to
amend the Credit Agreement. Each capitalized term used but not defined herein
has the meaning assigned thereto in the Amended Credit Agreement.

            In consideration of the premises and the agreements, provisions and
covenants herein contained, the parties hereto hereby agree, on the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth herein, as follows:

            Amendment. Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment as provided in
Section 3 below, the Credit Agreement shall be amended as follows:

            Section 6.08 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by replacing
the phrase "after March 31, 2003 does not exceed $50 million" in clause (vii)
therein with the phrase "after March 31, 2004 does not exceed $50 million".

            Representations and Warranties. The Borrower represents and warrants
as of the date hereof to each of the Lenders that:

            Before and after giving effect to this Amendment, the
representations and warranties set forth in the Credit Agreement and the other
Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects with the same
effect as if made on the date hereof, except to the extent such representations
and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date.

            (b) Immediately before and after giving effect to this Amendment, no
Event of Default or Default has occurred and is continuing.

            Conditions to Effectiveness. The amendment set forth in Section 1 of
this Amendment shall become effective, as of the date hereof, on the date (the
"Amendment Closing Date") on which the Administrative Agent shall have received
(a) counterparts of this Amendment that, when taken together, bear the
signatures of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Subsidiary Loan
Parties and the Required Lenders and (b) payment of all expenses (to the extent
invoiced prior to the Amendment Closing Date) payable to JPMorgan Chase Bank and
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. in connection with this Amendment. The provisions of
Section 1 shall terminate and cease to be of any force or effect if the
Amendment Closing Date shall not have occurred on or prior to March 31, 2004.

            Agreement. Except as specifically stated herein, the provisions of
the Credit Agreement are and shall remain in full force and effect. As used
therein, the terms "Credit Agreement", "herein",

                                       43

<PAGE>

"hereunder", "hereinafter", "hereto", "hereof" and words of similar import
shall, unless the context otherwise requires, refer to the Amended Credit
Agreement. The Subsidiary Loan Parties are executing this Amendment to confirm
that their obligations under the Guarantee Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and
the Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution Agreement remain in full force and
effect with respect to the Amended Credit Agreement and all references in the
Guarantee Agreement, the Pledge Agreement and the Indemnity, Subrogation and
Contribution Agreement to the Credit Agreement shall hereafter be deemed to
refer to the Amended Credit Agreement.

            Applicable Law. THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

            Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when
taken together shall constitute but one contract.

            Expenses. The Borrower agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent
for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it in connection with this
Amendment, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of Cravath,
Swaine & Moore LLP, counsel for the Administrative Agent.

                                       44

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00065-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00065-of-00352.parquet"}]]