Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AGREEMENT
(“Agreement”) is made and entered into this day of May      , 2015 (the “Effective
Date”), by and between LightTouch Vein & Laser, Inc., a Nevada
corporation (hereinafter the “Company”), and MICHAEL LEAGO (hereinafter the “Employee,” and together
with the Company, the “Parties”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS,
the Company offers a variety of services, products, financing, technology, and management services to the cannabis
industry; and

 

WHEREAS,
the Company desires to employ the Employee as its Retail Grow Store Division Head, and the Employee desires to accept
such employment, for which purposes each of the Parties desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth and clarify certain of
the terms and conditions relevant to such employment.

 

NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the recitals, the covenants and agreements herein contained and the benefits to be derived
herefrom, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

		1.	Recitals. The recitals set forth above constitute part of this Agreement and are incorporated
herein by this reference.

 

		2.	Employment. From and after the effective date hereof, and for the term herein provided,
the Company agrees to employ the Employee, and the Employee accepts such employment with the Company upon the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth.

 

		3.	Term. The Employee’s employment shall commence on the execution date of that certain
Acquisition Agreement and Plan of Merger attached hereto as Exhibit A and subject to Section 8 of this Agreement, shall
continue through the second anniversary of the employment date (the “Term”), with three consecutive two (2) year renewal
options, automatically extended, unless either party notifies the other in writing of their refusal to be bound by any further
extensions, which Notice must be sent no later than three (3) months prior to the end of one of the two (2) year terms.

 

		4.	Duties as Retail Grow Store Division Head. Employee shall have such duties, responsibilities
and authority as are commensurate and consistent with the position of Retail Grow Store Division Head of a company and as may,
from time to time, be assigned to him by the Board of Directors. Employee shall report directly to the President and Chief Executive
Officer. During the Term as set forth in Section 3 above and in accordance with Section 9(c)(i) below, Employee shall devote his
full business time and efforts to the performance of his duties hereunder, unless otherwise explicitly authorized by the Board.
The Employee will comply and be bound by the Company’s written operating policies, procedures and practices from time to
time in effect during Employee’s employment. Employee represents and warrants that he is free to enter into and fully perform
this Agreement and the agreements referred to herein without breach of any agreement or contract to which he is a party or by which
he is bound. The Employee will have four primary responsibilities:

 

		(a)	Management of One Love Garden Supply LLC in Boulder, Colorado;

 

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		(b)	Development and management of an e-commerce web site serving as the Company’s internet retail
operation;

 

		(c)	Planning and executing the growth of the Company’s retail operation by acquiring existing
grow stores and starting up new retail sites in concert with the Company’s New Venture Team; and

 

		(d)	Employee shall be permitted to hire, in a reasonably prudential manner and in a manner not to unduly
increase the cost or expense of human resources to the Company, such assistants and staff to assist Employee in the performance
of all of the foregoing that are reasonably and appropriately delegable; and provided further that Employee shall be permitted
to contract with attorneys, accountants, technical writers, marketing companies and other professionals in a reasonably prudential
manner to obtain reasonable services for which the Company is in need.

 

		5.	Extent of Services. The Employee agrees to serve the Company faithfully and to the best
of his ability and shall devote his full time, attention and energies to the business of the Company during customary business
hours. The Employee agrees to carry out his duties in a competent and professional manner and to at all times promote the best
interests of the Company. The Employee shall not, during the Term of his employment hereunder, engage in any other business,
whether or not pursued for profit. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as preventing the Employee from investing in any
other business or entity which is not in competition with the business of the Company. Nothing contained herein shall be construed
as preventing the Employee from (i) engaging in personal business affairs and other personal matters, (ii) serving on civic or
charitable boards or committees, or (iii) serving on the board of directors of companies that do not compete directly or indirectly
with the Company, provided however, that none of such activities materially interferes with the performance of his
duties under this Agreement and provided further that the Board of Directors approves of each such proposed appointment which approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

		6.	Compliance. The Employee hereby agrees to observe and comply with such reasonable rules
and regulations of the Company as may be duly adopted from time to time by the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors
and otherwise to carry out and perform those orders, directions and policies stated to him from time to time, either as specified
in the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors of the Company or otherwise in writing that are reasonably necessary
and appropriate to carry out his duties hereunder. Such orders, directions and policies shall be legal and shall be consistent
with the Employee’s position as the Retail Grow Store Division Head.

 

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		7.	Compensation. As full compensation for all services rendered by the Employee pursuant to
this Agreement and as full consideration for all of the terms of this
Agreement, the Employee shall receive from the Company during his employment under this Agreement the base salary, bonuses
and fringe benefits described below.

 

		(a)	Base Salary. For all services rendered pursuant to this
Agreement, the Company shall pay or cause to be paid to the Employee a salary of Sixty-Five Thousand Dollars ($65,000.00) per year,
payable monthly on the first Monday of each month (the “Base Salary”). The Base Salary shall be prorated from the Effective
Date for the initial month. The Base Salary may increase annually by a sum agreed to by the Board of Directors. The Base Salary
shall be payable in accordance with the customary practices of the Company for payment of its employees, but in any event,
in installments not less frequently than once monthly. Performance and salary adjustment will be reviewed annually by the Board
of Directors of the Company.

 

		(b)	Bonus Compensation. To the extent that the Company shall
establish, from time to time in its discretion, bonus compensation plans for the benefit of its management level employees, the
Employee shall be entitled to participate in such bonus compensation plans in accordance with terms and provisions established
by the Board of Directors in its discretion. Also, see Section 7(e) below for specific bonus compensation applicable to Employee
for calendar year 2015.

 

		(c)	Long Term Incentive Payments. The Company has or may from
time to time in the future grant to the Employee such long term incentive compensation (including, by way of illustration but not
limitation, stock options) as the Board of Directors may determine in its discretion. 

 

		(d)	Fringe Benefit. Employee shall be eligible to participate
in those benefits available for all senior executives of the Company, subject to the same terms, conditions and eligibility requirements
as other employees, including, without limitation, life insurance, health insurance and profit sharing plans; provided, however,
that Employee shall not institute, in Employee’s capacity as an employee of the Company, such benefit plans that are unreasonable
in terms and scope as those benefit plans offered by companies of similar size in the United States cannabis industry. The Company
shall provide Employee with an office of a size and location customary for his position. Employee shall be provided health insurance
and reimbursement for cell phone. The Employee shall be entitled
to eight federal holidays and fifteen (15) business days off annually, which shall include vacation days, sick days and personal
days. The Employee may also carry over up to ten (10) days of unused vacation time to the following anniversary year; the remainder
of unused vacation time will be forfeited.

 

		(e)	Bonus Compensation for Calendar Year 2015. Each fiscal quarter
of 2015, upon the Company recording on its financial statements $40,000 in US GAAP gross pretax profits (the “Gross Pretax
Profits”) from sales of the Retail Store Division of the Company (the “Pretax Threshold”), the Company shall
pay to the Employee a cash payment equal to 15% of the Company’s Gross Pretax Profits generated above the Pretax Threshold,
but in any event not to exceed $150,000 of bonus for the 2015 calendar year paid to Employee. The Gross Pretax Profit shall be
calculated by including costs of financing, costs of inventory and accounts receivable and by deducting the amount paid to Employee
under that certain Promissory Note issued by One Love Garden Supply LLC in favor of Michael Leago and Ashley N. Hollow dated May
5, 2015 attached hereto as Exhibit B. The intent of this provision is to bonus Employee for profitable performance of the
Company’s Retail Division and in particular to incentivize the Gross Pretax Profits derived from the assets acquired by the
Company from One Love Garden Supply LLC and other business units under the direction of the Employee.  Each store in the Company’s
Retail Division shall be evaluated cumulatively as a whole unit based on its performance.

 

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		(f)	Expenses. The Employee may be required in the fulfillment of his employment to incur ordinary,
necessary and reasonable expenses for the promotion of the business of the Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries, including
expenses for entertaining, travel and similar items. The Company will authorize expenses as needed, in connection with such business,
including travel and entertainment expenses, fees for seminars and courses, and expenses incurred in attendance at executive meetings
and conventions; provided however, the Employee receives prior approval from the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, approval
which shall not be unreasonably withheld. If paid by the Employee, upon presentation by the Employee of an itemized account of
such expenditures, the Employee shall be entitled to receive full reimbursement for these expenses; provided however, the Employee
receives prior approval from the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, approval which shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

		8.	Termination, Death or Disability, Resignation. The Employee's employment may be terminated
in accordance with the provisions of this Section. The provisions for termination are as follows:

 

		(a)	Death or Disability. The Employee’s employment shall be terminated upon the death
or total disability of the Employee (total disability meaning the failure of the Employee to perform his or her duties and responsibilities
hereunder in the manner and to the extent required by this Agreement for a period of 180 consecutive days by reason of the Employee's
mental or physical disability as impartially determined by the Insurance Company underwriting the Disability Insurance Policy purchased
for the Employee by the Company, which determination shall be conclusive upon both parties).

 

		(b)	Termination for Cause. The Employee's employment may be terminated by the Company for Cause.
For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Cause” shall mean that any of the following has occurred: (i) the Employee’s
material failure or refusal to comply with the material policies, standards and regulations of the Company applicable to all of
its executive employees from time to time reasonably established and fairly administered which do not conflict with Employee’s
outside obligations, after written thirty (30) day Notice to Cure, (ii) a material breach by the Employee of any of the other material
terms of this Agreement which is not cured after a written thirty (30) day Notice to Cure, (iii) the conviction of the Employee
for any felony, the conviction of the Employee for a crime involving moral turpitude, such as rape, incest, sexual assault of a
minor or similar crimes, (iv) the adjudication by a court that the Employee engaged in willful material misconduct in connection
with the activities of the Company, (v) the Employee’s use or possession of any controlled substance or chronic abuse of
alcoholic beverages, which use or possession the Board of Directors reasonably determines renders the Employee unfit to serve in
his capacity as Retail Grow Store Division Head, or (vi) the Employee’s intentional misapplication of the Company’s
funds or other material assets, or any other act of dishonesty injurious to the Company committed by the Employee.

 

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		(c)	Resignation. If the Employee voluntarily resigns during the Term of this Agreement, then
all payments and benefits shall cease on the effective date of resignation, provided that under this Agreement the Employee shall
be entitled to receive through the date of such resignation (i) his base salary as defined in Section 7(a) hereof and (ii) the
benefits provided in Section 7 hereof.

 

		9.	Confidentiality, Restrictive Covenants, Non-Competition.

 

		(a)	Non-Disclosure of Information. The Employee recognizes and acknowledges that by virtue of
his position as Retail Grow Store Division Head, he will have access to the lists of the Company's referral sources, suppliers,
advertisers and customers, financial records and business procedures, sales force and personnel, programs, software, selling practices,
plans, special methods and processes for electronic data processing, special techniques for testing commercial and sales materials
and products, custom research services in product development, marketing strategy, product manufacturing techniques and formulas,
and other unique business information and records (collectively “Proprietary Information”), as same may exist from
time to time, and that they are valuable, special and unique assets of the Company's business. The Employee also may develop on
behalf of the Company a personal acquaintance with the present and potential future clients and customers of the Company, and the
Employee’s acquaintance may constitute the Company’s sole contact with such clients and customers.

 

		(i)	The Employee will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, during the Term of his
employment or any time thereafter, except as may be required by competent legal authority or as required by the Company to be disclosed
in the course of performing Employee’s duties under this Agreement, disclose trade secrets or other confidential information
about the Company, including but not limited to Proprietary Information, to any person, firm, corporation, association or other
entity for any reason or any purpose whatsoever or utilize such Proprietary Information for his own benefit or the benefit of any
third party; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall prohibit the Employee from using his personal acquaintance
with any clients or customers of the Company at any time in a manner that is not inconsistent with their remaining as clients or
customers of the Company.

 

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		(ii)	All equipment, records, files, memoranda, computer print-outs and data, reports, correspondence
and the like, relating to the business of the Company which Employee shall use or prepare or come into contact with shall remain
the sole property of the Company. The Employee shall immediately turn over to the Company all such material in Employee's possession,
custody or control at such time as this Agreement is terminated.

 

		(iii)	“Proprietary Information” shall not include information that was a matter of public
knowledge on the date of this Agreement or subsequently becomes public knowledge other than as a result of having been revealed,
disclosed or disseminated by Employee, directly or indirectly, in violation of this Agreement.

 

		(b)	Non-Solicitation. The Employee covenants and agrees that during the term of his employment,
and for a two (2) year period immediately following the end of the Term, renewal term or earlier termination of this Agreement,
regardless of the reason therefor, the Employee shall not solicit, induce, aid or suggest to: (1) any employee to leave such employ,
(2) any contractor, consultant or other service provider to terminate such relationship, or (3) any customer, agency, vendor, or
supplier of the Company to cease doing business with the Company.

 

		(c)	Non-Competition. For purposes of this Section 9(c), the Parties agree that the “business
of the Company” shall be defined to include the development, packaging, advertising, marketing, distribution and sale of
indoor and outdoor growing and gardening supplies and related products.

 

		(i)	The Employee covenants and agrees that during the Term, Employee shall not engage in any activity
or render service in any capacity, directly or indirectly, (whether as principal, director, officer, investor, employee, consultant
or otherwise) for or on behalf of any person or persons or entity in the United States or anywhere else in the world if such activity
or service directly or indirectly involves or relates to any business which is in competition with the business of the Company.
It is understood and agreed that after the Term nothing herein contained shall prevent the Employee from engaging in discussions
concerning business arrangements to become effective in accordance with this Section 9(c). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
and Employee agree that Employee may continue to develop a unique tower type indoor/outdoor prefabricated garden for home and commercial
applications and continue his participation in the development of a cannabis infused beverage, provided that such
activities do not consume greater than ten (10) business hours per month of Employee’s time or interfere with the performance
of his duties for the Company. Upon completion of the Term, resignation or termination of the Employee, this Section 9(c) shall
extend only for a radius of 40 miles from the present location of One Love Garden Supply LLC in Boulder, Colorado, and shall be
in full force and effect for two years commencing with the date of Employee’s completion of the Term, resignation or termination
of employment.

 

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		(d)	Enforcement. In view of the foregoing, the Employee acknowledges and agrees that it is reasonable
and necessary for the protection of the good will, business, trade secrets, confidential information and Proprietary Information
of the Company that he makes the covenants in this Section 9 and that the Company will suffer irreparable injury if the Employee
engages in the conduct prohibited by Section 9 of this Agreement. The Employee agrees that upon a breach, threatened breach or
violation by him of any of the foregoing provisions of this Section 9, the Company, in addition to all other remedies it may have
including an action at law for damages, shall be entitled as a matter of right to injunctive relief, specific performance or any
other form of equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction without being required to post bond or other security and
without having to prove the inadequacy of the available remedies at law, to enjoin and restrain the Employee and each and every
other person, partnership, association, corporation or organization acting in concert with the Employee, from the continuance of
any action constituting such breach. The Company shall also be entitled to recover from the Employee all of its reasonable costs
incurred in the enforcement of this Section 9 including its reasonable legal fees. The Employee acknowledges that the terms of
Section 9 are reasonable and enforceable and that, should there be a violation or attempted or threatened violation
by the Employee of any of the provisions contained in these subsections, the Company shall be entitled to relief by way of injunction,
specific performance or other form of equitable relief. In the event that any of the foregoing covenants in Sections 9 shall be
deemed by any court of competent jurisdiction, in any proceedings in which the Company shall be a party, to be unenforceable because
of its duration, scope, or area, it shall be deemed to be and shall be amended to conform to the scope, period of time and geographical
area which would permit it to be enforced.

 

		(e)	Independent Covenants. The Company and the Employee agree that the covenants contained in
this Section 9 shall each be construed as a separate agreement independent of any of the other terms and conditions of this Agreement,
and the existence of any claim by the Employee against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not
constitute a defense by the Employee to the Company’s enforcement of any of the covenants of this Section 9.

 

		10.	Disclosure and Assignment of Rights.

 

		(a)	Disclosure. The Employee agrees that he will promptly assign to the Company or its nominee(s)
all right, title and interest of the Employee in and to any and all ideas, inventions, discoveries, secret processes, and methods
and improvements, together with any and all patents or other forms of intellectual property protection that may be obtainable in
connection therewith or that may be issued thereon, such as trademarks, service marks and copyrights, in the United States and
in all foreign countries, which the Employee may invent, develop, or improve or cause to be invented developed or improved, on
behalf of the Company while engaged in Company related decisions, during the Term or within six (6) months after the Term or earlier
termination of this Agreement, which are or were related to the scope of the Company’s business or any work carried on by
the Company or to any problems and projects specifically assigned to the Employee. All works and writings which relate to the Company’s
business are works for hire under the Copyright Act, and any and all copyrights therefor shall be placed in the name of and inure
to the benefit of the Company.

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		(b)	Assignment of Interest. The Employee agrees to disclose immediately to duly authorized representatives
of the Company any ideas, inventions, discoveries, processes, methods and improvements covered by the terms of this Section 10
and to execute, at the Company’s expense, all documents reasonably required in connection with the Company’s application
for appropriate protection and registration under the federal and foreign patent, trademark, and copyright law and the assignment
thereof to the Company’s nominee (s). The Employee hereby appoints the Company’s Chief Executive Officer as true and
lawful attorney in fact with full powers of substitution and delegation to execute acknowledge and deliver any such instruments
and assignments, which the Employee shall fail or refuse to execute or deliver.

 

		11.	Miscellaneous.

 

		(a)	Disputes. Any controversy or claim arising
out of or relating to the employment relationship between the Company and the Employee shall be settled by arbitration before
the American Arbitration Association in the City of Denver, CO. Such arbitration shall be conducted in
the City of Denver in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association, except as otherwise provided
in this paragraph. Judgment upon
the award entered by the arbitrators shall be final and may be entered in a court having jurisdiction thereof. The
party or parties against whom an arbitration award shall be entered shall pay the other party's reasonable attorneys' fees and
reasonable costs and expenses in connection with the enforcement of its rights under this Agreement unless and to the extent the
arbitrators determine that under the circumstances recovery by the prevailing party of all or any part of such fees and costs
would be unjust. Any decision of the Arbitrator shall be in writing and shall set forth findings of fact and conclusions of law
in accordance with the law of the state of Colorado.

 

		(b)	Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing
and personally delivered or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, in the case of the Company, to the
principal office of the Company directed to the attention of the Company's Board of Directors, and in the case of the Employee,
to the Employee's last known residence address.

 

		(c)	Construction. This Agreement shall be governed and interpreted in accordance with the laws
of the State of Colorado. The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not operate
or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by any party.

 

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		(d)	Modification and Assignment. This Agreement may not be changed except by written agreement
duly executed by the parties hereto. The rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company, but shall not release the Company from its obligations. This
Agreement, being for the personal services of the Employee, shall not be assignable or subject to anticipation by the Employee.

 

		(e)	Severability. Each provision of this Agreement shall be considered severable. If for any
reason any provisions herein are determined to be invalid or unenforceable, this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as
though such invalid or unenforceable provisions were omitted, and such invalidity or unenforceability shall not impair or otherwise
affect the validity of the other provisions of this Agreement. Moreover, the parties agree to replace such invalid provision with
a substitute provision that will correspond to the original intent of the parties.

 

		(f)	Number of Agreements. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each
one of which shall be deemed an original.

 

		(g)	Pronouns. The use of any word in any gender shall be deemed to include any other gender
and the use of any word in the singular shall be deemed to include the plural where the context requires.

 

		(h)	Headings. The section headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only and are not
to be controlling with respect to the contents thereof.

 

		(i)	Further Assurances. The Parties agree that they will take such action and execute and deliver
such documents as may be reasonably necessary to fulfill the terms of this Agreement.

 

		(j)	Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with any other written agreements entered into
concurrently herewith, contains the complete and exclusive statement of the terms and conditions of the Employee's employment by
the Company, and there exists no other inducement or consideration between the Company and the Employee relative to the employment
contemplated by this Agreement. All prior agreements relative to the subject matter of this Agreement are terminated.

 

 

[-Signature Page to Employment Agreement Follows-]

  

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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth
above.

 

	 	LIGHTTOUCH VEIN & LASER, INC.
	 	 	 
	 	By:	 
	 	Name:	Jeffrey Beverly
	 	Title:	President

 

	 	EMPLOYEE
	 	 
	 	 
	 	MICHAEL LEAGO, an individual

 

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Exhibit A

 

Acquisition Agreement and Plan of Merger

 

See attached.

 

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Exhibit B

 

Promissory Note

 

See attached.

 

 

12Exhibit 10.1

 

THOMAS J. BALTIMORE, JR.

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made this 14th day of May, 2015, by RLJ Lodging Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”) and RLJ Lodging Trust, L.P., (the “Operating Partnership”) a Delaware limited partnership, each with its principal place of business at 3 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 1000, Bethesda, MD 20814, and Thomas J. Baltimore, Jr., residing at the address on file with the Company (the “Executive”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership; and

 

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company originally entered into an Employment Agreement dated April 27, 2011 (the “Original Agreement”) to reflect the Executive’s executive capacities in the Company’s business and to provide for the Company’s and Operating Partnership’s employment of the Executive;

 

WHEREAS, the Original Agreement will expire on May 16, 2015 and the parties would like to enter into a new employment agreement (the “Agreement”) before any extension of the Original Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions of the Executive’s ongoing employment;

 

WHEREAS, the Agreement will be effective upon the date set forth above and will supersede the terms of the Original Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the allocation of the rights and obligations between the Company and the Operating Partnership shall be determined by separate agreement of those parties; and

 

WHEREAS, for purposes of this Agreement, the term “Company” shall be understood to include the Operating Partnership, unless the context otherwise requires.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Term of Employment

 

(a)                                 The Company hereby continues its employment of the Executive, and the Executive hereby accepts such ongoing employment with the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement for the period next described (the “Employment Period”).  Unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 5, the Executive’s employment pursuant to this Agreement shall be for a term commencing on May 14, 2015 (the “Commencement Date”) and ending on the fourth anniversary of the Commencement Date (the “Initial Term”).  If not previously terminated in accordance with this Agreement, the Employment Period shall be extended for one additional twelve (12) month period immediately following the Initial Term (such extension, the “Renewal Term”),  unless the Company or the Executive provides written notice to the contrary at least sixty (60) days before the last day of the Initial Term.

 

 

(b)                                 If the parties have failed to extend this Agreement or enter into a new agreement on or before the end of the Renewal Term, the Executive’s employment shall terminate at the end of the Renewal Term and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6(c), the Company’s only obligation to Executive upon such termination will be to accelerate, subject to the conditions of Section 6(c)(v), the vesting in any unvested portion of any equity awards granted prior to the end of the Renewal Term and to pay the amounts set forth in Section 6(a).  Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else contained in this Agreement to the contrary, if Executive is employed on the last day of the Renewal Term, the Board shall determine the amount of any annual bonus to award Executive for the fiscal year in which the end of the Renewal Term occurs, based on the criteria set forth in Section 4(b) and pro-rated for the portion of the fiscal year Executive remains employed.  The Company shall pay any such bonus on the date on which the Company’s other employees receive bonuses, regardless of whether Executive is employed by the Company on that date.

 

2.                                      Title; Duties

 

The Executive shall continue his ongoing employment as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  The Executive shall report to the Board of Trustees, who shall have the authority to direct, control and supervise the activities of the Executive.  The Executive shall perform such services consistent with his position as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Trustees and are consistent with the bylaws of the Company and the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership as it may be further amended from time to time, including, but not limited to, managing the affairs of the Company and Operating Partnership.

 

3.                                      Extent of Services

 

The Executive agrees not to engage in any business activities during the Employment Period except those which are for the sole benefit of the Company and its subsidiaries, and to devote his entire business time, attention, skill and effort to the performance of his duties under this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may, without impairing or otherwise adversely affecting the Executive’s performance of his duties to the Company, (i) engage in personal investments and charitable, professional and civic activities, and (ii) with the prior approval of the Board of Trustees, serve on the boards of directors of corporations other than the Company, provided, however, that no such approval shall be necessary for the Executive’s continued service on any board of directors or board of trustees on which he was serving on the date of this Agreement, all of which have been previously disclosed to the Board of Trustees in writing.  The Executive shall perform his duties to the best of his ability, shall adhere to the Company’s published policies and procedures, and shall use his best efforts to promote the Company’s interests, reputation, business and welfare.

 

4.                                      Compensation and Benefits

 

(a)                                 Salary.  The Company shall pay the Executive a gross base annual salary (“Base Salary”) of $875,245.  The Base Salary shall be payable in arrears in

 

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approximately equal semi-monthly installments (except that the first and last such semi-monthly installments may be prorated if necessary) on the Company’s regularly scheduled payroll dates, minus such deductions as may be required by law or reasonably requested by the Executive.  The Company’s Compensation Committee (the “Compensation Committee”) shall review his Base Salary annually in conjunction with its regular review of employee salaries and may increase (but not decrease) Executive’s Base Salary as in effect from time to time as the Compensation Committee shall deem appropriate.

 

(b)                                 Annual Bonus. Executive shall be entitled to earn bonuses with respect to each fiscal year (or partial fiscal year), based upon Executive’s and the Company’s achievement of performance objectives set by the Company within the first three (3) months of each fiscal year of the Employment Period, with a target bonus of 150% of Executive’s Base Salary for such fiscal year (or partial fiscal year).  Any such bonus earned by the Executive shall be paid annually by March 15 of the year following the end of the year for which the bonus was earned.

 

(c)                                  Option, Restricted Share, Restricted Share Unit and LTIP Unit Grants.  The Executive will be eligible for grants of options to purchase the Company’s common shares of beneficial interest (“common shares”), grants of Company restricted common shares, restricted common share units and long-term incentive units in the Operating Partnership subject to certain time vesting requirements and other conditions set forth in the applicable award agreement.

 

(d)                                 Other Benefits.  The Executive shall be entitled to paid time off and holiday pay in accordance with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time and shall be eligible to participate in such life, health, and disability insurance, pension, deferred compensation and incentive plans, options and awards, performance bonuses and other benefits as the Company extends, as a matter of policy, to its executive employees.

 

(e)                                  Reimbursement of Business Expenses.  The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable travel, entertainment and other expenses incurred or paid by the Executive in connection with, or related to, the performance of his duties, responsibilities or services under this Agreement, upon presentation by the Executive of documentation, expense statements, vouchers, and/or such other supporting information as the Company may reasonably request.

 

(f)                               Timing of Reimbursements.  Any reimbursement under this Agreement that is taxable to the Executive shall be made in no event later than sixty (60) days following the calendar year in which the Executive incurred the expense.

 

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5.                                      Termination

 

(a)                                 Termination by the Company for Cause.  The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment under this Agreement at any time for Cause, upon written notice by the Company to the Executive.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” for termination shall mean any of the following: (i) gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with the performance of duties; (ii) conviction of a felony; (iii) conviction of any other criminal offense involving an act of dishonesty intended to result in substantial personal enrichment of the Executive at the expense of the Company or its subsidiaries; or (iv) material breach of any term of any employment, consulting or other services, confidentiality, intellectual property or non-competition agreements, if any, between the Executive and the Company, which, if such breach is curable, such breach is not cured within fifteen (15) calendar days following the Executive’s receipt of written notice of such breach, with such detail as sufficient to apprise Executive of the nature and extent of such breach.

 

(b)                                 Termination by the Company Without Cause or by the Executive Without Good Reason.  The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time without Cause or the Executive may resign without Good Reason (as defined below), upon giving the other party thirty (30) days’ written notice.  At the Company’s sole discretion, it may substitute thirty (30) days’ Base Salary (or any lesser portion for any shortened period provided) in lieu of notice.  Any Base Salary paid to the Executive in lieu of notice shall not be offset against any entitlement the Executive may have to the Severance Payment pursuant to Section 6(c).  For purposes of this Agreement, in the event the Company elects not to extend the Employment Period in accordance with Section 1(a) hereof into the Renewal Term, Executive’s employment shall terminate on the last day of the Initial Term and such election shall be deemed a termination by the Company without Cause.

 

(c)                                  Termination by Executive for Good Reason.  The Executive may terminate his employment under this Agreement at any time for Good Reason, upon written notice by the Executive to the Company.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” for termination shall mean, without the Executive’s consent: (i) the assignment to the Executive of substantial duties or responsibilities inconsistent with the Executive’s position at the Company, or any other action by the Company which results in a substantial diminution of the Executive’s duties or responsibilities other than any such reduction which is remedied by the Company within thirty (30) days of receipt of written notice thereof from the Executive; (ii) a requirement that the Executive work principally from a location that is thirty (30) miles further from the Executive’s residence than the Company’s address first written above; (iii) a material reduction in the Executive’s aggregate Base Salary and other compensation (including the target bonus amount and retirement plans, welfare plans and fringe benefits) taken as a whole, excluding any reductions caused by the failure to achieve performance targets; or (iv) any material breach

 

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by the Company of this Agreement.  Good Reason shall not exist pursuant to any subsection of this Section 5(c) unless (A) the Executive shall have delivered notice to the Board of Trustees within ninety (90) days of the initial occurrence of such event constituting Good Reason, and (B) the Board fails to remedy the circumstances giving rise to the Executive’s notice within thirty (30) days of receipt of notice.  The Executive must terminate his employment under this Section 5(c) at a time agreed reasonably with the Company, but in any event within one hundred fifty (150) days from the initial occurrence of an event constituting Good Reason.  For purposes of Good Reason, the Company shall be defined to include any successor to the Company which has assumed the obligations of the Company through merger, acquisition, stock purchase, asset purchase or otherwise.

 

(d)                                 Executive’s Death or Disability.  The Executive’s employment shall terminate immediately upon his death or, upon written notice as set forth below, his Disability.  As used in this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean such physical or mental impairment as would render the Executive unable to perform each of the essential duties of the Executive’s position by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which is potentially permanent in character or which can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months.  If the Employment Period is terminated by reason of the Executive’s Disability, either party shall give thirty (30) days’ advance written notice to that effect to the other.

 

(e)                                  Executive’s Retirement.  The Executive’s employment shall terminate upon his Retirement.  As used in this Agreement, “Retirement” shall mean the point in which the Executive has reached the age of sixty-five (65) and has decided to exit the workforce completely.  If the Employment Period is terminated by reason of the Executive’s Retirement, the Executive shall give one hundred eighty (180) days’ advance notice to the effect to the Company.

 

6.                                      Effect of Termination

 

(a)                                 General.  Regardless of the reason for any termination of this Agreement and subject to this Section 6, the Executive (or the Executive’s estate if the Employment Period ends on account of the Executive’s death) shall be entitled to (i) payment of any unpaid portion of his Base Salary through the effective date of termination; (ii) reimbursement for any outstanding reasonable business expense he has incurred in performing his duties hereunder in accordance with Company policy; (iii) continued insurance benefits to the extent required by law; and (iv) payment of any vested but unpaid rights as may be required independent of this Agreement by the terms of any bonus or other incentive pay or equity plan, or any other employee benefit plan or program of the Company.  Upon termination of

 

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this Agreement for any reason, the Executive shall resign from all boards and committees of the Company, its affiliates and its subsidiaries.

 

(b)                                 Termination by the Company for Cause or by Executive Without Good Reason.  If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause or the Executive terminates his employment without Good Reason, the Executive shall have no rights or claims against the Company except to receive the payments and benefits described in Section 6(a).

 

(c)                                  Termination by the Company Without Cause or by the Executive with Good Reason.  Except as provided in Section 1(b), if during the Employment Period the Company terminates the Executive’s employment without Cause pursuant to Section 5(b), or the Executive terminates employment with Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c), the Executive shall be entitled to receive, in addition to the items referenced in Section 6(a), the following:

 

(i)            a pro rata bonus for the year of termination but, in connection with a termination other than a termination at or after a “Change of Control” (as defined in the RLJ Lodging Trust 2015 Equity Incentive Plan), only to the extent performance goals for the calendar year of termination are achieved, payable at the same time bonuses are paid for such year but in no event later than March 15 of the fiscal year following his termination;

 

(ii)           continued payment of his Base Salary, at the rate in effect on his last day of employment (but in no event in an annual amount less than as set forth in Section 4(a)), for a period of thirty six (36) months; provided, that if such termination is due to non-extension of the Initial Term of the Agreement by the Company or if such termination occurs during the Renewal Term, the period of continued payment of Base Salary shall be a period of twenty four (24) months.  Such amount shall be paid in approximately equal installments on the Company’s regularly scheduled payroll dates, subject to all legally required payroll deductions and withholdings for sums owed by the Executive to the Company;

 

(iii)          continued payment by the Company for the Executive’s life and health insurance coverage for twenty four (24) months to the same extent that the Company paid for such coverage immediately prior to the termination of the Executive’s employment and subject to the eligibility requirements and other terms and conditions of such insurance coverage.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) if any plan pursuant to which the Company is providing such coverage is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the period of continuation coverage to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (“Section 409A”) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or (B) the Company is otherwise unable to

 

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continue to cover the Executive under its group health plans, then, in either case, an amount equal to the monthly plan premium payment shall thereafter be paid to the Executive as currently taxable compensation in substantially equal monthly installments over the twenty-four (24) month period (or the remaining portion thereof);

 

(iv)                              payments equal to three (3) times the Executive’s target annual bonus for the year of termination and three (3) time the highest grant date fair value of annual equity awards made to the Executive during any of the three (3) preceding calendar years (the “annual equity award”) provided, that if such termination is due to non-extension of the Initial Term of the Agreement by the Company or if such termination occurs during the Renewal Term, payment shall equal two (2) times the target annual bonus for the year of termination and two (2) times the highest fair value of the annual equity award made to the Executive during the year of termination and any of the three (3) preceding calendar years or such shorter period during which the Executive was employed.  The payments provided for in this paragraph (iv) shall be made in three equal installments on the first three anniversaries of the date of the Executive’s termination of employment; provided, however, if termination is due to non-extension of the Initial Term of the Agreement by the Company or if the termination occurs during the Renewal Term, payment shall be in two equal installments on the first two anniversaries of the date of the Executive’s termination of employment).

 

(v)                                 vesting as of the last day of his employment in any unvested portion of any equity awards previously granted to the Executive by the Company; provided, however, that the Company may, in connection with a termination other than a termination at or after a “Change of Control” (as defined in the RLJ Lodging Trust 2015 Equity Incentive Plan) with respect to awards the vesting of which is conditioned on the achievement of performance goals, condition accelerated vesting on the ultimate achievement of the performance goals, in which case such awards shall remain outstanding until certification of achievement of the performance goals, and such awards shall vest or be forfeited as of such certification date based on the level of achievement of the performance goals.

 

None of the benefits described in this Section 6(c) (the “Severance Payment”) will be payable unless the Executive has signed a general release (attached hereto as Exhibit A) within forty-five (45) days of date of termination, which has (and not until it has) become irrevocable, satisfactory to the Company in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, releasing the Company, its affiliates, and its trustees, directors, officers and employees, from any and all claims or potential claims arising from or related to the Executive’s employment or termination of employment. Any payment conditioned on execution of the general

 

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release that was not made because the general release was not signed and had not become irrevocable shall be made within ten (10) days after the general release becomes irrevocable, provided that as to payments and benefits which are subject to Section 409A if the end of the forty-five (45) day plus seven (7) day revocation period occurs in a year subsequent to the year in which the termination of employment occurs, the payments will be made in the subsequent year.  Any payments delayed pursuant to this Section 6(c) shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum, and all remaining payments due under this Agreement shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein.

 

(d)                                 Termination In the Event of Death, Disability or Retirement.

 

In the event of a termination of employment due to death, Disability or Retirement, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the items referenced in Section 6(a), as well as any performance bonus for that fiscal year and accelerating vesting of equity awards, each as specifically set forth below.

 

(i)            If the Executive’s employment terminates because of his death, the unvested portion of any equity awards previously granted to the Executive by the Company shall become fully vested as of the date of his death and the Executive’s estate shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata share of any performance bonus to which he otherwise would have been entitled for the fiscal year in which his death occurs (regardless of whether performance goals for that fiscal year are achieved) payable at the same time bonuses are paid for such year but in no event later than March 15 of the fiscal year following his death.

 

(ii)           In the event the Executive’s employment terminates due to his Disability, as of the effective date of the termination notice specified in Section 5(d), the Executive shall vest in any unvested portion of any equity awards previously granted to the Executive by the Company and the Executive shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata share of any performance bonus to which he otherwise would have been entitled for the fiscal year in which his Disability occurs (regardless of whether performance goals for that fiscal year are achieved) payable at the same time bonuses are paid for such year but in no event later than March 15 of the fiscal year following his Disability.

 

(iii)          In the event the Executive’s employment terminates due to his Retirement, the unvested portion of any equity awards previously granted to the Executive by the Company shall be fully vested as of the date of his termination; provided, however, that the Company may, with respect to awards the vesting of which is conditioned on the achievement of performance goals, condition accelerated vesting on the ultimate achievement of the performance goals, in which case such awards shall

 

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remain outstanding until certification of achievement of the performance goals, and such awards shall vest or be forfeited as of such certification date based on the level of achievement of the performance goals. The Executive also shall be entitled to payment of a pro rata portion of any performance bonus for the fiscal year of Executive’s Retirement only to the extent performance goals for that fiscal year are achieved.  The pro rata performance bonus, if any, shall be paid to the Executive at the same time bonuses are paid for such year but in no event later than March 15 of the fiscal year following his Retirement.

 

7.                                      Confidentiality

 

(a)                                 Definition of Proprietary Information.  The Executive acknowledges that he may be furnished or may otherwise receive or have access to confidential information which relates to the Company’s past, present or future business activities, strategies, services or products, research and development; financial analysis and data; improvements, inventions, processes, techniques, designs or other technical data; profit margins and other financial information; fee arrangements; compilations for marketing or development; confidential personnel and payroll information; or other information regarding administrative, management, or financial activities of the Company, or of a third party which provided proprietary information to the Company on a confidential basis.  All such information, including in any electronic form, and including any materials or documents containing such information, shall be considered by the Company and the Executive as proprietary and confidential (the “Proprietary Information”).

 

(b)                                 Exclusions.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Proprietary Information shall not include information in the public domain not as a result of a breach of any duty by the Executive or any other person.

 

(c)                                  Obligations.  The Executive shall maintain the confidentiality of the Proprietary Information and shall not (i) disclose or disseminate the Proprietary Information to any third party, including employees of the Company (or its affiliates) without a legitimate business need to know during the Employment Period; (ii) remove the Proprietary Information from the Company’s premises without a valid business purpose; or (iii) use the Proprietary Information for his own benefit or for the benefit of any third party.

 

(d)                                 Return of Proprietary Information.  The Executive acknowledges and agrees that all the Proprietary Information used or generated during the course of working for the Company is the property of the Company.  The Executive agrees to deliver to the Company all documents and other tangibles containing the Proprietary Information immediately upon termination of his employment.

 

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8.                                      Noncompetition

 

(a)                                 Restriction on Competition.  For the period of the Executive’s employment with the Company and for twenty-four (24) months following the expiration or termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company (the “Restricted Period”), the Executive agrees not to engage, directly or indirectly, as a manager, employee, consultant, partner, principal, agent, representative, or in any other individual or representative capacity in any material business that the Company conducts as of the date of the Executive’s termination of employment, including but not limited to investments primarily in premium-branded, focused-service and compact full-service hotels, where material is defined as fifteen percent (15%) of the gross revenues of the Company based on the most recent quarterly earnings.  Executive further agrees that for the period of the Executive’s employment with the Company and for the Restricted Period, the Executive will not engage, directly or indirectly, as an owner, director, trustee, member, stockholder, or in any other corporate capacity in any material business that the Company conducts as of the date of the Executive’s termination of employment.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall not be deemed to have violated this Section 8(a) solely (i) by reason of his passive ownership of 1% or less of the outstanding stock of any publicly traded corporation or other entity, (ii) by providing legal, accounting or audit services as an employee or partner of a professional services organization or (iii) by providing services to any investment banking or other institution that do not relate to any material business that the Company conducts as of the date of the Executive’s termination of employment.

 

(b)                                 Non-Solicitation of Clients.  During the Restricted Period, the Executive agrees not to solicit, directly or indirectly, on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person(s), any client of the Company to whom the Company had provided services at any time during the Executive’s employment with the Company in any line of business that the Company conducts as of the date of the Executive’s termination of employment or that the Company is actively soliciting, for the purpose of marketing or providing any service competitive with any service then offered by the Company.

 

(c)                                  Non-Solicitation of Employees.  During the Restricted Period, the Executive agrees that he will not, directly or indirectly, hire or attempt to hire or cause any business, other than an affiliate of the Company, to hire any person who is then or was at any time during the preceding six (6) months an employee of the Company and who is at the time of such hire or attempted hire, or was at the date of such employee’s separation from the Company a vice president, senior vice president or executive vice president or other senior executive employee of the Company.

 

(d)                                 Acknowledgement.  The Executive acknowledges that he will acquire much Proprietary Information concerning the past, present and future business of the Company as the result of his employment, as well as access to the relationships

 

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between the Company and its clients and employees.  The Executive further acknowledges that the business of the Company is very competitive and that competition by him in that business during his employment, or after his employment terminates, would severely injure the Company.  The Executive understands and agrees that the restrictions contained in this Section 8 are reasonable and are required for the Company’s legitimate protection, and do not unduly limit his ability to earn a livelihood.

 

(e)                                  Rights and Remedies upon Breach.  The Executive acknowledges and agrees that any breach by him of any of the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 (the “Restrictive Covenants”) would result in irreparable injury and damage for which money damages would not provide an adequate remedy.  Therefore, if the Executive breaches, or threatens to commit a breach of, any of the provisions of the Restrictive Covenants, the Company and its affiliates shall have the following rights and remedies, each of which rights and remedies shall be independent of the other and severally enforceable, and all of which rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available to the Company and its affiliates under law or in equity (including, without limitation, the recovery of damages):

 

(i)            The right and remedy to have the Restrictive Covenants specifically enforced (without posting bond and without the need to prove damages) by any court of competent jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the right to an entry against the Executive of restraining orders and injunctions (preliminary, mandatory, temporary and permanent) against violations, threatened or actual, and whether or not then continuing, of such covenants; and

 

(ii)           The right and remedy to require the Executive to account for and pay over to the Company and its affiliates all compensation, profits, monies, accruals, increments or other benefits (collectively, “Benefits”) derived or received by him as the result of any transactions constituting a breach of the Restrictive Covenants, and the Executive shall account for and pay over such Benefits to the Company and, if applicable, its affected affiliates.

 

(f)                                   Without limiting Section 14(k), if any court or other decision-maker of competent jurisdiction determines that any of the Restrictive Covenants, or any part thereof, is unenforceable because of the duration or geographical scope of such provision, then, after such determination has become final and unappealable, the duration or scope of such provision, as the case may be, shall be reduced so that such provision becomes enforceable and, in its reduced form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced.

 

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9.                                      Executive Representation

 

The Executive represents and warrants to the Company that he is not now under any obligation of a contractual or other nature to any person, business or other entity which is inconsistent or in conflict with this Agreement or which would prevent him from performing his obligations under this Agreement.

 

10.                               Mediation and Arbitration

 

(a)                                 Except as provided in Section 10(b) and 10(c), any disputes between the Company and the Executive in any way concerning the Executive’s employment, the termination of his employment, this Agreement or its enforcement shall be subject to mediation.  If the Company and the Executive cannot agree upon a mediator, each shall select one name from a list of mediators maintained by any bona fide dispute resolution provider or other private mediator; the two selected shall then choose a third person who will serve as the sole mediator. The first mediation session shall occur within forty-five (45) calendar days following the notice of a dispute.  If within sixty (60) days of the first mediation session the claim is not resolved, either party may request that the dispute be settled exclusively by arbitration in the state of Maryland by a single arbitrator, selected in the same manner as the mediator, in accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association in effect at the time of submission to arbitration.  Judgment may be entered on the arbitrators’ award in any court having jurisdiction.  For purposes of entering any judgment upon an award rendered by the arbitrators, any or all of the following courts have jurisdiction:  (i) the United States District Court for the Fourth Circuit, (ii) any of the courts of the State of Maryland, or (iii) any other court having jurisdiction.  Any service of process or notice requirements in any such proceeding shall be satisfied if the rules of such court relating thereto have been substantially satisfied.  The Company and the Executive waive to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to such jurisdiction and any defense of inconvenient forum.  A judgment upon an award rendered by the arbitrators may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.  Each party shall bear its or his costs and expenses arising in connection with any arbitration proceeding.

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company, in its sole discretion, may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to seek injunctive relief and such other relief as the Company shall elect to enforce the Restrictive Covenants.  If the courts of any one or more of such jurisdictions hold the Restrictive Covenants wholly unenforceable by reason of breadth of scope or otherwise it is the intention of the Company and the Executive that such determination not bar or in any way affect the Company’s right, or the right of any of its affiliates, to the relief provided in Section 8(e) above in the courts of any other jurisdiction within the

 

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geographical scope of such Restrictive Covenants, as to breaches of such Restrictive Covenants in such other respective jurisdictions, such Restrictive Covenants as they relate to each jurisdiction being, for this purpose, severable, diverse and independent covenants, subject, where appropriate, to the doctrine of res judicata.  The parties hereby agree to waive any right to a trial by jury for any and all disputes hereunder (whether or not relating to the Restrictive Covenants).

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company or the Executive may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to resolve any dispute under or seek the enforcement of Section 6.

 

11.                               Section 409A.

 

To the extent the Executive would be subject to the additional twenty percent (20%) tax imposed on certain deferred compensation arrangements pursuant to Section 409A, as a result of any provision of this Agreement, such provision shall be deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary to avoid application of such tax and preserve to the maximum extent possible the original intent and economic benefit to the Executive and the Company, and the parties shall promptly execute any amendment reasonably necessary to implement this Section 11.

 

(a)                                 For purposes of Section 409A, the Executive’s right to receive installment payments pursuant to this Agreement including, without limitation, each severance payment and health insurance payment shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments.

 

(b)                                 The Executive will be deemed to have a date of termination for purposes of determining the timing of any payments or benefits hereunder that are classified as deferred compensation only upon a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if at the time of the Executive’s separation from service, (i) the Executive is a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A and using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time), and (ii) the Company makes a good faith determination that an amount payable on account of such separation from service to the Executive constitutes deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) the payment of which is required to be delayed pursuant to the six (6) month delay rule set forth in Section 409A in order to avoid taxes or penalties under Section 409A (the “Delay Period”), then the Company will not pay such amount on the otherwise scheduled payment date but will instead pay it in a lump sum on the first business day after such six (6) month period (or upon the Executive’s death, if earlier), together with interest for the period of delay, compounded annually, equal to the prime rate (as published in the Wall Street Journal) in effect as of the dates the payments should otherwise have been provided.  To the extent that any benefits to be provided during the Delay

 

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Period are considered deferred compensation under Section 409A provided on account of a “separation from service,” and such benefits are not otherwise exempt from Section 409A, the Executive shall pay the cost of such benefit during the Delay Period, and the Company shall reimburse the Executive, to the extent that such costs would otherwise have been paid by the Company or to the extent that such benefits would otherwise have been provided by the Company at no cost to the Executive, the Company’s share of the cost of such benefits upon expiration of the Delay Period, and any remaining benefits shall be reimbursed or provided by the Company in accordance with the procedures specified herein.

 

(d)                                 (A) Any amount that the Executive is entitled to be reimbursed under this Agreement will be reimbursed to the Executive as promptly as practical and in any event not later than the last day of the calendar year after the calendar year in which the expenses are incurred, (B) any right to reimbursement or in kind benefits will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit, and (C) the amount of the expenses eligible for reimbursement during any taxable year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other taxable year.

 

(e)                                  Whenever a payment under this Agreement specifies a payment period with reference to a number of days (e.g., “payment shall be made within thirty (30) days following the date of termination”), the actual date of payment within the specified period shall be within the sole discretion of the Company.

 

12.                               Parachute Payment Limitations

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or of any other agreement, contract, or understanding heretofore or hereafter entered into by the Executive and the Company or its affiliates, except an agreement, contract, or understanding hereafter entered into that expressly modifies or excludes application of this Section 12 (the “Other Agreements”), and notwithstanding any formal or informal plan or other arrangement heretofore or hereafter adopted by the Company or any of its affiliates for the direct or indirect compensation of the Executive (including groups or classes of participants or beneficiaries of which the Executive is a member), whether or not such compensation is deferred, is in cash, or is in the form of a benefit to or for the Executive (a “Benefit Arrangement”), if the Executive is a “disqualified individual,” as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Code, any right to receive any payment or other benefit under this Agreement shall not become exercisable or vested (i) to the extent that such right to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit, taking into account all other rights, payments, or benefits to or for Executive under the Agreement, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements, would cause any payment or benefit to the Executive under this Agreement to be considered a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code as then in effect (a “Parachute Payment”) and (ii) if, as a result of receiving a Parachute Payment, the aggregate after-tax amounts received by the Executive from the Company or any of its affiliates under this Agreement, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements would be less than the

 

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maximum after-tax amount that could be received by Executive without causing any such payment or benefit to be considered a Parachute Payment.  In the event that the receipt of any such right to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit under this Agreement, in conjunction with all other rights, payments, or benefits to or for the Executive under the Agreement, any Other Agreement or any Benefit Arrangement would cause the Executive to be considered to have received a Parachute Payment under this Agreement that would have the effect of decreasing the after-tax amount received by the Executive as described in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, then the Executive shall have the right, in the Executive’s sole discretion, to designate those rights, payments, or benefits under this Agreement, any Other Agreements, and any Benefit Arrangements that should be reduced or eliminated so as to avoid having the payment or benefit to the Executive under this Agreement be deemed to be a Parachute Payment; provided, however, that, to the extent any payment or benefit constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A, in order to comply with Section 409A, the reduction or elimination will be performed in the following order: (A) reduction of cash payments; (B) reduction of COBRA benefits; (C) cancellation of acceleration of vesting on any equity awards for which the exercise price exceeds the then fair market value of the underlying equity; and (D) cancellation of acceleration of vesting of equity awards not covered under (C) above; provided, however that in the event that acceleration of vesting of equity awards is to be cancelled, such acceleration of vesting shall be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of such equity awards, that is, later granted equity awards shall be canceled before earlier granted equity awards.

 

13.                               Clawback Policies

 

The Executive is subject to any recoupment or clawback policies that the Company may implement or maintain at any time regarding incentive-based compensation, which is granted or awarded to Executive on or after the date of this Agreement.  Such policies may include the right to recover incentive-based compensation (including stock options awarded as compensation) awarded or received during the three-year period preceding the date on which the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under federal securities laws.  The Executive agrees to amend any awards and agreements entered into on or after the date of this Agreement as the Company may request to reasonably implement to policies.

 

14.                               Miscellaneous

 

(a)                                 Payment of Financial Obligations.  The payment or provision to the Executive by the Company of any remuneration, benefits or other financial obligations pursuant to this Agreement and any indemnification obligations, shall be allocated between the Company and the Operating Partnership by the Compensation Committee based on any reasonable method.

 

(b)                                 Notices.  All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effective (i) upon personal delivery, (ii) upon deposit with the United States Postal Service, by registered or certified mail, postage

 

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prepaid, or (iii) in the case of facsimile transmission or delivery by nationally recognized overnight delivery service, when received, addressed as follows:

 

(c)                                  If to the Company, to:

 

RLJ Lodging Trust

3 Metro Center

Suite 1100

Bethesda, MD 20814

Attention: Anita Cooke Wells, Senior Vice President, Administration

 

(i)                                     If to the Executive, to:

 

Thomas J. Baltimore, Jr.

Address on file with the Company

 

or to such other address or addresses as either party shall designate to the other in writing from time to time by like notice.

 

(d)                                 Pronouns.  Whenever the context may require, any pronouns used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular forms of nouns and pronouns shall include the plural, and vice versa.

 

(e)                                  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

(f)                                   Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument executed by the Company and the Executive.

 

(g)                                  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflicts of laws principles.

 

(h)                                 Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns, including any entity with which or into which the Company may be merged or which may succeed to its assets or business or any entity to which the Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that the obligations of the Executive are personal and shall not be assigned or delegated by him.

 

(i)                                     Waiver.  No delays or omission by the Company or the Executive in exercising any right under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of that or any other right.

 

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A waiver or consent by the Company shall not be effective unless consented to by the Operating Partnership and vice versa.  A waiver or consent given by the Company or the Executive on any one occasion shall be effective only in that instance and shall not be construed as a bar or waiver of any right on any other occasion.

 

(j)                                    Captions.  The captions appearing in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and in no way define, limit or affect the scope or substance of any section of this Agreement.

 

(k)                                 Severability.  In case any provision of this Agreement shall be held by a court or arbitrator with jurisdiction over the parties to this Agreement to be invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable, such provision shall be restated to reflect as nearly as possible the original intentions of the parties in accordance with applicable law, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall in no way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

(l)                                     Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

17

 

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

 

	
 
    	
RLJ LODGING TRUST
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/ Robert L. Johnson
    
	
 
    	
Name: 
    	
Robert L. Johnson
    
	
 
    	
Title: 
    	
Executive Chairman
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
RLJ LODGING TRUST,   L.P.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
RLJ Lodging Trust, its
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
general partner
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By: 
    	
/s/ Robert L. Johnson
    
	
 
    	
Name: 
    	
Robert L. Johnson
    
	
 
    	
Title: 
    	
Executive Chairman
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
THOMAS J. BALTIMORE, JR.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
/s/ Thomas J. Baltimore, Jr.
    
				

 

 

Exhibit A

 

WAIVER AND RELEASE AGREEMENT

 

THIS WAIVER AND RELEASE AGREEMENT (this “Release”) is entered into as of [                        ] (the “Effective Date”), by Thomas J. Baltimore, Jr. (“Executive”) in consideration of severance pay (the “Severance Payment”) provided to Executive by RLJ Lodging Trust, a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”) and RLJ Lodging Trust, L.P. (together with the Company, the “Company Group”), pursuant to the Employment Agreement by and among the Company Group and Executive (the “Employment Agreement”).

 

1.                                      Waiver and Release.  Subject to the last sentence of the first paragraph of this Section 1, Executive, on his own behalf and on behalf of his heirs, executors, administrators, attorneys and assigns, hereby unconditionally and irrevocably releases, waives and forever discharges the Company Group and each of their affiliates, parents, successors, predecessors, and the subsidiaries, directors, trustees, owners, members, shareholders, officers, agents, and employees of the Company Group and their affiliates, parents, successors, predecessors, and subsidiaries (collectively, all of the foregoing are referred to as the “Employer”), from any and all causes of action, claims and damages, including attorneys’ fees, whether known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, presently asserted or otherwise arising through the date of his signing of this Release, concerning his employment or separation from employment.  Subject to the last sentence of the first paragraph of this Section 1, this Release includes, but is not limited to, any payments, benefits or damages arising under any federal law (including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Executive Order 11246, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, each as amended, and all other employment discrimination laws whatsoever as may be created or amended from time to time); any claim arising under any state or local laws, ordinances or regulations (including, but not limited to, any state or local laws, ordinances or regulations requiring that advance notice be given of certain workforce reductions); and any claim arising under any common law principle or public policy, including, but not limited to, all suits in tort or contract, such as wrongful termination, defamation, emotional distress, invasion of privacy or loss of consortium.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Release to the contrary, this Release does not encompass, and Executive does not release, waive or discharge, the obligations of the Company Group (a) to make the payments and provide the other benefits contemplated by the Employment Agreement, or (b) under any restricted stock agreement, option agreement or other agreement pertaining to Executive’s equity ownership, or (c) under any indemnification or similar agreement with Executive or indemnification under the Articles of Incorporation, Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, Bylaws or other governing instruments of the Company Group.

 

Executive understands that by signing this Release, he is not waiving any claims or administrative charges which cannot be waived by law.  He is waiving, however, any

 

 

right to monetary recovery or individual relief should any federal, state or local agency (including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) pursue any claim on his behalf arising out of or related to his employment with and/or separation from employment with the Company Group.

 

Executive further agrees without any reservation whatsoever, never to sue the Employer or become a party to a lawsuit on the basis of any and all claims of any type lawfully and validly released in this Release.

 

2.                                      Acknowledgments.  Executive is signing this Release knowingly and voluntarily.  He acknowledges that:

 

(a)                                 He is hereby advised in writing to consult an attorney before signing this Release;

 

(b)                                 He has relied solely on his own judgment and/or that of his attorney regarding the consideration for and the terms of this Release and is signing this Release knowingly and voluntarily of his own free will;

 

(c)                                  He is not entitled to the Severance Payment unless he agrees to and honors the terms of this Release;

 

(d)                                 He has been given at least twenty-one (21) calendar days to consider this Release, or he expressly waives his right to have at least twenty-one (21) days to consider this Release;

 

(e)                                  He may revoke this Release within seven (7) calendar days after signing it by submitting a written notice of revocation to the Employer.  He further understands that this Release is not effective or enforceable until after the seven (7) day period of revocation has expired without revocation, and that if he revokes this Release within the seven (7) day revocation period, he will not receive the Severance Payment;

 

(f)                                   He has read and understands the Release and further understands that, subject to the limitations contained herein, it includes a general release of any and all known and unknown, foreseen or unforeseen claims presently asserted or otherwise arising through the date of his signing of this Release that he may have against the Employer; and

 

(g)                                  No statements made or conduct by the Employer has in any way coerced or unduly influenced him to execute this Release.

 

 

3.                                      No Admission of Liability.  This Release does not constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing on the part of the Employer, the Employer does not admit there has been any wrongdoing whatsoever against the Executive, and the Employer expressly denies that any wrongdoing has occurred.

 

4.                                      Entire Agreement.  There are no other agreements of any nature between the Employer and Executive with respect to the matters discussed in this Release, except as expressly stated herein, and in signing this Release, Executive is not relying on any agreements or representations, except those expressly contained in this Release.

 

5.                                      Execution.  It is not necessary that the Employer sign this Release following Executive’s full and complete execution of it for it to become fully effective and enforceable.

 

6.                                      Severability.  If any provision of this Release is found, held or deemed by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void, unlawful or unenforceable under any applicable statute or controlling law, the remainder of this Release shall continue in full force and effect.

 

7.                                      Governing Law.  This Release shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, excluding the choice of law rules thereof.

 

8.                                      Headings.  Section and subsection headings contained in this Release are inserted for the convenience of reference only.  Section and subsection headings shall not be deemed to be a part of this Release for any purpose, and they shall not in any way define or affect the meaning, construction or scope of any of the provisions hereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first herein above written.

 

	
 
    	
EXECUTIVE:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
THOMAS J. BALTIMORE, JR.

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