American Public Education, Inc.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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Delaware
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001-33810
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01-0724376
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(State or other jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
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(Commission
File Number)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
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111 W. Congress Street
Charles Town, West Virginia
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25414
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304-724-3700
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(Address of principal
executive offices)
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(Zip Code)
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(Registrant's telephone
number including area code)
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(d)
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Exhibits
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10.1
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Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated April 28, 2014, by and among American Public University System, Inc., American Public Education, Inc. and Wallace E. Boston, Jr.
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10.2
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Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated April 28, 2014, by and among American Public University System, Inc., American Public Education, Inc. and Harry T. Wilkins
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May 2, 2014
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American Public Education, Inc.
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By: /s/ Richard W. Sunderland, Jr.
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Richard W. Sunderland, Jr.
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Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
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10.1
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Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated April 28, 2014, by and among American Public University System, Inc., American Public Education, Inc. and Wallace E. Boston, Jr.
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10.2
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Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated April 28, 2014, by and among American Public University System, Inc., American Public Education, Inc. and Harry T. Wilkins
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a.
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Base Salary. The Company shall pay to the Executive an annual base salary (the “Base Salary”) at the rate of $610,000 per year. The Base Salary shall be reviewed no less frequently than annually and may be increased at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”). If the Executive’s Base Salary is increased, the increased amount shall be the Base Salary for the remainder of the employment term hereunder, except that the Company may reduce the Executive’s Base Salary at any time as part of a general salary reduction applied to all employees of the Company with annual salaries in excess of $150,000 (the “Senior Executive Group”) in which case the Executive’s reduced Base Salary shall be the Base Salary for the remainder of the employment term hereunder. Any such reduction in the Executive’s Base Salary shall be no more than the lesser of the median of the percentage salary reductions applied to the Senior Executive Group or twenty percent (20%). The Base Salary shall be payable biweekly or in such other installments as shall be consistent with the Company’s payroll procedures.
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b.
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Annual Bonus. The Executive shall be eligible to receive a bonus of up to sixty percent (60%) of the Executive’s Base Salary for each year as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion (the “Annual Bonus”), based upon the achievement of certain performance goals established by the Compensation Committee for each year. The Executive will also be eligible to receive an additional percentage of up to forty percent (40%) of the Executive’s Base Salary for each year as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion, based upon the achievement of certain “stretch” performance goals established by the Compensation Committee for each year. Any such bonus shall be paid by March 15 of the year following the year of performance.
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c.
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Other Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to receive such other benefits approved by the Compensation Committee and made available to senior executives of the Company. The Executive also shall be entitled to participate in such plans and to receive such bonuses, incentive compensation and fringe benefits as may be granted or established by the Company from time to time. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent the Company from changing carriers or from effecting modifications in insurance coverage for the Executive.
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d.
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Vacation; Holidays. The Executive shall be entitled to all public holidays observed by the Company and vacation days in accordance with the applicable vacation policies for senior executives of the Company, which shall be taken at a reasonable time or times.
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e.
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Withholding Taxes and Other Deductions. To the extent required by law, the Company shall withhold from any payments due Executive under this Agreement any applicable federal, state or local taxes and such other deductions as are prescribed by law or Company policy.
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a.
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The Executive covenants and agrees that the Executive will not ever, without the prior written consent of the Board or a person authorized by the Board or except as may be ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, publish or disclose to any unaffiliated third party (other than in the Executive’s good faith conduct of his position and duties with the Company and/or Parent and on behalf of the Company, Parent or their affiliates) or use for the Executive’s personal benefit or advantage any confidential information with respect to the Company’s, Parent’s or their affiliates’ past, present, or planned business, including but not limited to all information and materials related to any Company, Parent or their affiliates’ business, business plan, product, service, procedure, strategy, method, technique, technology, research, plan, customer or supplier information, customer or supplier list, financial data, technical data, computer files, and computer software, including any of the foregoing that is in any stage of research, development, or planning, and any other information which the Executive obtained while employed by, or otherwise serving or acting on behalf of, the Company, Parent or their affiliates or which the Executive may possess or have under his control, that is not generally known (except for unauthorized disclosures) to the public or within the industries in which the Company, Parent or their affiliates, respectively, do business.
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b.
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The Executive acknowledges that the restrictions contained in Section 8(a) hereof are reasonable and necessary, in view of the nature of the Company’s business, in order to protect the legitimate interests of the Company, and that any violation thereof would result in irreparable injury to the Company. Therefore, the Executive agrees that in the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Executive of the provisions of Section 8(a) hereof, the Company or Parent shall be entitled to obtain from any court of competent jurisdiction, preliminary or permanent injunctive relief restraining the Executive from disclosing or using any confidential information. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company or Parent from pursuing any other remedies available to it for breach or threatened breach, including, without limitation, recovery of damages from the Executive.
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c.
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The Executive shall deliver promptly to the Company or Parent on termination of employment, or at any other time the Company or Parent may so request, all confidential materials, memoranda, notes, records, reports and other documents and materials (and all copies thereof), in whatever form or medium, that contain any of the foregoing, including but not limited to computer data, files, software, and hardware, relating to the Company’s, Parent’s or their affiliates’ respective businesses which the Executive obtained while employed by, or otherwise serving or acting on behalf of, the Company, Parent or their affiliates or which the Executive may then possess or have under his control.
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a.
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Non-Competition. The Executive covenants and agrees that, during the Executive’s employment hereunder and for a period of twenty-four (24) months thereafter (to the extent permitted by law), the Executive will not at any time, in the United States or any other jurisdiction in which the Company, the Parent or their corporate controlled affiliates is engaged or has reasonably firm plans to engage in business, whether as a principal, investor, employee, consultant, independent contractor, officer, director, board member, manager, partner, agent, or otherwise, alone or in association with any other person, firm, corporation, or business organization, work for, become employed by, engage in, carry on, provide services to, or assist in any manner (whether or not for compensation or gain) a person or entity that engages in any business in which the Company, the Parent, or any of their corporate controlled affiliates is engaged (a “Competing Business”), where Executive’s position or service for such Competing Business relates to Executive’s positions with or the types of services performed by the Executive for the Company, the Parent, or any of their corporate controlled affiliates, or is otherwise competitive with the Company’s, the Parent’s, or any of their affiliates’ products or services; provided, however, that the foregoing will not prohibit the Executive from (i) serving on Board of Directors (or comparable bodies) of other entities where the Parent has given prior permission, (ii) after the occurrence of both a Change of Control (as defined in Section 12) and the termination of the Executive’s employment, being employed by (A) a campus-based institution of higher education that derives no more than twenty percent (20%) of its revenues from online education, provided, that the Executive is not predominantly engaged in supporting the online education, or (B) an online learning company that does not provide higher education, or (iii) serving as a faculty member, “scholar in residence” or similar academic position, provided, that the Executive does not engage in administrative matters, other than to a de minimis extent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the ownership by the Executive of less than five percent (5%) of the outstanding stock of any corporation listed on a national securities exchange shall not be deemed a violation of this Section 9(a).
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b.
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Injunctive Relief. In the event the restrictions against engaging in a competitive activity contained in Section 9(a) hereof shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of their extending for too great a period of time or over too great a geographical area or by reason of their being too extensive in any other respect, Section 9(a) hereof shall be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time for which it may be enforceable and over the maximum geographical area as to which it may be enforceable and to the maximum extent in all other respects as to which it may be enforceable, all as determined by the court in the action.
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c.
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Non-Solicitation. The Executive covenants and agrees that the Executive will not, during the Executive’s employment hereunder and for a period of twenty-four (24) months thereafter solicit, induce, entice, or encourage or attempt to solicit, induce, entice, or encourage any employee of the Company, the Parent, or any of their corporate controlled affiliates to render services for any other person, firm, entity, or corporation or to terminate his or her employment with the Company, the Parent, or any of their corporate controlled affiliates.
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a.
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Death. The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon the Executive’s death.
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b.
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By the Company. The Company or Parent may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder under the following circumstances:
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i.
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The Company or Parent may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for “Disability.” For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean the Executive shall have been unable to perform all of the Executive’s duties hereunder by reason of illness, physical or mental disability or other similar incapacity, which inability shall continue for more than three (3) consecutive months.
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ii.
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The Company or Parent may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for “Cause.” For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean (A) refusal by the Executive to follow a lawful written order of the Chairman of the Board or the Board, (B) the Executive’s engagement in conduct materially injurious to the Company or its reputation, (C) dishonesty of a material nature that relates to the performance of the Executive’s duties under this Agreement, (D) the Executive’s conviction for any crime involving moral turpitude or any felony, and (E) the Executive’s continued failure to perform his duties under this Agreement (except due to the Executive’s incapacity as a result of physical or mental illness) to the satisfaction of the Board for a period of at least thirty (30) consecutive days after written notice is delivered to the Executive specifically identifying the manner in which the Executive has failed to perform his duties.
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iii.
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The Company, in the sole discretion of its board of trustees, or the Parent, in the sole discretion of the Board, may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder at any time other than for Disability or Cause, for any reason or for no reason at all.
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c.
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By the Executive. The Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for “Good Reason.” For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean:
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i.
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the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in any material respect with the Executive’s position as contemplated by Section 3 of this Agreement, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;
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ii.
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any material failure by the Company or Parent to comply with any of the provisions of this Agreement, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure which is remedied by the Company or Parent promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive, provided, that in no event will a failure to pay the Annual Bonus by March 15 of the year following the performance year be considered a material failure by the Company or Parent to comply with this Agreement;
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iii.
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after a Change of Control (as defined in Section 12) the Executive does not continue as the Chief Executive Officer, or any other office he holds at the time of the Change of Control, of the most senior resulting entity succeeding to the business of the Company;
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iv.
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any material failure by the Company or Parent to comply with and satisfy Section 16(c) of this Agreement.
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d.
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Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company, the Parent or the Executive (other than pursuant to Section 10(a) hereof) shall be communicated by written “Notice of Termination” to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 13 hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, if any, and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated.
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e.
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Date of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, the “Date of Termination” shall mean (i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive’s death, the date of the Executive’s death; (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 10(b)(i) hereof, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination, provided, that the Executive shall not have returned to the performance of the Executive’s duties on a full-time basis during this thirty (30)-day period; (iii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 10(b)(ii) or 10(b)(iii) hereof, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; (iv) if the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 10(c) hereof, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, provided, however, that such date must occur after the cure period provided in Section 10(c); and (v) if the Executive’s employment is terminated for any other reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder (the “Code”)).
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f.
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Termination Solely by Parent. For purposes of this Agreement, any termination solely by Parent and not by the Company shall not affect the Executive’s rights to continue to receive the benefit of any provisions, rights or privileges hereunder that relate to employment of the Executive by the Company.
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a.
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If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive’s death, the Company shall pay to the Executive’s estate, or as may be directed by the legal representatives of the estate, (i) the Executive’s full Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (ii) any compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest or earnings thereon) and any accrued vacation pay, in each case, to the extent not theretofore paid, and (iii) all other unpaid amounts, if any, to which the Executive is entitled as of the Date of Termination in connection with any fringe benefits or under any incentive compensation plan or program of the Company pursuant to Sections 5(b) and (c) hereof (the sum of the amounts described in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) shall be hereinafter referred to as the “Base Amount”), at the time these payments are due and the Company shall have no further obligations to the Executive under this Agreement.
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b.
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If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Disability as provided in Section 10(b)(i) hereof, the Company shall pay the Executive the following amounts and shall have no further obligations to the Executive, provided, that in the case of payments to be made pursuant to section (ii) below, on or before the sixtieth day following the Date of Termination, the Executive executes a release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Appendix A and all revocation periods applicable to such release have expired without the release being revoked:
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i.
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an amount equal to the sum of (A) the Executive’s Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (B) the product of (x) the Annual Bonus (to the extent Company and Executive performance were satisfying the performance targets, adjusted for the short period through the Date of Termination, for an Annual Bonus) and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365, and (C) any compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest or earnings thereon) and any accrued vacation pay, in each case, to the extent not theretofore paid, (the sum of the amounts described in clauses (A), (B), and (C) shall be hereinafter referred to as the “Accrued Obligations”) in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days of the Date of Termination; and
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ii.
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an amount equal to the sum of (A) the Executive’s Base Salary and (B) the Annual Bonus (to the extent Company and Executive performance were satisfying the performance targets, adjusted for the short period, after the Date of Termination to the end of the calendar year for an Annual Bonus and as to the remainder of the twenty-four (24)-month period following the Date of Termination, only if net income has increased from the same period in the prior year and the performance targets established for the successor chief executive officer were being satisfied for that period), in substantially equal proportionate installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices for a period of twenty-four (24) months, commencing within sixty (60) days following Executive’s Date of Termination, provided, that if Executive’s Date of Termination occurs within sixty (60) days prior to the end of a calendar year, payments will commence in the year after the Date of Termination, and in all cases, the first payment shall include all payments Executive would have received if payments had been continuous after the Date of Termination; provided, that payments made to the Executive under this section shall be reduced by the sum of the amounts, if any, payable to the Executive at or prior to the time of any payment under disability benefit plans of the Company and which amounts were not previously applied to reduce any payment, provided, further, that any such reduction shall be done in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code.
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c.
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If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause as provided in Section 10(b)(ii) hereof or if the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment other than for Good Reason, the Company shall pay the Executive the Base Amounts, and the Company shall have no further obligations to the Executive under this Agreement.
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d.
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Except where payments are required to be made under Section 11(e), if the Company terminates the Executive’s employment other than for Cause or Disability or the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment for Good Reason as provided in Section 10(c) hereof, the Company shall pay the Executive the following amounts and shall have no further obligations to the Executive, provided, that, in the case of (ii) through (v), on or before the sixtieth day following the Date of Termination, the Executive executes a release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Appendix A and all revocation periods applicable to such release have expired without the release being revoked:
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i.
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the Accrued Obligations in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days of the Date of Termination;
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ii.
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an amount equal to the sum of (A) the Executive’s Base Salary and (B) the Annual Bonus (to the extent Company and Executive performance were satisfying the performance targets, adjusted for the short period, after the Date of Termination to the end of the calendar year for an Annual Bonus and as to the remainder of the twenty-four (24)-month period following the Date of Termination, only if net income has increased from the same period in the prior year and the performance targets established for the successor chief executive officer were being satisfied for that period), in substantially equal proportionate installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices for a period of twenty-four (24) months, commencing within sixty (60) days following Executive’s Date of Termination, provided, that if Executive’s Date of Termination occurs within sixty (60) days prior to the end of a calendar year, payments will commence in the year after the Date of Termination, and in all cases, the first payment shall include all payments Executive would have received if payments had been continuous after the Date of Termination; and
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iii.
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for twenty-four (24) months after the Date of Termination, or any longer period as may be provided by the terms of the appropriate plan, program, practice or policy, the Company shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive’s family at least equal to those which would have been provided to them in accordance with the welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable generally to other peer employees of the Company and its affiliated companies, as if the Executive’s employment had not been terminated; provided, however, that the Company may elect, with respect to some or all of such benefits, that in lieu of the continuation of such benefits, the Company may pay to the Executive a lump sum payment, less applicable withholdings for federal, state, and local taxes, equal to twenty-four (24) months’ premiums (at the rate and level of coverage applicable at the time of the Executive’s termination) under the Company’s welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs (at the rate and level of coverage applicable at the time of the Executive’s termination) for the benefits for which this election is made; provided, further, that if such a lump sum payment is not permissible without incurring taxes under Section 409A of the Code, the Company may elect to make twenty-four (24) monthly payments to the Executive to aggregate to the amounts that would otherwise have been paid a lump sum; and provided, further, that if the Executive becomes reemployed with another employer and is eligible to receive medical or other welfare benefits under another employer provided plan, the medical and other welfare benefits described herein shall be secondary to those provided under the other plan during the applicable period of eligibility.
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iv.
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subject to Section 12 hereof, to the extent that less than thirty three and one-third percent (33 1/3%) of all equity awards granted to the Executive under the equity incentive plans maintained for Company employees which are outstanding at the time of such event shall be vested on the Date of Termination, such additional number of equity awards, if any, shall immediately accelerate and vest and become exercisable in accordance with their terms, assuming, for purposes of any performance based awards achievement at the target level. This Agreement is intended to amend all equity awards previously awarded to the Executive to modify vesting as described above to the extent more than sixty six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the equity held by the Executive shall not be vested under the terms of such stock option grants on the Date of Termination.
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v.
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to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, for twenty-four (24) months after the Date of Termination, the Company shall timely pay or provide to the Executive any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which the Executive is eligible to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company and its affiliated companies (these other amounts and benefits shall be hereinafter referred to as the “Other Benefits”).
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e.
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If within one hundred and eighty (180) days after a Change of Control (as defined in Section 12), the Company terminates the Executive’s employment other than for Cause or Disability or the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment for Good Reason as provided in Section 10(c) hereof, the Company shall pay the Executive the following amounts and shall have no further obligations to the Executive, provided, that, in the case of (ii) through (iv), on or before the sixtieth day following the Date of Termination, the Executive executes a release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Appendix A and all revocation periods applicable to such release have expired without the release being revoked:
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i.
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an amount equal to the sum of (A) the Executive’s Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (B) the product of (x) the Annual Bonus (to the extent Company and Executive performance were satisfying the performance targets, adjusted for the short period through the Date of Termination, for an Annual Bonus) and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the effective date of termination of the Executive’s employment (the “Change of Control Date of Termination”), and the denominator of which is 365, and (C) any compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest or earnings thereon) and any accrued vacation pay, in each case, to the extent not theretofore paid, in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days of the Change of Control Date of Termination;
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ii.
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an amount equal to the sum of (A) two (2) times the Executive’s Base Salary and (B) two (2) times the Annual Bonus (to the extent the Company and Executive performance were satisfying the performance targets, adjusted for the short period), in a lump sum in cash within sixty (60) days of the Change of Control Date of Termination, provided, that if Executive’s Change of Control Date of Termination occurs within sixty (60) days prior to the end of a calendar year, payments will be paid on the first payroll date in the year after the Change of Control Date of Termination;
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iii.
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for twenty-four (24) months after the Date of Termination, or any longer period as may be provided by the terms of the appropriate plan, program, practice or policy, the Company shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive’s family at least equal to those which would have been provided to them in accordance with the welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable generally to other peer employees of the Company and its affiliated companies, as if the Executive’s employment had not been terminated; provided, however, that the Company may elect, with respect to some or all of such benefits, that in lieu of the continuation of such benefits, the Company may pay to the Executive a lump sum payment, less applicable withholdings for federal, state, and local taxes, equal to twenty-four (24) months’ premiums (at the rate and level of coverage applicable at the time of the Executive’s termination) under the Company’s welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs (at the rate and level of coverage applicable at the time of the Executive’s termination) for the benefits for which this election is made; provided, further, that if such a lump sum payment is not permissible without incurring taxes under Section 409A of the Code, the Company may elect to make twenty-four (24) monthly payments to the Executive to aggregate to the amounts that would otherwise have been paid a lump sum; and provided, further, that if the Executive becomes reemployed with another employer and is eligible to receive medical or other welfare benefits under another employer provided plan, the medical and other welfare benefits described herein shall be secondary to those provided under the other plan during the applicable period of eligibility.
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iv.
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to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, for twenty-four (24) months after the Date of Termination, the Company shall timely pay or provide to the Executive Other Benefits; and
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v.
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in the event that it is determined that any payment, benefit, or distribution described in this Section 11(e) or in Section 12 made by the Company, by any of its affiliates, by any person who acquires ownership or effective control or ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code or by any affiliate of such person, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Section 11(e), Section 12 or otherwise (the “Total Payments”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest or penalties, are collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then the payments due under this Agreement shall be reduced so that the Total Payments will not result in the imposition of such Excise Tax. The payment reduction contemplated by the preceding sentence shall be implemented by determining the “Parachute Payment Ratio” (as defined below) for each “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and then reducing the “parachute payments” in order beginning with the “parachute payment” with the highest Parachute Payment Ratio. For “parachute payments” with the same Parachute Payment Ratio, such “parachute payments” shall be reduced based on the time of payment of such “parachute payments” with amounts having later payment dates being reduced first. For “parachute payments” with the same Parachute Payment Ratio and the same time of payment, such “parachute payments” shall be reduced on a pro rata basis (but not below zero) prior to reducing “parachute payments” with a lower Parachute Payment Ratio. For purposes hereof, the term “Parachute Payment Ratio” shall mean a fraction the numerator of which is the value of the applicable “parachute payment” for purposes of Section 280G of the Code and the denominator of which is the intrinsic value of such “parachute payment.” For purposes of determining whether any of the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax, (A) the entire amount of the Total Payments shall be treated as “parachute payments” within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(2) and as subject to the Excise Tax, unless and to the extent, in the written opinion of the Company’s independent accountants and reasonably acceptable to Executive, such payments (in whole or in part) are not subject to the Excise Tax; and (B) the value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit (constituting a part of the Total Payments) shall be determined by the Company’s independent auditors in accordance with the principles of Code Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (Y) the Total Payments exceed three (3) times the Executive’s “base amount” as defined within Section 280G and (Z) the Executive would receive at least $50,000 more on a net after-tax basis if the Total Payments were not reduced pursuant to this section (after payment of the Excise Tax), then the Company will not reduce the Total Payments and Executive shall be responsible for the Excise Tax related thereto. For purposes of determining the net after-tax benefit, the Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of the federal income taxation applicable to individuals (without taking into account surtaxes or loss or reduction of deductions) for the calendar year in which the Date of Termination occurs and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rates of taxation in the state and locality of the Executive’s residence on the Date of Termination.
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f.
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No Duty to Mitigate. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate amounts payable pursuant to Section 11 hereof by seeking other employment.
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g.
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No Additional Payments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Executive acknowledges and agrees that in the event of the termination of his employment, even if in breach of this Agreement, he will be entitled only to those payments specified herein for the circumstances of his termination, and not to any other payments by way of damages or claims of any nature, whether under this Agreement or under any other agreements between the Executive and the Company.
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a.
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If to the Company:
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b.
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If to the Parent:
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c.
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If to the Executive, to the address set forth on the signature page hereto, or to such other address as may be designated by either party in a notice to the other. Each notice, demand, request or other communication that shall be given or made in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given or made for all purposes three (3) days after it is deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, or at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the return receipt, the delivery receipt, the answer back or the affidavit of messenger being deemed conclusive evidence of delivery) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation.
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a.
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This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company and the Parent shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal representatives.
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b.
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This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and the Parent and their successors and assigns.
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c.
|
The Company and the Parent will require any successor or any party that acquires control of the Company and the Parent (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) or all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company or the Parent to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company and the Parent would be required to perform it if no succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, “Company” and “Parent” shall mean the Company or Parent, respectively, as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.
|
AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM, INC.
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Peter W. Gibbons
|
|||
Name:
|
Peter W. Gibbons
|
|||
Title:
|
Chief Administrative Officer
|
|||
AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION, INC.
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Peter W. Gibbons
|
|||
Name:
|
Peter W. Gibbons
|
|||
Title:
|
Chief Administrative Officer
|
|||
THE EXECUTIVE:
|
||||
/s/ Wallace W. Boston
|
||||
Wallace E. Boston, Jr.
|
||||
AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM, INC.
|
||||
By:
|
||||
Name:
|
||||
Title:
|
||||
AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION, INC.
|
||||
By:
|
||||
Name:
|
||||
Title:
|
||||
THE EXECUTIVE:
|
||||
Wallace E. Boston, Jr.
|
||||
|
a.
|
Base Salary. The Company shall pay to the Executive an annual base salary (the “Base Salary”) at the rate of $335,000 per year. The Base Salary shall be reviewed no less frequently than annually and may be increased at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”). If the Executive’s Base Salary is increased, the increased amount shall be the Base Salary for the remainder of the employment term hereunder, except that the Executive’s Base Salary may be reduced at any time as part of a general salary reduction applied to all employees of the Company with annual salaries in excess of $150,000 (the “Senior Executive Group”) in which case the Executive’s reduced Base Salary shall be the Base Salary for the remainder of the employment term hereunder. Any such reduction in the Executive’s Base Salary shall be no more than the lesser of the median of the percentage salary reductions applied to the Senior Executive Group or twenty percent (20%). The Base Salary shall be payable biweekly or in such other installments as shall be consistent with the Company’s payroll procedures.
|
|
b.
|
Annual Bonus. The Executive shall be eligible to receive a bonus of up to fifty percent (50%) of the Executive’s Base Salary for each year as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion (the “Annual Bonus”), based upon the achievement of certain performance goals established by the Compensation Committee for each year. The Executive will also be eligible to receive an additional percentage, bringing the aggregate bonus to up to eighty percent (80%) of the Executive’s Base Salary for each year as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion, based upon the achievement of certain “stretch” performance goals established by the Compensation Committee for each year. Any such bonus shall be paid by March 15 of the year following the year of performance.
|
|
c.
|
Other Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to receive such other benefits approved by the Compensation Committee and made available to senior executives of the Company. The Executive also shall be entitled to participate in such plans and to receive such bonuses, incentive compensation and fringe benefits as may be granted or established by the Company from time to time. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent the Company from changing carriers or from effecting modifications in insurance coverage for the Executive, and the Executive’s participation shall in all events be subject to the terms, conditions and limitations of the Company’s benefit plans.
|
|
d.
|
Vacation; Holidays. The Executive shall be entitled to all public holidays observed by the Company and vacation days in accordance with the applicable vacation policies for senior executives of the Company, which shall be taken at a reasonable time or times.
|
|
e.
|
Withholding Taxes and Other Deductions. To the extent required by law, the Company shall withhold from any payments due Executive under this Agreement any applicable federal, state or local taxes and such other deductions as are prescribed by law or Company policy.
|
|
a.
|
The Executive covenants and agrees that the Executive will not ever, without the prior written consent of the Board or a person authorized by the Board or except as may be ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, publish or disclose to any unaffiliated third party (other than in the Executive’s good faith conduct of his position and duties with the Company and on behalf of the Company or its affiliates) or use for the Executive’s personal benefit or advantage any confidential information with respect to Company’s or its affiliates’ past, present, or planned business, including but not limited to all information and materials related to any Company or its affiliates’ business, business plan, product, service, procedure, method, technique, technology, research, strategy, plan, customer or supplier information, customer or supplier list, financial data, technical data, computer files, and computer software, including any of the foregoing that is in any stage of research, development, or planning, and any other information which the Executive obtained while employed by, or otherwise serving or acting on behalf of, the Company or its affiliates or which the Executive may possess or have under his control. For purposes of this Section 8(a), confidential information is intended to include information that is not generally known to the public or within the industries in which the Company or its affiliates, respectively, do business, and information that becomes generally known as a result of unauthorized disclosures for which the Executive is responsible.
|
|
b.
|
The Executive acknowledges that the restrictions contained in Section 8(a) hereof are reasonable and necessary, in view of the nature of the Company’s business, in order to protect the legitimate interests of the Company, and that any violation thereof would result in irreparable injury to the Company. Therefore, the Executive agrees that in the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Executive of the provisions of Section 8(a) hereof, the Company or its applicable affiliate shall be entitled to obtain from any court of competent jurisdiction, preliminary or permanent injunctive relief restraining the Executive from disclosing or using any confidential information. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company or its applicable affiliate from pursuing any other remedies available to it for breach or threatened breach, including, without limitation, recovery of damages from the Executive.
|
|
c.
|
The Executive shall deliver promptly to the Company on termination of employment, or at any other time the Company may so request, all confidential materials, memoranda, notes, records, reports and other documents and materials (and all copies thereof), in whatever form or medium, that contain any of the foregoing, including but not limited to computer data, files, software, and hardware, relating to the Company’s or its affiliates’ respective businesses that the Executive obtained while employed by, or otherwise serving or acting on behalf of, the Company or its affiliates or which the Executive may then possess or have under his control.
|
|
a.
|
Non-Competition. The Executive covenants and agrees that, during the Executive’s employment hereunder and for a period of eighteen (18) months thereafter (to the extent permitted by law), the Executive will not at any time, in the United States or any other jurisdiction in which the Company, APUS, or NES is engaged or has reasonably firm plans to engage in business, whether as a principal, investor, employee, consultant, independent contractor, officer, director, board member, manager, partner, agent, or otherwise, alone or in association with any other person, firm, corporation, or business organization, work for, become employed by, engage in, carry on, provide services to, or assist in any manner (whether or not for compensation or gain) a person or entity that engages in any business in which the Company, APUS, NES, or any of their affiliates is engaged (a “Competing Business”), where Executive’s position or service for such Competing Business relates to Executive’s positions with or the types of services performed by the Executive for the Company, APUS, NES, or any of their affiliates, or is otherwise competitive with the Company’s, APUS’, NES’, or any of their affiliates’ products or services; provided, however, that the foregoing will not prohibit the Executive from serving on the Board of Directors (or comparable bodies) of other entities where the Company has given prior permission. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the ownership by the Executive of less than five percent (5%) of the outstanding stock of any corporation listed on a national securities exchange shall not be deemed a violation of this Section 9(a).
|
|
b.
|
Injunctive Relief. The Company shall be entitled to injunctive relief to protect its rights under this Section 9 without the necessity of posting a bond. In the event the restrictions against engaging in a competitive activity contained in Section 9(a) hereof shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of their extending for too great a period of time or over too great a geographical area or by reason of their being too extensive in any other respect, Section 9(a) hereof shall be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time for which it may be enforceable and over the maximum geographical area as to which it may be enforceable and to the maximum extent in all other respects as to which it may be enforceable, all as determined by the court in the action.
|
|
c.
|
Non-Solicitation. The Executive covenants and agrees that the Executive will not, during the Executive’s employment hereunder and for a period of eighteen (18) months thereafter solicit, induce, entice, or encourage or attempt to solicit, induce, entice, or encourage any employee of the Company, the Parent or any of their affiliates to render services for any other person, firm, entity, or corporation or to terminate his or her employment with the Company, the Parent, or any of their affiliates.
|
|
a.
|
Death. The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon the Executive’s death.
|
|
b.
|
By the Company. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder under the following circumstances:
|
|
i.
|
The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for “Disability.” For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean the Executive shall have been unable to perform all of the Executive’s duties hereunder by reason of illness, physical or mental disability or other similar incapacity, which inability shall continue for more than three (3) consecutive months.
|
|
ii.
|
The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for “Cause.” For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean (A) refusal by the Executive to follow a lawful written order of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Chairman of the Board or the Board, (B) the Executive’s engagement in conduct materially injurious to the Company or its reputation, (C) dishonesty of a material nature that relates to the performance of the Executive’s duties under this Agreement, (D) the Executive’s conviction for any crime involving moral turpitude or any felony, and (E) the Executive’s continued failure to perform his duties under this Agreement (except due to the Executive’s incapacity as a result of physical or mental illness) to the satisfaction of the Board for a period of at least thirty (30) consecutive days after written notice is delivered to the Executive specifically identifying the manner in which the Executive has failed to perform his duties.
|
|
iii.
|
The Company, in the sole discretion of the Board, may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder at any time other than for Disability or Cause, for any reason or for no reason at all.
|
|
c.
|
By the Executive. The Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for “Good Reason.” For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean:
|
|
i.
|
the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in any material respect with the Executive’s position as contemplated by Section 3 of this Agreement, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;
|
|
ii.
|
any material failure by the Company to comply with any of the provisions of this Agreement, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive, provided, that in no event will a failure to pay the Annual Bonus by March 15 of the year following the performance year be considered a material failure by the Company to comply with this Agreement;
|
|
iii.
|
after a Change of Control (as defined in Section 12) the Executive does not continue as the Chief Development Officer, or any other office he holds at the time of the Change of Control, of the most senior resulting entity succeeding to the business of the Company; or
|
|
iv.
|
any material failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 16(c) of this Agreement.
|
|
d.
|
Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company or the Executive (other than pursuant to Section 10(a) hereof) shall be communicated by written “Notice of Termination” to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 13 hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, if any, and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated.
|
|
e.
|
Date of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, the “Date of Termination” shall mean (i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive’s death, the date of the Executive’s death; (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 10(b)(i) hereof, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination, provided, that the Executive shall not have returned to the performance of the Executive’s duties on a full-time basis during this thirty (30)-day period; (iii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Section 10(b)(ii) or 10(b)(iii) hereof, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; (iv) if the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 10(c) hereof, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, provided, however, that such date must occur after the cure period provided in Section 10(c); and (v) if the Executive’s employment is terminated for any other reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder (the “Code”).
|
|
a.
|
If the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Executive’s death, the Company shall pay to the Executive’s estate, or as may be directed by the legal representatives of the estate, (i) the Executive’s full Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (ii) any compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest or earnings thereon) and any accrued vacation pay, in each case, to the extent not theretofore paid, and (iii) all other unpaid amounts, if any, to which the Executive is entitled as of the Date of Termination in connection with any fringe benefits or under any incentive compensation plan or program of the Company pursuant to Sections 5(b) and (c) hereof (the sum of the amounts described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) shall be hereinafter referred to as the “Base Amounts”), at the time these payments are due and the Company shall have no further obligations to the Executive under this Agreement.
|
|
b.
|
If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Disability as provided in Section 10(b)(i) hereof, the Company shall pay the Executive the following amounts and shall have no further obligations to the Executive, provided, that, in the case of payments to be made pursuant to section (ii) below, on or before the sixtieth day following the Date of Termination, the Executive executes a release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Appendix A and all revocation periods applicable to such release have expired without the release being revoked:
|
|
i.
|
an amount equal to the sum of (A) the Executive’s Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (B) the product of (x) the Annual Bonus (to the extent Company and Executive performance were satisfying the performance targets, adjusted for the short period through the Date of Termination, for an Annual Bonus) and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365, and (C) any compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest or earnings thereon) and any accrued vacation pay, in each case, to the extent not theretofore paid, (the sum of the amounts described in clauses (A), (B), and (C) shall be hereinafter referred to as the “Accrued Obligations”) in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days of the Date of Termination; and
|
|
ii.
|
an amount equal to the sum of (A) the Executive’s Base Salary and (B) the Annual Bonus (to the extent Company and Executive performance were satisfying the performance targets, adjusted for the short period, after the Date of Termination to the end of the calendar year for an Annual Bonus and as to the remainder of the eighteen (18)-month period following the Date of Termination, only if net income has increased from the same period in the prior year and the performance targets established for the successor chief development officer of the Company and the successor chief executive officer of NES were being satisfied for that period), in substantially equal proportionate installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices for a period of eighteen (18) months, commencing within sixty (60) days following Executive’s Date of Termination, provided, that if Executive’s Date of Termination occurs within sixty (60) days prior to the end of a calendar year, payments will commence in the year after the Date of Termination, and in all cases, the first payment shall include all payments Executive would have received if payments had been continuous after the Date of Termination; provided, that payments made to the Executive under this section shall be reduced by the sum of the amounts, if any, payable to the Executive at or prior to the time of any payment under disability benefit plans of the Company and which amounts were not previously applied to reduce any payment, provided, further, that any such reduction shall be done in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code.
|
|
c.
|
If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for Cause as provided in Section 10(b)(ii) hereof or if the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment other than for Good Reason, the Company shall pay the Executive the Base Amounts, and the Company shall have no further obligations to the Executive under this Agreement.
|
|
d.
|
Except where payments are required to be made under Section 11(e), if the Company terminates the Executive’s employment other than for Cause or Disability or the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment for Good Reason as provided in Section 10(c) hereof, the Company shall pay the Executive the following amounts and shall have no further obligations to the Executive, provided, that, in the case of (ii) through (iv), on or before the sixtieth day following the Date of Termination, the Executive executes a release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Appendix A and all revocation periods applicable to such release have expired without the release being revoked:
|
|
i.
|
the Accrued Obligations in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days of the Date of Termination;
|
|
ii.
|
an amount equal to the sum of (A) the Executive’s Base Salary and (B) the Annual Bonus (to the extent Company and Executive performance were satisfying the performance targets, adjusted for the short period, after the Date of Termination to the end of the calendar year for an Annual Bonus and as to the remainder of the eighteen (18)-month period following the Date of Termination, only if net income has increased from the same period in the prior year and the performance targets established for the successor chief development officer of the Company and the successor chief executive officer of NES were being satisfied for that period), in substantially equal proportionate installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices, for a period of eighteen (18) months, commencing within sixty (60) days following Executive’s Date of Termination, provided, that if Executive’s Date of Termination occurs within sixty (60) days prior to the end of a calendar year, payments will commence in the year after the Date of Termination, and in all cases, the first payment shall include all payments Executive would have received if payments had been continuous after the Date of Termination;
|
|
iii.
|
for twelve (12) months after the Date of Termination, or any longer period as may be provided by the terms of the appropriate plan, program, practice or policy, the Company shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive’s family at least equal to those which would have been provided to them in accordance with the welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable generally to other peer employees of the Company and its affiliated companies, as if the Executive’s employment had not been terminated; provided, however, that the Company may elect, with respect to some or all of such benefits, that in lieu of the continuation of such benefits, the Company may pay to the Executive a lump sum payment, less applicable withholdings for federal, state, and local taxes, equal to twelve (12) months’ premiums (at the rate and level of coverage applicable at the time of the Executive’s termination) under the Company’s welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs (at the rate and level of coverage applicable at the time of the Executive’s termination) for the benefits for which this election is made; provided, further, that if such a lump sum payment is not permissible without incurring taxes under Section 409A of the Code, the Company may elect to make twelve (12) monthly payments to the Executive to aggregate to the amounts that would otherwise have been paid a lump sum; and provided, further, that if the Executive becomes reemployed with another employer and is eligible to receive medical or other welfare benefits under another employer provided plan, the medical and other welfare benefits described herein shall be secondary to those provided under the other plan during the applicable period of eligibility; and
|
|
iv.
|
to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, for twelve (12) months after the Date of Termination, the Company shall timely pay or provide to the Executive any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which the Executive is eligible to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company and its affiliated companies (these other amounts and benefits shall be hereinafter referred to as the “Other Benefits”).
|
|
e.
|
If within one hundred and eighty (180) days after a Change of Control (as defined in Section 12), the Company terminates the Executive’s employment other than for Cause or Disability or the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment for Good Reason as provided in Section 10(c) hereof, the Company shall pay the Executive the following amounts and shall have no further obligations to the Executive, provided, that, in the case of (ii) through (iv), on or before the sixtieth day following the Date of Termination, the Executive executes a release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Appendix A and all revocation periods applicable to such release have expired without the release being revoked:
|
|
i.
|
an amount equal to the sum of (A) the Executive’s Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (B) the product of (x) the Annual Bonus (to the extent Company and Executive performance were satisfying the performance targets, adjusted for the short period through the Date of Termination, for an Annual Bonus) and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the effective date of termination of the Executive’s employment (the “Change of Control Date of Termination”), and the denominator of which is 365, and (C) any compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest or earnings thereon) and any accrued vacation pay, in each case, to the extent not theretofore paid, in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days of the Change of Control Date of Termination;
|
|
ii.
|
an amount equal to the sum of (A) two (2) times the Executive’s Base Salary and (B) two (2) times the Annual Bonus (to the extent the Company and Executive performance were satisfying the performance targets, adjusted for the short period), in a lump sum in cash within sixty (60) days of the Change of Control Date of Termination, provided, that if Executive’s Change of Control Date of Termination occurs within sixty (60) days prior to the end of a calendar year, payments will be paid on the first payroll date in the year after the Change of Control Date of Termination;
|
|
iii.
|
for twelve (12) months after the Date of Termination, or any longer period as may be provided by the terms of the appropriate plan, program, practice or policy, the Company shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive’s family at least equal to those which would have been provided to them in accordance with the welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable generally to other peer employees of the Company and its affiliated companies, as if the Executive’s employment had not been terminated; provided, however, that the Company may elect, with respect to some or all of such benefits, that in lieu of the continuation of such benefits, the Company may pay to the Executive a lump sum payment, less applicable withholdings for federal, state, and local taxes, equal to twelve (12) months’ premiums (at the rate and level of coverage applicable at the time of the Executive’s termination) under the Company’s welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs (at the rate and level of coverage applicable at the time of the Executive’s termination) for the benefits for which this election is made; provided, further, that if such a lump sum payment is not permissible without incurring taxes under Section 409A of the Code, the Company may elect to make twelve (12) monthly payments to the Executive to aggregate to the amounts that would otherwise have been paid a lump sum; and provided, further, that if the Executive becomes reemployed with another employer and is eligible to receive medical or other welfare benefits under another employer provided plan, the medical and other welfare benefits described herein shall be secondary to those provided under the other plan during the applicable period of eligibility; and
|
|
iv.
|
to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, for twelve (12) months after the Date of Termination, the Company shall timely pay or provide to the Executive Other Benefits.
|
|
v.
|
in the event that it is determined that any payment, benefit, or distribution described in this Section 11(e) or in Section 12 made by the Company, by any of its affiliates, by any person who acquires ownership or effective control or ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code) or by any affiliate of such person, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Section 11(f), Section 12 or otherwise (the “Total Payments”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest or penalties, are collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then the payments due under this Agreement shall be reduced so that the Total Payments will not result in the imposition of such Excise Tax. The payment reduction contemplated by the preceding sentence shall be implemented by determining the “Parachute Payment Ratio” (as defined below) for each “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and then reducing the “parachute payments” in order beginning with the “parachute payment” with the highest Parachute Payment Ratio. For “parachute payments” with the same Parachute Payment Ratio, such “parachute payments” shall be reduced based on the time of payment of such “parachute payments” with amounts having later payment dates being reduced first. For “parachute payments” with the same Parachute Payment Ratio and the same time of payment, such “parachute payments” shall be reduced on a pro rata basis (but not below zero) prior to reducing “parachute payments” with a lower Parachute Payment Ratio. For purposes hereof, the term “Parachute Payment Ratio” shall mean a fraction the numerator of which is the value of the applicable “parachute payment” for purposes of Section 280G of the Code and the denominator of which is the intrinsic value of such “parachute payment.” For purposes of determining whether any of the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax, (A) the entire amount of the Total Payments shall be treated as “parachute payments” within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(2) and as subject to the Excise Tax, unless and to the extent, in the written opinion of the Company’s independent accountants and reasonably acceptable to Executive, such payments (in whole or in part) are not subject to the Excise Tax; and (B) the value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit (constituting a part of the Total Payments) shall be determined by the Company’s independent auditors in accordance with the principles of Code Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (Y) the Total Payments exceed three (3) times the Executive’s “base amount” as defined within Section 280G and (Z) the Executive would receive at least $50,000 more on a net after-tax basis if the Total Payments were not reduced pursuant to this section (after payment of the Excise Tax), then the Company will not reduce the Total Payments and Executive shall be responsible for the Excise Tax related thereto. For purposes of determining the net after-tax benefit, the Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of the federal income taxation applicable to individuals (without taking into account surtaxes or loss or reduction of deductions) for the calendar year in which the Date of Termination occurs and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rates of taxation in the state and locality of the Executive’s residence on the Date of Termination.
|
|
f.
|
No Duty to Mitigate. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate amounts payable pursuant to Section 11 hereof by seeking other employment.
|
|
g.
|
No Additional Payments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Executive acknowledges and agrees that in the event of the termination of his employment, even if in breach of this Agreement, he will be entitled only to those payments specified herein for the circumstances of his termination, and not to any other payments by way of damages or claims of any nature, whether under this Agreement or under any other agreements between the Executive and the Company.
|
|
a.
|
If to the Company:
|
|
b.
|
If to the Executive, to the address set forth on the signature page hereto, or to such other address as may be designated by either party in a notice to the other. Each notice, demand, request or other communication that shall be given or made in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given or made for all purposes three (3) days after it is deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, or at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the return receipt, the delivery receipt, the answer back or the affidavit of messenger being deemed conclusive evidence of delivery) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation.
|
|
a.
|
This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal representatives.
|
|
b.
|
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.
|
|
c.
|
The Company will require any successor or any party that acquires control of the Company (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) or all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.
|
AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM, INC.
|
|||||
By:
|
/s/ Wallace E. Boston
|
||||
Name:
|
Wallace E. Boston
|
||||
Title:
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
||||
AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION, INC.
|
|||||
By:
|
/s/ Wallace E. Boston
|
||||
Name:
|
Wallace E. Boston
|
||||
Title:
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
||||
THE EXECUTIVE:
|
|||||
/s/ Harry T. Wilkins
|
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Harry T. Wilkins
|
AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM, INC.
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION, INC.
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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THE EXECUTIVE:
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Harry T. Wilkins
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