UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 10, 2020
RTW RETAILWINDS,
INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| DELAWARE (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
1-32315 (Commission File Number) |
33-1031445 (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
330 West 34th Street
9th Floor
New York, New York 10001
(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)
(212) 884-2000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share | RTW | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ¨
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(b) On April 10, 2020, Miki Racine Berardelli, Brenda Freeman, and Christy Haubegger, members of RTW Retailwinds, Inc.’s (the “Company”) board of directors (the “board”), notified the Company that they resigned from the board for personal reasons, effectively immediately. Their decisions to resign were not due to any disagreement with the Company on any of the Company’s operations, policies or practices. The Company thanks Ms. Berardelli, Ms. Freeman, and Ms. Haubegger for the many contributions that they have made to the Company.
On April 15, 2020, John D. Howard, member of the Company’s board, notified the Company that he resigned from the board for personal reasons, effectively immediately. His decision to resign was not due to any disagreement with the Company on any of the Company’s operations, policies or practices. The Company thanks Mr. Howard for the many contributions that he has made to the Company.
Pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, the number of directors constituting the Company’s board shall be fixed at four directors effective April 17, 2020.
In addition, the Company announced that Traci Inglis resigned from her position as President, Chief Marketing and Customer Officer of RTW Retailwinds, Inc. effective April 10, 2020. Ms. Inglis has agreed to serve as an independent consultant to the Company providing marketing and digital expertise for a transitional period through August 31, 2020.
(c) Effective April 17, 2020, Sheamus Toal was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer and will continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer. In connection with Mr. Toal’s appointment to Chief Executive Officer, the Company entered into a Retention Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Mr. Toal. Pursuant to the Agreement, in order to provide additional incentive for Mr. Toal to remain in the employ of the Company through December 31, 2020, the Company has agreed to pay Mr. Toal a retention bonus of $600,000 upon execution of the Agreement. If Mr. Toal voluntarily resigns or is terminated for cause (as defined in the Retention Agreement) prior to December 31, 2020, Mr. Toal will be required to repay to the Company the $600,000 retention bonus. In consideration of the Company’s obligations under the Agreement and other compensation payable to Mr. Toal during the term of Mr. Toal’s employment with the Company, Mr. Toal has agreed that he will continue to diligently perform his duties for the Company through December 31, 2020 or later.
The foregoing summary of the Agreement is qualified in its entirety by the text of the Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.01 Other Events
Given the global impact of COVID-19 and the current retail environment, the Company is taking the necessary actions to protect its customers and employees, and preserve its financial liquidity and flexibility. The Company has engaged outside consultancy to assist with these measures and is in the process of evaluating strategic business alternatives.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibit
| Exhibit No. | Description | |
| 10.1 | Retention Agreement, dated as of April 10, 2020, by and between RTW Retailwinds, Inc. and Sheamus Toal |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| RTW RETAILWINDS, INC. | |||
| /s/ Sheamus Toal | |||
| Date: April 16, 2020 | Name: | Sheamus Toal | |
| Title: |
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and | ||
| Chief Financial Officer | |||
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Exhibit 10.1
STAY BONUS REPAYMENT AGREEMENT
This STAY BONUS REPAYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) dated as of April 10, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), is by and between RTW RETAILWINDS, INC., a Delaware corporation, with offices at 330 W. 34th Street, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10001 (the “Company”), and SHEAMUS TOAL, an individual with an address at c/o 330 W. 34th Street, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10001 (the “Employee”), and shall supersede any and all prior agreements between the Company and the Employee.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Employee has served in various capacities for the Company pursuant to the Letter Agreement of Employment dated November 3, 2008 (the “Employment Agreement”), which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1;
WHEREAS, the Employee is currently serving as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and it is contemplated that the Employee will be elevated to Chief Executive Officer effective as of April 17, 2020;
WHEREAS, the Employee is a highly-valued employee of the Company and, therefore, the Company desires to encourage the Employee to continue to be committed to the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Employee desires to continue to work for the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, to induce the Employee to continue to work for the Company and in consideration of the mutual covenants herein made and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which hereby are acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1. The Company shall pay to the Employee the amount of Six Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($600,000.00), less statutory withholdings and customary deductions (the “Stay Bonus”), as soon as practicable following the Employee’s execution of this Agreement. The Stay Bonus shall be in addition to the Employee’s regular bi-weekly salary payments.
2. The parties agree that the Stay Bonus is intended to be a reward for the Employee’s continued service through December 31, 2020 (the “Service Period”) and, as such, is an advance on the Employee’s salary in the event the Employee voluntarily resigns from the employ of the Company or his employment is terminated by the Company for “Cause”. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall be defined as (i) the Employee’s continuing failure, after reasonable notice and opportunity to cure, to perform the duties and responsibilities assigned to the Employee by the Company; (ii) the Employee engaging in any conduct materially detrimental to the business, goodwill or reputation of the Company; (iii) the Employee’s conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude; or (iv) the Employee violating any material provision of this Agreement or applicable Company policies
3. The Employee agrees that if, before the expiration of the Service Period, the Employee voluntarily resigns from the employ of the Company or is terminated by the Company for “Cause” (the date of such termination being referred to herein as the “Termination Date”): (i) the Employee shall promptly repay to the Company no later than ten (10) days after the Termination Date an amount equal to the Stay Bonus on an after-tax basis, and (ii) the Company shall be entitled to deduct all or any portion of the amount of the Stay Bonus not so reimbursed from the Employee’s wages or other sums due the Employee at the time of such resignation or termination.
4. Nondisclosure and Nondisparagement.
The Employee agrees not to disclose any information regarding the substance or existence of this Agreement, including but not limited to, the monies and benefits received or to be received hereunder, except to an immediate family member, attorney, or financial advisor or accountant with whom the Employee chooses to consult regarding this Agreement. The Employee agrees not to, directly or indirectly, in public or in private, deprecate, impugn or otherwise make any remarks or statements that might tend to, or be construed to tend to, defame the Company or its reputation, or the reputations of any of its respective officers, directors and employees, nor shall the Employee assist any other person, firm or entity in so doing.
5. Injunctive Relief; Extension of Covenants Following Breach.
The covenants set forth in Sections 4 and 6 shall be enforceable by a court of equity through the granting of a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction and/or permanent injunction. In the event of a breach of Sections 4 and 6 of this Agreement, the Employee consents to the entry of an injunction, and the Employee shall pay any reasonable fees and expenses incurred by the Company in enforcing such Sections if such breach is finally judicially determined to have occurred. Such equitable enforcement shall be in addition to, and shall not prejudice the right of the Company to, an appropriate monetary award. The Employee agrees that, in the event of a breach of any of the covenants set forth herein, the duration of the covenants set forth herein automatically shall be extended for a period equal to the period of the violation.
6. Return of Documents and Other Property.
Upon termination of the Employee’s employment, the Employee shall return to the Company all of its property, equipment, documents, records, lists, files, Confidential Information and any and all other Company materials including, without limitation, computerized or electronic information, that is in the Employee’s possession as of the Termination Date (the “Company Property”). The Company Property shall be delivered to the Company at its office at 330 W. 34th Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10001, Attention: Legal Department, within three (3) business days after the Termination Date. Unless otherwise agreed by the Company in writing, the Employee shall not retain any Company Property or copies thereof.
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7. Reasonableness of Restrictive Covenants.
The Employee agrees that, due to the uniqueness of the Employee’s position, skills and/or abilities and the uniqueness of the Confidential Information that the Employee possesses and will possess in the course of his employment with the Company, the covenants set forth herein are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the Company.
8. Employee Release of Company.
In consideration of the Stay Bonus, and for other consideration, Employee, intending to be legally bound, for himself and on behalf of his heirs, successors and assigns, hereby releases, remises and forever discharges the Company and its directors, officers, employees, shareholders, agents, affiliates, successors and assigns (collectively, the “Company Releasees”) of any and all claims, demands, actions, causes of action, rights, suits, accountings, debts, covenants, contracts, agreements, duties and obligations, known or unknown, that he has, had or may have, from the beginning of time to the date hereof against the Company Releasees.
9. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement is meant to be additive to and supplement the Employment Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between this Agreement and the Employment Agreement, the terms of the Employment Agreement shall be controlling.
(b) No consent or waiver, express or implied, by the Company with respect to any breach or default in the performance by the Employee of any of the Employee’s obligations hereunder shall be deemed or construed to be a consent to or waiver of any other breach or default in the performance by the Employee of the same or any other obligations hereunder. Failure on the part of the Company to complain of any act or omission or to declare the Employee to be in default, irrespective of how long such failure continues, shall not constitute a waiver by the Company of its rights under this agreement or otherwise.
(c) This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company and the Employee. The Employee may not assign this agreement. This agreement shall be governed by and shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (excluding its principles of conflicts of law).
(d) Although the Company does not guarantee the tax treatment of the Stay Bonus, the intent of the parties is that the Stay Bonus be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder, and accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed on the day and date first above written.
| RTW RETAILWINDS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Susan J. Riley | |
| Susan J. Riley | ||
| Chair of the Business Transformation Committee of the Board of Directors | ||
| SHEAMUS TOAL | ||
| By: | /s/ Sheamus Toal | |
| Sheamus Toal | ||
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