0001144204-13-043968.txt : 20130808 0001144204-13-043968.hdr.sgml : 20130808 20130808160919 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001144204-13-043968 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20130805 ITEM INFORMATION: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20130808 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20130808 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Campus Crest Communities, Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001490983 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: REAL ESTATE [6500] IRS NUMBER: 272481988 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-34872 FILM NUMBER: 131022261 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2100 REXFORD ROAD STREET 2: SUITE 414 CITY: CHARLOTTE STATE: NC ZIP: 28211 BUSINESS PHONE: 704-496-2500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2100 REXFORD ROAD STREET 2: SUITE 414 CITY: CHARLOTTE STATE: NC ZIP: 28211 8-K 1 v352282_8k.htm 8-K

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 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): August 5, 2013

 

CAMPUS CREST COMMUNITIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Maryland

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)

 

001-34872

(Commission File Number)

27-2481988
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

2100 Rexford Road, Suite 414
Charlotte, North Carolina

(Address of principal executive offices)

 
28211
(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (704) 496-2500

 

 

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨  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))

 

 

 

 
 

  

Item 5.02Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

On August 5, 2013, Campus Crest Communities, Inc. (the “Company”) and Michael S. Hartnett, Chief Investment Officer and Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors, entered into an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (the “Amended and Restated Employment Agreement”). Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, Mr. Hartnett will relinquish the title and role of Chief Investment Officer and Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors on October 19, 2013. Effective October 19, 2013, Mr. Hartnett will commence a three year term of employment during which he will serve as the Company’s Vice-Chairman, Special Projects. Mr. Hartnett will remain on the Board of Directors through the expiration of his current term and will not stand for re-election to the Board of Directors at the 2014 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders.

 

Through October 19, 2013, Mr. Hartnett will be entitled to the compensation and benefits provided under his existing employment agreement, a copy of which was filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2012. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, Mr. Hartnett will be entitled to compensation and benefits during the term, including (among others):

 

·A base salary through October 19, 2016, at an annual rate of $380,000.

 

·An amended vesting schedule for Mr. Hartnett’s unvested equity awards, so that they will vest ratably on December 31, 2013, March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014, September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2014, provided he remains employed through each date, and provided further that vesting will be accelerated if Mr. Hartnett is terminated for any reason other than cause or due to his resignation.

 

·A pro-rated bonus under the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan, based on Mr. Hartnett’s service through October 19, 2013.

 

·Provided Mr. Hartnett remains employed through October 19, 2013, a cash bonus payment of $100,000.

 

·Transfer of title of Mr. Hartnett’s current company car to Mr. Hartnett.

 

·Continuation of Mr. Hartnett’s base salary through the remainder of the three year term if he is terminated without cause by the Company or due to this death or disability prior to October 19, 2016.

 

On August 5, 2013, the Company, after a full executive compensation benchmarking study and review, entered into amendments (the “Amendments”) to the employment agreements with each of the following named executive officers of the Company: Ted W. Rollins, Chief Executive Officer, Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr., Chief Financial Officer, and Robert Dann, Chief Operating Officer.

 

A summary of the Amendments is as follows:

 

·Ted W. Rollins. The amendment to Mr. Rollins’ employment agreement increases his annual base salary from $400,000 to $450,000, reflecting Mr. Rollins’ added responsibilities resulting from the Company’s previously disclosed acquisition of the Copper Beech portfolio, effective March 18, 2013. In addition, the amendment extends the term of Mr. Rollins’ employment agreement from October 19, 2013 to January 1, 2016.

 

·Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr. The amendment to Mr. Bobbitt’s employment agreement extends the term of the employment agreement from October 19, 2013 to January 1, 2015.

 

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·Robert Dann. The amendment to Mr. Dann’s employment agreement extends the term of the employment agreement from October 19, 2013 to January 1, 2015.

 

·In addition to the above changes, the Amendments also (i) provide for an increase in the target bonus amounts under the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan from 50% to 75% of the named executive officer’s annual base salary, with the potential to achieve 100% of the named executive officer’s annual base salary if stretch performance targets are achieved and (ii) provide that each named executive officer is eligible to receive an annual target equity award under the Company’s Equity Incentive Compensation Plan with a value equal to 75% of the executive’s base salary, with the potential to achieve 100% of the named executive officer's annual base salary, with such annual target to be adjusted annually by the compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board of Directors”).

 

The foregoing description of the Amendments and the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement are qualified in their entirety by reference to, respectively, the full text of the Amendments, copies of which are attached as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3, and the full text of the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.4, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)           Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

     
10.1   First Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated August 5, 2013, between Campus Crest Communities, Inc. and Ted W. Rollins.
     
10.2   First Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated August 5, 2013, between Campus Crest Communities, Inc. and Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr.
     
10.3   First Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated August 5, 2013, between Campus Crest Communities, Inc. and Robert Dann.
     
10.4   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated August 5, 2013, between Campus Crest Communities, Inc. and Michael S. Hartnett.

 

2
 

  

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  CAMPUS CREST COMMUNITIES, INC.
   
Date:  August 8, 2013 /s/ Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr.
  Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr.
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

 
 

  

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

     
10.1   First Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated August 5, 2013, between Campus Crest Communities, Inc. and Ted W. Rollins.
     
10.2   First Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated August 5, 2013, between Campus Crest Communities, Inc. and Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr.
     
10.3   First Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated August 5, 2013, between Campus Crest Communities, Inc. and Robert Dann.
     
10.4   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated August 5, 2013, between Campus Crest Communities, Inc. and Michael S. Hartnett.

 

 

 

 

EX-10.1 2 v352282_ex10-1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This First Amendment to that certain Employment Agreement ("Amended Agreement") between Campus Crest Communities, Inc. (the "Company") and Ted W. Rollins, an individual ("Employee") (the Company and Employee are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Parties") is made and entered into as of the 5th day of August, 2013 (the "Effective Date").

 

RECITALS

 

A.           The Parties previously executed that certain Employment Agreement dated October 19, 2010 (the "2010 Agreement"), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

B.           The Parties now mutually desire to amend and modify the 2010 Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements of the Parties hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

1.          Effective Date. The effective date of the 2010 Agreement is hereby amended to January 1, 2013.

 

2.          Employment. Section 1 of the Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following new sentence to the end of such section: “Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 1, Employee is authorized to make and manage personal business investments of his choice, including, without limitation, the management of family-owned companies and investments, subject to the limitations set forth in the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement (as defined below) and provided that such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of the Employee’s duties under the Amended Agreement.”

 

3.          Term. Section 3 of the Agreement is hereby amended as follows: "This Agreement shall be for an initial term of three years, expiring on the third anniversary of the date hereof; provided, however, it shall automatically renew for additional one year terms on each anniversary date hereof unless notice of expiration is given in writing at least 90 days prior to expiration of the then current term. For the sake of clarity, notification of a non-renewal by the Company within the prescribed 90 day period shall not be considered a "termination" by the Company and as such, shall not invoke the Payment Upon Termination provisions described in Section 3(B), below, which are only applicable for a termination of employment occurring during the term.

 

The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time for Cause or without Cause (as defined below). Employee may terminate this Agreement at any time with or without Good Reason (as defined below) upon delivery to the Company of thirty (30) days written notice. Termination of this Agreement shall terminate completely Employee’s employment with the Company, including, but not limited to, his role as an officer. If Employee is serving as a member of the Company’s Board, Employee agrees to resign from the Board effective immediately upon termination of this Agreement."

 

 
 

 

4.          Section 3(B)(ii)(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

(b)          Without Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement without Cause effective immediately upon notice to Employee. In the event the Company terminates this Agreement without Cause, the Company shall pay to Employee in addition to the amounts under the first sentence of Subsection B(i) above, a cash payment equal to two times the sum of: (i) Employee’s then current annual Base Salary, as adjusted for any increase thereto and (ii) an amount equal to the bonus paid to Employee for the prior year (provided that, if no incentive bonus was paid in the prior year the amount shall be 50% of the “target amount” as defined in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan for the year in which notice is given). Any amounts payable under this subparagraph shall be paid in equal monthly installments over a period of 24 months commencing no later than sixty (60) days following Employee’s Termination Date, shall be subject to applicable withholdings and shall be subject to Employee signing a Release (as defined below) on or before the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date and all revocation periods applicable to such Release having expired on or prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date. Such payments will commence within sixty (60) days following Executive’s termination, with the exact commencement of payments to be determined in the sole discretion of the Company, provided that if such sixty (60) day period commences in one calendar year and ends in the next, the payments will commence in the second calendar year with the first payment to include all payment that would have otherwise been made but for the provisions of this sentence. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee shall not be entitled to any severance and bonus payments if the Employee has not signed the Release, and if all revocation period applicable to the Release have not expired on or prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date. In addition, the severance and bonus payments outlined in this Section are contingent on Employee fully complying with the terms of the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement signed contemporaneously herewith. If Employee fails to so comply, Employee agrees that the Company has the right to cease making the payments described in this Section and that the Company is entitled to recover from Employee any payments it has already made to Employee.

 

5.          The first paragraph of Section 3(B)(iii) of the Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

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(iii)        Change in Control. In the event, within 24 months following a Change in Control of the Company: (A) Employee is terminated without Cause by the Company, or (B) Employee terminates his employment for Good Reason, in lieu of the severance payment outlined in (b) above, Employee will receive, in addition to the amounts under the first sentence of Subsection B(i) above, a cash payment equal to two times the sum of (i) Employee’s then current Base Salary, as adjusted for any increase thereto and (ii) an amount equal to Employee’s previous year’s Incentive Compensation Plan payment. In the event Employee did not receive an Incentive Compensation Plan payment the previous year, the incentive amount shall be 50% of the “target amount” as defined in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan for the year in which termination occurs. Any amounts payable under this subparagraph shall be paid in a lump sum within 60 days of the Termination Date subject to subsection 3(C) hereof, shall be subject to applicable withholdings and shall be subject to Employee signing a Release on or before the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date and all revocation periods applicable to such Release having expired on or prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date. Such payments will commence within sixty (60) days following Executive’s termination, with the exact commencement of payments to be determined in the sole discretion of the Company, provided that if such sixty (60) day period commences in one calendar year and ends in the next, the payments will commence in the second calendar year with the first payment to include all payment that would have otherwise been made but for the provisions of this sentence. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee shall not be entitled to any severance and bonus payments if the Employee has not signed the Release, and if all revocation period applicable to the Release have not expired on or prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date. “Change in Control” means “a change in the ownership of the corporation,” “a change in effective control of the corporation,” or “a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the corporation” within the meaning of Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the Treasury Regulations. The payments to Employee outlined in this Section are contingent on Employee fully complying with the terms of the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement signed contemporaneously herewith. If Employee fails to so comply, Employee agrees that the Company has the right to cease making the payments described in this Section and that the Company is entitled to recover from Employee any payments it has already made to Employee.

 

6.          Exhibit A. Exhibit A is hereby amended as follows:

 

(i)          Section (B) shall read, "Employee shall receive a base salary of $400,000 per year, which shall increase to $450,000 as of March 18, 2013 ("Base Salary"). Thereafter, Employee’s Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Company’s Compensation Committee and the Board of the Company and may be adjusted upward in its sole discretion. The Base Salary shall be paid during the period of employment, by direct deposit according to the Company’s current standard pay practice of 26 pay periods per year (semi-monthly) or in accordance with the Company’s relevant policies and practices in effect from time to time, including normal payroll practices, and shall be subject to all applicable employment and withholding taxes";

 

(ii)         Section (C) shall read, "In addition to the Base Salary, Employee is eligible to participate in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) with a target potential bonus equal to seventy five percent (75%) of his Base Salary, with the potential to achieve one hundred percent (100%) of Base Salary if stretch performance targets are achieved. This plan shall be approved annually by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of the Company. Employee’s eligibility for or entitlement to any payments under the Plan shall be subject to the terms of the Plan."

 

(iii)        Section (D) shall read, "In accordance with its terms, Employee is eligible to participate in the Company’s Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the “EICP”) with an annual target equity award with a value equal to seventy five percent (75%) of his Base Salary, with the potential to achieve one hundred percent (100%) of Base Salary if stretch performance targets are achieved. The annual target shall be adjusted annually by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of the Company. Employee’s eligibility for or entitlement to any payments under the EICP shall be subject to the terms of the EICP."

 

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(iv)        Section (E) shall read, "Employee shall receive a monthly car allowance of $1,000 and shall be reimbursed for the costs of reasonable repairs, operating expenses and gas.”

 

7.          Access To Counsel. Employee acknowledges that he has had full opportunity to review this Amended Agreement and has had access to independent legal counsel of his choice to the extent deemed necessary to interpret the legal effect hereof. The Parties represent and acknowledge that they are knowingly and voluntarily entering into this Amended Agreement.

 

8.          Governing Law. This Amended Agreement shall be interpreted, construed and governed according to the laws of the State of North Carolina. For any claims for relief which are excepted from the arbitration provision as set out above, the Parties submit to the service and exclusive personal jurisdiction of the federal or state courts of Charlotte, North Carolina and irrevocably waive all defenses inconsistent with the terms of this Section.

 

9.          Fees And Costs. If either Party initiates any action or proceeding (whether by arbitration or court proceeding) to enforce any of its rights hereunder or to seek damages for any violation hereof, then, the Parties shall bear their respective costs and expenses of any such action or proceeding; provided, that, in addition to all other remedies that may be granted, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees and all other costs that it may sustain in connection with such action or proceeding. If a dispute is arbitrated, all costs and fees of the arbitrator(s) shall be paid by the Company.

 

10.         Offset. The Company shall have the right to offset against any sums payable to Employee, any amounts owing to the Company as a result of expense account indebtedness, failure to return Company property, or other advances or debts due.

 

11.         Counterparts. This Amended Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Execution and delivery by facsimile shall constitute good and valid execution and delivery unless and until replaced or substituted by an original executed instrument.

 

12.         Interpretation. The language used in this Amended Agreement shall not be construed in favor of or against either of the Parties, but shall be construed as if both of the Parties prepared this Amended Agreement. The language used in this Amended Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any such Party.

 

13.         Successors and Assigns. This Amended Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company, its successors and assigns, including, without limitation, any entity which may acquire all or substantially all of the Company's assets and business or into which the Company may be consolidated or merged, and Employee, his heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. Employee may not assign any of his obligations under this Amended Agreement.

 

14.         Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. This Amended Agreement is intended to comply with, or otherwise be exempt from Section 409A of the Code, and any regulations and Treasury guidance promulgated thereunder and all ambiguities shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has executed this Amended Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  CAMPUS CREST COMMUNITIES, INC.
     
  By:  /s/ Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr.
     
  Name:  Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr.
   
  Title:  Chief Financial Officer
     
  EMPLOYEE:
     
   /s/ Ted W. Rollins
  TED W. ROLLINS

 

5
 

 

Exhibit A

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into as of the 19th day of October, 2010 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Campus Crest Communities, Inc. (the “Company”), and Ted W. Rollins, an individual (“Employee”) (the Company and Employee are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the “Parties”).

RECITALS

 

A.           The Company desires to employ Employee as Chief Executive Officer of the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

B.           Employee desires to accept such employment on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements of the Parties hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

1.          Employment. The Company hereby employs Employee as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Employee hereby accepts such employment, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. Employee shall have such duties and authority as are customary for such position and as shall from time to time be assigned to Employee by the Board of Directors (“Board”) of the Company in their discretion. Employee shall faithfully and to the best of his ability fulfill such duties and shall devote his full business time, attention, skill and efforts with undivided loyalty to the performance of such duties. Employee shall abide by all of the rules, regulations and policies established or promulgated (whether communicated in writing, electronically or orally) by the Company from time to time. Employee agrees that so long as he is an employee of the Company he shall not, without obtaining the express prior approval in writing of the Board of the Company, engage in any employment, consulting activity or business other than for the Company.

 

2.          Compensation and Benefits. During his employment under this Agreement, Employee shall receive the compensation and benefits more particularly described on Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof. In the event the Company terminates the Incentive Compensation Plan provided for in Exhibit A hereto, the Company shall establish a new plan or such other arrangement as shall be mutually agreeable to the Company and Employee which shall provide Employee with substantially similar economic benefits to those provided under the Incentive Compensation Plan. Furthermore, no amendment or modification to the Incentive Compensation Plan shall reduce the benefits to be provided thereunder without the consent of Employee. Any payments referenced hereunder shall be subject to applicable taxes and other withholdings.

 

A-1
 

 

3.          Termination. This Agreement shall be for an initial term of three years, expiring on the third anniversary of the date hereof; provided, however, it shall automatically renew for additional one year terms on each anniversary date hereof unless notice of termination is given in writing at least 90 days prior to expiration of the initial term or the renewal term, as the case may be. The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time for Cause or without Cause (as defined below). Employee may terminate this Agreement at any time with or without Good Reason (as defined below) upon delivery to the Company of thirty (30) days written notice. Termination of this Agreement shall terminate completely Employee’s employment with the Company, including, but not limited to, his role as an officer. If Employee is serving as a member of the Company’s Board, Employee agrees to resign from the Board effective immediately upon termination of this Agreement.

 

(A)         Termination Date. The date which the Board of the Company designates as the termination date or, if Employee terminates this Agreement, the date designated by Employee as stated in the written notice delivered to the Company, shall be referred to herein as the “Termination Date.”

 

(B)         Payment Upon Termination.

 

(i)          Termination By Employee. In the event Employee terminates this Agreement, the Company shall be obligated to pay Employee that pro-rata portion of his current semi-monthly Base Salary payment, as adjusted for any increase thereto, which is earned but unpaid as of the Termination Date, any earned but unpaid incentive compensation, any accrued but unpaid paid time off (“PTO”) due to him through the Termination Date and any unreimbursed expenses. Employee will not be entitled to, nor will he receive, any type of severance payment, unless he has Good Reason, as defined below, to terminate this Agreement. If Employee has Good Reason then he shall receive the severance outlined in subsection (B)(ii)(b) below addressing Termination by the Company without Cause, subject to its requirements for receipt of such payment. If Employee terminates Employee’s employment pursuant to this subsection (B)(i), then the Company, at its option, may require Employee to cease providing services during the thirty (30) day notice period required therein; provided, however, for purposes of calculating payment upon termination under this Agreement, Employee shall be treated as if he was employed during such thirty (30) day period. “Good Reason” shall mean (1) a material involuntary reduction in Employee’s duties, authority, reporting responsibility or function by the Company, (2) a material reduction in Employee’s compensation package other than as mutually agreed, (3) Employee’s involuntary relocation to a principal place of work more than thirty (30) miles from Charlotte, North Carolina or (4) a material breach by the Company of its obligations hereunder, provided that, upon the occurrence of any of these acts or omissions, Employee gives the Company notice of his belief that he has Good Reason to terminate this Agreement and the Company fails to cure within thirty (30) business days of receipt of Employee’s notice.

 

A-2
 

 

(ii)         Termination By Company.

 

(a)          Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement for Cause effective immediately upon written notice to Employee stating the facts constituting such Cause. If Employee is terminated for Cause, the Company shall be obligated to pay Employee that pro-rata portion of his current semi-monthly Base Salary payment, as adjusted for any increase thereto, which is earned but unpaid as of the Termination Date, any earned but unpaid incentive compensation, any accrued but unpaid PTO due to him through the Termination Date and any unreimbursed expenses. Employee will not be entitled to, nor will he receive, any type of severance payment. The term “Cause” shall mean: (1) Employee’s act of gross negligence or misconduct that has the effect of injuring the business of the Company or its parent, subsidiaries or affiliates, taken as a whole, in any material respect, (2) Employee’s conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to the commission of a felony by Employee, (3) the commission by Employee of an act of fraud or embezzlement against the Company, its parent, subsidiary or affiliates, or (4) Employee’s willful breach of any material provision of this Agreement or that certain Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement between Employee and the Company which shall be entered into contemporaneously with this Agreement (the “Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement”).

 

(b)          Without Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement without Cause effective immediately upon notice to Employee. In the event the Company terminates this Agreement without Cause, the Company shall pay to Employee in addition to the amounts under the first sentence of Subsection B(i) above, a cash payment equal to two times the sum of: (i) Employee’s then current annual Base Salary, as adjusted for any increase thereto and (ii) an amount equal to the bonus paid to Employee for the prior year (provided that, if no incentive bonus was paid in the prior year the amount shall be 50% of the “target amount” as defined in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan for the year in which notice is given). Any amounts payable under this subparagraph shall be paid in equal monthly installments over a period of 24 months commencing no later than thirty (30) days following Employee’s Termination Date, shall be subject to applicable withholdings. The severance and bonus payments outlined in this Section are contingent on Employee fully complying with the terms of the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement signed contemporaneously herewith. If Employee fails to so comply, Employee agrees that the Company has the right to cease making the payments described in this Section and that the Company is entitled to recover from Employee any payments it has already made to Employee.

 

(iii)        Change in Control. In the event, within 24 months following a Change in Control of the Company: (A) Employee is terminated without Cause by the Company, or (B) Employee terminates his employment for Good Reason, in lieu of the severance payment outlined in (b) above, Employee will receive, in addition to the amounts under the first sentence of Subsection B(i) above, a cash payment equal to three times the sum of: (i) Employee’s then current Base Salary, as adjusted for any increase thereto and (ii) an amount equal to Employee’s previous year’s Incentive Compensation Plan payment. In the event Employee did not receive an Incentive Compensation Plan payment the previous year, the incentive amount shall be 50% of the “target amount” as defined in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan for the year in which termination occurs. Such amount shall be paid in a lump sum within 60 days of the Termination Date subject to subsection 3(C) hereof. “Change in Control” means “a change in the ownership of the corporation,” “a change in effective control of the corporation,” or “a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the corporation” within the meaning of Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the Treasury Regulations. The payments to Employee outlined in this Section are contingent on Employee fully complying with the terms of the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement signed contemporaneously herewith. If Employee fails to so comply, Employee agrees that the Company has the right to cease making the payments described in this Section and that the Company is entitled to recover from Employee any payments it has already made to Employee.

 

A-3
 

 

In the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution to or for the benefit of Employee under this subsection (iii) or the acceleration thereof (the "Triggering Payment") would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (collectively, such excise tax, together with any such interest or penalties, the "Excise Tax") (all such payments and benefits, including any cash severance payments payable pursuant to any other plan, arrangement or agreement, hereinafter referred to as the "Total Payments"), then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the cash severance payments shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if (A) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (B) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which Employee would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments). All determinations required to be made under this subsection (iii) shall be made in writing within ten (10) business days of the receipt of notice from Employee that there has been a Triggering Payment by the independent accounting firm then retained by the Company in the ordinary course of business (which firm shall provide detailed supporting calculations to the Company and Employee) and such determinations shall be final and binding on the Company and Employee. Any fees incurred as a result of work performed by any independent accounting firm hereunder shall be paid by the Company.

 

(iv)        Vesting. In the event of: (i) a termination by the Company without Cause, (ii) a termination by Employee for Good Reason, (iii) a Change in Control, or (iv) the voluntary retirement of the Employee subsequent to reaching the age of 63, occurring prior to Employee fully vesting in any options or restricted equity, then the vesting schedule shall be accelerated so that Employee will be deemed fully vested with respect to such options or restricted equity.

 

(v)         Disability. The Company may terminate Employee’s employment upon Employee’s total disability. Employee shall be deemed to be totally disabled for purposes of this Agreement if he is unable to perform his essential job duties under this Agreement by reason of a mental or physical illness or condition lasting for a period of 120 consecutive days or more, taking into consideration any reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, if applicable. The determination as to whether Employee is totally disabled shall be made by a licensed physician selected by the Company. Whether Employee is entitled to receive his Base Salary during the period he is unable to work prior to termination hereunder is contingent on other Company policies and the amount of leave Employee has available to him under those policies. Upon termination by reason of Employee’s disability, the Company’s sole and exclusive obligation will be to pay Employee that pro-rata portion of his current semi-monthly Base Salary payment, as adjusted for any increase thereto, which is earned but unpaid as of the Termination Date, any earned but unpaid bonus and any accrued but unpaid PTO due to him through the Termination Date.

 

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(vi)        Death. This Agreement shall terminate immediately and without any action on the part of the Company if Employee dies. In such an event, Employee’s estate shall receive from the Company, in a single lump sum, an amount equal to (i) that pro-rata portion of his current semi-monthly Base Salary payment, as adjusted for any increase thereto, which is earned but unpaid as of the date of Employee’s death unless earlier terminated due to disability as set forth in subsection 3(B)(v) above and (ii) any bonus compensation earned by Employee but unpaid prior to Employee’s death, plus other death benefits, if any, generally applicable to the Company’s employees.

 

(C)         The following rules shall apply with respect to the distribution of payments and benefits, if any, to be provided to Employee under Section 3(B) of this Agreement, as applicable:

 

(i)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no payments shall be made to Employee upon Employee’s termination of employment from the Company under this Agreement unless such termination of employment is a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of determining the timing of payments under this Section 3 only, “Termination Date” shall be deemed to mean the date on which Employee experiences a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(ii)         It is intended that each installment of the payments and benefits provided under this Section 3(B)(ii)(b), if any, shall be treated as a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(iii)        Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that Employee is deemed to be a "specified employee" for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, any payments to Employee hereunder that are subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code shall not be made prior to the six-month anniversary of Employee’s Termination Date.  Thereafter, any payment that would otherwise have been made during the six-month period beginning on Employee’s Termination Date will be paid, together with interest at an annual rate (compounded monthly) equal to the federal short-term rate (as in effect under Section 1274(d) of the Code on the termination date), to Employee immediately following such six-month anniversary and no later than thirty (30) days following such anniversary.

 

4.          Release. Employee agrees that payment by the Company of the amounts set out above (in the event of a termination by the Company Without Cause, termination by Employee for Good Reason or due to a Change in Control) is contingent upon Employee executing a mutual release, acceptable to the Company and Employee which shall recite that such payment is in full and final settlement of any and all actions, causes of actions, suits, claims, demands and entitlements whatsoever which Employee has or may have against the Company or which the Company may have against Employee, their respective affiliates and any of their respective directors, officers, employees, shareholders, representatives, successors and assigns arising out of Employee’s hiring, his employment and the termination of his employment or this Agreement.

 

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5.          Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Employee for all necessary and reasonable out-of-pocket travel and other business expenses incurred by Employee, which relate to Employee’s duties hereunder, in accordance with the Company’s relevant policies in effect from time to time.

 

6.          Survival Of Certain Provisions. Any provisions hereof that, by their nature, would survive the termination hereof shall not be discharged or dissolved upon, but shall survive the termination of the employment of Employee with the Company.

 

7.          Representations And Warranties Of Employee. As of the date hereof and at all times during the term hereof, Employee represents and warrants to the Company that (a) Employee has not entered into and is not bound by any agreement, understanding or restriction (including, without limitation, any covenant restricting competition or solicitation or agreement relating to trade secrets or confidential information) with any third party that in any way limits, restricts or would prevent the employment of him by the Company under this Agreement or the full and complete performance by him of all his duties and obligations hereunder; and (b) the execution of this Agreement by him and the employment of him by the Company under this Agreement will not result in, or constitute a breach of, any term or condition of any other agreement, instrument, arrangement or understanding between him and any third party, or constitute (or, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute) a default, breach or violation of any such agreement, instrument, arrangement or understanding, or which would accelerate the maturity of any duty or obligation of him thereunder.

 

8.          Indemnity. Employee acknowledges that the Company has relied upon the representations contained in Section 7 hereof. Employee agrees to indemnify and hold the Company, its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, affiliates, parent, subsidiary and related companies, representatives and consultants and their insurers and attorneys harmless against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, fees or expenses including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and costs incurred by the Company, its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, affiliates, parent, subsidiary and related companies, representatives and consultants and their insurers by reason of an alleged violation by Employee of any of the representations contained in Section 7 hereof.

 

9.          Notices. All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given upon receipt if delivered personally, or when sent if mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

If to the CompanyCampus Crest Communities, Inc.

2100 Rexford Road, Suite 414

Charlotte, NC 28211

Attention: Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr.

 

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With copy toDawn H. Sharff, Esq.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

One Federal Place

1819 Fifth Avenue North

Birmingham, AL 35203

 

If to EmployeeTed W. Rollins

416 Audubon Road

Greenville, SC 29609

 

10.         Enforceability and Reformation; Severability. The Parties intend for all provisions of this Agreement to be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. Accordingly, in the event that any provision or portion of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, for any reason, under present or future law, such provision shall be severable and the remainder thereof shall not be invalidated or rendered unenforceable or otherwise adversely affected. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if a court or arbitrator should deem any provision of this Agreement to create a restriction that is unreasonable as to scope, duration or geographical area, the Parties agree that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforceable in such scope, for such duration and in such geographic area as such court or arbitrator may determine to be reasonable.

 

11.         Benefit. The rights, obligations and interests of Employee hereunder may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or hypothecated. Employee shall have no right to commute, encumber or dispose of the right to receive payments hereunder, which payments and the right thereto are non-assignable and non-transferable, and any attempted assignment or transfer shall be null and void and without effect. This Agreement and its obligations shall inure to the benefit of and be binding and enforceable by the successors and assigns of the Company, including, without limitation, any purchaser of the Company, regardless of whether such purchase takes the form of a merger, a purchase of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or a purchase of a majority of the outstanding capital stock of the Company.

 

12.         Dispute Resolution. All controversies, claims, issues and other disputes (collectively, “Disputes”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or Employee’s employment hereunder shall be subject to the applicable provisions of this Section.

 

(A)         Arbitration. Except for actions seeking relief for violations of the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement, all Disputes shall be settled exclusively by final and binding arbitration in Charlotte, North Carolina, before a neutral arbitrator in an arbitration proceeding administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) according to the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of AAA or, alternatively, upon mutual agreement, to an arbitrator selected by Employee and the Company. Any dispute regarding whether a Dispute is subject to arbitration shall be resolved by arbitration.

 

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(B)         Interstate Commerce. The Parties hereto acknowledge that (i) they have read and understood the provisions of this Section regarding arbitration and (ii) performance of this Agreement will be in interstate commerce as that term is used in the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq., and the parties contemplate substantial interstate activity in the performance of this Agreement including, without limitation, interstate travel, the use of interstate phone lines, the use of the U.S. mail services and other interstate courier services.

 

(C)         Waiver of Jury Trial. If any Dispute is not arbitrated for any reason, the Parties desire to avoid the time and expense relating to a jury trial of such Dispute. Accordingly, the Parties, for themselves and their successors and assigns, hereby waive trial by jury of any Dispute. The Parties acknowledge that this waiver is knowingly, freely, and voluntarily given, is desired by all Parties and is in the best interests of all Parties.

 

13.         Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or changed, in whole or in part, except by a written instrument signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company and by Employee.

 

14.         Waiver. No failure or delay by either of the Parties in exercising any right, power, or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power, or privilege.

 

15.         Access To Counsel. Employee acknowledges that he has had full opportunity to review this Agreement and has had access to independent legal counsel of his choice to the extent deemed necessary to interpret the legal effect hereof.

 

16.         Governing Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted, construed and governed according to the laws of the State of North Carolina. For any claims for relief which are excepted from the arbitration provision as set out above, the Parties submit to the service and exclusive personal jurisdiction of the federal or state courts of Charlotte, North Carolina and irrevocably waive all defenses inconsistent with the terms of this Section.

 

17.         Fees And Costs. If either Party initiates any action or proceeding (whether by arbitration or court proceeding) to enforce any of its rights hereunder or to seek damages for any violation hereof, then, the Parties shall bear their respective costs and expenses of any such action or proceeding; provided, that, in addition to all other remedies that may be granted, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees and all other costs that it may sustain in connection with such action or proceeding. If a dispute is arbitrated, all costs and fees of the arbitrator(s) shall be paid by the Company.

 

18.         Offset. The Company shall have the right to offset against any sums payable to Employee, any amounts owing to the Company as a result of expense account indebtedness, failure to return Company property, or other advances or debts due.

 

19.         Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Execution and delivery by facsimile shall constitute good and valid execution and delivery unless and until replaced or substituted by an original executed instrument.

 

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20.         Interpretation. The language used in this Agreement shall not be construed in favor of or against either of the Parties, but shall be construed as if both of the Parties prepared this Agreement. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any such Party.

 

21.         Execution of Further Documents. The Parties covenant and agree that they shall, from time to time and at all times, do all such further acts and execute and deliver all such further documents and assurances as shall be reasonably required in order to fully perform and carry out the terms of this Agreement.

 

22.         Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company, its successors and assigns, including, without limitation, any entity which may acquire all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and business or into which the Company may be consolidated or merged, and Employee, his heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. Employee may not assign any of his obligations under this Agreement.

 

23.         Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Exhibit attached hereto represent the entire understanding and agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede any prior agreements and understanding between the Parties with respect to that subject matter.

 

24.         Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. This Agreement is intended to comply with, or otherwise be exempt from Section 409A of the Code, and any regulations and Treasury guidance promulgated thereunder and all ambiguities shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  CAMPUS CREST COMMUNITIES, INC.
     
  By:                        
     
  Name:   
     
  Title:  
     
  EMPLOYEE:
     
     
  TED W. ROLLINS

 

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Exhibit A – Employment Agreement with Ted W. Rollins

 

Compensation and Benefits

 

(A)         Employee’s employment with the Company shall become effective on October ___, 2010. On the date Employee’s employment commences, unless voted otherwise by the Company’s Board of Directors, Employee will be granted a seat on the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

(B)         Employee shall receive a base salary of $300,000 per year, which will increase to $360,000 per year effective on January 1, 2012 (as such base salary may hereafter from time to time be adjusted as provided herein, the “Base Salary”). Thereafter, Employee’s Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Company’s Compensation Committee and the Board of the Company and may be adjusted upward in its sole discretion. The Base Salary shall be paid during the period of employment, by direct deposit according to the Company’s current standard pay practice of 26 pay periods per year (semi-monthly) or in accordance with the Company’s relevant policies and practices in effect from time to time, including normal payroll practices, and shall be subject to all applicable employment and withholding taxes.

 

(C)         In addition to the Base Salary, Employee is eligible to participate in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) with a target potential bonus equal to fifty percent (50%) of his Base Salary, with the potential to achieve one hundred percent (100%) of Base Salary if stretch performance targets are achieved. This plan shall be approved annually by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of the Company. Employee’s eligibility for or entitlement to any payments under the Plan shall be subject to the terms of the Plan.

 

(D)         In accordance with its terms, Employee is eligible to participate in the Company’s Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the “EICP”). The Employee will receive a grant of 99,078 shares of restricted common stock of the Company on January 1, 2012 and a grant of 99,078 shares of restricted common stock of the Company on January 1, 2013, which grants of shares will vest ratably on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant. Employee's rights and entitlements with respect to any such benefits shall be subject to the provisions of the EICP, which Employee acknowledges.

 

(E)         Employee shall receive a car allowance of $1,000 per month.

 

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(F)         Subject to, and in accordance with, their terms, Employee shall be entitled to participate in any plans, insurance policies or contracts maintained by the Company relating to retirement, health, disability, vacation, auto, and other related benefits. These currently include health, dental and life insurance, and 401K. Employee is eligible to accrue compensated business days of PTO each year, initially accruing at the rate of one and 83/1000ths (1.083) days per month of service, beginning with the completion of Employee’s first month of service. After the completion of Employee’s first year of employment, for each additional year employed thereafter, Employee shall accrue one additional day of PTO. By way of example only, Employee shall accrue PTO at a rate of one and 167/1000ths (1.167) days per month beginning the first day of his second year of employment. PTO is accrued on a calendar year basis with a total maximum accrual of twenty-one (21) days per year. Up to five (5) days of unused PTO may be carried over from one year to the following year, but carried-over PTO must be used within the year following its accrual. Upon Employee’s termination from the Company, current year accrued but unused PTO will be considered for payment to Employee, but carried-over PTO will not be paid to Employee. PTO generally may not be used in advance of its accrual, but any unaccrued but used PTO will be considered an advance and will be deducted from Employee’s final paycheck upon termination. Employee is also eligible for eight (8) paid holidays per year as designated by the Company. Employee’s rights and entitlements with respect to any such benefits shall be subject to the provisions of the relevant plans, contracts or policies providing such benefits. Nothing contained herein or in any employment offer shall be deemed to impose any obligation on the Company to maintain or adopt any such plans, policies or contracts or to limit the Company’s right to modify or eliminate such plans, policies or contracts in its sole discretion.

 

(G)         Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that, except as set forth in this Exhibit, he shall not be entitled to receive any other compensation, payments or benefits in connection with his employment under this Agreement.

 

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EX-10.2 3 v352282_ex10-2.htm EXHIBIT 10.2

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This First Amendment to that certain Employment Agreement ("Amended Agreement") between Campus Crest Communities, Inc. (the "Company") and Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr., an individual ("Employee") (the Company and Employee are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Parties") is made and entered into as of the 5th day of August, 2013 (the "Effective Date").

RECITALS

 

A.           The Parties previously executed that certain Employment Agreement dated October 19, 2010 (the "2010 Agreement"), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

B.           The Parties now mutually desire to amend and modify the 2010 Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements of the Parties hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

1.            Effective Date. The effective date of the 2010 Agreement is hereby amended to January 1, 2013.

 

2.            Employment. Section 1 of the Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following new sentence to the end of such section: “Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 1, Employee is authorized to make and manage personal business investments of his choice, including, without limitation, the management of family-owned companies and investments, subject to the limitations set forth in the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement (as defined below) and provided that such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of the Employee’s duties under the Amended Agreement.”

 

3.           Term. Section 3 of the Agreement is hereby amended as follows: "This Agreement shall be for an initial term of two years, expiring on the second anniversary of the date hereof; provided, however, it shall automatically renew for additional one year terms on each anniversary date hereof unless notice of expiration is given in writing at least 90 days prior to expiration of the then current term. For the sake of clarity, notification of a non-renewal by the Company within the prescribed 90 day period shall not be considered a "termination" by the Company and as such, shall not invoke the Payment Upon Termination provisions described in Section 3(B), below, which are only applicable for a termination of employment occurring during the term.

 

The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time for Cause or without Cause (as defined below). Employee may terminate this Agreement at any time with or without Good Reason (as defined below) upon delivery to the Company of thirty (30) days written notice. Termination of this Agreement shall terminate completely Employee’s employment with the Company, including, but not limited to, his role as an officer. If Employee is serving as a member of the Company’s Board, Employee agrees to resign from the Board effective immediately upon termination of this Agreement."

 

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4.            Section 3(B)(ii)(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

(b)          Without Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement without Cause effective immediately upon notice to Employee. In the event the Company terminates this Agreement without Cause, the Company shall pay to Employee in addition to the amounts under the first sentence of Subsection B(i) above, a cash payment equal to two times the sum of: (i) Employee’s then current annual Base Salary, as adjusted for any increase thereto and (ii) an amount equal to the bonus paid to Employee for the prior year (provided that, if no incentive bonus was paid in the prior year the amount shall be 50% of the “target amount” as defined in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan for the year in which notice is given). Any amounts payable under this subparagraph shall be paid in equal monthly installments over a period of 24 months commencing no later than sixty (60) days following Employee’s Termination Date, shall be subject to applicable withholdings and shall be subject to Employee signing a Release (as defined below) on or before the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date and all revocation periods applicable to such Release having expired on or prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date. Such payments will commence within sixty (60) days following Executive’s termination, with the exact commencement of payments to be determined in the sole discretion of the Company, provided that if such sixty (60) day period commences in one calendar year and ends in the next, the payments will commence in the second calendar year with the first payment to include all payment that would have otherwise been made but for the provisions of this sentence. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee shall not be entitled to any severance and bonus payments if the Employee has not signed the Release, and if all revocation period applicable to the Release have not expired on or prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date. In addition, the severance and bonus payments outlined in this Section are contingent on Employee fully complying with the terms of the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement signed contemporaneously herewith. If Employee fails to so comply, Employee agrees that the Company has the right to cease making the payments described in this Section and that the Company is entitled to recover from Employee any payments it has already made to Employee.

 

5.            The first paragraph of Section 3(B)(iii) of the Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

(iii)        Change in Control. In the event, within 24 months following a Change in Control of the Company: (A) Employee is terminated without Cause by the Company, or (B) Employee terminates his employment for Good Reason, in lieu of the severance payment outlined in (b) above, Employee will receive, in addition to the amounts under the first sentence of Subsection B(i) above, a cash payment equal to two times the sum of (i) Employee’s then current Base Salary, as adjusted for any increase thereto and (ii) an amount equal to Employee’s previous year’s Incentive Compensation Plan payment. In the event Employee did not receive an Incentive Compensation Plan payment the previous year, the incentive amount shall be 50% of the “target amount” as defined in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan for the year in which termination occurs. Any amounts payable under this subparagraph shall be paid in a lump sum within 60 days of the Termination Date subject to subsection 3(C) hereof, shall be subject to applicable withholdings and shall be subject to Employee signing a Release on or before the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date and all revocation periods applicable to such Release having expired on or prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date. Such payments will commence within sixty (60) days following Executive’s termination, with the exact commencement of payments to be determined in the sole discretion of the Company, provided that if such sixty (60) day period commences in one calendar year and ends in the next, the payments will commence in the second calendar year with the first payment to include all payment that would have otherwise been made but for the provisions of this sentence. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee shall not be entitled to any severance and bonus payments if the Employee has not signed the Release, and if all revocation period applicable to the Release have not expired on or prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date. “Change in Control” means “a change in the ownership of the corporation,” “a change in effective control of the corporation,” or “a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the corporation” within the meaning of Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the Treasury Regulations. The payments to Employee outlined in this Section are contingent on Employee fully complying with the terms of the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement signed contemporaneously herewith. If Employee fails to so comply, Employee agrees that the Company has the right to cease making the payments described in this Section and that the Company is entitled to recover from Employee any payments it has already made to Employee.

 

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6.            Exhibit A. Exhibit A is hereby amended as follows:

 

(i)          Section (B) shall read, "Employee shall receive a base salary of $320,000 per year ("Base Salary"). Thereafter, Employee’s Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Company’s Compensation Committee and the Board of the Company and may be adjusted upward in its sole discretion. The Base Salary shall be paid during the period of employment, by direct deposit according to the Company’s current standard pay practice of 26 pay periods per year (semi-monthly) or in accordance with the Company’s relevant policies and practices in effect from time to time, including normal payroll practices, and shall be subject to all applicable employment and withholding taxes";

 

(ii)         Section (C) shall read, "In addition to the Base Salary, Employee is eligible to participate in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) with a target potential bonus equal to seventy five percent (75%) of his Base Salary, with the potential to achieve one hundred percent (100%) of Base Salary if stretch performance targets are achieved. This plan shall be approved annually by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of the Company. Employee’s eligibility for or entitlement to any payments under the Plan shall be subject to the terms of the Plan."

 

(iii)        Section (D) shall be omitted;

 

(iv)        Section (E) shall read, "In accordance with its terms, Employee is eligible to participate in the Company’s Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the “EICP”) with an annual target equity award with a value equal to seventy five percent (75%) of his Base Salary, with the potential to achieve one hundred percent (100%) of Base Salary if stretch performance targets are achieved. The annual target shall be adjusted annually by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of the Company. Employee’s eligibility for or entitlement to any payments under the EICP shall be subject to the terms of the EICP".

 

(v)         Section (F) shall read, “Employee shall receive a monthly car allowance of $1,000 and shall be reimbursed for the costs of reasonable repairs, operating expenses and gas.”

 

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7.            Access To Counsel. Employee acknowledges that he has had full opportunity to review this Amended Agreement and has had access to independent legal counsel of his choice to the extent deemed necessary to interpret the legal effect hereof. The Parties represent and acknowledge that they are knowingly and voluntarily entering into this Amended Agreement.

 

8.            Governing Law. This Amended Agreement shall be interpreted, construed and governed according to the laws of the State of North Carolina. For any claims for relief which are excepted from the arbitration provision as set out above, the Parties submit to the service and exclusive personal jurisdiction of the federal or state courts of Charlotte, North Carolina and irrevocably waive all defenses inconsistent with the terms of this Section.

 

9.            Fees And Costs. If either Party initiates any action or proceeding (whether by arbitration or court proceeding) to enforce any of its rights hereunder or to seek damages for any violation hereof, then, the Parties shall bear their respective costs and expenses of any such action or proceeding; provided, that, in addition to all other remedies that may be granted, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees and all other costs that it may sustain in connection with such action or proceeding. If a dispute is arbitrated, all costs and fees of the arbitrator(s) shall be paid by the Company.

 

10.           Offset. The Company shall have the right to offset against any sums payable to Employee, any amounts owing to the Company as a result of expense account indebtedness, failure to return Company property, or other advances or debts due.

 

11.           Counterparts. This Amended Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Execution and delivery by facsimile shall constitute good and valid execution and delivery unless and until replaced or substituted by an original executed instrument.

 

12.           Interpretation. The language used in this Amended Agreement shall not be construed in favor of or against either of the Parties, but shall be construed as if both of the Parties prepared this Amended Agreement. The language used in this Amended Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any such Party.

 

13.           Successors and Assigns. This Amended Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company, its successors and assigns, including, without limitation, any entity which may acquire all or substantially all of the Company's assets and business or into which the Company may be consolidated or merged, and Employee, his heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. Employee may not assign any of his obligations under this Amended Agreement.

 

14.           Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. This Amended Agreement is intended to comply with, or otherwise be exempt from Section 409A of the Code, and any regulations and Treasury guidance promulgated thereunder and all ambiguities shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent.

 

4
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has executed this Amended Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  CAMPUS CREST COMMUNITIES, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Ted W. Rollins
   
  Name:  Ted W. Rollins
   
  Title:  Chief Executive Officer
   
  EMPLOYEE:
   
  /s/ Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr.
  DONALD L. BOBBITT, JR.

 

5
 

 

Exhibit A

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into as of the 19th day of October, 2010 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Campus Crest Communities, Inc. (the “Company”), and Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr., an individual (“Employee”) (the Company and Employee are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the “Parties”).

RECITALS

 

A.           The Company desires to employ Employee as Chief Financial Officer of the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

B.           Employee desires to accept such employment on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements of the Parties hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

1.          Employment. The Company hereby employs Employee as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, and Employee hereby accepts such employment, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. Employee shall manage the financial operations of the Company and shall have such other duties and authority as are customary for such position and as shall from time to time be assigned to Employee by the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors (“Board”) of the Company in their discretion. Employee shall faithfully and to the best of his ability fulfill such duties and shall devote his full business time, attention, skill and efforts with undivided loyalty to the performance of such duties. Employee shall abide by all of the rules, regulations and policies established or promulgated (whether communicated in writing, electronically or orally) by the Company from time to time. Employee agrees that so long as he is an employee of the Company he shall not, without obtaining the express prior approval in writing of the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of the Company, engage in any employment, consulting activity or business other than for the Company.

 

2.          Compensation and Benefits. During his employment under this Agreement, Employee shall receive the compensation and benefits more particularly described on Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof. In the event the Company terminates the Incentive Compensation Plan provided for in Exhibit A hereto, the Company shall establish a new plan or such other arrangement as shall be mutually agreeable to the Company and Employee which shall provide Employee with substantially similar economic benefits to those provided under the Incentive Compensation Plan. Furthermore, no amendment or modification to the Incentive Compensation Plan shall reduce the benefits to be provided thereunder without the consent of Employee. Any payments referenced hereunder shall be subject to applicable taxes and other withholdings.

 

A-1
 

 

3.          Termination. This Agreement shall be for an initial term of two years, expiring on the second anniversary of the date hereof; provided, however, it shall automatically renew for additional one year terms on each anniversary date hereof unless notice of termination is given in writing at least 90 days prior to expiration of the initial term or the renewal term, as the case may be. The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time for Cause or without Cause (as defined below). Employee may terminate this Agreement at any time with or without Good Reason (as defined below) upon delivery to the Company of thirty (30) days written notice. Termination of this Agreement shall terminate completely Employee’s employment with the Company, including, but not limited to, his role as an officer. If Employee is serving as a member of the Company’s Board, Employee agrees to resign from the Board effective immediately upon termination of this Agreement.

 

(A)         Termination Date. The date which the Board of the Company designates as the termination date or, if Employee terminates this Agreement, the date designated by Employee as stated in the written notice delivered to the Company, shall be referred to herein as the “Termination Date.”

 

(B)         Payment Upon Termination.

 

(i)          Termination By Employee. In the event Employee terminates this Agreement, the Company shall be obligated to pay Employee that pro-rata portion of his current semi-monthly Base Salary payment, as adjusted for any increase thereto, which is earned but unpaid as of the Termination Date, any earned but unpaid incentive compensation, any accrued but unpaid paid time off (“PTO”) due to him through the Termination Date and any unreimbursed expenses. Employee will not be entitled to, nor will he receive, any type of severance payment, unless he has Good Reason, as defined below, to terminate this Agreement. If Employee has Good Reason then he shall receive the severance outlined in subsection (B)(ii)(b) below addressing Termination by the Company without Cause, subject to its requirements for receipt of such payment. If Employee terminates Employee’s employment pursuant to this subsection (B)(i), then the Company, at its option, may require Employee to cease providing services during the thirty (30) day notice period required therein; provided, however, for purposes of calculating payment upon termination under this Agreement, Employee shall be treated as if he was employed during such thirty (30) day period. “Good Reason” shall mean (1) a material involuntary reduction in Employee’s duties, authority, reporting responsibility or function by the Company, (2) a material reduction in Employee’s compensation package other than as mutually agreed, (3) Employee’s involuntary relocation to a principal place of work more than thirty (30) miles from Charlotte, North Carolina or (4) a material breach by the Company of its obligations hereunder, provided that, upon the occurrence of any of these acts or omissions, Employee gives the Company notice of his belief that he has Good Reason to terminate this Agreement and the Company fails to cure within thirty (30) business days of receipt of Employee’s notice.

 

(ii)         Termination By Company.

 

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(a)          Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement for Cause effective immediately upon written notice to Employee stating the facts constituting such Cause. If Employee is terminated for Cause, the Company shall be obligated to pay Employee that pro-rata portion of his current semi-monthly Base Salary payment, as adjusted for any increase thereto, which is earned but unpaid as of the Termination Date, any earned but unpaid incentive compensation, any accrued but unpaid PTO due to him through the Termination Date and any unreimbursed expenses. Employee will not be entitled to, nor will he receive, any type of severance payment. The term “Cause” shall mean: (1) Employee’s act of gross negligence or misconduct that has the effect of injuring the business of the Company or its parent, subsidiaries or affiliates, taken as a whole, in any material respect, (2) Employee’s conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to the commission of a felony by Employee, (3) the commission by Employee of an act of fraud or embezzlement against the Company, its parent, subsidiary or affiliates, or (4) Employee’s willful breach of any material provision of this Agreement or that certain Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement between Employee and the Company which shall be entered into contemporaneously with this Agreement (the “Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement”).

 

(b)          Without Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement without Cause effective immediately upon notice to Employee. In the event the Company terminates this Agreement without Cause, the Company shall pay to Employee in addition to the amounts under the first sentence of Subsection B(i) above, a cash payment equal to two times the sum of: (i) Employee’s then current annual Base Salary, as adjusted for any increase thereto and (ii) an amount equal to the bonus paid to Employee for the prior year (provided that, if no incentive bonus was paid in the prior year the amount shall be 50% of the “target amount” as defined in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan for the year in which notice is given). Any amounts payable under this subparagraph shall be paid in equal monthly installments over a period of 24 months commencing no later than thirty (30) days following Employee’s Termination Date, shall be subject to applicable withholdings. The severance and bonus payments outlined in this Section are contingent on Employee fully complying with the terms of the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement signed contemporaneously herewith. If Employee fails to so comply, Employee agrees that the Company has the right to cease making the payments described in this Section and that the Company is entitled to recover from Employee any payments it has already made to Employee.

 

(iii)        Change in Control. In the event, within 24 months following a Change in Control of the Company: (A) Employee is terminated without Cause by the Company, or (B) Employee terminates his employment for Good Reason, in lieu of the severance payment outlined in (b) above, Employee will receive, in addition to the amounts under the first sentence of Subsection B(i) above, a cash payment equal to two times the sum of (i) Employee’s then current Base Salary, as adjusted for any increase thereto and (ii) an amount equal to Employee’s previous year’s Incentive Compensation Plan payment. In the event Employee did not receive an Incentive Compensation Plan payment the previous year, the incentive amount shall be 50% of the “target amount” as defined in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan for the year in which termination occurs. Such amount shall be paid in a lump sum within 60 days of the Termination Date subject to subsection 3(C) hereof. “Change in Control” means “a change in the ownership of the corporation,” “a change in effective control of the corporation,” or “a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the corporation” within the meaning of Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the Treasury Regulations. The payments to Employee outlined in this Section are contingent on Employee fully complying with the terms of the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement signed contemporaneously herewith. If Employee fails to so comply, Employee agrees that the Company has the right to cease making the payments described in this Section and that the Company is entitled to recover from Employee any payments it has already made to Employee.

 

A-3
 

 

In the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution to or for the benefit of Employee under this subsection (iii) or the acceleration thereof (the "Triggering Payment") would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (collectively, such excise tax, together with any such interest or penalties, the "Excise Tax") (all such payments and benefits, including any cash severance payments payable pursuant to any other plan, arrangement or agreement, hereinafter referred to as the "Total Payments"), then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the cash severance payments shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if (A) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (B) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which Employee would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments). All determinations required to be made under this subsection (iii) shall be made in writing within ten (10) business days of the receipt of notice from Employee that there has been a Triggering Payment by the independent accounting firm then retained by the Company in the ordinary course of business (which firm shall provide detailed supporting calculations to the Company and Employee) and such determinations shall be final and binding on the Company and Employee. Any fees incurred as a result of work performed by any independent accounting firm hereunder shall be paid by the Company.

 

(iv)         Vesting. In the event of: (i) a termination by the Company without Cause, (ii) a termination by Employee for Good Reason, (iii) a Change in Control, or (iv) the voluntary retirement of the Employee subsequent to reaching the age of 63, occurring prior to Employee fully vesting in any options or restricted equity, then the vesting schedule shall be accelerated so that Employee will be deemed fully vested with respect to such options or restricted equity.

 

(v)          Disability. The Company may terminate Employee’s employment upon Employee’s total disability. Employee shall be deemed to be totally disabled for purposes of this Agreement if he is unable to perform his essential job duties under this Agreement by reason of a mental or physical illness or condition lasting for a period of 120 consecutive days or more, taking into consideration any reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, if applicable. The determination as to whether Employee is totally disabled shall be made by a licensed physician selected by the Company. Whether Employee is entitled to receive his Base Salary during the period he is unable to work prior to termination hereunder is contingent on other Company policies and the amount of leave Employee has available to him under those policies. Upon termination by reason of Employee’s disability, the Company’s sole and exclusive obligation will be to pay Employee that pro-rata portion of his current semi-monthly Base Salary payment, as adjusted for any increase thereto, which is earned but unpaid as of the Termination Date, any earned but unpaid bonus and any accrued but unpaid PTO due to him through the Termination Date.

 

A-4
 

 

(vi)         Death. This Agreement shall terminate immediately and without any action on the part of the Company if Employee dies. In such an event, Employee’s estate shall receive from the Company, in a single lump sum, an amount equal to (i) that pro-rata portion of his current semi-monthly Base Salary payment, as adjusted for any increase thereto, which is earned but unpaid as of the date of Employee’s death unless earlier terminated due to disability as set forth in subsection 3(B)(v) above and (ii) any bonus compensation earned by Employee but unpaid prior to Employee’s death, plus other death benefits, if any, generally applicable to the Company’s employees.

 

(C)         The following rules shall apply with respect to the distribution of payments and benefits, if any, to be provided to Employee under Section 3(B) of this Agreement, as applicable:

 

(i)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no payments shall be made to Employee upon Employee’s termination of employment from the Company under this Agreement unless such termination of employment is a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of determining the timing of payments under this Section 3 only, “Termination Date” shall be deemed to mean the date on which Employee experiences a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(ii)         It is intended that each installment of the payments and benefits provided under this Section 3(B)(ii)(b), if any, shall be treated as a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(iii)        Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that Employee is deemed to be a "specified employee" for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, any payments to Employee hereunder that are subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code shall not be made prior to the six-month anniversary of Employee’s Termination Date.  Thereafter, any payment that would otherwise have been made during the six-month period beginning on Employee’s Termination Date will be paid, together with interest at an annual rate (compounded monthly) equal to the federal short-term rate (as in effect under Section 1274(d) of the Code on the termination date), to Employee immediately following such six-month anniversary and no later than thirty (30) days following such anniversary.

 

4.          Release. Employee agrees that payment by the Company of the amounts set out above (in the event of a termination by the Company Without Cause, termination by Employee for Good Reason or due to a Change in Control) is contingent upon Employee executing a mutual release, acceptable to the Company and Employee which shall recite that such payment is in full and final settlement of any and all actions, causes of actions, suits, claims, demands and entitlements whatsoever which Employee has or may have against the Company or which the Company may have against Employee, their respective affiliates and any of their respective directors, officers, employees, shareholders, representatives, successors and assigns arising out of Employee’s hiring, his employment and the termination of his employment or this Agreement.

 

A-5
 

 

5.          Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Employee for all necessary and reasonable out-of-pocket travel and other business expenses incurred by Employee, which relate to Employee’s duties hereunder, in accordance with the Company’s relevant policies in effect from time to time.

 

6.          Survival Of Certain Provisions. Any provisions hereof that, by their nature, would survive the termination hereof shall not be discharged or dissolved upon, but shall survive the termination of the employment of Employee with the Company.

 

7.          Representations And Warranties Of Employee. As of the date hereof and at all times during the term hereof, Employee represents and warrants to the Company that (a) Employee has not entered into and is not bound by any agreement, understanding or restriction (including, without limitation, any covenant restricting competition or solicitation or agreement relating to trade secrets or confidential information) with any third party that in any way limits, restricts or would prevent the employment of him by the Company under this Agreement or the full and complete performance by him of all his duties and obligations hereunder; and (b) the execution of this Agreement by him and the employment of him by the Company under this Agreement will not result in, or constitute a breach of, any term or condition of any other agreement, instrument, arrangement or understanding between him and any third party, or constitute (or, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute) a default, breach or violation of any such agreement, instrument, arrangement or understanding, or which would accelerate the maturity of any duty or obligation of him thereunder.

 

8.          Indemnity. Employee acknowledges that the Company has relied upon the representations contained in Section 7 hereof. Employee agrees to indemnify and hold the Company, its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, affiliates, parent, subsidiary and related companies, representatives and consultants and their insurers and attorneys harmless against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, fees or expenses including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and costs incurred by the Company, its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, affiliates, parent, subsidiary and related companies, representatives and consultants and their insurers by reason of an alleged violation by Employee of any of the representations contained in Section 7 hereof.

 

9.          Notices. All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given upon receipt if delivered personally, or when sent if mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

If to the Company Campus Crest Communities, Inc.
  2100 Rexford Road, Suite 414
  Charlotte, NC 28211
  Attention:  Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr.
   
With copy to Dawn H. Sharff, Esq.
  Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
  One Federal Place
  1819 Fifth Avenue North
  Birmingham, AL 35203

 

A-6
 

 

If to Employee Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr.
  3231 Foxcroft Road
  Charlotte, NC 28211

 

10.         Enforceability and Reformation; Severability. The Parties intend for all provisions of this Agreement to be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. Accordingly, in the event that any provision or portion of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, for any reason, under present or future law, such provision shall be severable and the remainder thereof shall not be invalidated or rendered unenforceable or otherwise adversely affected. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if a court or arbitrator should deem any provision of this Agreement to create a restriction that is unreasonable as to scope, duration or geographical area, the Parties agree that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforceable in such scope, for such duration and in such geographic area as such court or arbitrator may determine to be reasonable.

 

11.         Benefit. The rights, obligations and interests of Employee hereunder may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or hypothecated. Employee shall have no right to commute, encumber or dispose of the right to receive payments hereunder, which payments and the right thereto are non-assignable and non-transferable, and any attempted assignment or transfer shall be null and void and without effect. This Agreement and its obligations shall inure to the benefit of and be binding and enforceable by the successors and assigns of the Company, including, without limitation, any purchaser of the Company, regardless of whether such purchase takes the form of a merger, a purchase of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or a purchase of a majority of the outstanding capital stock of the Company.

 

12.         Dispute Resolution. All controversies, claims, issues and other disputes (collectively, “Disputes”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or Employee’s employment hereunder shall be subject to the applicable provisions of this Section.

 

(A)         Arbitration. Except for actions seeking relief for violations of the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement, all Disputes shall be settled exclusively by final and binding arbitration in Charlotte, North Carolina, before a neutral arbitrator in an arbitration proceeding administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) according to the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of AAA or, alternatively, upon mutual agreement, to an arbitrator selected by Employee and the Company. Any dispute regarding whether a Dispute is subject to arbitration shall be resolved by arbitration.

 

(B)         Interstate Commerce. The Parties hereto acknowledge that (i) they have read and understood the provisions of this Section regarding arbitration and (ii) performance of this Agreement will be in interstate commerce as that term is used in the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq., and the parties contemplate substantial interstate activity in the performance of this Agreement including, without limitation, interstate travel, the use of interstate phone lines, the use of the U.S. mail services and other interstate courier services.

 

A-7
 

 

(C)         Waiver of Jury Trial. If any Dispute is not arbitrated for any reason, the parties desire to avoid the time and expense relating to a jury trial of such Dispute. Accordingly, the parties, for themselves and their successors and assigns, hereby waive trial by jury of any Dispute. The Parties acknowledge that this waiver is knowingly, freely, and voluntarily given, is desired by all Parties and is in the best interests of all Parties.

 

13.         Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or changed, in whole or in part, except by a written instrument signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company and by Employee.

 

14.         Waiver. No failure or delay by either of the Parties in exercising any right, power, or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power, or privilege.

 

15.         Access To Counsel. Employee acknowledges that he has had full opportunity to review this Agreement and has had access to independent legal counsel of his choice to the extent deemed necessary to interpret the legal effect hereof.

 

16.         Governing Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted, construed and governed according to the laws of the State of North Carolina. For any claims for relief which are excepted from the arbitration provision as set out above, the Parties submit to the service and exclusive personal jurisdiction of the federal or state courts of Charlotte, North Carolina and irrevocably waive all defenses inconsistent with the terms of this Section.

 

17.         Fees And Costs. If either Party initiates any action or proceeding (whether by arbitration or court proceeding) to enforce any of its rights hereunder or to seek damages for any violation hereof, then, the Parties shall bear their respective costs and expenses of any such action or proceeding; provided, that, in addition to all other remedies that may be granted, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees and all other costs that it may sustain in connection with such action or proceeding. If a dispute is arbitrated, all costs and fees of the arbitrator(s) shall be paid by the Company.

 

18.         Offset. The Company shall have the right to offset against any sums payable to Employee, any amounts owing to the Company as a result of expense account indebtedness, failure to return Company property, or other advances or debts due.

 

19.        Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Execution and delivery by facsimile shall constitute good and valid execution and delivery unless and until replaced or substituted by an original executed instrument.

 

20.         Interpretation. The language used in this Agreement shall not be construed in favor of or against either of the Parties, but shall be construed as if both of the Parties prepared this Agreement. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any such Party.

 

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21.         Execution of Further Documents. The Parties covenant and agree that they shall, from time to time and at all times, do all such further acts and execute and deliver all such further documents and assurances as shall be reasonably required in order to fully perform and carry out the terms of this Agreement.

 

22.         Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company, its successors and assigns, including, without limitation, any entity which may acquire all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and business or into which the Company may be consolidated or merged, and Employee, his heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. Employee may not assign any of his obligations under this Agreement.

 

23.         Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Exhibit attached hereto represent the entire understanding and agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede any prior agreements and understanding between the Parties with respect to that subject matter.

 

24.         Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. This Agreement is intended to comply with, or otherwise be exempt from Section 409A of the Code, and any regulations and Treasury guidance promulgated thereunder and all ambiguities shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  CAMPUS CREST COMMUNITIES, INC.
     
  By:  
     
  Name:  
     
  Title:  
   
   
  EMPLOYEE:
   
   
  DONALD L. BOBBITT, JR.

 

A-9
 

 

Exhibit A – Employment Agreement with Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr.

 

Compensation and Benefits

 

(A)         Employee’s employment with the Company shall become effective on October ___, 2010.

 

(B)         Employee shall receive a base salary of $250,000 per year, which will increase to $275,000 per year effective on January 1, 2012 (as such base salary may hereafter from time to time be adjusted as provided herein, the “Base Salary”). Thereafter, Employee’s Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Company’s Compensation Committee and the Board of the Company and may be adjusted upward in its sole discretion. The Base Salary shall be paid during the period of employment, by direct deposit according to the Company’s current standard pay practice of 26 pay periods per year (semi-monthly) or in accordance with the Company’s relevant policies and practices in effect from time to time, including normal payroll practices, and shall be subject to all applicable employment and withholding taxes.

 

(C)         In addition to the Base Salary, Employee is eligible to participate in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) with a target potential bonus equal to fifty percent (50%) of his Base Salary, with the potential to achieve one hundred percent (100%) of Base Salary if stretch performance targets are achieved. This plan shall be approved annually by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of the Company. Employee’s eligibility for or entitlement to any payments under the Plan shall be subject to the terms of the Plan.

 

(D)         In addition to the Base Salary and Employee’s participation in the Plan, Employee shall receive a one-time bonus of $250,000 upon completion of the public stock offering of the Company.

 

(E)         In accordance with its terms, Employee is eligible to participate in the Company’s Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the “EICP”). The Employee will be issued 8,056 vested shares of restricted common stock of the Company in satisfaction of Employee’s vested interest in awards under the terminated deferred compensation plan (the “DCP”) of Campus Crest Group, LLC, which shares will be issued one year after the date of termination of the DCP. In addition, the Employee will receive a grant of 14,536 shares of restricted common stock of the Company on the Effective Date, a grant of 22,592 shares of restricted common stock of the Company on January 1, 2012 and a grant of 10,370 shares of restricted common stock of the Company on January 1, 2013, which grants of shares will vest ratably on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant. Employee's rights and entitlements with respect to any such benefits shall be subject to the provisions of the EICP, which Employee acknowledges.

 

(F)         Employee shall receive a car allowance of $1,000 per month.

 

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(G)         Subject to, and in accordance with, their terms, Employee shall be entitled to participate in any plans, insurance policies or contracts maintained by the Company relating to retirement, health, disability, vacation, auto, and other related benefits. These currently include health, dental and life insurance, and 401K. Employee is eligible to accrue compensated business days of PTO each year, initially accruing at the rate of one and 83/1000ths (1.083) days per month of service, beginning with the completion of Employee’s first month of service. After the completion of Employee’s first year of employment, for each additional year employed thereafter, Employee shall accrue one additional day of PTO. By way of example only, Employee shall accrue PTO at a rate of one and 167/1000ths (1.167) days per month beginning the first day of his second year of employment. PTO is accrued on a calendar year basis with a total maximum accrual of twenty-one (21) days per year. Up to five (5) days of unused PTO may be carried over from one year to the following year, but carried-over PTO must be used within the year following its accrual. Upon Employee’s termination from the Company, current year accrued but unused PTO will be considered for payment to Employee, but carried-over PTO will not be paid to Employee. PTO generally may not be used in advance of its accrual, but any unaccrued but used PTO will be considered an advance and will be deducted from Employee’s final paycheck upon termination. Employee is also eligible for eight (8) paid holidays per year as designated by the Company. Employee’s rights and entitlements with respect to any such benefits shall be subject to the provisions of the relevant plans, contracts or policies providing such benefits. Nothing contained herein or in any employment offer shall be deemed to impose any obligation on the Company to maintain or adopt any such plans, policies or contracts or to limit the Company’s right to modify or eliminate such plans, policies or contracts in its sole discretion.

 

(H)         Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that, except as set forth in this Exhibit, he shall not be entitled to receive any other compensation, payments or benefits in connection with his employment under this Agreement.

 

A-11

 

EX-10.3 4 v352282_ex10-3.htm EXHIBIT 10.3

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This First Amendment to that certain Employment Agreement ("Amended Agreement") between Campus Crest Communities, Inc. (the "Company") and Robert Dann, an individual ("Employee") (the Company and Employee are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Parties") is made and entered into as of the 5th day of August, 2013 (the "Effective Date").

 

RECITALS

 

A.           The Parties previously executed that certain Employment Agreement dated March 29, 2011 (the "2011 Agreement"), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

B.           The Parties now mutually desire to amend and modify the 2011 Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements of the Parties hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

1.          Effective Date. The effective date of the 2011 Agreement is hereby amended to January 1, 2013.

 

2.          Title. The first two sentences of Section 1 of the Agreement are hereby amended as follows: “The Company hereby employs Employee as its Chief Operating Officer, and Employee hereby accepts such employment, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. Employee shall have such duties and authority as are customary for such position and as shall from time to time be assigned to Employee by the Chief Executive Officer.” The last sentence of Section 1 of the Agreement is hereby amended as follows: “Employee agrees that so long as he is an employee of the Company he shall not, without obtaining the express prior approval in writing of the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of the Company, engage in any employment, consulting activity or business other than for the Company.”

 

3.          Employment. Section 1 of the Agreement is hereby further amended by adding the following new sentence to the end of such section: “Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 1, Employee is authorized to make and manage personal business investments of his choice, including, without limitation, the management of family-owned companies and investments, subject to the limitations set forth in the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement (as defined below) and provided that such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of the Employee’s duties under the Amended Agreement.”

 

4.          Term. Section 3 of the Agreement is hereby amended as follows: "This Agreement shall be for an initial term of two years, expiring on the second anniversary of the date hereof; provided, however, it shall automatically renew for additional one year terms on each anniversary date hereof unless notice of expiration is given in writing at least 90 days prior to expiration of the then current term. For the sake of clarity, notification of a non-renewal by the Company within the prescribed 90 day period shall not be considered a "termination" by the Company and as such, shall not invoke the Payment Upon Termination provisions described in Section 3(B), below, which are only applicable for a termination of employment occurring during the term.

 

 
 

 

The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time for Cause or without Cause (as defined below). Employee may terminate this Agreement at any time with or without Good Reason (as defined below) upon delivery to the Company of thirty (30) days written notice. Termination of this Agreement shall terminate completely Employee’s employment with the Company, including, but not limited to, his role as an officer. If Employee is serving as a member of the Company’s Board, Employee agrees to resign from the Board effective immediately upon termination of this Agreement."

 

5.          Section 3(B)(ii)(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

(b)          Without Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement without Cause effective immediately upon notice to Employee. In the event the Company terminates this Agreement without Cause, the Company shall pay to Employee in addition to the amounts under the first sentence of Subsection B(i) above, a cash payment equal to two times the sum of: (i) Employee’s then current annual Base Salary, as adjusted for any increase thereto and (ii) an amount equal to the bonus paid to Employee for the prior year (provided that, if no incentive bonus was paid in the prior year the amount shall be 50% of the “target amount” as defined in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan for the year in which notice is given). Any amounts payable under this subparagraph shall be paid in equal monthly installments over a period of 24 months commencing no later than sixty (60) days following Employee’s Termination Date, shall be subject to applicable withholdings and shall be subject to Employee signing a Release (as defined below) on or before the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date and all revocation periods applicable to such Release having expired on or prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date. Such payments will commence within sixty (60) days following Executive’s termination, with the exact commencement of payments to be determined in the sole discretion of the Company, provided that if such sixty (60) day period commences in one calendar year and ends in the next, the payments will commence in the second calendar year with the first payment to include all payment that would have otherwise been made but for the provisions of this sentence. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee shall not be entitled to any severance and bonus payments if the Employee has not signed the Release, and if all revocation period applicable to the Release have not expired on or prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date. In addition, the severance and bonus payments outlined in this Section are contingent on Employee fully complying with the terms of the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement signed contemporaneously herewith. If Employee fails to so comply, Employee agrees that the Company has the right to cease making the payments described in this Section and that the Company is entitled to recover from Employee any payments it has already made to Employee.

 

6.          The first paragraph of Section 3(B)(iii) of the Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

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(iii)        Change in Control. In the event, within 24 months following a Change in Control of the Company: (A) Employee is terminated without Cause by the Company, or (B) Employee terminates his employment for Good Reason, in lieu of the severance payment outlined in (b) above, Employee will receive, in addition to the amounts under the first sentence of Subsection B(i) above, a cash payment equal to two times the sum of (i) Employee’s then current Base Salary, as adjusted for any increase thereto and (ii) an amount equal to Employee’s previous year’s Incentive Compensation Plan payment. In the event Employee did not receive an Incentive Compensation Plan payment the previous year, the incentive amount shall be 50% of the “target amount” as defined in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan for the year in which termination occurs. Any amounts payable under this subparagraph shall be paid in a lump sum within 60 days of the Termination Date subject to subsection 3(C) hereof, shall be subject to applicable withholdings and shall be subject to Employee signing a Release on or before the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date and all revocation periods applicable to such Release having expired on or prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date. Such payments will commence within sixty (60) days following Executive’s termination, with the exact commencement of payments to be determined in the sole discretion of the Company, provided that if such sixty (60) day period commences in one calendar year and ends in the next, the payments will commence in the second calendar year with the first payment to include all payment that would have otherwise been made but for the provisions of this sentence. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee shall not be entitled to any severance and bonus payments if the Employee has not signed the Release, and if all revocation period applicable to the Release have not expired on or prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date. “Change in Control” means “a change in the ownership of the corporation,” “a change in effective control of the corporation,” or “a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the corporation” within the meaning of Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the Treasury Regulations. The payments to Employee outlined in this Section are contingent on Employee fully complying with the terms of the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement signed contemporaneously herewith. If Employee fails to so comply, Employee agrees that the Company has the right to cease making the payments described in this Section and that the Company is entitled to recover from Employee any payments it has already made to Employee.

 

7.          Exhibit A. Exhibit A is hereby amended as follows:

 

(i)          Section (B) shall read, "Employee shall receive a base salary of $360,000 per year ("Base Salary"). Thereafter, Employee’s Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Company’s Compensation Committee and the Board of the Company and may be adjusted upward in its sole discretion. The Base Salary shall be paid during the period of employment, by direct deposit according to the Company’s current standard pay practice of 26 pay periods per year (semi-monthly) or in accordance with the Company’s relevant policies and practices in effect from time to time, including normal payroll practices, and shall be subject to all applicable employment and withholding taxes";

 

(ii)         Section (C) shall read, "In addition to the Base Salary, Employee is eligible to participate in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) with a target potential bonus equal to seventy five percent (75%) of his Base Salary, with the potential to achieve one hundred percent (100%) of Base Salary if stretch performance targets are achieved. This plan shall be approved annually by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of the Company. Employee’s eligibility for or entitlement to any payments under the Plan shall be subject to the terms of the Plan."

 

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(iii)        Section (D) shall read, "In accordance with its terms, Employee is eligible to participate in the Company’s Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the “EICP”) with an annual target equity award with a value equal to seventy five percent (75%) of his Base Salary, with the potential to achieve one hundred percent (100%) of Base Salary if stretch performance targets are achieved. The annual target shall be adjusted annually by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of the Company. Employee’s eligibility for or entitlement to any payments under the EICP shall be subject to the terms of the EICP."

 

(iv)        Section (E) shall read, "Employee shall receive a monthly car allowance of $1,000 and shall be reimbursed for the costs of reasonable repairs, operating expenses and gas.”

 

8.          Access To Counsel. Employee acknowledges that he has had full opportunity to review this Amended Agreement and has had access to independent legal counsel of his choice to the extent deemed necessary to interpret the legal effect hereof. The Parties represent and acknowledge that they are knowingly and voluntarily entering into this Amended Agreement.

 

9.          Governing Law. This Amended Agreement shall be interpreted, construed and governed according to the laws of the State of North Carolina. For any claims for relief which are excepted from the arbitration provision as set out above, the Parties submit to the service and exclusive personal jurisdiction of the federal or state courts of Charlotte, North Carolina and irrevocably waive all defenses inconsistent with the terms of this Section.

 

10.         Fees And Costs. If either Party initiates any action or proceeding (whether by arbitration or court proceeding) to enforce any of its rights hereunder or to seek damages for any violation hereof, then, the Parties shall bear their respective costs and expenses of any such action or proceeding; provided, that, in addition to all other remedies that may be granted, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees and all other costs that it may sustain in connection with such action or proceeding. If a dispute is arbitrated, all costs and fees of the arbitrator(s) shall be paid by the Company.

 

11.         Offset. The Company shall have the right to offset against any sums payable to Employee, any amounts owing to the Company as a result of expense account indebtedness, failure to return Company property, or other advances or debts due.

 

12.         Counterparts. This Amended Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Execution and delivery by facsimile shall constitute good and valid execution and delivery unless and until replaced or substituted by an original executed instrument.

 

13.         Interpretation. The language used in this Amended Agreement shall not be construed in favor of or against either of the Parties, but shall be construed as if both of the Parties prepared this Amended Agreement. The language used in this Amended Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any such Party.

 

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14.         Successors and Assigns. This Amended Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company, its successors and assigns, including, without limitation, any entity which may acquire all or substantially all of the Company's assets and business or into which the Company may be consolidated or merged, and Employee, his heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. Employee may not assign any of his obligations under this Amended Agreement.

 

15.         Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. This Amended Agreement is intended to comply with, or otherwise be exempt from Section 409A of the Code, and any regulations and Treasury guidance promulgated thereunder and all ambiguities shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has executed this Amended Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  CAMPUS CREST COMMUNITIES, INC.
     
  By:  /s/ Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr.
     
  Name:  Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr. 
   
  Title:  Chief Financial Officer 
     
  EMPLOYEE:
     
  /s/ Robert Dann
  ROBERT DANN

 

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Exhibit A

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into as of the 29th day of March, 2011 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Campus Crest Communities, Inc. (the “Company”), and Robert Dann, an individual (“Employee”) (the Company and Employee are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the “Parties”).

 

RECITALS

 

A. The Company desires to employ Employee as President, CCREM and CCD, and Executive Vice President of the Company on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

B. Employee desires to accept such employment on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements of the Parties hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

1.          Employment. The Company hereby employs Employee as President, CCREM and CCD and Executive Vice President of the Company, and Employee hereby accepts such employment, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. Employee shall manage the day-to-day operations of CCREM and the development business of the company and shall have such other duties and authority as are customary for such position and as shall from time to time be assigned to Employee by the Chief Operating Officer. Employee shall faithfully and to the best of his ability fulfill such duties and shall devote his full business time, attention, skill and efforts with undivided loyalty to the performance of such duties. Employee shall abide by all of the rules, regulations and policies established or promulgated (whether communicated in writing, electronically or orally) by the Company from time to time. Employee agrees that so long as he is an employee of the Company he shall not, without obtaining the express prior approval in writing of the Chief Operating Officer and the Board of the Company, engage in any employment, consulting activity or business other than for the Company.

 

2.          Compensation and Benefits. During his employment under this Agreement, Employee shall receive the compensation and benefits more particularly described on Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof. The Employee has executed an offer letter that is attached hereto as Exhibit B and incorporated herein. In the event the Company terminates the Incentive Compensation Plan provided for in Exhibit A hereto, the Company shall establish a new plan or such other arrangement as shall be mutually agreeable to the Company and Employee which shall provide Employee with substantially similar economic benefits to those provided under the Incentive Compensation Plan. Furthermore, no amendment or modification to the Incentive Compensation Plan shall reduce the benefits to be provided thereunder without the consent of Employee. Any payments referenced hereunder shall be subject to applicable taxes and other withholdings.

 

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3.          Termination. This Agreement shall be for an initial term of two years, expiring on the second anniversary of the date hereof; provided, however, it shall automatically renew for additional one year terms on each anniversary date hereof unless notice of termination is given in writing at least 90 days prior to expiration of the initial term or the renewal term, as the case may be. The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time for Cause or without Cause (as defined below). Employee may terminate this Agreement at any time with or without Good Reason (as defined below) upon delivery to the Company of thirty (30) days written notice. Termination of this Agreement shall terminate completely Employee’s employment with the Company, including, but not limited to, his role as an officer. If Employee is serving as a member of the Company’s Board, Employee agrees to resign from the Board effective immediately upon termination of this Agreement.

 

(A)         Termination Date. The date which the Board of the Company designates as the termination date or, if Employee terminates this Agreement, the date designated by Employee as stated in the written notice delivered to the Company, shall be referred to herein as the “Termination Date.”

 

(B)         Payment Upon Termination.

 

(i)          Termination By Employee. In the event Employee terminates this Agreement, the Company shall be obligated to pay Employee that pro-rata portion of his current semi-monthly Base Salary payment, as adjusted for any increase thereto, which is earned but unpaid as of the Termination Date, any earned but unpaid incentive compensation, any accrued but unpaid paid time off (“PTO”) due to him through the Termination Date and any unreimbursed expenses. Employee will not be entitled to, nor will he receive, any type of severance payment, unless he has Good Reason, as defined below, to terminate this Agreement. If Employee has Good Reason then he shall receive the severance outlined in subsection (B)(ii)(b) below addressing Termination by the Company without Cause, subject to its requirements for receipt of such payment. If Employee terminates Employee’s employment pursuant to this subsection (B)(i), then the Company, at its option, may require Employee to cease providing services during the thirty (30) day notice period required therein; provided, however, for purposes of calculating payment upon termination under this Agreement, Employee shall be treated as if he was employed during such thirty (30) day period. “Good Reason” shall mean (1) a material involuntary reduction in Employee’s duties, authority, reporting responsibility or function by the Company, (2) a material reduction in Employee’s compensation package other than as mutually agreed, (3) Employee’s involuntary relocation to a principal place of work more than thirty (30) miles from Charlotte, North Carolina or (4) a material breach by the Company of its obligations hereunder, provided that, upon the occurrence of any of these acts or omissions, Employee gives the Company notice of his belief that he has Good Reason to terminate this Agreement and the Company fails to cure within thirty (30) business days of receipt of Employee’s notice.

 

(ii)         Termination By Company.

 

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(a)          Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement for Cause effective immediately upon written notice to Employee stating the facts constituting such Cause. If Employee is terminated for Cause, the Company shall be obligated to pay Employee that pro-rata portion of his current semi-monthly Base Salary payment, as adjusted for any increase thereto, which is earned but unpaid as of the Termination Date, any earned but unpaid incentive compensation, any accrued but unpaid PTO due to him through the Termination Date and any unreimbursed expenses. Employee will not be entitled to, nor will he receive, any type of severance payment. The term “Cause” shall mean: (1) Employee’s act of gross negligence or misconduct that has the effect of injuring the business of the Company or its parent, subsidiaries or affiliates, taken as a whole, in any material respect, (2) Employee’s conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to the commission of a felony by Employee, (3) the commission by Employee of an act of fraud or embezzlement against the Company, its parent, subsidiary or affiliates, or (4) Employee’s willful breach of any material provision of this Agreement or that certain Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement between Employee and the Company which shall be entered into contemporaneously with this Agreement (the “Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement”).

 

(b)          Without Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement without Cause effective immediately upon notice to Employee. In the event the Company terminates this Agreement without Cause, the Company shall pay to Employee in addition to the amounts under the first sentence of Subsection B(i) above, a cash payment equal to two times the sum of: (i) Employee’s then current annual Base Salary, as adjusted for any increase thereto and (ii) an amount equal to the bonus paid to Employee for the prior year (provided that, if no incentive bonus was paid in the prior year the amount shall be 50% of the “target amount” as defined in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan for the year in which notice is given). Any amounts payable under this subparagraph shall be paid in equal monthly installments over a period of 24 months commencing no later than thirty (30) days following Employee’s Termination Date, shall be subject to applicable withholdings. The severance and bonus payments outlined in this Section are contingent on Employee fully complying with the terms of the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement signed contemporaneously herewith. If Employee fails to so comply, Employee agrees that the Company has the right to cease making the payments described in this Section and that the Company is entitled to recover from Employee any payments it has already made to Employee.

 

(iii)        Change in Control. In the event, within 24 months following a Change in Control of the Company: (A) Employee is terminated without Cause by the Company, or (B) Employee terminates his employment for Good Reason, in lieu of the severance payment outlined in (b) above, Employee will receive, in addition to the amounts under the first sentence of Subsection B(i) above, a cash payment equal to two times the sum of: (i) Employee’s then current Base Salary, as adjusted for any increase thereto and (ii) an amount equal to Employee’s previous year’s Incentive Compensation Plan payment. In the event Employee did not receive an Incentive Compensation Plan payment the previous year, the incentive amount shall be 50% of the “target amount” as defined in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan for the year in which termination occurs. Such amount shall be paid in a lump sum within 60 days of the Termination Date subject to subsection 3(C) hereof. “Change in Control” means “a change in the ownership of the corporation,” “a change in effective control of the corporation,” or “a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the corporation” within the meaning of Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) of the Treasury Regulations. The payments to Employee outlined in this Section are contingent on Employee fully complying with the terms of the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement signed contemporaneously herewith. If Employee fails to so comply, Employee agrees that the Company has the right to cease making the payments described in this Section and that the Company is entitled to recover from Employee any payments it has already made to Employee.

 

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In the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution to or for the benefit of Employee under this subsection (iii) or the acceleration thereof (the “Triggering Payment”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (collectively, such excise tax, together with any such interest or penalties, the “Excise Tax”) (all such payments and benefits, including any cash severance payments payable pursuant to any other plan, arrangement or agreement, hereinafter referred to as the “Total Payments”), then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the cash severance payments shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if (A) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (B) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which Employee would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments). All determinations required to be made under this subsection (iii) shall be made in writing within ten (10) business days of the receipt of notice from Employee that there has been a Triggering Payment by the independent accounting firm then retained by the Company in the ordinary course of business (which firm shall provide detailed supporting calculations to the Company and Employee) and such determinations shall be final and binding on the Company and Employee. Any fees incurred as a result of work performed by any independent accounting firm hereunder shall be paid by the Company.

 

(iv)        Vesting. In the event of: (i) a termination by the Company without Cause, (ii) a termination by Employee for Good Reason, or (iii) a Change in Control occurring prior to Employee fully vesting in any options or restricted equity, then the vesting schedule shall be accelerated so that Employee will be deemed fully vested with respect to such options or restricted equity.

 

(v)         Disability. The Company may terminate Employee’s employment upon Employee’s total disability. Employee shall be deemed to be totally disabled for purposes of this Agreement if he is unable to perform his essential job duties under this Agreement by reason of a mental or physical illness or condition lasting for a period of 120 consecutive days or more, taking into consideration any reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, if applicable. The determination as to whether Employee is totally disabled shall be made by a licensed physician selected by the Company. Whether Employee is entitled to receive his Base Salary during the period he is unable to work prior to termination hereunder is contingent on other Company policies and the amount of leave Employee has available to him under those policies. Upon termination by reason of Employee’s disability, the Company’s sole and exclusive obligation will be to pay Employee that pro-rata portion of his current semi-monthly Base Salary payment, as adjusted for any increase thereto, which is earned but unpaid as of the Termination Date, any earned but unpaid bonus and any accrued but unpaid PTO due to him through the Termination Date.

 

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(vi)        Death. This Agreement shall terminate immediately and without any action on the part of the Company if Employee dies. In such an event, Employee’s estate shall receive from the Company, in a single lump sum, an amount equal to (i) that pro-rata portion of his current semi-monthly Base Salary payment, as adjusted for any increase thereto, which is earned but unpaid as of the date of Employee’s death unless earlier terminated due to disability as set forth in subsection 3(B)(v) above and (ii) any bonus compensation earned by Employee but unpaid prior to Employee’s death, plus other death benefits, if any, generally applicable to the Company’s employees.

 

(C)         The following rules shall apply with respect to the distribution of payments and benefits, if any, to be provided to Employee under Section 3(B) of this Agreement, as applicable:

 

(i)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no payments shall be made to Employee upon Employee’s termination of employment from the Company under this Agreement unless such termination of employment is a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of determining the timing of payments under this Section 3 only, “Termination Date” shall be deemed to mean the date on which Employee experiences a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(ii)         It is intended that each installment of the payments and benefits provided under this Section 3(B)(ii)(b), if any, shall be treated as a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(iii)        Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that Employee is deemed to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, any payments to Employee hereunder that are subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code shall not be made prior to the six-month anniversary of Employee’s Termination Date. Thereafter, any payment that would otherwise have been made during the six-month period beginning on Employee’s Termination Date will be paid, together with interest at an annual rate (compounded monthly) equal to the federal short-term rate (as in effect under Section 1274(d) of the Code on the termination date), to Employee immediately following such six-month anniversary and no later than thirty (30) days following such anniversary.

 

4.          Release. Employee agrees that payment by the Company of the amounts set out above (in the event of a termination by the Company Without Cause, termination by Employee for Good Reason or due to a Change in Control) is contingent upon Employee executing a mutual release, acceptable to the Company and Employee which shall recite that such payment is in full and final settlement of any and all actions, causes of actions, suits, claims, demands and entitlements whatsoever which Employee has or may have against the Company or which the Company may have against Employee, their respective affiliates and any of their respective directors, officers, employees, shareholders, representatives, successors and assigns arising out of Employee’s hiring, his employment and the termination of his employment or this Agreement.

 

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5.          Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Employee for all necessary and reasonable out-of-pocket travel and other business expenses incurred by Employee, which relate to Employee’s duties hereunder, in accordance with the Company’s relevant policies in effect from time to time.

 

6.          Survival Of Certain Provisions. Any provisions hereof that, by their nature, would survive the termination hereof shall not be discharged or dissolved upon, but shall survive the termination of the employment of Employee with the Company.

 

7.          Representations And Warranties Of Employee. As of the date hereof and at all times during the term hereof, Employee represents and warrants to the Company that (a) Employee has not entered into and is not bound by any agreement, understanding or restriction (including, without limitation, any covenant restricting competition or solicitation or agreement relating to trade secrets or confidential information) with any third party that in any way limits, restricts or would prevent the employment of him by the Company under this Agreement or the full and complete performance by him of all his duties and obligations hereunder; and (b) the execution of this Agreement by him and the employment of him by the Company under this Agreement will not result in, or constitute a breach of, any term or condition of any other agreement, instrument, arrangement or understanding between him and any third party, or constitute (or, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute) a default, breach or violation of any such agreement, instrument, arrangement or understanding, or which would accelerate the maturity of any duty or obligation of him thereunder.

 

8.          Indemnity. Employee acknowledges that the Company has relied upon the representations contained in Section 7 hereof. Employee agrees to indemnify and hold the Company, its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, affiliates, parent, subsidiary and related companies, representatives and consultants and their insurers and attorneys harmless against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, fees or expenses including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and costs incurred by the Company, its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, affiliates, parent, subsidiary and related companies, representatives and consultants and their insurers by reason of an alleged violation by Employee of any of the representations contained in Section 7 hereof.

 

9.          Notices. All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given upon receipt if delivered personally, or when sent if mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

If to the CompanyCampus Crest Communities, Inc.

2100 Rexford Road, Suite 414

Charlotte, NC 28211

Attention: Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr.

 

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With copy toDawn H. Sharff, Esq.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

One Federal Place

1819 Fifth Avenue North

Birmingham, AL 35203

 

If to EmployeeRobert Dann

4705 Settlers Court

Medina, MN 55340

 

10.         Enforceability and Reformation; Severability. The Parties intend for all provisions of this Agreement to be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. Accordingly, in the event that any provision or portion of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, for any reason, under present or future law, such provision shall be severable and the remainder thereof shall not be invalidated or rendered unenforceable or otherwise adversely affected. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if a court or arbitrator should deem any provision of this Agreement to create a restriction that is unreasonable as to scope, duration or geographical area, the Parties agree that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforceable in such scope, for such duration and in such geographic area as such court or arbitrator may determine to be reasonable.

 

11.         Benefit. The rights, obligations and interests of Employee hereunder may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or hypothecated. Employee shall have no right to commute, encumber or dispose of the right to receive payments hereunder, which payments and the right thereto are non-assignable and non-transferable, and any attempted assignment or transfer shall be null and void and without effect. This Agreement and its obligations shall inure to the benefit of and be binding and enforceable by the successors and assigns of the Company, including, without limitation, any purchaser of the Company, regardless of whether such purchase takes the form of a merger, a purchase of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or a purchase of a majority of the outstanding capital stock of the Company.

 

12.         Dispute Resolution. All controversies, claims, issues and other disputes (collectively, “Disputes”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or Employee’s employment hereunder shall be subject to the applicable provisions of this Section.

 

(A)         Arbitration. Except for actions seeking relief for violations of the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement, all Disputes shall be settled exclusively by final and binding arbitration in Charlotte, North Carolina, before a neutral arbitrator in an arbitration proceeding administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) according to the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of AAA or, alternatively, upon mutual agreement, to an arbitrator selected by Employee and the Company. Any dispute regarding whether a Dispute is subject to arbitration shall be resolved by arbitration.

 

(B)         Interstate Commerce. The Parties hereto acknowledge that (i) they have read and understood the provisions of this Section regarding arbitration and (ii) performance of this Agreement will be in interstate commerce as that term is used in the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq., and the parties contemplate substantial interstate activity in the performance of this Agreement including, without limitation, interstate travel, the use of interstate phone lines, the use of the U.S. mail services and other interstate courier services.

 

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(C)         Waiver of Jury Trial. If any Dispute is not arbitrated for any reason, the Parties desire to avoid the time and expense relating to a jury trial of such Dispute. Accordingly, the parties, for themselves and their successors and assigns, hereby waive trial by jury of any Dispute. The Parties acknowledge that this waiver is knowingly, freely, and voluntarily given, is desired by all Parties and is in the best interests of all Parties.

 

13.         Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or changed, in whole or in part, except by a written instrument signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company and by Employee.

 

14.         Waiver. No failure or delay by either of the Parties in exercising any right, power, or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power, or privilege.

 

15.         Access To Counsel. Employee acknowledges that he has had full opportunity to review this Agreement and has had access to independent legal counsel of his choice to the extent deemed necessary to interpret the legal effect hereof.

 

16.         Governing Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted, construed and governed according to the laws of the State of North Carolina. For any claims for relief which are excepted from the arbitration provision as set out above, the Parties submit to the service and exclusive personal jurisdiction of the federal or state courts of Charlotte, North Carolina and irrevocably waive all defenses inconsistent with the terms of this Section.

 

17.         Fees And Costs. If either Party initiates any action or proceeding (whether by arbitration or court proceeding) to enforce any of its rights hereunder or to seek damages for any violation hereof, then, the Parties shall bear their respective costs and expenses of any such action or proceeding; provided, that, in addition to all other remedies that may be granted, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees and all other costs that it may sustain in connection with such action or proceeding. If a dispute is arbitrated, all costs and fees of the arbitrator(s) shall be paid by the Company.

 

18.         Offset. The Company shall have the right to offset against any sums payable to Employee, any amounts owing to the Company as a result of expense account indebtedness, failure to return Company property, or other advances or debts due.

 

19.         Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Execution and delivery by facsimile shall constitute good and valid execution and delivery unless and until replaced or substituted by an original executed instrument.

 

20.         Interpretation. The language used in this Agreement shall not be construed in favor of or against either of the Parties, but shall be construed as if both of the Parties prepared this Agreement. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any such Party.

 

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21.         Execution of Further Documents. The Parties covenant and agree that they shall, from time to time and at all times, do all such further acts and execute and deliver all such further documents and assurances as shall be reasonably required in order to fully perform and carry out the terms of this Agreement.

 

22.         Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company, its successors and assigns, including, without limitation, any entity which may acquire all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and business or into which the Company may be consolidated or merged, and Employee, his heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. Employee may not assign any of his obligations under this Agreement.

 

23.         Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Exhibit attached hereto represent the entire understanding and agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede any prior agreements and understanding between the Parties with respect to that subject matter.

 

24.         Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. This Agreement is intended to comply with, or otherwise be exempt from Section 409A of the Code, and any regulations and Treasury guidance promulgated thereunder and all ambiguities shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  CAMPUS CREST COMMUNITIES, INC.
     
  By:                            
     
  Name:  
     
  Title:  
     
  EMPLOYEE:
     
     
  ROBERT DANN

 

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Exhibit A — Employment Agreement with Robert Dann

 

Compensation and Benefits

 

(A) Employee’s employment with the Company shall become effective on April 18, 2011.

 

(B) Employee shall receive a base salary of $290,000 per year, which will increase to $320,000 per year effective on January 1, 2012 (as such base salary may hereafter from time to time be adjusted as provided herein, the “Base Salary”). Thereafter, Employee’s Base Salary shall be reviewed annually by the Company’s Compensation Committee and the Board of the Company and may be adjusted upward in its sole discretion. The Base Salary shall be paid during the period of employment, by direct deposit according to the Company’s current standard pay practice of 26 pay periods per year (semi-monthly) or in accordance with the Company’s relevant policies and practices in effect from time to time, including normal payroll practices, and shall be subject to all applicable employment and withholding taxes.

 

(C) In addition to the Base Salary, Employee is eligible to participate in the Company’s Cash Incentive Compensation Plan (the “CICP”) with a target potential bonus equal to fifty percent (50%) of his Base Salary, with the potential to achieve one hundred percent (100%) of Base Salary if stretch performance targets are achieved. This CICP shall be approved annually by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of the Company. Employee’s eligibility for or entitlement to any payments under the CICP shall be subject to the terms of the Plan.

 

(D) In accordance with its terms, Employee is eligible to participate in the Company’s Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (the “EICP”). The Employee will receive a grant of 17,250 shares of restricted common stock of the Company on the Effective Date, which grants of shares will vest 25% on each of the first anniversary, 25% on the second anniversary, and 50% on the third anniversaries of the date of grant. Employee’s rights and entitlements with respect to any such benefits shall be subject to the provisions of the EICP, which Employee acknowledges.

 

(E) Employee shall receive a company car with monthly lease payments not to exceed $1000 a month.

 

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(F) Subject to, and in accordance with, their terms, Employee shall be entitled to participate in any plans, insurance policies or contracts maintained by the Company relating to retirement, health, disability, vacation, auto, and other related benefits. These currently include health, dental and life insurance, and 401K. Company agrees to achieve Safe Harbor status for its 401K plan or provide a make whole payment to the Employee for any difference in contributed amounts for the 401K plan. Employee is eligible to accrue compensated business days of PTO each year, initially accruing at the rate of one and 83/1000ths (1.083) days per month of service, beginning with the completion of Employee’s first month of service. After the completion of Employee’s first year of employment, for each additional year employed thereafter, Employee shall accrue one additional day of PTO. By way of example only, Employee shall accrue PTO at a rate of one and 167/1000ths (1.067) days per month beginning the first day of his second year of employment. PTO is accrued on a calendar year basis with a total maximum accrual of twenty-one (21) days per year. Up to five (5) days of unused PTO may be carried over from one year to the following year, but carried-over PTO must be used within the year following its accrual. Upon Employee’s termination from the Company, current year accrued but unused PTO will be considered for payment to Employee, but carried-over PTO will not be paid to Employee. PTO generally may not be used in advance of its accrual, but any unaccrued but used PTO will be considered an advance and will be deducted from Employee’s final paycheck upon termination. Employee is also eligible for eight (8) paid holidays per year as designated by the Company. Employee’s rights and entitlements with respect to any such benefits shall be subject to the provisions of the relevant plans, contracts or policies providing such benefits. Nothing contained herein or in any employment offer shall be deemed to impose any obligation on the Company to maintain or adopt any such plans, policies or contracts or to limit the Company’s right to modify or eliminate such plans, policies or contracts in its sole discretion.

 

(G) Employee will be entitled to a make-up payment equal to 50% of the difference between the net proceeds realized upon the sale of his home and it’s original purchase price, half to be paid in cash and half in restricted stock with a three year vest as described in section (D) of Exhibit A to be awarded on the close of escrow.

 

(H) Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that, except as set forth in this Exhibit, he shall not be entitled to receive any other compensation, payments or benefits in connection with his employment under this Agreement.

 

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EX-10.4 5 v352282_ex10-4.htm EXHIBIT 10.4

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into as of the 5th day of August 2013, by and between Campus Crest Communities, Inc. (the “Company”), and Michael S. Hartnett, an individual (“Employee”) (the Company and Employee are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the “Parties”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, Company and Employee have previously entered into an Employment Agreement dated as of October 19, 2010, as amended pursuant to that first amendment dated July 19, 2013 (the “Original Agreement”) pursuant to which Employee serves as the Chief Investment Officer of the Company on the terms and conditions set forth in the Original Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Employee now desire to amend and restate the Original Agreement to, among other things, provide for Employee’s transition to Vice-Chairman, Special Projects of the Company.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements of the Parties hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

1.          Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective on October 19, 2013 (the “Effective Date”). Prior to the Effective Date, the terms and conditions of the Original Agreement shall continue to be in full force and effect. The Parties hereby agree that the Original Agreement shall not be terminated but rather shall continue to and including the Effective Date. Upon the Effective Date, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall supersede the Original Agreement.

 

2.          Employment. The Company shall employ Employee as Vice-Chairman, Special Projects of the Company, and Employee hereby accepts such employment, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. Employee shall have such duties and authority as are customary for such position and as shall from time to time be assigned to Employee by the Chief Executive Officer.. Employee shall faithfully and to the best of his ability fulfill such duties. Employee shall abide by all of the rules, regulations and policies for employees generally established or promulgated by the Company from time to time and communicated in writing, electronically or orally to all employees, including Employee.

 

3.          Compensation and Benefits. During his employment under this Agreement, Employee shall receive the compensation and benefits more particularly described on Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof. Any payments referenced hereunder shall be subject to applicable taxes and other withholdings.

 

 
 

  

4.          Termination. This Agreement shall be for a term of three years, expiring on the third anniversary of the date hereof (the “Expiration Date”). Prior to the Expiration Date, the Company may terminate this Agreement at any time for Cause or without Cause (as defined below). Employee may terminate this Agreement at any time upon delivery to the Company of thirty (30) days written notice. Termination of this Agreement shall terminate completely Employee’s employment with the Company, including, but not limited to, his role as an officer. If Employee is serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), Employee agrees to resign from the Board effective immediately upon termination of this Agreement. Unless earlier terminated, Employee’s employment shall terminate upon the Expiration Date and the Company’s only obligation to Employee upon termination on the Expiration Date will be to pay the amounts set forth in (B)(i) below.

 

(A)         Termination Date. The Expiration Date or, if earlier, the date that the Company designates as the termination date or, if Employee terminates this Agreement, the date designated by Employee as stated in the written notice delivered to the Company, shall be referred to herein as the “Termination Date.”

 

(B)         Payment Upon Termination.

 

(i)          Termination By Employee. In the event Employee terminates this Agreement, the Company shall be obligated to pay Employee that pro-rata portion of his current semi-monthly Base Salary payment, as adjusted for any increase thereto, which is earned but unpaid as of the Termination Date, any earned but unpaid incentive compensation, any accrued but unpaid paid time off (“PTO”) due to him through the Termination Date and any unreimbursed expenses. Employee will not be entitled to, nor will he receive, any type of severance payment in connection with his termination of this Agreement. If Employee terminates Employee’s employment pursuant to this subsection (B)(i), then the Company, at its option, may require Employee to cease providing services during the thirty (30) day notice period required therein; provided, however, for purposes of calculating payment upon termination under this Agreement, Employee shall be treated as if he was employed during such thirty (30) day period.

 

(ii)         Termination By Company.

 

(a)          Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement for Cause effective immediately upon written notice to Employee stating the facts constituting such Cause. If Employee is terminated for Cause, the Company shall be obligated to pay Employee that pro-rata portion of his current semi-monthly Base Salary payment, as adjusted for any increase thereto, which is earned but unpaid as of the Termination Date, any earned but unpaid incentive compensation, any accrued but unpaid PTO due to him through the Termination Date and any unreimbursed expenses. Employee will not be entitled to, nor will he receive, any type of severance payment. The term “Cause” shall mean: (1) Employee’s act of gross negligence that has the effect of injuring the business of the Company or its parent, subsidiaries or affiliates, taken as a whole, in any material respect, (2) Employee’s conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to the commission of a felony by Employee, (2) the commission by Employee of an act of fraud or embezzlement against the Company, its parent, subsidiary or affiliates as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, or (4) Employee’s willful breach of any material provision of that certain Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement between Employee and the Company which Employee has previously entered into (the “Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement

 

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(b)          Without Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement without Cause effective immediately upon notice to Employee. In the event the Company terminates this Agreement without Cause, in addition to the amounts under the first sentence of Subsection B(i) above, the Company shall continue to pay Employee his Base Salary, as adjusted for any increase thereto, through October 19, 2016. Any amounts payable under this subparagraph shall be paid in equal monthly installments commencing no later than sixty (60) days following Employee’s Termination Date, shall be subject to applicable withholdings and shall be subject to Employee signing a Release (as defined below) on or before the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date and all revocation periods applicable to such Release having expired on or prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date. Such payments will commence within sixty (60) days following Executive’s termination, with the exact commencement of payments to be determined in the sole discretion of the Company, provided that if such sixty (60) day period commences in one calendar year and ends in the next, the payments will commence in the second calendar year with the first payment to include all payment that would have otherwise been made but for the provisions of this sentence. For the avoidance of doubt, Employee shall not be entitled to any severance payments if the Employee has not signed the Release, and if all revocation period applicable to the Release have not expired on or prior to the sixtieth (60th) day following Employee’s Termination Date. . In addition, the severance payments outlined in this Section are contingent on Employee fully complying with the terms of the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement. If Employee fails to so comply, Employee agrees that the Company has the right to cease making the payments described in this Section and that the Company is entitled to recover from Employee any payments it has already made to Employee..

 

(iii)         280G. In the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution to or for the benefit of Employee or the acceleration thereof (the “Triggering Payment”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (collectively, such excise tax, together with any such interest or penalties, the “Excise Tax”) (all such payments and benefits, including any cash severance payments payable pursuant to any other plan, arrangement or agreement, hereinafter referred to as the “Total Payments”), then, after taking into account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the cash severance payments shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if (A) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (B) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which Employee would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments). All determinations required to be made under this subsection (iii) shall be made in writing within ten (10) business days of the receipt of notice from Employee that there has been a Triggering Payment by the independent accounting firm then retained by the Company in the ordinary course of business (which firm shall provide detailed supporting calculations to the Company and Employee) and such determinations shall be final and binding on the Company and Employee. Any fees incurred as a result of work performed by any independent accounting firm hereunder shall be paid by the Company.

 

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(iv)        Vesting. Any of Employee’s unvested options or restricted equity will vest ratably in accordance with the unvested portion of each such award on December 31, 2013, March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014, September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2014. In the event Employee is terminated pursuant to Sections 4B(ii)(b), 4B(v) or 4B(vi), any of Employee’s unvested options or restricted equity will vest in full on the Termination Date. For avoidance of doubt, it is the Parties’ intent that Employee’s unvested options or restricted equity vest in full prior to the expiration of this Agreement or his termination from employment otherwise, unless the termination results from Termination by Employee or Termination for Cause.

 

(v)         Disability. The Company may terminate Employee’s employment upon Employee’s total disability. Employee shall be deemed to be totally disabled for purposes of this Agreement if he is unable to perform his essential job duties under this Agreement by reason of a mental or physical illness or condition lasting for a period of 120 consecutive days or more, taking into consideration any reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, if applicable. The determination as to whether Employee is totally disabled shall be made by a licensed physician selected by the Parties. In the event of early termination pursuant to this section, Employee shall receive the Severance Payment as stated in Section 4B(ii)(b) above and any of Employee’s unvested options or restricted equity will vest in full on the Termination Date.

 

(vi)        Death. This Agreement shall terminate immediately and without any action on the part of the Company if Employee dies. In such an event, Employee’s estate shall receive from the Company, in a single lump sum, the Severance Payment as stated in Section 4B(ii)(b) above, and any of Employee’s unvested options or restricted equity will vest in full on the Termination Date. Employee’s estate shall further receive any other death benefits, if any, generally applicable to the Company’s employees.

 

(C)         The following rules shall apply with respect to the distribution of payments and benefits, if any, to be provided to Employee under Section 4(B) of this Agreement, as applicable:

 

(i)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no payments shall be made to Employee upon Employee’s termination of employment from the Company under this Agreement unless such termination of employment is a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. For purposes of determining the timing of payments under this Section 4 only, “Termination Date” shall be deemed to mean the date on which Employee experiences a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

 

(ii)         It is intended that each installment of the payments and benefits provided under this Section 4(B)(ii)(b), if any, shall be treated as a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

 

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(iii)        Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that Employee is deemed to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, any payments to Employee hereunder that are subject to the provisions of Section 409A of the Code shall not be made prior to the six-month anniversary of Employee’s Termination Date. Thereafter, any payment that would otherwise have been made during the six-month period beginning on Employee’s Termination Date will be paid, together with interest at an annual rate (compounded monthly) equal to the federal short-term rate (as in effect under Section 1274(d) of the Code on the termination date), to Employee immediately following such six-month anniversary and no later than thirty (30) days following such anniversary.

 

5.          Release. Employee agrees that payment by the Company of the amounts set out in Section 4B(ii)(b) above (in the event of a termination by the Company Without Cause) is contingent upon Employee executing a mutual release (the “Release”), that is mutually acceptable to the Company and Employee, and that shall recite that such payment is in full and final settlement of any and all actions, causes of actions, suits, claims, demands and entitlements whatsoever which Employee has or may have against the Company or which the Company may have against Employee, their respective affiliates and any of their respective directors, officers, employees, shareholders, representatives, successors and assigns arising out of Employee’s hiring, his employment and the termination of his employment or this Agreement. The Company agrees to provide the Release to Employee for consideration within thirty days of Employee’s Termination Date.

 

6.          Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Employee for all necessary and reasonable out-of-pocket travel and other business expenses incurred by Employee, which relate to Employee’s duties hereunder, in accordance with the Company’s relevant policies in effect from time to time.

 

7.          Survival Of Certain Provisions. Any provisions hereof that, by their nature, would survive the termination hereof shall not be discharged or dissolved upon, but shall survive the termination of the employment of Employee with the Company.

 

8.          Representations And Warranties Of Employee. As of the date hereof and at all times during the term hereof and the term of the Original Agreement, Employee represents and warrants to the Company that (a) Employee has not entered into and is not bound by any agreement, understanding or restriction (including, without limitation, any covenant restricting competition or solicitation or agreement relating to trade secrets or confidential information) with any third party that in any way limits, restricts or would prevent the employment of him by the Company under this Agreement and the Original Agreement or the full and complete performance by him of all his duties and obligations hereunder; and (b) the execution of this Agreement by him and the employment of him by the Company under this Agreement will not result in, or constitute a breach of, any term or condition of any other agreement, instrument, arrangement or understanding between him and any third party, or constitute (or, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute) a default, breach or violation of any such agreement, instrument, arrangement or understanding, or which would accelerate the maturity of any duty or obligation of him thereunder.

 

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9.          Indemnity. Employee acknowledges that the Company has relied upon the representations contained in Section 8 hereof. Employee agrees to indemnify and hold the Company, its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, affiliates, parent, subsidiary and related companies, representatives and consultants and their insurers and attorneys harmless against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, fees or expenses including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and costs incurred by the Company, its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, affiliates, parent, subsidiary and related companies, representatives and consultants and their insurers by reason of an alleged violation by Employee of any of the representations contained in Section 8 hereof.

 

10.         Notices. All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given upon receipt if delivered personally, or when sent if mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

If to the Company   Campus Crest Communities, Inc.
    2100 Rexford Road, Suite 414
    Charlotte, NC 28211
    Attention: Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr.
     
With copy to   Stuart Barr, Esq.
    Hogan Lovells LLP
    Columbia Square
    555 Thirteenth Street, NW
    Washington, DC 20004
     
If to Employee   Michael S. Hartnett
    2823 Providence Road
    Charlotte, NC 28211

 

11.         Enforceability and Reformation; Severability. The Parties intend for all provisions of this Agreement to be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. Accordingly, in the event that any provision or portion of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, for any reason, under present or future law, such provision shall be severable and the remainder thereof shall not be invalidated or rendered unenforceable or otherwise adversely affected. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if a court or arbitrator should deem any provision of this Agreement to create a restriction that is unreasonable as to scope, duration or geographical area, the Parties agree that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforceable in such scope, for such duration and in such geographic area as such court or arbitrator may determine to be reasonable.

 

12.         Benefit. The rights, obligations and interests of Employee hereunder may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or hypothecated. Employee shall have no right to commute, encumber or dispose of the right to receive payments hereunder, which payments and the right thereto are non-assignable and non-transferable, and any attempted assignment or transfer shall be null and void and without effect. This Agreement and its obligations shall inure to the benefit of and be binding and enforceable by the successors and assigns of the Company, including, without limitation, any purchaser of the Company, regardless of whether such purchase takes the form of a merger, a purchase of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or a purchase of a majority of the outstanding capital stock of the Company.

 

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13.         Dispute Resolution. All controversies, claims, issues and other disputes (collectively, “Disputes”) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Original Agreement or Employee’s employment hereunder shall be subject to the applicable provisions of this Section.

 

(A)         Arbitration. Except for actions seeking relief for violations of the Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement, all Disputes shall be settled exclusively by final and binding arbitration in Charlotte, North Carolina, before a neutral arbitrator in an arbitration proceeding administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) according to the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of AAA or, alternatively, upon mutual agreement, to an arbitrator selected by Employee and the Company. Any dispute regarding whether a Dispute is subject to arbitration shall be resolved by arbitration.

 

(B)         Interstate Commerce. The Parties hereto acknowledge that (i) they have read and understood the provisions of this Section regarding arbitration and (ii) performance of this Agreement will be in interstate commerce as that term is used in the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq., and the parties contemplate substantial interstate activity in the performance of this Agreement including, without limitation, interstate travel, the use of interstate phone lines, the use of the U.S. mail services and other interstate courier services.

 

(C)         Waiver of Jury Trial. If any Dispute is not arbitrated for any reason, the Parties desire to avoid the time and expense relating to a jury trial of such Dispute. Accordingly, the Parties, for themselves and their successors and assigns, hereby waive trial by jury of any Dispute. The Parties acknowledge that this waiver is knowingly, freely, and voluntarily given, is desired by all Parties and is in the best interests of all Parties.

 

14.         Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or changed, in whole or in part, except by a written instrument signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company and by Employee.

 

15.         Waiver. No failure or delay by either of the Parties in exercising any right, power, or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power, or privilege.

 

16.         Access To Counsel. Employee acknowledges that he has had full opportunity to review this Agreement and has had access to independent legal counsel of his choice to the extent deemed necessary to interpret the legal effect hereof.

 

17.         Governing Law and Forum Selection. This Agreement shall be interpreted, construed and governed according to the laws of the State of North Carolina. For any claims for relief which are excepted from the arbitration provision as set out above, the Parties submit to the service and exclusive personal jurisdiction of the federal or state courts of Charlotte, North Carolina and irrevocably waive all defenses inconsistent with the terms of this Section.

 

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18.         Fees And Costs. If either Party initiates any action or proceeding (whether by arbitration or court proceeding) to enforce any of its rights hereunder or to seek damages for any violation hereof, then, the Parties shall bear their respective costs and expenses of any such action or proceeding; provided, that, in addition to all other remedies that may be granted, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees and all other costs that it may sustain in connection with such action or proceeding. If a dispute is arbitrated, all costs and fees of the arbitrator(s) shall be paid by the Company.

 

19.         Offset. The Company shall have the right to offset against any sums payable to Employee, any amounts owing to the Company as a result of expense account indebtedness, failure to return Company property, or other advances or debts due.

 

20.         Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Execution and delivery by facsimile shall constitute good and valid execution and delivery unless and until replaced or substituted by an original executed instrument.

 

21.         Interpretation. The language used in this Agreement shall not be construed in favor of or against either of the Parties, but shall be construed as if both of the Parties prepared this Agreement. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any such Party.

 

22.         Execution of Further Documents. The Parties covenant and agree that they shall, from time to time and at all times, do all such further acts and execute and deliver all such further documents and assurances as shall be reasonably required in order to fully perform and carry out the terms of this Agreement.

 

23.         Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company, its successors and assigns, including, without limitation, any entity which may acquire all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and business or into which the Company may be consolidated or merged, and Employee, his heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. Employee may not assign any of his obligations under this Agreement.

 

24.         Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Exhibit attached hereto represent the entire understanding and agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede any prior agreements and understanding between the Parties with respect to that subject matter.

 

25.         Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. This Agreement is intended to comply with, or otherwise be exempt from Section 409A of the Code, and any regulations and Treasury guidance promulgated thereunder and all ambiguities shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  CAMPUS CREST COMMUNITIES, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr.
  Name: Donald L. Bobbitt, Jr.
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
   
  EMPLOYEE:
   
  /s/ Michael S. Hartnett
  MICHAEL S. HARTNETT

 

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Exhibit A – Employment Agreement with Michael S. Hartnett

 

Compensation and Benefits

 

(A)         As of the Effective Date, Employee will continue to serve on the Board but he will resign from the position of Co-Chairman. Employee will complete his current term on the Board but will not stand for re-election upon expiration of the current term.

 

(B)         Employee shall receive a base salary of $380,000 per year (as such base salary may hereafter from time to time be adjusted as provided herein, the “Base Salary”). The Base Salary shall be paid during the period of employment, by direct deposit according to the Company’s current standard pay practice of 26 pay periods per year (semi-monthly) or in accordance with the Company’s relevant policies and practices in effect from time to time, including normal payroll practices, and shall be subject to all applicable employment and withholding taxes.

 

(C)         For calendar year 2013, Employee is eligible to receive a pro-rated bonus, based on Employee’s service through October 19, 2013, under the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) based on the target potential bonus amounts set forth in the Original Agreement. Employee’s entitlement to any payments under the Plan shall be subject to the terms of the Plan. Employee will not be eligible to participate in the Plan for any period after October 19, 2013.

 

(D)         On or about October 19, 2013, provided he remains employed through such date, Employee shall receive a cash bonus of $100,000.00.

 

(E)         On or about October 19, 2013, the Company will transfer title of Employee’s current company car to Employee. During the term of this Agreement, Employee shall be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable telecommunications and peripherals.

 

(F)         Subject to, and in accordance with, their terms, Employee shall be entitled to participate in any plans, insurance policies or contracts maintained by the Company relating to retirement, health, disability, vacation, auto, and other related benefits. These currently include health, dental and life insurance, and 401K. Employee is eligible to accrue compensated business days of PTO each year, at a rate of 1.75 days per month. PTO is accrued on a calendar year basis with a total maximum accrual of twenty-one (21) days per year. Up to five (5) days of unused PTO may be carried over from one year to the following year, but carried-over PTO must be used within the year following its accrual. Upon Employee’s termination from the Company, current year accrued but unused PTO will be considered for payment to Employee, but carried-over PTO will not be paid to Employee. PTO generally may not be used in advance of its accrual, but any unaccrued but used PTO will be considered an advance and will be deducted from Employee’s final paycheck upon termination. Employee is also eligible for eight (8) paid holidays per year as designated by the Company. Employee’s rights and entitlements with respect to any such benefits shall be subject to the provisions of the relevant plans, contracts or policies providing such benefits. Nothing contained herein or in any employment offer shall be deemed to impose any obligation on the Company to maintain or adopt any such plans, policies or contracts or to limit the Company’s right to modify or eliminate such plans, policies or contracts in its sole discretion.

 

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(G)         Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees that, except as set forth in this Exhibit, he shall not be entitled to receive any other compensation, payments or benefits in connection with his employment under this Agreement.

 

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