EX-10.1 2 wnc-transitionagreementsmi.htm EX-10.1 Document

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過渡協議
本過渡協議(本“協議”)由Dustin t. Smith(“高管”)和wabash國立有限公司(“公司”),自2024年8月19日生效。
鑑於,這位高管目前擔任公司的高級副總裁,首席運營官。

鑑於,執行官目前是公司執行分手計劃(“ESP”),公司變更控制分手工資計劃(“權力變更計劃”)和公司其他激勵報酬和員工福利計劃的參與者。

鑑於公司和高管希望明確規定高管離職和過渡的時間和條款,包括高管在過渡期間的職責和他將享有的福利。

基於此,在考慮到雙方在此所作的相互承諾的基礎上,公司和執行官特此約定如下:
1.    辭去官員職務;分離;過渡服務.
(a) 自2024年9月1日結束當天起生效(“轉換日期”),執行董事特此辭去其公司高級副總裁,首席運營官職務,以及其可能持有的公司或其任何子公司的其他執行官、董事或官員職位。除非根據本協議的條款提前終止或在雙方的相互協議下延長,執行董事與公司的僱傭關係將於2024年12月1日終止(實際的終止日期稱爲“分離日期”)。儘管本協議約定的任何內容與否,執行董事的僱傭關係可能在2024年12月1日之前終止,原因是(i)公司因故終止執行董事的僱傭關係(按照ESP中的定義),或(ii)執行董事死亡或發生殘疾(按照ESP中的定義)。 除非因故提前終止或由於執行董事死亡或發生殘疾而終止,執行董事在分離日期終止僱傭將被視爲無因的僱傭終止,用於ESP目的,並且,在遵守ESP第5和第7節以及ESP的其他條款和條件的情況下,執行董事將接收ESP第4(a)和(b)節規定的終止支付和福利。
(b) 在過渡日期和分離日期之間(“過渡期。在過渡日期和分離日期(或提前離職日期,如適用)之間的「過渡期」內,(i)您同意與公司董事會(「董事會」)和即將到任的總裁兼首席執行官合作完成關鍵項目並轉移您的職責;(ii)公司將繼續支付您的正常基本工資;(iii)您將繼續有資格參加您當前參加的員工福利計劃(根據這些福利計劃的條款和條件)”),執行董事應繼續在公司擔任非執行的高級顧問,並應根據公司首席執行官或首席執行官指定的要求在合理情況下提供過渡服務。在過渡期間,執行董事將繼續以年度率領取基本工資
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550,000美元,按照公司正常的工資支付慣例支付。儘管執行人員將繼續有資格根據ESP中定義的2024年度按比例計算的年度激勵金(根據執行人員直至分離日期提供的服務計算),並且將繼續根據其條款獲得所有未兌現的股權獎勵,直至分離日期,但執行人員在過渡期間將不會再獲得任何現金或股權激勵報酬的進一步授予。在過渡期間,雙方承認並同意,執行人員對公司的服務水平絕不會在任何情況下低於在前36個月中執行人員提供的服務的平均水平的20%,以使執行人員不會因1986年《內部稅收法典》第409A條的目的而經歷「服務分離」。代碼),以及財政部規定及其他相關指導文件(統稱爲“第409A條款,如果2018年計劃中的一個獎項受到稅務法案第409A條款的約束,但不符合稅務法案第409A條款的要求,則上述應稅事件可能應早於所述,並可能導致額外的稅收和處罰。參與者被敦促就稅務法案第409A條款對他們的獎項的適用性諮詢他們的稅務顧問。雙方承認並同意,執行人員將在分離日期經歷一項根據第409A條定義的服務分離。
(c)執行人員承認並同意,由於他在過渡日期辭去主管職務,執行人員在過渡期間或之後不得參與或有資格享受《控制權變更計劃》的增強離職福利。

(d) 爲避免疑義,儘管本協議中有任何相反規定,高管始終只能夠任意解僱僱員,在此期間,本協議中的任何內容都不會限制高管或公司以任何理由或無故終止高管的僱傭關係。 高管同意在轉型期間或之後,其職位、職責、權限、責任或薪酬的任何更改,以及在轉型期間或之後對高管職位、職責、權限或責任的任何其他更改,均不構成「正當理由」或被視爲對公司任何義務的違約,或構成對高管僱傭關係的一種被動解除,用於補償、離職金或其他福利計劃。
2.    一般發佈和豁免索賠.
(a)    發佈鑑於本協議和ESP中規定的支付和福利,執行人及其繼承人、管理人、代表、執行人員、繼任者和受讓人(統稱「執行人」)特此無條件地和不可撤銷地釋放、赦免並永久解除("蘋果CEO庫克大規模出售股票,套現超過3億港元。")無條件地和永久地解除了公司及其各自的關聯公司及其各自的前身、繼任者和受讓人("發佈")公司集團),以及他們各自的官員、董事、合夥人、代理人和前任以及現任僱員,包括但不限於所有與他們中任何一人同時、通過、在下還是與他們共同行動的人(統稱“釋放人”),釋放任何和所有釋放人與執行人在任何時間範圍內與此協議日期(“權利”)有關或起因於執行人與公司集團僱傭或離職所涉及的所有索賠、要求、行動、起訴原因、成本、費用、律師費以及所有責任,無論已知或未知,固定或待定。該釋放涵蓋但不限於(i)法律或平等索賠;(ii)合同(明示或暗示)或侵權索賠;(iii)因非法解僱、報復性解僱、告發揭示、誹謗、誹謗、未支付的酬金、賃金和小時違規、故意造成精神痛苦、欺詐、公共政策合同或侵權、以及暗示
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不論基於普通法或任何聯邦、州或地方法規,保誠信和公平待遇;(iv) 就公司集團的激勵或股權補償計劃或安排提出的索賠;(v) 根據禁止年齡、性別、種族、國籍、膚色、殘疾、宗教、退伍軍人、軍事地位、性取向或任何形式歧視、騷擾或報復的任何聯邦、州或地方法律而提出的索賠(包括但不限於《1967年就業年齡歧視法修正案》,《1964年民權法案修正案法案》,《1991年民權法案》,《1963年工資平等法案》,《1990年美國殘疾人法案》,《康復法》,《家庭和病事假法案》,《薩班斯-豪利法案》,《僱員測謊保護法案》,《1994年再就業權利法案》,《莉莉·萊德貝特支付公平法案》,任何與印第安納州法規或普通法有關的索賠,或者任何其他外國、聯邦、州或地方法律或司法決定);(vi) 根據僱員退休金安全法案提出的索賠;以及(vii) 關於行政人員在公司集團工作或終止在公司集團工作的僱傭關係的其他法定或普通法訴訟索賠。
在不限制上述段落的情況下,執行者聲明了解執行者明確釋放並放棄在執行者簽署本協議之日前執行者可能對公司集團提出的任何年齡歧視主張,無論是已知或未知。該釋放具體包括放棄根據1967年修訂案的《雇傭年齡歧視法》及《老年工人福利保護法》下的權利和主張。執行者承認在執行者簽署本協議時,包括釋放在內,執行者可能擁有根據《雇傭年齡歧視法》的某些權利或主張,並通過簽署本協議,包括釋放,自願放棄任何此類權利或主張。
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2(a), nothing herein will release the Company Group from: (i) any obligation under the ESP; (ii) any obligation to provide all benefit entitlements under any Company benefit or welfare plans that are vested as of the Separation Date, including the Company’s 401(k) plan and the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended; (iii) the Executive’s rights of indemnification and directors and officers liability insurance as may be in effect as of the Separation Date; and (iv) any rights or claims that relate to events or circumstances that occur after the date on which the Executive executes this Agreement. In addition, nothing in the Release is intended to interfere with the Executive’s right to file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any state or local human rights commission in connection with any claim Executive believes he may have against the Releasees. However, by executing this Agreement, including the Release, the Executive hereby waives the right to recover any remuneration, damages, compensation or relief of any type whatsoever from the Company, its affiliates and their respective predecessors and successors in any proceeding that the Executive may bring before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any similar state commission or in any proceeding brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any similar state commission on the Executive’s behalf.
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(b)    Representations. Executive acknowledges and represents that, as an employee of the Company and its affiliates, the Executive has been obligated to, and has been given the full and unfettered opportunity to, report timely to the Company any conduct that would give rise to an allegation that the Company or any affiliate has violated any laws applicable to its businesses or has engaged in conduct which could otherwise be construed as inappropriate or unethical in any way, even if such conduct is not, or does not appear to be, a violation of any law. Executive acknowledges that a condition of the payment of the benefits under this Agreement and the ESP is the Executive’s truthful and complete representation to the Company regarding any such conduct, including but not limited to conduct regarding compliance with the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, policies and procedures, and with all laws and standards governing the Company’s business. The Executive’s truthful and complete representation, based on the Executive’s thorough search of his knowledge and memory, is as follows: The Executive has not been directly or indirectly involved in any such conduct, no one has asked or directed the Executive to participate in any such conduct, and the Executive has no specific knowledge of any conduct by any other person(s) that would give rise to an allegation that the Company or any affiliate has violated any laws applicable to its businesses or has engaged in conduct which could otherwise be construed as inappropriate or unethical in any way.

(c)    Representation of No Pending Action and Agreement Not to Sue. The Executive further agrees never to sue any Releasees or cause any Releasees to be sued regarding any matter within the scope of the Release. If the Executive violates the Release by suing any Releasees or causing any Releasee to be sued, then the Executive shall continue to be bound by the obligations of the Release and shall pay all costs and expenses of defending against the suit incurred by the Releasees, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, unless paying such costs and expenses is prohibited by law.

(d)    Right to Engage in Protected Activity. Nothing in the Release is intended to, or shall, interfere with the Executive’s rights under federal, state, or local civil rights or employment discrimination laws (including, but not limited to, Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, USERRA, or their state or local counterparts) to file or otherwise institute a charge of discrimination, to participate in a proceeding with any appropriate federal, state, or local government agency enforcing discrimination laws, or to cooperate with any such agency in its investigation, none of which shall constitute a breach of the non-disparagement or confidentiality clauses of the ESP. Similarly, nothing in the Release prohibits the Executive from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity, including but not limited to the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any agency Inspector General, or making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation. The Executive does not need the prior authorization of the Company to make any such reports or disclosures and the Executive is not required to notify the Company that the Executive has made such reports or disclosures. Executive shall not, however, be entitled to any relief, recovery, or monies in connection with any such complaint, charge, or proceeding brought against any Releasee, regardless of who filed or initiated any such complaint, charge, or proceeding.
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(e)    Acknowledgment. The Executive has read the Release, understands it, and voluntarily accepts its terms, and the Executive acknowledges that he has been advised by the Company to seek the advice of legal counsel (at the Executive’s cost) before entering into the Agreement. The Executive acknowledges that he was given a period of 21 calendar days within which to consider the Release and execute the Agreement, and to the extent that he executes the Agreement before the expiration of the 21-calendar day period, he does so knowingly and voluntarily and only after consulting his attorney. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the promises made by the Company Group hereunder represent substantial value over and above that to which the Executive would otherwise be entitled.
(f)    Revocation. The Executive has a period of seven (7) calendar days following the execution of this Agreement, including the Release, during which Executive may revoke the Release by delivering written notice to the Company by hand or overnight courier before 5:00 p.m. on the seventh day after signing this Agreement, including the Release, and the Release will not become effective or enforceable until such revocation period has expired. The Executive understands that if he revokes the Release, it will be null and void in its entirety, and he will not be entitled to any payments or benefits provided in the Agreement or the ESP.
3.    Public Announcement. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company may disclose and describe as it deems appropriate the Executive’s transition and separation under this Agreement in any required Securities and Exchange Commission filings and in a press release or other public announcement as well as such internal communications as the Company may deem necessary or appropriate.
4.    Remedies. The Executive recognizes and affirms that in the event of the Executive’s breach of any provision of this this Agreement or the ESP, money damages would be inadequate and the Company would have no adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, by signing a this Agreement, the Executive agrees that in the event of a breach or a threatened breach by the Executive of any of the provisions of this Agreement or the ESP, the Company, in addition and supplementary to other rights and remedies existing in its favor, may (a) apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions hereof (without posting a bond or other security), (b) cease any further payments or benefits under this Agreement or the ESP, and (c) require the Executive to repay any severance benefits provided by the Company under the ESP. In the event that the Company institutes legal action to enforce this Agreement and the ESP, the Executive agrees that the Company shall be entitled to recover from the Executive its costs of any action (including, if the Company prevails on at least one material issue in such action, reasonable attorneys’ and expert fees and expenses). Nothing in this Section 4 will be deemed to limit the Company’s remedies at law or in equity for any breach by the Executive of any of the provisions of this Agreement or the ESP that may be pursued or availed of by the Company.
5.    Severability Clause. In the event any provision or part of this Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, only that particular provision or part so found, and not the entire Agreement, shall be inoperative.
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6.    Nonadmission. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed as an admission of wrongdoing or liability on the part of either party to this Agreement.
7.    Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana, without regard to conflicts of laws principles.
8.    Notices. Any notice under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered, sent by reputable overnight carrier or mailed by first class mail, return receipt requested, to the recipient. Notices to the Executive shall be sent to the address of the Executive most recently provided to the Company. Notices to the Company should be sent to: Wabash National Corporation, 1000 Sagamore Parkway South, Lafayette, Indiana 47905, Attention: Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer. Notice and communications shall be effective on the date of delivery if delivered by hand, on the first business day following the date of dispatch if delivered utilizing overnight courier, or three business days after having been mailed, if sent by first class mail.
9.    Entire Understanding. This Agreement, together with the ESP and the other documents and agreements referenced herein and therein, contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto relating to the subject matter contained in this Agreement.

10.    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile signatures shall have the same effect as originals.

THE EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE HAS READ THIS AGREEMENT AND THAT HE FULLY KNOWS, UNDERSTANDS AND APPRECIATES ITS CONTENTS, AND THAT HE HEREBY EXECUTES THE SAME AND MAKES THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RELEASE AND AGREEMENTS PROVIDED FOR HEREIN VOLUNTARILY AND OF HIS OWN FREE WILL.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION


Name: /s/ Kristin Glazner    
Title: Chief Administrative Officer    


EXECUTIVE:


/s/ Dustin T. Smith    
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