UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers |
Chief Executive Officer and President Transition
On July 31, 2021, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Conn’s, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Chandra Holt as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, effective August 9, 2021 (the “Effective Date”). Ms. Holt will also join the Board as a director on the Effective Date. Ms. Holt will succeed Norman L. Miller, who will step down as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company as of the Effective Date and will continue as Executive Chairman of the Board.
Chandra Holt, 41, will join the Company from Walmart Inc., where she served as Executive Vice President, CMO and CIO, Walmart.com since January 2020. From August 2018 to January 2020, Ms. Holt served as Senior Vice President, COO Samsclub.com. Ms. Holt also served as Senior Vice President, GMM - Grocery of Sam’s Club from May 2017 to August 2018 and as Vice President, Proprietary Brands of Sam’s Club from August 2015 to May 2017. Previously, Ms. Holt held multiple positions with Walgreens (Nasdaq: WBA) and Target (NYSE: TGT). Ms. Holt holds an M.B.A. from Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota.
There is no arrangement or understanding with any person pursuant to which Ms. Holt was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director. There are no family relationships between Ms. Holt and any director or Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, and Ms. Holt is not a party to any transaction requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Ms. Holt’s Offer Letter and Severance Agreement
In connection with her appointment as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, Ms. Holt entered into an offer letter (the “Offer Letter”) and Executive Severance Agreement (the “Severance Agreement”) with the Company setting forth the terms of her employment and compensation. Pursuant to the Offer Letter, Ms. Holt will be entitled to an initial annualized base salary of $1.0 million and will be eligible for an annual bonus with a target payout of 150% of base salary and maximum annual bonus of 200% of her target bonus. Ms. Holt will also be eligible for long-term incentives under the terms and conditions of the Company’s annual long-term incentive program in the form of restricted stock units and performance based restricted stock units with a combined target grant date value of not less than $3.0 million. In addition, Ms. Holt will receive a one-time inducement grant of: (i) restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $4.0 million, which will vest in three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of her employment commencement date, subject to continued employment; and (ii) performance based restricted stock units with a grant date fair value of $2.0 million, which will vest, if at all, at the end of a three-year performance period measured from her employment commencement date. Ms. Holt will also be entitled to certain relocation benefits and certain professional fees in connection with entry into the Offer Letter and Severance Agreement.
In addition, pursuant to the Severance Agreement, if Ms. Holt is terminated by the Company for any reason, the Company will pay the following: (1) the earned but unpaid base salary to which she is entitled immediately prior to such termination; (2) any annual incentive plan bonus that relates to a completed performance period, but not yet paid on or prior to such termination; (3) accrued but unpaid vacation and unused sick days; and (4) reimbursement of any unpaid business expenses. Should Ms. Holt be terminated by the Company other than for Cause (as defined in the Severance Agreement) or as a result of her death or disability, or should Ms. Holt resign for Good Reason (as defined in the Severance Agreement), Ms. Holt will be entitled to certain severance benefits: (1) 24 months of Ms. Holt’s base salary; (2) Ms. Holt’s prorated annual cash bonus for the year of termination based on actual achievement of performance targets; (3) 24 months of the monthly premium necessary to continue Ms. Holt’s existing group medical, dental, life, disability and other employee welfare benefit plans; and (4) all awards held by Ms. Holt under the Company’s long-term incentive plan will continue to vest as if Ms. Holt had remained an employee of the Company for the 24 month severance period. Furthermore, should Ms. Holt be terminated during the 12-month period prior to a change of control or the 12-month period following a Change in Control, Ms. Holt would be entitled to: (1) a lump-sum cash payment in an amount equal to three times Ms. Holt’s base salary; (2) Ms. Holt’s prorated target annual cash bonus for the year of termination; (3) a lump sum cash stipend equal to 24 times the employer portion of the monthly premium payable for health and dental coverage had Ms. Holt continued to be actively employed by the Company; and (4) immediate vesting of all awards held by Ms. Holt under the Company’s long-term incentive program based on the greater of the target number of shares and the number of shares that would vest based on actual Company performance, and continued exercisability of such awards during the 24 month period following the date of termination.
The Company will enter into, as of the Effective Date, an indemnification agreement with Ms. Holt in the form previously filed as Exhibit 10.16 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 on September 23, 2003, which is incorporated by reference herein.
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The foregoing descriptions of the Offer Letter and the Severance Agreement are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the complete text of such agreements, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Mr. Miller’s Transition to Executive Chairman
In connection with Mr. Miller’s retirement as Chief Executive Officer and President and transition to Executive Chairman, the Company and Mr. Miller entered into a letter agreement (the “Letter Agreement”). Pursuant the Letter Agreement, Mr. Miller will serve as Executive Chairman for 12 months and, if he is still on the Board and employed as Executive Chairman as of such date, will thereafter remain on the Board as a non-employee director. Should Mr. Miller’s Board service cease within seven months after the termination of his service as Executive Chairman, the Board will appoint Mr. Miller as a senior advisor for the purpose of providing transitional advisory services. As compensation for Mr. Miller’s 12-month service as Executive Chairman, Mr. Miller will receive a base salary of $1.0 million. If Mr. Miller is terminated by the Board without cause prior to the end of the 12 month period, he will continue to receive the remainder of his base salary for the balance of such period. In addition, Mr. Miller will remain eligible for his annual cash bonus payable for the 2022 fiscal year and will be eligible for an annual cash bonus with respect to the 2023 fiscal year with a target payout of 150% of base salary and maximum annual bonus of 200% of his target bonus, which will be prorated for purposes of the 2023 fiscal year. If Mr. Miller remains employed by the Company as of the date on which the Company grants its regular annual equity awards to senior executives for the 2023 fiscal year, he will be granted a long-term incentive equity award for the 2023 fiscal year in a form to be determined by the Board with a target grant date value equal to 150% of his base salary. Should Mr. Miller’s service as Executive Chairman be terminated by the Board without cause after any such long-term incentive equity award for the 2023 fiscal year has been granted, Mr. Miller will continue to become vested in such award as if his employment had continued and should Mr. Miller be terminated for cause or resign after any such long-term incentive equity award for the 2023 fiscal year has been granted, he will be entitled to only that portion of such award that has become vested as of the date of termination. Furthermore, in accordance with the Executive Severance Agreement that Mr. Miller and the Company entered into in September 2015 and which was previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K on September 9, 2015 (the “Miller Executive Severance Agreement”), all outstanding and unvested awards held by Mr. Miller will continue to vest and be exercisable for 24 months after termination of his services. Mr. Miller has waived all rights to severance benefits, except for the continued vesting and exercisability of his outstanding awards, under the Miller Executive Severance Agreement, though the other terms, including restrictive covenants, of the Miller Executive Severance Agreement remain in effect.
The foregoing descriptions of the Letter Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of such agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7.01 | Regulation FD Disclosure |
On August 4, 2021, the Company issued a press release with respect to the appointment of Ms. Holt as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, as well as the resignation of Mr. Miller from those same positions and his transition to Executive Chairman. The full text of the press release is furnished with this Report as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. A copy of the press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated into this Item 7.01 by reference.
In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information set forth in this Item 7.01 of this current report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and regardless of any general incorporation language in such filings, except to the extent expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing. The filing of this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed an admission as to the materiality of any information herein that is required to be disclosed solely by reason of Regulation FD.
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Item 9.01 | Finance Statements and Exhibits |
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit |
Description | |
Exhibit 10.1† | Offer Letter, dated July 30, 2021, between Conn’s, Inc. and Chandra Holt | |
Exhibit 10.2† | Executive Severance Agreement, dated as of August 9, 2021, between Conn’s, Inc. and Chandra Holt | |
Exhibit 10.3† | Letter Agreement, dated August 4, 2021, between Conn’s, Inc. and Norman L. Miller. | |
Exhibit 99.1 | Press release dated August 4, 2021 | |
Exhibit 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. |
† | Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement |
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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.
CONN’S INC. | ||||||
Date: August 4, 2021 | By: | /s/ George L. Bchara | ||||
Name: | George L. Bchara | |||||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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Exhibit 10.1
Conns, Inc.
July 30, 2021
Ms. Chandra Holt
Dear Chandra:
We are pleased to offer you, subject to approval by the companys Board of Directors (the Board):
| The position of President & Chief Executive Officer of Conns Inc. (Conns), reporting directly to the Board, as well as a seat on the Board, in each case effective August 9, 2021; |
| Annual cash compensation consisting of the following components: |
| Annual base salary of $1,000,000 (the Base Salary); |
| Annual target bonus opportunity of 150% of Base Salary (i.e., $1,500,000), with a maximum payout opportunity equal to 200% of target (i.e., $3,000,000). For the 2022 fiscal year (FY22), your annual incentive bonus will be the sum of the following: |
| For the portion of FY22 prior to your date of hire, a payout equal to 100% of target; and |
| For the portion of FY22 following your date of hire, a payout based on actual performance against the goals set by the Compensation Committee in February 2021 that apply to other Conns senior executives. |
Your FY22 annual bonus will be paid concurrently with the payment of FY22 annual bonuses to other Conns senior executives, provided you are still employed with the company at the time of payout.
| In consideration of the equity awards that you forfeited in connection with your voluntary termination from your prior employer, an initial sign-on equity grant consisting of (1) restricted stock units (RSUs), with a grant date value of $4,000,000 and subject to 3-year installment vesting (i.e., one-third per year) commencing as of the first day of employment, and (2) performance-based RSUs (PBRSUs), with the target number of PBRSUs having a grant date value of $2,000,000, subject to 3-year cliff vesting on the third anniversary of the first day of employment . The number of shares subject to these RSUs and PBRSUs will be determined based on the weighted average closing price of the companys common stock over the 30 days prior to the date of grant. The performance conditions that will apply to the PBRSUs shall be determined in good faith by you and the Board within ninety (90) days following the commencement of employment. |
| Annual participation in the companys annual Long Term Incentive Program (LTIP) with a target grant date value not less than $3,000,000, based on the valuation methodology used by the company beginning with the 2023 fiscal year. Your LTIP grant for FY22 will be awarded on a prorated basis to reflect the remaining portion of the FY22 fiscal year following your date of hire. Your FY22 awards will consist of 50% time-based RSUs, subject to 3-year installment vesting (i.e., one-third per year), and 50% PBRSUs, subject to 3-year cliff vesting (i.e., 100% following the 3-year performance measurement period), and subject to the same vesting conditions (including vesting dates and performance conditions) that apply to the FY22 PBRSUs granted to other executive officers. Up to 200% of the target PBRSUs may be earned upon achievement of the applicable 3-year absolute total shareholder return goals at the maximum level. The number of shares subject to these RSUs and PBRSUs will be determined based on the weighted average closing price of the companys common stock over the 30 days prior to the date of grant. |
| An Executive Severance Agreement, which includes double trigger provisions consistent with the other executive officers; and |
| An Executive Indemnity Agreement consistent with the other executive officers. |
You will become eligible for most of Conns health and welfare benefits on the first of the month following two full months of employment. Conns will, however, reimburse you for COBRA expenses (less the contribution you would pay if you were on Conns medical plan) to continue your current medical benefits until you become eligible for Conns plan.
You will also become eligible for Conns 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan at the beginning of a plan quarter immediately following three months of continuous service. You can, however, roll over the qualifying distributions from your current 401(k) to Conns plan at any time. Additionally, you will become eligible for Conns Employee Stock Purchase Plan at the beginning of the plan quarter immediately following three months of continuous service.
In addition, you will become eligible to participate in any perquisite programs generally provided to senior officers of Conns, including but not limited to a monthly automobile allowance of $1,000.
Immediately upon hire, you will be eligible for four weeks of vacation.
In accordance with Conns expense reimbursement policy, Conns will reimburse you for the reasonable expenses you incur in relocating to the Houston area, including temporary housing for you and your family in the Houston area, house hunting trips to Houston, moving expenses, expenses incurred in the sale of your current home, and a tax gross-up payment; provided that the aggregate amount of such reimbursement, exclusive of the tax gross-up payment, shall not exceed $250,000.
Conns will reimburse reasonable professional fees (including for legal, tax, accounting and financial services) that you incur, up to a maximum amount of $20,000, in connection with the review of applicable documentation relating to your employment offer, including this offer letter, the Executive Severance Agreement, the Executive Indemnity Agreement and any incentive award agreements.
We look forward to having you join the Conns team as soon as possible. Please acknowledge your acceptance of this offer of employment by signing below and returning one original document to me.
Sincerely, |
/s/ Bob L. Martin |
Bob L. Martin Lead Independent Director |
Acceptance Acknowledged: /s/ Chandra Holt
Date: July 31, 2021
Exhibit 10.2
EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
THIS EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is made as of August 9, 2021 (Effective Date), by and between Conns, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its principal offices at 2445 Technology Forest Blvd, Building 4, Suite 800, The Woodlands, Texas 77381 (Conns), and Chandra Holt, an individual (the Executive).
WHEREAS, Executive has agreed to commence employment with Conns as its President and Chief Executive Officer as of the Effective Date;
WHEREAS, Conns desires to provide the Executive certain benefits in the event of a termination of Executives employment, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Term of Agreement. This Agreement will commence on the Effective Date and will continue in effect until terminated by mutual written agreement of Executive and Conns.
2. At-Will Employment. Conns and Executive acknowledge that the Executives employment shall be at-will, within the meaning of applicable law.
3. Severance Benefits Under this Agreement.
(a) Termination of Employment for Any Reason. The following payments will be paid to Executive upon Executives termination of employment for any reason:
(i) Earned but unpaid Base Salary through the date of termination;
(ii) Any annual incentive plan bonus, or other form of incentive compensation, for which the performance measurement period has ended, but which is unpaid at the time of termination;
(iii) Any accrued but unpaid vacation and unused sick days;
(iv) Unreimbursed business expenses incurred by the Executive on behalf of Conns.
(b) Termination Without Cause, or Voluntary Termination by the Executive for Good Reason not in Connection with a Change of Control. Except as otherwise provided in Section 3(c), and subject to Executives execution and non-revocation of a release of claims pursuant to Section 3(e), if (x) Conns terminates Executives employment other than (A) for Cause or (B) as a result of Executives death or Disability, or (y) Executive voluntarily terminates her employment for Good Reason, Conns will pay Executive the following amounts and provide the following benefits:
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(i) Executive shall continue to receive her Base Salary for the 24-month period (the Severance Period) following such termination, payable in accordance with Conns normal payroll practices.
(ii) Executive shall receive an annual cash bonus for the year of termination, payable at the same time as annual cash bonuses are paid to senior management, based on actual achievement of performance targets (as if Executive had remained employed through the end of the applicable performance period), subject, however, to proration based on the number of days in the applicable performance period that had elapsed prior to the date of termination.
(iii) During the Severance Period, Executive shall receive continued coverage under the Conns medical, dental, life, disability, and other employee welfare benefit plans in which senior executives of Conns are eligible to participate, to the extent Executive is eligible under the terms of such plans immediately prior to Executives termination. For purposes of clarity, during the term of this Agreement Conns shall provide Executive coverage under a major medical plan. Conns obligation to provide the foregoing benefits shall terminate upon Executives becoming eligible for comparable employee welfare benefits under a plan or arrangement provided by a new employer. Executive agrees to promptly notify Conns of any such employment and the material terms of any employee welfare benefits offered to Executive in connection with such employment.
(iv) All awards held by Executive under the Conns, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan shall continue to vest and, if applicable, be exercisable, during the Severance Period as if Executive had remained an employee of Conns.
(c) Termination in Connection with a Change of Control. If during the two (2) year period that begins on the date that is one (1) year prior to a Change of Control and ends on that date which is one (1) year following a Change of Control, Conns (or its successor) terminates Executives employment other than (A) for Cause or (B) as a result of Executives death or Disability, or Executive voluntarily terminates her employment for Good Reason, then subject to Executives execution and non-revocation of a release of claims pursuant to Section 3(e), Conns will pay the following amounts and provide the following benefits:
(i) A lump-sum cash payment in an amount equal to three (3) times the Executives Base Salary, which, subject to Section 16, shall be payable not later than 60 days following (A) Executives termination (if Executives employment terminates on or after the date of the Change of Control), or (B) the date of the Change of Control (if Executives employment terminates during the one-year period prior to the date of the Change of Control); provided, however, that if the Change of Control is not a change in control event, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations issued under Section 409A of the Code, then such amount shall be paid in monthly installments over a period of three years, rather than a lump sum payment. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3(c)(i)(B), the amount payable to Executive under this Section 3(c)(i) shall be reduced by the payments, if any, received by Executive pursuant to Section 3(b)(i).
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(ii) Executive shall receive an annual cash bonus for the year of termination, which shall be equal to Executives target annual bonus as in effect for the year of termination, subject, however, to proration based on the number of days in the applicable performance period that had elapsed prior to the date of termination. Such bonus amount shall be paid to Executive within 60 days following the date of termination.
(iii) Conns will offer the Executive and any eligible family members the opportunity to elect to continue medical and dental coverage pursuant to COBRA. The Executive will be responsible for paying the required monthly premium for that coverage, but Conns will pay the Executive a lump sum cash stipend equal to 24 times the portion of the monthly premium that would have been paid by Conns for the same level of health and dental coverage the Executive had in effect immediately prior to her termination if the Executive were actively employed by Conns, and the Executive may, but is not required to, choose to use the stipend for the payment of COBRA premiums for any COBRA coverage that the Executive or eligible family members may elect. Conns will pay the stipend to the Executive within 60 days after Executives termination of employment, or such later date required under Section 16, whether or not the Executive or any eligible family member elects COBRA coverage, whether or not the Executive continues COBRA coverage for the maximum period permitted by law, and whether or not the Executive receives medical or dental coverage from another employer while the Executive is receiving COBRA continuation coverage. Payment of the stipend will not in any way extend or modify the Executives continuation coverage rights under COBRA or any similar continuation coverage law.
(iv) All awards held by Executive under the Conns, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan shall immediately vest based on the greater of the target number of shares and the number of shares that would vest based on actual company performance and, if applicable, continue to be exercisable during the 24-month period following the date of termination as if Executive had remained an employee of Conns.
(d) Termination Due to Death or Disability. Subject to the execution and non-revocation of a release of claims pursuant to Section 3(e) by Executive or her personal representative, if Executives employment is terminated due to Executives death or by Conns due to Executives Disability, Executive shall receive an annual cash bonus for the year of termination, payable at the same time as annual cash bonuses are paid to senior management, based on actual achievement of performance targets (as if Executive had remained employed through the end of the applicable performance period), subject, however, to proration based on the number of days in the applicable performance period that had elapsed prior to the date of termination.
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(e) Waiver and Release. Executives rights to any payments under 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) of this Agreement are contingent on Executive or her personal representative signing and returning, within 21 days following the date of termination (or, if permitted by Conns, within 45 days following the date of termination), an executed release of claims substantially consistent with the form attached hereto as Appendix A, and not revoking such release within seven (7) days thereafter. Any amounts payable under Section 3(b)(i), 3(b)(ii), 3(c)(i), 3(c)(ii), 3(c)(iii) and 3(d) shall be delayed until such conditions have been satisfied; provided, however, that if the period during which Executive may consider whether to execute or revoke such a release of claims begins in one calendar year and ends in a subsequent calendar year, all payments under Section 3(b), 3(c) or 3(d) that otherwise would be payable in the first of such calendar years shall be paid in the subsequent calendar year in accordance with Section 409A of the Code.
4. Attorneys Fees, Costs and Expenses. Conns will reimburse Executive for the reasonable attorney fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with any claim made or action brought by Executive to enforce her rights hereunder, provided such action is not decided in favor of Conns.
5. Potential Limitation on Payments.
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if it is determined that any payment or distribution by Conns to or for the benefit of the Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined without regard to any additional payments required under this Section 5) (all such payments and benefits, including the payments and benefits under Section 5 hereof, being hereinafter referred to as the Total Payments) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties are incurred by the Executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, collectively the Excise Tax), then the Total Payments will be reduced, in the order specified in Section 5(b), to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax, but only if 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 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 the Executive 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).
(b) The Total Payments will be reduced in the following order: (i) reduction of any cash severance payments otherwise payable to the Executive that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; (ii) reduction of any other cash payments or benefits otherwise payable to the Executive that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code, but excluding any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting or payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; (iii) reduction of any other
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payments or benefits otherwise payable to the Executive on a pro-rata basis or such other manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code, but excluding any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting and payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code; and (iv) reduction of any payments attributable to any acceleration of vesting or payments with respect to any equity award that are exempt from Section 409A of the Code, in each case beginning with payments that would otherwise be made last in time.
(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 5(d) hereof, all determinations required to be made under this Section 5, including whether and when Total Payments should be reduced, the amount of such Total Payments, Excise Taxes and all other related determinations, as well as all assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determinations, will be made by a nationally recognized certified public accounting firm as may be designated by Conns, subject to Executives approval which will not be unreasonably withheld (the Accounting Firm). All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm will be borne solely by Conns. Any determination by the Accounting Firm will be binding upon Conns and the Executive.
(d) As a result of uncertainty in the application of Section 280G and Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial calculation by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that the cash severance payment made by Conns will have been less than Conns should have paid pursuant to Section 5 hereof (the amount of any such deficiency, the Underpayment), or more than Conns should have paid pursuant to Section 5 hereof (the amount of any such overage, the Overpayment). In the event of an Underpayment, Conns will pay the Executive the amount of such Underpayment (together with interest at 120% of the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code) not later than five business days after the amount of such Underpayment is subsequently determined, provided, however, such Underpayment will not be paid later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Executive remitted the related taxes. In the event of an Overpayment, the amount of such Overpayment will be paid to Conns by the Executive not later than five business days after the amount of such Overpayment is subsequently determined (together with interest at 120% of the rate provided in Section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code).
6. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) Affiliate shall mean, with respect to a person, any other person controlling, controlled by or under common control with the first person.
(b) Base Salary shall mean Executives annual base salary, as approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board, and effective as of the date immediately prior to the Executives termination of employment.
(c) Board shall mean the Board of Directors of Conns.
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(d) Cause shall mean, with respect to Executive, the occurrence of any one of the following: (i) willful and continued failure to substantially perform Executives obligations (other than any such failure resulting from Executives incapacity due to any physical or mental illness); provided, however, that Conns shall have provided Executive with written notice of such failure and Executive shall have been afforded at least 30 days to cure such failure to the extent the failure is capable of cure; (ii) gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of, or Executives abuse of alcohol or drugs rendering Executive unable to perform, the material duties and services required for Executives position with Conns; (iii) Executives conviction or plea of nolo contendere for any crime involving moral turpitude or a felony; (iv) Executives commission of an act of deceit or fraud intended to result in personal and unauthorized enrichment of Executive at the expense of Conns or any of its Affiliates; (v) Executives material violation of the written policies of Conns or any of its Affiliates (including the Conns Code of Ethics, as in effect from time to time); or (vi) Executives breach of a material obligation of Executive to Conns or any of its Affiliates pursuant to the Bylaws of Conns or any agreement between Executive and Conns or any of its Affiliates.
(e) Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) During any 24-month period, individuals who, as of the beginning of such period, constitute the Board (the Incumbent Directors) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the beginning of such period whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of Conns in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of Conns as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director;
(ii) Any person (as such term is defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes a beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of Conns representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding Conns securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board (the Conns Voting Securities); provided, however, that the event described in this paragraph (ii) shall not be deemed to be a Change of Control by virtue of any of the following acquisitions: (A) by Conns or any Subsidiary; (B) by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by Conns or any Subsidiary; (C) by any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities; (D) pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction, as defined in paragraph (iii), or (E) by any person of Conns Voting Securities from Conns, if a majority of the Incumbent Board approves in advance the acquisition of beneficial ownership more than 50% of Conns Voting Securities by such person;
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(iii) The consummation of a merger, acquisition, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving Conns or any of its Subsidiaries that requires the approval of the stockholders of Conns, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a Business Combination), unless immediately following such Business Combination: (A) more than 50% of the total voting power of (1) the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (the Surviving Corporation), or (2) if applicable, the ultimate parent corporation that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of 100% of the voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Surviving Corporation (the Parent Corporation), is represented by Conns Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior to such Business Combination (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which such Conns Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Business Combination), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power of such Conns Voting Securities among the holders thereof immediately prior to the Business Combination; (B) no person (other than any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Surviving Corporation or the Parent Corporation), is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there is no Parent Corporation, the Surviving Corporation) and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there is no Parent Corporation, the Surviving Corporation) following the consummation of the Business Combination were Incumbent Directors at the time of the Boards approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Business Combination (any Business Combination which satisfies all of the criteria specified in (A), (B) and (C) above shall be deemed to be a Non-Qualifying Transaction); or
(iv) The consummation of a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Conns or the stockholders of Conns approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of Conns.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change of Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the Conns Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of Conns Voting Securities by Conns which reduces the number of Conns Voting Securities outstanding; provided, that if after such acquisition by Conns such person becomes the beneficial owner of additional Conns Voting Securities that increases the percentage of outstanding Conns Voting Securities beneficially owned by such person, a Change of Control of Conns shall then occur.
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(f) Confidential Information shall mean information: (i) disclosed to or known by the Executive as a consequence of or through her employment with Conns, (ii) not generally known outside Conns and (iii) which relates to any aspect of Conns or its business, research, or development. Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to Conns trade secrets, proprietary information, business plans, marketing plans, methodologies, computer code and programs, formulas, processes, compilations of information, results of research, proposals, reports, records, financial information, compensation and benefit information, cost and pricing information, customer lists and contact information, supplier lists and contact information, vendor lists and contact information, and information provided to Conns by a third party under restrictions against disclosure or use by Conns or others; provided, however, that the term Confidential Information does not include information that (a) at the time it was received by Executive was generally available to the public, (b) prior to its use by Executive, becomes generally available to the public through no act or failure of Executive, (c) is received by Executive from a person or entity other than Conns or an Affiliate of Conns who is not under an obligation of confidence with respect to such information or (d) was generally known by Executive by virtue of her experience and know-how gained prior to employment with Conns.
(g) Control and correlative terms shall mean the power, whether by contract, equity ownership or otherwise, to direct the policies or management of a person.
(h) Copyright Works shall mean materials for which copyright protection may be obtained including, but not limited to literary works (including all written material), computer programs, artistic and graphic works (including designs, graphs, drawings, blueprints, and other works), recordings, models, photographs, slides, motion pictures, and audio-visual works, regardless of the form or manner in which documented or recorded.
(i) Disability shall mean Executives permanent disability (A) as determined in accordance with the disability insurance that Conns may then have in effect, if any, or (B) if no such insurance is in effect, shall mean that Executive is subject to a medical determination that he, because of a medically determinable disease, injury, or other mental or physical disability, is unable to perform substantially all of her then regular duties, and that such disability is determined or reasonably expected to last at least 12 months, based on then-available medical information.
(j) Good Reason shall mean, with respect to Executive, the occurrence of any one of the following: (i) the material diminution of Executives title, duties, authority or responsibilities, relative to Executives duties, authority or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to such reduction or the assignment to Executive of such reduced duties, authority or responsibilities (other than temporarily while Executive is physically or mentally incapacitated and unable to properly perform such duties, as determined by the Board in good faith); (ii) a material reduction of Executives target compensation opportunity; (iii) an involuntary relocation of Executives principal place of employment by more than 50 miles or (iv) a material breach by Conns of a material agreement with Executive. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, any assertion by Executive of a Good Reason termination shall not be effective unless all of the following conditions are satisfied: (A) the conditions described
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in the preceding sentence giving rise to Executives termination of employment must have arisen without Executives written consent; (B) Executive must provide written notice to Conns of such condition and Executives intent to terminate employment, in accordance with Section 8 of this Agreement, within 30 days after the initial existence of the condition; (C) the condition specified in such notice must remain uncorrected for 30 days after receipt of such notice by Conns; and (D) the date of Executives termination of employment must occur within 30 days after the expiration of the correction period described in clause (C) above.
(k) Person shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
(l) Subsidiary shall mean any entity in which Conns, directly or indirectly, possesses 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of its stock.
(m) Work Product shall mean all methods, analyses, reports, plans, computer files and all similar or related information which (i) relate to Conns or any of its Affiliates and (ii) are conceived, developed or made by Executive in the course of her employment by Conns.
7. Non-Disclosure, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation. Executive and Conns acknowledge and agree that during and solely as a result of her employment by Conns, Conns has provided and will continue to provide Confidential Information and special training to Executive in order to allow Executive to fulfill her obligations as an executive of a publicly-held company and under this Agreement. In consideration of the special and unique opportunities afforded to Executive by Conns as a result of Executives employment, as outlined in the previous sentence, Executive hereby agrees as follows:
(a) Executive agrees that Executive will not, except in the good faith performance of her duties to Conns or as Conns may otherwise consent or direct in writing, reveal or disclose, sell, use, lecture upon, publish or otherwise disclose to any third party any Confidential Information of Conns or any of its Affiliates, or authorize anyone else to do these things at any time either during or subsequent to Executives employment with Conns. This Section 7(a) shall continue in full force and effect after termination of Executives employment for any reason. Executives obligations under this Section 7(a) with respect to any specific Confidential Information shall cease only when that specific portion of the Confidential Information becomes publicly known, other than as a result of disclosure by Executive, in its entirety and without combining portions of such information obtained separately. It is understood that such Confidential Information of Conns and any of its Affiliates includes matters that Executive conceives or develops, as well as matters Executive learns from other executives of Conns and any of its Affiliates. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall (i) prohibit the Executive from making reports of possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity in accordance with the provisions of and rules promulgated under Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or of any other whistleblower protection provisions of state or federal law or regulation, or (ii) require notification or prior approval by Conns of any reporting described in clause (i) above.
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(b) Executive agrees that for the duration of this Agreement, and for a period of 18 months following the termination of Executives employment for any reason, other than a termination pursuant to Section 3(c) during the 12-month period following a Change of Control, Executive shall not directly or indirectly (other than for the benefit of Conns or any of its Affiliates pursuant to this Agreement) engage in (including as an owner, investor, partner, employer, employee, consultant or director) or otherwise perform competitive services for any Competing Business. The term Competing Business means:
(i) any of the companies listed on Appendix B hereto or otherwise included in Conns peer group in Conns SEC filings and
(ii) any other person, company, business or other entity:
a. that sells, rents, finances, or otherwise provides (1) home furniture or office products, (2) personal and home electronics, (3) mattresses and bedding, (4) home appliances, and/or (5) any other type of products or services that represents more than 10% of Conns aggregate gross revenues for the fiscal year including or preceding the date of termination and
b. whose gross revenues derived from such products or services represent more than 10% of the aggregate gross revenues of such person, company, business or other entity for the fiscal year including or preceding the date of termination.
The restrictions of this Section 7(b) shall not be violated by the ownership of no more than 1% of the outstanding securities of any company whose equity securities are traded on a national securities exchange, including the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
(c) Executive agrees that for the duration of this Agreement, and for a period of 18 months following Executives termination of employment for any reason, Executive shall not either directly or indirectly, on her behalf or on behalf of others, solicit, attempt to hire, or hire any person employed by Conns and any of its Affiliates to work for Executive or for another entity, firm, corporation, or individual.
(d) Executive acknowledges that Conns has taken reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality of its Confidential Information and the ownership of its Work Product and Copyright Works, which is extremely valuable to Conns and provides Conns with a competitive advantage in its market. Executive further acknowledges that Conns would suffer irreparable harm if Executive were to use or enable others to use such knowledge, information, and business acumen in competition with Conns. Executive acknowledges the necessity of the restrictive covenants set forth herein to: protect Conns legitimate interests in Conns Confidential Information; protect Conns customer relations and the goodwill with customers and suppliers that Conns has
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established at its substantial investment; and protect Conns as a result of providing Executive with specialized knowledge, training, and insight regarding Conns operations as a publicly-held company. Executive further agrees and acknowledges that these restrictive covenants are reasonably limited as to time, geographic area, and scope of activities to be restricted and that such promises do not impose a greater restraint on Executive than is necessary to protect the goodwill, Confidential Information and other legitimate business interests of Conns. Executive agrees that any breach of this Section 7 cannot be remedied solely by money damages, and that in addition to any other remedies Conns may have, Conns is entitled to obtain injunctive relief against Executive without the requirement of posting bond or other security. Nothing herein, however, shall be construed as limiting Conns right to pursue any other available remedy at law or in equity, including recovery of damages and termination of this Agreement.
(e) Executive acknowledges that all writings, records, and other documents and things comprising, containing, describing, discussing, explaining, or evidencing any Confidential Information, Work Product, and/or Copyright Works of Conns, any Affiliate of Conns, or any third party with which Conns has a confidential relationship, is the property of Conns or such Affiliate. All property belonging to Conns in Executives custody or possession that has been obtained or prepared in the course of Executives employment with Conns shall be the exclusive property of Conns, shall not be copied and/or removed from the premises of Conns, except in pursuit of the business of Conns, and shall be delivered to Conns, along with all copies or reproductions of same, upon notification of the termination of Executives employment or at any other time requested by Conns. Conns shall have the right to retain, access, and inspect all property of any kind in Executives office, work area, and on the premises of Conns upon termination of Executives employment and at any time during Executives employment, to ensure compliance with the terms of this Agreement.
(f) Pursuant to the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (18 U.S.C. 1833(b)), Executive shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence either directly or indirectly to a federal, state, or local government official, or to an attorney, solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a violation of law. Executive shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret made in a complaint, or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. If Executive files a lawsuit or other action alleging retaliation by Conns for reporting a suspected violation of law, Executive may disclose the trade secret to her attorney and use the trade secret in the court proceeding or other action, if Executive files any document containing the trade secret under seal and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. This paragraph will govern to the extent it may conflict with any other provision of this Agreement.
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The terms of this Section 7 are continuing in nature and shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.
8. Notices. All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally or by facsimile or electronic delivery, given by hand delivery to the other party, sent by overnight courier or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to:
If to Executive: | At such address as most currently appears in the records of Conns. | |
If to Conns: | Conns, Inc. | |
2445 Technology Forest Blvd. Building 4, Suite 800 The Woodlands, Texas 77381 Email: mark.prior@conns.com |
9. Assignment. Conns shall require any successors (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to a controlling interest in the business, assets or equity of Conns (or, if applicable, a material division of Conns, including the Retail or Credit division) to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that Conns would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement is a personal employment contract and the rights, obligations and interests of Executive under this Agreement may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or hypothecated by Executive.
10. Binding Agreement. Executive understands that her obligations under this Agreement are binding upon Executives heirs, successors, personal representatives and legal representatives.
11. Arbitration. Except for any controversy or claim relating to Section 7 of this Agreement, any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach of any provision of this Agreement, including the arbitrability of any controversy or claim, shall be settled by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes and the Optional Rules for Emergency Measures of Protection of the AAA, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Any provisional remedy which would be available from a court of law, shall be available from the arbitrator to the parties to this Agreement pending arbitration. Arbitration of disputes is mandatory and in lieu of any and all civil causes of action and lawsuits either party may have against the other arising out of Executives employment with Conns. Civil discovery shall be permitted for the production of documents and taking of depositions. The arbitrator(s) shall be guided by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure in allowing discovery and all issues regarding compliance with discovery requests shall be decided by the arbitrator(s). The Federal Arbitration Act shall govern this Section 11. This Agreement shall in all other respects be governed and interpreted by the laws of the State of Texas, excluding any conflicts or choice of law rule or principles that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Agreement to the substantive law of another jurisdiction. The arbitration shall be conducted in the city of Conns corporate offices by one neutral arbitrator chosen by AAA according to its National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes if the amount of the claim is one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) or less and by three neutral arbitrators chosen by AAA in the same manner if the amount of the claim is
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more than one million dollars ($1,000,000.00). Neither party nor the arbitrator(s) may disclose the existence, content, or results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of both parties unless compelled to do so either by judicial process or in order to enforce an arbitration award rendered pursuant to this Section 11. All fees and expenses of the arbitration shall be borne by the parties equally.
12. Waiver. No waiver by either party to this Agreement of any right to enforce any term or condition of this Agreement, or of any breach of this Agreement, shall be deemed a waiver of such right in the future or of any other right or remedy available under this Agreement.
13. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement as applied to either party or to any circumstances shall be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction or arbitrator to be void or unenforceable the same shall in no way affect any other provision of this Agreement or the validity or enforceability of this Agreement. If any court or arbitrator construes any of the provisions of Section 7 of this Agreement, or any part thereof, to be unreasonable because of the duration of such provision or the geographic or other scope thereof, such court or arbitrator shall reduce the duration or restrict the geographic or other scope of such provision or enforce such provision to the maximum extent possible as so reduced or restricted.
14. Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to compensation and benefits payable to Executive upon her termination of employment with Conns. This Agreement replaces and supersedes any and all existing agreements entered into between Executive and Conns, whether oral or written, regarding the subject matter of this Agreement, except that this Agreement shall modify and supersede any equity award agreement between Executive and Conns under the Conns, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan as expressly set forth herein. The terms of this Agreement shall prevail to the extent of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and any equity award agreement between Executive and Conns under the Conns, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan. This Agreement may not be amended or modified other than by a written agreement executed by the parties to this Agreement or their respective successors and legal representatives.
15. Understand Agreement. Executive represents and warrants that she has (i) read and understood each and every provision of this Agreement, (ii) been given the opportunity to obtain advice from legal counsel of choice, if necessary and desired, in order to interpret any and all provisions of this Agreement and (iii) freely and voluntarily entered into this Agreement.
16. Section 409A of the Code. This Agreement is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and shall be interpreted and construed consistently with such intent. The payments to Executive pursuant to this Agreement are also intended to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code to the maximum extent possible, under either the separation pay exemption pursuant to Treasury regulation §1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) or as short-term deferrals pursuant to Treasury regulation §1.409A-1(b)(4), and for such purposes, each payment to Executive under this Agreement shall be considered a separate payment. In the event the terms of this Agreement would subject Executive to taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code (409A Penalties), Conns and Executive shall cooperate diligently to amend the terms of the Agreement to avoid such 409A Penalties, to the extent possible; provided, however, that in no event shall Conns be responsible for any 409A Penalties that arise in connection with any
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amounts payable under this Agreement. To the extent any amounts under this Agreement are payable by reference to Executives termination of employment such term and similar terms shall be deemed to refer to Executives separation from service, within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, to the extent any payment hereunder constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation, within the meaning of Section 409A, and Executive is a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) as of the date of Executives separation from service, each such payment that is payable upon Executives separation from service and would have been paid prior to the six-month anniversary of Executives separation from service, shall be delayed until the earlier to occur of (i) the first day of the seventh month following Executives separation from service or (ii) the date of Executives death. Any reimbursement payable to Executive pursuant to this Agreement shall be conditioned on the submission by Executive of all expense reports reasonably required by Employer under any applicable expense reimbursement policy, and shall be paid to Executive in accordance with Conns expense reimbursement policy, but in no event later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which Executive incurred the reimbursable expense. Any amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefit provided, during a calendar year shall not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefit to be provided, during any other calendar year. The right to any reimbursement or in-kind benefit pursuant to this Agreement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.
17. Recoupment. Any portion of the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement, as well as any other payments and benefits which you receive pursuant to a Conns plan or other arrangement, shall be subject to clawback to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, any Securities and Exchange Commission rule, or any policy that may be adopted by the Board, as amended from time to time. Executive agrees to fully cooperate with Conns in assuring compliance with such policies and provisions of applicable law.
18. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas and is performable in the city of Conns corporate offices.
19. Professional/Personal. Membership by Executive on corporate and civic boards should be accepted only after consideration of conflict of interest and consultation with the Chairman of the Board. Conns requires Executive to have a comprehensive annual medical physical examination, at the expense of Conns.
20. Titles; Pronouns and Plurals. The titles to the sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and should not be deemed a part hereof or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision hereof. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns, and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective as of the Effective Date.
CONNS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Bob. L. Martin | |
Name: | Bob. L. Martin | |
Title: | Lead Independent Director | |
EXECUTIVE | ||
/s/ Chandra Holt | ||
Name: | Chandra Holt |
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Appendix A
GENERAL RELEASE AND WAIVER
1. I, Chandra Holt, in consideration of the severance benefits to be paid to me by Conns, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company, and together with its affiliates, the Company Parties), do hereby release and forever discharge as of the date hereof the Company Parties and their respective affiliates, subsidiaries and direct or indirect parent entities and all present, former and future shareholders, directors, officers, agents, representatives, employees, successors and assigns of the Company and/or its respective affiliates, subsidiaries and direct or indirect parent entities (collectively, the Released Parties) to the extent provided below (this General Release); provided, however, that I do not waive or release: (a) any of my indemnification rights and remedies arising under the common law, the Indemnification Agreement between me and the Company dated as of August 9, 2021 (the Indemnification Agreement), or any applicable insurance policies; (b) any claims or rights arising under this Release; or (c) any claims or rights arising after the date I execute this Release. The Released Parties are intended to be third-party beneficiaries of this General Release, and this General Release may be enforced by each of them in accordance with the terms hereof in respect of the rights granted to such Released Parties hereunder.
2. This General Release is the release contemplated by Section 3(e) of the Executive Severance Agreement between me and the Company effective as of August 9, 2021 (the Executive Severance Agreement). I understand that any payments or benefits paid or granted to me in connection with my termination of employment represent, in part, consideration for signing this General Release, and are not salary, wages or benefits to which I was already entitled. I understand and agree that I will not receive such payments and benefits unless I execute this General Release and do not revoke this General Release within the time periods permitted hereafter. Such payments and benefits will not be considered compensation for purposes of any employee benefit plan, program, policy or arrangement maintained or hereafter established by the Company or its Affiliates.
3. Except as provided in Section 5 below, I knowingly and voluntarily (for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators and assigns) release and forever discharge the Company and the other Released Parties from any and all claims, suits, controversies, actions, causes of action, cross-claims, counter-claims, demands, debts, compensatory damages, liquidated damages, punitive or exemplary damages, other damages, claims for costs and attorneys fees, or liabilities of any nature whatsoever in law and in equity, both past and present (through the date that this General Release becomes effective and enforceable) and whether known or unknown, suspected, or claimed against the Company or any of the Released Parties which I, my spouse, or any of my heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, may have, and which arise out of or are connected with my employment with, or my separation or termination from, the Company, including, but not limited to, any allegation, claim or violation, arising under: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (including the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act); the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act; the Employee Retirement
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Income Security Act of 1974; any applicable Executive Order Programs; the Fair Labor Standards Act; or their state or local counterparts; or under any other federal, state or local civil or human rights law, or under any other local, state, or federal law, regulation or ordinance; or under any public policy, contract or tort, or under common law; or arising under any policies, practices or procedures of the Company; or any claim for wrongful discharge, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, defamation; or any claim for costs, fees, or other expenses, including attorneys fees incurred in these matters (all of the foregoing collectively referred to herein as the Claims).
4. I represent that I have made no assignment or transfer of any right, claim, demand, cause of action, or other matter covered by Section 3 above.
5. I agree that this General Release does not waive or release any rights or claims that I may have which arise after the date I execute this General Release, including Claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. I acknowledge and agree that my separation from employment with the Company shall not serve as the basis for any claim or action (including, without limitation, any claim under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967).
6. I agree that I hereby waive all rights to sue or obtain equitable, remedial or punitive relief from any or all Released Parties of any kind whatsoever in respect of any Claims, including, without limitation, reinstatement, back pay, front pay, and any form of injunctive relief. Notwithstanding the above, I further acknowledge that I am not waiving and am not being required to waive any right that cannot be waived under law, including the right to file an administrative charge or participate in an administrative investigation or proceeding; provided, however, that I disclaim and waive any right to share or participate in any monetary award resulting from the prosecution of such charge or investigation or proceeding.
7. I hereby agree not to bring or participate in any class or collective action against the Company and/or the other Released Parties that asserts, in whole or in part, any claims that arose before I signed this General Release, whether or not such claims (if brought by me individually) are released by this General Release.
8. In signing this General Release, I acknowledge and intend that it shall be effective as a bar to each and every one of the Claims hereinabove mentioned or implied. I expressly consent that this General Release shall be given full force and effect according to each and all of its express terms and provisions, including those relating to unknown and unsuspected Claims (notwithstanding any state or local statute that expressly limits the effectiveness of a general release of unknown, unsuspected and unanticipated Claims), if any, as well as those relating to any other Claims hereinabove mentioned or implied. I acknowledge and agree that this waiver is an essential and material term of this General Release and that without such waiver I would not have become entitled to the severance benefits to be provided to me by the Company. I further agree that in the event I should bring a Claim seeking damages against the Company, or in the event I should seek to recover against the Company in any Claim brought by a governmental agency on my behalf, this General Release shall serve as a complete defense to such Claims to the maximum extent permitted by law. I further agree that I am not aware of any pending claim of the type described in Section 3 above as of the execution of this General Release.
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9. I agree that neither this General Release, nor the furnishing of the consideration for this General Release, shall be deemed or construed at any time to be an admission by the Company, any Released Party or myself of any improper or unlawful conduct.
10. Any non-disclosure provision in this General Release does not prohibit or restrict me (or my attorney) from responding to any inquiry about this General Release or its underlying facts and circumstances by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), any other insurance regulatory organization or any governmental entity.
11. I represent that I am not aware of any claim by me other than the claims that are released by this General Release. I acknowledge that I may hereafter discover claims or facts in addition to or different than those which I now know or believe to exist with respect to the subject matter of the release set forth in Section 3 above and which, if known or suspected at the time of entering into this General Release, may have materially affected this General Release and my decision to enter into it.
12. I understand and agree that I will not make any false, disparaging or derogatory statements to any person or entity, including any media outlet, regarding the Company or any of the other Released Parties or about the Companys business or financial condition. The Company shall not issue any communications that are intended to be publicly disseminated that make any false, disparaging or derogatory statements about me.
13. I hereby acknowledge and reaffirm my obligation to keep confidential and not disclose any and all non-public information concerning the Company that I acquired during the course of my employment with the Company, including, but not limited to, any nonpublic information concerning the Companys business affairs, business prospects and financial condition. I further agree to comply with Section 7 (Non-Disclosure, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation) of my Executive Severance Agreement.
14. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing in this General Release, shall (i) prohibit me from making reports of possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity in accordance with the provisions of and rules promulgated under Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or of any other whistleblower protection provisions of state or federal law or regulation, or (ii) require notification or prior approval by the Company of any reporting described in clause (i) above.
15. Whenever possible, each provision of this General Release shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this General Release is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this General Release shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
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16. BY SIGNING THIS GENERAL RELEASE, I REPRESENT AND AGREE THAT:
(a) I HAVE READ IT CAREFULLY; AND I UNDERSTAND ALL OF ITS TERMS AND KNOW THAT I AM GIVING UP IMPORTANT RIGHTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RIGHTS UNDER THE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT OF 1967, AS AMENDED, TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, AS AMENDED; THE EQUAL PAY ACT OF 1963; THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990; AND THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED;
(b) I VOLUNTARILY CONSENT TO EVERYTHING IN IT;
(c) I HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH AN ATTORNEY BEFORE EXECUTING IT AND I HAVE DONE SO OR, AFTER CAREFUL READING AND CONSIDERATION, I HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO DO SO OF MY OWN VOLITION;
(d) I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 21 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF MY RECEIPT OF THIS RELEASE TO CONSIDER IT, AND THE CHANGES MADE SINCE MY RECEIPT OF THIS RELEASE ARE NOT MATERIAL OR WERE MADE AT MY REQUEST AND WILL NOT RESTART THE REQUIRED 21 DAY PERIOD;
(e) I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE SEVEN (7) DAYS AFTER THE EXECUTION OF THIS RELEASE TO REVOKE IT AND THAT THIS RELEASE SHALL NOT BECOME EFFECTIVE OR ENFORCEABLE UNTIL THE REVOCATION PERIOD HAS EXPIRED;
(f) I HAVE SIGNED THIS GENERAL RELEASE KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY AND WITH THE ADVICE OF ANY COUNSEL RETAINED TO ADVISE ME WITH RESPECT TO IT; AND
(g) I AGREE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS GENERAL RELEASE MAY NOT BE AMENDED, WAIVED, CHANGED OR MODIFIED EXCEPT BY AN INSTRUMENT IN WRITING SIGNED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY AND BY ME.
SIGNED: | DATED:__________________ | |||
Executive | ||||
CONNS, INC.: | DATED:__________________ | |||
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19
Appendix B
Aarons, Amazon, Ashley Furniture, Best Buy, Costco, Encore Capital, Enova International, Ethan Allen, EZCORP, First Cash Financial, Haverty Furniture, Home Depot, Kirklands, La-Z-Boy, Lowes, Mattress Firm, PRA Group, Rent-A-Center, Restoration Hardware, Sams Club, Sears, Select Comfort, Sleep Number, Target, Tuesday Morning, Walmart, Wayfair
20
Exhibit 10.3
August 4, 2021
Mr. Norman L. Miller
2445 Technology Forest Blvd., Suite 800
The Woodlands, TX 77381
Dear Norm:
In furtherance of the succession planning efforts undertaken by the Board of Directors (the Board) and yourself, the Company acknowledges that you will be stepping down as President and Chief Executive Officer of Conns, Inc. (the Company), and continuing to serve the Company as Executive Chairman of the Board and thereafter either as a nonemployee director or as a Senior Advisor, as described below. Please accept our gratitude for your dedicated service and commitment to the Company, and your efforts toward a smooth transition.
The purpose of this letter is to memorialize the terms of your continued service to the Company.
1. | Executive Chairman. Effective as of August 9, 2021 (the Transition Date), you will cease to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Effective as of the Transition Date, you will be employed as Executive Chairman and such employment shall continue until August 9, 2022 (the Employment Period); provided, however, that (i) either you or the Board may terminate the Employment Period prior to such date following 30 days prior written notice of such termination to the other party, (ii) the Board may terminate the Employment Period immediately at any time for Cause, as defined in your Executive Severance Agreement, dated September 15, 2015 (the Executive Severance Agreement) and (iii) your service as Executive Chairman shall automatically cease if you cease to serve on the Board for any reason. As Executive Chairman, you agree to provide services to the Company during the Employment Period as necessary to provide an effective transition of your executive responsibilities to the Companys incoming President and Chief Executive Officer (the New CEO). Such duties and responsibilities shall include those customarily related to such role on a full-time basis, including: (i) integrating the New CEO into the Company, (ii) advising the New CEO on the current and past operations of the Company, (iii) working with the Board and CEO to set strategy, (iv) serving as a mentor and counselor to the New CEO, (v) upon request of the Board or the New CEO, communicating with investors, analysts, lenders and other stakeholders, (vi) working with Lead Independent Director and New CEO to assist with the preparation and conducting of Board meetings, including developing meeting agenda, assisting with the development of Board reports and meeting materials along with conducting pre-Board meetings with the Companys management team, (vii) together with the New CEO, interfacing between the Companys management team and the Board, (viii) working with the board help to understand what is working well and what is not in the relationship and share views around the CEOs on going performance, (ix) step in further in crisis management situations where the company reputation, viability or other risks are at play and (x) performing other responsibilities and special projects as may be determined and assigned by the Board. |
During the Employment Period, your compensation will consist of the following components:
(a) | You will continue to receive a base salary at an annual rate of $1,000,000 (the Base Salary). If the Company terminates the Employment Period prior to August 9, 2022 for a reason other than Cause, or you are not re-elected to serve on the Board or are removed from the Board for any reason other than conduct by you constituting Cause, you will continue to receive your Base Salary through August 9, 2022. |
(b) | In addition to your annual bonus payable for the 2022 fiscal year (i.e., ending January 31, 2022) (the FY22 Annual Bonus), you will be eligible for an annual target cash bonus opportunity for the 2023 fiscal year (i.e., ending January 31, 2023) equal to 150% of your Base Salary, with a maximum payout opportunity equal to 200% of the target amount (the FY23 Annual Bonus); provided, however, that the FY23 Annual Bonus will be prorated to reflect the portion of the 2023 fiscal year that is completed during the Employment Period and be paid based on actual performance at the same time that bonus payments are made to other senior executives of the Company for the 2023 fiscal year. Such proration will be based on the number of days in which you are employed by the Company during the 2023 fiscal year as a percentage of the total number of days during the 2023 fiscal year. If the Company terminates the Employment Period prior to August 9, 2022 for a reason other than Cause, you shall continue to be eligible for your FY22 Annual Bonus (to the extent it is earned but has not been paid) and the FY23 Annual Bonus, prorated as described above, in each case as though your employment had continued through August 9, 2022, and based on actual performance results. If your employment terminates prior to the end of the 2023 fiscal year due to your resignation or a termination by the Company for Cause, you will not receive any portion of the FY22 Annual Bonus, to the extent it has not already been paid, or the FY23 Annual Bonus. |
(c) | If you remain employed by the Company as of the date on which the Company grants its regular annual equity awards to senior executives of the Company for the 2023 fiscal year, you will be granted a long-term incentive equity grant for the 2023 fiscal year in a form to be determined by the Board and consistent with awards granted to other senior executives of the Company (the 2023 LTI Award), with a target grant date value equal to 150% of your Base Salary. If the Company terminates the Employment Period prior to August 9, 2022 for a reason other than Cause, you shall continue to become vested in the 2023 LTI Award, as though your employment had continued through August 9, 2022 and the Transition Period, defined below. If your employment terminates prior to the end of the 2023 fiscal year due to your resignation or a termination by the Company for Cause, you will be entitled only to the portion of the 2023 LTI Award that has become vested as of the date of your termination. |
(d) | Through August 9, 2022, you will continue to be eligible to participate in all applicable employee benefit plans maintained by the Company (including health, welfare and retirement benefits) as well as any perquisite programs generally provided to senior executives of the Company. At the end of the Employment Period, you will receive a cash payment equal to the value of all accrued but unused vacation time. |
(e) | The Company will reimburse you for your necessary and reasonable business expenses incurred in connection with your duties hereunder upon presentation of an itemized account and appropriate supporting documentation, all in accordance with the Companys generally applicable policies. In addition, the Company will reimburse up to $15,000 in fees and costs incurred by you in connection with tax and legal assistance associated with the drafting and execution of this letter agreement and changes to your employment status reflected herein. |
2. | Service as Nonemployee Director or Senior Advisor. If you remain employed as Executive Chairman through August 9, 2022 (the Employment Separation Date), then effective as of the Employment Separation Date you shall continue serving on the Board as a nonemployee director. If you are not re-elected to the Board during the seven-month period beginning on the Employment Separation Date (the Transition Period), the Board shall engage you as a Senior Advisor for the remainder of the Transition Period for purposes of providing transitional advisory services to the Company. The level of services that you perform for the Company as Senior Advisor will not be in excess of 20% of the average level of services that you had performed for the Company during the three-year period prior to the Transition Period. Nothing in this letter shall confer any right or expectation that you will continue to be nominated or serve as a member of the Board for any specified period of time. |
To the extent you continue to serve as a nonemployee director of the Company during the Transition Period, you will be compensated in accordance with the Companys compensation policy for nonemployee directors. To the extent you are engaged by the Company as a Senior Advisor during the Transition Period, you will receive no additional compensation for serving as a Senior Advisor than the continued vesting and exercisability of your outstanding equity awards, including the FY23 LTI Award.
3. | Executive Severance Plan. Except as provided below, the terms and conditions of the Executive Severance Agreement shall remain in effect (including the non-disclosure, non-competition and non-solicitation obligations set forth in Section 7 of the Executive Severance Agreement). For purposes of the Executive Severance Agreement, you and the Company agree that the termination of your services at the end of the Transition Period shall constitute a termination pursuant to Section 3(b) of the Executive Severance Agreement for purposes of all outstanding equity-based compensation awards that you hold at that time. Accordingly, if on or after March 9, 2023, you are no longer serving as Executive Chairman, director, or Senior Advisor, then you will be entitled to continued vesting and exercisability of your outstanding equity compensation awards, including your FY23 LTI Award, for a period of 24 months thereafter. If the Company terminates your service as Executive Chairman or as Senior Advisor during the Employment Period or the Transition Period for a reason other than Cause, then (i) you shall continue to become vested in all outstanding equity-based compensation awards, including the 2023 LTI Award, as though your employment had continued through the end of the applicable vesting periods and (ii) the exercise period of any outstanding stock options shall continue for 24 months after the date on which your service terminates. If your service terminates prior to March 9, 2023 due to your resignation or a termination by the Company for Cause, the vesting and exercisability of such awards shall immediately cease. Except for the continued vesting and exercisability of your equity compensation awards, as set forth above, you hereby waive any right to severance benefits to which you would otherwise be entitled under the Executive Severance Agreement or any other plan or policy maintained by the Company in connection with the termination of your employment or service with the Company. |
4. | Additional Covenants. In addition to the non-disclosure, non-competition and non-solicitation covenants set forth in your Executive Severance Agreement: |
(a) | You agree on your own behalf and on behalf of, through or in association with any other person or entity, that during the period of your service with the Company (including the Transition Period), and for a period of 18 months following the last day of the Transition Period, determined without regard to any early termination thereof by either you or the Company, you will not, in any manner, directly or indirectly, take any of the following actions: (i) acquire, agree or seek to acquire or make any proposal or offer to acquire, or announce any intention to acquire, any securities, including any debt securities (Securities) of the Company, or beneficial ownership thereof, or any Securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for any Securities of the Company, or beneficial ownership thereof (other than Securities issued pursuant to a stock split, stock dividend or similar corporate action initiated by the Company with respect to any Securities beneficially owned by you on the date hereof or Securities issued to you upon the exercise or settlement of any Equity Awards held by you as of the date hereof) if such acquisition would, directly or indirectly, cause you together with your affiliates to have a beneficial ownership interest, as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, of five percent (5%) or more of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company, (ii) acquire, agree or seek to acquire or make any proposal or offer to acquire, or announce any intention to acquire, any property, asset or business of the Company or any of its affiliates, (iii) acquire, agree or seek to acquire or make any proposal or offer to acquire, or announce any intention to acquire, any ownership interest in any joint venture in which the Company or any of its affiliates is a party or any ownership interest in any partner of the Company or any of its affiliates in such a joint venture, (iv) propose to any person, or effect or seek to effect, whether alone or in concert with others, any tender or exchange offer, merger, consolidation, acquisition, scheme, business combination, recapitalization, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution or other extraordinary transaction with respect to the Company, (v) except in your role as an employee or director of the Company, make, or in any way participate in any solicitation of proxies (as such terms are used in the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission but without regard to the exclusion set forth in Rule 14a-1(l)(2)(iv)) to vote in favor of any proposal for which such solicitation is being made (other than any proposal supported by the Board), or seek to advise or influence any person with respect to the voting of, any voting securities of the Company for any purpose, (vi) form, join, encourage, influence, advise or in any way participate in a group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) with respect to any voting securities of the Company or otherwise in any manner agree, attempt, seek or propose to deposit any voting securities of the Company or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for any such securities in any voting trust or similar arrangement, (vii) otherwise act, alone or in concert with others, other than in your role as an officer or director of the Company, to seek to control, advise, change or influence the management, Board, governing instruments, policies or affairs of the Company, (viii) disclose any intention, plan or arrangement inconsistent with the foregoing or (ix) encourage, advise, assist or facilitate the taking of any actions by any other person in connection with any of the foregoing. You further agree that, if at any time during such period, you are approached, directly or indirectly, by any third party concerning your participation in any of the above-mentioned matters, you shall promptly inform the Company of the nature of any such matters and the parties involved. |
(b) | In addition to, and not in limitation of, any duties that you may already owe to the Company by virtue of your prior service as a director or officer of the Company, you, on your own behalf or on behalf of, through or in association with any other person or entity, agree that you shall not directly or indirectly, for yourself or on behalf of any other person, participate in, invest in, purchase, or otherwise pursue in any manner any business opportunity that the Company is currently pursuing or has pursued during your service as a director or officer of, or Senior Advisor to, the Company, or that you have otherwise been made aware of as a result of your service as a director or officer of, or Senior Advisor to, the Company. |
(c) | You agree to cooperate fully with the Company and its counsel with respect to any litigation, investigation, government proceedings or general claims which relate to matters with which you were involved during the term of employment or service with the Company, subject to reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket travel costs and expenses. Such cooperation may include appearing from time to time at the offices of the Company or the Companys counsel, or telephonically, for conferences and interviews and providing truthful testimony in depositions, court proceedings and administrative hearings as necessary for the Company to lawfully defend or prosecute claims, and in general providing the Company and its counsel with the full benefit of your knowledge with respect to any such matter. You agree to render such cooperation in a timely fashion and at such times as may be mutually agreeable to the parties concerned. |
(d) | You shall be entitled to indemnification in connection with any claims asserted against you relating to your employment with the Company, service as a Senior Advisor, or your service on the Board, to the maximum extent provided under the terms of the Indemnification Agreement between you and the Company, the Companys charter and by laws or any other applicable documentation, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth therein. |
(e) | Any portion of the payments and benefits provided under this letter agreement, as well as any other payments and benefits which you receive pursuant to a Company plan or other arrangement, shall be subject to clawback to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, any Securities and Exchange Commission rule or any other applicable law, regulation or stock exchange requirement. |
(f) | You agree that during the Employment Period and the Transition Period, you will continue to comply with all Company policies that apply to Company employees, consultants and directors. |
(g) | Your employment and services hereunder will be provided on an at-will basis, such that either you or the Company may terminate such services at any time and for any reason, subject to any notice and compensation requirements set forth above. |
(h) | This letter agreement, including the applicable terms of any other agreements incorporated by reference herein, sets forth the terms of your employment with the Company and supersedes any prior representations or agreements, whether written or oral relating to the subject matter hereof. This letter, including, but not limited to, the at-will provision set forth herein, may not be modified or amended except by a written agreement signed by you and the Company. |
(i) | This letter agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the state of Texas, without regard to its laws relating to choice of law and conflict of laws. |
We thank you for your services to the Company over the years and look forward to a successful transition. Please acknowledge your acceptance of this letter agreement by signing below and returning one original document to me.
Sincerely,
/s/ Bob L. Martin
Bob L. Martin
Lead Independent Director
Acceptance Acknowledged: | /s/ Norman L. Miller | |
Norman L. Miller |
Date: August 4, 2021
Exhibit 99.1
Conns Announces Leadership Transition
Chandra Holt Appointed Chief Executive Officer and President
Norm Miller to Transition to Role of Executive Chairman
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, August 4, 2021 - Conns, Inc. (NASDAQ: CONN) (Conns or the Company), a specialty retailer of furniture and mattresses, home appliances, consumer electronics and home office products, and provider of consumer credit, today announced it has appointed Chandra Holt as the Companys new Chief Executive Officer and President, effective August 9, 2021. She will also join Conns Board of Directors increasing the number of directors to nine. Ms. Holts appointment as Chief Executive Officer and President of Conns follows the Boards multi-year succession planning process. Ms. Holt succeeds Norm Miller, who will transition to the role of Executive Chairman.
Bob L. Martin, lead independent director of Conns Board, commented, We are excited to welcome Chandra as Conns next Chief Executive Officer. Chandra is an experienced leader with a proven track record of innovating to drive growth and profitability for multi-billion-dollar retail businesses, along with demonstrated strength in serving todays omni-channel consumer with leading edge solutions. As Conns continues to successfully execute on its strategic initiatives, we expect the Company to benefit from Chandras modern digital approach to retail and customer centric leadership.
Todays announcement is the result of the Boards succession planning and Norms leadership over the past six years. During his tenure as Chief Executive Officer, Norm successfully turned around our financial results, building a disciplined and sophisticated credit platform, refocused our retail strategy and assembled a best-in-class leadership team while driving record profitability. We look forward to Norms continued contribution to Conns as Executive Chairman as he works with Chandra to drive our customer first growth plan, continued Mr. Martin.
Norm Miller, Conns Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, said, Chandra is a proven executive and veteran leader at some of the largest and most sophisticated retailers in the world. She is the right person to lead the Company through the next phase of our growth. I look forward to working closely with Chandra to ensure a seamless transition.
Ms. Holt stated, I am honored to be appointed Chief Executive Officer and President of Conns at such an exciting time for the Company. Conns enjoys a differentiated value proposition focused on providing consumers with high-quality, name brand products for the home with affordable financing. I believe Conns is well-positioned to continue to grow, innovate and capitalize on an enormous market opportunity. I am committed to continuing to serve Conns customers through a combination of retail innovation and best-in-class credit offerings, and I am excited to lead Conns through the next chapter of the Companys 131-year history.
About Chandra Holt
Most recently, Chandra Holt led Walmarts multi-billion-dollar U.S. eCommerce business, delivering over 70% growth in FY21. Previously, she was the Chief Merchandising and Integration Officer of Walmart.com where she oversaw the integration of Walmarts stores and eCommerce merchandising divisions during Walmarts first omni merchandising integration. Before joining Walmart, Ms. Holt held a variety of positions at Sams Club, including as the Chief Operating Officer of SamsClub.com. Prior to joining Sams Club, Ms. Holt held various leadership roles at Walgreens and Target. Ms. Holt received a B.A. and an M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota.
About Conns, Inc.
Conns is a specialty retailer currently operating 150+ retail locations in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
The Companys primary product categories include:
| Furniture and mattress, including furniture and related accessories for the living room, dining room and bedroom, as well as both traditional and specialty mattresses; |
| Home appliance, including refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers and ranges; |
| Consumer electronics, including LED, OLED, QLED, 4K Ultra HD, and 8K televisions, gaming products, next generation video game consoles and home theater and portable audio equipment; and |
| Home office, including computers, printers and accessories. |
Additionally, Conns offers a variety of products on a seasonal basis. Unlike many of its competitors, Conns provides flexible in-house credit options for its customers in addition to third-party financing programs and third-party lease-to-own payment plans.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including but not limited to, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include information concerning our future financial performance, business strategy, plans, goals and objectives. Statements containing the words anticipate, believe, could, estimate, expect, intend, may, plan, project, should, predict, will, potential, or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations. We can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct, and actual results may differ materially. A wide variety of potential risks, uncertainties, and other factors could materially affect our ability to achieve the results either expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: general economic conditions impacting our customers or potential customers; our ability to execute periodic securitizations of future originated customer loans on favorable terms; our ability to continue existing customer financing programs or to offer new customer financing programs; changes in the delinquency status of our credit portfolio; unfavorable developments in ongoing litigation; increased regulatory oversight; higher than anticipated net charge-offs in the credit portfolio; the success of our planned opening of new stores; technological and market developments and sales trends for our major product offerings; our ability to manage effectively the selection of our major product offerings; our ability to protect against cyber-attacks or data security breaches and to protect the integrity and security of individually identifiable data of our customers and employees; our ability to fund our operations, capital expenditures, debt repayment and expansion from cash flows from operations, borrowings from our revolving credit facility, and proceeds from accessing debt or equity markets; the effects of epidemics or pandemics, including the COVID-19 outbreak; and other risks detailed in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2021 and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize (or the consequences of such a development changes), or should our underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those reflected in our forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or to provide periodic updates or guidance. All forward-looking statements attributable to us, or to persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.
CONN-G
S.M. Berger & Company
Andrew Berger (216) 464-6400