Exhibit 10.2
SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS
This Separation Agreement and Release of All Claims, dated as of November 21, 2006, is entered
into between AMB Property Corporation, its affiliates and subsidiaries (collectively, Company)
and Michael A. Coke (Executive). The purpose of this Agreement is to arrange a termination of
Executives employment with Company on a basis that is satisfactory both to Company and to
Executive. For purposes of this Agreement, the term Termination Date shall mean the earlier of
(i) July 20, 2007 or (ii) a date, which will be mutually agreed by Company and Executive, upon
which Executives responsibilities have been transitioned effectively to his successor.
1. Company and Executive agree that Executive will continue as a full-time employee through
the later of (i) May 1, 2007 or (ii) the date upon which Executives successor is appointed (the
Part-Time Date); provided, however, that such date shall be no later than July 20, 2007. During
the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending on the Part-Time Date, Executive
shall remain the Chief Financial Officer and an Executive Vice President of Company and Executive
shall continue to provide those services and perform those duties that he did immediately prior to
the date of this Agreement and that are consistent with his current position.
Effective as of the Part-Time Date, Executive will resign his positions as the Chief Financial
Officer and an Executive Vice President of AMB Property Corporation and as an officer and/or
director of any affiliates or subsidiaries thereof. The resignation by Executive of his officer
title and responsibilities shall not affect any benefits or entitlements due Executive under this
Agreement. During the period beginning on the Part-Time Date and ending on the Termination Date,
Executive shall remain an employee of Company but he shall provide only those services requested
from time to time by his successor and by the Chairman and CEO of
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AMB Property Corporation. Effective as of the Termination Date, Executives employment with
the Company will end as a result of his resignation from Company. The resignation by Executive of
his employment shall not affect any benefits or entitlements due Executive under this Agreement.
2. During the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending on the Part-Time Date,
Executive will be paid his current rate of pay as if he were a full-time employee for the entire
period. During the period beginning on the Part-Time Date and ending on the Termination Date,
Executive will be paid his current rate of pay prorated based upon actual hours worked. On the
Termination Date, the Company will pay Executive all accrued and unpaid salary, and all accrued and
unused vacation earned through the Termination Date, subject to standard payroll deductions and
withholdings. Executive is entitled to these payments regardless of whether or not he signs this
Agreement.
3. Both Executive and Company are entering into this Agreement as a way of concluding the
employment relationship between them and of settling voluntarily any dispute or potential dispute
that Executive has or might have with Company as of the date this Agreement is signed.
4. In return for Executive agreeing to this Agreement, Company agrees to provide Executive the
following, subject to paragraph 11 of this Agreement.
(a) Salary. Subject to paragraph 2 of this Agreement, Company will continue to pay
Executives base salary through the Termination Date.
(b) 2006 Bonus. Company will pay to Executive in cash, less all applicable
deductions, his 2006 bonus in accordance with Companys current compensation policies. Company
will pay Executive this bonus at the same time Company pays other employees their bonuses with
respect to 2006 performance.
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(c) 2007 Long Term Incentive Award. Company will pay to Executive his 2007 long term
incentive award in cash, less all applicable deductions, in accordance with Companys current
compensation policies. Company will pay Executive this long term incentive award at the same time
Company pays other employees their bonuses with respect to 2006 performance.
(d) 2007 Bonus and 2008 Long Term Incentive Award. Company will pay to Executive in
cash, less all applicable deductions, a prorated target 2007 bonus and a prorated target 2008 long
term incentive award, based on full-time employment for the period beginning on January 1, 2007 and
ending on the Part-Time Date and based on the actual number of hours worked for the period
beginning on the Part-Time Date and ending on the Termination Date, but otherwise in accordance
with Companys current compensation policies. Company will pay Executive this bonus and long-term
incentive grant in a lump sum on the Termination Date.
(e) Benefits. Executive is entitled to continued health coverage under COBRA
continuation coverage. Executive is responsible for the premiums for any elected COBRA coverage
beginning the Termination Date. Company will pay Executives cost of that coverage through the
Termination Date. Executive will be entitled to no other employment benefits after the Termination
Date.
(f) Restricted Stock / Stock Options. Any grants of restricted stock and stock
options shall continue to vest in the normal course from the date of this Agreement to the
Termination Date.
(g) Unvested Restricted Stock / Stock Options. On the Termination Date, Executive
shall be entitled to the:
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Vesting of all shares of restricted stock that are scheduled to vest on January 1, 2008
(12,930 shares). After the Termination Date, such shares shall be freely transferable. |
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Vesting of 2,386 shares of restricted stock from grant number 1666. After the
Termination Date, such shares shall be freely transferable. |
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Vesting of all stock option grants that are scheduled to vest on January 1, 2008 (9,816
shares subject to stock options). After the Termination Date, such options shall be
immediately exercisable for a period of up to three months from the date such stock options
were granted. |
5. For a period of one (1) year after the Part-Time Date, Executive shall not, without the
prior written consent of Company, become employed by, or retained as a consultant of, or provide
services for compensation of any kind in any capacity, to any Competitive Entity (as hereafter
defined). As used herein, the term Competitive Entity shall mean a public or private business
that focuses primarily on the ownership, development or operation of distribution, warehouse, air
cargo or logistic-oriented properties.
6. For a period of two (2) years after the Part-Time Date, Executive shall not, without the
prior written consent of Company, directly or indirectly, solicit any person who is or was employed
by Company as of the Part-Time Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Executive shall not be
considered to have violated this paragraph 6 if a subsequent employer of Executive engages in any
activity prohibited by this paragraph 6 without Executives participation, and (ii) Executive shall
not be prohibited from engaging in an activity otherwise prohibited by this paragraph with respect
to any employee whose employment with Company has been terminated prior to Executive engaging in
such activity.
7. Except in connection with any proceedings between Executive and Company pursuant to
paragraph 18 of this Agreement, Executive agrees that he will not make any disparaging comments
concerning Company or its operations, or his employment with and/or departure from Company to any
individual or entity. Except in connection with any proceedings between Executive and Company
pursuant to paragraph 18 of this Agreement, Company agrees
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that neither it nor any of its executive officers or directors will make, and Company agrees
that it shall use its reasonable efforts to prevent all of its other officers and employees from
making, directly or through inference, orally or in writing, any disparaging comments concerning
Executive or his employment with and/or departure from Company to any individual or entity.
8. In return for the foregoing payments and benefits set forth in paragraph 4, but without in
any manner impairing Executives right to seek indemnification from Company as described in
paragraph 22 of this Agreement, Executive, for himself and his spouse, heirs, executors,
representatives and assigns, forever releases Company and Companys officers, directors, managers,
employees, agents and representatives from any and all claims, actions, and causes of action which
Employee has or might have concerning his employment with Company or the termination of employment,
up to the date of the signing of this Agreement (excluding obligations arising under this
Agreement). All such claims are forever barred by this Agreement and without regard as to whether
those claims are based upon any alleged breach of contract or covenant of good faith and fair
dealing; any alleged employment discrimination or other unlawful discriminatory acts, including
claims under Title VII, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Americans with
Disabilities Act, the California Labor Code, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; any alleged tortious
act resulting in physical injury, emotional distress, or damage to reputation or other damages; or
any other claim or cause of action as of the date of the signing of this Agreement (with the sole
exclusions to any claims for vested ERISA benefits, workers compensation claims and any claims for
unemployment insurance). Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit Executive from filing a charge,
including a challenge to the validity of this Agreement, with the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC) or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by the EEOC.
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9. Executive agrees that the payments and benefits set forth in paragraph 4 shall constitute
the entire amount of monetary consideration provided to him under this Agreement and that he will
not seek any further compensation for any other claimed damages, costs or attorneys fees in
connection with the matters encompassed by this Agreement.
10. Executive acknowledges that California Civil Code Section 1542 provides as follows:
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A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect
exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have
materially affected his settlement with the debtor. |
Being fully informed of this provision of the California Civil Code, Executive waives any
rights under such code section, and acknowledges that this Agreement extends to all claims that
Executive has or might have against Company, whether known or unknown.
11. Executive understands that:
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He has a reasonable period of time in which to consider signing
this Agreement; |
(b) |
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He has carefully read and fully understands all of the terms of
this Agreement; |
(c) |
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He is, through this Agreement, releasing Company from any and
all claims he may have against it as of the date of the signing of this
Agreement (excluding matters to which Executive may be entitled to seek
indemnification in accordance with paragraph 22); |
(d) |
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He knowingly and voluntarily agrees to all of the terms set
forth in this Agreement; |
(e) |
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He knowingly and voluntarily intends to be legally bound by
this Agreement; and |
(f) |
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He was advised and hereby is advised in writing to consult with
an attorney of his choice prior to signing this Agreement. |
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12. This Agreement is in full satisfaction of disputed claims and by entering into this
Agreement, Company is in no way admitting liability of any sort. This Agreement, therefore, does
not constitute an admission of liability of any kind.
13. Executive has had access to non-public confidential, proprietary and/or trade secret
information relating to Companys business which was acquired or disclosed to Executive during the
course of his employment with Company (Confidential Information). Such Confidential Information
may include, but is not limited to, business strategies, financial reports, litigation matters,
computer programs and software, customer information, business plans and operations, and other
information and records which are owned by Company and are regularly used in the operation of its
business. Prior to and at all times after the Termination Date, Executive shall not, directly or
indirectly, disclose or make available to any third party any Confidential Information, except to
the extent required by law or necessary for legitimate law enforcement or compliance purposes. In
such a situation, Executive shall promptly notify Company in writing of his intended disclosure(s),
and will not disclose such Confidential Information until Company has had a reasonable amount of
time to prevent such disclosure(s). Confidential Information does not include any information
that (a) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of disclosure or
actions by any party hereto in violation of this Agreement, (b) is or becomes available to any
party hereto on a non-confidential basis from a source (other than any other party hereto) which
such party reasonably believes is not prohibited from disclosing such information to such party by
a contractual legal or fiduciary obligation to such other party hereto or (c) was in such partys
possession prior to the date of this Agreement and was obtained on a non-confidential basis from a
source (other than any other party hereto) that such party reasonably believes was not prohibited
by a contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation to such other party hereto from disclosing such
information to such party. Notwithstanding the above, Executive is not prohibited from using
information which is generally known and used in the real estate industry by persons with training
and experience
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comparable to Executive, which is common knowledge in the real estate industry or otherwise
legally in the public domain.
14. Should any provision of this Agreement be determined by any court or arbitrator to be
wholly or partially illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the legality, validity and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not be affected, and said illegal, unenforceable or invalid
provisions shall be deemed not to be a part of the terms or conditions of this Agreement.
15. The parties agree that this Agreement contains their complete and final agreement and that
there are no representations, statements, or agreements which have not been included within this
Agreement. Effective as of the Termination Date, this Agreement supersedes in its entirety that certain Amended and Restated Change in
Control and Noncompetition Agreement entered into between Company and Executive dated as of October
10, 2006.
16. The parties acknowledge that in signing this Agreement, they do not rely upon and have not
relied upon any representation or statement made by any of the parties or their agents with respect
to the subject matter, basis or effect of this Agreement, other than those specifically stated in
this Agreement.
17. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties and upon their heirs, administrators,
representatives, executors and assigns. Executive expressly warrants that he has not transferred
to any person or entity any rights, causes of action or claims released in this Agreement.
18. The parties agree that any dispute regarding the application and interpretation or alleged
breach of this Agreement shall be subject to final and binding arbitration before a neutral
arbitrator referred by the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Service (JAMS). That arbitrator
shall be selected by the parties from the list of proposed arbitrators referred by JAMS. The
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arbitrator shall have the right, but not the obligation, to grant costs and attorneys fees to
the losing party to the arbitration.
19. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and each counterpart shall have the same
force and effect as an original and shall constitute an effective binding agreement on the part of
each of the undersigned. For purposes of promoting timely compliance under this Agreement,
facsimile transmission of executed documents shall be deemed sufficient evidence of execution to
warrant commensurate performance. The fully executed original(s) shall nevertheless be delivered
by mail or by hand.
20. California law shall govern the validity and interpretation of this Agreement.
21. For purposes of this Agreement, the parties warrant that they respectively have the
authority to sign this Agreement on behalf of Executive and Company. Executive has signed this
Agreement in San Francisco, California.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]
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22. To the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, Company shall indemnify, defend and
hold harmless from and against any and all causes of action, claims, demands, liabilities, damages,
costs and expenses of any nature whatsoever (collectively, Damages) directly or indirectly
arising out of or relating to Executive discharging his duties on behalf of Company and/or its
respective subsidiaries and affiliates, so long as Executive acted in good faith within the course
and scope of his duties with respect to the matter giving rise to the claim or Damages for which
Executive seeks indemnification. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall impair or affect any of
Executives rights to indemnification afforded or provided to Executive under Companys
organizational documents, or by law or otherwise, including, without limitation California Labor
Code Section 2802, or otherwise, relating in any manner to matters arising out of or relating to
Executives employment with Company or Executive discharging his duties on behalf of Company, the
parties expressly acknowledging and agreeing that all such rights shall survive both execution of
this Agreement and the Termination Date.
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Date:November 21, 2006 |
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/s/ Michael A. Coke
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MICHAEL A. COKE |
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Date:November 21, 2006, |
AMB PROPERTY CORPORATION
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By: |
/s/ Nancy J. Hemmenway
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Nancy J. Hemmenway |
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SVP |
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