6. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the internal substantive laws (and not the laws relating to conflict of laws or choice of laws) of the State of New Jersey, except to the extent that such laws are preempted by Federal law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written.
EXHIBIT II
Form of Separation Agreement and General Release
SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE, by and between Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated, a New Jersey Corporation, (the “Company”) and [_________________] (“Executive”), dated as of [______________], (“this Agreement”).
WHEREAS, the Company maintains the Key Executive Severance Plan of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (the “Plan”), effective December 20, 2004, and as thereafter amended, modified or supplemented;
WHEREAS, Executive was designated as an Eligible Employee under the Plan by the Organization and Compensation Committee of the Company’s board of directors on ___________ and became a Participant in the Plan as of [date] ;
WHEREAS, the Company or one of its Affiliates terminated Executive’s employment effective [date] (the “Termination Date”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 3.3 of the Plan, in order to be a Participant in and be entitled to benefits and protections under the Plan, Executive must execute and delivery this Agreement to the Company within forty-five days after Executive receives this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Executive and the Company desire to settle fully and finally any differences, rights and duties arising between them, including, but in no way limited to, any differences, rights and duties that have arisen or might arise out of or are in any way related to Executive’s employment with the Company, and the conclusion of that employment;
NOW THEREFORE, Executive and the Company agree as follows:
1.Terms. All capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the same meanings and definitions as assigned to such terms in the Plan.
2.Separation Payment. The Company acknowledges that the Executive is entitled to and that the Company will provide the payments and benefits described in Article IV or Article V of the Plan, all such payments and benefits to be paid to Executive less all applicable withholdings.
3.Release of Claims. Executive, for himself and for his children, heirs, administrators, representatives, executors, successors and assigns, releases and gives up any and all claims and rights which he has, may have or hereafter may have against the Company, its Affiliates and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors, successors, assigns, officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents and all of their predecessors, successors and assigns (the “Releasees”) from the beginning of the world until the date of the execution of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, any and all charges, complaints, claims, liabilities, obligations, promises, agreements, controversies, damages, remedies, actions, causes of action, suits, rights, demands, costs, losses, debts and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and costs) of
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any nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, whether in law or equity (collectively, “Claims”), including, but not limited to, any Claims related to Executive’s employment with the Company and the conclusion thereof, any Claims based on wrongful termination, any Claims based on contract whether express or implied, written or oral, and any Claims arising under the United States and/or State Constitutions, federal and/or common law, and/or rights arising out of alleged violations of any federal, state or other government statutes, regulations or ordinances including, without limitation, the National Labor Relations Act, Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (42 U.S.C. § 1981), the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Equal Pay Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Employees Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, all as amended. This release specifically includes, but is not limited to, the right to the payment of wages, vacation, pension benefits or any other employee benefits, and any other rights arising under federal, state or local laws prohibiting discrimination and/or harassment on the basis of age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, mental or physical disability, alienage or citizenship status, marital status, or any other basis prohibited by law.
4.Covenant Not To Sue. Executive has not filed against the Company or any of the Releasees, any complaints, charges or lawsuits with any government agency, arbitral tribunal, self-regulatory body, or any court arising out of Executive’s employment by the Company or any other matter arising on or prior to the date hereof. Executive will not, directly or indirectly, commence or prosecute, or assist in the filing, commencement or prosecution in any court, arbitral tribunal, self-regulatory body or local or state government agency, any claim or charge against the Company or any of the Releasees arising out of any of the matters set forth in this Agreement or based upon any common law or statutory claim against the Company or any of the Releasees that can be brought under federal, state or local law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall not be limited from commencing a proceeding for the sole purpose of enforcing his rights under this Agreement or under the Plan, provided Executive first complies with the Claims Review procedures described in Article X of the Plan.
5.No Admission of Liability. This Agreement does not constitute or imply an admission of liability or wrongdoing by Executive, the Company or any of the Releasees.
6.No Disparagement. Executive and the officers and directors of the Company and its Affiliates agree that they will not make, or cause to be made, any statements, observations or opinions, or communicate any information (whether oral or written) that disparages or is likely in any way to harm the reputation in the case of the officers and directors of the Company and its Affiliates, Executive, and in the case of Executive, the Company, its Affiliates or any of the Releasees.
7.Confidentiality. The terms of this Agreement areCONFIDENTIAL. Executive agrees not to tell anyone about this Agreement and not to disclose any information contained in this Agreement to anyone, other than to his lawyer, financial advisor or immediate family members, to enforce this Agreement, or to respond to a valid subpoena or other legal process. If
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Executive does tell his lawyer, financial advisor or immediate family members about this Agreement or its contents, he must immediately tell them that they must keep it confidential as well. The Company agrees that it will keep the terms of this Agreement confidential, except as is necessary to administer this Agreement, as required by law or to respond to a valid subpoena or other legal process.
8.No Reliance. Executive represents that in executing this Agreement he does not rely and has not relied upon any representation or statement not set forth in this Agreement that the Company or any of its agents, representatives or attorneys may have made with regard to the subject matter, basis or effect of this Agreement.
9.Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey without regard to any state’s conflict of law provisions.
10.Remedy for Breach. In the event of any breach of this Agreement, the parties may only institute an action for specific enforcement of the terms of this Agreement and the Plan and seek damages resulting from such breach. Executive may not institute any proceeding based on any Claims related to his employment with the Company or the conclusion of his employment because of a breach of this Agreement or the Plan by the Company. The prevailing party in any such action shall be entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees and costs in addition to any other legal or equitable relief, except that the Company will not be entitled to its attorneys’ fees or other damages if Executive challenges the validity or enforceability of this Agreement.
11.Severability. If at any time, after the date of the execution of this Agreement, any provision of this Agreement shall be held in any court or agency of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, such provision shall be of no force and effect. In the event that a court or agency of competent jurisdiction concludes that the release contained in paragraph 3 or the covenant not to sue contained in paragraph 4 are illegal, void or unenforceable, Executive agrees to execute a release and covenant not to sue that are legal, valid and enforceable.
12.Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Plan and the Restrictive Covenant Agreement required by Section 3.2 of the Plan set forth the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the termination of Executive’s employment and supersede any and all prior understandings and agreements between the parties. Neither party shall have any obligation toward the other except as set forth herein and therein.
13.Modifications. This Agreement may not be modified except in writing signed by all parties.
14.Enforceability. The parties are bound by this Agreement. Anyone who succeeds to the parties’ rights and responsibilities, such as their heirs, executors, successors or assigns, is also bound.
15.Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for the convenience of reference only and are not intended to define, limit, expand or describe the scope or intent of any provision of this Agreement.
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16.Acknowledgements. Executive acknowledges that:
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| a. | Executive has carefully read and understands this Agreement; |
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| b. | Executive has been given forty-five (45) days to consider his rights and obligations under this Agreement and to consult with an attorney; |
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| c. | The Company advised Executive to consult with an attorney and/or any other advisors of his choice before signing this Agreement; |
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| d. | Executive understands that this Agreement isLEGALLY BINDINGand by signing it he gives up certain rights; |
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| e. | Executive has voluntarily chosen to enter into this Agreement and has not been forced or pressured in any way to sign it; |
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| f. | ExecutiveKNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY RELEASESthe Company and the Releasees from any and all claims Executive may have, known or unknown, in exchange for the benefits Executive has obtained by signing, and that these benefits are in addition to any benefit Executive would have otherwise received if he did not sign this Agreement; |
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| g. | The General Release in this Agreement includes aWAIVER OF ALL RIGHTS AND CLAIMSExecutive may have under the Age Discrimination In Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. §621 et seq.); and |
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| h. | Executive has seven (7) days after he signs this Agreement to revoke it by notifying the Company in writing. Executive must deliver the written revocation to the Company’s General Counsel so that it is actually received by the Company within seven (7) days of the date Executive signs this Agreement. This Agreement will not become effective or enforceable until the Company receives a copy of this Agreement signed by Executive and the seven (7) day revocation period has expired without Executive revoking this Agreement. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
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EXECUTIVE | | | PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GROUP INCORPORATED |
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