Exhibit 10.11
Execution Version
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), by and among FrontView REIT Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “REIT”), FrontView Operating Partnership LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Company”), and the Operating Company’s subsidiary, FrontView Employee Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “REIT Operator” and, together with the REIT and the Operating Company, the “Company”), and Randall Starr (“Executive”) (each of Executive and the Company, a “Party,” and collectively, the “Parties”) is dated as of the Effective Date (as defined below).
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Executive as its Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President on the terms and conditions set forth herein and Executive desires to be employed by the Company on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
1.
2.
(a)
During the Term, Executive will be employed by the REIT Operator and will serve as the Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-President of the REIT, reporting directly to the board of directors (the “Board of Directors” or the “Board”) of the REIT. In this capacity, Executive shall have the duties, authorities and responsibilities as are required by Executive’s position commensurate with the duties, authorities and responsibilities of persons in similar capacities in similarly sized companies, and such other duties, authorities and responsibilities as may reasonably be assigned to Executive as the Board shall designate from time to time that are not inconsistent with Executive’s position and that are consistent with the bylaws of the REIT, the limited partnership agreement of the Operating Company, and the limited liability company agreement of the REIT Operator, each as may be amended from time to time, including, but not limited to, managing the affairs of the Company.
(b)
(c)
During the Term, Executive will serve the Company faithfully, diligently, and to the best of Executive’s ability and will devote substantially all of Executive’s business time and attention to the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder, and shall have no other employment (including self-employment), whether or not such activity is engaged in for pecuniary profit; provided, that, nothing contained herein shall prohibit Executive from (i) participating in trade associations or industry organizations in furtherance of the Company’s interests, (ii) engaging in charitable, civic, educational or political activities, (iii) engaging in passive personal investment activities for Executive and Executive’s family or (iv) accepting directorships or similar positions, subject to approval in advance by the Board of Directors of the REIT, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld (together, the “Personal Activities”), in each case so long as the Personal Activities do not (x) unreasonably interfere, individually or in the aggregate, with the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company under this Agreement, (y) have an adverse impact on the Company’s business reputation, or (z) violate the Restrictive Covenants (as defined below), in each case as determined by the Board.
(d)
During the Term, Executive shall perform the services required by this Agreement at the Company’s principal offices located in Dallas, Texas (the “Principal Location”), except for travel to other locations as may be necessary to fulfill Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder.
3.
Compensation and Benefits.
(a)
(b)
Incentive Compensation. In addition to the Base Salary, Executive shall be entitled to participate in any short-term and long-term incentive programs (including, without limitation, equity compensation plans) established by the Company, including for its senior-level executives. However, during the Term, and subject to Section 3(e) below, such arrangements will include the following:
(i)
(ii)
(1)
(2)
Annual Equity Awards. During the Term, Executive shall be eligible for one or more annual stock-based awards under the Company’s long-term incentive plan (the “Annual Equity Awards”), as determined by the Board (or a committee of directors to whom such responsibility has been delegated by the Board) in its sole discretion. Nothing herein requires the Board (or any committee thereof) to make grants of stock-based awards in any year. Without limiting the foregoing, the target grant date fair value of Executive’s first Annual Equity Award to be granted no later than March 15, 2025, shall be $1.75 million and such Annual Equity Award shall be subject to time-based vesting in four substantially equal annual installments measured from the grant date, subject to Executive’s continued employment through the applicable vesting date. Each Annual Equity Award shall be subject to the terms and conditions, including specific vesting conditions, set forth in the award agreement, as determined by the Board (or a committee of directors to whom such responsibility has been delegated by the Board) in its sole discretion, and the Company’s long-term incentive plan.
(c)
(d)
Business Expense Reimbursement. The REIT Operator agrees to pay or reimburse Executive, upon presentation of documentation, for all commercially reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses that Executive incurs during the Term in performing Executive’s duties under this Agreement, in each case in accordance with the expense reimbursement policy of the REIT Operator as in effect from time to time. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary or otherwise, except to the extent that any expense or reimbursement described in this Agreement does not constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the regulations and guidance thereunder (“Section 409A”), any expense or reimbursement described in this Agreement will be paid in accordance with the following requirements: (a) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement provided to Executive during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement to Executive in any other calendar year, (b) the reimbursements for expenses for which Executive is entitled to be reimbursed will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the applicable expense is incurred, (c) the right to payment or reimbursement or in-kind benefits hereunder may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit, and (d) the reimbursements will be made pursuant to objectively determinable and nondiscretionary policies and procedures of the REIT Operator regarding such reimbursement of expenses.
(e)
Clawback/Recoupment. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Agreement to the contrary, any compensation provided to, or gain realized by, Executive pursuant to this Agreement or any other agreement or arrangement with the Company shall be subject to repayment or forfeiture by Executive to the Company if and to the extent that any such compensation or gain is or becomes subject to any “clawback” or mandatory recoupment policy adopted by the REIT from time to time.
4.
Employment Termination.
(a)
(b)
Certain Terminations.
(i)
(ii)
Payment and Benefits upon a Qualifying Termination during the CIC Window. Upon a Qualifying Termination that occurs in either case as of, during the three months prior to, or the 24 months following, the consummation of a Change in Control (such period, the “CIC Window”), in addition to the Accrued Benefits, the REIT Operator will pay or provide to Executive the same payments and benefits set forth in Section 4(b)(i), except: (1) the cash severance payable under Section 4(b)(i)(1) shall be equal to three times the sum of Executive’s Base Salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Termination Date and the average Annual Bonus paid to Executive for the two calendar years prior to the Termination Date (or, if no such average exists, the Target Bonus opportunity for the year of such termination), payable in a lump sum on the first regular payroll date following the Release Effective Date (the “CIC Severance Amount”), and (2) in lieu of the Medical Benefit Continuation, Executive will receive a payment equal to the aggregate amount of the premium cost of health benefits paid by the Company for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if applicable, immediately prior to the Termination Date for the 24-month period following the Termination Date, payable in a lump sum on the first regular payroll date following the Release Effective Date (“CIC COBRA Payment”).
(iii)
(iv)
Alternative COBRA Payments. If Executive is not permitted to continue participation in the Company’s medical insurance plan pursuant to the terms of such plan or pursuant to a determination by the Company’s insurance providers, or if such continued participation in any plan would result in the imposition of a tax on the Company pursuant to Code Section 4980B, the Company agrees to pay to Executive an amount equal to (i) the total number of months Executive is entitled to the Medical Benefit Continuation multiplied by (ii) the stated premium amount for Executive’s continued participation in the Company’s medical plan had such participation continued, payable in a lump sum on the first regular payroll date following the Release Effective Date.
(c)
Resignation of All Other Positions. Upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all positions that Executive holds as an officer of the Company or any affiliate of the Company, and from all positions that Executive holds as a member of the Board (or a committee thereof) or the board of directors (or a committee thereof) of any subsidiary or affiliate of the REIT, unless otherwise mutually agreed with the Board, and shall take all actions reasonably requested by the Company to effectuate the foregoing.
(d)
(i)
During any notice period required under Section 4(a), (1) Executive shall remain employed by the REIT Operator and shall continue to be bound by all the terms of this Agreement and any other applicable duties and obligations to the Company, (2) the REIT may direct Executive not to report to work, and (3) Executive shall only undertake such actions on behalf of the Company, consistent with Executive’s position, as expressly directed by the Board.
(ii)
The Parties agree that a termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to this Section 4 will not be a breach of this Agreement and does not relieve the Parties from their other obligations hereunder.
(e)
(i)
(ii)
“Cause” means any of the following has occurred:
(1)
conduct by Executive that amounts to willful misconduct, gross neglect, or a material refusal to perform Executive’s duties and responsibilities;
(2)
(3)
Executive’s material violation of or refusal to comply with any material written policy, board committee charter, or code of ethics or business conduct (or similar code) of the Company to which Executive is subject that, if not complied with, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, or reputation of the Company;
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
If within 180 days following any termination of Executive’s employment (whether voluntary or involuntary), the Company discovers facts that would have established “Cause” for termination, and those facts were not known by any member of the Board (other than Executive) at the time of termination, then the Company may provide Executive with written notice, including the facts establishing that the purported “Cause” was not known at the time of the termination, in which case Executive’s termination of employment will be considered a for-Cause termination under this Agreement, Executive agrees to promptly return to the Company all amounts previously paid or provided to Executive pursuant to Section 4(b)(i) or Section 4(b)(ii), as applicable, and the Company will cease paying or providing any future amounts pursuant to Section 4(b)(i) or Section 4(b)(ii), as applicable. If at any time during the Term, the Board reasonably believes that Executive may have engaged in conduct that could constitute Cause hereunder, the Board may, in its sole and absolute discretion, suspend Executive from performing Executive’s duties hereunder while it investigates such conduct, and in no event will any such suspension constitute a termination of employment or Good Reason or otherwise constitute a breach of this Agreement.
(iii)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(iv)
“Disability” means Executive is entitled to and has begun to receive long-term disability benefits under the long-term disability plan of the Company in which Executive participates, or, if there is no such plan, Executive’s inability, due to physical or mental disability or infirmity, to perform the essential functions of Executive’s job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, for 120 consecutive days, or 180 days out of any 12-month period. Any question as to the existence, extent, or potentiality of Executive’s Disability upon which Executive and the Company cannot agree must be determined by a qualified, independent physician selected by the Company and approved by Executive (which approval Executive must not unreasonably withhold). The determination of any such physician will be final and conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement.
(v)
(1)
(2)
(3)
a willful and material breach by the Company of this Agreement;
(4)
(5)
(6)
the Company’s failure to cause a successor to the business or the assets of the Company to assume the obligations hereunder to the extent such assumption does not occur by operation of law; or
(7)
the relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment by more than 25 miles from the Principal Location.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (I) Good Reason shall not be deemed to exist unless notice of termination on account thereof is given no later than 90 days after the time at which Executive has knowledge that the event or condition purportedly giving rise to Good Reason first occurs or arises, (II) if there exists an event or condition that constitutes Good Reason, the Company shall have 30 days from the date on which notice of such termination is received to cure such event or condition and, if the Company does so, such event or condition shall not constitute Good Reason hereunder and (III) Executive provides written notice of termination with Good Reason within 60 days following the Company’s failure to cure such event or condition. Failing such cure, a termination of employment by Executive for Good Reason will be effective on the day following the expiration of such cure period.
(vi)
5.
Code Section 280G. Executive hereby agrees to the terms set forth in Exhibit B to this Agreement.
6.
(a)
(i)
Consideration. Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive has received good and valuable consideration for entering into this Agreement, including, without limitation, access to and use of Company’s Confidential Information (as defined below) and access to the Company’s Protected Business Relationships (as defined below) and employee relationships and goodwill.
(ii)
(iii)
Potential Unfair Competition. Executive acknowledges and agrees that as a result of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive’s knowledge of and access to Confidential Information, and Executive’s relationships with the Company’s Protected Business Relationships and employees, Executive would have an unfair competitive advantage if Executive were to engage in activities in violation of this Agreement.
(iv)
No Undue Hardship. Executive acknowledges and agrees that, in the event that Executive’s employment with the REIT Operator terminates, Executive possess marketable skills and abilities that will enable Executive to find suitable employment without violating the Restrictive Covenants set forth in this Agreement.
(v)
(b)
(i)
(ii)
“Material Contact” means (1) having dealings with an actual or potential tenant, investor, customer, client, or other business relation on behalf of the Company; (2) coordinating or supervising dealings with an actual or potential tenant, investor, customer, client, or other business relation on behalf of the Company; or (3) obtaining Confidential Information about an actual or potential tenant, investor, customer, client, or other business relation in the ordinary course of business as a result of Executive’s employment with the Company.
(iii)
(iv)
“Person” means any individual or any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity or enterprise.
(v)
“Principal or Representative” means a principal, owner, partner, shareholder, joint venturer, investor, member, trustee, director, officer, manager, employee, agent, representative or consultant.
(vi)
(vii)
(viii)
(ix)
(x)
“Restrictive Covenants” means the covenants contained in Section 6(c) through Section 6(l) hereof.
(c)
Restriction on Disclosure and Use of Confidential Information; Protected Rights. Executive agrees that, at all times during Executive’s employment and thereafter, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, use any Confidential Information on Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any Person other than the Company, or reveal, divulge, or disclose any Confidential Information to any Person not expressly authorized by the Company to receive such Confidential Information. This obligation shall remain in effect for as long as the information or materials in question retain their status as Confidential Information. Executive further agrees that Executive shall fully cooperate with the Company in maintaining the Confidential Information to the extent permitted by law. This confidentiality covenant has no temporal, geographical, or territorial restriction. Nothing herein is intended to prevent or restrict Executive from disclosing Confidential Information to the extent required by law. Additionally, Executive understands that nothing contained in this Agreement limits or impairs Executive’s right or ability to communicate, cooperate, or file a charge or complaint with any U.S. federal, state, or local governmental or law enforcement branch, agency, or entity (collectively, a “Governmental Entity”) with respect to possible violations of any U.S. federal, state, or local law or regulation, or otherwise make disclosures to any Governmental Entity that are protected under the whistleblower or similar provisions of any such law or regulation, and Executive does not need any prior authorization from the Company or any other entity to make any such complaints or disclosures and is not required to notify the Company that Executive has made any such complaints or disclosures. Nothing herein impairs Executive’s right to receive an award from a Governmental Entity for information provided under any whistleblower or similar program. Executive may 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 to a federal, state, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law. Executive may 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 a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, provided that such filing is made under seal. If Executive files a lawsuit for retaliation by the Company for reporting a suspected violation of law, Executive may disclose the trade secret to Executive’s attorney and use the trade secret information in any related court proceeding, provided that Executive files any document containing the trade secret under seal and does not disclose the trade secret except pursuant to court order.
(d)
Non-Competition. Executive agrees that, during the Restricted Period, Executive shall not, without prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate, join, control, be employed by, or participate in the ownership, management, operation, or control of, or be connected in any manner with, including, without limitation, holding any position as equity holder, director, officer, consultant, advisor, independent contractor, employee, partner, or investor in, any Restricted Business; provided, that, in no event shall (i) Executive’s ownership of five percent or less of the outstanding equity securities of any class of any entity, standing alone, be prohibited by this Section, so long as Executive does not have, or exercise, any rights to manage or operate the business of such entity, other than rights as an equity holder thereof, or (ii) being employed by an entity, standing alone, be prohibited by this Section 6(d), so long as the entity derives part of its revenues from the acquisition, development, management, leasing, financing, and ownership of properties within an asset class other than Outparcel Properties and Executive’s duties are not at or involving the part of the entity’s business that derives any of its revenues from the acquisition, development, management, leasing, financing, and ownership of Outparcel Properties.
(e)
(f)
(g)
Proprietary Rights. Executive acknowledges and agrees that all discoveries, concepts, ideas, inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses, drawings, reports, patent applications, copyrightable work and mask work (whether or not including any Confidential Information) and all registrations or applications related thereto, all other proprietary information and all similar or related information (whether or not patentable), which relate to the Company’s actual or anticipated business, research and development or existing or future products or services and which were or are conceived, developed, contributed to or made or reduced to practice by Executive (whether alone or jointly with others) while employed by the Company, whether before or after the date of this Agreement (“Work Product”), belong to the Company. Executive shall promptly disclose such Work Product to the Company and, at the Company’s expense, perform all actions reasonably requested by the Company (whether during or after the term of Executive’s employment with the Company) to establish and confirm such ownership (including assignments, consents, powers of attorney and other instruments). Executive acknowledges and agrees that all copyrightable Work Product shall be deemed to constitute “works made for hire” under the U.S. Copyright Act, as amended, and that the Company shall own all rights therein. To the extent that any Work Product is not a “work made for hire,” Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the Company all right, title and interest, including a copyright, in and to such Work Product.
(h)
Non-Disparagement. Executive agrees that, during the Restricted Period, Executive will not make or cause any Person to make any slanderous, defamatory, disparaging or negative statement (whether orally or in writing and whether publicly or privately) about the Company or its officers, directors, employees, affiliates, products, or services to any Person, including but not limited to television media, print media, social media, any other forms of media or via the Internet; provided, that this Section 6(h) shall not in any way limit any of Executive’s rights that are expressly reserved in the final two sentences of Section 6(c) above, or in any way limit Executive’s ability to provide truthful testimony or information in response to a subpoena, court order, or valid request by a government agency, as otherwise required by law.
(i)
Third-Party Information. Executive understands that the Company and its affiliates will from time to time receive from third parties confidential or proprietary information (“Third-Party Information”) subject to a duty on the Company’s or its affiliates’ part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes. During the period of Executive’s employment and thereafter, and without in any way limiting the provisions of Section 6(c) above, Executive agrees to hold Third-Party Information in the strictest confidence and not to disclose to anyone (other than personnel and consultants of the Company and its affiliates who need to know such information in connection with their work for the Company and its affiliates) or use, except in connection with Executive’s work for the Company and its affiliates, Third-Party Information unless expressly authorized by a member of the Board (other than Executive) in writing. Any exceptions relating to the disclosure of Confidential Information set forth above in Section 6(c)will also apply to this Section 6(i).
(j)
Use of Information of Prior Employers. During the period of Executive’s employment, Executive agrees not to improperly use or disclose any confidential information or trade secrets, if any, of any former employers or any other Person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, and will not bring onto the premises of the Company any unpublished documents or any property belonging to any former employer or any other Person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, in either case, unless consented to in writing by the former employer or Person or unless Executive learns of or receives such Third-Party Information under a confidentiality agreement executed between the Company or any affiliate and the former employer or Person. Executive agrees to use in the performance of Executive’s duties only information that is (i) generally known and used by persons with training and experience comparable to Executive’s, and that is (x) common knowledge in the industry or (y) otherwise legally in the public domain, (ii) otherwise provided or developed by the Company or any of its affiliates, or (iii) in the case of materials, property, or information belonging to any former employer or other Person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality, approved for such use in writing by such former employer or Person or disclosed pursuant to a confidentiality agreement executed between the Company or any affiliate and the former employer or Person.
(k)
(l)
(i)
Rights and Remedies Upon Breach. The Parties specifically acknowledge and agree that the remedy at law for any breach of the Restrictive Covenants will be inadequate, and that in the event Executive breaches, or threatens to breach, any of the Restrictive Covenants, the Company shall have the right and remedy, without the necessity of proving actual damage or posting any bond, to seek to enjoin Executive, preliminarily and permanently, from violating or threatening to violate the Restrictive Covenants and to have the Restrictive Covenants specifically enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction, it being agreed that any breach or threatened breach of the Restrictive Covenants would cause irreparable injury to the Company and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy to the Company. Executive understands and agrees that if Executive violates any of the obligations set forth in the Restrictive Covenants, the period of restriction applicable to each obligation violated shall cease to run during the pendency of any litigation over such violation, provided that such litigation was initiated during the period of restriction. Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available to the Company at law or in equity. The Company’s ability to enforce its rights under the Restrictive Covenants or applicable law against Executive shall not be impaired in any way by the existence of a claim or cause of action on Executive’s part based on, or arising out of, this Agreement or any other event or transaction. Executive and the Company further agree that the Restrictive Covenants contained in this Section 6 are reasonable and necessary to protect the businesses of the Company because of Executive’s access to Confidential Information and Executive’s material participation in the operation of such businesses. If Executive willfully breaches any of the Restrictive Covenants set forth in this Section 6, then in addition to any injunctive relief, Executive will promptly return to the Company the gross amount of the severance payments and benefits that the Company has paid to Executive pursuant to Section 4(b)(i) or Section 4(b)(ii), as applicable.
(ii)
(m)
Disclosure of Agreement. Executive acknowledges and agrees that, during the Restricted Period, Executive will disclose the existence and terms of this Agreement to any prospective employer, business partner, investor or lender prior to entering into an employment, partnership or other business relationship with such prospective employer, business partner, investor or lender. Executive further agrees that the Company shall have the right to make any such prospective employer, business partner, investor or lender of Executive aware of the existence and terms of this Agreement.
(n)
Survival of Provisions. Section 6 of this Agreement and all other provisions necessary to interpret or enforce Section 6 shall survive and continue in full force in accordance with their respective terms notwithstanding the expiration of the Term or this Agreement or the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason.
7.
Additional Representations and Acknowledgments.
(a)
Executive represents and warrants that (a) Executive is not subject to any contract, arrangement, policy, or understanding, or to any statute, governmental rule, or regulation, that in any way limits Executive’s ability to enter into and fully perform Executive’s obligations under this Agreement and (b) Executive is otherwise able to enter into and fully perform Executive’s obligations under this Agreement. Executive further represents, warrants, and covenants that (i) prior to commencing employment with the Company, Executive has ensured compliance with all of Executive’s former employers’ policies, procedures, and codes of conduct regarding Executive’s employment termination, including the return of any company property, (ii) Executive will continue to comply with all continuing obligations that Executive may have relating to any confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information belonging to those employers, (iii) Executive, whether or not required by Executive’s former employers’ policies and procedures, has (x) reviewed all of Executive’s laptops, home computers, USB sticks, etc., to make sure that all materials relating to Executive’s prior employers (e.g., emails and documents on which Executive may have worked) have been deleted or returned to Executive’s prior employer and (y) made reasonable efforts to search Executive’s home and personal property for prior employer materials and has returned all hard copy materials relating to Executive’s prior employers, regardless of whether Executive believes their contents to be public or non-public, and (iv) Executive agrees not to place any materials that Executive used at a prior employer, other than rolodex-type non-confidential information, on the Company’s computers or emails or in the Company’s files, even if Executive was the one who wrote or created the material. In the event of a breach of any representation or covenant in this Section 7, the Company may terminate this Agreement and Executive’s employment with the Company for Cause without any liability to Executive, and Executive will indemnify the Company for any liability it may incur as a result of any such breach.
(b)
(c)
Executive and the Company further agree that REIT Operator is the employer of Executive for all U.S. federal income tax and employment tax purposes. In accordance with such status, to the extent that any provision herein permits the Company (i) to control, supervise, or otherwise determine the rights, responsibilities, or obligations of Executive hereunder, (ii) to remunerate, reimburse, or otherwise provide any economic benefit to Executive hereunder (or to determine the amount of such payments or benefits), or (iii) to otherwise initiate, terminate, or otherwise alter the terms of Executive’s employment with REIT Operator hereunder, it is acknowledged and agreed by all Parties that such actions are taken on behalf of REIT Operator, which hereby grants all necessary power and authority to the Company to take such actions on behalf of REIT Operator.
8.
Executive’s Cooperation. During and following the Term, Executive shall cooperate with the Company in any internal investigation, any administrative, regulatory or judicial investigation or proceeding or any dispute with a third party as reasonably requested by the Company to the extent that such investigation, proceeding or dispute may relate to matters in which Executive has knowledge as a result of Executive’s employment with the Company or Executive’s serving as an officer or director of the Company (including Executive being available to the Company upon reasonable notice for interviews and factual investigations, appearing at the Company’s request, after reasonable notice, to give testimony without requiring service of a subpoena or other legal process, volunteering to the Company all pertinent information and turning over to the Company all relevant documents which are or may come into Executive’s possession, all at times and on schedules that are reasonably consistent with Executive’s other permitted activities and commitments).
9.
Withholding. The REIT Operator shall be entitled to deduct or withhold from any amounts owing from the Company to Executive any federal, state, local or foreign withholding taxes, excise tax, or employment taxes that it reasonably determines are required to be imposed with respect to Executive’s compensation or other payments or benefits from the Company or Executive’s ownership interest in the Company (including wages, bonuses, the receipt or exercise of equity options and/or the receipt or vesting of restricted equity). Executive is solely responsible for the payment of all taxes imposed on the Executive relating to the payment or provision of any amounts or benefits hereunder.
10.
Survival. The rights and obligations of the Parties under this Agreement shall survive as provided herein or if necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of other surviving provisions following the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, regardless of the manner of or reasons for such termination.
11.
Notices. Unless provided otherwise herein, all notices, requests, demands, claims, and other communications provided for under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim, or other communication hereunder must be sent by (a) personal delivery (including receipted courier service) or overnight delivery service, with confirmation of receipt, (b) e-mail, (c) reputable commercial overnight delivery service courier, with confirmation of receipt, or (d) registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth below:
If to the Company: | FrontView REIT, Inc. |
3131 McKinney Avenue, Suite L10
Dallas, Texas 75204
Attention:
E-mail:
with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
One New York Plaza
New York, NY 10004
Attention: Amy Blackman, Esq.
E-mail: amy.blackman@friedfrank.com
If to Executive: | At Executive’s principal office at the Company (during the Term), and at all other times to Executive’s principal residence as reflected in the records of the Company. If by e-mail during the Term, to Executive’s Company-supplied e-mail address. |
All such notices, requests, consents, and other communications will be deemed to have been given when received. Either Party may change its address to which notices, requests, demands, claims, and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other Party’s notice in the manner then set forth.
12.
Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement 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 of this Agreement or any action in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein. In addition, should a court or arbitrator determine that any provision or portion of any provision of this Agreement, including any provision contained in Section 6 hereof, is not reasonable or valid, either in period of time, geographical area, or otherwise, the Parties agree that such provision should be interpreted and enforced to the maximum extent that such court or arbitrator deems reasonable or valid.
13.
Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, of the Parties. For the avoidance of doubt, Executive shall not be eligible to participate in any severance plan or program during the Term to the extent such participation would result in a duplication of benefits.
14.
15.
16.
Successors and Assigns; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive, the Company and their respective heirs, successors and assigns, except that Executive may not assign Executive’s rights or delegate Executive’s duties or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer upon any Person not a Party to this Agreement, or the legal representatives of such Person, any rights or remedies of any nature or kind whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement, except the personal representative of the deceased Executive may enforce the provisions hereof applicable in the event of the death of Executive. The Company is authorized to assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations hereunder without the consent of Executive if the Company hereafter effects a reorganization, or consolidates with or merges into any other Person or entity, or transfers all or substantially all of its properties or assets to any other Person or entity. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company and any successor to its business and/or assets, which assumes and agrees to perform the duties and obligations of the Company under this Agreement by operation of law or otherwise.
17.
18.
Amendment and Waiver. This Agreement may be amended, waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), modified, or supplemented, in whole or in part, only by written agreement signed by the Parties, except that the observance of any provision of this Agreement may be waived in writing by the Party that will lose the benefit of such provision as a result of such waiver. The waiver by any Party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement will not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, except as otherwise explicitly provided for in such waiver. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no failure on the part of any Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power, or remedy hereunder, or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise of such right, power, or remedy by such Party preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power, or remedy.
19.
20.
Waiver of Jury Trial. AS A SPECIFICALLY BARGAINED-FOR INDUCEMENT FOR EACH OF THE PARTIES TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT (AFTER HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL), EACH PARTY EXPRESSLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LAWSUIT OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO OR ARISING IN ANY WAY FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR THE MATTERS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
21.
22.
Affiliates. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “affiliates” means, with respect to any person or entity, any person or entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such person or entity. The term “control,” including the correlative terms “controlling,” “controlled by,” and “under common control with” means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities of any company or other ownership interest, by contract, or otherwise) of a person or entity.
23.
Section 409A.
(a)
(b)
Payment Delay. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any payment or benefit provided to Executive in connection with Executive’s termination of employment is determined to constitute nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A and Executive is determined to be a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(b)(i) of the Code, then such payment or benefit shall not be paid until the first payroll date following the date that is six months following the Termination Date or, if earlier, on Executive’s death (the “Specified Employee Payment Date”). The aggregate of any payments that would otherwise have been paid before the Specified Employee Payment Date shall be paid to Executive in a lump sum on the Specified Employee Payment Date and thereafter, any remaining payments shall be paid without delay in accordance with their original schedule.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective officers or agents hereunto duly authorized, all as of the Effective Date.
FrontView REIT, Inc.
By: | ||
Its: |
FRONTVIEW Operating Partnership LP
By: | FrontView REIT, Inc. |
Its: | General Partner |
By: | |||
Its: |
FRONTVIEW EMPLOYEE SUB, LLC
By: | FrontView Operating Partnership LP | |
Its: | Managing Member |
By: | |||
Its: |
EXECUTIVE
Randall Starr |
[Signature Page to Employment Agreement]
Exhibit A
You should consult with an attorney before signing this release of claims.
Release
1.
In consideration of the payments and benefits to be made under the Employment Agreement (the “Employment Agreement”), by and among Randall Starr (“Executive”), FrontView REIT Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “REIT”), FrontView Operating Partnership LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Company”), and the Operating Company’s subsidiary, FrontView Employee Sub, LP, a Delaware limited liability company (together with the REIT and the Operating Company, the “Company”), the sufficiency of which Executive acknowledges, Executive, with the intention of binding Executive and Executive’s heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, does hereby release, remise, acquit, and forever discharge the Company and each of its subsidiaries and Affiliates (the “Company Affiliated Group”), their present and former officers, directors, executives, shareholders, agents, attorneys, employees, and employee benefit plans (and the fiduciaries thereof), and the successors, predecessors, and assigns of each of the foregoing (collectively, the “Company Released Parties”), of and from any and all claims, actions, causes of action, complaints, charges, demands, rights, damages, debts, sums of money, accounts, financial obligations, suits, expenses, attorneys’ fees, and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity, or otherwise, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated, or otherwise and whether now known or unknown, suspected, or unsuspected, that Executive, individually or as a member of a class, now has, owns, or holds, or has at any time heretofore had, owned, or held, arising on or prior to the date hereof, against any Company Released Party that arises out of, or relates to, the Employment Agreement, Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries and Affiliates, or any termination of such employment, including claims for (i) severance or vacation benefits, unpaid wages, salary, or incentive payments, (ii) breach of contract, wrongful discharge, impairment of economic opportunity, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional harm, or other tort, (iii) any violation of applicable state and local labor and employment laws (including, without limitation, all laws concerning unlawful and unfair labor and employment practices), and (iv) employment discrimination under any applicable federal, state, or local statute, provision, order, or regulation, and including, without limitation, any claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), the Civil Rights Act of 1988, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), and any similar or analogous state statute, excepting only:
A. | rights of Executive arising under, or preserved by, this Release or Section 4 of the Employment Agreement; |
B. | the right of Executive to receive COBRA continuation coverage in accordance with applicable law; |
C. | claims for vested benefits under any health, disability, retirement, life insurance, or other similar welfare benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) of the Company Affiliated Group; |
D. | rights to indemnification that Executive has or may have under the organizing documents of any member of the Company Affiliated Group or as an insured under any director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy now or previously in force; and |
E. | rights with respect to any equity interests owned by Executive in any member of the Company Affiliated Group. |
2.
3.
4.
Executive specifically acknowledges that Executive’s acceptance of the terms of this Release is, among other things, a specific waiver of Executive’s rights, claims, and causes of action under Title VII, the ADEA, the ADA, and any state or local law or regulation in respect of discrimination of any kind, except that nothing herein should be deemed, nor does anything contained herein purport to be, a waiver of any right or claim or cause of action that by law Executive is not permitted to waive.
5.
6.
Executive acknowledges that Executive has been advised to seek, and has had the opportunity to seek, the advice and assistance of an attorney with regard to this Release, and has been given a sufficient period within which to consider this Release.
7.
Executive acknowledges that this Release relates only to claims that exist as of the date of this Release.
8.
9.
10.
Sections 10 through 22 of the Employment Agreement are incorporated into this Release and made a part hereof, mutatis mutandis.
[signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Release has been signed by or on behalf of Executive as of ____________________.
Randall Starr |
Exhibit B
Parachute Tax Provisions
This Exhibit B sets forth the terms and provisions applicable to Executive as referenced in Section 5 of the agreement to which this Exhibit B is attached (the “Agreement”). This Exhibit B shall be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Agreement. All capitalized terms that are used but not defined in this Exhibit B shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement.
(a)
If Executive would otherwise be eligible to receive a payment or benefit pursuant to the terms of the Agreement or any equity or equity-based compensation or other agreement with the Company or any subsidiary or otherwise in connection with, or arising out of, Executive’s employment with the Company or any subsidiary or a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or of a substantial portion of its assets (any such payment or benefit, a “Parachute Payment”), that a nationally recognized United States public accounting firm selected by the Company (the “Accountants”) determines, but for this sentence, would be subject to excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), subject to clause (c) below, then the Company shall pay to Executive whichever of the following two alternative forms of payment would result in Executive’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount of the Parachute Payment notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Parachute Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax: (1) payment in full of the entire amount of the Parachute Payment, or (2) payment of only a part of the Parachute Payment so that Executive receives the largest payment possible without the imposition of the Excise Tax.
(b)
If a reduction in the Parachute Payment is necessary pursuant to clause (a), then the reduction shall occur in the following order: (1) reduction of cash payments (with such reduction being applied to the payments in the reverse order in which they would otherwise be made, that is, later payments shall be reduced before earlier payments) and (2) cancellation of acceleration of vesting of equity or equity-based awards; provided, that to the extent permitted by Section 409A and Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code, if a different reduction procedure would be permitted without violating Section 409A or losing the benefit of the reduction under Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code, Executive may designate a different order of reduction.
(c)
For purposes of determining whether any of the Parachute Payments (collectively, the “Total Payments”) will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax, (i) the Total Payments shall be treated as “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, and all “parachute payments” in excess of the “base amount” (as defined under Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, unless and except to the extent that, in the opinion of the Accountants, such Total Payments (in whole or in part): (1) do not constitute “parachute payments,” (2) represent reasonable compensation for services actually rendered within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4) of the Code in excess of the “base amount,” or (3) are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax, and (ii) the value of any non-cash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Accountants in accordance with the principles of Section 280G of the Code.
(d)
All determinations hereunder shall be made by the Accountants, which determinations shall be final and binding upon the Company and Executive.
(e)
The federal tax returns filed by Executive (and any filing made by a consolidated tax group which includes the Company) shall be prepared and filed on a basis consistent with the determination of the Accountants with respect to the Excise Tax payable by Executive. Executive shall make proper payment of the amount of any Excise Tax, and at the request of the Company, provide to the Company true and correct copies (with any amendments) of Executive’s federal income tax return as filed with the Internal Revenue Service, and such other documents reasonably requested by the Company, evidencing such payment (provided, that Executive may delete information unrelated to the Parachute Payment or Excise Tax and provided, further, that the Company at all times shall treat such returns as confidential and use such return only for purpose contemplated by this paragraph).
(f)
In the event of any controversy with the Internal Revenue Service (or other taxing authority) with regard to the Excise Tax, Executive shall permit the Company to control issues related to the Excise Tax (at its expense). In the event that the issues are interrelated to the Excise Tax, Executive and the Company shall cooperate in good faith so as not to jeopardize resolution of either issue. In the event of any conference with any taxing authority as to the Excise Tax or associated income taxes, Executive shall permit a representative of the Company to accompany Executive, and Executive and Executive’s representative shall cooperate in good faith with the Company and its representative.
(g)
The Company shall be responsible for all charges of the Accountants.
(h)
The Company and Executive shall promptly deliver to each other copies of any written communications, and summaries of any verbal communications, with any taxing authority regarding the Excise Tax covered by this Exhibit B.
(i)
Nothing in this Exhibit B is intended to violate the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and to the extent that any advance or repayment obligation hereunder would do so, such obligation shall be modified so as to make the advance a nonrefundable payment to Executive and the repayment obligation null and void.
(j)
The provisions of this Exhibit B shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason and the termination of the Agreement.
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