JEFFRIES & COMPANY, INC.
11100 Santa Monica Boulevard, 10th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90025
Telephone (310) 445-1199 Cable JEFFCO
Exhibit 10.8
As of February 15, 2002
Mr. Frank E. Baxter
519 Ocampo Drive
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
Dear Frank:
This letter confirms your resignation from the following positions:
Jefferies Group, Inc. ("Group") -- Chairman
Jefferies & Company, Inc. ("Jefco") -- Chairman and Director
Jefferies International Limited -- Chairman
Jefferies Pacific Limited -- Director
Jefferies Venture Capital Fund I LLC -- President and Chief Executive
Officer
Jefferies FOF Manager Inc. -- Director
Jefferies MB Manager Inc. -- Director
Jefferies Employees Fund of Funds LLC -- President and Chief Executive
Officer
Jefferies Advisers Inc. -- Director
Jefferies Realty Investment Corp. -- President and Director
Jefferies International Realty Corp. -- President and Director
Jefferies Global Trading Inc. -- Director
In addition to the foregoing, you have indicated that you will not stand
for reelection as a director of Group at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to
be held in May 2002.
This letter also sets forth the terms and conditions of your retention as
Chairman Emeritus of and consultant to Group. The above listed resignations and
your retention will all be effective on February 15, 2002. Except as otherwise
provided for herein, the term of this agreement shall be the period from
February 15, 2002 (the "Effective Date") to February 14, 2004 (the "Term").
You will be paid a retainer at the rate of $500,000.00 per annum during the
Term, to be paid in equal installments on the 15th and last day of each month.
The amounts set forth in this paragraph are gross amounts and will be paid to
you as such. As a consultant, you will be responsible for the payments of all
taxes on payments made to you. During such time as you remain a consultant to
Group, Jefco will maintain your securities registrations with Jefco.
For a period of a five years from the Effective Date, you will receive the
same medical and dental health insurance benefits as Group employees.
Effective at the close of business on the Effective Date, you will no
longer be eligible to participate in Group's 401k, Profit Sharing, Employee
Stock Purchase, Supplemental Stock Purchase, Deferred Compensation, or Employee
Stock Ownership Plans or any similar plans. However, you
Mr. Frank E. Baxter
As of February 15, 2002
Page 2
retain your right to benefits you have earned and are entitled to under these
Plans through the Effective Date. Effective at the close of business on the
Effective Date, your coverage under Group's group life insurance and short term
and long term disability policies will also cease. However, Group will continue
to make the payments on the split-dollar insurance policy purchased by Group in
2000 for your benefit.
Group will provide you with office space in its Los Angeles office and with
secretarial support for a period of five years from the Effective Date. The
office space to be provided to you will be comparable in size and proximity to
other senior executives in Los Angeles. The secretarial support which you
receive will be comparable to that currently being provided to you.
Group will reimburse you for travel and entertainment expenses incurred by
you on behalf of Group in accordance with Group's policies on reimbursement of
such expenses.
This letter agreement may be terminated by Group for Cause or in the event
of your death or disability. For purposes hereof, Cause shall mean that you
commit an act which, in Jefco's reasonable opinion, constitutes fraud, gross
negligence, willful misconduct or knowing breach of your fiduciary duties;
willfully engage in misconduct injurious to Jefco or which violates Jefco's
internal policies or procedures (as amended from time to time), including but
not limited to Group's Statement of Employee Conduct, as amended from time to
time; or commit an act which, in Jefco's reasonable opinion, may lead to your or
Jefco's censure, suspension or bar by any regulatory body or self-regulatory
organization having jurisdiction over Jefco and/or you, including but not
limited to commission of a felony or an act of moral turpitude.
The parties agree that any and all controversies which may arise between
them or between you and Jefco arising out of or related to this Agreement shall
be determined by arbitration. Any such arbitration shall be determined before
the National Association of Securities Dealers ("NASD") in the city of New York,
in the State of New York, in accordance with NASD rules. Judgment upon
arbitration awards may be entered in any court, state or federal, having
jurisdiction.
This letter agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and
Group with respect to the subject matters referred to herein, and supersedes all
prior or contemporaneous negotiations, promises, covenants, agreements and
representations of every kind or nature with respect thereto, all of which have
become merged and finally integrated into this letter agreement.
Mr. Frank E. Baxter
As of February 15, 2002
Page 3
If this agreement conforms to your understanding and is acceptable to you,
please indicate your agreement by signing and dating the enclosed copy of this
agreement in the space provided below and returning the signed agreement to
Jerry Gluck, at Jefferies' Los Angeles address.
Sincerely
/s/ RICHARD B. HANDLER
--------------------------
Richard B. Handler
Chief Executive Officer
Enclosure
ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
/s/ FRANK E. BAXTER Dated: 2/28/, 2002
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Frank E. Baxter