EX-10.14 10 a2190626zex-10_14.htm EXHIBIT 10.14

Exhibit 10.14

 

SECOND AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

Second amendment (“Amendment”), dated as of November 24, 2008, to Employment Agreement, dated as of October 23, 2001 (as amended November 16, 2005, the “Agreement”), between Arch Capital Group Ltd., a Bermuda company (the “Company”), and Marc Grandisson (the “Executive”).  Capitalized terms used without definition herein have the meanings given to them in the Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained herein, the parties have agreed to amend the Agreement as follows:

 

1.                                       The definition of “Good Reason” set forth in Section 1.01 shall be hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

“Good Reason” means, without the Executive’s written consent and subject to the timely notice requirement and the Company’s opportunity to cure set forth in Section 5.05 below, (a) the material diminution of any material duties or responsibilities of the Executive; or (b) a material reduction in the Executive’s Base Salary.

 

2.                                       The last sentence of Section 4.04 shall be hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

In addition, the Company will reimburse the Executive, on an after-tax basis, for his reasonable expenses incurred in traveling between Bermuda and Canada during the Employment Period, and such reimbursement shall be made promptly, but in no event later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year during which the expense was incurred by the Executive.

 

3.                                       Section 5.02 shall be hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

SECTION 5.02. Unjustified Termination. Except as otherwise provided in Section 12.14, if the Employment Period shall be terminated (i) at the end of the Employment Period due to the Company giving written notice of non-extension pursuant to Section 5.01 above, or (ii) prior to the expiration of the original term (or the Employment Period as extended pursuant to Section 5.01) by the Executive for Good Reason or by the Company not for Cause (such terminations under clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 5.02 are collectively referred to as “Unjustified Terminations”), the Executive shall be paid solely (except as provided in Section 5.04 below or as specifically provided in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan or successor plan) an amount equal to his annual Base Salary, provided the Executive shall be entitled to such payments only if the Executive has not breached and does not breach the provisions of Sections 6.01, 7.01, 8.01, 9.01 or 9.02 and the Executive has entered into a general release of claims reasonably satisfactory to the Company on or before the date that is fifty (50) days following the Date of Termination and does not revoke such release prior to the end of the statutory seven (7) day revocation period.  Subject to Section 12.14 below, such

 


 

amounts will be paid in twelve (12) equal installments, the first two (2) of which shall be paid on the date that is two (2) months following the Date of Termination and the next ten (10) of which will be paid in ten (10) equal monthly installments commencing on the date that is three (3) months following the Date of Termination and continuing on each of the next nine (9) monthly anniversaries of the Date of Termination.  In addition, promptly following an Unjustified Termination, the Executive shall also be reimbursed for all Reimbursable Expenses incurred by the Executive prior to such Unjustified Termination.  Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, in order for the Executive to terminate the Employment Period for Good Reason, such termination of employment must occur no later than sixty (60) days after the date the Executive gives written notice in accordance with Section 5.05 below to the Company of the occurrence of the event or condition that constitutes Good Reason.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, for purposes of this Section 5.02 and the last sentence of Section 5.04, the Executive will be deemed to have terminated his employment on the date of his “separation from service” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)) with the Company, the Employment Period will be deemed to have ended on the date of his “separation from service” with the Company, and the Date of Termination will be deemed to be the date of his “separation from service” with the Company.

 

4.                                       The last sentence of Section 5.04 shall be hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such Justified Termination is a result of a Permanent Disability or if the Employment Period is terminated as a result of an Unjustified Termination, the Executive shall continue to receive his major medical insurance coverage benefits from the Company’s plan in effect at the time of such termination for a period equal to the lesser of (i) twelve (12) months after the Date of Termination, and (ii) until the Executive is provided by another employer with benefits substantially comparable (with no pre-existing condition limitations) to the benefits provided by such plan.

 

5.                                       Section 5.05 shall be hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

SECTION 5.05.  Notice of Termination and Opportunity to Cure.  Any termination by the Company for Permanent Disability or Cause or without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the other party hereto.  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a notice which shall indicate the date the termination is to take effect (consistent with the terms of this Agreement), the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and, for a termination for Permanent Disability or for Cause or for a resignation for Good Reason, shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of employment under the provision indicated.  It shall be a condition precedent to the Executive’s right to terminate employment for Good Reason that (i) 

 

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the Executive shall first have given the Company written notice that an event or condition constituting Good Reason has occurred within ninety (90) days after such occurrence, and any failure to give such written notice within such period will result in a waiver by the Executive of his right to terminate for Good Reason as a result of such event or condition, and (ii) a period of thirty (30) days from and after the giving of such written notice shall have elapsed without the Company having effectively cured or remedied such occurrence during such 30-day period, unless such occurrence cannot be cured or remedied within thirty (30) days, in which case the period for remedy or cure shall be extended for a reasonable time (not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days) provided that the Company has made and continues to make a diligent effort to effect such remedy or cure.

 

6.                                       Section 5.06 shall be hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

SECTION 5.06.  Date of Termination.  “Date of Termination” shall mean (a) if the Employment Period is terminated as a result of a Permanent Disability, five (5) days after a Notice of Termination is given, (b) if the Employment Period is terminated by the Executive for Good Reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination consistent with the terms hereof, (c) if the Employment Period terminates due to expiration of the term of this Agreement, the date the term expires, and (d) if the Employment Period is terminated for any other reason (including for Cause), the date designated by the Company in the Notice of Termination.

 

7.                                       The third sentence included in Section 9.01 shall be hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Noncompetition Period shall be twelve (12) months following the Date of Termination if such termination is an Unjustified Termination or due to the Executive giving written notice pursuant to Section 5.01 of his intention not to extend the Employment Period.

 

8.                                       Section 12.14 shall be hereby added at the end of the Agreement as follows:

 

SECTION 12.14. 409A and 457A.  It is intended that this Agreement will comply with Sections 409A and 457A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (and any regulations and guidelines issued thereunder), to the extent the Agreement is subject thereto, and the Agreement shall be interpreted on a basis consistent with such intent.  If an amendment of the Agreement is necessary in order for it to comply with Section 409A or Section 457A, the parties hereto will negotiate in good faith to amend the Agreement in a manner that preserves the original intent of the parties to the extent reasonably possible.  No action or failure to act, pursuant to this Section 12.14 shall subject the Company to any claim, liability, or expense, and the Company shall not have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise protect the Executive from the obligation to pay any taxes, interest or penalties pursuant to Section 409A or Section 457A of the Code.

 

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Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Executive is deemed on the date of his “separation from service” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)) to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, then with regard to any payment that is required to be delayed pursuant to Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code (after taking into account the applicable provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)), the portion, if any, of such payment so required to be delayed shall not be made prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of his “separation from service” or (ii) the date of his death (the “Delay Period”).  Upon the expiration of the Delay Period, all payments and benefits delayed pursuant to this Section (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid or reimbursed to the Executive in a lump sum, and any remaining payments due under this Agreement shall be paid in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein.  Whenever payments under this Agreement are to be made in installments, each such installment shall be deemed to be a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.  In no case will compliance with this Section by the Company constitute a breach of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

With respect to any reimbursement or in-kind benefit arrangements of the Company and its subsidiaries that constitute deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A, except as otherwise permitted by Section 409A, the following conditions shall be applicable: (i) the amount eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, under any such arrangement in one calendar year may not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, under such arrangement in any other calendar year (except that the health and dental plans may impose a limit on the amount that may be reimbursed or paid), (ii) any reimbursement must be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred, and (iii) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

9.                                       Section 12.15 shall be hereby added at the end of the Agreement as follows:

 

SECTION 12.15.  Excess Parachute Payments.

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that the amount of payments or other benefits payable to the Executive under this Agreement (including, without limitation, the acceleration of any payment or the accelerated vesting of any payment or other benefit), together with any payments, awards or benefits payable under any other plan, program, arrangement or agreement maintained by the Company or one of its affiliates, would constitute an “excess parachute payment” (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code), the

 

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payments under Section 5.02 of this Agreement shall be reduced (by the minimum possible amounts) until no amount payable to the Executive under this Agreement constitutes an “excess parachute payment” (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code); provided, however, that no such reduction shall be made if the net after-tax payment (after taking into account federal, state, local or other income, employment and excise taxes) to which the Executive would otherwise be entitled without such reduction would be greater than the net after-tax payment (after taking into account federal, state, local or other income, employment and excise taxes) to the Executive resulting from the receipt of such payments with such reduction.

 

(b)                                 All determinations required to be made under this Section 12.15, including whether a payment would result in an “excess parachute payment” and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determinations, shall be made by an accounting firm designated by the Company (the “Accounting Firm”) which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive as requested by the Company or the Executive.  All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company and shall be paid by the Company.  Absent manifest error, all determinations made by the Accounting Firm under this Section 12.15 shall be final and binding upon the Company and the Executive.

 

10.                                 All other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.  This amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Bermuda, without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws, and may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of the date and year first above written.

 

 

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Constantine Iordanou

 

Name:

Constantine Iordanou

 

Title:

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Marc Grandisson

 

Marc Grandisson

 

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