H&R Block Inc. Contracts
Sample Business Contracts
Employment Agreement - HRB Management Inc. and Nicholas J. Spaeth
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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is entered into as of
February 2, 2004, by and between HRB Management, Inc., a Missouri corporation
(the "Company"), and Nicholas J. Spaeth ("Executive").
ARTICLE ONE
EMPLOYMENT
1.01 - Agreement as to Employment. Effective February 2, 2004 (the
"Employment Date"), the Company hereby employs Executive to serve in the
capacity set forth in Section 1.02, and Executive hereby accepts such employment
by the Company, subject to the terms of this Agreement. The Company reserves the
right, in its sole discretion, to change the title of Executive at any time.
1.02 - Duties.
(a) Executive is employed by the Company to serve as its Senior Vice
President, Chief Legal Officer, subject to the authority and direction of the
Board of Directors of the Company and the Chief Executive Officer of H&R Block,
Inc. Subject to the foregoing, Executive will have such authority and
responsibility and duties as stated in the job description for the position of
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, which has been provided to Executive
on or before the Employment Date. The Company reserves the right to modify,
delete, add, or otherwise change Executive's job responsibilities and job
description, in its sole discretion, at any time. Executive will perform such
other duties, which may be beyond the scope of the job description, as are
assigned to Executive from time to time.
(b) So long as Executive is employed under this Agreement, Executive
agrees to devote Executive's full business time and efforts exclusively on
behalf of the Company and to competently and diligently discharge Executive's
duties hereunder. Executive will not be prohibited from engaging in such
personal, charitable, or other nonemployment activities that do not interfere
with Executive's full-time employment hereunder and that do not violate the
other provisions of this Agreement or the H&R Block, Inc. Code of Business
Ethics & Conduct, which Executive acknowledges having read and understood.
Executive will comply fully with all reasonable policies of the Company as are
from time to time in effect and applicable to Executive's position. Executive
understands that the business of H&R Block, Inc. ("Block"), the Company, and/or
any other direct or indirect subsidiary of Block (each such other subsidiary an
"Affiliate") may be subject to governmental regulation, some of which may
require Executive to submit to background investigation as a condition of Block,
the Company, and/or Affiliates' participation in certain activities subject to
such regulation. If Executive, Block, the Company, or Affiliates are unable to
participate, in whole or in part, in any such activity as the result of any
action or inaction on the part of Executive, then this Agreement and Executive's
employment hereunder may be terminated by the Company without notice.
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1.03 - Compensation.
(a) Base Salary. The Company will pay to Executive a gross salary at
an annual rate of $400,000 ("Base Salary"), payable semimonthly or at any other
pay periods as the Company may use for its other executive-level employees. The
Base Salary will be reviewed for adjustment no less often than annually during
the term of Executive's employment hereunder and, if adjusted, such adjusted
amount will become the "Base Salary" for purposes of this Agreement.
(b) Short-Term Incentive Compensation. Executive shall participate
in the H&R Block Short-Term Incentive Plan and the discretionary short-term
incentive program. Under such Plan and program, Executive shall have an
aggregate target bonus for fiscal year 2004 of $240,000 and an opportunity to
earn 200% of such target bonus. The payment of the actual award under such Plan
and program shall be based upon such performance criteria that shall be
determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Block (the
"Compensation Committee"). Under such Plan and program, for fiscal year 2004
only, Executive will receive a guaranteed payment of $300,000 to be paid
following the completion of fiscal year 2004 when the same is paid to other
senior executives of the Company.
(c) Stock Options. As approved by the Compensation Committee and the
Board of Directors of Block itself, Executive shall be granted on the Employment
Date a stock option under the H&R Block 2003 Long-Term Executive Compensation
Plan (the "2003 Plan"), to purchase 200,000 shares of Block's common stock at an
option price per share equal to its closing price on the New York Stock Exchange
on the date of grant, such option to expire on the tenth anniversary of the date
of grant; to vest and become exercisable as to one-third (66,666) of the shares
covered thereby on the first anniversary of the date of grant, as to an
additional one-third (66,667) of such shares covered thereby on the second
anniversary of the date of grant, and as to the remaining one-third (66,667) of
the shares on the third anniversary of the date of grant; to be an incentive
stock option for the maximum number of shares permitted by the Internal Revenue
Code Section 422 and the regulations promulgated thereunder; and to otherwise be
a nonqualified stock option. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in
the H&R Block Severance Plan (the "Severance Plan"), the option granted to
Executive pursuant to this Section 1.03(c) shall vest on Executive's last day of
employment by the Company or any Affiliate (the "Last Day of Employment") upon
the occurrence of a "Qualifying Termination" (as such term is defined in the
Severance Plan). Any and all other stock options granted to Executive during the
term of his employment with the Company and/or any Affiliate shall upon the
occurrence of a Qualifying Termination vest in accordance with the terms of the
Severance Plan as elected by Executive pursuant to Section 1.07 (d) of this
Agreement.
(d) Restricted Stock. As approved by the Compensation Committee and
the Board of Directors of Block itself, Executive shall be awarded promptly
after the Employment Date, 20,000 restricted shares of Block's common stock
("Restricted Shares") under the 2003 Plan. The Restricted Shares shall vest
(i.e., the restrictions on such shares shall terminate) as follows: one-third
(6,666 whole shares) on the second anniversary of the Employment Date; an
additional one-third (6,667 whole shares) on the third anniversary of the
Employment Date; and the remaining one-third (6,667 whole shares) on the fourth
anniversary of the Employment Date. Prior to the time such Restricted Shares are
so vested, (i) such Restricted Shares shall be nontransferable and (ii)
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Executive shall be entitled to receive any cash dividends payable with respect
to unvested Restricted Shares and vote such unvested Restricted Shares at any
meeting of shareholders of Block. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary
in the Severance Plan, the Restricted Shares awarded to Executive pursuant to
this Section 1.03(d) shall vest on Executive's Last Day of Employment upon the
occurrence of a Qualifying Termination. Any and all other awards of Restricted
Shares awarded to Executive during the term of his employment with the Company
and/or any Affiliate shall upon the occurrence of a Qualifying Termination vest
in accordance with the terms of the Severance Plan as elected by Executive
pursuant to Section 1.07 (d) of this Agreement.
1.04 - Relocation Benefits.
(a) The Company will reimburse Executive for reasonable packing,
shipping, transportation costs and other expenses incurred by Executive in
relocating Executive's personal property to the Greater Kansas City Area, in
accordance with the H&R Block Executive Relocation Program; provided, however,
that the amount of such reimbursement (prior to taking into account the
provisions of Section 1.04 (b) of this Agreement) shall not exceed $5,000.
(b) To the extent that Executive incurs taxable income related to
any relocation benefits paid pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will pay to
Executive such additional amount as is necessary to "gross up" such benefits and
cover the anticipated income tax liability resulting from such taxable income.
1.05 - Business Expenses. The Company will promptly pay directly, or
reimburse Executive for, all business expenses, to the extent such expenses are
paid or incurred by Executive during the term hereof in accordance with the
Company's policy in effect from time to time and to the extent such expenses are
reasonable and necessary to the conduct by Executive of the Company's business.
1.06 - Fringe Benefits. During the term of Executive's employment
hereunder, and subject to the discretionary authority given to the applicable
benefit plan administrators, the Company will make available to Executive such
insurance, sick leave, deferred compensation, short-term incentive compensation,
bonuses, stock options, retirement, vacation, and other like benefits as are
approved and provided from time to time to the other executive-level employees
of the Company or Affiliates. In connection with Executive's participation in
the H&R Block Executive Survivor Plan (the "ESP"), Executive shall be eligible
to participate in the ESP on the earliest date following the Employment Date on
which the insurance carrier under the ESP approves Executive's coverage under
the ESP and completes such administrative procedures as are necessary to enroll
Executive in the ESP.
1.07 - Termination of Employment.
(a) Without Notice. The Company may, at any time, in its sole
discretion, terminate this Agreement and the employment of Executive without
notice in the event of:
(i) Executive's misconduct that interferes with or prejudices
the proper
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conduct of the business of Block, the Company or any Affiliate or which
may reasonably result in harm to the reputation of Block, the Company
and/or any Affiliate; or
(ii) Executive's commission of an act materially and
demonstrably detrimental to the goodwill of Block or any subsidiary of
Block, which act constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct by
Executive in the performance of Executive's material duties to Block or
such subsidiary; or
(iii) Executive's commission of any act of dishonesty or
breach of trust resulting or intending to result in material personal gain
or enrichment of Executive at the expense of Block or any subsidiary of
Block; or
(iv) Executive's violation of Article Two or Three of this
Agreement; or
(v) Executive's conviction of a misdemeanor (involving an act
of moral turpitude) or a felony; or
(vi) Executive's disobedience, insubordination or failure to
discharge Executive's duties; or
(vii) Executive's suspension by the Internal Revenue Service
from participation in the Electronic Filing Program; or
(viii) The inability of Executive, Block, the Company, and/or
an Affiliate to participate, in whole or in part, in any activity subject
to governmental regulation as the result of any action or inaction on the
part of Executive, as described in Section 1.02(b); or
(ix) Executive's death or total and permanent disability. The
term "total and permanent disability" will have the meaning ascribed
thereto under any long-term disability plan maintained by the Company or
Block for executives of the Company.
(b) With Notice. Either party may terminate this Agreement for any
reason, or no reason, by providing not less than 45 days' prior written notice
of such termination to the other party, and, if such notice is properly given,
this Agreement and Executive's employment hereunder will terminate as of the
close of business on the 45th day after such notice is deemed to have been given
or such later date as is specified in such notice.
(c) Termination Due to a Change of Control.
(i) If Executive terminates Executive's employment under this
Agreement during the 180-day period following the date of the occurrence
of a "Change of Control" of Block then, upon any such termination of
Executive's employment and conditioned on Executive's execution of an
agreement with the Company under which Executive releases all known and
potential claims against Block, the Company, and Affiliates, the Company
will provide Executive with Executive's election (the "Change of Control
Election") of the same level of severance compensation and benefits as
would be provided under the
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Severance Plan as the Severance Plan exists either (A) on the date of this
Agreement or (B) on Executive's Last Day of Employment, as if Executive
had incurred a Qualifying Termination. The Severance Plan as it exists on
the date of this Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit A. Executive must
notify the Company in writing within 5 business days after Executive's
Last Day of Employment of Executive's Change of Control Election.
Severance compensation and benefits provided under this Section 1.07(c)
will terminate immediately if Executive violates Sections 3.02, 3.03, or
3.05 of this Agreement or becomes reemployed with the Company or an
Affiliate.
(ii) For the purpose of this subsection, a "Change of Control"
means:
(A) the acquisition, other than from Block, by any
individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3)
or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act")), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of
Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 35% or more of the
then outstanding voting securities of Block entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, but excluding, for this
purpose, any such acquisition by Block or any of its subsidiaries,
or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of Block or its
subsidiaries, or any corporation with respect to which, following
such acquisition, more than 50% of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and
entities who were the beneficial owners of the voting securities of
Block immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the
same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such
acquisition, of the then outstanding voting securities of Block
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case
may be; or
(B) individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute
the Board of Directors of Block (generally, the "Board," and as of
the date hereof, the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any
individual or individuals becoming a director subsequent to the date
hereof, whose election, or nomination for election by Block's
shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the
Board (or nominating committee of the Board) will be considered as
though such individual were a member or members of the Incumbent
Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose
initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or
threatened election contest relating to the election of the
directors of Block (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of
Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act); or
(C) the completion of a reorganization, merger or
consolidation approved by the shareholders of Block, in each case,
with respect to which all or substantially all of the individuals
and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the voting
securities of Block immediately prior to such reorganization, merger
or consolidation do not, following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than
50% of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors of
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the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation, or a complete liquidation or dissolution of Block, as
approved by the shareholders of Block, or the sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Block, as
approved by the shareholders of Block.
(d) Severance. Executive will receive severance compensation and
benefits as would be provided under the Severance Plan, as the same may be
amended from time to time, if Executive incurs a "Qualifying Termination," as
such term is defined in the Severance Plan (and without regard to whether the
termination is with or without notice under this Agreement), and executes an
agreement with the Company under which Executive releases all known and
potential claims against Block, the Company, and Affiliates. Such compensation
and benefits will be Executive's election (the "Severance Election") of the same
level of severance compensation and benefits as would be provided under the
Severance Plan as such plan exists either (A) on the date of this Agreement or
(B) Executive's Last Day of Employment. The Severance Plan as it exists on the
date of this Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit A. Executive must notify
the Company in writing within 5 business days after Executive's Last Day of
Employment of Executive's Severance Election. Severance compensation and
benefits provided under this Section 1.07(d) will terminate immediately if
Executive violates Sections 3.02, 3.03, or 3.05 of this Agreement or becomes
reemployed with the Company or an Affiliate.
(e) Further Obligations. Upon termination of Executive's employment
under this Agreement, neither the Company, Block, nor any Affiliate will have
any further obligations under this Agreement and no further payments of Base
Salary or other compensation or benefits will be payable by the Company, Block,
or any Affiliate to Executive, except (i) as set forth in this Section 1.07,
(ii) as required by the express terms of any written benefit plans or written
arrangements maintained by the Company or Block and applicable to Executive at
the time of such termination of Executive's employment, or (iii) as may be
required by law. Any termination of this Agreement, however, will not be
effective as to Sections 3.02, 3.03 and 3.05, or any other portions or
provisions of this Agreement which, by their express terms, require performance
by either party following termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE TWO
CONFIDENTIALITY
2.01 - Background and Relationship of Parties. The parties hereto
acknowledge (for all purposes including, without limitation, Articles Two and
Three of this Agreement) that Block and its subsidiaries have been and will be
engaged in a continuous program of acquisition and development respecting their
businesses, present and future, and that, in connection with Executive's
employment by the Company, Executive will be expected to have access to all
information of value to the Company and Block and that Executive's employment
creates a relationship of confidence and trust between Executive and Block with
respect to any information applicable to the businesses of Block and its
subsidiaries. Executive will possess or have unfettered access to information
that has been created, developed, or acquired by Block and its subsidiaries or
otherwise become known to Block and its subsidiaries and which has commercial
value in the businesses in which Block and its subsidiaries have been and will
be engaged and has not been
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publicly disclosed by Block. All information described above is hereinafter
called "Proprietary Information." By way of illustration, but not limitation,
Proprietary Information includes trade secrets, customer lists and information,
employee lists and information, developments, systems, designs, software,
databases, know-how, marketing plans, product information, business and
financial information and plans, strategies, forecasts, new products and
services, financial statements, budgets, projections, prices, and acquisition
and disposition plans. Proprietary Information does not include any portions of
such information that are now or hereafter made public by third parties in a
lawful manner or made public by parties hereto without violation of this
Agreement.
2.02 - Proprietary Information is Property of Block.
(a) All Proprietary Information is the sole property of Block (or
the applicable subsidiary of Block) and its assigns, and Block (or the
applicable subsidiary of Block) is the sole owner of all patents, copyrights,
trademarks, names, and other rights in connection therewith and without regard
to whether Block (or any subsidiary of Block) is at any particular time
developing or marketing the same. Executive hereby assigns to Block any rights
Executive may have or may acquire in such Proprietary Information. At all times
during and after Executive's employment with the Company or any Affiliate,
Executive will keep in strictest confidence and trust all Proprietary
Information and Executive will not use or disclose any Proprietary Information
without the written consent of Block, except as may be necessary in the ordinary
course of performing duties as an employee of the Company or as may be required
by law or the order of any court or governmental authority.
(b) In the event of any termination of Executive's employment
hereunder, Executive will promptly deliver to the Company all copies of all
documents, notes, drawings, programs, software, specifications, documentation,
data, Proprietary Information, and other materials and property of any nature
belonging to Block or any subsidiary of Block and obtained during the course of
Executive's employment with the Company. In addition, upon such termination,
Executive will not remove from the premises of Block or any subsidiary of Block
any of the foregoing or any reproduction of any of the foregoing or any
Proprietary Information that is embodied in a tangible medium of expression.
ARTICLE THREE
NON-HIRING; NON-SOLICITATION; NO CONFLICTS; NON-COMPETITION
3.01 - General. The parties hereto acknowledge that, during the
course of Executive's employment by the Company, Executive will have access to
information valuable to the Company and Block concerning the employees of Block
and its subsidiaries ("Block Employees") and, in addition to Executive's access
to such information, Executive may, during (and in the course of) Executive's
employment by the Company, develop relationships with such Block Employees
whereby information valuable to Block and its subsidiaries concerning the Block
Employees was acquired by Executive. Such information includes, without
limitation: the identity, skills, and performance levels of the Block Employees,
as well as compensation and benefits paid by Block to such Block Employees.
Executive agrees and understands that it is important to protect Block, the
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Company, Affiliates and their employees, agents, directors, and clients from the
unauthorized use and appropriation of Block Employee information, Proprietary
Information, and trade secret business information developed, held, or used by
Block, the Company, or Affiliates, and to protect Block, the Company, and
Affiliates and their employees, agents, directors, and customers Executive
agrees to the covenants described in this Article III.
3.02 - Non-Hiring. During the period of Executive's employment
hereunder, and for a period of 1 year after Executive's Last Day of Employment,
Executive may not directly or indirectly recruit, solicit, or hire any Block
Employee or otherwise induce any such Block Employee to leave the employment of
Block (or the applicable employer-subsidiary of Block) to become an employee of
or otherwise be associated with any other party or with Executive or any company
or business with which Executive is or may become associated. The running of the
1-year period will be suspended during any period of violation and/or any period
of time required to enforce this covenant by litigation or threat of litigation.
3.03 - Non-Solicitation. During the period of Executive's employment
hereunder and during the time Executive is receiving payments hereunder, and for
2 years after the later of Executive's Last Day of Employment or cessation of
such payments, Executive may not directly or indirectly solicit or enter into
any arrangement with any person or entity which is, at the time of the
solicitation, a significant customer of the Company or an Affiliate for the
purpose of engaging in any business transaction of the nature performed by the
Company or such Affiliate, or contemplated to be performed by the Company or
such Affiliate, for such customer, provided that this Section 3.03 will only
apply to customers for whom Executive personally provided services while
employed by the Company or an Affiliate or customers about whom or which
Executive acquired material information while employed by the Company or an
Affiliate. The running of the 2-year period will be suspended during any period
of violation and/or any period of time required to enforce this covenant by
litigation or threat of litigation.
3.04 - No Conflicts. Executive represents in good faith that, to the
best of Executive's knowledge, (i) Executive is not subject to any agreement
that would be violated by the performance by Executive of the any of the terms
of this Agreement and (ii) the performance by Executive of all the terms of this
Agreement will not breach any agreement to which Executive is or was a party and
which requires Executive to keep any information in confidence or in trust.
Executive has not brought and will not bring to the Company or Block, nor will
Executive use in the performance of employment responsibilities at the Company,
any proprietary materials or documents of a former employer that are not
generally available to the public, unless Executive has obtained express written
authorization from such former employer for their possession and use. Absent the
existence of such express written authorization, Executive agrees to return any
such proprietary materials or documents to such former employer prior to
commencing employment with the Company. Executive has not and will not breach
any obligation of confidentiality that Executive may have to former employers
and Executive will fulfill all such obligations during Executive's employment
with the Company.
3.05 - Non-Competition. During the period of Executive's employment
hereunder and during the time Executive is receiving payments hereunder, and for
2 years after the later of
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Executive's Last Day of Employment or cessation of such payments, Executive may
not engage in, or own or control any interest in (except as a passive investor
in less than one percent of the outstanding securities of publicly held
companies), or act as an officer, director or employee of, or consultant,
advisor or lender to, any firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, institution, business, or entity that engages in any line of business
that is competitive with any Line of Business of Block (as defined below),
provided that this Section 3.05 will not apply to Executive if Executive's
primary place of employment by the Company or an Affiliate as of the Last Day of
Employment is in either the State of California or the State of North Dakota.
"Line of Business of Block" means any line of business of Block and all of its
subsidiaries, the revenues of which constituted 20% or more of the consolidated
earnings before income taxes of Block for the fiscal year of Block completed on,
or most recently completed prior to, Executive's Last Day of Employment. For
purposes determining what constitutes a Line of Business of Block pursuant to
this Section 3.05, the provision of income tax return preparation or filing
services (including, without limitation, electronic filing and Internet-based
tax preparation and filing services), associated refund products and services,
and the provision of personal financial software products (including, without
limitation, tax preparation software) shall be deemed to be one Line of Business
of Block. The running of the 2-year period will be suspended during any period
of violation and/or any period of time required to enforce this covenant by
litigation or threat of litigation.
3.06 - Reasonableness of Restrictions. Executive and the Company
acknowledge that the restrictions contained in this Agreement are reasonable,
but should any provisions of any Article of this Agreement be determined to be
invalid, illegal, or otherwise unenforceable or unreasonable in scope by any
court of competent jurisdiction, the validity, legality, and enforceability of
the other provisions of this Agreement will not be affected thereby and the
provision found invalid, illegal, or otherwise unenforceable or unreasonable
will be considered by the Company and Executive to be amended as to scope of
protection, time, or geographic area (or any one of them, as the case may be) in
whatever manner is considered reasonable by that court and, as so amended, will
be enforced.
ARTICLE FOUR
MISCELLANEOUS
4.01 - Third-Party Beneficiary. The parties hereto agree that Block
is a third-party beneficiary as to the obligations imposed upon Executive under
this Agreement and as to the rights and privileges to which the Company is
entitled pursuant to this Agreement, and that Block is entitled to all of the
rights and privileges associated with such third-party-beneficiary status.
4.02 - Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement and understanding between the Company and Executive concerning the
subject matter hereof. No modification, amendment, termination, or waiver of
this Agreement will be binding unless in writing and signed by Executive and a
duly authorized officer of the Company. Failure of the Company, Block, or
Executive to insist upon strict compliance with any of the terms, covenants, or
conditions hereof will not be deemed a waiver of such terms, covenants, and
conditions.
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4.03 - Specific Performance by Executive. The parties hereto
acknowledge that money damages alone will not adequately compensate the Company
or Block or Executive for breach of any of the covenants and agreements herein
and, therefore, in the event of the breach or threatened breach of any such
covenant or agreement by either party, in addition to all other remedies
available at law, in equity or otherwise, a wronged party will be entitled to
injunctive relief compelling specific performance of (or other compliance with)
the terms hereof.
4.04 - Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is binding upon
Executive and the heirs, executors, assigns and administrators of Executive or
Executive's estate and property and will inure to the benefit of the Company,
Block and their successors and assigns. Executive may not assign or transfer to
others the obligation to perform Executive's duties hereunder. The Company may
assign this Agreement to an Affiliate with the consent of Executive, in which
case, after such assignment, the "Company" means the Affiliate to which this
Agreement has been assigned.
4.05 - Withholding Taxes. From any payments due hereunder to
Executive from the Company, there will be withheld amounts reasonably believed
by the Company to be sufficient to satisfy liabilities for federal, state, and
local taxes and other charges and customary withholdings. Executive remains
primarily liable to such authorities for such taxes and charges to the extent
not actually paid by the Company.
4.06 - Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by law and
Block's Bylaws, the Company hereby indemnifies during and after the period of
Executive's employment hereunder Executive from and against all loss, costs,
damages, and expenses including, without limitation, legal expenses of counsel
selected by the Company to represent the interests of Executive (which expenses
the Company will, to the extent so permitted, advance to executive as the same
are incurred) arising out of or in connection with the fact that Executive is or
was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company or Block or serving
in such capacity for another corporation at the request of the Company or Block.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnification provided in this Section 4.06
will not apply to any loss, costs, damages, and expenses arising out of or
relating in any way to any employment of Executive by any former employer or the
termination of any such employment.
4.07 - Right to Offset. To the extent not prohibited by applicable
law and in addition to any other remedy, the Company has the right but not the
obligation to offset any amount that Executive owes the Company under this
Agreement against any amounts due Executive by Block, the Company, or
Affiliates.
4.08 - Waiver of Jury Trial. Both parties to this Agreement, and
Block, as a third-party beneficiary pursuant to Section 4.01 of this Agreement,
waive any and all right to any trial by jury in any action or proceeding
directly or indirectly related to this Agreement and Executive's employment
hereunder.
4.09 - Notices. All notices required or desired to be given
hereunder must be in writing and will be deemed served and delivered if
delivered in person or mailed, postage prepaid to Executive at: 4400 Main
Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111; and to the Company at: 4400 Main Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64111, Attn: President, with a copy to H&R Block, Inc.,
4400
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Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111, Attn: Corporate Secretary; or to such
other address and/or person designated by either party in writing to the other
party. Any notice given by mail will be deemed given as of the date it is so
mailed and postmarked or received by a nationally recognized overnight courier
for delivery.
4.10 - Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts
and delivered by facsimile transmission confirmed promptly thereafter by actual
delivery of executed counterparts.
Executed as a sealed instrument under, and to be governed by, construed
and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Missouri.
EXECUTIVE:
Dated: February 2, 2004 /s/ Nicholas J. Spaeth
---------------------------------
Nicholas J. Spaeth
Accepted and Agreed:
HRB Management, Inc.,
a Missouri corporation
By: /s/ Mark. A. Ernst
-----------------------
Mark A. Ernst
President
Dated: February 2, 2004
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EXHIBIT A
H&R BLOCK SEVERANCE PLAN
AMENDED AND RESTATED AUGUST 11, 2003
1. PURPOSE. The H&R Block Severance Plan is a welfare benefit plan
established by HRB Management, Inc., an indirect subsidiary of H&R Block, Inc.,
for the benefit of certain subsidiaries of H&R Block, Inc. in order to provide
severance compensation and benefits to certain employees of such subsidiaries
whose employment is involuntarily terminated under the conditions set forth
herein. This document constitutes both the plan document and the summary plan
description required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
2. DEFINITIONS.
(a) "Cause" means one or more of the following grounds of an Employee's
termination of employment with a Participating Employer:
(i) misconduct that interferes with or prejudices the proper conduct
of the Company, the Employee's Participating Employer, or any other
affiliate of the Company, or which may reasonably result in harm to
the reputation of the Company, the Employee's Participating
Employer, or any other affiliate of the Company;
(ii) commission of an act of dishonesty or breach of trust resulting
or intending to result in material personal gain or enrichment of
the Employee at the expense of the Company, the Employee's
Participating Employer, or any other affiliate of the Company;
(iii) commission of an act materially and demonstrably detrimental
to the good will of the Company, the Employee's Participating
Employer, or any other affiliate of the Company, which act
constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct by the Employee
in the performance of the Employee's material duties;
(iv) material violations of the policies or procedures of the
Employee's Participating Employer, including, but not limited to,
the H&R Block Code of Business Ethics & Conduct, except those
policies or procedures with respect to which an exception has been
granted under authority exercised or delegated by the Participating
Employer;
(v) disobedience, insubordination or failure to discharge employment
duties;
(vi) conviction of, or entrance of a plea of guilty or no contest,
to a misdemeanor (involving an act of moral turpitude) or a felony;
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(vii) inability of the Employee, the Company, the Employee's
Participating Employer, and/or any other affiliate of the Company to
participate, in whole or in part, in any activity subject to
governmental regulation as the result of any action or inaction on
the part of the Employee;
(viii) the Employee's death or total and permanent disability. The
term "total and permanent disability" will have the meaning ascribed
thereto under any long-term disability plan maintained by the
Employee's Participating Employer;
(ix) any grounds described as a discharge or other similar term on
the Participating Employer's separation review form or other similar
document stating the reason for the Employee's termination of
employment, including poor performance; or
(x) any other grounds of termination of employment that the
Participating Employer deems for cause.
Notwithstanding the definition of Cause above, if an Employee's employment
with a Participating Employer is subject to an employment agreement that
contains a definition of "cause" for purposes of termination of
employment, such definition of "cause" in such employment agreement shall
replace the definition of Cause herein for the purpose of determining
whether the Employee has incurred a Qualifying Termination, but only with
respect to such Employee.
(b) "Company" means H&R Block, Inc.
(c) "Employee" means a regular full-time or part-time, active employee of
a Participating Employer whose employment with a Participating Employer is
not subject to an employment contract that contains a provision that
includes severance benefits. This definition expressly excludes employees
of a Participating Employer classified as seasonal, temporary and/or
inactive and employees who are customarily employed by a Participating
Employer less than 20 hours per week.
(d) "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
(e) "Hour of Service" means each hour for which an individual was entitled
to compensation as a regular full-time or part-time employee from a
subsidiary of the Company.
(f) "Line of Business of the Company" with respect to a Participant means
any line of business of the Participating Employer by which the
Participant was employed as of the Termination Date, as well as any one or
more lines of business of any other subsidiary of the Company by which the
Participant was employed during
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the two-year period preceding the Termination Date, provided that, if
Participant's employment was, as of the Termination Date or during the
two-year period immediately prior to the Termination Date, with HRB
Management, Inc. or any successor entity thereto, "Line of Business of the
Company" shall mean any lines of business of the Company and all of its
subsidiaries.
(g) "Monthly Salary" means -
(i) with respect to an Employee paid on a salary basis, the
Employee's current annual salary divided by 12; and
(ii) with respect to an Employee paid on an hourly basis, the
Employee's current hourly rate times the number of hours he or she
is regularly scheduled to work per week multiplied by 52 and then
divided by 12.
(h) "Participant" means an Employee who has incurred a Qualifying
Termination and has signed a Release that has not been revoked during any
revocation period provided under the Release.
(i) "Participating Employer" means a direct or indirect subsidiary of the
Company (i) listed on Schedule A, attached hereto, which may change from
time to time to reflect new Participating Employers or withdrawing
Participating Employers, and (ii) approved by the Plan Sponsor for
participation in the Plan.
(j) "Plan" means the "H&R Block Severance Plan," as stated herein, and as
may be amended from time to time.
(k) "Plan Administrator" and "Plan Sponsor" means HRB Management, Inc. The
address and telephone number of HRB Management, Inc. is 4400 Main Street,
Kansas City, Missouri 64111, (816) 753-6900. The Employer Identification
Number assigned to HRB Management, Inc. by the Internal Revenue Service is
43-1632589.
(l) "Qualifying Termination" means the involuntary termination of an
Employee, but does not include a termination resulting from:
(i) the elimination of the Employee's position where the Employee
was offered another position with a subsidiary of the Company at a
comparable salary and benefit level, or where the termination
results from a sale of assets or other corporate acquisition or
disposition;
(ii) the redefinition of an Employee's position to a lower salary
rate or grade;
(iii) the termination of an Employee for Cause; or
(iv) the non-renewal of employment contracts.
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(m) "Release" means that agreement signed by and between an Employee who
is eligible to participate in the Plan and the Employee's Participating
Employer under which the Employee releases all known and potential claims
against the Employee's Participating Employer and all of such employer's
parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates.
(n) "Release Date" means, with respect to a Release that includes a
revocation period, the date immediately following the expiration date of
the revocation period in the Release that has been fully executed by both
parties. "Release Date" means, with respect to a Release that does not
include a revocation period, the date the Release has been fully executed
by both parties.
(o) "Severance Period" means the period of time during which a Participant
may receive benefits under this Plan. The Severance Period with respect to
a Participant begins on the Termination Date. A Participant's Severance
Period will be the shorter of (i) 12 months or (ii) a number of months
equal to the whole number of Years of Service determined under Section
2(q), unless earlier terminated in accordance with Section 8 of the Plan.
(p) "Termination Date" means the date the Employee severs employment with
a Participating Employer.
(q) "Year of Service" means each period of 12 consecutive months ending on
the Employee's employment anniversary date during which the Employee had
at least 1,000 Hours of Service. In determining a Participant's Years of
Service, the Participant will be credited with a partial Year of Service
for his or her final period of employment commencing on his or her most
recent employment anniversary date equal to a fraction calculated in
accordance with the following formula:
Number of days since most recent employment anniversary date
365
Despite an Employee's Years of Service calculated in accordance with the
above, an Employee whose pay grade at his or her Participating Employer
fits in the following categories at the time of the Qualifying Termination
will be credited with no less than the specified Minimum Years of Service
and no more than the specified Maximum Years of Service listed in the
following table as applicable to such pay grade:
PAY GRADE MINIMUM YEARS OF SERVICE MAXIMUM YEARS OF SERVICE
-------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------
81-89 and 231-235 6 18
65-80, 140-145, 3 18
185-190, and 218-230
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57-64, 115-135, 1 18
175-180, and 210-217
48-56, 100-110, 1 18
170, and 200-209
Notwithstanding the above, if an Employee has received credit for Years of
Service under this Plan or under any previous plan, program, or agreement
for the purpose of receiving severance benefits before a Qualifying
Termination, such Years of Service will be disregarded when calculating
Years of Service for such Qualifying Termination under the Plan; provided,
however, that if such severance benefits were terminated prior to
completion because the Employee was rehired by any subsidiary of the
Company then the Employee will be re-credited with full Years of Service
for which severance benefits were not paid in full or in part because of
such termination.
3. ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION.
An Employee who incurs a Qualifying Termination and signs a Release that
has not been revoked during any revocation period under the Release is
eligible to participate in the Plan. An eligible Employee will become a
Participant in the Plan as of the Termination Date.
4. SEVERANCE COMPENSATION.
(a) Amount. Subject to Section 8, each Participant will receive during the
Severance Period from the applicable Participating Employer aggregate
severance compensation equal to:
(i) the Participant's Monthly Salary multiplied by the Participant's
Years of Service; plus
(ii) one-twelfth of the Participant's target payout under the
Short-Term Incentive Program of the Participating Employer in effect
at the time of his or her Termination Date multiplied by the
Participant's Years of Service; plus
(iii) an amount to be determined by the Participating Employer at
its sole discretion, which amount may be zero.
(b) Timing of Payments. Except as stated in Section 4(c), and subject to
Section 8,
(i) the sum of any amounts determined under Sections 4(a)(i) and
4(a)(ii) of the Plan will be paid in semi-monthly or bi-weekly
installments (the timing and amount of each installment as
determined by the Participating Employer) during the Severance
Period beginning after the later of the
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Termination Date or the Release Date; and
(ii) any amounts determined under Section 4(a)(iii) of the Plan will
be paid in one lump sum within 15 days after the later of the
Termination Date or the Release Date, unless otherwise agreed in
writing by the Participating Employer and Participant or otherwise
required by law.
(c) Death. In the event of the Participant's death prior to receiving all
payments due under this Section 4, any unpaid severance compensation will
be paid (i) in the same manner as are death benefits under the
Participant's basic life insurance coverage provided by the Participant's
Participating Employer, and (ii) in accordance with the Participant's
beneficiary designation under such coverage. If no such coverage exists,
or if no beneficiary designation exists under such coverage as of the date
of death of the Participant, the severance compensation will be paid to
the Participant's estate in one-lump sum.
5. HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFITS.
(a) Benefits. In addition to the severance compensation provided pursuant
to Section 4 of the Plan, a Participant may continue to participate in the
following health and welfare benefits provided by his or her Participating
Employer during the Severance Period on the same basis as employees of the
Participating Employer:
(i) medical;
(ii) dental;
(iii) vision;
(iv) employee assistance;
(v) medical expense reimbursement and dependent care expense
reimbursement benefits provided under a cafeteria plan;
(vi) life insurance (basic and supplemental); and
(vii) accidental death and dismemberment insurance (basic and
supplemental).
For the purposes of any of the above-described benefits provided under a
Participating Employer's cafeteria plan, a Qualifying Termination
constitutes a "change in status" or "life event."
(b) Payment and Expiration. Payment of the Participant's portion of
contribution or premiums for such selected benefits will be withheld from
any severance compensation payments paid to the Participant under this
Plan. The
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Participating Employer's partial subsidization of such coverages will
remain in effect until the earlier of:
(i) the expiration or earlier termination of the Employee's
Severance Period, after which time the Participant may be eligible
to elect to continue coverage of those benefits listed above that
are provided under group health plans in accordance with his or her
rights under Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code; or
(ii) the Participant's attainment of or eligibility to attain health
and welfare benefits through another employer after which time the
Participant may be eligible to elect to continue coverage of those
benefits listed above that are provided under group health plans in
accordance with his or her rights under Section 4980B of the
Internal Revenue Code.
6. STOCK OPTIONS.
(a) Accelerated Vesting. Any portion of any outstanding incentive
stock options and nonqualified stock options that would have vested
during the 18-month period following the Termination Date had the
Participant remained an employee with the Participating Employer
during such 18-month period will vest as of the Termination Date.
This Section 6(a) applies only to options (i) granted to the
Participant under the Company's 1993 Long-Term Executive
Compensation Plan, or any successor plan to its 1993 Long-Term
Executive Compensation Plan, not less than 6 months prior to his or
her Termination Date and (ii) outstanding at the close of business
on such Termination Date. The determination of accelerated vesting
under this Section 6(a) shall be made as of the Termination Date and
shall be based solely on any time-specific vesting schedule included
in the applicable stock option agreement without regard to any
accelerated vesting provision not related to the Plan in such
agreement.
(b) Post-Termination Exercise Period. Subject to the expiration
dates and other terms of the applicable stock option agreements, the
Participant may elect to have the right to exercise any outstanding
incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options granted prior
to the Termination Date to the Participant under the Company's 1984
Long-Term Executive Compensation Plan, its 1993 Long-Term Executive
Compensation Plan, or any successor plan to its 1993 Long-Term
Executive Compensation Plan that are vested as of the Termination
Date (or, if later, the Release Date), whether due to the operation
of Section 6(a), above, or otherwise, at any time during the
Severance Period and, except in the event that the Severance Period
terminates pursuant to Section 8(a), for a period up to 3 months
after the end of the Severance Period (notwithstanding Section 8).
Any such election shall apply to all outstanding incentive stock
options and nonqualified stock options, will be irrevocable and must
be made in writing
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and delivered to the Plan Administrator on or before the later of
the Termination Date or Release Date. If the Participant fails to
make an election, the Participant's right to exercise such options
will expire 3 months after the Termination Date.
(c) Stock Option Agreement Amendment. The operation of Sections 6(a)
and 6(b), above, are subject to the Participant's execution of an
amendment to any affected stock option agreements, if necessary.
7. OUTPLACEMENT SERVICES. In addition to the benefits described above, career
transition counseling or outplacement services may be provided upon the
Participant's Qualifying Termination. Such outplacement service will be provided
at the Participating Employer's sole discretion. Outplacement services are
designed to assist employees in their search for new employment and to
facilitate a smooth transition between employment with the Participating
Employer and employment with another employer. Any outplacement services
provided under this Plan will be provided by an outplacement service chosen by
the Participating Employer. The Participant is not entitled to any monetary
payment in lieu of outplacement services.
8. TERMINATION OF BENEFITS. Any right of a Participant to severance
compensation and benefits under the Plan, and all obligations of his or her
Participating Employer to pay any unpaid severance compensation or provide
benefits under the Plan will terminate as of the day:
(a) The Participant has engaged in any conduct described in Sections
8(a)(i), 8(a)(ii), 8(a)(iii) or 8(a)(iv), below, as the same may be
limited pursuant to Section 8(a)(vi).
(i) During the Severance Period, the Participant's engagement in,
ownership of, or control of any interest in (except as a passive
investor in less than one percent of the outstanding securities of
publicly held companies), or acting as an officer, director or
employee of, or consultant, advisor or lender to, any firm,
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, institution,
business, government agency, or entity that engages in any line of
business that is competitive with any Line of Business of the
Company, provided that this Section 8(a)(i) shall not apply to the
Participant if the Participant's primary place of employment by a
subsidiary of the Company as of the Termination Date is in either
the State of California or the State of North Dakota.
(ii) During the Severance Period, the Participant employs or
solicits for employment by any employer other than a subsidiary of
the Company any employee of any subsidiary of the Company, or
recommends any such employee for employment to any
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employer (other than a subsidiary of the Company) at which the
Participant is or intends to be (A) employed, (B) a member of the
Board of Directors, (C) a partner, or (D) providing consulting
services.
(iii) During the Severance Period, the Participant directly or
indirectly solicits or enters into any arrangement with any person
or entity which is, at the time of the solicitation, a significant
customer of a subsidiary of the Company for the purpose of engaging
in any business transaction of the nature performed by such
subsidiary, or contemplated to be performed by such subsidiary, for
such customer, provided that this Section 8(a)(iii) shall only apply
to customers for whom the Participant personally provided services
while employed by a subsidiary of the Company or customers about
whom or which the Participant acquired material information while
employed by a subsidiary of the Company.
(iv) During the Severance Period, the Participant misappropriates or
improperly uses or discloses confidential information of the Company
and/or its subsidiaries.
(v) If the Participant engaged in any of the conduct described in
Sections 8(a)(i), 8(a)(ii), 8(a)(iii) or 8(a)(iv) during or after
Participant's term of employment with a Participating Employer, but
prior to the commencement of the Severance Period, and such
engagement becomes known to the Participating Employer during the
Severance Period, such conduct shall be deemed, for purposes of
Sections 8(a)(i), 8(a)(ii), 8(a)(iii) or 8(a)(iv) to have occurred
during the Severance Period.
(vi) If the Participant is a party to an employment contract with a
Participating Employer that contains a covenant or covenants
relating to the Participant's engagement in conduct that is the same
as or substantially similar to the conduct described in any of
Sections 8(a)(i), 8(a)(ii), 8(a)(iii) or 8(a)(iv), and any specific
conduct regulated in such covenant or covenants in such employment
contract is more limited in scope geographically or otherwise than
the corresponding specific conduct described in any of such Sections
8(a)(i), 8(a)(ii), 8(a)(iii) or 8(a)(iv), then the corresponding
specific conduct addressed in the applicable Section 8(a)(i),
8(a)(ii), 8(a)(iii) or 8(a)(iv) shall be limited to the same
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extent as such conduct is limited in the employment contract and the
Participating Employer's rights and remedy with respect to such
conduct under this Section 8 shall apply only to such conduct as so
limited.
(b) The Participant is rehired by his or her Participating Employer or
hired by any other subsidiary of the Company in any position other than a
position classified as seasonal by such employer.
9. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. The Plan Sponsor reserves the right to amend
the Plan or to terminate the Plan and all benefits hereunder in their entirety
at any time.
10. ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN. The Plan Administrator has the power and
discretion to construe the provisions of the Plan and to determine all questions
relating to the eligibility of employees of Participating Employers to become
Participants in the Plan, and the amount of benefits to which any Participant
may be entitled thereunder in accordance with the Plan. Not in limitation, but
in amplification of the foregoing and of the authority conferred upon the Plan
Administrator, the Plan Sponsor specifically intends that the Plan Administrator
have the greatest permissible discretion to construe the terms of the Plan and
to determine all questions concerning eligibility, participation and benefits.
Any such decision made by the Plan Administrator will be binding on all
Employees, Participants, and beneficiaries, and is intended to be subject to the
most deferential standard of judicial review. Such standard of review is not to
be affected by any real or alleged conflict of interest on the part of the Plan
Administrator. The decision of the Plan Administrator upon all matters within
the scope of its authority will be final and binding.
11. CLAIMS PROCEDURES.
(a) FILING A CLAIM FOR BENEFITS. Participants are not required to submit
claim forms to initiate payment of benefits under this Plan. To make a
claim for benefits, individuals other than Participants who believe they
are entitled to receive benefits under this Plan and Participants who
believe they have been denied certain benefits under the Plan must write
to the Plan Administrator. These individuals and such Participants are
hereinafter referred to in this Section 11 as "Claimants." Claimants must
notify the Plan Administrator if they will be represented by a duly
authorized representative with respect to a claim under the Plan.
(b) INITIAL REVIEW OF CLAIMS. The Plan Administrator will evaluate a claim
for benefits under the Plan. The Plan Administrator may solicit additional
information from the Claimant if necessary to evaluate the claim. If the
Plan Administrator denies all or any portion of the claim, the Claimant
will receive, within 90 days after the receipt of the written claim, a
written notice setting forth:
(i) the specific reason for the denial;
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(ii) specific references to pertinent Plan provisions on which the
Plan Administrator based its denial;
(iii) a description of any additional material and information
needed for the Claimant to perfect his or her claim and an
explanation of why the material or information is needed; and
(iv) that any appeal the Claimant wishes to make of the adverse
determination must be in writing to the Plan Administrator within 60
days after receipt of the notice of denial of benefits. The notice
must advise the Claimant that his or her failure to appeal the
action to the Plan Administrator in writing within the 60-day period
will render the Plan Administrator's determination final, binding
and conclusive. The notice must further advise the Claimant of his
or her right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA
following the exhaustion of the claims procedures described herein.
(c) APPEAL OF DENIED CLAIM AND FINAL DECISION. If the Claimant should
appeal to the Plan Administrator, the Claimant, or his or her duly
authorized representative, must submit, in writing, whatever issues and
comments the Claimant or his or her duly authorized representative feels
are pertinent. The Claimant, or his or her duly authorized representative,
may review and request pertinent Plan documents. The Plan Administrator
will reexamine all facts related to the appeal and make a final
determination as to whether the denial of benefits is justified under the
circumstances. The Plan Administrator will advise the Claimant in writing
of its decision within 60 days of the Claimant's written request for
review, unless special circumstances (such as a hearing) require an
extension of time, in which case the Plan Administrator will make a
decision as soon as possible, but no later than 120 days after its receipt
of a request for review.
12. PLAN FINANCING. The benefits to be provided under the Plan will be paid by
the applicable Participating Employer, as incurred, out of the general assets of
such Participating Employer.
13. GENERAL INFORMATION. The Plan's records are maintained on a calendar year
basis. The Plan Number is 509. The Plan is self-administered and is considered a
severance plan.
14. GOVERNING LAW. The Plan is established in the State of Missouri. To the
extent federal law does not apply, any questions arising under the Plan will be
determined under the laws of the State of Missouri.
15. ENFORCEABILITY; SEVERABILITY. If a court of competent jurisdiction
determines that any provision of the Plan is not enforceable, then such
provision shall be enforceable to the maximum extent possible under applicable
law, as determined by such court. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
provision of the Plan, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, will
not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of
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the Plan and all other provisions will remain in full force and effect.
16. WITHHOLDING OF TAXES. The applicable Participating Employer may withhold
from any benefit payable under the Plan all federal, state, city or other taxes
as may be required pursuant to any law, governmental regulation or ruling. The
Participant shall pay upon demand by the Company or the Participating Employer
any taxes required to be withheld or collected by the Company or the
Participating Employer upon the exercise by the Participant of a nonqualified
stock option granted under the Company's 1984 Long-Term Executive Compensation
Plan or its 1993 Long-Term Executive Compensation Plan. If the Participant fails
to pay any such taxes associated with such exercise upon demand, the
Participating Employer shall have the right, but not the obligation, to offset
such taxes against any unpaid severance compensation under this Plan.
17. NOT AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT. Nothing in the Plan gives an Employee any
rights (or imposes any obligations) to continued employment by his or her
Participating Employer or other subsidiary of the Company, nor does it give such
Participating Employer any rights (or impose any obligations) for the continued
performance of duties by the Employee for the Participating Employer or any
other subsidiary of the Company.
18. NO ASSIGNMENT. The Employee's right to receive payments of severance
compensation and benefits under the Plan are not assignable or transferable,
whether by pledge, creation of a security interest, or otherwise. In the event
of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this Section 18, the
applicable Participating Employer will have no liability to pay any amount so
attempted to be assigned or transferred.
19. SERVICE OF PROCESS. The Secretary of the Plan Administrator is designated
as agent for service of legal process. Service of legal process may be made upon
the Secretary of the Plan Administrator at:
HRB Management, Inc.
Attn: Secretary
4400 Main Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64111
20. STATEMENT OF ERISA RIGHTS. As a participant in the Plan, you are entitled
to certain rights and protections under ERISA, which provides that all Plan
Participants are entitled to:
(a) examine without charge, at the Plan Administrator's office, all
documents governing the Plan and a copy of the latest annual report (Form
5500 Series) filed by the Plan with the U.S. Department of Labor and
available at the Public Disclosure Room of the Pension and Welfare Benefit
Administration;
(b) obtain, upon written request to the Plan Administrator, copies of
documents governing the operation of the Plan, copies of the latest annual
report (Form 5500 Series) and an updated summary plan description. The
Plan Administrator may
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make a reasonable charge for the copies; and
(c) receive a summary of the Plan's annual financial report if required to
be filed for the year. The Plan Administrator is required by law to
furnish each participant with a copy of this summary annual report if an
annual report is required to be filed for the year.
In addition to creating rights for Plan Participants, ERISA imposes duties
upon the people who are responsible for the operation of the Plan. The people
who operate your Plan, called "fiduciaries" of the Plan, have a duty to do so
prudently and in the interest of you and other Plan Participants and
beneficiaries. No one, including your Participating Employer or any other
person, may fire you or otherwise discriminate against you in any way to prevent
you from obtaining a welfare benefit or exercising your rights under ERISA.
If your claim for a welfare benefit is denied or ignored, in whole or in
part, you have the right to know why this was done, to obtain copies of
documents relating to the decision without charge, and to appeal any denial, all
within certain time schedules.
Under ERISA, there are steps you can take to enforce the above rights. For
instance, if you request a copy of plan documents or the latest annual report
from the Plan and do not receive them within 30 days, you may file suit in a
Federal court. In such a case, the court may require the Plan Administrator to
provide the materials to you and pay you up to $110 a day until you receive the
materials, unless the materials were not sent because of reasons beyond the
control of the Plan Administrator. If you have a claim for benefits that is
denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you may file suit in a state or Federal
court. If it should happen that you are discriminated against for asserting your
rights, you may seek assistance from the U. S. Department of Labor, or you may
file suit in a Federal court. The court will decide who should pay court costs
and legal fees. If you are successful, the court may order the person you have
sued to pay these costs and fees. If you lose, the court may order you to pay
these costs and fees, for example, if it finds your claim is frivolous.
If you have any questions about the Plan, you should contact the Plan
Administrator. If you have questions about this statement or about your rights
under ERISA, or if you need assistance in obtaining documents from the Plan
Administrator, you should contact the nearest office of the Pension and Welfare
Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, listed in your telephone
directory or the Division of Technical Assistance and Inquiries, Pension and
Welfare Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. You may also obtain certain publications
about your rights and responsibilities under ERISA by calling the publications
hotline of the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, HRB Management, Inc. adopts this Severance Plan, as amended
and restated, effective this 11th day of August, 2003.
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HRB MANAGEMENT, INC.
/s/ Mark A, Ernst
---------------------------------------
Mark A. Ernst
President and Chief Executive Officer
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SCHEDULE A
PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS
Block Financial Corporation
Financial Marketing Services, Inc.
Franchise Partner, Inc.
H&R Block Investments, Inc.
H&R Block Services, Inc. and its U.S.-based direct and indirect subsidiaries
HRB Business Services, Inc.
H&R Block Small Business Resources, Inc.
HRB Management, Inc.
HRB Retail Services, Inc.
OLDE Financial Corporation and its U.S.-based direct and indirect subsidiaries,
which subsidiaries include H&R Block Financial Advisors, Inc.
A-15