Exhibit 10.76a
SEPARATION AGREEMENT
This SEPARATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of March 27, 2025, and entered into by and between Monro, Inc. (the “Company”) and Michael Broderick (the “Executive”). Executive and the Company are each referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.”
WHEREAS, the Company terminated Executive’s employment effective as of March 27, 2025 (the “Termination Date”);
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive are parties to an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated October 26, 2023 (the “Employment Agreement”; capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Employment Agreement);
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5.4 of the Employment Agreement, Executive is required to enter into this Agreement to receive the payments and benefits specified therein; and
WHEREAS, Executive and the Company wish to set forth the terms and conditions of the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company and the related rights and obligations of the Parties, each as described in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
|
1. Termination of Employment. |
|
(a) Termination Date; Resignation of Positions. Executive’s employment and all other roles with the Company and its affiliates terminated on the Termination Date. Effective as of the Termination Date, Executive hereby resigns all positions that Executive may hold as an officer or director of the Company and any of the Company’s subsidiaries or affiliates (including, without limitation, as a member of the Board). Executive further agrees to execute any additional materials provided to Executive by the Company to confirm such resignations. |
|
(b) Separation Benefits. Provided that Executive (i) executes and does not revoke Executive’s acceptance of this Agreement and (ii) remains in compliance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 4 hereof), Executive shall receive the following payments and benefits set forth in Section 5.4 of the Employment Agreement, less any applicable taxes and withholdings: |
|
(i) payment of one year of Base Salary (i.e., $800,000), payable over twelve (12) months in accordance with the Company’s payroll practices); |
|
(ii) if Executive timely elects “COBRA” health continuation coverage, Company payment of the premiums for such coverage for the month of April 2025; |
|
(iii) payment of the Pro Rata Bonus to which the Executive is entitled, payable in accordance with Section 3.2 of the Employment Agreement; |
|
(iv) vesting of the unvested Options granted pursuant to Section 3.4(A) of the Employment Agreement (i.e., 6,666 Options) which, if unexercised, shall expire 90 days after the Termination Date; and |
|
(v) vesting of all time-vesting equity awards that have been granted to Executive (that have neither expired nor been previously exercised by Executive) through the Termination Date (and any stock options shall remain exercisable for a period of 90 days following the Termination Date), and vesting of all performance-vesting equity awards on a pro rata basis based on the number of days the Executive was employed during the applicable performance period and achievement of the applicable performance goals, all in accordance with the other terms of the applicable grant. For the avoidance of doubt, the equity awards subject to this clause are specified on Exhibit A. |
In addition, whether or not Executive enters into this Agreement, to the extent not already paid, Executive shall be paid accrued but unpaid Base Salary earned through the Termination Date.
|
(c) Other Payments. Executive acknowledges that Executive has received from the Company all amounts owed in connection with his employment, including, without limitation, salary, deferred compensation and bonuses. Other than the compensation set forth in this Agreement, Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive is not eligible to receive any severance pay or benefits from the Company or any other Company Party (as defined below), including under the terms of the Employment Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, Section 7 of the Employment Agreement survives Executive’s termination of employment and shall continue in effect in accordance with its terms. |
|
2. Mutual Release of Claims. |
|
(b) In no event shall the Released Claims include (i) any claim that arises after the date that Executive signs this Agreement; (ii) any claim to vested benefits under an employee benefit plan that is subject to ERISA; (iii) any claim for breach of, or otherwise arising out of, this Agreement; or (iv) any claim for indemnification, advancement of expenses or D&O liability insurance coverage under the Company’s governing documents or the Company’s D&O insurance policies. Further notwithstanding this release of liability, nothing in this Agreement prevents Executive from filing any non-legally waivable claim (including a challenge to the validity of this Agreement) with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”), the New York Department of Labor (“DOL”), or other comparable state or local agency or participating in (or cooperating with) any investigation or proceeding conducted by the EEOC, NLRB, DOL or other comparable state or local agency or cooperating in any such investigation or proceeding; however, subject to Section 4 hereof, Executive understands and agrees that Executive is waiving any and all rights to recover any monetary or personal relief from a Company Party as a result of such EEOC, NLRB, DOL or other comparable state or local agency or proceeding or subsequent legal actions. |
|
(c) For good and valuable consideration, the Company knowingly and voluntarily hereby releases and forever discharges the Executive, Executive’s family, and Executive’s heirs, executors, administrators and assigns (collectively, the “Executive Parties”), from liability for, and the Company hereby waives, any and all claims, damages, or causes of action of any kind related to Executive’s employment with the Company and any other acts or omissions related to any
3 |
matter occurring on or prior to the date that the Company executes this Agreement, including any alleged breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, infliction of emotional harm, wrongful discharge, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, violation of public policy, defamation, impairment of economic opportunity, or alleged violation through such time of any federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance (collectively, the “Company Released Claims”). This Agreement is not intended to indicate that any such claims exist or that, if they do exist, they are meritorious. Rather, the Company is simply agreeing that, in exchange for the consideration received by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, any and all potential claims of this nature that the Company may have against the Executive Parties, regardless of whether they actually exist, are expressly settled, compromised and waived; provided that this release does not apply to claims arising out of Executive’s fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the Monro, Inc. Amended and Restated Clawback Policy, as described in the Company’s 2024 proxy statement, continues to apply to Executive in accordance with its terms). |
|
(a) Executive and the Company each represent and warrant that, as of the time at which they sign this Agreement, they have not filed or joined any claims, complaints, charges, or lawsuits against any of the Company Parties or the Executive Parties with any governmental agency or with any state or federal court or arbitrator for, or with respect to, a matter, claim, or incident that occurred or arose out of one or more occurrences that took place on or prior to the time at which Executive and the Company sign this Agreement. Executive and the Company further represent and warrant that Executive and the Company have not made any assignment, sale, delivery, transfer or conveyance of any rights Executive or the Company has asserted or may have against any of the Company Parties or the Executive Parties, respectively, with respect to any Released Claim or Company Released Claim. |
|
(b) In addition to waiving and releasing the Released Claims, Executive agrees never to sue any Company Party in any forum for any reason arising out of Executive’s employment with the Company, including but not limited to the Released Claims; provided, however, that Executive may bring a claim against the Company to enforce this Agreement or to challenge the validity of this Agreement under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and/or the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act. Executive agrees and acknowledges that if he breaks this promise not to sue, then Executive will pay for all costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by the Company or any Company Party in defending any matter or proceeding covered by the promise not to sue. |
Executive’s right to receive an award for information provided to a Government Agency. In addition, nothing in this Agreement or the Employment Agreement prevents Executive from discussing or disclosing information about unlawful acts in the workplace, such as harassment or discrimination or any other conduct that Executive has reason to believe is unlawful. |
|
5. Nondisparagement. Except as permitted pursuant to Section 4, Executive agrees that Executive will not make or publish any remarks, comments, or statements (orally, electronically, or in writing) or instigate, assist or participate in the making or publication of any remarks, comments, or statements, which would disparage the Company Parties, and the Company shall instruct its executive officers and the members of the Board not to make or publish any remarks, comments, or statements (orally, electronically, or in writing) or instigate, assist or participate in the making or publication of any remarks, comments, or statements, which would disparage Executive. The term “disparage” includes, without limitation, conduct, comments, judgments, opinions, and personal views or statements which, directly or by implication, whether or not done anonymously, create or could tend to create, a detrimental, negative, critical, unfavorable, or false impression. |
|
6. Cooperation. Executive agrees to make himself reasonably available to and reasonably cooperate with the Company and its attorneys in any administrative, regulatory, or judicial proceeding or internal or external investigation. Executive understands and agrees that his cooperation would include, but not be limited to, making himself reasonably available to the Company upon reasonable notice for interviews; appearing to give testimony without requiring service of a subpoena or other legal process; volunteering to the Company pertinent information; and turning over all relevant documents which are or may come into his possession. In the event the Company asks for Executive’s cooperation in accordance with this provision, the Company will reimburse him for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (excluding legal expenses) incurred by him in connection with such cooperation, provided that those expenses are pre-approved and Executive timely submits appropriate documentation. |
|
(a) Executive has been given at least 21 days to review and consider this Agreement. If Executive signs this Agreement before the expiration of 21 days after Executive’s receipt of this Agreement, Executive has knowingly and voluntarily waived any longer consideration period than the one provided to Executive. No changes (whether material or immaterial) to this Agreement shall restart the running of this 21-day period; |
|
(b) Executive is not induced by the Company through fraud, misrepresentation or a threat to withdraw or alter the offer prior to the expiration of 21 days after Executive’s receipt of this Agreement or by providing different terms to those who sign such an agreement before the expiration of such time period; |
5
|
(c) Executive is receiving, pursuant to this Agreement, consideration in addition to anything of value to which Executive is already entitled; |
|
(d) Executive has been advised, and hereby is advised in writing, to discuss this Agreement with an attorney of Executive’s choice and that Executive has had an adequate opportunity to do so prior to executing this Agreement; |
|
(e) Executive fully understands the final and binding effect of this Agreement; the only promises made to Executive to sign this Agreement are those stated herein; and Executive is signing this Agreement knowingly, voluntarily and of Executive’s own free will, and that Executive understands and agrees to each of the terms of this Agreement; |
|
(f) The only matters relied upon by Executive in causing Executive to sign this Agreement are the provisions set forth in writing within the four corners of this Agreement; and |
|
(g) No Company Party has provided any tax or legal advice regarding this Agreement, and Executive has had an adequate opportunity to receive sufficient tax and legal advice from advisors of Executive’s own choosing such that Executive enters into this Agreement with full understanding of the tax and legal implications thereof. |
|
9. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with and subject to, the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely within such state. The courts of New York and the United States District Courts for New York shall have jurisdiction over the parties with respect to any dispute or controversy between them arising under or in connection with this Agreement.. |
6
7
|
18. Notices. Section 9.2 of the Employment Agreement is incorporated herein, mutatis mutandis. |
|
19. Section 409A. Section 9.10 of the Employment Agreement is incorporated herein, mutatis mutandis. |
8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on this 2nd day of April, 2025.
|
EXECUTIVE |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Michael Broderick |
|
Michael Broderick |
|
MONRO, INC. |
|
|
|
|
|
By:/s/ Maureen Mulholland |
|
Name: Maureen Mulholland |
|
Title: Executive Vice President and |
Signature Page to
Separation Agreement
EXHIBIT A
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS