ITEM 5.02. DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS;
APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS
On July 14, 2009, the Board of Directors of Liz Claiborne, Inc. (the "Company")
approved, and the Company entered into, a Severance Benefit Agreement (the
"SBA") with the Company's Chief Executive Officer, William McComb. This
agreement is deemed to extend and renew Mr. McComb's term of employment and
supersedes and replaces Mr. McComb's existing Employment Agreement, dated as of
December 24, 2008 (the "Former Employment Agreement") which was terminated as of
this date. The initial term of the SBA will be for three years. Each month after
the effective date of July 14, 2009, the term will automatically be extended for
an additional month, absent notice of non-renewal by either party.
Under the SBA, in the event Mr. McComb's employment is terminated by the Company
without cause or by him for good reason, the Company will generally be obligated
to pay Mr. McComb a lump sum equal to the sum of two times his then-current
annual base salary and two times his target annual bonus (which has been
increased to 150% of his base salary by action of the Compensation Committee of
the Board of Directors), a pro-rated annual cash bonus for the year of his
termination (subject to the terms of the Company's bonus plan, based on actual
Company performance for such year), two years' continuation of medical, dental,
vision and long-term disability benefits (which has been increased by action of
the Compensation Committee from 60% of base salary to 100% of annualized
salary), and accelerated vesting of certain previously granted equity
compensation, all subject to Mr. McComb's execution of a release in favor of the
Company.
The restrictive covenants contained in Mr. McComb's Former Employment Agreement,
including the non-competition, non-solicitation, non-interference, proprietary
information and confidentiality restrictions, remain in effect and are continued
under the SBA. In addition, the SBA provides for a potential clawback of
compensation paid to Mr. McComb under certain circumstances.
On July 14, 2009, the Company also entered into a second amended and restated
Executive Termination Benefits Agreement (the "Amended and Restated ETBA")
between Mr. McComb and the Company. The Amended and Restated ETBA, which was
already in effect and provides for payments in the event Mr. McComb's employment
is terminated by the Company without cause or by him for good reason following a
change in control, reflects technical, non-substantive conforming revisions to
conform to the replacement of Mr. McComb's Former Employment Agreement with the
SBA.
Copies of the SBA and the Amended and Restated ETBA are attached to this filing.