Maryland
|
001-35789
|
46-0691837
|
||
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
|
(Commission
File Number)
|
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
|
☐
|
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
|
|
☐
|
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
|
|
☐
|
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
|
|
☐
|
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Title of each class
|
Trading Symbol(s)
|
Name of each exchange on which registered
|
||
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
|
CONE
|
The NASDAQ Global Select Market
|
||
1.450% Senior Notes due 2027
|
CONE27
|
The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
|
Exhibit No.
|
Description
|
|
104
|
Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
|
CYRUSONE INC. | ||||
Date: July 31, 2020 |
By:
|
/s/ Robert M. Jackson | ||
Name: | Robert M. Jackson | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | |||
1. |
Retirement; Consulting Services.
|
|
A. |
As a result of Employee’s retirement, Employee’s employment with the CyrusOne Group will be deemed to terminate under Section 9(f) of the Employment Agreement, effective as of the
Termination Date, and Employee hereby resigns her position as an officer and/or as a member of the board of directors or comparable governing body of any member of the CyrusOne Group effective as of the Transition Date. As of the Transition
Date, Employee’s status as an executive officer of Employer and any member of the CyrusOne Group and as a member of the board of directors or comparable governing body of any member of the CyrusOne Group shall cease in their entirety.
Employee and Employer each waive any requirement to provide written or advance notice regarding the termination of Employee’s employment. Except as explicitly provided for under Section
1.B, from and after the Transition Date, Employee is not to hold herself out as an executive, officer, member of the board of directors, agent, or authorized representative of Employer or any member of the CyrusOne Group,
negotiate or enter into any agreements on behalf of Employer or any member of the CyrusOne Group, or otherwise attempt to bind Employer or any member of the CyrusOne Group.
|
|
B. |
During the Consulting Period, Employee agrees that she will make herself available to Employer, during regular business hours, as reasonably requested by CyrusOne’s Chief Executive
Officer or Chief Financial Officer to provide the following services (the “Services”): (1) knowledge transfer and information exchange; (2) continuing
assistance on matters reasonably within Employee’s knowledge; (3) assisting with accounting, finance, capital markets and investor relations matters; (4) providing advice on strategic matters affecting the CyrusOne Group; and (5) any other
services reasonably requested by CyrusOne’s Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer for the purpose of transitioning Employee’s duties and responsibilities. It is agreed by the parties that the level of services Employee will be
requested to perform during the Consulting Period shall be no greater than twenty percent (20%) of the average level of services Employee performed as an employee during the thirty-six (36) month immediately preceding the Termination Date.
Employee shall perform consulting services as an employee.
|
|
i. |
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, during the Consulting Period, the Services shall only be performed to the extent directly requested by CyrusOne’s Chief
Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer.
|
|
ii. |
As the sole consideration for her services from the Transition Date through December 31, 2020, Employee shall be entitled to receive her current base salary, and as sole
consideration for her services from January 1, 2021, through the end of the Consulting Period, Employee shall be entitled to receive a salary at the rate of five thousand dollars ($5,000) per month, or portion thereof pro-rated on a daily
basis (the “Consulting Payments”) via the normal payroll practices of the Employer. Consistent with applicable law, Employer shall withhold and deduct
from the Consulting Payment any amount or amounts in respect of income taxes or other employment taxes of any other nature on behalf of Employee. In addition, Employee shall remain eligible to participate in the employee benefit plans and
programs maintained by the CyrusOne Group, subject to their applicable terms and conditions.
|
|
iii. |
Employee agrees that “Good Reason” does not exist to terminate Employee’s employment as that term is defined in Section
9(i)(iv) of the Employment Agreement; rather, Employees is voluntarily resigning from her employment pursuant to Section 9(f) of her Employment Agreement.
|
2. |
Compensation/Benefits. Except as otherwise provided herein, prior to the Termination Date,
Employee shall generally remain eligible to participate in the employee benefit plans and programs maintained by the CyrusOne Group, subject to their applicable terms and conditions. Effective on the Termination Date and thereafter,
Employee’s participation in and eligibility for any employee or fringe benefit, compensation, bonus, or equity plans, programs or policies of the CyrusOne Group shall cease, subject to the applicable terms and conditions of any such plans,
programs and policies. Employee may elect such insurance continuation or conversion as may be available under the applicable benefit plan terms and applicable law for the period after the Termination Date so long as she makes a valid
election for such continuation and makes the payments necessary for continuation or conversion. Employer will pay Employee for all hours worked through the Termination Date in accordance with Employer’s regular payroll procedures and
schedule, including an annual incentive bonus in respect of fiscal year 2020, which shall be pro-rated to the Transition Date and paid in February 2021 at 100% of the target bonus regardless of actual performance. Employee acknowledges that
these amounts are all the amounts owed to her by Employer through the Termination Date. Employee specifically acknowledges and agrees that she is not entitled to any salary, severance, wages, commissions, options or other equity (or
accelerated vesting thereof), benefits, insurance, or other compensation from the CyrusOne Group, except as specifically set forth herein.
|
3. |
Retirement Benefits.
|
|
A. |
In exchange for Employee’s (a) timely execution and non-revocation of this Agreement; (b) continued compliance with its terms and conditions and her other obligations to Employer
(including, without limitation, the obligations imposed by Sections 6 and 21 of the Employment Agreement, as modified by this Agreement); (c) continued service through the Termination Date; and (d) timely execution and non-revocation of the
Retirement Release, attached hereto as Exhibit A, Employer shall pay or provide to Employee the following:
|
|
i. |
The portion of Employee’s time-vesting restricted stock units (“RSUs”) equity incentive awards issued by the CyrusOne Group to Employee, as set forth in Exhibit B hereto, shall become vested in full on the Termination Date. Such RSUs that become vested pursuant to this provision shall be settled in calendar year 2021 at the time and in
the manner prescribed by the applicable equity plan(s) and award agreement(s), but in no event later than sixty (60) days following the Termination Date, provided the provisions of Section 3 of the Retirement Release are then effective and irrevocable.
|
|
ii. |
A portion of Employee’s outstanding performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”), as set forth in Exhibit B
hereto, shall remain outstanding and eligible to vest based on the achievement of the applicable performance criteria based on a prorated target amount as of the Termination Date, described in Exhibit B. Any such award or applicable portion
thereof that becomes vested pursuant to this provision shall be settled within sixty (60) days following the determination of the level of achievement of the applicable performance criteria, provided the provisions of Section 3 of the Retirement Release are then effective and irrevocable.
|
|
B. |
The amounts in this Section 3 will be collectively referred to as the “Retirement Benefits,” which are amounts to which the Employee is not otherwise entitled in the
absence of her execution of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that, in the absence of her execution of this Agreement, the Retirement Benefits would not otherwise be due to her.
|
|
C. |
All payments pursuant to Section 3, whether in cash or equity, are subject to deductions for payroll
taxes, income tax withholding and other deductions required by law or authorized by Employee.
|
|
D. |
For the avoidance of doubt, the tabular summary attached hereto as Exhibit B describes the outstanding
equity awards to which the vesting provisions described in Sections 3.A.i and ii are applicable. If any equity award that is accelerated as provided in Section 3A.i is deemed vested as of the Termination Date, but Employee revokes her agreement to those provisions of this Agreement releasing and waiving Employee’s
rights and claims under the ADEA pursuant to Section 6.D, such equity acceleration will be immediately rescinded and revoked and the underlying shares forfeited.
|
4. |
General Release.
|
|
A. |
Employee unconditionally, irrevocably and absolutely releases and discharges Employer, and any and all parent and subsidiary corporations, divisions and affiliated corporations,
partnerships or other affiliated entities of Employer, past and present, as well as Employer’s past and present employees, officers, directors, partners, members, insurers, employee benefit plans and fiduciaries, attorneys, agents, successors
and assigns (collectively, “Released Parties”), from all claims related in any way to the transactions or occurrences between them prior to or at the
Effective Date, to the fullest extent permitted by law, including, but not limited to, Employee’s employment with Employer, the termination of Employee’s employment, and all other losses, liabilities, claims, charges, demands and causes of
action, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, arising directly or indirectly out of or in any way connected with Employee’s employment with Employer that may be released under applicable law (the “Released Claims”). This release is intended to have the broadest possible application and includes, but is not limited to, any tort, contract, common law, constitutional or other
statutory claims, including, but not limited to alleged violations of federal, state or local law (including, without limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act of 1967 (the “ADEA”), the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (with
respect to unvested benefits), and Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code, all as amended), and all claims for attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses.
|
|
B. |
Notwithstanding the broad scope of the release set forth in this Section 4, this Agreement is not
intended to bar, and the defined term “Released Claims” does not include, (a) any claims that, as a matter of law, whether by statute or otherwise, may not be waived, such as claims for workers’ compensation benefits or unemployment insurance
benefits, (b) any claim for rights as an insured under any director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy now or previously in force or for indemnification under the by-laws of CyrusOne, the Maryland General Corporation Law or any
indemnification agreement between Employee and the CyrusOne Group or (c) Employee’s right to provide information to, participate in a proceeding before, or pursue relief from the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission, or the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and other similar federal, state, or local government agencies (collectively,
“Government Agencies”). Provided, however, that if Employee does pursue an administrative claim that may not be waived as a matter of law, or such a
claim is pursued on Employee’s behalf, Employee expressly waives Employee’s individual right to recovery of any type, including monetary damages or reinstatement, for any such claim, except that this limitation on monetary recovery will not
apply to claims for workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance benefits, or proceedings before the SEC. In addition, Employee shall not be prohibited from providing any confidential information to the SEC, cooperating with or assisting in
an SEC investigation or proceeding or receiving any monetary award as set forth in Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
|
|
C. |
Employee acknowledges that Employee may discover facts or law different from, or in addition to, the facts or law that Employee knows or believes to be true with respect to the
Released Claims and agrees, nonetheless, that this Agreement and the release contained in it shall be and remain effective in all respects notwithstanding such different or additional facts or law or the discovery of them.
|
|
D. |
Subject to Section 4.B, Employee declares and represents that Employee intends this Agreement to be
complete and not subject to any claim of mistake, and that the release herein expresses a full and complete release of the Released Claims and Employee intends the release herein to be final and complete. Employee executes this Agreement
with the full knowledge that the release herein covers all Released Claims against the Released Parties, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
|
|
E. |
By execution of this Agreement, Employee represents that (a) Employee has been paid or otherwise received all wages, vacation, bonuses, or other amounts owed to Employee by Employer,
other than those specifically addressed in this Agreement, and (b) Employee has not been denied any request for leave or accommodation to which Employee believes Employee was legally entitled, and Employee was not otherwise deprived of any of
Employee’s rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or any similar state or local statute.
|
5. |
Covenant Not to Sue. Subject to Section 4.B or as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Employee agrees that Employee is precluded from and is waiving all rights to sue based on the Released Claims or to obtain equitable, remedial or punitive relief
from any or all of the Released Parties of any kind whatsoever based on the Released Claims, including, without limitation, reinstatement, back pay, front pay, attorneys’ fees and any form of injunctive relief. Employee represents that, as
of the date of Employee’s signing this Agreement, Employee has not filed any lawsuits, charges, complaints, petitions, claims or other accusatory pleadings against the Employer or any of the other Released Parties in any court or with any
Government Agency and, to the best of Employee’s knowledge, no person or entity has filed any such lawsuits, charges, complaints, petitions, claims or other accusatory pleadings against the Employer or any of the other Released Parties on
Employee’s behalf. Employee further represents that Employee has not assigned, or purported to assign, Employee’s right to file any such lawsuits, charges, complaints, petitions, claims or other accusatory pleadings against the Employer or
any of the other Released Parties to any other person or entity.
|
6. |
Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act. This Agreement is intended to satisfy the
requirements of the Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act, 29 U.S.C. sec. 626(f). Employee is advised to consult with an attorney before executing this Agreement.
|
|
A. |
ADEA Release and Waiver. By entering into this Agreement, Employee is giving up important
rights, including, but not limited to, any rights and claims that may exist under the ADEA.
|
|
B. |
Acknowledgments. Employee acknowledges and agrees that (a) Employee has read and
understands the terms of this Agreement; (b) Employee has been advised in writing, by this Agreement, to consult with an attorney before executing this Agreement; (c) Employee has obtained and considered such legal counsel as Employee deems
necessary; and (d) by signing this Agreement, Employee acknowledges that Employee does so freely, knowingly, and voluntarily.
|
|
C. |
Time to Consider. Employee has twenty-one (21) days to consider whether or not to enter
into this Agreement and return a signed copy to Employer (although Employee may elect not to use the full 21-day consideration period at Employee’s option). Any change(s) made to this Agreement by the parties during the 21-day consideration
period will not restart the running of the 21-day consideration period. Employer’s offer will expire at the end of the 21-day consideration period.
|
|
D. |
Revocation Right. For a period of seven (7) calendar days following Employee’s execution of
this Agreement, Employee may revoke Employee’s agreement to those provisions of this Agreement releasing and waiving Employee’s rights and claims under the ADEA. If Employee chooses to revoke the Agreement, Employee must deliver a written
notice of revocation to Kellie Teal-Guess, EVP – Chief People Officer at 2850 N. Harwood St. Suite 2200, Dallas, TX 75201, kellie@cyrusone.com. Any such revocation must actually be received by Employer within the Revocation Period or it will
be null and void. Because of Employee’s right to revoke Employee’s agreement to those provisions of this Agreement releasing and waiving Employee’s rights and claims under the ADEA, those provisions shall not become effective or enforceable
until the revocation period has expired without Employee exercising the right to revoke.
|
|
E. |
Effect of Revocation. If Employee exercises Employee’s right to revoke Employee’s agreement
to those provisions of this Agreement releasing and waiving Employee’s rights and claims under the ADEA, Employee shall not be entitled to the Retirement Benefits as detailed above. Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Consulting
Payments will constitute sufficient consideration for Employee’s waiver of any and all non-ADEA claims in this Agreement as detailed in Section 4.
|
|
F. |
Effective Date. With the exception of the provisions of this Agreement releasing and
waiving Employee’s rights and claims under the ADEA, all other terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be binding and enforceable immediately upon Employee’s execution of this Agreement, and shall remain effective regardless of whether
Employee revokes Employee’s agreement to those provisions of this Agreement releasing and waiving Employee’s rights and claims under the ADEA.
|
|
G. |
Preserved Rights of Employee. This Agreement does not waive or release any rights or claims
that Employee may have under the ADEA that arise after the execution of this Agreement. In addition, this Agreement does not prohibit Employee from challenging the validity of this Agreement’s waiver and release of claims under the ADEA.
|
|
H. |
Nondisclosure. Before CyrusOne’s public disclosure of this Agreement, Employee shall not
disclose the terms of this Agreement to any non-party, except that Employee may disclose the terms of this Agreement to any Government Agency or as necessary to secure advice from her counsel, accountants or tax advisors. Before CyrusOne’s
public disclosure of this Agreement, Employee shall take appropriate steps to ensure that her counsel, accountants and tax advisors are aware of and comply with this confidentiality provision, and Employee assumes the risk of and shall be
accountable for any breach of this confidentiality provision occasioned by any act or omission of any person to whom the terms of this Agreement are disclosed.
|
|
|
The federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (the “Act”) provides immunity from liability
in certain circumstances to Employer’s employees, contractors, and consultants for limited disclosures of Employer “trade secrets,” as defined by the Act. Specifically, Employer’s employees, contractors, and consultants may disclose trade
secrets: (a) in confidence, either directly or indirectly, to a federal, state, or local government official, or to an attorney, “solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law,” or (b) “in a complaint or
other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.” Additionally, employees, contractors, and consultants who file lawsuits for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law
may use and disclose related trade secrets in the following manner: (i) the individual may disclose the trade secret to his/her attorney, and (ii) the individual may use the information in the court proceeding, as long as the individual
files any document containing the trade secret under seal and does not otherwise disclose the trade secret “except pursuant to court order.”
|
7. |
Return of Property. Employee agrees and represents that Employee has returned to Employer,
or will return before the Termination Date, and retained no copies of, any and all CyrusOne Group property, including but not limited to files, manuals, business records, customer records, correspondence, software and related program
passwords, computer printouts and disks, electronically stored information (“ESI”) that resides on any of Employee’s personal electronic devices, keys,
equipment, and any and all other documents or property which Employee had possession of, access to, or control over during the course of Employee’s employment with the CyrusOne Group or subsequent thereto, including but not limited to any and
all documents of the CyrusOne Group and any documents removed from or copied from other documents contained in the CyrusOne Group’s files. Employee further acknowledges and agrees that all of the documents or other tangible things to which
Employee has had possession of, access to, or control over during the course of or subsequent to Employee’s employment with the CyrusOne Group, including but not limited to all documents or other tangible things, pertaining to any specific
business transactions in which the CyrusOne Group was involved, or to any customers and suppliers of the CyrusOne Group, or to the business operations of the CyrusOne Group are considered confidential and have been returned to the CyrusOne
Group. In the event Employee is in possession of ESI that resides on any of Employee’s personal electronic devices (including but not limited to a personal computer, iPhone and iPad) upon returning CyrusOne Group’s ESI to the CyrusOne Group,
Employee agrees and represents that all CyrusOne Group ESI has been deleted from all personal electronic devices and is inaccessible to Employee or any other party having access to those devices. Employee represents that CyrusOne Group
property including CyrusOne Group ESI has not been copied and/or distributed to anyone who is not an authorized representative of the CyrusOne Group. Employee will provide, upon Employer’s request, access to her personal computer, iPhone and
iPad to Employer so that Employer can retrieve, delete and/or confirm deletion of the CyrusOne Group’s ESI from such devices. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employer will not consider a breach of this provision any inadvertent immaterial
failure of Employee to return all property and ESI to the CyrusOne Group if Employee diligently seeks to return all such property as soon as possible after discovery and maintains the confidentiality of such property and ESI.
|
8. |
Restrictive Covenants. Employee acknowledges and reaffirms her post-employment obligations
and other restrictive covenants that are set forth in the Non-Disclosure and Non-Competition Agreement attached to her Employment Agreement and attached hereto as Exhibit C (“Non-Competition Agreement”). As a condition of Employee’s continued employment with Employer, and in consideration of
Employee’s employment with Employer and the compensation and benefits provided under this Agreement, Employee agrees to extend the one-year periods set forth in Paragraphs 6, 7, 8, and 13 of the Non-Competition Agreement to two years; provided, however, notwithstanding any provision contained in the Employment Agreement, the
Plan or the awards issued to Employee thereunder, Employee is not restricted in any way from communicating with Government Agencies or otherwise participating in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by any Government Agency,
including providing documents or other information, without notice to Employer. If Employee breaches any of such covenants, Employee must repay to Employer the value of any equity awards described in Section 3 that become vested, within 10 days after demand by Employer, and Employer shall be entitled, upon application to a court of competent jurisdiction, to obtain injunctive or other
relief to enforce such promises and covenants.
|
9. |
Consideration of Medicare’s Interests. Employee affirms, covenants, and warrants Employee is
not a Medicare beneficiary and is not currently receiving, has not received in the past, will not have received at the time the Retirement Benefits is due under this Agreement, is not entitled to, is not eligible for, and has not applied for
or sought Social Security Disability or Medicare benefits. In the event any statement in the preceding sentence is incorrect (for example, but not limited to, if Employee is a Medicare beneficiary, etc.), the following sentences of this
paragraph apply. Employee affirms, covenants, and warrants Employee has made no claim for illness or injury against, nor is Employee aware of any facts supporting any claim against, the Released Parties under which the Released Parties could
be liable for medical expenses incurred by Employee before or after the execution of this Agreement. Furthermore, Employee is aware of no medical expenses that Medicare has paid and for which the Released Parties are or could be liable now or
in the future. Employee agrees and affirms that, to the best of Employee’s knowledge, no liens of any governmental entities, including those for Medicare conditional payments, exist. Employee will indemnify, defend, and hold the Released
Parties harmless from Medicare claims, liens, damages, conditional payments, and rights to payment, if any, including attorneys’ fees, and Employee further agrees to waive any and all future private causes of action for damages pursuant to 42
U.S.C. § 1395y(b)(3)(A) et seq.
|
10. |
Indemnification. Employee agrees to hold the Released Parties harmless from, and to defend
and indemnify the Released Parties from and against, all further claims, cross-claims, third-party claims, demands, costs, complaints, obligations, causes of action, damages, judgments, liability, contribution, or indemnity related in any way
to the allegations that were or could have been made by Employee with respect to the claims and causes of action released as part of this Agreement, as well as any claims that may be made indirectly against the Released Parties for
contribution, indemnity, or otherwise by any third party from whom or which Employee seeks relief or damages, directly or indirectly, for the same claims and/or causes of action released as part of this Agreement, regardless of whether such
claims are caused in whole or in part by the negligence, acts, or omissions of any of the Released Parties.
|
|
Employee shall be responsible for all federal, state, and local tax liability, if any, that may attach to amounts payable or other consideration given under this Agreement, and
will defend, indemnify, and hold the Released Parties harmless from and against, and will reimburse the Released Parties for, any and all liability of whatever kind incurred by the Released Parties as a result of any tax obligations of
Employee, including but not limited to taxes, levies, assessments, penalties, fines, interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs. Employee warrants that Employee is not relying on the judgment or advice of any of the Released Parties or legal
counsel concerning the tax consequences, if any, of this Agreement.
|
11. |
Nondisparagement. Employee agrees that she will not, directly or indirectly, make to third
parties any oral, written, or electronic statement which directly or indirectly impugns the quality or integrity of the CyrusOne Group, or any other disparaging or derogatory remarks about the CyrusOne Group; provided, however, that this obligation shall not preclude Employee from (i) providing information to government
agencies, (ii) responding to inquiries by any person or entity through a subpoena or other legal process, (iii) testifying under oath in a legal proceeding or (iv) making other disclosures as required by applicable law.
|
12. |
Passwords. Upon request, Employee agrees to provide all User IDs and Passwords used by
Employee, and of any other party of which she is aware, to access CyrusOne Group ESI on CyrusOne Group computers, electronic devices, and software.
|
13. |
Dispute Resolution. Except as otherwise provided in Section 8, Employer and Employee agree that all disputes, controversies or claims between them arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be submitted to arbitration pursuant to the
terms and conditions set forth in the Employment Agreement.
|
14. |
No Admissions. By entering into this Agreement, the Released Parties make no admission that
they have engaged, or are now engaging, in any unlawful conduct. The parties understand and acknowledge that this Agreement is not an admission of liability and shall not be used or construed as such in any legal or administrative
proceeding.
|
15. |
Full Defense. This Agreement may be pled as a full and complete defense to, and may be used
as a basis for an injunction against, any action, suit or other proceeding that may be prosecuted, instituted or attempted by Employee in breach hereof.
|
16. |
No Waiver. Any failure or forbearance by Employer or Employee to exercise any right or
remedy with respect to enforcement of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of Employer’s or Employee’s rights or remedies, nor shall such failure or forbearance operate to modify this Agreement or such instruments in the absence
of a writing. No waiver of any of the terms of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by both parties to this Agreement. The waiver by Employer or Employee of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be
construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach, nor shall any waiver operate or be construed as a rescission of this Agreement.
|
17. |
Successors. The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of Employer, its
successors and assigns, and shall be binding upon Employee and her heirs, administrators and assigns.
|
18. |
Acknowledgement. The parties represent that they have read this Agreement, that they
understand all of its terms, and that in executing this Agreement they do not rely and have not relied upon any representations or statements made by the other with regard to the subject matter, basis, or effect of the Agreement.
|
19. |
Severability; Modification. Employee and Employer further agree that if any provision of
this Agreement is held to be unenforceable, such provision shall be considered to be separate, distinct, and severable from the other remaining provisions of this Agreement, and shall not affect the validity or enforceability of such other
remaining provisions. If this Agreement is held to be unenforceable as written, but may be made enforceable by limitation, then such provision shall be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.
|
20. |
Section 409A. Section 9(i)(viii) of the Employment Agreement is hereby incorporated by
reference, mutatis mutandis.
|
21. |
Entire Agreement. Employee and Employer finally agree that, except for the provisions of
any other agreement referred to herein as surviving this Agreement, this Agreement: (i) contains and constitutes the entire understanding and agreement between them with respect to its subject matter; (ii) supersedes and cancels any previous
negotiations, agreements, commitments, and writings with respect to that subject matter; (iii) may not be released, discharged, abandoned, supplemented, changed or modified in any manner except by a writing of concurrent or subsequent date
signed by both parties; and (iv) shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflicts of laws provisions. THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HAVE READ THE FOREGOING AGREEMENT AND FULLY
UNDERSTAND EACH AND EVERY PROVISION CONTAINED THEREIN. THE PARTIES HAVE OBTAINED AND CONSIDERED SUCH LEGAL COUNSEL AS EACH DEEMS NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT. WHEREFORE, THE PARTIES HAVE EXECUTED THIS AGREEMENT ON THE DATES SHOWN
BELOW.
|
EMPLOYEE
|
||||
/s/ Diane M. Morefield
|
||||
Dated:
|
July 30, 2020
|
CYRUSONE LLC
|
||||
By:
|
/s/ Robert M. Jackson
|
|||
Its:
|
Executive Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary
|
|||
Dated:
|
July 30, 2020
|
|||
1. |
Transition and Retirement Agreement. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6 hereof, the Transition and Retirement Agreement remains in full force and effect and is incorporated herein by reference.
|
2. |
Retirement Benefits. In exchange for your timely execution and non-revocation of this
Agreement, Employer shall pay or provide to Employee the Retirement Benefits described in Section 3 and Exhibit B of the Transition and Retirement Agreement.
|
3. |
General Release.
|
|
A. |
Employee unconditionally, irrevocably and absolutely releases and discharges Employer, and any and all parent and subsidiary corporations, divisions and affiliated corporations,
partnerships or other affiliated entities of Employer, past and present, as well as Employer’s past and present employees, officers, directors, partners, members, insurers, employee benefit plans and fiduciaries, attorneys, agents, successors
and assigns (collectively, “Released Parties”), from all claims related in any way to the transactions or occurrences between them prior to or at the
Effective Date, to the fullest extent permitted by law, including, but not limited to, Employee’s employment with Employer, the termination of Employee’s employment, and all other losses, liabilities, claims, charges, demands and causes
|
|
|
of action, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, arising directly or indirectly out of or in any way connected with Employee’s employment with Employer that may be released under applicable law (the “Released Claims”). This release is intended to have the broadest possible application and includes, but is not limited to, any tort, contract, common law, constitutional or other statutory claims, including, but not limited to alleged violations of federal, state or local law (including, without limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (the “ADEA”), the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (with respect to unvested benefits), and Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code, all as amended), and all claims for attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses. |
|
B. |
Notwithstanding the broad scope of the release set forth in this Section 3, this Agreement is not
intended to bar, and the defined term “Released Claims” does not include, (a) any claims that, as a matter of law, whether by statute or otherwise, may not be waived, such as claims for workers’ compensation benefits or unemployment insurance
benefits, (b) any claim for rights as an insured under any director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy now or previously in force or for indemnification under the by-laws of CyrusOne, the Maryland General Corporation Law or any
indemnification agreement between Employee and the CyrusOne Group or (c) Employee’s right to provide information to, participate in a proceeding before, or pursue relief from the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission, or the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and other similar federal, state, or local government agencies (collectively,
“Government Agencies”). Provided, however, that if Employee does pursue an administrative claim that may not be waived as a matter of law, or such a
claim is pursued on Employee’s behalf, Employee expressly waives Employee’s individual right to recovery of any type, including monetary damages or reinstatement, for any such claim, except that this limitation on monetary recovery will not
apply to claims for workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance benefits, or proceedings before the SEC. In addition, Employee shall not be prohibited from providing any confidential information to the SEC, cooperating with or assisting in
an SEC investigation or proceeding or receiving any monetary award as set forth in Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
|
|
C. |
Employee acknowledges that Employee may discover facts or law different from, or in addition to, the facts or law that Employee knows or believes to be true with respect to the
Released Claims and agrees, nonetheless, that this Agreement and the release contained in it shall be and remain effective in all respects notwithstanding such different or additional facts or law or the discovery of them.
|
|
D. |
Subject to Section 3.B, Employee declares and represents that Employee intends this Agreement to be
complete and not subject to any claim of mistake, and that the release herein expresses a full and complete release of the Released Claims and Employee intends the release herein to be final and complete. Employee executes
|
|
E. |
By execution of this Agreement, Employee represents that (a) Employee has been paid or otherwise received all wages, vacation, bonuses, or other amounts owed to Employee by Employer,
other than those specifically addressed in this Agreement, and (b) Employee has not been denied any request for leave or accommodation to which Employee believes Employee was legally entitled, and Employee was not otherwise deprived of any of
Employee’s rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or any similar state or local statute.
|
4. |
Covenant Not to Sue. Subject to Section 3.B or as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Employee agrees that Employee is precluded from and is waiving all rights to sue based on the Released Claims or to obtain equitable, remedial or punitive relief
from any or all of the Released Parties of any kind whatsoever based on the Released Claims, including, without limitation, reinstatement, back pay, front pay, attorneys’ fees and any form of injunctive relief. Employee represents that, as
of the date of Employee’s signing this Agreement, Employee has not filed any lawsuits, charges, complaints, petitions, claims or other accusatory pleadings against the Employer or any of the other Released Parties in any court or with any
Government Agency and, to the best of Employee’s knowledge, no person or entity has filed any such lawsuits, charges, complaints, petitions, claims or other accusatory pleadings against the Employer or any of the other Released Parties on
Employee’s behalf. Employee further represents that Employee has not assigned, or purported to assign, Employee’s right to file any such lawsuits, charges, complaints, petitions, claims or other accusatory pleadings against the Employer or
any of the other Released Parties to any other person or entity.
|
5. |
Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act. This Agreement is intended to satisfy the
requirements of the Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act, 29 U.S.C. sec. 626(f). Employee is advised to consult with an attorney before executing this Agreement.
|
|
A. |
ADEA Release and Waiver. By entering into this Agreement, Employee is giving up important
rights, including, but not limited to, any rights and claims that may exist under the ADEA.
|
|
B. |
Acknowledgments. Employee acknowledges and agrees that (a) Employee has read and
understands the terms of this Agreement; (b) Employee has been advised in writing, by this Agreement, to consult with an attorney before executing this Agreement; (c) Employee has obtained and considered such legal counsel as Employee deems
necessary; and (d) by signing this Agreement, Employee acknowledges that Employee does so freely, knowingly, and voluntarily.
|
|
C. |
Time to Consider. Employee has twenty-one (21) days to consider whether or not to enter
into this Agreement and return a signed copy to Employer (although Employee may elect not to use the full 21-day consideration period at Employee’s option). Any change(s) made to this Agreement by the parties during the 21-day
|
|
D. |
Revocation Right. For a period of seven (7) calendar days following Employee’s execution of
this Agreement, Employee may revoke Employee’s agreement to those provisions of this Agreement releasing and waiving Employee’s rights and claims under the ADEA. If Employee chooses to revoke the Agreement, Employee must deliver a written
notice of revocation to Kellie Teal-Guess, EVP – Chief People Officer at 2850 N. Harwood St. Suite 2200, Dallas, TX 75201, kellie@cyrusone.com. Any such revocation must be actually received by Employer within the Revocation Period or it will
be null and void. Because of Employee’s right to revoke Employee’s agreement to those provisions of this Agreement releasing and waiving Employee’s rights and claims under the ADEA, those provisions shall not become effective or enforceable
until the revocation period has expired without Employee exercising the right to revoke.
|
|
E. |
Effect of Revocation. If Employee exercises Employee’s right to revoke Employee’s agreement
to those provisions of this Agreement releasing and waiving Employee’s rights and claims under the ADEA, Employee shall not be entitled to the Retirement Benefits as detailed above. Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Consulting
Payments will constitute sufficient consideration for Employee’s waiver of any and all non-ADEA claims in this Agreement as detailed in Section 3.
|
|
F. |
Effective Date. With the exception of the provisions of this Agreement releasing and
waiving Employee’s rights and claims under the ADEA, all other terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be binding and enforceable immediately upon Employee’s execution of this Agreement, and shall remain effective regardless of whether
Employee revokes Employee’s agreement to those provisions of this Agreement releasing and waiving Employee’s rights and claims under the ADEA.
|
|
G. |
Preserved Rights of Employee. This Agreement does not waive or release any rights or claims
that Employee may have under the ADEA that arise after the execution of this Agreement. In addition, this Agreement does not prohibit Employee from challenging the validity of this Agreement’s waiver and release of claims under the ADEA.
|
|
H. |
Nondisclosure. Before CyrusOne’s public disclosure of this Agreement, Employee shall not
disclose the terms of this Agreement to any non-party, except that Employee may disclose the terms of this Agreement to any Government Agency or as necessary to secure advice from her counsel, accountants or tax advisors. Before CyrusOne’s
public disclosure of this Agreement, Employee shall take appropriate steps to ensure that her counsel, accountants and tax advisors are aware of and comply with this confidentiality provision, and Employee assumes the risk of and shall be
accountable for any breach of this confidentiality provision occasioned by any act or omission of any person to whom the terms of this Agreement are disclosed.
|
|
|
The federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (the “Act”) provides
immunity from liability in certain circumstances to Employer’s employees, contractors, and consultants for limited disclosures of Employer “trade secrets,” as defined by the Act. Specifically, Employer’s employees, contractors, and
consultants may disclose trade secrets: (a) in confidence, either directly or indirectly, to a federal, state, or local government official, or to an attorney, “solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of
law,” or (b) “in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.” Additionally, employees, contractors, and consultants who file lawsuits for retaliation by an employer for reporting
a suspected violation of law may use and disclose related trade secrets in the following manner: (i) the individual may disclose the trade secret to his/her attorney, and (ii) the individual may use the information in the court proceeding,
as long as the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal and does not otherwise disclose the trade secret “except pursuant to court order.”
|
6. |
Entire Agreement. Employee and Employer finally agree that, except for the provisions of
any other agreement referred to herein as surviving this Agreement, this Agreement: (i) contains and constitutes the entire understanding and agreement between them with respect to its subject matter; (ii) supersedes and cancels any previous
negotiations, agreements, commitments, and writings with respect to that subject matter; (iii) may not be released, discharged, abandoned, supplemented, changed or modified in any manner except by a writing of concurrent or subsequent date
signed by both parties; and (iv) shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflicts of laws provisions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 6 is expressly subject to Section 1 of this Agreement. THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HAVE READ THE
FOREGOING AGREEMENT AND FULLY UNDERSTAND EACH AND EVERY PROVISION CONTAINED THEREIN. THE PARTIES HAVE OBTAINED AND CONSIDERED SUCH LEGAL COUNSEL AS EACH DEEMS NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT. WHEREFORE, THE PARTIES HAVE EXECUTED THIS
AGREEMENT ON THE DATES SHOWN BELOW.
|
EMPLOYEE
|
||||
Dated:
|
||||
CYRUSONE LLC
|
||||
By:
|
||||
Its:
|
||||
Dated:
|
||||
Grant Type
|
Awards Outstanding
|
Regular Vesting February 2021(1)
|
Additional Shares Vesting Per Section 3.A.i(2)
|
Restricted Stock Units / RSUPAY (2018)
|
1,949
|
1,949
|
0
|
Restricted Stock Units / RSUPAY (2019)
|
3,812
|
1,906
|
1,906
|
Restricted Stock Units / RSUPAY (2020)
|
7,236
|
2,412
|
4,824
|
Grant Type
|
Awards Outstanding(1)
|
Shares Already Paid
|
Maximum Shares Eligible for Vesting February 2021(2)
|
Maximum Additional Shares Eligible to Vest Per Section 3.A.ii(3)
|
Performance Units / TSR (2018)
|
17,541
|
0
|
35,082
|
0(4)
|
Performance Units / TSR (2019)
|
17,156
|
0
|
11,437
|
24,734(5)
|
Performance Units / TSR - Peer (2020)
|
2,714
|
0
|
0
|
3,159(6)
|
Performance Units/TSR – REIT Index (2020)
|
8,140
|
0
|
0
|
9,471(7)
|
EMPLOYEE
|
||||
Date: October 27, 2016
|
||||
/s/ Diane M. Morefield
|
||||
Signature
|
||||
Diane M. Morefield
|
||||
Type or Print Name
|