Famous Footwear 2010 Annual Report Download - page 111

Exhibit 10.16
SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
This SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is effective as of April 1, 2009 (“Effective Date”) by and between Mark D. Lardie
(“Employee”) and Brown Shoe Company, Inc., a New York corporation (“Brown Shoe” and, together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”).
WHEREAS, Brown Shoe is engaged, directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries, in the sourcing and retail and wholesale sale of footwear in the
United States and throughout the world;
WHEREAS, Employee is employed by Brown Shoe or a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brown Shoe in an executive capacity, possesses intimate
knowledge of the business and affairs of the Company, and has acquired, and will continue to acquire, certain confidential, proprietary and trade secret
information and data with respect to the Company;
WHEREAS, Brown Shoe desires to insure, insofar as possible, that the Company will continue to have the benefit of Employee’s services and to
protect the confidential information and goodwill of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that circumstances may arise in which a change in the control of Brown Shoe occurs, through acquisition or
otherwise, thereby causing uncertainty of employment without regard to Employee’s competence or past contributions which uncertainty may result in the loss
of valuable services of Employee to the detriment of the Company and Brown Shoe’s shareholders, and the Company and Employee wish to provide
reasonable security to Employee against changes in Employee’s relationship with Brown Shoe in the event of any such change in control; and
WHEREAS, both the Company and Employee are desirous that a proposal for any change of control or acquisition will be considered by Employee
objectively and with reference only to the business interests of the Company and Brown Shoe’s shareholders; and
WHEREAS, Employee will be in a better position to consider the best interests of the Company if Employee is afforded reasonable security, as
provided in this Agreement, against altered conditions of employment which could result from any such change in control or acquisition.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto mutually
covenant and agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions
1.1 “Board” means the Board of Directors of Brown Shoe.
1.2 “Business Unit” means any direct or indirect subsidiary, operating division or business unit of Brown Shoe.
1.3 “Cause” means (i) engaging by Employee in willful misconduct which is materially injurious to the Company; (ii) conviction of
Employee of a felony; (iii) engaging by Employee in fraud, material dishonesty or gross misconduct in connection with the business of the Company; (iv)
engaging by Employee in any act of moral turpitude reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect the Company or its business; (v) engaging by
Employee in the illegal use of a controlled substance or using prescription medications unlawfully; or (vi) abuse by Employee of alcohol.
1.4 “Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events after the Effective Date:
(a) The acquisition by any Person of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 30%
or more of either (x) the then outstanding shares of common stock of Brown Shoe (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (y) the combined voting
power of the then outstanding voting securities of Brown Shoe entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting
Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this paragraph (a) the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) any acquisition
directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained
by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with the
exception set forth in paragraph (c) below; or
(b) Individuals who, as of the Effective Date of this Agreement, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or
nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board
shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial
assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
(c) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company or the acquisition of assets of another corporation (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 65% of, respectively, the then
outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of
such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the
same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding