EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.44

This Employment Agreement (“this Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of March 31, 2005 (the “Effective Date”), by and between American Tire Distributors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx (“Executive”).

The Company hereby agrees to employ Executive, and Executive hereby accepts such employment, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

1. Position. During the Period of Employment (as defined below), Executive shall serve in the capacity indicated on Exhibit A. Executive shall perform the normal duties and responsibilities of such position and such other duties and responsibilities as the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company may assign to Executive from time to time. During the Period of Employment, Executive will (a) during normal business hours, devote Executive’s full time and exclusive attention to, and use Executive’s best efforts to advance, the business and welfare of the Company, and (b) not engage in any other employment activities for any direct or indirect remuneration without the concurrence of the Board.

2. Period of Employment. The period of Executive’s employment by the Company (the “Period of Employment”) shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue until terminated pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

3. Compensation.

3.1 Base Salary. During the Period of Employment, the Company shall pay Executive a per annum base salary as set forth in Exhibit A (as adjusted from time to time by the Board, the “Base Salary”) payable in accordance with the standard policies of the Company. Executive’s Base Salary shall be subject to annual review by the Board; provided, however, that the level of such Base Salary shall not be subject to reduction unless consented to in writing by Executive.

3.2 Performance Based Compensation. During the Period of Employment and assuming Executive remains continuously employed by the Company through the end of the relevant fiscal year, Executive shall also be entitled to participate in an annual performance-based cash bonus program as set forth in Exhibit B.

3.3 Taxes. Federal, state, local and other applicable taxes shall be withheld on all cash and in-kind payments made by the Company to Executive pursuant to this Agreement in accordance with applicable tax laws and regulations.

4. Benefits. During the Period of Employment, Executive shall be entitled to participate in benefit plans and programs maintained by the Company from time to time and generally made available to its executive officers; provided, however, that (a) Executive’s right to participate in such plans and programs shall not affect the Company’s right to amend or terminate any such plan or program, and (b) Executive acknowledges that Executive shall have no vested rights under any such plan or program except as expressly provided under the terms thereof.

5. Expenses. Upon presentation of acceptable substantiation therefor, the Company will pay or reimburse Executive for such reasonable travel, entertainment and other expenses as Executive may incur during the Period of Employment in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder.

6. Termination of Employment. The parties hereto expressly agree that Executive’s employment may be terminated by either the Company or the Executive upon thirty (30) calendar days’ advance written notice by the terminating party (or immediately upon written notice by the Company in the case of termination by the Company for Cause) and that, upon any such termination, except as set forth in Section 6.2 hereof, Executive shall not be entitled to any payment in the nature of severance or otherwise (other than Base Salary, bonus and any other benefits to the extent earned and accrued through the date of such termination).

6.1 Death or Disability. The employment of Executive and all rights to compensation under this Agreement shall terminate upon the death or Disability (as defined below) of Executive, except for such death or disability payments as may be payable under one or more benefit plans maintained at that time by the Company and applicable to the Executive. As used herein, “Disability” means the Board has made a good faith determination that Executive has become physically or mentally incapacitated or disabled such that Executive is unable to perform for the Company substantially the same services as Executive performed prior to incurring such incapacity or disability, and incapacity or disability exists for ninety (90) consecutive calendar days. In connection with making such determination, the Company, at its option and expense, shall be entitled to select and retain a physician to confirm the existence of such incapacity or disability, and the determination made by such physician shall be binding on the parties for the purposes of this Agreement.

6.2 Termination with Severance Obligation. Upon termination of Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause (as defined below) or by Executive for Good Reason (as defined below) and for so long as Executive is in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (including without limitation, Section 7.1), Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company (i) a monthly cash severance payment in the amount equal to the sum of Executive’s monthly Base Salary in effect on the date of termination plus $19,583.33 for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of termination, payable in accordance with the standard policies of the Company and (ii) continued participation at the Company’s expense in the health benefit plan or program maintained by the Company from time to time for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of termination. As used herein, (a) “Cause” means that Executive (i) has been convicted of a felony, or has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony; (ii) has knowingly committed an act involving dishonesty or bad faith, or has engaged in willful misconduct, in each case which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii) has materially breached his obligations under Section 7.1 or 7.2 hereof; or (iv) has willfully and continually refused to perform his duties with the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and (b) “Good Reason” means (i) failure by the Company to pay any material amount owed to Executive under this Agreement; (ii) a substantial diminution in the status, position and responsibilities of Executive compared with Executive’s status, position and responsibilities with the Company on the Effective Date; or (iii) a reduction of Executive’s Base Salary as in effect from time to time. In the event that any change in Executive’s status, position and responsibilities is implemented or proposed to be implemented by the Company, then: (A)

unless Executive provides written notice to the Board within thirty (30) calendar days of being notified of such change or proposed change that Executive asserts that such change constitutes a “substantial diminution” for purposes of clause (ii) of the definition of Good Reason, such change shall be deemed not to be such a “substantial diminution” and thereafter Executive’s status, position and responsibilities shall be as so changed; and (B) in the event that Executive provides such notice in a timely manner and, within thirty (30) calendar days thereafter, the Company, in its sole discretion, rescinds or alters such change, then for purposes of such clause (ii) of the definition of Good Reason the original change shall be disregarded (except to any extent so altered). Nothing in this Section 6.2 shall limit the Company’s right to contest any assertion that Executive may make with respect to any such change.

6.3 Release. At the time of termination of Executive’s employment, Executive agrees to execute a general release in a form provided by the Company whereby Executive will release, relinquish and forever discharge the Company and each of its parents and subsidiaries and any director, officer, employee, shareholder, controlling person or agent of the Company and each parent and subsidiary from any and all claims, damages, losses, costs, expenses, liabilities or obligations, whether known or unknown (other than any rights Executive may have under (i) any indemnification arrangement of the Company with respect to Executive, (ii) any employee benefit plan or program covering Executive or (iii) any stock purchase or stock option plan or agreement to which the Company and Executive are parties), which Executive has incurred or suffered or may incur or suffer as a result of Executive’s employment by the Company or the termination of such employment.

6.4 No Further Payments. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other plan, agreement or arrangement with the Company or any of its affiliates to the contrary, to the extent any payment or benefit (including non-cash benefits) provided under this Agreement or any other plan, agreement or arrangement with the Company or any of its affiliates, either alone or together with such other payments and benefits (including non-cash benefits) which Executive receives or is entitled to receive from the Company or any of its affiliates, would result in the Executive being subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or any successor provision), with respect to such payment or benefit, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates shall be obligated to pay any amount to Executive (or to any other party on behalf of Executive) as a result of, or in respect of, such excise tax.

7. Non-Competition; Non-Disclosure of Proprietary Information, Surrender of Records; Inventions and Patents.

7.1 Non-Competition.

(a) Executive acknowledges that in the course of Executive’s employment with the Company Executive will become familiar with trade secrets and other confidential information of the Company and that Executive’s services will be of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company. Therefore, Executive agrees that, during the Period of Employment and for twelve (12) months thereafter (the “Noncompete Period”), Executive shall not directly or indirectly own, manage, control, participate in, consult with, render services for, or in any manner engage in any business competing with any business of the Company within

North America and any other geographical area in which the Company then engages in business or engaged in business at any time during Executive’s employment with the Company. Nothing herein shall prohibit Executive from being a passive owner of not more than two percent (2%) of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly traded so long as Executive has no direct or indirect active participation in the business of such corporation.

(b) During the Noncompete Period, Executive shall not directly or indirectly (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company to terminate such employment, or in any way interfere with the employee relationship between the Company and any such employee, (ii) hire any person who is, or at any time during the Period of Employment was, an employee of the Company or (iii) induce or attempt to induce any person having a business relationship with the Company to cease doing business with the Company or interfere materially with the relationship between any such person and the Company.

7.2 Proprietary Information. Executive agrees that Executive shall not use for Executive’s own purpose or for the benefit of any person or entity other than the Company or its shareholders or affiliates, nor shall Executive otherwise disclose to any individual or entity at any time while Executive is employed by the Company or thereafter any proprietary information of the Company unless such disclosure (a) has been authorized by the Board, (b) is reasonably required within the course and scope of Executive’s employment hereunder or (c) is required by law, a court of competent jurisdiction or a governmental or regulatory agency. For purposes of this Agreement, “proprietary information” shall mean: (i) the name or address of any customer, supplier or affiliate of the Company or any information concerning the transactions or relations of any customer, supplier or affiliate of the Company or any of its shareholders; (ii) any information concerning any product, service, technology or procedure offered or used by the Company, or under development by or being considered for use by the Company; (iii) any information relating to marketing or pricing plans or methods, capital structure, or any business or strategic plans of the Company; (iv) any inventions, innovations, trade secrets or other items covered by Section 7.4 below; and (v) any other information which the Board has determined by resolution and communicated to Executive in writing to be proprietary information for purposes hereof. However, proprietary information shall not include any information that is or becomes generally known to the public other than through actions of Executive in violation of Sections 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3 hereof.

7.3 Surrender of Records. Executive agrees that Executive shall not retain and shall promptly surrender to the Company all correspondence, memoranda, files, manuals, financial, operating or marketing records, magnetic tape, or electronic or other media of any kind which may be in Executive’s possession or under Executive’s control or accessible to Executive which contain any proprietary information as defined in Section 7.2 above.

7.4 Inventions and Patents. Executive agrees that all inventions, innovations, trade secrets, patents and processes in any way relating, directly or indirectly, to the Company’s business developed by Executive alone or in conjunction with others at any time during Executive’s employment by the Company shall belong to the Company. Executive will use Executive’s best efforts to perform all actions reasonably requested by the Board to establish and confirm such ownership by the Company.

7.5 Definition of Company. For purposes of this Section 7, the term “Company” shall include the Company and any and all of its parents, subsidiaries, joint ventures and affiliated entities as the same may exist from time to time; provided that, upon the assignment by the Company of its rights under this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.7, the term “Company” shall thereafter include only the Company and its subsidiaries and joint ventures.

7.6 Enforcement. The parties hereto agree that the duration and area for which the covenants set forth in Section 7 are to be effective are reasonable. In the event that any court or arbitrator determines that the time period or the area, or both of them, are unreasonable and that any of the covenants are to that extent unenforceable, the parties hereto agree that such covenants will remain in full force and effect, first, for the greatest time period, and second, in the greatest geographical area that would not render them unenforceable. The parties intend that this Agreement will be deemed to be a series of separate covenants, one for each and every county of each and every state of the United States of America. Executive agrees that damages are an inadequate remedy for any breach of the covenants in this Section 7 and that the Company will, whether or not it is pursuing any potential remedies at law, be entitled to equitable relief in the form of preliminary and permanent injunctions without bond or other security upon any actual or threatened breach of this Agreement.

8. Miscellaneous.

8.1 Notice. Any notice required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be deemed sufficiently given if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the addressee at the address last provided to the sender in writing by the addressee for purposes of receiving notices hereunder or, unless or until such address shall be so furnished, to the address indicated opposite addressee’s signature to this Agreement. Each party may also provide notice by sending the other party a facsimile at a number provided by such other party.

8.2 Modification and No Waiver of Breach. No waiver or modification of this Agreement shall be binding unless it is in writing, approved by the Board and signed by the parties hereto. No waiver by a party of a breach hereof by the other party shall be deemed to constitute a waiver of a future breach, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, except to the extent specifically provided in any written waiver under this Section 8.2.

8.3 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina (without regard to principles of conflicts of laws), and all questions relating to the validity and performance hereof and remedies hereunder shall be determined in accordance with such law.

8.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile in two counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but both of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

8.5 Captions. The captions used herein are for ease of reference only and shall not define or limit the provisions hereof.

8.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto relating to the matters encompassed hereby and supersedes any prior oral or written agreements relating to such matters.

8.7 Assignment. The rights of the Company under this Agreement may, without the consent of Executive, be assigned by the Company, in its sole and unfettered discretion, to any person, firm, corporation or other business entity which at any time, whether by purchase, merger or otherwise, directly or indirectly, acquires 80% or more of the stock, assets or business of the Company.

8.8 Non-Transferability of Interest. None of the rights of Executive to receive any form of compensation payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be assignable or transferable except through a testamentary disposition or by the laws of descent and distribution upon the death of Executive. Any other attempted assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of any interest in the rights of Executive to receive any form of compensation to be made by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be void.

8.9 Arbitration. Any dispute, claim or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including without limitation any dispute, claim or controversy concerning validity, enforceability, breach or termination hereof, shall be finally settled by arbitration in accordance with the then-prevailing Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, as modified herein (“Rules”). There shall be one arbitrator who shall be jointly selected by the parties. If the parties have not jointly agreed upon an arbitrator within twenty (20) calendar days of respondent’s receipt of claimant’s notice of intention to arbitrate, either party may request the American Arbitration Association to furnish the parties with a list of names from which the parties shall jointly select an arbitrator. If the parties have not agreed upon an arbitrator within ten (10) calendar days of the transmittal date of the list, then each party shall have an additional five (5) calendar days in which to strike any names objected to, number the remaining names in order of preference, and return the list to the American Arbitration Association, which shall then select an arbitrator in accordance with Rule 13 of the Rules. The place of arbitration shall be New York, New York. By agreeing to arbitration, the parties hereto do not intend to deprive any court of its jurisdiction to issue a pre-arbitral injunction, pre-arbitral attachment or other order in aid of arbitration. The arbitration shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 1-16. Judgment upon the award of the arbitrator may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. Each party shall bear its or his own costs and expenses in any such arbitration and one-half of the arbitrator’s fees and expenses.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed as of the day and year first written above.


EXECUTIVE	AMERICAN TIRE DISTRIBUTORS, INC., a Delaware corporation

/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx	By:	/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx	Name:	Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
	Title:	President

Address for Notices:	Address for Notices:

X.X. Xxx 0000	X.X. Xxx 0000
__________, NC 28036	Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000


	Attention:	J. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Fax: ( )	Fax: (000)	000-0000

	With a copy to:

	Investcorp International Inc. 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Fax: (000) 000-0000

	and

	Xxxxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 Attention: E. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Fax: (000) 000-0000

EXHIBIT A

Employment Agreement


Name of Executive:		Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx

Title(s):		Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing

Base Salary:		$235,000 per annum

EXHIBIT B

Employment Agreement

ANNUAL PERFORMANCE-BASED CASH BONUS

Name of Executive: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx

For fiscal year 2005, the Company will pay to Executive a cash bonus on substantially the same terms as the Executive Bonus Plan attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Plan”) based on Executive’s existing level of classification under the Plan.

For each fiscal year subsequent to 2005, during the Period of Employment, Executive will be entitled to an annual performance-based cash bonus on such terms as shall be determined by the Board.

EXHIBIT C

Employment Agreement

[See Attached]

2005 Executive Bonus Plan Summary

American Tire Distributors, Inc.

December 2004

Basic Plan Provisions:

Duration – the Executive Bonus Plan (EBP) is approved for calendar 2005 only, unless extended by the Board of Directors. There can be no guarantee that this or any other plan will be offered in 2006.

Payout Determination – payouts will be determined based on EBITDA performance for calendar 2005 using the Company’s audited financial statements.

Bonus Payment Date – bonuses will be paid as soon as practical (in 2006) after completion of the Company’s audit and approval of such financial statements by the Board of Directors.

Continued Participation – participation in the EBP for 2005 carries with it no guarantees of continued participation or payment levels in future years, or any rights to continued employment by the Company.

Eligibility for Payments – a participant must be employed by the Company as of December 31^st to be eligible for payments in the EBP. Partial payments may be made in the case of eligible terminations during the year based on financial performance through the date of termination.

Plan Participants and Payout Levels:

Participants – All employees in this plan are to be approved by the Board of Directors for EBP participation in 2005. If an executive listed leaves during the year, a replacement would generally be eligible for equal plan participation (prorated for time in place),.

Payment Levels – all participants have been classified into six levels (Levels 0 – IV). Payments are made from a pool created from a percentage of the EBITDA from the plan year. The plan projections are included on page 3 of this summary (2005 Business plan Projected Results).

Payouts for 2005– are calculated based on the 2005 EBITDA results above and the corresponding bonus pool. Each level will have a pool and based on the number in that level, that pool will be divided equally among the participants.

Other Plan Definitions:

EBITDA – is the Company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization as reflected in the Company’s audited financial statements. Adjustments for unusual items will only be made based on the recommendation of the CEO and approval of the Board of Directors.

Eligible Terminations – will only include death, permanent disability, or job elimination/layoff.

Payouts for 2005 – are calculated based on the 2005 EBITDA results above and the corresponding bonus pool. Each level will have a pool and based on the number in that level, that pool will be divided equally among the participants.

2005 BONUS CALCULATION


EBITDA ($M)	to 2005 Plan %		BONUS		BONUS POOL ($M)
67,256	85	%	2.80	%	1,883.2
68,048	86	%	3.00	%	2,041.4
68,838	87	%	3.20	%	2,202.8
69,630	88	%	3.40	%	2,367.4
70,421	89	%	3.60	%	2,535.2
71,212	90	%	3.80	%	2,706.1
72,004	91	%	4.00	%	2,880.2
72,795	92	%	4.20	%	3,057.4
73,586	93	%	4.40	%	3,237.8
74,378	94	%	4.60	%	3,421.4
75,169	95	%	4.80	%	3,608.1
75,960	96	%	5.00	%	3,798.0
76,751	97	%	5.20	%	3,991.1
77,542	98	%	5.40	%	4,187.3
78,334	99	%	5.60	%	4,386.7
79,125	100	%	5.80	%	4,589.3
79,916	101	%	6.00	%	4,795.0
80,708	102	%	6.20	%	5,003.9
81,499	103	%	6.40	%	5,215.9
82,290	104	%	6.60	%	5,431.1
83,081	105	%	6.80	%	5,649.5
83,872	106	%	7.00	%	5,871.0
84,663	107	%	7.20	%	6,095.7
85,455	108	%	7.40	%	6,323.7
86,246	109	%	7.60	%	6,554.7
87,038	110	%	7.80	%	6,789.0

2005 Executive Bonus Plan

Participants


Name	LEVEL	% Pool
Dick Xxxxxxx	0	20.00	%

Xxxx Xxxxx	I	12.00	%

Xxx Xxxxx	I-A	5.50	%
Xxxx Xxxxxxx	I-A	5.50	%
Xxxx Xxxxxxx	I-A	5.50	%
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx	I-A	5.50	%
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx	XX	2.40	%
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx	XX	2.40	%
Xxxx Xxxxxx	XX	2.40	%
Xxx Xxxxxx	II	2.40	%
Xxx Xxxxxx	II	2.40	%
Xxx Xxxxxxxx	II	2.40	%
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx	XX	2.40	%
Xxx Xxxx	II	2.40	%

Xxxx Xxxxxxxx	III	1.20	%
Xxxx Xxxxxxx	III	1.20	%
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx	III	1.20	%
Xxx Xxxxxxx	III	1.20	%
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx	III	1.20	%
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx	III	1.20	%
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx	III	1.20	%
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx	III	1.20	%
Xxxx Xxxx	III	1.20	%
Xxx Xxxxxxxx	III	1.20	%

Xxxx Xxxxxx	XX	0.75	%
Xxxxx Xxxxxx	XX	0.75	%
Xxxx Xxxxxx	XX	0.75	%
Xxxx Xxxxxx	XX	0.75	%
Xxx Xxxxxx	XX	0.75	%
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx	XX	0.75	%
Xxxxx Xxxxxx	IV	0.75	%
Xxxx Xxxxxx	IV	0.75	%
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx	XX	0.75	%
Xxxxx Xxxxxx	XX	0.75	%
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx	XX	0.75	%
Xxxxx Xxxx	XX	0.75	%
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx	XX	0.75	%
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx	IV	0.75	%
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx	XX	0.75	%
Xxxxx Xxxxxx	IV	0.75	%
Xxxx Xxxxxxx	XX	0.75	%
Xxxxxx Xxxxx	XX	0.75	%
Xxx Xxxxxxx	XX	0.75	%
Xxxxx Xxxxxx	XX	0.75	%
		100.20	%

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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

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