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EXHIBIT 10.18
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into this 1st day of July, 1997, by
and between SPEEDFAM INTERNATIONAL, INC., an Illinois corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company") and XXXXXX X. XXXXX (hereinafter referred to as
the "Employee").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the services of the Employee in
the capacities set forth herein, and the Employee desires to be employed by the
Company in such capacities;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants
herein contained, the Company and the Employee hereby agree as follows:
1. Employment. The Company hereby employs the Employee and the
Employee hereby accepts employment with the Company upon the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth and subject to the policies as
published in the Company's Employee Handbook, as from time to time
amended.
2. Term. Subject to the provisions for earlier termination
hereinafter set forth in Section 12 of this Agreement, the term of
employment hereunder shall commence on the date hereof and end on the
first May 31st after the date hereof.
3. Automatic Extension. The term of employment of the Employee
hereunder shall automatically continue for additional one (1) year
terms upon the same terms and conditions contained herein unless either
the Company or the Employee shall notify the other at least six (6)
months prior to the expiration of the initial one (1) year term or any
renewal term of its or his intention to terminate the term of
employment of the Employee as of the end of the initial one (1) year
term or any such renewal term, as the case may be.
4. Compensation. The Company agrees to provide the Employee
with the following compensation for all services rendered under this
Agreement:
4.1. Salary. During the term hereof, the Company
shall pay to the Employee a Base Annual Salary of Ninety-Six
Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty Nine (96,729) BRITISH POUNDS
STERLING, payable in accordance with the standard payroll
practices of the Company (including any salary-reduction
contributions to plans or programs maintained by the
Company). Further, the Base Annual Salary of the Employee
shall be reviewed annually by the Company and adjusted as
appropriate.
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4.2. Annual Incentive Opportunity. During the term of
this Agreement, the Employee shall participate in the annual
incentive plan maintained by the Company for its executives.
4.3. Long-term Incentive Opportunity. During the term
of this Agreement, the Employee shall participate in any
long-term incentive plan maintained by the Company, including,
but not limited to, stock options, performance shares,
restricted stock and long-term cash incentive plans, in a
manner consistent with other executives of the Company, as
determined by the Board.
4.4. Other Benefits. To the extent the Employee is
eligible under the appropriate laws, the Employee shall be
entitled to participate in and receive benefits under any and
all pension, profit-sharing, health, disability and insurance
plans, if any, which the Company may maintain. The Employee
shall also receive an allowance of Fifteen Thousand (15,000)
BRITISH POUNDS STERLING annually for automobile expenses.
5. Duties. The Employee shall, subject to election and removal
by the Board of Directors of SpeedFam Limited, a United Kingdom
corporation and subsidiary of the Company in their sole discretion,
serve as MANAGING DIRECTOR of SpeedFam Limited. As such, the Employee's
duties and responsibilities shall include, but shall not be limited to,
establishing objectives, plans and budgets for the European operations
of the Company. The Managing Director will be accountable for meeting
preestablished profit and loss goals and the attainment of current and
long-range objectives. The Managing Director shall report to the
President/Chief Operating Officer of the Company. The Employee shall
also be responsible for the performance of such other duties and
responsibilities as may be prescribed from time to time by the
President/Chief Operating Officer of the Company or the Board Directors
of SpeedFam Limited.
6. Extent of Service. The Employee shall devote the Employee's
full business time, attention, and energies to the business of SpeedFam
Limited and its Affiliates and shall not, during the term of this
Agreement, be engaged in any other business activity, whether or not
such activity is pursued for gain, profit, or other pecuniary
advantage, unless written approval is first secured from the Board of
Directors of SpeedFam Limited.
7. Working Facilities. The Employee shall be furnished with
office space, furnishings, secretarial support and such other
facilities and services which are reasonably necessary for the
performance of the Employee's duties.
8. Expenses. The Company will reimburse the Employee for all
reasonable business expenses which are incurred by the Employee in the
promoting of the interests of the Company upon presentation by the
Employee from time to time (at
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least monthly) of an itemized account of such expenses containing such
detail as may reasonably be required by the Board of Directors of
SpeedFam Limited.
9. Vacation. The Employee shall be entitled to paid vacation
in accordance with Company policy. All vacation time shall be taken by
the Employee at such times as shall be mutually agreed upon by the
Employee and the President/Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
10. Disability. If, as a result of sickness or other
disability, the Employee is not able to perform the Employee's duties,
this Section 10 shall apply as follows:
10.1. For the first ninety (90) consecutive days of
sickness or other disability the Company shall continue to pay
the Employee full Base Annual Salary (reduced by any payments
from any short-term disability plan which may be maintained by
the Company), and shall continue to pay premiums on then
existing group life, health, disability and other insurance
plans with respect to which the Employee participates,
provided the Employee remains eligible to participate
thereunder.
10.2. If the disability or other sickness continues
past ninety (90) consecutive days, the Company, in its sole
discretion, may elect to place the Employee on Disability
Leave of Absence. During such period, the Company shall, for
the remainder of the contract term, or until the Employee
returns from such Disability Leave of Absence, continue to pay
premiums on then existing group life, health, disability and
other insurance plans with respect to which the Employee
participates, provided the Employee remains eligible to
participate thereunder. Further, the Company shall pay to the
Employee, two-thirds (2/3) of the Employee's Base Annual
Salary, reduced by any payments for which the Employee is
eligible from any disability insurance programs maintained by
the Company.
11. Death. If the Employee dies during the term of this
Agreement, the Company shall pay to the Employee's Beneficiary (or if
there is no named Beneficiary, the estate of the Employee), the
compensation as set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement, for the
period up to the date of the Employee's death. In no event shall the
Company be obligated to pay to any person any other compensation with
respect to any period following the date of the Employee's death.
12. Termination of Employment.
12.1. Termination for Cause. The Company may
terminate the Employee's employment under this Section of the
Agreement for Cause. Cause shall be defined as:
12.1.1. The Employee's failure or refusal to
perform the Employee's duties as provided for in this
Agreement, occasioned by reason other than
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sickness or other disability of the Employee, which
is not cured within ten (10) business days after
written notice from the Company specifying such
failure or refusal has been delivered to the
Employee;
12.1.2. Commission by the Employee of any
materially fraudulent, dishonest or other act of
misconduct in the performance of the Employee's
duties hereunder, other than at the specific
direction of the Board; or,
12.1.3. Conviction for any felony or crime
involving moral turpitude.
12.1.4. Following a Termination for Cause, the
Company shall pay to the Employee the Base Annual
Salary provided in Section<0- 32>4.1 accrued up to
the date of termination. In no event shall the
Company be obligated to pay any other compensation
with respect to any period before or after the date
of such termination.
12.2. Termination Following a Change of Control. If,
during a period of two (2) years following a Change of
Control, the employment of the Employee is terminated by the
Company for any reason other than Cause, or if the Employee is
subject to Constructive Termination, benefits shall be payable
under this Section 12.2.
12.2.1. The Employee shall receive within
thirty (30) days of termination a single payment
equal to two (2) times the sum of (i) the Employee's
highest Base Annual Salary during the Employee's
employment with the Company and (ii) the Employee's
highest target annual incentive award opportunity.
12.3. Other Termination at the Election of the
Company. The Company may elect to terminate the employment of
the Employee for any reason other than Cause or following a
Change of Control, upon written notice to the Employee,
accompanied by payment in a lump sum of:
12.3.1. All compensation accrued up to the date
of termination;
12.3.2. An amount equal to one (1) times the
Employee's Base Annual Salary of record on the date
of termination.
13. Restrictive Covenants.
13.1. Employee understands that the Company's
business involves the design, improvement, development,
testing, manufacturing, marketing and sale of products, and
that this business requires substantial investments in capital
and substantial commitments of time and effort by the
Company's employees. The
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Employee further understands that, as a result, certain of the
Company's personnel, including the Employee, acquire
information with respect to customer goodwill, trade secrets
and Confidential Information, which, of itself and apart from
the Employee's abilities, could be of great value to a
competitor of the Company, potential competitors of the
Company, and to others.
13.2. The Employee further understands that
employment with the Company is conditioned upon the Company's
being able to place complete trust and confidence in the
Employee and to rely on the Employee's doing everything
possible to avoid the disclosure or use of Confidential
Information to persons, corporations, organizations and others
outside the Company, which may become known to, or subject to
the control of the Employee during the term of employment
hereunder. The Employee also understands that competition in
the manufacture, sale, and development of products is not
local in nature or scope, but involves various corporations,
organizations and others located within the United States and
throughout the world.
13.3. In recognition of these circumstances and for
the purpose of inducing the Company to employ the Employee (or
continue the employment of the Employee with appropriate
compensation reviews) to repose trust and confidence in the
Employee, and to make Confidential Information available to
the Employee, the Employee agrees that the following
restrictive covenants are necessary and proper for the
protection of the Company.
13.4. Subject to Section 13.6 below, the
Employee will promptly disclose and assign to the Company,
without the right to any form of compensation therefore, every
invention that the Employee, individually or jointly with
others, during the term of the Employee's employment with the
Company and for a period of one (1) year following termination
of such employment for any reason, may discover, invent,
conceive or originate, relating in any way to the present or
contemplated scope of the Company's business with regard to
any of its clients, customers or vendors or to any Product,
Technology, process, or device dealt in, used or under
development or manufacture by the Company for itself or others
or that results from or may be suggested by any work the
Employee may do for the Company or at the Company's request.
The Employee will fully cooperate with the Company in applying
for and securing in the name of the Company or its designee
patents or copyrights with respect to said Inventions in each
country in which the Company may desire to secure patent or
copyright protection. The Employee will promptly execute all
proper documents presented to the Employee for signature by
the Company to enable the Company or its designee to secure
such patent or copyright protection and to transfer legal
title therein, together with any patents or copyrights that
may be issued thereon or in connection therewith, to the
Company or its designee. The Employee will give such true
information and testimony as may be requested of the Employee
by the Company relative to any of said Inventions.
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13.5. Subject to Section 13.6 below, the Company
shall have the exclusive right to use in its business, and to
make, use and sell products, processes, and/or services
arising out of any Invention, whether or not patentable, which
is assignable by the Employee to the Company pursuant to
Section 13.4 above.
13.6. Pursuant to Section 2(3) of the Illinois
Employee Patent Act, the Employee is hereby notified that
Sections 13.4 and 13.5 above do not apply to an Invention for
which no equipment, supplies, facility, technology,
confidential information, or trade secret information of the
Company was used and which was developed entirely on the
Employee's own time, unless:
13.6.1. The Invention was related:
13.6.1.1. To the business of the
Company; or
13.6.1.2. To the Company's actual or
demonstrably anticipated research or
development; or;
13.6.2. The Invention results from any work
performed by the Employee for the Company.
13.7. The Employee agrees that all financial data,
customer lists, plans, contracts, agreements, literature,
manuals, catalogues, brochures, books, records, computer files
or applications, maps, correspondence, and other materials
furnished or made available to the Employee by the Company or
an Affiliate, or any of its clients, or created, prepared or
secured through the efforts of the Employee, relating to the
business conducted by the Company or an Affiliate, whether or
not containing any Confidential Information, are and shall
remain the property of the Company, and the Employee agrees to
deliver all such materials, including all copies thereof, to
the Company upon termination of the Employee's employment
hereunder, or at any other time at the Company's request.
13.8. Other than as expressly directed by the Company
and in the performance of duties to the Company or with the
expressed permission of the Company, the Employee shall never,
during or following the Employee's employment with the
Company, directly or indirectly, sell, use, disclose, lecture
upon, or publish data of information containing or relating to
any Confidential Information or Technology of the Company or
its Affiliates or any Invention assignable to the Company
pursuant to the terms of Section 13.4 above.
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13.9. During the term of the Employee's employment
with the Company and for a period of two (2) years after the
termination thereof, the Employee agrees that the Employee
will not:
13.9.1. Own or have any interest, directly or
indirectly, in or act as an officer, director, agent,
employee, or consultant of, or assist in any way or
in any capacity, any person, firm, association,
partnership, corporation or other entity which sells
or provides products or services in competition with
the Company or its Affiliates anywhere within the
world where any Confidential Information acquired by
the Employee would reasonably be considered
advantageous to such other competing entity, or
13.9.2. Directly or indirectly entice, induce
or in any manner influence any person who is, or
shall be, in the service of the Company or its
Affiliates to leave such service for the purpose of
engaging in business or being employed by or
associated with any person, firm, association,
partnership, corporation or other entity which sells
or provides products or services in competition with
the Company or its Affiliates anywhere in the world.
If any court shall finally hold that the time,
territory or any other provision of this Section 13.9
constitutes an unreasonable restriction against the
Employee, the Employee agrees that the provisions
hereof shall not be rendered null and void, but shall
apply as to such time, territory, and other extent as
such court may determine to be a reasonable
restriction under the circumstances involved.
13.10. The Employee understands that if there is a
breach by the Employee of any duty to the Company with respect
to any Confidential Information or Invention, the Company may
suffer irreparable injury and may not have adequate remedy at
law. As a result, the Employee agrees that if a breach of this
Agreement occurs, the Company may, in addition to any other
remedies available to it, bring an action or actions for
injunction, specific performance, or both, and have entered
into a temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent
injunction, or other action compelling specific performance.
14. Definitions.
14.1. "Affiliate" means any entity in which the
Company, or any entity which owns, directly or indirectly, a
majority ownership interest in the Company, owns, directly or
indirectly, at least a twenty percent (20%) interest in such
entity.
14.2. "Base Annual Salary" means the annualized value
of the Employee's salary, based on the most recent pay period.
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14.3. "Board" means the Board of Directors of the
Company.
14.4. "Change in Duties" means:
14.4.1. A significant reduction in the nature
or scope of the Employee's authority or duties from
those immediately prior to the date on which a Change
of Control occurs;
14.4.2. A material reduction in the Employee's
Base Annual Salary;
14.4.3. Exclusion from any incentive program
from which the Employee was previously eligible, or
which other executives with comparable duties
participate in;
14.4.4. A change in location of the Employee's
principal place of employment by more than fifty (50)
miles;
14.5. "Change of Control" means:
14.5.1. Any "person", including a "group" as
determined in accordance with Section 13(d)(3) of the
Exchange Act, other than Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, his spouse,
descendants, or any Trust for the benefit of Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxx, his spouse or descendants, who is, or
becomes, the beneficial owner of securities of the
Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of
the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding securities, other than by reason of any
redemption of stock resulting from the death of Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx or his spouse;
14.5.2. As a result of, or in connection with,
any tender offer or exchange offer, merger or other
business combination, sale of assets or contested
election, or any combination of the foregoing
transactions (a "Transaction") the persons who
constituted the Board of the Company prior to the
Transaction shall cease to constitute a majority of
the Board of the Company or any successor to the
Company.
14.5.3. The Company is merged or consolidated
with another corporation and as a result of the
merger or consolidation, less than seventy percent
(70%) of the outstanding voting securities of the
surviving or resulting corporation shall then be
owned in the aggregate by the former stockholders of
the Company;
14.5.4. A tender offer or exchange offer is
made and consummated for the ownership of securities
of the Company representing more than fifty percent
(50%) of the combined voting power of the Company's
then outstanding voting securities; or,
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14.5.5. The Company transfers substantially all
of its assets to another corporation of which the
Company owns less than fifty percent (50%) of the
outstanding voting securities.
14.6. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as from time to time amended.
14.7. "Company" means SpeedFam International, Inc.,
an Illinois corporation.
14.8. "Confidential Information" means any and all
Technology and/or information which:
14.8.1. Is provided to the Employee by the
Company;
14.8.2. Is created, developed, or otherwise
generated by or on behalf of the Company;
14.8.3. Concerns or relates to any aspect of
the Company's business; or
14.8.4. Is, for any reason, identified by the
Company as confidential.
14.8.5. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this Section 14.8, Confidential
Information shall not include such information which
the Employee can show, clearly and convincingly:
14.8.5.1. Is publicly and openly known
and in the public domain;
14.8.5.2. Becomes publicly and openly
known and in the public domain through no fault
of the Employee; or
14.8.5.3. Is in the Employee's
possession and documented prior to this
Agreement, lawfully obtained from a source
other than from the Company, and not subject to
any obligation of confidentiality or restricted
use.
14.9. "Constructive Termination" means the voluntary
termination of employment by the Employee following a Change
in Duties following a Change of Control.
14.10. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as from to time amended.
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14.11. "Invention" means any new or useful art,
discovery, or improvement (including any technologies, tests,
programs, products, concepts, ideas, apparatus, equipment,
machinery, processes, methods, formulae, designs or
techniques), whether or not related to a Product and whether
or not patentable, and all the know-how related thereto.
14.12. "Product" means any product or service which
is, or may in the reasonable future, be manufactured, sold,
designed, developed, considered by, or of interest to the
Company or an Affiliate (including, but not limited to, any
product or service involving CMP planarization technology,
such as CMP-V tools or any free-abrasive machining, lapping,
polishing and grinding).
14.13. "Technology" means prototypes, models,
concepts, inventions, circuit designs, drawings, hardware,
technological developments and improvements, methods,
techniques, systems, documentation, data, works of authorship,
products, and related information whether or not patentable,
copyrightable, and whether or not presently used or used in
the future.
14.14. "Voting Securities" mean any securities which
ordinarily possess the power to vote in the election of
directors without the happening of any precondition or
contingency.
15. Miscellaneous.
15.1. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements
and understandings by and between the Employee and the Company
and any of its Affiliates or their respective directors,
officers, shareholders, employees, attorneys, agents, or
representatives, including any Severance Agreement, Employment
Letter, Employment Terms, Non-Disclosure Agreement and/or
Employment Agreement and constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties, respecting the subject matter hereof and
there are no representations, warranties or other commitments
other than those expressed herein.
15.2. The Employee represents and warrants to the
Company that the Employee is not a party to or bound by, and
the employment of the Employee by the Company or the
Employee's disclosure of any information to the Company or its
use of such information will not violate or breach any
employment, retainer, consulting, license, non-competition,
non-disclosure, trade secrets or other agreement between the
Employee and any other person, partnership, corporation, joint
venture, association or other entity.
15.3. No modification or amendment of, or waiver
under, this Agreement shall be valid unless signed in writing
and signed by the Employee and an appropriate officer of the
Company, pursuant to expressed authority of the Board.
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15.4. The Employee agrees to indemnify the Company
and its Affiliates against, and to hold the Company and its
Affiliates harmless from, any and all claims, lawsuits,
losses, damages, expenses, costs and liabilities, including,
without limitation, court costs and attorney's fees, which the
Company or any of its Affiliates may sustain as a result of,
or in connection with, either directly or indirectly, the
Employee's breach or violation of any of the provisions of
this Agreement.
15.5. The Employee hereby agrees that if the Employee
violates any provision of this Agreement, the Company will be
entitled, if it so elects, to institute and prosecute
proceedings at law or in equity to obtain damages with respect
to such violation or to enforce the specific performance of
this Agreement by the Employee or to enjoin the Employee from
engaging in any activity in violation hereof.
15.6. The waiver by either party to this Agreement of
a breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other shall
not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent
breach.
15.7. Any communication which may be required under
this Agreement shall be deemed to have been properly given
when delivered personally at the address set forth below for
the intended party during normal business hours, when sent by
facsimile or other electronic transmission to the respective
facsimile transmission numbers of the parties set forth below
with telephone confirmation of receipt, or when sent by U.S.
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid as follows:
If to the Company: SpeedFam Limited
c/o SpeedFam International, Inc.
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx of America
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Confirm: 000-000-0000
If to the Employee: 00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx XX0 0XX
Facsimile: 011-444-556-11360
Confirm: 011-441-455-631707
Notices shall be given to such other addressee or address, or
both, or by way of such other facsimile transmission number,
as a particular party may from time to time request by written
notice to the other party to the Agreement. Each
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notice, request, demand, approval or other communication which
is sent in accordance with this Section shall be deemed to be
delivered, given and received for all purposes of this
Agreement as of two (2) business days after the date of
deposit thereof for mailing in a duly constituted U.S. post
office or branch thereof, one (1) business day after deposit
with a recognized overnight courier service or upon written
confirmation of receipt of any facsimile transmission. Notice
given to a party hereto by any other method shall only be
deemed to be delivered, given and received when actually
received in writing by such party.
15.8. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the Company and the Employee and their
respective heirs, personal representatives, successors and
assigns.
15.9. All claims, disputes and other matters in
question arising out of, or relating to this Agreement, or the
breach thereof, shall be decided by arbitration, pursuant to
the rules established by the American Arbitration Association
for the arbitration of such disputes, and such arbitration
shall occur in Chandler, Arizona.
15.10. This Agreement may be signed in multiple
counterparts which when taken together shall constitute the
entire Agreement.
15.11. This Agreement shall be governed and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the day and year first above written.
SPEEDFAM INTERNATIONAL, INC. an Illinois
Corporation
By /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
---------------------------------------
Title President/CEO
------------------------------------
Employee
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
------------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
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