Exhibit 10.1.23
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (the "Agreement") entered into as of December 1,
2001, by and between Beacon Power Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and F. Xxxxxxx Xxxx (the "Executive")
WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the services of the Executive and
the Executive wishes to be employed by the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
Section 1. Term. The Company shall employ the Executive for a term
commencing on December 1, 2001 and continuing for two years until terminated
pursuant to Section 9. The period of the Executive's employment hereunder is
referred to as the "Employment Period."
Section 2. Duties. The Executive shall serve the Company as President and
Chief Executive Officer and shall have duties and responsibilities consistent
with such position. Such duties and responsibilities shall include, but not be
limited to, overall management of corporation. The Executive will report to the
Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"). The Executive will generally
perform his services at the Company's principal offices, which are currently
located in Wilmington, Massachusetts; provided, however, that the Executive may
be required to travel from time to time in connection with Company business.
Section 3. Full Time; Best Efforts. During the Employment Period the
Executive shall use his best efforts to promote the interests of the Company and
shall devote his full business time and efforts to its business and affairs. The
Executive shall not engage in any business activity which could reasonably be
expected to interfere with the performance of the Executive's duties, services
and responsibilities hereunder.
Section 4. Compensation. The Executive shall be entitled to compensation as
follows:
(a) Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the Executive will receive a
salary at an annual gross rate of $220,000 (as the same may be adjusted from
time to time, the "Base Salary"), which shall be payable in accordance with the
Company's regular payroll practices applicable to senior executive officers. The
Executive's Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Board at least annually and may
be increased (but not decreased) in the Board's discretion, depending upon the
performance of the Executive and of the Company.
(b) Annual Bonus. The Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual
bonus based on the achievement of individual and Company performance objectives
determined annually by the Compensation Committee of the Board in consultation
with the Executive. The amount of the annual bonus will be targeted at $180,000
per year. The Executive and the Compensation Committee of the Board will set
performance goals and targets for the Annual Bonus prior to January 1, 2002.
(c) Withholding. The Company may withhold from compensation payable to the
Executive all applicable federal, state, and local withholding taxes as required
by law.
(d) Signing Bonus. The Executive shall receive a one time signing bonus of
$90,000 for the execution and delivery of this Agreement to the Company (the
"Signing Bonus"). Such Signing Bonus shall be paid to the Executive as of the
first regular payroll payment date after the Executive begins his employment
with the Company.
(e) Relocation Expense Reimbursement. In addition to the compensation
described above, the Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable
out-of-pocket relocation expenses incurred by Executive to move from Minnesota
to Massachusetts including the standard realtor broker fee incurred by Executive
in selling Executive's primary residence in Minnesota. The Company shall also
reimburse Executive for all reasonable out-of-pocket moving costs and expenses
incurred by Executive in moving his residence from Minnesota to Massachusetts.
In addition, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for reasonable coach
class travel expenses incurred by Executive (or by the two members of his
nuclear family members if they travel to meet him) for traveling between
Minnesota and Massachusetts from the start of the Executive's employment with
the Company through June 1, 2002. To the extent that any amounts paid to you
that are intended to be reimbursement for relocation expenses provided for in
this section are treated by the Internal Revenue Service or applicable law as
income to you, the Company will pay you additional compensation to make you
whole for all such related tax liabilities (i.e. a gross up).
(f) Apartment Rental. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for the
reasonable cost of an apartment within a 25 mile radius of Wilmington,
Massachusetts to be used by the Executive from the beginning of his employment
with the Company until the earlier of June 1, 2002 and the date Executive moves
to a permanent residence in a monthly amount not to exceed $3,500.
Section 5. Benefits.
(a) Generally. The Executive will be entitled to such fringe benefits as
are generally available to the Company's executive officers, including group
health and dental insurance coverage, group long and short-term disability
insurance coverage, and 401(k) plan and stock plan participation. In the event
that any insurance policy is paying disability benefits to Executive, and if the
amount of the Executive's monthly base salary that would be paid in the absence
of such disability is higher than the monthly insurance payments, then the
Company shall pay Executive an amount per month equal to such excess, for so
long as the Executive is employed with the Company. No such difference shall be
payable after the Executive's employment is terminated.
(b) Paid Vacation. In addition to U.S. statutory holidays, the Executive
will be entitled to 20 business days of paid vacation per year, accruing at the
rate of 1.66 days per month. A maximum of ten unused vacation days in any year
may be carried over and used in the next year, subject to such policies as the
Company may adopt from time to time with respect thereto. If by December 31,
each year, the Executive has accrued in excess of ten unused vacation days, the
Company shall pay (consistent with existing Company policy) the Executive a cash
amount (based on the Executive's then current year's base salary) equal to such
excess up to a maximum not to exceed ten vacation days.
(c) Life Insurance. The Company will provide the Executive with group term
life insurance in an amount equal to no less than two times his Base Salary plus
$1,000,000 provided that the Executive satisfies any evidence of insurability
requirements imposed by the applicable insurance company underwriting the life
insurance policy.
Section 6. Expense Reimbursement. The Executive will be entitled to
reimbursement of all reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by the
Executive in the ordinary course of business on behalf of the Company, subject
to presentation of appropriate documentation and compliance with policies
established by the Board.
Section 7. Non-Disclosure and Assignment of Invention Agreement;
Indemnification Agreement. The Executive shall execute and deliver to the
Company the Company's standard form of Invention and Non-Disclosure Agreement.
The Company and the Executive shall execute and deliver simultaneously with the
execution of this Agreement an Indemnification Agreement in form and substance
satisfactory to both parties (the "Indemnification Agreement").
Section 8. Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Covenants.
(a) Non-competition. The Executive agrees that during the Employment Period
and for the longer of 18 months thereafter and the period for which the Company
is providing payment to the Executive under Section 9(b)(ii) of this Agreement,
he will not own, manage, operate, control, be employed by, provide services as
an independent contractor or consultant to, own any stock or other investment in
or debt of, or otherwise be connected in any manner with the ownership,
management, operation or control of, any business or enterprise that at the time
of termination, competes with the Company or conducts business in a field in
respect of which the Board is making plans to enter.
(b) Non-solicitation. The Executive agrees that during the Employment
Period and for two years thereafter, he will not attempt to persuade or induce
any employee of the Company to terminate his or her employment with the Company
for any reason.
(c) Acknowledgments by Executive. The Executive acknowledges that the
covenants set forth in this Section 8 are reasonable in scope and are no greater
than is necessary to protect the Company's legitimate business interests. The
Executive further acknowledges that any breach by him of the covenants set forth
in this Section 8 would irreparably injure the Company, and that money damages
would not adequately compensate the Company for the injuries that it would
suffer. The parties accordingly agree that in the event of any breach or
threatened breach by the Executive of any of the covenants set forth in this
Section 8, the Company may obtain, from any court of competent jurisdiction,
both preliminary and permanent injunctive relief in order to prevent the
occurrence or continuation of such injuries, without being required to prove
actual damages or post any bond or other security. Nothing in this Agreement
shall prohibit the Company from pursuing any other legal or equitable remedy
that may be available to it in the event of the Executive's breach of any of the
covenants set forth in this Agreement.
Section 9. Termination.
(a) Employment Termination. The employment of the Executive pursuant to
this Agreement shall terminate upon the occurrence of any of the
following:
(i) At the election of the Company, for Cause, immediately upon written
notice by the Company to the Executive. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Cause" shall be deemed to exist upon a reasonable good faith finding
by the Board that the Executive has:
(1) committed an act constituting fraud, embezzlement or other
felony, determined in the reasonable opinion of the Board acting in its
sole discretion, or
(2) materially breached his obligations under this Agreement or the
Inventions and Nondisclosure Agreement, and failed to cure same within
30 days after written notice thereof is given to him by the Company, or
(3) materially breached the Company's material policies, including
but not limited to the Company's policies regarding xxxxxxx xxxxxxx
and sexual harassment, or
(4) engaged in willful misconduct, so long as the Board of Directors
provided Executive with a reasonable opportunity for Executive to
personally present his point of view to the Board.
(ii) At the election of the Company, without Cause, upon at least
90 days written notice by the Company to the Executive.
(iii) The death of the Executive, or (in the discretion of the
Company) the Disability of the Executive. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Disability" shall be considered to exist:
(1) if the Executive fails to perform his normal duties for at
least 120 days, whether or not consecutive, during any 360-day
period, or
(2) if the Executive's insurance company has confirmed that
any disability insurance benefits are going to be paid by
reason of Executive's incapacitation, or
(3) if the Board, acting in its sole discretion but after
reasonable consultation with Executive, concludes that the
Executive suffers from a degree of physical or mental
incapacitation as a result of illness or accident which makes
it reasonably unlikely that the Executive will be able to
perform his normal duties for a period of 120 days. In reaching
this conclusion, the Board may consult third parties,including,
but not limited to, other employees, physicians, psychiatrists,
and counselors.
(iv) At the election of the Executive, for any reason, upon at
least 90 days prior written notice to the Company.
(v) At the election of the Executive for Good Reason, provided
that the Executive shall have given written notice to the Company
within 30 days after he becomes aware of the occurrence of any event
of Good Reason specifying such event, and such event shall be
continued for a period of 30 days following such notice. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means any of the
following events:
(1) a material diminution in the duties, responsibilities,
position or job title of the Executive without the Executive's
written consent, or
(2) a material breach by the Company of its obligations
under this Agreement or the Indemnification Agreement, or
(3) a change in the primary location where the Executive is
expected to perform his services hereunder to a location that is
more than 50 miles away from Wilmington, Massachusetts, or
(4) a Sale of the Business (as defined below) For purposes
of this Agreement, a "Sale of the Business" means (A) the
acquisition by a person, group, or party of 50% or more of the
outstanding capital stock of the Company, (B) a change of a
majority of the members of the Board when the change of the
various directors occurs at substantially the same time, without
the approval or consent of the members of the Board before such
change, (C) the acquisition of the Company by means of a
reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, or asset
sale, unless the owners of the capital stock of the Company
before such transaction continue to own more than 50% of the
capital stock of the acquiring or succeeding entity in
substantially the same proportions, or (D) the approval of a
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
(5) the failure of the Executive to be elected or appointed
to the Board, or his removal from the Board without cause.
(b) Effect of Termination.
(i) Termination Pursuant to Section 9(a)(i) relating to termination for
cause or Section 9(a)(iv) relating to termination at the election of Executive
for any reason. In the event the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant
to Section 9(a)(i) or Section 9(a)iv), the Company shall pay to the Executive
his accrued Base Salary through the last date of his employment hereunder (the
"Termination Date") and shall continue to provide to the Executive the benefits
described in Section 5 (the "Benefits") through the Termination Date, but shall
have no further responsibility for any compensation or benefits to the Executive
for any time period subsequent to the Termination Date.
(ii) Termination pursuant to Section 9(a)(ii) relating to termination
without cause. In the event the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to
Section 9(a)(ii), the Company shall:
(1) Within five business days after the Termination
Date pay to the Executive a cash amount equal to his then monthly Base
Salary multiplied by the number of months remaining in the Employment
Period, but in no event less than 12, payable in equal monthly
installments in accordance with the Company's regular payroll
practices.
(2) Continue to provide the benefits described in
Sections 5(a) and 5(c) to the Executive until the first anniversary of
the Termination Date.
(3) Within five business days after the Termination
Date, pay the Executive an amount equal to his bonus for the prior year
(including the Signing Bonus for terminations prior to the end of the
first year) multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of full calendar months that have elapsed in the then current
calendar year prior to the Termination Date, and the denominator of
which is 12. In no event, shall payment under this Section 9(b)(ii)(3)
exceed 80% of the Executive's base salary for the prior year.
(4) Amend the vesting provisions of any stock option
agreement with the Executive so that in the event of a termination
covered by this paragraph, the Executive's then unvested options
(Executive's vested options remained vested and subject to the
provisions of the applicable option agreements and plans) would vest as
of the Termination Date according to the following schedule:
If Termination occurs: Number of unvested option
shares accelerated
o Within first 12 months of employment 150,000
o After 12 full months of employment 200,000
(iii) Termination pursuant to Section 9(a)(v) relating to
termination at the election of Executive for Good Reason. In the event
the Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to Section 9(a)(v),
the Company shall:
(1) Within five business days after the Termination Date pay
to the Executive a cash amount equal to his then monthly Base
Salary multiplied by the number of months remaining in the
Employment Period, but in no event less than 12, payable in equal
monthly installments in accordance with the Company's regular
payroll practices.
(2) Continue to provide the benefits described in Sections
5(a) and 5(c) to the Executive until the first anniversary of the
Termination Date.
(3) Within five business days after the Termination Date,
pay the Executive an amount equal to his bonus for the prior year
(including the Signing Bonus for terminations prior to the end of
the first year) multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which
is the number of full calendar months that have elapsed in the
then current calendar year prior to the Termination Date, and the
denominator of which is 12. In no event, shall payment under this
Section 9(b)(ii)(3) exceed 80% of the Executive's base salary for
the prior year.
(4) Amend the vesting provisions of any stock option
agreement with the Executive so that in the event of a
termination covered by this paragraph, the Executive's then
unvested options (Executive's vested options remained vested and
subject to the provisions of the applicable option agreements and
plans) would vest as of the Termination Date according to the
following schedule:
If Termination occurs: Percentage acceleration
of unvested options
o Within first six months of employment 0%
o Within seven and 12 months of employment 33%
o After 12 full months of employment 66%
(iv) Termination pursuant to Section 9(a)(iii) relating to the
death or disability of the Executive. In the event the Executive's employment is
terminated pursuant to Section 9(a)(iii), the Company shall:
(1) Continue to pay to Executive or his estate, as
the case may be, an amount equal to his then current Base Salary for
the three-month period following the Termination Date.
(2) Continue for the 12-month period following the
Termination Date all health and dental insurance benefits the Executive
was entitled to at the Termination Date.
(3) Amend the vesting provisions of any stock option
agreement with the Executive so that in the event of a termination
covered by this paragraph, the Executive's then unvested options
(Executive's vested options remained vested and subject to the
provisions of the applicable option agreements and plans) would vest as
of the Termination Date according to the following schedule:
If Termination occurs: Number of unvested option
shares accelerated
o Within first 12 months of employment 150,000
o After 12 full months of employment 200,000
(v) Golden Parachute Payment Excise Tax Protection. In the event that the
excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), (or any successor penalty or excise tax subsequently
imposed by law) applies to any payments or benefits paid or conferred under this
Agreement, an additional amount shall be paid by the Company to the Executive
such that the aggregate after-tax amount that he shall receive under this
Agreement, including this Section 9(iv), shall have a present value equal to the
aggregate after-tax amount that he would have received and retained had such
excise tax not applied to him. For this purpose, the Executive shall be assumed
to be subject to tax in each year related to the computation at the then maximum
applicable combined Federal and Massachusetts income tax rate, and the
determination of the present value payments to him shall be made consistent with
the principles of Section 280G of the Code.
(vi) Survival. The provisions of Sections 6-19 shall survive the
termination of the Executive's employment in accordance with their terms.
(c) Continuation/Nonrenewal. Unless this Agreement has been otherwise
terminated before the end of its initial duration described in Section 1, the
Company and the Executive will discuss possible continuation of his employment,
commencing six months before the end of its initial duration. If the Company
informs the Executive in writing that it does not wish to continue his
employment, and if in fact the Executive ceases to be an employee of the Company
at the end of such initial duration, then for twelve months after such initial
duration, the Company shall pay Executive a monthly amount (on its regular
payroll date) equal to his last prevailing monthly base salary (plus one/twelfth
of his cash bonus for the most recent fiscal year of the Company), less
applicable withholding taxes.
Section 10. No Conflicting Agreements. The Executive represents and
warrants to the Company that he is not a party to or bound by any
confidentiality, non-competition, non-solicitation or other agreement or
restriction that could conflict with or be violated by the performance of his
duties for the Company.
Section 11. No Disparagement. Each party agrees that at all times following
the termination of the Executive's employment hereunder, such party shall not
make or cause to be made, directly or indirectly, any statements to any third
party that disparage or denigrate the other party or, in the case of the
Company, any of its current or former directors, officers or employees, unless
required by law.
Section 12. Enforceability, etc. This Agreement shall be interpreted in
such a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any
provision hereof shall be prohibited or invalid under any such law, such
provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity,
without invalidating or nullifying the remainder of such provision or any other
provisions of this Agreement. If any one or more of the provisions contained in
this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be excessively broad as to
duration, geographical scope, activity, or subject, such provisions shall be
construed by limiting and reducing it so as to be enforceable to the maximum
extent permitted by applicable law.
Section 13. Notices. Any notice or other communication given pursuant to
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally delivered, sent by
nationally recognized overnight courier or express mail, or mailed by first
class certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested as
follows:
(a) If to the Executive: (b) If to the Company:
F. Xxxxxxx Xxxx Beacon Power Corporation
0000 Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx 000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxx 00000 Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
xxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx Attn: Compensation Committee
or to such other address as a party shall have designated by notice to the other
party.
Section 14. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts without giving effect to any choice or conflict of laws provision
or rule that would cause the application of the domestic substantive laws of any
other jurisdiction.
Section 15. Amendments and Waivers. No amendment or waiver of this
Agreement or any provision hereof shall be binding upon the party against whom
enforcement of such amendment or waiver is sought unless it is made in writing
and signed by or on behalf of such party. The waiver by either party of a breach
of any provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not operate and be
construed as a waiver or a continuing waiver by that party of the same or any
subsequent breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other party.
Section 16. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding on and inure to
the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors and
administrators, successors and assigns, except that it may not be assigned by
the Company without the Executive's consent, provided that the Company may
assign this Agreement to an entity that acquires substantially all of the
Company's assets by means of an asset sale, merger or otherwise, provided
further that such entity shall agree in writing to assume and be bound by this
Agreement. This Agreement is personal to the Executive and is not assignable by
him.
Section 17. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the final and
entire agreement of the parties with respect to the matters covered hereby and
replaces and supersedes all other agreements and understandings relating hereto.
Section 18. Pronouns. Whenever the context may require, any pronouns used
in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter
forms, and the singular form of nouns and pronouns shall include the plural, and
vice versa.
Section 19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, and with counterpart signature pages, each of which shall be
deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as a sealed instrument
as of the date first above written.
EXECUTIVE BEACON POWER CORPORATION
_______________________ By: _____________________________
F. Xxxxxxx Xxxx Signature
Print name, title
