EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
10.1
This is
an Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) between Xxxxxxx Electronics, Inc., a
Minnesota corporation (the “Corporation”), and Xxxxxx X. de Petra
(“Employee”).
Recitals
WHEREAS,
Employee has been acting as the Corporation’s Interim Chief Executive Officer
and President; and
WHEREAS,
On April 23, 2008, the Corporation’s Board of Directors appointed Employee the
Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and President and eliminated the Interim
nature of the relationship; and
WHEREAS,
Employee and the Corporation desire to state in writing the terms and conditions
of Employee’s employment by the Corporation; and
WHEREAS,
Employee and the Corporation agree to the terms and conditions of Employee’s
employment by the Corporation hereinafter set forth in this
Agreement;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the
mutual covenants and undertakings set forth below, the parties agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
1
EMPLOYMENT;
TERM OF EMPLOYMENT
1.1) Employment. The
Corporation hereby agrees to continue to employ Employee and Employee hereby
agrees to continue employment with the Corporation in the position of Chief
Executive Officer and President upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set
forth in this Agreement effective as of the date on which Employee executes this
Agreement.
1.2) Term. Employee’s
employment with the Corporation shall continue until terminated by Employee or
the Corporation in accordance with Articles 4 or 6.
ARTICLE
2
DUTIES;
EXTENT OF SERVICES
2.1) Duties. During
Employee’s employment with the Corporation, Employee shall serve the Corporation
faithfully and to the best of his ability. Except as approved in
writing by the Board of Directors or its designees, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld, Employee shall devote his full business and professional
time, energy, and diligence to the performance of the duties of such
office. Employee shall perform such duties for the Corporation (a) as
are customarily incident to his office and (b) as may be assigned or delegated
to him from time to time by the Board of Directors. During employment
with the Corporation, Employee shall not engage in any other business activity
that would conflict or interfere with his ability to perform his duties under
this Agreement. Employee shall use his best efforts to promote the
interests of the Corporation.
2.2) Compliance with Rules;
Authority. Employee agrees to be subject to the Corporation’s
control, rules, regulations, policies and programs. Employee further
agrees that he shall carry on all correspondence, publicity and advertising in
the Corporation’s name and he shall not enter into any contract on behalf of the
Corporation except as expressly authorized by the Corporation.
ARTICLE
3
COMPENSATION
3.1) Compensation for
Services. As compensation for his services to the Corporation,
the Corporation will pay Employee as set forth in the attached Exhibit A, which
shall be reviewed by the Board of Directors and/or its designee from time to
time but no less than annually. All compensation paid to Employee
shall be inclusive of all applicable income, social security, and other taxes
and charges that are required by law to be withheld by the Corporation or that
are requested to be withheld by Employee. All regular compensation
shall be payable in accordance with the Corporation’s usual payroll
schedule.
3.2) Benefits. Employee
shall be eligible to participate in or receive benefits under the Corporation’s
paid time off (PTO) policy, employee benefit plans, health plans, or
arrangements, if any, made available from time to time by the Corporation to its
employees as set forth in an employee manual or otherwise including, but not
limited to, medical, dental, and long-term disability coverage, to the extent
that Employee’s age, tenure, and title make him eligible to receive those
benefits. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to or shall in any
way restrict the Corporation’s right to amend, modify or terminate any of its
benefits or benefit plans during the term of Employee’s employment.
3.3) Business
Expenses. During Employee’s employment, the Corporation shall
reimburse Employee for all ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred by
Employee in connection with the business of the Corporation and its subsidiaries
and consistent with the Corporation’s policies in effect from time to time with
respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses. Payment
or reimbursement to Employee will be made upon submission by Employee of
vouchers, receipts or other evidence and documentation of such expense in a form
reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation and in compliance with applicable
requirements of taxing authorities.
ARTICLE
4
TERMINATION
4.1) Termination. Either
Employee or the Corporation may terminate the employment relationship at any
time, for any or no reason, upon ninety (90) days’ written notice to the other
party. The Corporation shall have the right, in its sole discretion,
to provide Employee ninety (90) days’ pay and benefits in lieu of written
notice. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall have the
right to terminate Employee’s employment immediately for “Cause” as defined in
Section 4.4 below.
4.2) Return of
Property. Immediately upon termination (or at such earlier
time as requested by the Corporation’s Board of Directors or its designees),
Employee shall deliver to the Corporation all of its property, including but not
limited to all work in progress, research data, equipment, originals and copies
of documents and software, customer information and lists, financial
information, and all other material in Employee’s possession or control that
belongs to the Corporation or its customers or contains Confidential Information
(as defined in Section 5.1(E) below).
4.3) Payment Upon
Termination. Except as provided in Section 4.4 or Article 6,
after the effective date of termination, Employee shall not be entitled to any
compensation, benefits, or payments whatsoever except for compensation earned
through Employee’s last day of employment and any accrued benefits.
4.4) Severance. If
Employee satisfies the conditions set forth in Section 4.4(C) of this Agreement,
the Corporation will provide Employee the severance benefits described in this
Section 4.4. Nothing in this provision is intended to limit the
Corporation’s right to provide Employee ninety (90) days’ pay and benefits in
lieu of written notice or Employee’s right to receive such pay and benefits, nor
shall such pay and benefits in any way limit the severance contemplated by
Section 4.4 of this Agreement.
A. Termination by Employer with
Cause. For purposes of this Article 4, “Cause” shall be
defined to include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. Employee’s
neglect of any of his material duties or his failure to carry out reasonable
directives from the Board of Directors, or its designees, or failure to comply
with rules, regulations or policies of the Corporation or its Board of
Directors;
2. Any
willful or deliberate misconduct that is injurious to the Corporation, its
business reputation or its goodwill;
3. Dishonesty
in any dealings between Employee and the Corporation or between Employee and
vendors or customers of the Corporation;
4. Employee’s
commission of a felony, or other crime involving moral turpitude or immoral
conduct, whether or not against the Corporation and whether or not committed
during Employee’s employment;
5. Employee’s
acting in a manner adverse to the best interests of the Corporation including,
but not limited to, being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while
on the job; or
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6.
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Employee’s
breach of any term of this
Agreement.
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B. Termination by Employee for
Good Reason. For purposes of this Article 4, “Good Reason”
shall be defined to include the following:
1. The
assignment to Employee, without Employee’s consent, of employment
responsibilities that are not of comparable responsibility and status to the
employment responsibilities described in this Agreement;
2. The
Corporation’s reduction of Employee’s base salary without Employee’s consent
except for any reduction implemented as part of a broad-based employee cost
reduction initiative; or
3. The
Corporation’s requiring Employee to be based anywhere other than within one
hundred (100) miles of the Corporation’s principal location at the time of
Employee’s execution of this Agreement.
X. Xxxxxxxxx Benefits Upon
Termination by the Corporation Without Cause or Termination by Employee for Good
Reason. If (1) Employee’s employment is terminated by the
Corporation without Cause in accordance with Section 4.1 or is terminated by
Employee for Good Reason in accordance with Section 4.4(B), and
(2) Employee executes and does not rescind a separation agreement supplied
by the Corporation, which will include, but not be limited to, a comprehensive
release of all legal claims, then the Corporation will (a) pay Employee in a
lump sum or at regular payroll intervals, at the Corporation’s option, an amount
equal to twelve (12) months of Employee’s then current base salary, subject to
required and authorized deductions and withholdings; and (b) continue to pay the
Corporation’s ordinary share of premiums for six (6) calendar months for
Employee’s COBRA continuation coverage in the Corporation’s group medical,
dental, and life insurance plans (as applicable), provided Employee elects such
continuation coverage and timely pays Employee’s share of such premiums, if
any.
ARTICLE
5
RESTRICTION
AGAINST COMPETITION; CONFIDENTIALITY
5.1) Restriction Against
Competition. Employee acknowledges that he is employed in a
position of trust and confidence and has had and will continue to have access to
and become familiar with the unique methods, services and procedures used by the
Corporation and that, as part of Employee’s duties, he has developed and will
continue to develop and maintain close working relationships with vendors,
customers and employees of the Corporation and its
subsidiaries. Employee further acknowledges that the Corporation and
its subsidiaries, over the years, through goodwill, advertising, honest business
methods and aggressive promotion, have built a lucrative business and obtained
loyal vendors and customers. Employee further acknowledges that
disclosure or use of any of the Corporation’s Confidential Information relating
to the operation of the business of the Corporation or its subsidiaries (as
defined in Section 5.1(E) of this Agreement) could have a serious detrimental
effect upon the Corporation, the monetary loss from which would be difficult, if
not impossible, to measure. In consequence of the foregoing, and in
consideration for the Corporation’s agreement to provide severance rights and
benefits to Employee as set forth in Article 4 of this Agreement and the Change
of Control rights and benefits to Employee as set forth in Article 6 of this
Agreement, which Employee acknowledges and agrees are rights and benefits to
which he is otherwise not entitled, Employee agrees as follows:
A. Noncompetition. During
Employee’s employment and for a period of two (2) years after termination of
Employee’s employment, regardless of the reason for and timing of the
termination, Employee agrees as follows:
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1.
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Not
to directly or indirectly engage in, own, manage, operate, join, control,
consult with, participate in the ownership, operation or control of, be
employed by, perform services for, contract with or be connected with as a
director, officer, principal, shareholder, member, agent, consultant,
salesperson or otherwise, any person, corporation, partnership or other
entity that produces or markets any product or service competitive with
the Corporation’s environmental controls and sensors business, or conspire
with others to do so;
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2.
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Not
to directly or indirectly engage in, own, manage, operate, join, control,
consult with, participate in the ownership, operation or control of, be
employed by, perform services for, contract with or be connected with as a
director, officer, principal, shareholder, member, agent, consultant,
salesperson or otherwise, any person, corporation, partnership or other
entity that produces or markets any product or service competitive with
the Corporation’s electronic manufacturing services (“EMS”) business, or
conspire with others to do so, in any state where the Corporation markets
its EMS business or, as of Employee’s termination date, has articulable
plans to actively do so.
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B.
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Exceptions to
Noncompetition. The restrictions contained in Section
5.1(A) will
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1.
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Not
prevent Employee from the
following:
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a.
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Owning
up to three percent (3%) of a publicly held company that competes with the
Corporation and/or its subsidiaries, so long as Employee does not
otherwise violate the terms of this Article 5;
or
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b.
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Accepting
employment with a large diversified organization with separate and
distinct divisions that do not compete, directly or indirectly, with the
Corporation on the following conditions: Prior to accepting such
employment, Employee provides the Corporation written assurance that he
will not provide any of the Corporation’s trade secrets or other
Confidential Information to the new employer, will not render any
services, directly or indirectly, to any division or business unit that
competes, directly or indirectly, with the Corporation, and that he will
not violate any of the terms of Article 5 of this Agreement;
or
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2.
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Have
no force or effect if the circumstances of Employee’s termination of
employment trigger the Corporation’s obligation to pay severance pursuant
to Section 4.4 or Change of Control Termination amounts pursuant to
Article 6 herein and the Corporation is unable to pay the amount due to
Employee as a result of the Corporation’s liquidation or
insolvency.
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C. Nonsolicitation of
Customers. Employee agrees he will not, during his employment
and for a two-year period immediately following termination of his employment
hereunder, regardless of the reason for and timing of the termination, attempt
to divert any business of the Corporation or its subsidiaries by soliciting,
contacting, or communicating with any customers of the Corporation or its
subsidiaries with whom Employee, or employees under his supervision, had
contacts during the year preceding termination of his employment or any persons
or entities who might reasonably be considered within the class of customers
actively solicited by the Corporation or its subsidiaries.
D. Nonsolicitation of Employees
and Contractors. Employee agrees he will not, during his
employment and for a two-year period immediately following termination of his
employment, regardless of the reason for and timing of the termination, solicit
any then-current employee or contractor of the Corporation or its subsidiaries
for the purpose of hiring or attempting to hire such employee or contractor, nor
will Employee in any manner attempt to persuade or encourage any of the
then-current employees or contractors of the Corporation or its subsidiaries to
discontinue their employment or contractual engagement with the Corporation or
its subsidiaries.
E.
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Confidential
Information. Employee will not, during or after the term
of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, use or disclose any of the
Corporation’s Confidential Information relating to the operation of the
business of the Corporation or its subsidiaries to any person, firm,
corporation, association, or other entity for any reason or purpose
whatsoever except the furtherance of the interests of the Corporation or
its subsidiaries. For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential
Information” includes but is not limited to the
following:
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Information
not generally known and which is proprietary to the Corporation including,
without limitation, use of or customization to computer application programs;
financial, management, or customer data that is provided, or to which access is
provided, in the course of employment by the Corporation; data or conclusions or
opinions formed by Employee in the course of employment; policies and
procedures; manuals; trade secrets; methods, procedures, or techniques
pertaining to the business of the Corporation or a customer of the Corporation;
specifications for products or services of the Corporation; systems; price
lists; marketing plans; sales or service analyses; financial information;
customer names or other information; vendor names or other information; employee
names or other information; research and development data; diagrams; drawings;
videotapes, audiotapes, or computerized media used as training regimens; notes,
memoranda, notebooks, and all other records or documents that are handled, seen,
or used by Employee in the course of employment; information not likely to be
available to the general public without the expenditure of time or expense; and
any other information designated as such by the Corporation in its sole
discretion as confidential. “Confidential Information” does not
include (i) information which is in the public domain, (ii) information which,
through no fault of Employee, hereafter comes into the public domain, or (iii)
information disclosed to Employee by third parties who do not violate duties to
the Corporation in disclosing that information.
5.2 Copyrights.
A.
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Employee
hereby acknowledges and agrees that, to the extent any work performed by
Employee for the Corporation gives rise to the creation of any
copyrightable material (“Work”), all such Work, including all text,
software, source code, scripts, designs, diagrams, documentation,
writings, visual works, or other materials shall be deemed to be a work
made for hire for the Corporation.
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B.
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To
the extent that title to any Work may not, by operation of law, vest in
the Corporation or such Work may not be considered work made for hire for
the Corporation, all rights, title and interest therein were assigned and
are hereby irrevocably assigned to the Corporation, including but not
limited to the right to xxx for past, present, and future infringement of
any Work. All such Work shall belong exclusively to the
Corporation, with the Corporation having the right to obtain and to hold
in its own name, copyrights, registrations or such other protection as may
be appropriate to the subject matter, and any extensions and renewals
thereof.
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C.
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To
the extent that title to any Work may not be assigned to the Corporation,
Employee hereby grants the Corporation a worldwide, nonexclusive,
perpetual, irrevocable, fully paid-up, royalty-free, unlimited,
transferable, sublicensable license, without right of accounting, in such
Work.
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D.
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Employee
agrees to execute and deliver without further consideration such documents
and to perform such other lawful acts as the Corporation, its successors
and assigns may deem necessary to fully secure the Corporation’s rights,
title or interest in all Works as set forth in this
Agreement.
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5.3 Inventions.
A.
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Employee
agrees to communicate promptly and fully to the Corporation all
inventions, discoveries, improvements or designs conceived or reduced to
practice by Employee during the period of his employment with the
Corporation (alone or jointly with others), and, except as provided in
Section 5.3(C), Employee will and hereby does assign to the Corporation
and/or its nominees all of his right, title and interest in such
inventions, discoveries, improvements or designs and all of his right,
title and interest in any patents, patent applications or copyrights based
thereon without obligation on the part of the Corporation to pay any
further compensation, royalty or payment to
Employee.
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B.
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Employee
further agrees to assist the Corporation and/or its nominee (without
charge but at no expense to Employee) at any time and in every proper way
to obtain and maintain for its and/or their own benefit, patents for all
such inventions, discoveries and improvements and copyrights for all such
designs.
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C.
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This
Agreement does not obligate Employee to assign to the Corporation any
invention, discovery, improvement or design for which no equipment,
supplies, facility or trade secret information of the Corporation was used
and which was developed entirely on Employee’s own time, and (i) which
does not relate (A) directly to the business of the Corporation or (B) to
the Corporation’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or
development, or (ii) which does not result from any work performed by
Employee for the Corporation.
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D.
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Employee
shall keep complete, accurate and authentic accounts, notes, data and
records of all inventions, discoveries, improvements or designs in the
manner and form requested by the Corporation. Such accounts,
notes, data and records shall be the property of the Corporation, and upon
its request Employee shall promptly surrender the same to the
Corporation.
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E.
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The
obligations of this Section 5.3 shall continue beyond the termination of
Employee’s employment with respect to any invention, discovery,
improvement or design conceived or made by Employee during the period of
Employee’s employment with the Corporation and shall be binding upon
Employee’s assigns, executors, administrators, and other legal
representatives. In the event Employee is called upon to render
assistance to the Corporation pursuant to Section 5.3(B) after termination
of Employee’s employment with the Corporation, the Corporation shall pay
Employee reasonable compensation for the assistance rendered and shall
call upon Employee for assistance at such reasonable times so as not to
interfere with Employee’s new employment or business. For
purposes of this Agreement, any invention, discovery, improvement or
design relating to the business of the Corporation upon which Employee
files a patent, trademark or copyright application within one (1) year
after termination of Employee’s employment with the Corporation shall be
presumed to have been made while Employee was employed by the Corporation,
subject to proof to the contrary by good faith, written and duly
corroborated records establishing that such invention, discovery,
improvement or design was conceived and made by Employee following
termination of employment and without violation of his continuing
obligations under Section 5.1(E)
hereof.
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5.4 Specific Performance and
Injunctive Relief. Employee acknowledges that the restrictions
and covenants contained in this Article 5 are reasonable and necessary to
protect the legitimate interests of the Corporation. Employee
understands and agrees that the remedies at law for any violation of the
restrictions or covenants by this Article 5 may be inadequate, that such
violations may cause irreparable injury within a short period of time and that
the Corporation shall be entitled to preliminary injunctive relief and other
injunctive relief against such violation or threatened violation without the
necessity of proving actual damages. Such injunctive relief shall be
in addition to and not in limitation of any and all other remedies the
Corporation shall have in law and at equity for the enforcement of such
restrictions and covenants. Nothing herein provided shall be
construed as prohibiting the Corporation or Employee from pursuing any other
remedies available in the event of breach or threatened breach, including the
recovery of damages. In the event of a violation of any of the
provisions of this Article 5, the successful party shall have the right to
collect a reasonable attorney’s fee for bringing such legal or equitable action
or otherwise enforcing the terms and conditions of this Article.
5.5 Acknowledgement. Employee
acknowledges that he has carefully considered the restrictions contained in this
Article 5 and determined that the restrictions in this Article 5 will not unduly
restrict him in securing other suitable employment in the event of the
termination of his employment with the Corporation.
ARTICLE
6
CHANGE
OF CONTROL
6.1) Change of Control Right and
Payment. In consideration for Employee entering into the
noncompetition, nonsolicitation, confidentiality, and other obligations set
forth in Article 5, the following Change of Control rights and benefits will
apply during the term of Employee’s employment with Corporation:
A.
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For
a period of two (2) years following a Change of Control, as defined in
Section 6.2., Employee shall have the right, within Employee’s sole
discretion, to terminate employment with the Corporation for a “Change of
Control Good Reason” as defined in Section 6.2. Such
termination shall be accomplished by Employee giving ninety (90) days’
written notice to the Corporation of Employee’s decision to
terminate.
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B.
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In
the event of a Change of Control Termination, as defined in Section 6.2.,
then, in lieu of any severance benefits payable under Section 4.4 and
without further action by the Board of Directors, the Corporation shall
pay to Employee an amount equal to Employee’s compensation (including any
(a) base salary, and (b) annual bonuses, but excluding non-cash fringe
benefits such as insurance and perquisites) for the two completed fiscal
years preceding such termination, which amount shall be paid by the
Corporation in 24 equal monthly installments beginning on the first day of
the calendar month following the calendar month in which such Change of
Control Termination occurs with the remaining payments made on the first
day of each of the succeeding 23 months. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in no event shall Employee receive any Change of Control
Action, as defined below, which would constitute a “parachute payment” for
purposes of Code Section 280G, or any successor provision, and the
regulations thereunder. In the event any Change of Control
Actions would constitute a “parachute payment,” Employee shall have the
right to designate those Change of Control Actions which would be reduced
or eliminated so that Employee will not receive a “parachute
payment.” For purposes of this Section 6.1, a “Change of
Control Action” shall mean any payment, benefit or transfer of property in
the nature of compensation paid to or for the benefit of Employee under
any arrangement which is considered contingent on a Change of Control for
purposes of Code Section 280G, including, without limitation, any and all
of the Corporation’s salary, bonus, incentive, restricted stock, stock
option, compensation or benefit plans, programs or other arrangements, and
shall include any benefits payable under this
Agreement.
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C.
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Interest. In
the event the Corporation does not make timely payment of the Change of
Control Termination amounts described in Section 6.1, Employee shall be
entitled to receive interest on any unpaid amount at the prime rate of
interest (or such comparable index as may be adopted) published from time
to time by the Wall Street Journal.
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D.
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Attorneys’
Fees. In the event Employee prevails in an action
against the Corporation to enforce or defend his rights under Article 6 of
this Agreement, or to recover damages for breach thereof, Employee shall
be entitled to recover from the Corporation any reasonable expenses for
attorneys’ fees and disbursements
incurred.
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6.2) Definitions. For
purposes of this Article 6, the following definitions shall be
applied:
A. “Continuing
Directors” shall mean the directors of the Corporation as of the date of
Employee’s execution of this Agreement and any new director whose election to
the Board of Directors or nomination for election to the Board of Directors is
approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors as of the date
of Employee’s execution of this Agreement who are then still in
office.
B. “Change
of Control” shall mean any of the following events unless approved in advance by
a majority of the Continuing Directors:
1. The
acquisition of direct or indirect beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) in the aggregate of securities of the
Corporation representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the total combined
voting power of the Corporation’s then issued and outstanding securities by any
person or entity, or group of associated persons or entities acting in concert,
except for the officers and directors of the Corporation as of the date this
Agreement is executed; or
2. A
merger or consolidation to which the Corporation is a party if the individuals
and entities who were shareholders of the Corporation immediately prior to the
effective date of such merger or consolidation have beneficial ownership (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of less than
fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power for election of directors
of the surviving corporation following the effective date of such merger or
consolidation; or
3. The
sale of the properties and assets of the Corporation, substantially as an
entirety, to any person or entity which is not a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Corporation; or
4. A
change in the composition of the Corporation’s Board of Directors at any time
after Employee’s execution of this Agreement such that the Continuing Directors
cease for any reason to constitute at least a fifty-one percent (51%) majority
of the Board.
C. “Change
of Control Termination” shall mean with respect to Employee any of the following
events occurring within two (2) years after a Change of Control:
1. Termination
of Employee’s employment by the Corporation for any reason other than pursuant
to Section 4.4(A) (a “Cause” termination); or
2. Termination
of Employee’s employment by Employee pursuant to Section 6.1. A
Change of Control Termination by Employee shall not include termination by
reason of death or disability.
D. “Change
of Control Good Reason” shall mean a good faith determination by Employee that
one or more of the following events has occurred, without Employee’s express
written consent, after a Change of Control:
1. A
change in Employee’s reporting responsibilities, titles or position as in effect
immediately prior to the Change of Control, or any removal of Employee from, or
any failure to re-elect Employee to, any of such positions, which has the effect
of materially diminishing Employee’s responsibility or authority;
2. A
material reduction by the Corporation in Employee’s total compensation as in
effect immediately prior to the Change of Control or as the same may be
increased from time to time;
3. The
Corporation requiring Employee to be based anywhere other than within one
hundred (100) miles of Employee’s job location at the time of the Change of
Control;
4. Without replacement by a plan, program, or arrangement providing benefits to Employee of the Corporation and its subsidiaries equal to or greater than those discontinued or adversely affected, the failure by the Corporation to continue in effect, within its maximum stated term, any pension, bonus, incentive, stock ownership, purchase, option, life insurance, health, accident, disability, or any other employee compensation or benefit plan, program or arrangement, in which Employee is participating immediately prior to a Change of Control or the taking of any action by the Corporation that would adversely affect Employee’s participation or materially reduce Employee’s benefits under any of such plans, programs or arrangements;
5. The
taking of any action by the Corporation that would materially and adversely
affect the workplace environment existing at the time of the Change of Control
in or under which Employee performs his employment duties; or
6. The
taking of any action by the Corporation that would materially change the
Corporation’s business strategies or practices existing at the time of the
Change of Control including, but not limited to, changes in the types and brands
of products offered, advertising and promotion programs, employment policies,
and the segment to which the Corporation markets its products.
ARTICLE
7
MISCELLANEOUS
7.1) Severability. If
any term or provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid or
unenforceable for any reason, such term or provision shall be ineffective to the
extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining
terms or provisions of this Agreement. Without in any way limiting
the generality of the foregoing, in the event that any provision of Article 5
hereof is held invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction,
the Corporation and Employee agree that that part should modified by the court
to make it enforceable to the maximum extent possible. If the part
cannot be modified, then that part may be severed and the other parts of this
Agreement shall remain enforceable.
7.2) Section 409A
Requirements. The Corporation and Employee recognize and agree
that revisions to the post-termination payments and benefits provisions
contemplated by Section 4.4 and Article 6 may be necessary and desirable to
comply with the requirements of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A, and the
regulations, notices and other guidance of general application issued thereunder
(hereinafter, “409A Requirements”), in a manner intended to prevent any adverse
tax consequences to Employee and the Corporation as a result of any failure to
so comply. Any such revisions will be made only with the written
consent of both parties; and each of them agrees to cooperate in good faith to
make any such revisions in a manner that timely complies with the 409A
Requirements.
7.3) Notices. Any
notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be
sufficient, if given in person or if in writing, sent by certified mail, return
receipt requested, to the last known residence address in the case of Employee
or to its principal office in the case of the Corporation.
7.4) Waiver of
Breach. The failure of either party hereto to enforce its
rights under any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed
as a waiver of such breach or of any subsequent breach by any
party.
7.5) Entire
Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the
parties concerning the employment of Employee by the Corporation and supersedes
and replaces any prior agreement or arrangement relative to Employee’s
employment by the Corporation, whether oral or written. Except as
provided in Section 7.1 of this Agreement, no modification, supplement, or
amendment of any provision hereof shall be valid unless made in writing and
signed by the parties against whom enforcement of any waiver, change,
modification, extension or discharge is sought.
7.6) Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted
according to the laws of the State of Minnesota.
7.7) Headings. The
captions set forth in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be
considered a part of this Agreement or in any way limiting or amplifying the
terms or provisions hereof.
7.8) Obligations Which Survive
Termination. The obligations and remedies of Sections 4.2,
4.3, 4.4, and Articles 5, 6 and 7 of this Agreement shall survive the
termination of this Agreement or any successor relationship and the termination
of Employee’s employment for any reason, except as expressly otherwise provided
for in this Agreement.
7.9) Successors and
Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Corporation and Employee and their respective successors,
assigns, heirs, executors, and administrators, except that the services to be
performed by Employee are personal and are not assignable.
7.10) Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto
have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and
year written below.
XXXXXXX ELECTRONICS, INC. | |||
Date:
May 6, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx | |
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx | |||
Chairman | |||
Date:
May 6, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx X. de Xxxxx | |
Xxxxxx J. de Xxxxx | |||
Employee | |||
EXHIBIT
A
In consideration of the mutual covenants
and undertakings set forth in the Employment Agreement between Xxxxxxx
Electronics, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Corporation”), and Xxxxxx X. de
Xxxxx (“Employee”), the parties
agree as follows:
1. Base
Salary. For each fiscal year of the Corporation during
Employee’s employment, the Corporation shall pay Employee an annual base salary
(“Base Salary”) in the amount determined by the Compensation Committee of the
Corporation’s Board of Directors, provided that such amount shall not be less
than the Base Salary for the immediately preceding fiscal year without the
consent of Employee unless such reduction is implemented as part of a
broad-based employee cost reduction initiative. For the fiscal year
from January 1, 2008 (effective April 24, 2008) through December 31, 2008,
Employee’s annual Base Salary shall be $202,000, payable in accordance with the
Corporation’s usual payroll schedule.
2. Bonus. The
Corporation may, but is not obligated to, pay Employee an annual bonus (“Annual
Bonus”) consisting of stock options or a cash payment or both, the amounts of
which, if any, shall be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors. If any Annual Bonus is earned by Employee, it shall be
paid within ninety (90) days after the end of the Corporation’s applicable
fiscal year.
3. Health Club
Membership. The Corporation shall pay a monthly health club
membership for Employee. Such payment will be for an amount not to
exceed $200 per month and shall be reimbursed to Employee, upon demand and proof
of payment received from Employee.
4. Stock Option
Grant. The Corporation shall issue to Employee, a stock option
for the purchase of 50,000 shares of the Corporation’s common
stock. Such stock option vests 20% annually starting on May 6, 2009
and expires on May 6, 2014. The exercise price of the option shall be
$1.74 per share price, which reflects the closing price of the Corporation’s
common stock on the American Stock Exchange on May 6, 2008.
5. Paid Time
Off. The Corporation shall give Employee paid time off of four
(4) weeks per year. For 2008, such four (4) weeks shall be on an
annualized basis effective as of April 24, 2008.
6. Amendment. The
Board of Directors and/or its designee reserves the right to modify, supplement
and/or amend the terms of this Exhibit A from time to time with written notice
to Employee.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto
have caused this Exhibit A to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and
year written below.
XXXXXXX ELECTRONICS, INC. | |||
Date:
May 6, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx | |
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx | |||
Chairman | |||
Date:
May 6, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx X. de Xxxxx | |
Xxxxxx J. de Xxxxx | |||
Employee | |||