EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.3
This Employment Agreement and its Exhibits (this “Agreement”), entered into the 23rd day of April, 2008, effective as of January 1, 2008, is by and between Dynamic Materials Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Xxxxxxx X. Santa, a resident of the State of Colorado (“Executive”) (together, the “parties”).
Recitals
A. Executive has significant experience in the management of companies and is willing to serve the Company on the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth.
B. The Company desires to secure the continued services of Executive subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
C. This agreement replaces, in its entirety, that certain Employment Agreement between the Company and Executive dated March 3, 2005.
Agreement
In consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and promises contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1. Employment. The Company hereby employs Executive as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company reporting to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Executive hereby accepts such employment and agrees to perform such duties and responsibilities as are assigned to him from time-to-time by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
2. Full-time Best Efforts. Executive shall devote his full and exclusive professional time and attention to the performance of his obligations under this Agreement, and will at all times faithfully, industriously and to the best of his ability, experience and talent, perform all of this obligations hereunder. Executive shall not, without the express written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, engage, alone or with others, in any other enterprises or business concerns, nor render professional services to, own, control, manage, consult with, be employed by, or otherwise have an interest in, any such enterprises or concerns, during the term of his continued employment with the Company. Without limiting the generality of any other provision herein, transactions in securities of publicly traded companies and other passive investment activities shall not be considered prohibited by the foregoing sentence, except as such transactions and activities may violate the Company’s conflict of interest policy, if any, in place from time to time.
3. Term of Agreement. This agreement shall be effective on January 1, 2008 (the “Effective Date”) and shall continue until December 31, 2008 (the “Term”), unless otherwise terminated by either party pursuant to Section 5 below.
4. Compensation Reimbursement.
(a) Salary. During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall pay Executive an annual salary (“Salary”) of $275,000 payable in accordance with the Company’s standard payroll practices for similarly situated employees. The compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors (the “Compensation Committee”) will review Executive’s Salary at least annually and may increase (but not reduce) Executive’s Salary in its sole discretion. All compensation paid to Executive hereunder is subject to all deductions required by law.
(b) Bonus. Executive shall be eligible to receive a non-discretionary annual bonus equal to 1.0% of the Company’s 2008 net income. Executive shall also be eligible to receive a discretionary annual bonus in an amount up to 20% of Executive’s Salary. The discretionary bonus will be determined based on performance goals and rules established by the Compensation Committee. The bonus and discretionary bonus, if any, will be payable before March 15, 2009. Executive is not guaranteed any bonus payment.
(c) Stock Incentives. Executive shall be eligible to receive restricted shares of the common stock of the Company under the Company’s 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) subject to the terms and conditions of such plan and as granted by the Compensation Committee. If the Company terminates Executive’s employment for any reason other than Cause pursuant to Section 5(b), all restricted stock held by Executive shall immediately vest, subject to the terms and conditions of the Incentive Plan.
(d) Benefits. Executive shall receive the following Company benefits:
(i) term life insurance coverage in the amount of $415,000 which is in addition to the standard term life insurance provided in the Company’s standard benefit plan;
(ii) participation in the Company’s executive long-term disability plan, subject to any waiting periods or exclusions required by the insurance provider;
(iii) five weeks of vacation per year until such time as Executive’s length of service entitles Executive to additional vacation;
(iv) participation in the Company’s standard benefit programs including health and dental insurance, term life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short and long term disability, paid holidays and certain other standard benefits provided by the Company;
(v) participation in the Company’s 401(k) retirement plan; and
(vi) reimbursement of up to $5,000 of professional service fees for a financial planning and/or tax consultant to advise Executive.
(e) Expense Reimbursement. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all travel expenses and other disbursements incurred by Executive for or on behalf of the Company in the performance of his duties hereunder, subject to and in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policies and procedures, as in effect from time-to-time.
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5. Termination.
(a) The Company may terminate Executive’s employment at any time for Cause (as hereinafter defined), effective immediately upon written notice to Executive. Such notice shall specify that a termination is being made for Cause and shall state the basis therefor. Any termination under this subparagraph shall serve to relieve Executive of all his duties and authority on behalf of the Company as of the date such notice states the termination is to take effect. All obligations of the Company to Executive hereunder shall terminate as of the effective date of any such termination, except for obligations accrued prior to such effective date. For purposes of this Agreement, termination for “Cause” shall include any of the following that detrimentally affect the Company:
(i) a willful and substantial breach by Executive of the terms of this Agreement or any written agreement between Executive and the Company that has a materially adverse effect on the business and affairs of the Company;
(ii) the failure by Executive to substantially perform, or the gross negligence in the performance of, his duties hereunder for a period of fifteen days after the Chief Executive Officer of the Company has made a written demand for performance which specifically identities the manner in which he believes that Executive has not substantially performed his duties;
(iii) the commission by Executive of a willful act or failure to act of misconduct which is injurious to the Company, including, but not limited to, material violations of any Company policy (such as the Company’s code of ethics);
(iv) a conviction or a plea of guilty or nolo contendere in connection with fraud or any crime that constitutes a felony in the jurisdiction involved; or
(v) an act of failure to act constituting fraud or dishonesty that compromises Executive’s ability to act effectively as a high-level executive of the Company.
(b) The Company may terminate Executive’s employment for any reason other than Cause at any time upon the payment to Executive of (i) an amount equal to one year’s Salary, which amount shall be payable in twelve monthly payments (the “Termination Payments”), plus (ii) a bonus for such period, based on the average bonus (if any) paid to Executive for the two years preceding the termination; provided, that Executive shall execute a release, prepared by the Company, releasing the Company from all claims as a condition of receiving the Salary and bonus (if any) pursuant to this Agreement. Such amounts received under this provision shall be reduced to the extent that Executive accepts other employment prior to the receipt of the final Termination Payment. Any termination under this subparagraph shall serve to relieve Executive of all his duties and authority on behalf of the Company as of the date such notice states the termination is to take effect. All obligations of the Company to Executive under this Agreement shall terminate as of the effective date of any such termination, except for obligations accrued prior to such effective date.
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(c) Upon the termination of Executive’s employment hereunder, neither Executive nor Executive’s beneficiary or estate shall have any further rights or claims against the Company under this Agreement except the right to receive:
(i) the unpaid portion of the earned Salary computed on a pro rata basis to the date of termination;
(ii) any unpaid bonus owing under Section 4(b) or 5(b); and
(iii) reimbursement for any expenses for which Executive shall not have theretofore been reimbursed as provided in Section 4(e).
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5, Executive shall have the right to terminate his employment at any time upon sixty days’ written notice to the Company (or upon such shorter notice as the Company may agree in writing in connection with such termination). Any such termination by Executive shall be deemed effective upon receipt by the Company of such notice. Any termination under this subparagraph shall be effective as of the date stated in the notice and shall serve to relieve both parties from all their duties and obligations to one another hereunder after such date, except for obligations accrued prior to such effective date.
(e) If Executive dies during the term of his employment hereunder, this Agreement shall automatically terminate as of the date of his death and the parties shall be relieved from their respective duties and obligations to one another as of the effective date of any such termination. Executive’s estate or designated beneficiaries shall receive any accrued but unpaid portion of Executive’s Salary and the bonus, if any, he would have received in respect of the portion of the fiscal year prior to his termination, payable at the same time as bonuses are paid to other executives and any other amounts owing to Executive under Section 5(c). If Executive is unable to fully and satisfactorily perform any of the essential functions of his position by reason of disability, with or without reasonable accommodation as may be required under law, for a period of at least ninety consecutive calendar days, this Agreement and Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated at the election of the Company, effective upon sixty days’ written notice given at any time after such consecutive ninety day period of continuous disability elapses, provided Executive continues to be suffering from such disability at the time notice of such termination is given by the Company. In the event of termination under the previous sentence, the parties shall be relieved from their respective duties and obligations to one another from and after the date such termination takes effect. Executive shall receive any accrued but unpaid portion of Executive’s Salary and the bonus, if any, he would have received in respect of the portion of the fiscal year prior to his termination, payable at the same time as bonuses are paid to other executives and any other amounts owing to Executive under Section 5(c). Should Executive’s disability, if any, be of an intermittent nature, the disability shall nonetheless be considered to be continuing during any period of time that the disability abates for seven or less consecutive calendar days, but any such intermittent periods during which the disability has abated for seven or less consecutive calendar days shall not be counted for purposes of determining the consecutive ninety day period of “continuous” disability following which the Company may elect to give notice of termination.
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For purposes of this subparagraph (e), “disability” shall mean that Executive is unable, by reason of physical or mental sickness or illness, injury, or incapacity, to perform any of the essential functions of his regular employment by the Company. Executive shall be considered to be suffering from a disability if he is determined to be disabled by any disability insurer insuring Executive on the date the condition of disability commenced. In the event there is no disability determination made by a relevant insurer, Executive shall be considered to be suffering from a disability if, in the opinion of a qualified physician selected by mutual agreement of Executive and the Company, Executive is determined to be unable to perform any of the essential functions of his regular employment by the Company by reason of any physical or mental sickness, injury, or incapacity. In the event Executive and the Company cannot agree upon the selection of a qualified physician, each party shall appoint a qualified physician of his or its choice and the two physicians so appointed shall mutually select a qualified physician to render the subject opinion as to whether or not Executive is suffering from a disability as defined above. A “qualified physician” shall mean a person who is licensed to practice medicine and prescribe and administer prescription drugs and/or to perform surgery in the state of Executive’s residence at the time of the commencement of the believed disability (or is so licensed in such other state as the parties shall reasonably agree is a convenient place in which to examine Executive and/or review his medical records) and who is acting within the scope of his/her medical license and qualified by his/her licensure, certification, training or experience to render the subject opinion.
(f) In the event of any termination of this Agreement in connection with which Executive is entitled by law or is allowed by the Company to continue his coverage under the Company’s health, dental, eye and other medical insurance policies, Executive shall be responsible for paying the cost of all insurance premiums and charges necessary to keep such coverage in force during any period of time that such coverage is so continued following termination.
6. Proprietary Information and Non-Competition Agreements. Executive shall be bound by the terms of the Company’s standard form of the Key Employee Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit A, and the Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit B, from and after the date hereof.
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Judicial Limitation. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is more restrictive than permitted by the law of the jurisdiction in which the Company seeks enforcement thereof, the provisions of this Agreement shall be limited only to that extent that a judicial determination finds the same to be unreasonable or otherwise enforceable. Such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other terms herein, but such term shall be deemed deleted, and such deletion shall not affect the validity of the other terms thereof. In addition, if any one or more of the terms contained in this Agreement shall for any reason be held to be excessively broad or of an overly long duration, that term shall be construed in a manner to enable it to be enforced to the extent compatible with applicable law. Moreover, notwithstanding any judicial determination that any provision of this Agreement is not specifically enforceable the parties intend that the Company shall nonetheless be entitled to recover monetary damages as a result of any breach hereof.
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(b) Injunctive Relief. In view of the nature of the rights in goodwill, business reputation and prospects of the Company to be protected under this Agreement, Executive understands and agrees that the Company could not be reasonably or adequately compensated in damages in an action at law for Executive’s breach of his obligations hereunder. Accordingly, Executive specifically agrees that the Company shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of this Agreement and that such relief may be granted without the necessity of proving actual damages. This provision with respect to injunctive relief shall not, however, diminish the right of the Company to claim and recover damages in addition to injunctive relief.
(c) Waiver. The failure of the Company to enforce at any time of the provisions of this Agreement or to require any performance by Executive of the provisions hereof shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provisions or to affect either the validity of this Agreement, or any part hereof, or the right of the Company thereafter to enforce each and every provision in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(d) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular provision of this Agreement shall not affect the other provisions hereof, and this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provisions were omitted.
(e) Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties, their successors, executors and heirs.
(f) Assignability. This Agreement shall be freely assignable by the Company and shall inure to the benefit of its successors and assigns.
(g) Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the Key Employee Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement and the Non Competition Agreement referred to herein, and which are incorporated herein and made a part hereof by reference, embody the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto and supersede all prior agreements or understanding (whether written or oral) with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(h) Governing Law and Venue. The validity of this Agreement and any of its terms and provisions, as well as the rights and duties of the parties hereunder, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado (without regard to its conflicts of law doctrines) and the venue for any action to enforce or to interpret this Agreement shall be in a court of competent jurisdiction located in the State of Colorado and each of the parties consent to the jurisdiction of such court in any such action or proceeding and waives any objection to venue laid therein.
(i) Amendments. This agreement may not be amended, altered or modified other than by a written agreement between the parties hereto.
(j) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts hereof shall bear the signatures of all the parties indicated as the signatories hereto.
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(k) Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under the Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be served either personally, by facsimile or delivered by first class mail, registered or certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the parties as noticed herein. Notice shall be deemed received upon the earliest of actual receipt, confirmed facsimile or three (3) days following mailing pursuant to this section.
If to Executive:
Xxxxxxx X. Santa
[Home Address]
If to the Company:
Dynamic Materials Corporation
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
0000 Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
(l) Interpretation. Each party has had the opportunity and has reviewed and revised this Agreement (and has had an opportunity to consult with counsel if desired) and, therefore, the rule of construction requiring that any ambiguity be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement. The section headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience and reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning and interpretation of this Agreement.
(m) Attorney’s Fees and Costs. If either party shall commence any action or proceeding against the other to enforce the provisions hereof, or to recover damages as a result of the alleged breach of any provisions hereof, the prevailing party therein shall be entitled to recover all reasonable costs incurred in connection therewith, including reasonable attorney’s fees.
[Signature Page Follows]
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Acknowledgment
Each party’s signature below acknowledges that the party has read this document fully, that the party fully understands and agrees to its contents and effect, that the party understands that it is a legally binding document, that the party is mentally and physically competent and capable of reading, understanding and signing this Agreement, and that the party has signed this document voluntarily and of its own free will, and not as a result of any pressure or coercion. Each party’s signature below further acknowledges that the party has had the opportunity to consult with an attorney about the meaning and effect of the terms of this Agreement and that each party has in fact consulted with an attorney of the party’s own choosing about this Agreement.
This Agreement is executed as of the date first set above:
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DYNAMIC MATERIALS CORPORATION |
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By: |
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx |
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Xxxx Xxxxxx |
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President and Chief Executive Officer |
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EXECUTIVE |
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/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Santa |
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Xxxxxxx X. Santa |
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[Signature Page to Santa Employment Agreement]
