EXHIBIT 10.1
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
AGREEMENT, dated and entered into as of the 10th day of November, 1997 by
and between Semele Group, Inc. a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxx
X. Xxxxx, a resident of Connecticut (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company desires to engage the time services of the Executive;
and
WHEREAS, the Executive desires to be so employed by the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of such employment and the mutual
covenants and promises herein contained, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
Company and the Executive agree as follows:
Section 1. Employment. The Company hereby employs the Executive as its
Chief Executive Officer and the Executive hereby accepts such employment under
the subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. The Executive
further agrees to serve as a member of the Board of Directors (the "Board") of
the Company if elected or appointed to such office in accordance with the
Company's By-Laws.
Section 2. Term. Unless sooner terminated as provided in Section 7, the
term of employment under this Agreement shall be deemed to have commenced as of
November 10, 1997 and shall conclude on December 31, 2000 (the "Term"). At any
time during the six (6) months prior to the end of the Term, the Company agrees
to advise the Executive, upon inquiry by the Executive, whether the Term of this
Agreement shall be renewed, extended or allowed to expire. This Agreement shall
be renewed for additional consecutive one year terms ("Renewal Terms") unless
either party shall give to the other written notice not less than thirty (30)
days prior to the end of the Term or any Renewal Term that it or he does not
wish to renew this Agreement.
Section 3. Duties. The Executive shall serve as Chief Executive Officer of
the Company. The Executive hereby agrees to devote such of his business time as
is reasonably necessary to promote and forward the business and affairs of the
Company for the Term or any Renewal Term. The Company acknowledges and
recognizes that the Executive is not required to devote full-time service to the
Company and will perform service for other businesses.
Section 4. Salary Compensation. In consideration of the services rendered
by the Executive under this Agreement, the Executive shall have a base salary
(the "Base Salary") for 1997 of $48,420.00. The Base Salary thereafter shall be
at the an initial rate of One Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars ($120,000) per
calendar year. The Base Salary shall be payable in monthly installments. The
Company shall defer payment of such salary under the Incentive Compensation Plan
described below, except that for any prospective period the Executive may
elect to have such salary paid to him directly. The Base Salary will be subject
to adjustment by the Board, in its sole discretion, based upon the performance
by the Executive of his duties hereunder and the financial performance of the
Company; provided, however, that in no event shall the Base Salary for any
calendar year be less than the Base Salary in effect for the immediately prior
calendar year. The Executive shall also be entitled to receive such incentive or
performance cash bonuses as the Board may determine from time to time.
Section 5. Incentive Compensation Plan. The Company shall establish an
Incentive Compensation Plan for the Executive. All or some of the Executive's
salary shall be deferred under such Plan as provided in Section 4, above. In
addition, the Company shall defer on account of the Executive (A) for each
calendar year an amount equal to six percent (6%) of the pre-tax profits of the
Company (excluding results attributable to the Company's properties in Malibu,
California); and (B) an amount attributable to the Company's properties in said
Malibu as mutually agreed upon by Company and Executive. All such deferred
compensation shall be held subject to the claims of creditors of the Company as
a grantor or "rabbi" trust until paid to the Executive following the Executive's
termination of employment. The amounts deferred shall be invested in stock of
the Company, except that for any prospective period the Executive may elect to
have future deferred amounts invested in a diversified portfolio. Plan amounts
shall be non-forfeitable (subject to claims of any creditors of the Company),
except that amounts attributable to contributions other than salary deferrals
under Section 4 shall be forfeited if the Executive is terminated for Cause (as
defined below). The amounts under the Deferred Compensation Plan shall be
payable in a lump sum upon the Executive's termination of employment (including,
without limitation death). If any portion of the Plan benefits are payable in
stock and such stock is not then readily tradable, the Company shall redeem such
stock in installments completed within three (3) years.
Section 6. Benefits. In addition to the compensation detailed in Section 4
and 5 of this Agreement, the Executive shall be entitled to the following
additional benefits:
Section 6.01. Paid Vacation. The Executive shall be entitled to such
amount of paid vacation per calendar year as the Executive reasonably requests,
such vacation to extend for such periods and to be taken at such intervals as
shall be appropriate and consistent with the proper performance of the
Executive's duties hereunder.
Section 6.02. Insurance Coverage. The Company shall provide the
Executive with such health, life and disability insurance protection as the
Executive reasonably requests.
Section 6.03. Stock Options. Subject to approval of the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors, the Company shall issue to Executive
options to purchase 400,000 shares of stock of the Company. The right to
exercise such options shall vest over the term of this Agreement, including upon
a Change-in-Control (defined below).
Section 6.04. Reimbursement of Expenses. The Company shall reimburse
the Executive for all reasonable expenses actually incurred by the Executive in
connection with the business affairs of the Company and the performance of his
duties hereunder. The Executive shall comply with such reasonable limitations
and reporting requirements with respect to such expenses as the Board may
establish from time to time.
Section 7. Termination. This Agreement shall be terminated at the end of
the Term or any Renewal Term, or earlier as follows:
Section 7.01. Death. This Agreement shall terminate upon the death
of the Executive, except that the Base Salary provided in Section 4 shall
continue through the end of the term (or Renewal Term) in which the Executive's
death occurs, reduced by the amount of any insurance covering the Executive's
life obtained by the Company pursuant to Section 6.02.
Section 7.02. Disability and Other Benefits. If the Executive
suffers any illness, disability or incapacity which prevents the Executive from
performing the Executive's duties hereunder, the Company shall continue the
Executive's Base Salary, fringe benefits and Incentive Compensation until the
later of the end of the Term (or any Renewal Term) of this Agreement or the
commencement of salary continuation benefits under a policy of long-term
disability insurance obtained by the Company pursuant to Section 6.02, whereupon
the Agreement shall terminate.
Section 7.03. By The Company for Cause. The employment of the
Executive may be terminated by the Company for Cause (as defined below) at any
time effective upon written notice to the Executive. The Company shall provide
the Executive with at least ten (10) business days prior written notice of a
Board meeting at which a termination for Cause will be considered and the
Executive will have an opportunity to attend and participate in that meeting.
For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Cause" shall mean that the Board has
determined that any one or more of the following has occurred:
(a) The Executive shall have repeatedly failed or refused to
perform his duties hereunder and such failure or refusal shall have continued
for a period of thirty (30) days following written notice from the Board, it
being understood that the Company's failure to achieve its business plan or
projections shall not itself be considered a failure or refusal to perform
duties;
(b) the Executive shall have breached any provision of Section
10 or 11 hereof; or
(c) the Executive shall have committed any fraud,
embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, malfeasance or other act of dishonesty
against the Company which has a material adverse effect on the Company.
Section 7.04. By The Executive and Rights Upon A Change In Control.
(a) Subject to the following provisions of this Section 7.04,
the Executive may terminate this Agreement at any time effective upon at least
sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the Company. Upon any such termination,
all payments, salary and other benefits hereunder shall cease at the effective
date of termination.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may terminate
this Agreement effective immediately upon written notice to the Company given
within sixty (60)
days of the completion of a Change-in-Control (as defined below). In the event
of any termination pursuant to this Section 7.04(b), the Company shall continue
salary, fringe benefits, and Incentive Compensation for eighteen (18) months.
(c) If within twenty-four (24) months following a Change in
Control the Company terminates the Executive or the Company elects not to renew
this Agreement, the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum an amount
equal to the greater of (i) three times the Base Salary paid to the Executive in
the thirty-six (36) months preceding the Change-in-Control and (ii) the Base
Salary due to be paid the Executive through the end of the Term (or Renewal
Term) of this Agreement, and all other payments due and benefits to be provided
hereunder shall cease. Upon any such termination, the Executive shall continue
to be bound by the provisions of Section 10 (but not Section 11) hereof in
accordance with its terms.
(d) For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change-in-Control"
shall mean an occurrence whereby (i) any person, partnership, corporation,
entity or group (as that term is used in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934)
shall, in any single transaction or series of related transactions, directly or
indirectly acquire beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the
Company's voting securities or substantially all of the Company's assets or (ii)
individuals who were members of the Board immediately prior to a meeting of
stockholders involving a contest for the election of directors do not constitute
a majority of the Board following such election or (iii) the Executive fails to
be elected or re-elected to the Board, unless the Executive was not nominated
with his consent.
Section 8. Termination Payments and Benefits.
Section 8.01. Voluntary Termination, Election Not To Renew,
Termination For Cause. Upon any termination of this Agreement: (1) voluntarily
by the Executive, (2) upon the election by the Executive not to renew this
Agreement at the end of the Term or any Renewal Term, or (3) by the Company for
Cause as provided in Section 7.03, all payments, salary and other benefits
hereunder shall cease at the effective date of termination except as
specifically provided in this Section 8.
Section 8.02. Termination Without Cause. If the Company terminates
the Executive without Cause (other than due to death or disability), then all
payments and benefits hereunder shall be continued for the Executive through the
end of the Term or Renewal Term of this Agreement.
Section 8.03. Company Election Not To Renew. In the event that the
Company elects not to renew this Agreement at the end of the Term or any Renewal
Term, the Executive shall receive as a termination settlement an amount equal to
twelve (12) months' salary as is in effect at the effective date of termination
(the "Termination Payment"); provided, however, that if such non-renewal occurs
within twenty-four (24) months following a Change-in-Control, then the
provisions of Section 7.04(c) shall govern instead. The Termination Payment
shall be paid in twelve (12) monthly installments on the first business day of
each month following the effective date of termination. In addition to the
Termination Payment, the Executive shall continue to receive the insurance
benefits described in Section 6.02 for a period of twelve (12) months following
the effective date of termination.
Section 8.04. Outplacement Assistance. In the event the Executive's
employment terminates for any reason, other than for Cause, the Company shall
provide outplacement assistance to the Executive as is then reasonable and
customary for similarly situated businesses up to a $15,000 maximum expenditure
by the Company.
Section 8.05. Public Statement of Termination. In the event the
Executive's Employee's employment terminates for any reason, the Company and the
Executive shall agree upon a public statement pertaining to the Executive's
termination of employment, and the terms of said statement shall not be subject
to subsequent modification by either party unless required by law; provided,
however, that in the event the Company and the Executive are unable in good
faith to agree upon such a statement, the Company may make public statements as
are necessary to comply with the law.
Section 9. Merger Clause. The Company shall not consolidate, merge or
transfer all or a substantial portion of its assets without requiring the
transferee to assume this Agreement and the obligations hereunder.
Section 10.01 Proprietary Information. In the course of his service to the
Company, the Executive will have access to information which may be the
confidential or be proprietary and is owned or used by the Company, or any of
its subsidiaries or affiliates. Such information shall hereinafter be called
"Proprietary Information" and shall include any and all items enumerated in the
preceding sentence and coming within the scope of the business of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries or affiliates as to which the Executive may have access,
whether conceived or developed by others or by the Executive alone or with
others during the period of his service to the Company, whether or not conceived
or developed during regular working hours. Proprietary Information shall not
include any records, data or information which are in the public domain during
the period of service of the Executive, provided the same are not in the public
domain as a consequence of disclosure directly or indirectly by the Executive in
violation of this Agreement.
Section 10.02. Non-Use and Non-Disclosure. The Executive shall not
during the Term, any Renewal Term or at any time thereafter (a) disclose,
directly or indirectly, any Proprietary Information to any person other than the
Company or authorized employees thereof at the time of such disclosure, or such
other persons to whom the Executive has been specifically instructed to make
disclosure by the Board and in all such cases only to the extend required in the
course of the Executive's service to the Company or (b) use any Proprietary
Information, directly or indirectly, for his own benefit or for the benefit of
any other person or entity. At the termination of his employment, the Executive
shall deliver to the Company all notes, letters, documents and records which may
contain Proprietary Information which are then in his possession or control and
shall destroy any and all copies and summaries thereof.
Section 11.01. Employee Non-Solicitation.
(a) During the Term, any Renewal Term and the Non-Solicitation
Period (as defined below), the Executive will not solicit, or attempt to
solicit, any officer, director, consultant, executive or employee of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates to leave his or her engagement with the
Company or such subsidiary or affiliate.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the "Non-Solicitation Period"
shall mean the period of twelve (12) consecutive months after Executive's
employment terminates due to a voluntary termination by the Executive or his
election not to renew this Agreement or termination for Cause by the Company.
Section 12. Remedies. It is specifically understood and agreed that any
breach of the provisions of Section 10 or 11 of this Agreement is likely to
result in irreparable injury to the Company and that the remedy at law alone
will be an inadequate remedy for such breach, and that in addition to any other
remedy it may have, the Company shall be entitled to enforce the specific
performance of this Agreement by the Executive and to seek both temporary and
permanent injunctive relief (to the extent permitted by law) without the
necessity of proving actual damages.
Section 13. Severable Provisions. The provisions of this Agreement are
severable and the invalidity of any one or more provisions shall not affect the
validity of any other provision. In the vent that a court of competent
jurisdiction shall determine that any provision of this Agreement or the
application thereof is unenforceable in whole or in part because of the duration
or scope thereof, the parties hereto agree that said court in making such
determination shall have the power to reduce the duration and scope of such
provision to the extent necessary to make it enforceable, and that the Agreement
in its reduced form shall be valid and enforceable to the full extent permitted
by law.
Section 14. Notices. All notices hereunder, to be effective, shall be
in writing and shall be delivered by hand or mailed by certified mail,
postage and fees prepaid, as follows:
If to the Company: Semele Group, Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: President
Copy to: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Peabody & Xxxxx
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
If to the Executive:
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
or to such other address as a party may notify the other pursuant to a notice
given in accordance with this Section 14.
Section 15. Miscellaneous.
Section 15.01. Modification. This Agreement constitutes the entire
Agreement between the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof,
superseding all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral.
This Agreement may not be amended or revised except by a writing signed by the
parties.
Section 15.02. Assignment and Transfer. This Agreement shall not be
terminated by the merger or consolidation of the Company with any corporate or
other entity or by the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company to any other person, corporation, firm or entity. The provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the benefit of any such
successor in interest to the Company. Neither this Agreement nor any of the
rights, duties or obligations of the Executive shall be assignable by the
Executive, nor shall any of the payments required or permitted to e made to the
Executive by this Agreement be encumbered, transferred or in any way
anticipated.
Section 15.03. Captions. Captions herein have been inserted solely
for the convenience of reference and in no way define, limit or describe the
scope or substance of any provision of this Agreement.
Section 15.04. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed
under and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement
as a sealed instrument as of the day and year first above written.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Chair, Compensation Committee
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx
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Xxxx X. Xxxxx,
Executive
