EXHIBIT 10.24
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Agreement is entered into between Xxxxxx X. Xxxx ("Executive") and
Alon USA GP, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Employer" or "Company") on July 31,
2000, who, in return for the mutual promises set forth herein, agree as follows:
1. POSITION/TERM. (a) The term of the Executive's employment hereunder
shall commence upon the closing of the acquisition by the Company and its
affiliates of the Southwest Business Unit and marketing assets of the Southeast
Business Unit of ATOFina PetroChemicals, Inc. (formerly FINA Oil and Chemical
Company ("ATOFina")) (the "Commencement Date"); provided that, for purposes of
Sections 2, 3 and 4 hereof, Executive shall be deemed to have commenced
employment as of August 1, 2000.
(b) Throughout the term of this Agreement, Employer shall employ
Executive and Executive shall render services to Employer in the capacity and
with the title of Vice President -- Finance and Chief Financial Officer or such
other title as may be established by Employer from time to time. Executive
shall devote his full time and best effort to the successful functioning of the
business of Employer and shall faithfully and industriously perform all duties
pertaining to his position, including such additional duties as may be assigned
from time to time, to the best of Executive's ability, experience and talent.
Executive shall be subject at all times during the term hereof to the direction
and control of Employer in respect of the work to be done.
(c) Executive's employment hereunder shall be for an initial term of
three (3) years from the Commencement Date. Thereafter, the term shall renew
automatically each year for a term of one year, unless either party provides
the other with written notice at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the
term.
2. COMPENSATION. (a) Executive's salary ("Base Compensation") shall be
$180,000 per year, payable bi-weekly (unless the payroll practice of the
Company changes to monthly or semi-monthly) in arrears and subject to change
only with the mutual written consent of Employer and Executive. It is the
intent of the Company to develop guidelines for annual merit increases for
salaries of all salaried employees/management, including Executive.
(b) Executive shall be entitled to participate in an annual
incentive bonus program containing the terms and conditions set forth in
Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein which will be subject to
modification from time to time as set forth therein. For purposes of
determining the Executive's Target Bonus Amount under such plan, the Executive
shall participate as a Senior Executive.
(c) Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Alon USA
Operating, Inc. 2000 Stock Option Plan and the Alon Assets, Inc. 2000 Stock
Option Plan pursuant to Incentive Stock Option Agreements attached hereto and
incorporated herein as Exhibit B.
(d) Executive will participate in a benefit restoration plan with
respect to his benefit under the Company's defined benefit pension plan having
the terms and conditions set forth on Exhibit C to this Agreement.
3. FRINGE BENEFITS; REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES. Employer shall make
available, or cause to be made available to Executive, throughout the period of
his employment hereunder, such benefits, including any disability,
hospitalization, medical benefits, retiree health benefits, life insurance,
pension plan or other benefits or policy, as may be put into effect from time to
time by Employer generally for other executives at the level of Executive.
Benefits under such plans shall be based on the combined years of service of the
Executive for Employer and ATOFina unless Executive has received a severance
benefit from ATOFina, in which event benefits under such plans shall be based
upon the seniority and years of service with Employer. The Company expressly
reserves the right to modify such benefits at any time, subject to the
provisions of paragraph 10(b) hereof.
Executive will be reimbursed for all reasonable out-of-pocket business,
business entertainment and travel expenses paid by the Executive, in accordance
with and subject to applicable Company expense incurrence and reimbursement
policies
4. VACATION. The number of vacation days to which Executive shall be
entitled each year shall be based on the combined years of service of the
Executive for Employer and ATOFina as follows - 20 days after 10 years, 25 days
after 20 years and 30 days after 30 years. Unless otherwise agreed, vacation may
not be carried over into a new calendar year. Vacation time shall be taken only
after providing reasonable notice to the person to whom the Executive reports.
5. COMPLIANCE WITH EMPLOYER POLICIES. Executive shall comply with and abide
by all employment policies and directives of Employer. Employer may, in its sole
discretion, change, modify or adopt new policies and directives affecting
Executive's employment. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this
Agreement and Employer's employment policies and directives, the terms of this
Agreement will be controlling.
6. RESTRICTIVE COVENANT
(a) In consideration of the confidential information of Employer
provided to Executive and the other benefits provided to Executive pursuant to
this Agreement, Executive agrees that during the term of Executive's employment
with Employer and for a period of one year following any termination of
Executive's employment, if the Executive terminates employment during the first
two years of Executive's employment, or nine months, if the Executive terminates
employment after the first two years of employment and before the completion of
five years of employment (the "Non-Compete Period"), Executive will not, without
the prior written consent of Employer, directly or indirectly, either as an
individual or as an employee, officer, director, shareholder, partner, sole
proprietor, independent contractor, consultant or in any other capacity conduct
any business, or assist any person in conducting any business, that is in
competition with the business of Employer or its Affiliates (as defined below).
2
(b) In addition to any other covenants or agreements to which
Executive may be subject, during the Non-Compete Period, Executive will not,
directly or indirectly, either as an individual or as an employee, officer,
director, shareholder, partner, sole proprietor, independent contractor,
consultant or in any other capacity whatsoever approach or solicit any customer
or vendor of Employer for the purpose of causing, directly or indirectly, any
such customer or vendor to cease doing business with Employer or its Affiliates.
For the purposes of this Agreement, the "business of Employer or its
Affiliates" means the business of refining petroleum distillates and the
wholesale distribution of such products in the Territory. The term "Affiliates"
means all subsidiaries of Employer and each person or entity that controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with Employer. The "Territory" means
the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. It
is understood and agreed that the scope of each of the covenants contained in
this Section 6 is reasonable as to time, area, and persons and is necessary to
protect the legitimate business interest of Employer. It is further agreed that
such covenants will be regarded as divisible and will be operative as to time,
area and persons to the extent that they may be so operative. The terms of this
Section 6 shall not apply to the ownership by Executive of less than 5% of a
class of equity securities of an entity, which securities are publicly traded
on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, or the National
Market System of the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
Quotation System. The provisions of this Section 6 will survive any termination
or expiration of this Agreement.
7. CONFIDENTIALITY. (a) Executive recognizes that during the course of
employment, Executive will be exposed to information or ideas of a confidential
or proprietary nature which pertain to Employer's business, financial, legal,
marketing, administrative, personnel, technical or other functions or which
constitute trade secrets (including, but not limited to, specifications,
designs, plans, drawings, software, data, prototypes, the identity of sources
and markets, marketing information and strategies; business and financial plans
and strategies, methods of doing business; data processing and management
information and technical systems, programs and practices; customers and users
and their needs, sales history; and financial strength), and such information of
third parties which has been provided to Employer in confidence ("Confidential
Information"). All such information is deemed "confidential" or "proprietary"
whether or not it is so marked, provided that it is maintained as confidential
by the Company. Information will not be considered to be Confidential
Information to the extent that it is generally available to the public. Nothing
in this Section 7 will prohibit the use or disclosure by Executive of knowledge
that is in general use in the industry or general business knowledge.
(b) Executive shall hold Confidential Information in confidence, use
it only in connection with the performance of duties on behalf of Employer, and
restrict its disclosure to those directors, employees or independent
contractors of Employer having a need to know.
3
(c) Executive shall not disclose, copy or use Confidential
Information for the benefit of anyone other than Employer without Employer's
prior written consent.
(d) Executive shall, upon Employer's request or Executive's
termination of employment, return to Employer any and all written documents
containing Confidential Information in Executive possession, custody or control.
8. NON-INTERFERENCE WITH EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS. During Executive's
employment with Employer, and for a period of one (1) year thereafter, Executive
shall not, without Employer's prior written consent, directly or indirectly: (a)
induce or attempt to induce any employee to leave the Employer's employ; or (b)
interfere with or disrupt the Employer's relationship with any of its employees
or independent contractors.
9. COPYRIGHT, INVENTIONS, PATENTS. Employer shall have all right, title
and interest to all features (including, but not limited to, graphic designs,
copyrights, trademarks and patents) created during the course of or resulting
from Executive's employment with Employer. Executive hereby assigns to Employer
all copyright ownership and rights to any work developed by Executive and
reduced to practice for or on behalf of Employer or which relate to Employer's
business during the course of the employment relationship. At Employer's
expense, Executive shall do all other things including, but not limited to, the
giving of evidence in suits and proceedings, and the furnishing and/or assigning
of all documentation and other materials relative to Employer's intellectual
property rights, necessary or appropriate for Employer to obtain, maintain, and
assert its rights in such work.
10. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. (a) Employer may terminate Executive's
employment hereunder at any time for Cause. For purposes hereof, Cause shall
mean: (i) conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor where imprisonment is imposed
for more than 30 days; (ii) commission of any act of theft, fraud, dishonesty,
or falsification of any employment or Employer records; (iii) improper
disclosure of Confidential Information, (iv) any intentional action by the
Executive having a material detrimental effect on the Company's reputation or
business; (v) any material breach of this Agreement, which breach is not cured
within ten (10) business days following receipt by Executive of written notice
of such breach; (vi) unlawful appropriation of a corporate opportunity; or (vii)
intentional misconduct in connection with the performance of any of Executive's
duties, including, without limitation, misappropriation of funds or property of
the Company, securing or attempting to secure to the detriment of the Company
any profit in connection with any transaction entered into on behalf of the
Company, any material misrepresentation to the Company, or any knowing violation
of law or regulations to which the Company is subject. Upon termination of
Executive's employment with the Company for Cause, the Company shall be under no
further obligation to Executive, except to pay all earned but unpaid Base
Compensation and all accrued benefits and vacation to the date of termination
(and to the extent required by law).
(b) Employer may terminate Executive's employment hereunder without
Cause, or Executive may terminate his employment hereunder for Good Reason, upon
not less than thirty (30) days prior written notice. In the event of any such
termination, Executive shall be entitled to receive his Base Compensation
through the termination date
4
and any annual bonus entitlement, prorated for the number of months of
employment for the fiscal year in question, all accrued benefits and vacation to
the date of termination (and to the extent required by law), plus, during the
first two years of Executive's employment hereunder, an additional amount of
severance payment equal to one year's Base Compensation as in effect immediately
before any notice of termination, and, after the first two years of Executive's
employment hereunder, an additional amount of severance payment equal to nine
months' Base Compensation as in effect immediately before any notice of
termination. "Good Reason" means (i) without the Executive's prior written
consent, the Employer reduces Executive's Base Compensation or the percentage of
Executive' Base Compensation established as Executive's maximum target bonus
percentage for purposes of Employer's annual cash bonus plan, or fails to
continue in effect defined benefit pension plans having vesting and benefit
terms substantially similar to those of the defined benefit plans maintained by
ATOFina for the benefit of Executive prior to the Commencement Date, unless an
equitable arrangement (embodied in an ongoing substitute or alternative plan
providing the Executive with substantially similar benefits) has been made with
respect to such plan; (ii) any material breach of this Agreement, which breach
is not cured within ten (10) business days following receipt by Employer of
written notice of such breach, (iii) Employer requires Executive to be based at
an office or location that is more than thirty-five (35) miles from the location
at which Executive was based as of the Commencement Date, other than in
connection with reasonable travel requirements of Employer's business, (iv) the
delivery by Employer of notice pursuant to Section 1(c) of this Agreement that
if does not wish this Agreement to automatically renew for any subsequent year,
and (v) Executive may submit his resignation at any time after July 31, 2010,
which will be considered to be for Good Reason.
(c) Executive may terminate the employment relationship hereunder with not
less than thirty (30) days prior written notice. Upon any such termination of
Executive's employment, other than for Good Reason, the Company shall be under
no further obligation to Executive, except to pay all earned but unpaid Base
Compensation and all accrued benefits and vacation to the date of termination
(and to the extent required by law), subject to the provisions of any other
agreement to which the Executive and the Company are a party, including but not
limited to any stock option agreement or shareholders agreement.
(d) The provisions of Section 6, 7, 8 and 9 of this Agreement will continue
in effect notwithstanding any termination of Executive's employment.
11. MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION. (a) Employer and Executive hereby state
their mutual desire for any dispute concerning a legally cognizable claim
arising out of this Agreement or in connection with the employment of Executive
by Employer, including, but not limited to, claims of breach of contract, fraud,
unlawful termination, discrimination, harassment, workers' compensation
retaliation, defamation, tortious infliction of emotional distress, unfair
competition, and conversion ("Legal Dispute"), to be resolved amicably, if
possible, and without the need for litigation.
(b) Based on this mutual desire, in the event a Legal Dispute arises,
the parties shall utilize the following protocol:
5
(i) The parties shall first submit the Legal Dispute to
mediation under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA")
and pursuant to the mediation rules and procedures promulgated by the AAA.
(ii) In the event mediation is unsuccessful in fully resolving
the Legal Dispute, binding arbitration shall be the method of financial
resolution of the Legal Dispute. The parties expressly waive their rights to
bring action against one another in a court of law, except as expressly provided
in subsection (d). The parties hereto acknowledge that failure to comply with
this provision shall entitle the non-breaching party not only to damages, but
also to injunctive relief to enjoin the actions of the breaching party. Any
Legal Dispute submitted to Arbitration shall be under the auspices of the AAA
and pursuant to the "National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes,"
or any similar identified rules promulgated at such time the Legal Dispute is
submitted for resolution. All mediation and arbitration hearings shall take
place in Dallas, Texas.
(c) Notice of submission of any Legal Dispute to mediation shall be
provided no later than three hundred sixty-five (365) calendar days following
the date the submitting party became aware of the conduct constituting the
alleged claims. Failure to do so shall result in the irrevocable waiver of the
claim made in the Legal Dispute.
(d) Notwithstanding that mediation and arbitration are established
as the exclusive procedures for resolution of any Legal Dispute, (i) either
party may apply to an appropriate judicial or administrative forum for
injunctive relief and (ii) claims by Employer arising in connection with
paragraphs 6, 7, 8 or 9 may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) Each party acknowledges that a remedy at law for any breach or
attempted breach of paragraphs 6, 7, 8 or 9 of this Agreement will be
inadequate, agrees that Employer will be entitled to specific performance and
injunctive and other equitable relief in case of any breach or attempted
breach, and agrees not to use as a defense that any party has an adequate
remedy at law. This Agreement shall be enforceable in a court of equity, or
other tribunal with jurisdiction, by a decree of specific performance, and
appropriate injunctive relief may be applied for and granted in connection
herewith. Such remedy shall not be exclusive and shall be in addition to any
other remedies now or hereafter existing at law or in equity, by statute or
otherwise. Except as provided in subsection (c) no delay or omission in
exercising any right or remedy set forth in this Agreement shall operate as a
waiver thereof or of any other right or remedy and no single or partial
exercise thereof shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right or remedy.
12. ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall not be assignable by either party
except that upon any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of its
business by Employer, Employer may assign this Agreement to its successor; any
failure to make such an assignment will be considered to constitute the
termination of Executive's employment without cause effective upon the closing
of the referenced transaction.
13. NO INDUCEMENT, AGREEMENT VOLUNTARY. Executive represents that (a) he
has not been pressured, misled, or induced to enter into this Agreement based
upon any
6
representation by Employer or its agents not contained herein, (b) he has
entered into this Agreement voluntarily, after having the opportunity to
consult with representatives of his own choosing and that (c) his agreement is
freely given.
14. INTERPRETATION. Any paragraph, phrase or other provision of this
Agreement that is determined by a court, arbitrator or arbitration panel of
competent jurisdiction to be unreasonable or in conflict with any applicable
statute or rule, shall be deemed, if possible, to be modified or altered so
that it is not unreasonable or in conflict or, if that is not possible, then it
shall be deemed omitted from this Agreement. The invalidity of any portion of
this Agreement shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions.
15. PRIOR AGREEMENT SUPERSEDED; AMENDMENTS. This Agreement revokes and
supersedes all prior agreements, written and oral, and represents the entire
agreement between the parties in relation to the employment of the Executive by
the Company after the Commencement Date and shall not be subject to
modification or amendment by any oral representation, or any written, statement
by either party, except for a dated writing signed by the Executive and the
Employer.
16. NOTICES. All notices, demands and requests of any kind to be
delivered in connection with this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or if sent by
nationally-recognized overnight courtier or by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested and postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
(a) if to the Company, to:
Alon USA GP, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy number (000) 000-0000
(b) if to Executive, to the address of Executive set forth
on the signature page hereto;
or to such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have
furnished to the other in writing in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 16. Any such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been
received: (i) in the case of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery;
(ii) in the case of nationally-recognized overnight courier, on the next
business day after the date sent; and (iii)if by registered or certified mail,
on the third business day following the date postmarked.
7
17. APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Texas without giving effect to
principles of conflicts of law.
EXECUTIVE: EMPLOYER:
ALON USA GP, INC.
/s/ XXXXXX X. XXXX By: /s/ XXXX XXXXXX
------------------------- ------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx Name: Xxxx Xxxxxx
-----------------------------
Title: CEO
---------------------------
Address for notices:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
-------------------------
0000 XXX XXX
-------------------------
XXXXX, XX 00000
-------------------------
8
AMENDMENT TO EXECUTIVE/MANAGEMENT EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Amendment is made as of May 1, 2005 by and among Alon USA GP, LLC
("Employer") and Xxxxxx X. Xxxx ("Executive").
Whereas, the Employer and Executive entered into that certain
Executive/Management Employment Agreement dated as of August 1, 2000 (the
"Employment Agreement"); and
Whereas, it is necessary to amend the Employment Agreement to extend the term of
the Employment Agreement and provide for additional provisions related to the
title and capacity of the Executive.
Now therefore, the parties agree as follows:
1. In addition to capacity and title set forth in Section 1(b) of the
Employment Agreement, Executive shall serve as Senior Vice President of
Alon USA Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the indirect parent of the
Company.
2. Notwithstanding Section 1(c) of the Employment Agreement, the initial term
of employment shall end on April 30, 2010; thereafter, the term shall
renew automatically as provided in Section 1(c) of the Agreement.
3. Except as set forth in this Amendment, nothing contained herein is
intended to modify or otherwise affect the terms and conditions of the
Employment Agreement which shall remain in full force and effect.
In witness whereof, the parties have caused this Amendment to be executed and
delivered as of the date first written above.
Alon USA GP, LLC
By: /s/ XXXXX XXXXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
------------------------------
Executive: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXX
------------------------------
