Mr. Steven Seeker S19 W28818 Price Court Waukesha, WI 53188 RE: Letter Agreement Dear Steve:
VIA
HAND DELIVERY
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Exhibit
10.5
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Mr.
Xxxxxx Seeker
X00
X00000 Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
RE: Letter
Agreement
Dear
Xxxxx:
Thank you
for your January 29, 2010 e-mail regarding the end of your employment with ZBB
Energy Corporation (the “Company”). This correspondence will
memorialize the agreement between you and the Company concerning the end of your
employment and retirement from the Company.
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1.
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As
we discussed on January 27, 2010, the Company does not intend on renewing
your Employment Agreement dated November 1, 2007 (“Employment Agreement”).
This Letter Agreement provides you written notice of the Company’s intent
not to renew your Employment Agreement as required by Article I of the
Employment Agreement.
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2.
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As
we further discussed, it is not the intent of you or the Company to
terminate your Employment Agreement prior to the expiration of the current
term. Rather, you and the Company have agreed on an arrangement
that allows you to seek other employment opportunities while continuing to
receive the benefits under the Employment Agreement and assisting the
Company with preparing for your departure, which terms are set forth in
this Letter Agreement. This means that nothing in this Letter
Agreement should be considered a termination of your Employment Agreement
under Article IV or otherwise.
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3.
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To
this end, you and the Company have agreed that from February 3, 2010
through the end of the initial term of the Employment Agreement, you will
be on a paid leave of absence. This leave of absence will
continue until the term of the Employment Agreement expires and your
employment ends on June 30, 2010 (“Separation
Date”).
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4.
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During
the leave of absence, the terms of your Employment Agreement, including
your current salary ($208,000 per year) and vacation accrual, will
continue in full force and effect, with the following modification to
Article II of the Employment Agreement. You will not be
required to devote your entire working time and efforts to the business
affairs of the Company and instead, you will not be expected to report to
work during the leave of absence which we agreed will assist with your
efforts to seek other employment consistent with your post-employment
obligations to the Company under your Employment
Agreement.
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5.
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After
the Separation Date, the Company will provide you with payment for all
your earned and unused vacation. In addition, the Company will
provide you with the right to participate, at your own expense, in the
Company’s group health insurance plan in accordance with the mandates of
the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, as amended
(“COBRA”).
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6.
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As
originally scheduled, all of your outstanding restricted stock shall vest
on March 31, 2010, pursuant to the terms of the March 11, 2009 Consent of
the Compensation Committee of ZBB Energy Corporation, and shall otherwise
be subject to the terms of the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan. The
total shall be 17,333 shares net of the 25% claw
back.
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X00
X00000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxx
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PO
Box 2047
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Menomonee
Falls WI 53051
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Kardinya
XX 0000
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Tel: (000)
000 0000 Fax: (000) 000 0000
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000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
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Xxxxx
Xxxx XX 0000
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Tel: (00)
0000 0000 Fax: (00) 0000 0000
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Email: xxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
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xxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx
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7.
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The
performance-based stock options granted on March 11, 2009 under your
Employee Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement dated December 14, 2009 are
governed by the terms of the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan. As of
your Separation Date, you will be vested in 18,200 of these stock
options. Because your termination of employment is classified
as a “retirement” under the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, you shall have one
year from your Separation Date or until June 30, 2011 to exercise all of
the above vested stock options.
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8.
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The
service-based stock options granted on June 6, 2008 under your Employee
Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement dated December 11, 2009 are governed
by the terms of the 2002 Stock Option Plan. As of your
Separation Date, you will be vested in 100,000 of these stock
options. Because it is the intent of the Company to classify
your termination of employment as a “retirement,” in accordance with the
2002 Stock Option Plan, upon approval by the Board of Directors you shall
have one year from your Separation Date or until June 30, 2011 to exercise
all of the above vested stock
options.
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9.
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The
Company and you will characterize your end of employment as a
retirement. You and the Company agree that an announcement on
February 3, 2010 to employees regarding your
departure will be as follows:
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Xxxxx
Seeker has decided to retire from his position with the Company effective June
30, 2010. The Company’s new CEO wants to get directly involved in the
operations of the Company and as a result, Steve’s expertise is no longer
needed. We thank Xxxxx for his contributions to the Company and
wish him well in his pursuit of other opportunities. All staff
currently reporting to Xxxxx Seeker (COO) will now directly report either to
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx (CEO) or Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx (Executive VP).
11.
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In
consideration for the benefits provided to you in this Letter Agreement
which you acknowledge are greater then those to which you would otherwise
be entitled, you agree, on
behalf of yourself, your heirs, successors and assigns, to release the
Company, its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates and their respective
past and present officers, directors, stockholders, members, partners,
agents, insurers and employees (“Released Parties”), from any claims
arising on or before the date you sign this Letter
Agreement. This includes, but is not limited to, giving up any
claims related in any way to your employment by the Company, the decision
to separate your employment, and separation of our employment
relationship. This release of claims includes any claims,
whether they are presently known or unknown, or anticipated or
unanticipated by you. Your signature below acknowledges that
you are not entitled to any other severance or benefits, vacation, bonus,
commission, wages or other payments of any kind, except those described in
this agreement. Because you are age 40 or
older, your acceptance of this agreement also will release any and all
claims under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment
Act. You should not construe this reference to age
discrimination claims as in any way limiting the general and comprehensive
nature of the release of claims provided under this Paragraph. You agree to waive and give up
any benefit conferred on you by any order or judgment issued in connection
with any proceeding filed against the Released Parties regarding any claim
released in this Letter
Agreement.
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12.
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Likewise,
except for claims involving misconduct of the type specified in Wis. Stat. Sec.
180.0828(1), the Company forever waives and gives up any and all
claims it may have, whether known or unknown, against you, your heirs,
successors and assigns for any monetary relief for itself and any benefits
or remedies that are based on any act, or failure to act, that occurred
before the date you sign this Letter Agreement, to the fullest extent
permitted under applicable law.
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2
13.
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You
may acknowledge your acceptance of the terms of this Letter Agreement by
signing and returning a copy of this Letter Agreement to Xxxxx Xxxxx,
Human Resource Manager, X00X00000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX,
00000, on or
before 5:00 p.m. Central Time on the 21st calendar day
following your receipt of this agreement. You will have seven (7)
calendar days after signing this agreement within which to revoke your
acceptance of it (“Revocation Period”). Such revocation will
not be effective unless written notice of the revocation is, via mail,
overnight delivery or hand delivery, directed to and received by Xxxxx
Xxxxx, Human Resource Manager, X00X00000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx,
XX, 00000, on or before 5:00 p.m. Central Time on the 1st
business day following expiration of the Revocation
Period. This Letter Agreement will not be binding or
enforceable unless you have signed and delivered this agreement as
provided for herein and have chosen not to exercise your revocation
rights, as described above. If you fail to accept this Letter
Agreement or revoke your acceptance of this Letter Agreement, the terms of
this Letter Agreement will be void.
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14.
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By
signing below, you agree and acknowledge that you have read this Letter
Agreement and understand its contents. You further agree and
acknowledge that you have been advised by the Company to consult with an
attorney prior to signing this agreement. You understand that
this Letter Agreement includes a final general release, including a
release of all claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act. You further understand that this Letter Agreement
supersedes any prior agreements, practices, policies or discussions of any
kind concerning the matters detailed in this Letter
Agreement.
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Should
you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Very
truly yours,
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ZBB
ENERGY CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
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Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx (Chief Executive
Officer)
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I agree
with and accept the terms contained in
this
agreement and agree to be bound by them.
Dated
this 4th day of February 4, 2010.
Time: 12:30
P.M.
/s/
Xxxxxx Seeker
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