EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.6
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of September 2, 2010, to be effective as of September 7, 2010 (the “Effective Date”) by and between Northern Power Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Xxxxxx X. Xxxx (“Employee”), sets forth the terms and conditions of Employee’s employment with the Company.
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to employ Employee in the capacities and on the terms and conditions set out below, and Employee has agreed to enter into such employment, in the capacities and on the terms and conditions set forth below.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Employee, in consideration of the respective covenants set out below, hereby agree as follows:
l. Employment. Pursuant to the terms and conditions herein, the Company shall employ Employee from the Effective Date until terminated as provided herein.
2. Duties and Responsibilities. Employee will serve as the Vice President and General Counsel of the Company and will report to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”), and perform such duties, services, and tasks as requested by the CEO that are commensurate with his position. During Employee’s employment with the Company, Employee shall devote his full business time, attention and ability to the performance of his duties hereunder and shall not be employed in any other capacity, or render services to any other party, without the prior written consent of the Company.
3. Compensation.
a. Base Salary. The Company shall pay Employee a salary of two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars ($225,000) annually, subject to any increases approved by the Board (‘‘Base Salary”), payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices and subject to applicable taxes and withholding.
b. Stock Options. On or promptly following the Commencement Date, the Company will grant Employee stock options to purchase 125,000 shares of the Common Stock of the Company’s parent, Wind Power Holdings, Inc. (“Wind Power”). Such options shall be issued pursuant to, and subject to the terms and conditions of, Wind Power’s 2008 Equity Incentive Plan as amended (the “Equity Incentive Plan”) and shall have an exercise price set at the Fair Market Value per share (as defined in the Equity Incentive Plan) as of the grant date. The options granted to Employee shall be exercisable for a period of seven (7) years form the date of grant, and shall vest over three years as follows: cliff vesting of the first one-third of options granted on the first anniversary of the Effective Date, with equal quarterly vesting in arrears thereafter for the balance of the award and vesting shall be fully accelerated in the event of a termination of Employee’s employment without cause or by Employee for “Good Reason” within six months of a Change of Control, as defined in the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan. For Purposes hereof, “Good Reason” shall mean: (i) any material diminution in Employee’s
functions, duties or responsibilities from and after the Change of Control; (ii) any reduction in the cash compensation payable to Employee from and after the Change of Control, other than as part of a salary reduction program affecting all other members of senior management: or (iii) a change of more than 50 miles in Employee’s permanent workplace without Employee’s consent. In addition, it is anticipated that, based on performance and at the discretion of the Compensation Committee and the Board, additional option grants or other equity awards may be made approximately annually with no less favorable vesting and exercise terms. Vesting of any such additional option grants or other equity awards likewise shall be fully accelerated in the event of termination without cause or by Employee for Good Reason within six months of a Change of Control, as defined in the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan.
c. Bonus. At the discretion of the Compensation Committee and the Board, an annual cash bonus, targeted at 35% of Base Salary, will be awarded based on performance as described by approved Management By Objective (“MBO”) scorecard goals. The amount of any individual bonus will be discretionary, based on the Board’s evaluation of individual performance as well as overall Company performance for the given year. All bonuses are subject to approval by the Board. Annual bonus pay out will occur by not later than March 15 of the following year.
d. Expenses. Employee shall not be required to relocate, and during such periods as the business of the Company shall require Employee’s significant, regular presence on-site at the Company’s facility in Barre, Vermont, the Company shall provide Employee with a monthly allowance for housing in the Barre, Vermont area of between $1,250 and $1,500 and will reimburse Employee for his automobile mileage expenses incurred in traveling between his primary residence and Barre, Vermont, on a tax free basis.
4. Benefits.
a. Health and Benefit Plans. Employee shall be eligible to participate in such medical, dental, disability, life insurance and other benefit plans as may be maintained by the Company from time to time, on the terms and conditions set forth in such plans.
b. Vacation. Employee shall be entitled to 20 days paid vacation per full calendar year, which shall accrue in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy as in effect from time to time. Subject to the provisions of the Company’s policy as in effect from time to time, up to 15 days of unused vacation time may be carried over to subsequent years. Accrued unused vacation time will be paid out upon termination of employment for any reason per the vacation policy.
c. Sick Leave. Employee shall be entitled to five (5) days of paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy.
d. Reimbursement for Business Expenses. Upon presentation of appropriate documentation, Employee shall be reimbursed, in accordance with the
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Company’s expense reimbursement policy, for all reasonable business expenses incurred in connection with Employee’s performance of services for the Company, but in no event later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which such reimbursable expenses are incurred.
5. Representations and Warranties. Employee represents, warrants and covenants to the Company that Employee is free to enter into this Agreement and provide the services contemplated hereunder, and that the engagement hereunder does not conflict with or violate, and will not be restricted by, any pre-existing business relationship or agreement to which Employee is a party or otherwise is bound.
6. Termination.
a. Generally. Employee’s employment with the Company may terminate for any of the following reasons, with or without any prior notice (and such notice shall not be required) unless otherwise indicated:
i. The Company may terminate Employee for any act or omission that constitutes “Cause,” provided that any termination for Cause within the meaning of subsection (i) below shall occur only after the Company has provided written notice to Employee describing the reasons for the proposed termination and giving Employee an opportunity to cure such breach within a reasonable period not to exceed 10 days after such notice. For purposes hereof, “Cause” shall mean: (i) Employee’s willful failure substantially to perform his duties and responsibilities to the Company or deliberate violation of a material Company policy; (ii) Employee’s commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement, dishonesty or any other willful misconduct that has caused or is reasonably expected to result in material injury to the Company; (iii) unauthorized use or disclosure by Employee of any proprietary information or trade secrets of the Company or any other party to whom Employee owes an obligation of nondisclosure as a result of his relationship with the Company; or (iv) Employee’s willful and material breach of his obligations under the Assignment of Inventions, Non-Disclosure and Noncompetition Agreement between Employee and the Company dated of even date herewith (the “Assignment Agreement”).
ii. The Company may terminate Employee without Cause or because of Employee’s death or “Disability”. For purposes hereof, “Disability” shall mean Employee’s failure or inability to substantially perform his duties hereunder because of illness or injury, with or without reasonable accommodation, for either four (4) consecutive months or an aggregate of six (6) months in any rolling twelve (12) month period, as determined in the reasonable judgment of an independent qualified physician selected by the Company to whom Employee or his personal representative (as the case may be) has no reasonable objection.
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iii. Employee may resign from the Company, provided that in the case of such resignation, Employee shall have provided the Company with at least 60 days prior written notice and upon receipt of such notice, the Company may elect, in its discretion, to terminate the employment of Employee at any time following such notice. In the event the Company elects to terminate Employee following notice, Employee’s Base Salary and benefits (subject to customary employee participation) shall continue to be paid during the notice period.
b. Payments Upon Termination by the Company for Cause. Upon the termination of Employee’s employment by the Company for Cause, Employee shall be paid any unpaid Base Salary and vacation accrual due and owed for periods prior to the termination and any outstanding expense reimbursements (collectively, the “Accrued Obligations”).
c. Payments Upon Resignation by Employee. Upon the termination of Employee’s employment by resignation by Employee, Employee shall be paid the Accrued Obligations and any bonus which had been awarded to Employee but not yet paid on the date of termination.
d. Payments Upon a Termination by the Company without Cause or for Death or Disability. Upon the termination of Employee’s employment by the Company without Cause or because of Employee’s death or Disability, Employee (or, in the event of Employee’s death, Employee’s estate) shall be paid the Accrued Obligations, any bonus which had been awarded to Employee but not yet paid on the date of termination, and a pro rated bonus for the year in which the termination occurs for performance through the date of termination, as determined in good faith by the Compensation Committee and the Board pursuant to Section 3(c) above. The Company shall also provide Employee the following severance for six (6) months from the termination date or, if sooner, up to the commencement of subsequent employment (the “Severance Period”):
i. the Base Salary in effect at the time, payable in up to six (6) installments over the Severance Period beginning on the first payroll date following the expiration of the Revocation Period referenced below, and including any missed installments between the date of termination of employment and the first such payment date;
ii. all health and dental benefits, through the cost of COBRA continuation coverage for Employee and his eligible dependents during the Severance Period (subject to Employee’s payment of premiums at the active employee rate), payable beginning on the first payroll date following the expiration of the Revocation Period referenced below, arid including any missed installments between the date of termination of employment and the first such payment date; provided that in the event that Employee obtains other employment that offers group health benefits, such payments by the Company under this Section 6.d.ii shall immediately cease (with the Base Compensation referenced in Section 6.d.i above, the “Severance Compensation”); and
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iii. all vacation benefits, payable beginning on the first payroll date following the expiration of the Revocation Period referenced below.
In addition, in the event of termination without Cause, the Compensation Committee will make a recommendation as to its view of the equitable merits of the possible vesting of any option grants or other equity awards previously granted to Employee.
7. Severance Compensation Terms. Severance Compensation shall be payable on the dates on which such amounts would have been paid had Employee continued his employment hereunder, provided that Severance Compensation shall only be paid if Employee executes a general release (in a customary and reasonable form) of any and all claims against the Company, Wind Power, and their affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, employees, and assigns, and continues to comply with the terms and conditions set forth in the Assignment Agreement. Employee will be provided a period of at least twenty-one (21) days to consider whether to execute the general release, and will be provided a seven (7) day post-execution period in which his agreement to it may be revoked (“Revocation Period”).
8. Entire Agreement/Amendments. This Agreement embodies the entire understanding with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings and communications with respect to the matters herein except for the Assignment Agreement. This Agreement may not be modified except in writing signed by Employee and a duly authorized officer of the Company.
9. Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction, performance, and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state Vermont. Any action commenced by employee against the Company shall be brought in the state or federal courts in the state of Vermont, but not in any other jurisdiction.
10. Section 409A. This Agreement is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended {the “Code”) and the regulations thereunder. To the extent that any provision in this Agreement is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A of the Code, the provision shall be interpreted in a manner so that no payment due to Employee shall be subject to an “additional tax” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(l)(B) of the Code. To the extent that any provision in the Agreement is ambiguous as to its compliance with Section 409A of the Code, or to the extent any provision in the Agreement must be modified to comply with Section 409A of the Code, such provision shall be read, or shall be modified (with the mutual consent of the parties), as the case may be, in such a manner so that no payment due to Employee shall be subject to an “additional tax” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(l)(B) of the Code.
For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, each payment made under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment. In no event may Employee, directly or
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indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment. All reimbursements provided under this Agreement shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, including, where applicable, the requirement that (i) any reimbursement be for expenses incurred during Employee’s lifetime (or during a shorter period of time specified in this Agreement); (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year, (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred, and (iv) the right to reimbursement is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if a payment or benefit under this Agreement is due to a “separation from service” for purposes of the rules under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A 3(i)(2) (payments to specified employees upon a separation from service) and Employee is determined to be a “specified employee” (as determined under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1 (i)), such payment or benefit shall, to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, be made or provided on the later of the date specified by the foregoing provisions of this Agreement or the date that is six months after the date of Employee’s separation from service (or, if earlier, the date of Employee’s death). Any installment payments that are delayed pursuant to this Section 1 0 shall be accumulated and paid in a lump sum on the first day of the seventh month following Employee’s separation from service, and the remaining installment payments shall begin on such date in accordance with the schedule provided in this Agreement.
This Section 10 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
11. General Provisions.
a. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing or by written telecommunication, and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered personally or if sent by overnight courier or by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or sent by written telecommunication or telecopy, to the relevant address set forth below, or to such other address as the recipient of such notice or communication shall have specified in writing to the other party hereto, in accordance with this Section 11 (a).
If to the Company, to: 00 Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to Employee, at his last residence shown on the records of the Company or to such address as the Employee may designate in writing.
Any such notice shall be effective (i) if delivered personally, when received, (ii) if sent by overnight courier, when receipted for, (iii) if mailed, five (5) days after being mailed, and (iv) on confirmed receipt if sent by written telecommunication or telecopy, provided a copy of such communication is sent by regular mail, as described above.
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b. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is deemed by a court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any law, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired.
c. Waivers. No delay or omission by either party hereto in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall impair such right, power or privilege, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude any further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.
d. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. In making proof of this Agreement, it shall not be necessary to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.
e. Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company’s successors and Employee’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. This Agreement shall not be assignable by Employee, it being understood and agreed that this is a contract for Employee’s personal services.
f. At Will Employment. Employee’s employment with the Company will be “at will,” meaning that Employee will not be obligated to remain employed at the Company for any specific period of time, and, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, may cease his employment for any reason. Likewise, the Company will not be obligated to employ Employee for any specific period, and, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, may terminate Employee’s employment with or without cause.
g. Ability to participate in next private placement offering. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that Employee shall be permitted the opportunity to participate in the next private placement financing to be offered by Wind Power Holdings, Inc., on the terms and conditions of such offering, it being understood and agreed that Employee shall be provided the opportunity but not the obligation to invest up to not less than $100,000 in such private placement financing.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.
| Northern Power Systems, Inc.: | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
| Xxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Employee: | ||
| /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | ||
| Xxxxxx J. Xxxx | ||
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