EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
The
Executive Employment Agreement is entered into this 1st day of
April, 2010 and effective as of April 1, 2010, between Axion Power
International, Inc., a Delaware corporation, having a place of business at 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 (the "Company") and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
of 000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 (the "Executive").
A.
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The
Company is engaged in research, development, manufacturing and sales
relating to a novel technology for a supercapacitor/battery hybrid that
replaces the lead-based negative electrode in a lead-acid battery with a
highly permeable nanoporous carbon electrode; and in research,
development, manufacturing and sales relating to both conventional and
advanced lead acid batteries including new grid technologies for the
positive and potentially the negative late and carbon additives to the
standard lead acid battery; and is exploring various other integration
technologies for stationary and motive
applications.
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B.
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The
Company owns all of the proprietary interests in the Company's good will
and its Confidential Information (as hereinafter defined), all of which
information is not publicly available and is considered by the Company to
be confidential trade secrets. The Company imparts to its Executives, and
said Executives require during the course of their employment, access to
Confidential Information.
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C.
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Executive
during the course of Executive's employment with the Company: (i) will
obtain material knowledge and information regarding the Company's
Customers, including without limitation Customers' specialized
requirements, preferences and financial condition, all of which are
materially important in the Company's business relationship with such
Customers; (ii) may perform duties for the Company, which duties
themselves are of a highly confidential nature; (iii) is encouraged by the
Company to develop personal relationships with the Company's suppliers,
Customers and prospective Customers; (iv) generally has access to
Confidential Information; and (v) has developed and will develop expertise
in the field of lead-acid batteries, Axion's PbC Technology, battery
testing, carbon sheeting, and other technologies currently under
development by Axion.
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D.
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The
Company is vulnerable to unfair post-employment competition by Executive,
since Executive has access to Confidential Information and has personal
relationships with the Company's suppliers, Customers and prospective
Customers.
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E.
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Executive
acknowledges the vulnerability of the Company to post-employment
competition by Executive and is willing to enter into this Agreement with
the Company, pursuant to which Executive agrees not to disclose any of the
Company's Confidential Information and not to compete against the Company
following termination of employment for the time periods and to the
limited extent set forth in this
Agreement.
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F.
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The
Company desires to employ Executive as its Chief Operating Officer and
Executive desires to accept such employment, pursuant to the terms set
forth in this Agreement.
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1
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the promises and of the mutual covenants and agreements herein
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1)
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Executive Representations and
Warranties. The Executive represents and warrants to the Company
that he is free to accept employment hereunder and that he has no prior or
other obligations or commitments of any kind to anyone that would in any
way hinder or interfere with his acceptance of the full, uninhibited and
faithful performance of this Agreement, or the exercise of his best
efforts as an executive officer of the
Company.
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2)
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Employment and Duties.
The Company shall employ the Executive as its Chief Operating
Officer. The Executive will work from the Company's office and battery
manufacturing center in the New Castle, Pennsylvania area and will report
directly to the Chief Executive
Officer.
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·
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Executive
shall devote Executive's full time and effort, energies and abilities as
are required in the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer for the
proper and efficient performance of such duties and
responsibilities.
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·
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Executive
will devote Executive's full time, attention and ability to the Company's
business and affairs;
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·
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Executive
will not enter into the services of nor be employed in any capacity or for
any purpose whatsoever by, any person, firm or corporation other than us,
nor will Executive be engaged in or by any business, enterprise or
undertaking other than your employment under this Employment Agreement
unless Executive obtains our prior written
approval;
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·
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From
time to time Executive will be called upon to travel in the course of
performing his responsibilities for
Axion;
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·
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And further The Executive's responsibilities shall
specifically include all of the
duties and responsibilities of the Chief Operating Officer including the
following:
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·
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Executive
will work to develop a team focus while establishing boundaries and
providing mentoring as required;
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·
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Executive
will work to prepare the battery plant to be AGM centric in
process and capable of sufficient production capacities for AGM and PbC
production;
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·
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Executive
will be responsible for establishing a Quality Control culture while
working toward ISO 9001 certification for battery and electrode
production;
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·
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Executive
will be responsible for positive plate improvement for lead-acid and lead
carbon products;
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·
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Executive
will be a contributing member of the product approval/development
team;
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2
·
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Executive
will participate, or chair, regular engineering and production
meetings;
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·
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Executive
will work to improve overall manufacturing practices and improve
organizational readiness;
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·
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Executive
will be a member of, and a contributor to, the planning and strategy
leadership group;
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·
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Executive
will provide monthly written reports to the CEO and, if required, to the
board of directors, covering all direct reporting functions in the
Company; and the
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·
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Executive
will perform any other duties consistent with the position of Chief
Operating Officer as directed by the CEO or the board of
directors.
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3)
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Conduct of
Executive.During the entire Term of this Agreement, the
Executive
shall devote his full business time, effort, skill and attention to the
affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries, will use his best efforts to
promote the interests of the Company, and will discharge his
responsibilities in a diligent and faithful manner, consistent with sound
business practices. In furtherance of the
foregoing:
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a)
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The
Executive understands and agrees that he owes the Company a fiduciary
duty, without limiting any other obligations or requirements that are
imposed on the Executive by this Employment Agreement or by law. As such,
the Executive shall occupy a position of and commit to the highest degree
of trust, loyalty, honesty and good faith in all of
his dealings with and on behalf of the
Company.
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b)
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The
Executive represents that his employment by the Company will not conflict
with any obligations which he has to any other person, firm or entity. The
Executive specifically represents that he has not brought to the Company
(during the period before the signing of this Agreement) and he will not
bring to the Company any materials or documents of a former or present
employer, or any confidential information or property of any other person,
firm or entity.
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c)
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The
Company does not offer, pay, or receive payments in exchange for the
referral of a customer. The Executive shall not receive any remuneration
from any outside person or entity related to the services performed by the
Executive for the Company or the products purchased or sold by the
Company.
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d)
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The
Executive shall comply with all applicable laws, including Federal, State
and Municipal purchasing requirements. The Executive understands that
failure to do so exposes the Company, its officers, directors, Executives
and agents to possible sanctions, monetary penalties, criminal prosecution
and other disciplinary actions. The Executive shall seek appropriate
guidance from the Company when the application of a law is
unclear.
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3
4)
Conditions of Employment.
a)
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Term
of Employment. Unless terminated earlier in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement, the Company will employ the Executive for a period
commencing on April 1, 2010 and terminating on March 31, 2013 (the
"Term").
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b)
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Place
of Employment. The Executive shall occupy offices at the Company's
facility in New Castle, PA. The Executive shall not be required to
relocate to any other business location maintained by the Company although
the Executive expressly agrees that regular travel shall be necessary as
part of his duties.
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c)
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Ownership
of Company Records and Reports. The Executive shall not, except in the
performance of his duties hereunder, at any time or in any manner make or
cause to be made any copies, pictures, duplicates, facsimiles, or other
reproductions or recordings or any abstracts or summaries of any reports,
studies, memoranda, correspondence, manuals, records, plans or other
written or otherwise recorded materials of any kind whatever belonging to
or in the possession of the Company, or of any subsidiary or affiliate of
the Company, including but not limited to materials describing or in any
way relating to the Company's business activities including, but not
limited to, its proprietary techniques and technologies, its operational
and financial matters, its business and financial and development plans,
its personnel training and development programs and its industry
relationships. The Executive shall have no right, title or interest in any
such material, and the Executive agrees that, except in the performance of
his duties hereunder, he will not, without the prior written consent of
the Company remove any such material from any premises of the Company, or
any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, and immediately upon the
termination of his employment for any reason whatsoever Executive shall
return to the Company all such material in his
possession.
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d)
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It
is expressly agreed and understood that the Executive shall execute and be
bound by the terms and conditions of the Executive Agreement which is
attached hereto and made a part hereof as Exhibit
A
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5)
Compensation.
The
Company shall compensate the Executive for all services to be rendered by him
during the Term as follows:
The
Executive shall receive a salary of Sixteen Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty
Dollars ($16,650.) per month for services rendered during the period commencing
on April 1, 2010 and terminating on March 31, 2013. The Executive's salary shall
be reviewed after six (6) months and then on an annual basis thereafter and the
amount of such Salary shall be subject to renegotiation on the basis of the
performance of the Executive and the performance of the Company. The
Executive will also be eligible for
2010 bonus awards based on milestones established by the CEO and the
Compensation
Committee with input from the Executive.
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4
In
addition, The Executive shall be allowed an automobile allowance of $500.00 per
month to be applied to the car of his choice. The Executive shall be entitled to
reimbursement at the maximum allowable mileage rate under applicable income tax
rules for all reasonable business use of his personal automobile.
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a)
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The
Executive shall participate in any executive compensation plans adopted by
the shareholders of the Company; provided, however, that the discretionary
authority to determine the level of the Executive's participation therein
and the terms and conditions of such participation shall remain vested in
the CEO and the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and the
Compensation Committee shall have the authority to adjust such
participation upward or downward from time to time in its
sole
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b)
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Effective
upon date of hire, the Executive shall be given the opportunity to
participate in the Company's employee benefit programs, including but not
limited to medical and hospitalization insurance, group life insurance,
short and long term disability and any other insurance benefit that is in
effect from time to time. The Executive will participate in and contribute
the premium share as designated by the Company from year to year in
accordance with the Premium Only Plan which the Company adopted effective
October 1, 2009.
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c)
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During
the Term of this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Executive for
all reasonable business expenses incurred by him on behalf of the Company
in the performance of his duties hereunder upon presentation of vouchers,
receipts or other evidence of such expenses in accordance with the
policies of the Company, and provided that the Executive shall incur no
costs or expenses that exceed $2,500.00 without prior authorization of the
Company.
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d)
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Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, it is agreed that the Executive
shall be entitled to receive such incentive bonuses, stock options and
other benefits as the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors may
grant from time to time, and any income tax liabilities arising there from
shall be due and payable at the Executive's sole expense, and the
Executive acknowledges that the Company may make appropriate withholding
from salary for such grants.
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e)
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Notwithstanding
the general provisions of the Company's Policy Manual relating to
vacations, the Executive shall be entitled to a total of four (4) weeks of
paid vacation per year. Except for the four (4) week time period herein
specified, all other provisions of the Policy manual relating to vacation
scheduling will be applicable to vacation and holiday time allocated to
the Executive hereunder.
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6) Stock
Purchase Option
The
Company acknowledges that the Executive has agreed to devote substantially all
of his business time and effort to the Company during the entire Extended Term
of this Agreement. In recognition of the opportunity costs associated with such
actions the Executive is hereby granted an option to purchase 230,000 shares of
the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $1.50 per share. 26,000
options shall vest upon execution of this contract and, beginning in June; six
thousand (6,000) options will vest monthly through the remaining 34 months of
this contract. If the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without cause (as defined in
Section 8) or terminated by the Executive for good reason (as defined in
Section 8), all unvested options shall immediately vest and become exercisable.
In all other cases, all unvested options shall immediately
terminate.
Furthermore,
all unvested options shall vest in the Executive immediately prior to the
consummation of (i) any merger, consolidation or similar business combination
transaction where the Company is not the surviving entity, (ii) any sale of all
or substantially all of the Company's assets where the proceeds are intended for
distribution to the stockholders, (iii) any change in control whereby one group,
or a number of groups acting in concert, obtains more than 50% of the Company's
outstanding, or outstanding and issuable equity instruments. Notwithstanding the
generality of the foregoing, rights represented by vested options shall not be
affected by the termination of the Executive's employment because of the
disability or death of the Executive. From and after the vesting dates, the
vested options may be exercised at any time or from time to time, in whole or in
part, for a period of five (5) years. The Option Agreement attached hereto as
"Exhibit B" shall be executed concurrently with this Agreement.
Executive
specifically acknowledges that all options in paragraphs 6 are fully restricted
from resale under federal and state securities laws and regulations. Such
restrictions from resale remain even after the vesting of such options, and all
such options (including shares received upon option exercise) shall bear
appropriate legends prohibiting resale, which shall not be removed upon vesting.
The Company shall have no obligation to register such shares and options, which
will remain unregistered in perpetuity, and the Company has no obligation to
assist employee in finding exemptions from registration. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Executive is fully responsible for all income tax liability, if any,
arising from such options and the sale of stock, and the Company has no
obligation to reimburse Executive or assist in any other arrangements regarding
such liability.
7)
Termination of Employment.
a)
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This
Agreement and the compensation payable to Executive hereunder shall
terminate and cease to accrue forthwith upon Executive's
death.
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6
b)
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If
the Executive's employment is terminated (i) other than for cause
(as defined below) by the Company, or (ii) by the Executive for
good
reason (as defined below), the Company shall pay to Executive an
aggregate severance amount equal to fifty (50%) of the Executive's annual
base salary in effect as of the date of such termination (i.e., six (6)
months' base salary and such amount being referred to as the "Severance
Amount"). The Severance Amount may be paid in a single lump sum
amount, provided that payment of the Severance Amount shall be contingent
upon the Executive signing the release and waiver agreement in Exhibit
C,
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For the
purposes of this Agreement, "cause" for termination by the Company shall mean
(i) a material breach of this Agreement by Executive; (ii) a breach of
Executive's duty of loyalty to the Company or any act of dishonesty with respect
to the Company or its stockholders, customers or suppliers; (iii) Executive's
continued failure or refusal to perform, in any material respect, any duty or
responsibility to the Company which is normally attached to Executive's
position(after notice and a 10-day cure period), provided, however, any
subsequent failure or refusal to perform such duty or responsibility shall
entitle the Company to terminate employment for Just Cause without notice or an
opportunity to cure; (iv) Executive's gross negligence or willful misconduct in
performing those duties which are normally attached to Executive's position; (v)
the commission by Executive of an act of fraud, conversion, misappropriation
(including the unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential or proprietary
information of the Company) or embezzlement or crime of moral turpitude; (vi) a
conviction of or guilty plea or confession by Executive to any fraud,
conversion, misappropriation, embezzlement or felony; (vii) the exposure of the
Company to any criminal liability or loss of business opportunity or reduction
in revenues or increase in losses substantially caused by the conduct of
Executive which results in a material adverse effect upon the Company's
business, operations, financial condition or results of operations or the
exposure of the Company to any bona fide claims which may result in civil
liability caused by Executive's unlawful harassment in employment; or (viii) the
repeated taking of any action prohibited (a) by the Board or any of the
Executive Officers, provided that Executive has received at least one written
notice of having taken an action so prohibited, or (b) by this Agreement. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Executive's duty of loyalty to the Company" shall
include Executive's fiduciary obligation to place the interests of the Company
ahead of Executive's personal interests and thereby not knowingly profit
personally at the expense of the Company, and shall also include specifically
the affirmative obligation to disclose promptly to the Board any known conflicts
of interest Executive may have with respect to the Company, and the negative
obligations not to usurp corporate opportunities of the Company, not to engage
in any "conflict-of-interest" transactions with the Company (without the
approval of the Board), and not to compete directly with the Company (without
the approval of the Board).
c)
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At
the end of the initial term of this Agreement, theExecutive's employment
may be terminated by either party for any reason, or for no reason, upon
written notice given not less than ninety (90) days prior to the
termination date.
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8)
Specific Performance.
If any
portion of this Agreement is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
too broad to permit enforcement of such restriction to its full extent, then
such restriction shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law, and
the Executive hereby consents and agrees that such scope may be judicially
modified accordingly in any proceeding brought to enforce such restriction. All
provisions of this Agreement are severable, and the unenforceability or
invalidity of any single provision hereof shall not affect any remaining
provision. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company's remedy at
law for any breach of any of his obligations hereunder would be inadequate, and
agrees and consents that temporary and permanent injunctive relief may be
granted in any proceeding that may be brought to enforce any provision of this
Agreement without the necessity of proof of actual damage and without any bon or
other security being required, Such remedies shall not be exclusive and shall be
in addition to any other remedy which the Company may have.
9)
Miscellaneous:
a)
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The
failure of a party to insist on any occasion upon strict adherence to any
Term of this Agreement shall not be considered to be a waiver or deprive
that party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that
Term or any other Term of this Agreement. Any waiver must be in
writing.
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b)
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All
notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing
and shall be delivered personally or mailed by registered mail, return
receipt requested, and shall be deemed given when so delivered or mailed,
to a party at such address as a party may, from time to time, designate in
writing to the other party.
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c)
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Notwithstanding
the termination of the Executive's employment hereunder, the provisions of
Paragraphs 6, 7, 8 and 9 shall survive such
termination.
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d)
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This
Agreement shall be assigned to and inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon, any successor to substantially all of the assets and business of the
Company as a going concern, whether by merger, consolidation, liquidation
or sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company or
otherwise.
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e)
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This
Agreement constitutes the entire Agreement between the parties regarding
the above matters, and each party acknowledges that there are no other
written or verbal Agreements or understandings relating to such subject
matter between the Executive and the Company or between the Executive and
any other individuals or entities other than those set forth herein. No
amendment to this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing and
signed by both the parties hereto.
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f)
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Paragraph
6 of this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the General
Corporation Law of Delaware. All other provisions of this Agreement shall
be construed according to the laws of the State of Pennsylvania pertaining
to Agreements formed and to be formed wholly within the State of
Pennsylvania. The Executive represents and warrants that he has reviewed
this Agreement in detail with his legal and other advisors, as he
considers appropriate, and that he fully understands the consequences to
him of its provisions. The Executive is relying on his own judgment and
the judgment of his advisors with respect to this
Agreement.
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g)
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In
the event a dispute arises out of, in connection with, or with respect to
this Agreement, or any breach thereof, such dispute shall, on the written
request of one party delivered to the other party, be submitted to and
settled by binding arbitration before a single arbitrator conducted in New
Castle, Pennsylvania, United States in accordance with the Laws of the
State of Pennsylvania. The award of such arbitrator shall be final and may
be entered by any party hereto in any court of competent jurisdiction. The
party against whom the arbitrator's award is rendered shall pay all costs
and expenses of such arbitration, unless the arbitrator shall specifically
allocate costs in a different manner because the award is not entirely in
favor of either party,
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h)
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This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, which will each
be deemed to be an original for all purposes
hereof.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have signed this Agreement intending to be bound
thereby.
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EXHIBIT
A
Executive
Agreement
XXXXX
POWER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
EXECUTIVE
AGREEMENT
Xxxxx
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Xxxxxx
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S.
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EXECUTIVES
LAST NAME
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FIRST
NAME
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INITIAL
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1)
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AXION
means Axion Power International, Inc., and any existing or future
subsidiaries, owned or controlled, directly or indirectly by
Axion.
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2)
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CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION means information, not generally known, and proprietary
to Axion, including trade secret information, about Axion's processes and
products, including information relating to research, development,
manufacture, purchasing, accounting, engineering, marketing,
merchandising, selling, leasing, servicing, finance and business systems
and techniques. All information disclosed to me, or to which I have
reasonable basis to believe to be a Confidential Information, or which is
treated by Axion as being Confidential Information, shall be presumed to
be Confidential
Information.
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3)
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INVENTIONS
means discoveries, improvements and ideas (whether or not shown or
described in writing or reduced to practice) and works of authorship,
whether or not patentable or copyrightable, (1) which relate directly to
the business of Axion, or (2) which relate to Axionis actual or
demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (3) which result from
any work performed by me for Axion, or (4) for which equipment, supplies,
facility or trade secret information of Axion is used, or (5) which is
developed on any Axion
time.
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4)
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CONFLICTING
PRODUCT means any product, process, system or service of any person
or organization other than Axion, in existence or under development, which
is the same as or similar to or competes with, or has a usage allied to, a
product, process, system or service upon which I work
(in either a sales or a non-sales capacity) during the last three years of
my employment by Axion, or about which I kcquiro Confidential
Information
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5)
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CONFLICTING
ORGANIZATION means any person or organization which is engaged in
or about to become engaged in, research on or development, production,
marketing, leasing, selling or servicing of a Conflicting
Product.
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I
AM EMPLOYED OR DESIRE TO BE EMPLOYED BY AXION IN A CAPACITY IN WHICH I MAY
RECEIVE OR CONTRIBUTE TO CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. IN CONSIDERATION OF SUCH
EMPLOYMENT OR CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT, AND THE WAGES OR SALARY AND OTHER EXECUTIVE
BENEFITS IN COMPENSATION FOR MY SERVICES, AND IN CONSIDERATION OF BEING GIVEN
ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; I AGREE THAT:
1) With respect to Inventions
made, authorized or conceived by me, either solely or jointly with others, (1)
during my employment, whether or not during normal working hours or whether or
not at Axion's premises; or (2) within one year after termination of my
employment, I will:
a)
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Keep
accurate, complete and timely records of such Inventions, which records
shall be Axion property and be retained on Axion's
premises.
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b)
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Promptly
and fully disclose and describe such Inventions in writing to
Axion.
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c)
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Assign
(and I do hereby assign) to Axion all of my rights to such Inventions and
to applications for letters patent and/or copyright in all countries and
to letters patent and/or copyrights granted upon such Inventions in all
countries,
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d)
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Acknowledge
and deliver promptly to Axion (without charge to Axion but at the expense
of Axion) such written instruments and to do such other acts as may be
necessary in the opinion of Axion to preserve property rights against
forfeiture, abandonment or loss and to obtain and maintain letters patent
and/or copyrights and to vest the entire right and title thereto in
Axion.
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e)
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At
the request of Axion and at its cost, the Executive shall assist Axion, or
any person or persons from time to time designated by it, to obtain the
copyright, trademark and/or grant of patents in the United States and/or
in such other country or countries as may be designated by Axion, covering
such improvements, discoveries, ideas and inventions and shall in
connection therewith and in connection with the defense of any patents
execute such applications, statements or other documents, furnish such
information and data and take all such other action (including, but not
limited to, the giving of testimony) as Axion may from time to time
reasonable request.
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NOTICE: This is to notify you
that paragraph A of this Axion "Executive Agreement" you are being asked to sign
as a condition of your employment does not apply to an Invention for which no
equipment, supplies, facility or trade secret information of Axion was used and
which was developed entirely on your own time, and (1) which does not relate (a)
directly to the business of Axion or (b) to Axion's actual or demonstrably
anticipated research or development, or (2) which does not result from any work
performed by you for Axion.
2) EXCEPT as required in my
duties to Axion, I will never, either during my employment by Axion or
thereafter, use or disclose any Confidential Information as defined in paragraph
2 hereinabove.
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3) UPON termination of my
employment with Axion, all records and any compositions, articles, devices, and
other items which disclose or embody Confidential Information including all
copies or specimens thereof in my possession, whether prepared or made by me or
others, will be left with Axion.
4) EXCEPT as listed at the end
of this Agreement, I will not assert any rights under any Inventions as having
been made, conceived, authored or acquired by me prior to my being employed by
Axion.
5)
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FOR a period of two
years after termination of my employment with
Axion:
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a)
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I
will inform any new employer, prior to accepting employment of the
existence of this Executive agreement and provide such employer with a
copy thereof.
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b)
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If
I have been or am employed by Axion in a sales capacity, I will not render
services in the United States, directly or indirectly, to any Conflicting
Organization in connection with the development, manufacture, marketing,
sale, merchandising, leasing, servicing or promotion of any Conflicting
Product to any person or organization upon whom I called, or whose account
I supervised on behalf of Axion, at any time during the last three years
of my employment by Axion.
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c)
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If
I have been or am employed by Axion in a non-sales capacity, I will not
render, to any Conflicting Organization, services, directly or indirectly,
in the United States or in any country in which Axion has a plant for
manufacturing a product upon which I work during my employment by Axion or
in which Axion provides a service in which I participate during my
employment by Axion, except that I may accept employment with a large
Conflicting Organization whose business is diversified (and which has
separate and distinct divisions),and which as to part of its business is
not a Conflicting Organization, provided Axion, prior to my accepting such
employment, shall receive separate written assurances satisfactory to
Axion from such Conflicting Organization and from me, that I will not
render services directly or indirectly in connection with any Conflicting
Product.
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d)
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If
I am unable to obtain employment consistent with my abilities and
education, within one month after termination of my employment with Axion,
solely because of provisions of this paragraph E, such provisions shall
thereafter continue to bind me only as long as Axion shall make payments
to me equal to my monthly base pay at termination (exclusive of extra
compensation, bonus or Executive benefits) for each month of such
unemployment commencing with the second month after termination of my
employment with Axion,
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(1)
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I
agree that I will, during each month of such unemployment, make
conscientious and aggressive efforts to find employment; and I will,
within ten days after the end of each calendar month, give Axion a
detailed written account of my efforts to obtain employment. Such account
will include a statement by me that although I aggressively sought
employment, I was unable to obtain it solely because of the provisions of
this paragraph E.
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12
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(2)
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It
is understood that Axion shall, at its option, be relieved of making.a
monthly payment to me for any month during which I failed to seek
employment conscientiously and aggressively, and to account to Axion, as
provided for above.
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(3)
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Axion
is obligated to make such payments to me, upon my fulfillment of the
conditions set forth above, for 23 consecutive months unless Axion gives
me written permission to accept available employment, or gives me a
written release from the obligations of paragraph
E.
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(4)
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Axion's
obligation to make such monthly payments shall terminate upon my death or
upon my obtaining employment. I agree that I will give prompt written
notice of such employment to Axion.
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(5)
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Axion
shall not be liable, under this Agreement, or in any action relating
thereto, for any amount greater than the equivalent of 23 such monthly
payments, less amounts paid to me by Axion pursuant to this Agreement;
Axion not being obliged to make a payment to me for the first month of
such unemployment.
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e)
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If,
after termination of my employment with Axion, I obtain other employment
but because of the provisions of paragraph E, my position is such that my
gross monthly income will be less than that which I last received from
Axion as monthly base pay at termination, then Axion's obligations to make
payments to me for the period specified in paragraph E. d. will be limited
to the difference between my monthly base pay at Axion, at termination,
and the gross monthly income I will receive in my subsequent
employment.
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f)
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ALL
MY obligations under paragraphs A through D of this Agreement shall be
binding upon my heirs, spouses, assigns and legal
representatives.
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g)
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IF
ANY provision of this Agreement shall contravene any statute of a
particular state which I perform services for Axion, then this Agreement
shall be construed as if such provision is not contained herein insofar as
enforcement of this Agreement against me in such particular state is
concerned.
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h)
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THIS
AGREEMENT replaces any existing Agreement entered into by me and Axion
relating generally to the same subject matter; but such replacement shall
not affect rights and obligations of either party arising out of any such
prior Agreement which shall then continue to be in effect for that
purpose.
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(Do not
disclose or describe here anything you regard as being confidential. What is
wanted in this space (or on a separate attached sheet), pursuant to paragraph
"D" above, is a brief description of the product or process, etc., plus a list
of source documents, such as patents, patent applications, drawings, or written
descriptions, identified by number, title and date.)
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14
NONQUALIFIED
STOCK PURCHASE OPTION AGREEMENT RECITALS
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Optionee have entered into an employment agreement that
requires the Company to grant the Optionee an option to purchase shares of the
Company's common stock at a price of $ 1.50 per share as partial consideration
for the services to be rendered under the agreement; and
WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors (the "Board") has determined that it would be in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders to grant the option provided for
herein (the "Option") as an inducement to serve as an employee of the Company
and to provide Optionee with a proprietary interest in the future of the
Company;
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
1)
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Grant of the
Option. The Company hereby grants to Optionee the right and option
to purchase, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, all or any
part of an aggregate of 23 0,0 0 0 shares (the "Stock") of the presently
authorized but unissued common stock, par value $.0001 per share, of the
Company (the "Common Stock"). The purchase price of the Stock subject to
this Option shall be $1.50 per
share,
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2)
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Vesting of the
Option. As long as the Optionee remains an employee of the Company,
the options granted hereby shall vest based on the following
schedule:
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26,000
options shall vest upon execution of this Agreement,
6,000
options shall vest on the last day of each month commencing June 2010 through
and including February 2013.
If the
Optionee's employment is terminated by the Company without good reason or
terminated by the Optionee for good reason, all unvested options shall
immediately vest and become
exercisable. In all other cases, all unvested options shall immediately
terminate. From and after the vesting dates, the vested options may be exercised
at any time or from time to time, in whole or in part, for a period of five (5)
years. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, rights represented by
vested options shall not be affected by the termination of the Optionee's
employment because of the disability or death of the Optionee.
3)
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Exercise
of Option.
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a)
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Vested
Options may only be exercised by the Optionee who shall have the right to
exercise such Option in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time
during the period commencing on a vesting date and terminating on the
third anniversary of such vesting date. The Option is not transferable or
assignable by the Optionee other than by will, as a result of the laws of
descent and distribution or pursuant to a Qualified Domestic Relations
Order, If the Option is transferred by will, as a result of the laws of
descent and distribution or pursuant to a Qualified Domestic Relations
Order, the transferee shall have all of the rights, powers and privileges
that the Optionee would have had in the absence of such a
transfer.
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15
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b)
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This
Option may be exercised by written notice of intent to exercise the Option
delivered to the Company at its principal office no fewer than five days
in advance of the effective date of the proposed exercise. Such notice
shall be accompanied by this Agreement, shall specify the number of shares
of Common Stock with respect to which the Option is being exercised and
shall specify the proposed effective date of such exercise. Such notice
shall also be accompanied by payment in full to the Company at its
principal office of the option price for the number of shares of the
Common Stock with respect to which the Option is then being exercised. The
payment of the option price shall be made in cash or by certified check,
bank draft, or postal or express money order payable to the order of the
Company or, with the consent of the Board, in whole or in part in Common
Stock which is owned by the Optionee and valued at its Fair Market Value
on the date of exercise. Any payment in shares of Common Stock shall be
effected by delivery of such shares to the Secretary of the Company, duly
endorsed in blank or accompanied by stock powers duly executed in blank,
together with any other documents or evidence as the Secretary of the
Company shall require from time to
time.
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c)
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Upon
the Company's determination that the Option has been validly exercised as
to any of the Stock, the Secretary of the Company shall issue a
certificate or certificates in the Optionee's name for the number of
shares set forth in his written notice. However, the Company shall not be
liable to the Optionee for damages relating to any delays in issuing the
certificate(s) to him, any loss of the certificate(s), or any mistakes or
errors in the issuance of the certificate(s) or in the certificate(s)
themselves.
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4)
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Term of
Employment, This Option shall not grant to Optionee any right to
continue serving as an employee of the
Company.
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5)
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Notices;
Deliveries. Any notice or delivery required to be given under the
terms of this Option Agreement shall be addressed to the Company in care
of its Secretary at its principal office, 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, 00000, and any notice or delivery to be given to Optionee
shall be addressed to him at such address as the Optionee may hereafter
designate in writing. Any such notice or delivery shall be effective as of
the date of receipt.
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6)
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Disputes.
As a condition of the granting of the Option hereby, the Optionee
and his heirs and successors agree that any dispute or disagreement which
may arise hereunder shall be determined by the Board in its sole
discretion and judgment, and that any such determination and any
interpretation by the Board of the terms of this Option shall be final and
shall be binding and conclusive, for all purposes, upon the Company,
Optionee, his heirs and personal
representatives.
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7)
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Legend on
Certificates. The certificate(s) representing the shares of Stock
purchased by exercise of this Option will be stamped or otherwise
imprinted with a legend in such form as the Company or its counsel may
require with respect to any applicable restrictions on the sale or
transfer of such shares and the stock transfer records of the Company will
reflect stop-transfer instructions with respect to such shares. The
Company is under no obligation to remove this legend for any reason
whatsoever.
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8)
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Miscellaneous.
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a) All decisions of the
Board upon any questions arising under the Plan or under this
Option
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16
Agreement
shall be conclusive.
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b)
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Nothing
herein contained shall affect Optionee's right to participate in and
receive benefits from and in accordance with the then current provisions
of any pension, insurance or other employee welfare plan or program of the
Company.
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c)
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Optionee
agrees to make appropriate arrangements with the Company for satisfaction
of any applicable federal, state or local income tax, withholding
requirements or like requirements, including the payment to the Company at
the time of exercise of the Option of all such taxes and
requirements.
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d)
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Whenever
the term "Optionee" is used herein under circumstances applicable to any
other person or persons to whom this Option, in accordance with the
provisions hereof, may be transferred, the word "Optionee" shall be deemed
to include such person or persons.
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e)
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Notwithstanding
any of the other provisions hereof, Optionee agrees that he will not
exercise this Option and that the Company will not be obligated to issue
any of the Stock pursuant to this Option Agreement, if the exercise of the
Option or the issuance of such shares of Common Stock would constitute a
violation by the Optionee or by the Company of any provision of any law or
regulation of any governmental authority or national securities exchange.
Upon the acquisition of any Stock pursuant to the exercise of the Option
herein granted, Optionee will enter into such written representations,
warranties and agreements as the Company may reasonably request in order
to comply with applicable securities laws or with this
Agreement.
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f)
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This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successor
or successors of the Company. The interpretation, performance and
enforcement of this Option Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the
State of Delaware.
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The
parties have fully read and understand this STOCK PURCHASE OPTION AGREEMENT in
its entirety and have signed it on the dates indicated in the spaces provided
below.
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