EXHIBIT 14(a)(2)(10)(i)
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT, made as of the 1st day of May, 2000 (the "Agreement"), by and
between The Franklin Capital Corporation (formerly, The Franklin Holding
Corporation(Delaware)), a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxx (the "Executive").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Executive is currently the Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of Directors")
believes that it is in the best interests of the Company to provide for the
continued employment of the Executive on the terms and subject to the conditions
hereof; and
WHEREAS, the Executive desires to continue his employment with the Company
on the terms and subject to the conditions hereof;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and
valuable consideration, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT. The Company hereby employs the Executive, and the
Executive hereby accepts employment with and agrees to serve the Company, for
the term, in the capacities and subject to and upon the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth.
2. TERM. Subject to Section 5 hereof, the term of the Executive's
employment hereunder shall be the period commencing on May 1, 2000, and expiring
on December 31, 2003, and shall be automatically renewed from year to year
thereafter, unless not less than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to December
31, 2003, or not less than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to December 31 of
any year thereafter, the Company shall notify the Executive in writing of its
intention not to renew this Agreement.
3. POSITION AND DUTIES. The Executive shall serve as the Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company, reporting only to the Board of
Directors, and shall have supervision and control over, and responsibility for,
the general management and operation of the Company and shall have such other
powers and duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of
Directors; provided, however, that such additional duties shall not be
inconsistent with his present duties and his position as the senior executive
officer in charge of the general management of the Company. If elected, the
Executive shall serve as a director of the Company or of any subsidiary of the
Company at no additional compensation. The Executive shall devote to the Company
the major portion of his business time for the fulfillment of his obligations
and the performance of his duties hereunder; provided, however, that nothing
herein contained shall preclude him from performing duties as an officer or
director of X.X. Xxxxx & Company, Inc. or its subsidiaries or affiliates or from
pursuing personal investments so long as such activities do not interfere with
the Executive's performance of his duties hereunder.
4. COMPENSATION.
4.1 BASE SALARY. The Executive shall receive a base salary at the annual
rate of $350,000 through December 31, 2000 and at the annual rate of $420,000
thereafter, or at such greater rate as the Board of Directors shall from time to
time determine (the "Base Salary"), payable in accordance with the Company's
normal payroll practices. This Agreement shall not be deemed abrogated or
terminated if the Board of Directors shall determine to increase the Base Salary
or if the Executive shall accept such increased compensation, but nothing herein
contained shall be deemed to obligate the Board of Directors to make any such
increase.
4.2 DISCRETIONARY BASE SALARY INCREASES. At any time or from time to
time during the Period of Employment, the Board may increase the Base Salary to
an amount exceeding the Base Salary determined pursuant to paragraph 4.1 above.
Following any such discretionary increase in the Base Salary, the Board may or
may not maintain the Base Salary at that increased level (or further increase
the Base Salary beyond that level), but in no event shall the Base Salary in
effect for any portion of the Period of Employment be an annual amount less than
the amount determinable in accordance with paragraph 4.1 above.
4.3 BONUSES. The Executive shall be paid such bonuses from to time as
shall be determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion.
4.4 PERQUISITES. The Company shall also furnish the Executive, without
cost to him, with (1) a Company-owned or leased automobile which will be
replaced with a new automobile every three years; (2) reimbursement or payment
for all garaging, maintenance, fuel and insurance associated with the use of
such automobile; and (3) membership in one city luncheon club of the Executive's
choosing to be used for business entertainment. The Company shall also reimburse
the Executive for the cost of an annual physical examination of the Executive by
a physician selected by the Executive. The Executive shall properly document
such costs for federal income taxation purposes to preserve any deduction for
such reimbursements to which the Company may be entitled.
4.5 EXPENSES. During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall
reimburse the Executive for all reasonable and necessary travel, entertainment
and other expenses and disbursements incurred by him for or on his behalf in the
performance of his duties hereunder, upon his providing the Company with
satisfactory vouchers, receipts or other evidence of such expenses.
4.6 EMPLOYEE PLANS. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in or
receive benefits under any profit-sharing plan, savings plan, pension plan,
stock option plan, group insurance plan (including, by way of illustration and
not limitation, life, disability, accident, medical and dental insurance), death
benefits plan or other employee plan or arrangement, now existing or hereafter
adopted, for which he is eligible and which the Company may provide for him or
for executive employees generally (individually, a "Benefit Plan" and
collectively, the "Benefit Plans") to the fullest extent permitted under any
such Benefit Plans; PROVIDED HOWEVER, that the foregoing shall in no way
restrict or prohibit the Company's right to terminate, amend or otherwise change
any such Benefit Plan. In the event the Company terminates, amends or otherwise
changes any such Benefit Plan, the Company shall immediately provide the
Executive with another Benefit Plan of equal or superior coverage. Nothing paid
to the Executive under any Benefit Plan shall be deemed to be in lieu of
compensation to the Executive hereunder.
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The Executive shall be entitled to retain all directors fees and
compensation paid to him with respect to any corporation for which he serves as
a director, regardless of whether the Company has an investment in such
corporation.
4.7 VACATIONS. The Executive shall be entitled to the number of paid
vacation days in each calendar year determined by the Company from time to time
for its senior executive officers, but in no event less than four weeks per
year. The Executive shall also be entitled to all paid holidays given by the
company to its senior executive officers.
5. TERMINATION.
5.1 Subject to the provisions of Section 6 hereof, this Agreement and the
employment of the Executive hereunder shall terminate upon the occurrence of the
first to occur of the following events or conditions:
(a) the expiration of the term specified in Section 2 hereof, and of any
renewal or extension thereof in accordance with Section 2 hereof; or
(b) the death of the Executive; or
(c) the Executive's voluntary departure from employment by the Company; or
(d) the delivery to the Executive of a Notice of Termination (as such term
is defined in Section 5.3 hereof) setting forth the election of the Board of
Directors to terminate the Executive's employment for "disability" (within
the meaning of Section 5.2(a) hereof) or for "cause" (within the meaning of
Section 5.2(b) hereof).
(e) written notice to the Company of the resignation by the Executive due
to a Change of Control of the Company, as defined in the Severance
Agreement.
5.2 The Board of Directors of the Company may elect to terminate the
employment of the Executive hereunder:
(a) for "disability", if it shall determine, in good faith, that, by
reason of a physical or mental illness continuing for more than one-hundred
twenty (120) consecutive business days or for shorter periods aggregating
more than one hundred eighty (180) business days in any period of twelve
(12) consecutive months (excluding, in each case, Saturdays, Sundays,
holidays and days on which the Executive was on vacation), the Executive has
been and continues to be substantially unable to render services of the
character contemplated by this Agreement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, in the
event that the Executive does not agree with such determination by the Board
of Directors, he shall be examined by a physician selected by him, who shall
provide a statement as to whether or not the Executive is disabled within
the meaning of this Agreement; PROVIDED, FURTHER, that, if the Company does
not agree with such physician's statement, the Executive shall submit to an
examination by a physician selected by the Company, and, if the two
physicians disagree as to whether or not the Executive is disabled within
the meaning of this Agreement, then the Executive shall submit to an
examination by a third physician selected by the other two physicians whose
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determination as to disability shall be binding and conclusive; PROVIDED,
FURTHER, that each such examination shall be at the Company's expense; or
(b) for "cause", if it shall determine, in good faith, that the Executive
has (i) willfully and continually failed to substantially perform his duties
hereunder, other than because of an incapacity due to physical or mental
illness or (ii) willfully engaged in gross misconduct materially injurious
to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall not be
deemed to have been terminated for "cause" unless and until there shall have
been delivered to the Executive a copy of a resolution, duly adopted by the
affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the entire membership of the
Board of Directors (excluding the Executive) at a meeting of the Board of
Directors called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice to the
Executive and an opportunity for him, together with his counsel, to be heard
before the Board of Directors), finding that, in the good faith opinion of
the Board of Directors, the Executive was guilty of conduct set forth in
clause (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
5.3 Any termination by the Company of the employment of the Executive
pursuant to Section 5.1(d) hereof or otherwise or by the Executive pursuant to
Section 5.1(c) hereof shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to
the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of
Termination" shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination
provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail
the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the
Executive's employment under the provision so indicated.
5.4 "Date of Termination" shall mean (a) if the Executive's employment is
terminated by his death, the date of his death, (b) if the Executive's
employment is terminated pursuant to Section 5.2(a) hereof, thirty (30) days
after the later to occur of (x) the giving of the Notice of Termination
(provided that the Executive shall not have returned to the performance of his
duties on a full-time basis during such thirty (30) day period) or (y) the
binding and conclusive determination of disability by the first or third
physician, as the case may be, as specified in Section 5.2(a) hereof, (c) if the
Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to Section 5.2(b) hereof, the date
specified in the Notice of Termination, (d) if the Agreement is not renewed, on
December 31 of the year during which the notice required by Section 2 hereof is
given and (e) if the Executive's employment is terminated for any other reason,
the date specified in the Notice of Termination.
6. COMPENSATION DURING DISABILITY OR UPON TERMINATION.
6.1 During any period that the Executive fails to perform his duties
hereunder as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness, the
Executive shall continue to receive his full Base Salary until the Executive's
employment is terminated pursuant to Section 5.2(a) hereof, or until the
Executive terminates his employment pursuant to Section 5.1(c) hereof, whichever
occurs first.
6.2 In the event that the Executive's employment hereunder is terminated
by the Company by reason of the Executive's disability, then, upon such
termination, the Company shall pay to the Executive, in addition to any amounts
of Base Salary accrued but unpaid, an amount equal to one-half of his annual
Base Salary, which payment shall be made, at the option of the Executive, either
in one (1) lump sum or over a six (6) month period in six (6) equal monthly
installments.
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6.3 In the event that the Executive's employment hereunder shall be
terminated by reason of his death, then the Company shall pay to the Executive's
estate, in addition to any amounts of Base Salary accrued but unpaid, an amount
equal to the Executive's annual Base Salary, which payment shall be made, at the
option of the executor of the estate of the Executive, either in one (1) lump
sum or over a one (1) year period in twelve (12) equal monthly installments.
6.4 In the event that the Executive's employment shall be terminated for
any reason other than his death or disability (including for "cause", as defined
in Section 5.2(b) hereof) the Company shall pay the Executive his full Base
Salary through the Date of Termination, plus the amount, if any, of any bonus
for a prior year which has not yet been awarded or paid to the Executive under
any deferred compensation plan.
6.5 In the event that the Executive's employment hereunder shall be
terminated for any reason other than as provided in Section 5.1 or Section 5.2
hereof, then, in any such event, the Company shall pay the Executive (as
liquidated damages without any obligation to mitigate by the Executive) an
amount (the "Severance Amount") equal to the sum of (i) any amount of Base
Salary accrued but unpaid, (ii) the full Base Salary which would have been
payable during the remainder of the term of this Agreement and (iii) any bonus
for a prior year which has not yet been awarded or paid to the Executive under
any deferred compensation plan. The Severance Amount shall be paid to the
Executive, at his option, either in one (1) lump sum or over a one (1) year
period in twelve (12) equal monthly installments. The Company agrees upon the
Executive's demand to pay, or to reimburse the Executive for, all of the
Executive's legal, valuation, investigative and other related expenses and for
all out-of-pocket costs and expenses of every type and nature incurred by the
Executive in connection with the Executive's enforcement of his rights under
this Section 6.5 and the collection of the Severance Amount.
6.6 For a period of one (1) year from the Date of Termination, the Company
shall maintain in full force and effect, for the Executive's (and, where
applicable, his dependents) continued benefit all life insurance, medical,
health, dental and accident, and disability plans, programs or arrangements in
which the Executive (and, where applicable, his dependents) was entitled to
participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination (individually, a
"Pre-Termination Plan" and collectively, the "Pre-Termination Plans"). To the
extent that the Company finds it undesirable or impossible to cover the
Executive (and, where applicable, his dependents) under any of the
Pre-Termination Plans, the Company (at its own expense) shall provide the
Executive (and, where applicable, his dependents) for such one (1) year period
with substantially the same or a comparable level of coverage under individual
policies or otherwise at no additional after tax cost for the Executive (or,
where applicable, his dependents). At the end of the period of coverage
hereinafter provided for, the Executive (or, where applicable, his dependents)
shall have the option to have assigned to him (or, where applicable, his
dependents) at no cost and with no apportionment of prepaid premiums, any
assignable insurance owned by the Company and relating specifically to the
Executive (and, where applicable, his dependents). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event that, during the one (1) year period provided for in
this Section 6.6, a subsequent employer provides the Executive (and, where
applicable, his dependents) with life insurance, medical, health, dental and
accident, or disability plans, programs or arrangements of equal or superior
coverage to that provided under the Pre-Termination Plans, the Company shall no
longer be required to provide the Executive (and, where applicable, his
dependents) with coverage under such Pre-Termination Plan or Plans with respect
to which such equal or superior coverage is being provided.
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7. INDEMNIFICATION, LITIGATION.
(a) In the event of any litigation or other proceeding between the Company
and the Executive with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and
the enforcement of rights hereunder, the Company shall reimburse the
Executive for all costs and expenses relating to such litigation or other
proceeding, including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses, provided that
such litigation or proceeding results in any:
(1) Settlement requiring the Company to make a payment to the
Executive; or
(2) Judgment, order, or award in favor of the Executive,
regardless of whether such judgment, order, or award is subsequently
reversed on appeal or in a collateral proceeding.
(b) In no event shall the Executive be required to reimburse the Company
for any of the costs and expenses relating to such litigation or other
proceeding.
8. No Effect on Other Contractual Rights. The provisions of this Agreement, and
any payments provided for hereunder, shall not reduce any amounts otherwise
payable, or in any way diminish the Executive's existing rights, or rights which
would accrue solely as a result of the passage of time, under any Benefit Plan,
employment agreement or other contract, plan or arrangement.
9. EFFECT OF PRIOR AGREEMENTS. This Agreement between the Company and the
Executive contains the entire understanding between the Company and the
Executive with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior
employment agreement (including the Prior Agreement") between the Company or any
predecessor and the Executive, except that this Agreement shall not affect or
operate to reduce any benefit or compensation inuring to the Executive of a kind
elsewhere provided and not expressly provided in this Agreement.
10. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Executive, his assigns, his personal or legal representatives,
executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees or
legatees, and the Company, its successors and assigns, including any corporate
successor by merger or consolidation and any person, firm or corporation to
which all or substantially all of the assets and business of the Company may be
sold; and as used herein, the term "Company" shall include any such successor
and assign.
11. Notices. Any notice or request required or permitted under this
Agreement shall be in writing and given or made by postage-paid registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:
If to the Executive, to:
Xx. Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
0 Xxxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
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If to the Company, to:
Franklin Capital Corporation
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Secretary
or to either party hereto at such other address or addresses as such other
party may from time to time specify for the purpose in a notice similarly given
to the other party.
12. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT. Subject to the provisions of Section 8
hereof, this instrument contains the entire agreement of the parties relating to
the subject matter hereof, and the parties hereto have made no agreements,
representations or warranties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement
which are not set forth herein. No amendment or modification of this Agreement
shall be valid unless in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
13. WAIVER. The waiver of the breach of any term or condition of this
Agreement shall not be deemed to constitute the waiver of any other or
subsequent breach of the same or any other term or condition.
14. Choice of Law. The invalidity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New
York.
15. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or
provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect.
16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.
THE FRANKLIN CAPITAL CORPORATION
By: /s/
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Chief Financial Officer
/s/
--------------------------------
XXXXXXX X. XXXXX
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