EXHIBIT 10.3
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into on
January 7, 2004, 2003, effective as of February 1, 2004 by and between Empire
Financial Holding Company, a Florida corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx (the "Employee").
RECITALS
A. The Employee is currently a consultant to the Company.
B. The Employee possesses intimate knowledge of the business and
affairs of the Company, its policies, methods and personnel.
C. The Employee is willing to make his services available to the
Company, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
set forth herein, the parties agree as follows:
1. EMPLOYMENT.
1.1 EMPLOYMENT AND TERM. The Company hereby agrees to employ the
Employee and the Employee hereby agrees to serve the Company, on the terms and
conditions set forth herein, for the period commencing on the February 1, 2004
and expiring in two years unless sooner terminated as hereinafter set forth. The
term of the Agreement shall automatically continue after expiration until either
the Company or the Employee provides the other party with at least 30 days prior
written notice that the Agreement shall terminate effective on a date.
1.2 DUTIES OF EMPLOYEE. The Employee shall serve as the "Chief
Financial Officer" of Empire Financial Holding Company. During the term of
Employment, the Employee shall diligently perform all services as may be
reasonably assigned to the Employee by the Company consistent with his position,
and shall exercise such power and authority as may from time to time be
delegated to the Employee by the Company. The Employee will not execute any
material contracts or agreements on behalf of the Company without the express
written permission of either the President or Chief Executive Officer of the
Company. The Employee shall devote substantially all of the Employee's working
time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company (excluding any
vacation and sick leave to which the Employee is entitled), render such services
to the best of the Employee's ability, and use the Employee's reasonable best
efforts to promote the interests of the Company. Equally, the Company recognizes
that the Employee has a family and that his familial duties may sometimes
require his attention during his working time. It shall not be a violation of
the Agreement, after written notice to and approval of the Officers of the
Company, for the Employee to: (i) serve on civic or charitable boards or
committees; (ii) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at
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seminars; and (iii) manage personal investments as an employee of the Company in
accordance with the Agreement.
1.3 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE. In connection with his employment by the
Company, the Employee shall be based at the Company's principal Employee
offices, except for travel reasonably necessary in connection with the Company's
business.
2. COMPENSATION.
2.1 SALARY. Commencing on the date of the Agreement the Employee shall
receive compensation at the annual rate of $75,000 during the first year of the
Agreement and $85,000 the second year of the Agreement, with such salary payable
in installments consistent with the Company's normal payroll schedule, subject
to applicable withholding and other taxes. Any forgivable payroll advances that
are made to the Employee pursuant to the Agreement shall be forgiven monthly by
the Company on a PRO RATA basis.
2.2 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION. The Employee may also be entitled to
receive other bonus payments and will receive performance compensation as
detailed in Schedule "A," which is attached hereto and by specific reference
made a part hereof.
3. EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT AND OTHER BENEFITS.
3.1 EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT. During the term of the Employee's employment
hereunder, the Company, upon the submission of reasonable supporting
documentation by the Employee for approval, shall reimburse the Employee for all
of his reasonable, approved expenses that have been actually paid or incurred by
the Employee in the course of and pursuant to the business of the Company,
including expenses for travel and entertainment.
3.2 INCENTIVE, SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLANS. During the term of the
Agreement, the Employee shall be entitled to participate in all incentive,
savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable to
other Employees of the Company and its subsidiaries as may be in effect from
time to time.
3.3 HEALTHCARE BENEFIT PLANS. During the term of the Agreement, the
Employee shall be immediately eligible for participation in and shall receive
all benefits under healthcare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs
provided by the Company and its subsidiaries that may be in effect from time to
time (including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability,
salary continuance, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel
accident insurance plans and programs), on terms comparable to the terms offered
to other Employees of the Company.
3.4 WORKING FACILITIES. During the term of the Employee's employment
hereunder, the Company shall furnish the Employee with an office, support and
such other facilities and services available to his position and that are
adequate for the performance of the Employee's duties hereunder as reasonably
determined by the Company.
3.5 VACATION. During the term of the Agreement, the Employee shall be
entitled to three weeks of paid vacation per year in accordance with the
appropriate plans,
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policies, programs and practices of the Company and its subsidiaries as in
effect at any time hereafter with respect to other key Employees of the Company
and its subsidiaries.
4. TERMINATION.
4.1 TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. Notwithstanding anything contained to the
contrary in the Agreement, the Agreement may be terminated by the Company for
Cause. As used in the Agreement, "Cause" shall only mean: (i) the willful and
material failure or refusal of the Employee to perform the duties or render the
services assigned under the Agreement (except during reasonable vacation periods
or sick leave) or other material breach of the Agreement, which is not remedied
within ten business days after receipt of written notice from the Company; (ii)
the indictment of the Employee for any criminal act which is a felony; or (iii)
a material breach of the Employee's representation in Section 14. Upon any
termination pursuant to the Section, the Employee shall be entitled to be paid
his unpaid but earned Base Salary that is due to him through the date of his
termination and the Company shall have no further liability hereunder (other
than for reimbursement for reasonable business expenses incurred prior to the
date of termination).
4.2 DISABILITY. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Agreement to
the contrary, the Company, by written notice to the Employee shall at all times
have the right to terminate the Agreement, and the Employee's employment
hereunder, if the Employee shall, as the result of mental or physical
incapacity, illness or disability, fail to perform his duties and
responsibilities provided for herein for a period of more than 90 consecutive
workdays in any 12-month period. Upon any termination pursuant to the Section,
the Employee shall be entitled to be paid an amount equal to his Base Salary to
the date of disability and the incentive compensation for the then remaining
term of the Agreement and the Company shall have no further liability hereunder
(other than for reimbursement for reasonable business expenses incurred prior to
the date of termination).
4.3 DEATH. In the event of the death of the Employee during the term of
his employment hereunder, the Company shall pay to the estate of the deceased
Employee an amount equal to his Base Salary to the date of death and the
incentive compensation for the then remaining term of the Agreement and the
Company shall have no further liability hereunder (other than for reimbursement
for reasonable business expenses incurred prior to the date of termination).
4.4 TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE. The Company may terminate the Employee's
employment under the Agreement without Cause upon giving the Employee 90 days
prior written notice of such termination. In the event the Company terminates
the Agreement without cause, the Company shall pay to the Employee an amount
equal to his Base Salary and the incentive compensation for the then remaining
term of the Agreement and the Company shall have no further liability hereunder
(other than for reimbursement for reasonable business expenses incurred prior to
the date of termination).
4.5 TERMINATION BY EMPLOYEE FOR GOOD REASON The Employee shall have the
right to terminate his employment under the Agreement at any time upon written
notice to the Company for Good Reason. Per purposes of the Agreement, "Good
Reason" means: (i) a material breach of the Company's obligations under the
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Agreement, which is not remedied within ten business days after receipt of
written notice front the Employee; (ii) any termination by the Employee (other
than a termination for Cause) during the three-month period following the
effective date of any "Change in Control" or (iii) a material breach of the
Company's representation in Section 15. Upon termination for Good Reason, the
Employee shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to his then current Base
Salary and the incentive compensation for the then remaining term of the
Agreement.
4.6 TERMINATION BY EMPLOYEE BY RESIGNATION. The Employee shall have the
right to terminate his employment under the Agreement by resignation at any time
upon at least 90 days prior written notice to the Company. Upon such termination
by resignation, the Employee shall be entitled to be paid an amount equal to his
Base Salary to the date of termination and the Company shall have no further
liability hereunder (other than for reimbursement for reasonable business
expenses incurred prior to the date of termination).
5. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.
5.1 CONFIDENTIALITY AND RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS.
(a) CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Employee hereby acknowledges
that the Employee will or may be making use of, acquiring and adding to
confidential information of a special and unique nature and value affecting and
relating to the Company and its operations, including, but not limited to, its
business, the identities of its customers and suppliers, its data base
information, prices paid by the Company for inventory, its business practices,
marketing strategies, expansion plans, contracts, business records and other
records, trade secrets, inventions, techniques, know-how and technologies,
whether or not patentable, and other similar information relating to the Company
(all the foregoing regardless of whether same was known to the Employee prior to
the date hereof is hereinafter referred to collectively as "Confidential
Information"). The Employee further recognizes and acknowledges that all
Confidential Information is the exclusive property of the Company, is material
and confidential and greatly affects the legitimate business interests, goodwill
and effective and successful conduct of the Company's business. Accordingly, the
Employee hereby covenants and agrees that he will use the Confidential
Information only for the benefit of the Company and shall not at any time,
directly or indirectly, either during the Term of the Agreement or afterward,
divulge, reveal or communicate any Confidential Information to any person, firm,
corporation or entity whatsoever, or use any Confidential Information for the
Employee's own benefit or for the benefit of others.
(b) RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS, PATENTS AND COPYRIGHTS. The Employee
shall promptly disclose in writing to the Company: all ideas, inventions,
discoveries, devices, machines, apparatus, methods, compositions, know-how,
works, processes and improvements to any thereof, whether or not patentable or
copyrightable, that the Employee may conceive, make, develop, invent,
reduce-to-practice, author or discover, whether solely or jointly or commonly
with others, during the Employee's employment with the Company, or within one
calendar year following the termination of the Employee's employment with the
Company, which relate to the business of the Company at the time of termination
(the items specified in the section are hereinafter collectively referred to as
"Inventions"). All Inventions are the sole and exclusive property of the
Company. The Employee shall promptly assign, transfer and set over unto the
Company, its successors and assigns, all of his rights, title and interest in
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and to all Inventions, all applications for letters patent or copyrights,
foreign and domestic, which have or may be filed on such Inventions, all
copyrights, all letters patent of the United States and its territorial
possessions and all letters patent of foreign countries which may be granted
therefore, and all reexaminations and reissues of said letters patent, including
the subject matter of any and all claims which may be obtained in every such
domestic and foreign patent, the same to he held and enjoyed by the Company for
its own and exclusive use and advantage, and for the exclusive use and advantage
of its successors, assigns and other legal representatives, to the full end of
the term or terms for which said copyrights and letters patent of the United
States, territories and foreign countries are or may be granted, reexamined or
reissued, as fully and entirely as the same would have been held and enjoyed by
the Employee if the assignment had not been made. The Employee further covenants
and agrees that the Employee will, during and subsequent to the term of the
Agreement, without demanding any other consideration therefore, at any time,
upon request, execute, or cause to be executed, and deliver any and all papers
that may be necessary or desirable to perfect the title to any invention and to
such letters patent and copyrights as may be granted therefore, in the Company,
its successors, assigns or other legal representatives, and that if the Company,
its successors, assigns, or other legal representatives shall desire to file any
subsequent or derivative application, or to secure a reissue or reexamination of
such letters patent, or to file a disclaimer relating thereto, the Employee will
upon request, sign, or cause to be signed, all papers, make or cause to be made
all rightful oaths, and do all lawful acts requisite for such action.
The Employee does further covenant and agree, that be will, at
any time during and subsequent to the term of the Agreement hereof, upon
request, communicate to the Company, its successors, assigns, or other legal
representatives, such facts relating to the Inventions, letters patent and
copyrights or to the history thereof, as may be known to him, and testify, at
the Company's expense, as to the same in any interference or other litigation or
proceeding in which the Employee is not a party and does not have an interest,
when requested to do so.
5.2 NON-SOLICITATION OF EMPLOYEES. While employed by the Company and
for a period of one year thereafter, without the Company's consent, the Employee
shall not directly or indirectly, for himself or for any other person, firm,
corporations partnership, association or other entity, attempt to employ or
enter into any contractual arrangement with any current or former employee of
the Company, unless such employee, or former employee, has not been employed by
the Company for a period in excess of one year.
5.3 NON-COMPETITION. While employed by the Company and for a period of
one year thereafter, the Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, whether as
principal, agent, shareholder (except as set forth below) or in any other
capacity, whether or not compensation is received, engage or participate in any
activity for, be employed by, assist or have an equity interest in (other than
as a passive investor of no more than five percent with no involvement in the
management or conduct of the affairs of business of such entity) any business or
other entity which is or plans to enter into the securities brokerage business
in the State of Florida or to engage in the securities brokerage business with
customers using the Internet. The Employee acknowledges that the provisions of
the Section are reasonably necessary for the purposes of protecting the
Company's and its subsidiaries' legitimate business interests and goodwill. It
is accordingly the intention of the parties that the Section be enforceable to
the fullest extent
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permissible under applicable Florida law. The Employee agrees, however, that in
the event any restriction or limitation of the Section, or any portion thereof,
shall be declared or held to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent
jurisdiction, then such restriction or limitation shall be deemed amended to
substitute or modify it, as either or both may be necessary, to render it valid
and enforceable.
5.4 EQUITABLE RELIEF . It is recognized and hereby acknowledged by the
parties hereto that a breach by the Employee of any of the covenants contained
in the Article 5 will cause irreparable injury to the Company's and its
subsidiaries' legitimate business interests and goodwill and that such injury
would not be adequately compensated by monetary damages. Accordingly, the
Employee recognizes and hereby acknowledges that the Company and any of its
subsidiaries shall be entitled to specific performance of any of the provisions
of the Article 5 and to an injunction from any court of competent jurisdiction
enjoining and restraining any violation of any or all of the enforceable
covenants contained in the Article 5 by the Employee or any of his affiliates,
associates, partners or agents, either directly or indirectly, and that such
right to injunction and specific performance shall be cumulative and in addition
to whatever other remedies the Company or its subsidiaries may possess under the
applicable Florida law.
5.5 BOOKS AND RECORDS. All bocks, records, and accounts relating in any
manner to the customers or dents of the Company, whether prepared by the
Employee or otherwise coming into the Employee's possession, shall be the
exclusive property of the Company and shall be returned immediately to the
Company on termination of the Employee's employment hereunder or upon the
Company's request at any time.
6. GOVERNING LAW; VENUE . The Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Florida without application of any
conflicts of laws principles, and any proceeding contemplated by Section 5.4 or
to enforce any arbitration award contemplated by Section 12 shall be heard in
the State Circuit Court located in Seminole County, Florida or the Federal
District Court located in Orange County, Florida, The parties hereto hereby
consent to personal jurisdiction in such venues and waive any claim or argument
that such venues are inconvenient or improper.
7. NOTICES . All notices that are required, or permitted, to be given under the
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when
delivered by hand or three days after being deposited in the United States mail,
by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and
addressed as follows:
If to the Company: Empire Financial Holding Company
0000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Board of Directors
WITH A COPY TO:
--------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxxxxx Traurig, P.A.
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
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If to the Employee: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Post Office Box 915152
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000-0000
or to such other addresses as either party hereto may flour time to time give
notice of to the other in the aforesaid manner.
8. SUCCESSORS.
(a) The Agreement is personal to the Employee and without the prior
written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Employee other
than the transfers of benefits hereunder by will or the laws of descent and
distribution.
(b) The Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, be enforceable by and
be binding upon the Company's successors and assigns.
(c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect,
by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of
the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to
perform the Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company
would be required to perform it as if no such succession had taken place.
9. SEVERABILITY. The invalidity of any one or more of the words, phrases,
sentences, clauses or sections contained in the Agreement shall not affect the
enforceability of the remaining portions of the Agreement or any part thereof,
all of which are inserted conditionally on their being valid in law, and, in the
event that any one or more of the words, phrases, sentences, clauses or sections
contained in the Agreement shall be declared invalid by a Court of competent
jurisdictions the Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid word or words,
phrase or phrases, sentence or sentences, clause or clauses, or section or
sections had not been inserted. If such invalidity is caused by the length of
time or size of area, or both, the otherwise invalid provision will be
considered to be reduced to a period or area, which would cure such invalidity.
10. WAIVERS. The waiver by either party hereto of a breach or violation of any
term or provision of the Agreement shall not operate, nor be construed, as a
waiver of any subsequent breach or violation.
11. ARBITRATION. Except as set forth in Section 5.4, any controversy between the
parties regarding the Agreement and any claims arising out of the Agreement or
its breach shall be required to be submitted to binding arbitration. Either
party shall have the right to commence arbitration proceedings. The arbitration
proceedings shall be conducted, by a panel of three arbitrators, pursuant to the
Commercial Arbitration Rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers
(NASD). The arbitration shall be conducted in Seminole County, Florida and the
panel of arbitrators shall have the authority to award actual damages and
attorney fees and costs, but shall not have the authority to award punitive,
special, exemplary, or consequential damages against any party. The parties
shall hold any award resulting from such proceeding, or settlement, in
connection therewith in strict confidence, unless the disclosure of such award
or settlement is required by law.
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12. DAMAGES. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent the Company
or the Employee from seeking and recovering from the other damages sustained by
either or both of them as a result of its or his breach of any term or provision
of the Agreement that are not within the authority granted in Section 11.
13. NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY. Nothing expressed or implied in the Agreement is
intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon or give any person (other than
the parties hereto and, in the case of the Employee, his heirs, personal
representative(s) and/or legal representative) any rights or remedies under, or
by reason of:, the Agreement
14. CONFLICTS WITH OTHER AGREEMENTS. The Employee represents to the Company that
the Employee's execution and performance of the Agreement does not violate the
provisions of any employment, non-competition or other agreement to which the
Employee is a party or by which the Employee is bound.
15. INDEMNIFICATION. The Company agrees to promptly execute and deliver to the
Employee an Indemnification Agreement in substantially the same form as utilized
for the Chairman of the Board, it being agreed that the Company will use its
best efforts to ensure that such agreement will provide for mandatory
indemnification and advancement of expenses to the fullest extent permitted by
law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed the Agreement as of
the date first above written.
COMPANY:
EMPIRE FINANCIAL HOLDING COMPANY
By: ________________________
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Chief Executive Officer
EMPLOYEE:
_____________________________
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Schedule "A"
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
(a) Upon his execution of the Agreement, the Employee shall immediately receive
a $9,277 payroll advance that will be forgiven over the first 11 months of his
employment with the Company in the amount of $843.00 per month for ten months
and $847 for the 11th month. The Company will "gross-up" the Employee's
withholding taxes to negate any taxable consequence to the Employee of the
forgiven payroll advance.
(b) Pursuant to the Empire Financial Holding Company 2000 Incentive Compensation
Plan, the Employee is granted an Incentive Option to purchase 100,000 shares of
the Company's common stock for a period of ten years from the date of his
employment at the fair market value of a share an the date of the Employee's
execution of the Agreement. The Employee shall immediately vest in 50% of the
granted Incentive Option (50,000 shares) upon his execution of the Agreement and
be shall become vested in the remaining 50% of the granted Incentive Option
(50,000 shares) equally over the initial 24-month term of the Agreement (2,083
shares per month for 23 months and 2,091 shares for the 24th month). In the
event that any equity issuance, or debt financing, of the Company creates a
change in the majority ownership, or control, of the Company, all of the
Incentive Option that has been granted to the Employee that has not become
vested shall immediately vest upon any such change in the majority ownership, or
control, of the Company. As required by the Empire Financial Holding Company 200
Incentive Compensation Plan, the Employee's Incentive Option granted herein
shall be evidenced, and enforceable, by a separate Stock Option Agreement
executed by the parties. The terms and conditions of the separate Stock Option
Agreement shall be controlled by, and shall not conflict with, the Incentive
Option terms and conditions contained herein.
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