EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this
15th
day of August , 2005, by and
between Polypore International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Xxxxx
Xxxxxx (the “Executive”).
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, Executive is currently employed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company; and
WHEREAS, Executive’s employment with the Company is currently governed by the terms set forth
in term sheet executed by Executive and an behalf of the Company in January 2004 (the “Term
Sheet”); and
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive have mutually agreed to have Executive resign from his
position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and to appoint Executive as the Vice Chairman
of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to enter into an agreement embodying the terms of
such continued employment with the Company (this “Agreement”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants contained herein and for
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is mutually acknowledged, the Company
and Executive agree as follows:
Section 1. Definitions.
(a) “Accrued Obligations” shall mean (i) all accrued but unpaid Base Salary through
the date of termination of Executive’s employment; (ii) any unpaid Annual Bonus in respect to any
completed fiscal year which has ended prior to the date of termination of Executive’s employment;
(iii) any unpaid or unreimbursed expenses incurred in accordance with Section 6 below; and (iv) any
benefits provided under the Company’s employee benefit plans upon a termination of employment, in
accordance with the terms therein, including rights with respect to stock options in the Company
granted pursuant to the Plan. To the extent payable pursuant to Section 8 below, the Accrued
Obligations shall be paid within five (5) business days of any applicable termination, except
amounts payable with respect to unpaid Annual Bonus, which shall be paid at such time Annual Bonus
amounts are paid to other senior executives.
(b) “Base Salary” shall mean the salary provided for in Section 4(a) below or any
increased salary granted to Executive pursuant to Section 4(a).
(c) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) “Cause” shall mean a good faith determination by the Board of: (i)
misappropriation by Executive of the assets or business opportunities of the Company or its
affiliates; (ii) embezzlement or other financial fraud committed by Executive or at his direction,
or with his knowledge; (iii) Executive’s indictment for, conviction of, admission to, or entry of
pleas of no contest to any felony or any crime involving moral turpitude; or (iv) Executive’s
willful and material breach of Sections 3(b) or 9 of this Agreement.
(e) “COBRA” shall mean the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as
amended.
(f) “Competitive Activities” shall mean any business activities in which the Company
is engaged or has committed plans to engage either (i) during the Term of Employment, or (ii) for
purposes of Executive’s obligations under Section 9(b) after the Term of Employment, at the time of
termination of Executive’s employment.
(g)
“Confidential Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(a) below.
(h) “Plan” shall mean the Polypore International, Inc. 2004 Stock Option Plan, as
amended from time to time.
(i) “Restricted Period” shall mean the period commencing as of the date hereof and
ending on the eighteen (18) month anniversary of the date of Executive’s termination of employment
for any reason (including expiration of the Term of Employment).
(j) “Severance Term” shall mean the period specified in Section 8(c)(ii) below.
(k) “Term of Employment” shall mean the period specified in Section 2 below.
Section 2. Acceptance and Term of Employment.
The Company agrees to employ Executive and Executive agrees to serve the Company on the terms
and conditions set forth herein. Unless sooner terminated as provided in Section 8 hereof, the
Term of Employment shall commence immediately following the date hereof and shall continue during
the period ending on December 31, 2006. The Term of Employment may be extended by mutual agreement
of the parties hereto.
Section 3. Position and Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) During the Term of Employment, Executive shall be employed and serve as the Vice Chairman
of the Company and shall have such duties typically associated with such title and such other
duties and responsibilities as may be mutually agreed upon by the Board, and the Executive.
During the Term of Employment, Executive shall also continue to serve as a member of the Board.
(b) Executive shall devote an amount of business time to the performance of his duties under
this Agreement as is mutually agreed upon by the Board and Executive, which shall in no event
constitute less than one-third (1/3) of Executive’s full business time. The parties hereto
acknowledge that Executive may conduct other business activities during the Term of Employment,
subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9 hereof.
Section 4. Compensation. During the Term of Employment, Executive shall be entitled to the
following compensation:
(a) Base Salary. Pursuant to the Term Sheet, Executive shall continue to be paid his
base salary of $435,000 until December 31, 2005. Commencing January 1, 2006, to reflect
Executive’s revised responsibilities and time commitment as set forth in this Agreement,
Executive’s annualized Base Salary shall be changed to $300,000 without further action by the
parties hereto.
(b) Annual Bonus. Executive shall be eligible for an annual cash incentive bonus
award (the “Annual Bonus”) based upon achievement of the Annual EBITDA Targets, as set
forth in the Plan. For the Company’s 2005 fiscal year, Executive’s Annual Bonus shall be governed
by the terms of the Term Sheet. For the Company’s 2006 fiscal year, Executive’s target Annual
Bonus shall equal to two-thirds (2/3) of Base Salary during such period, with his actual Annual
Bonus continuing to be based upon achievement of the Annual EBITDA Targets, as set forth in the
Plan. Executive shall receive the Annual Bonus in respect of any year at the same time as bonuses
are paid to other executive officers of the Company, but in no event later than ninety (90) days
after the end of the year for which the bonus is payable.
(c) Stock Options. Executive shall continue to vest in any stock options previously
granted to Executive in accordance with the terms and conditions contained in the Plan.
Section 5. Employee Benefits.
During the Term of Employment, Executive shall be entitled to continue to participate in
health, insurance, retirement and other benefits provided to other senior executives of the
Company. Executive shall also be entitled to the same number of holidays, vacation, sick days and
other benefits as are generally allowed to senior executives of the Company in accordance with the
Company policy in effect from time to time.
Section 6. Reimbursement of Business Expenses.
Executive is authorized to incur reasonable expenses in carrying out his duties and
responsibilities under this Agreement and the Company shall promptly reimburse him for all business
expenses incurred in connection with carrying out the business of the Company, subject to
documentation in accordance with the Company’s policy, as in effect from time to time.
Section 7. Indemnification
The Company shall indemnify Executive to the fullest extent permitted (including payment of
expenses in advance of final disposition of the proceeding) by the laws of the State of Delaware as
in effect at the time of the subject act or omission, and Executive shall be entitled to the
protection of any insurance policies the Company may elect to maintain generally for the benefit of
its directors and officers, against all costs, charges and expenses whatsoever incurred or
sustained by him in connection with any action, suit or proceeding to which he may be made a party
by reason of his being or having been a director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries. If any action, suit or proceeding is brought or threatened against the
Executive in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to the
foregoing, the Executive shall notify the Company promptly in writing of the institution of such
action, suit or proceeding and the Company shall assume the defense hereof and the employment of
counsel and payment of all fees and expenses.
Section 8. Termination of Employment.
(a) General. The Term of Employment shall terminate upon expiration of the Term of
Employment (as provided in Section 2) or earlier upon the occurrence of either (i) a termination by
the Company for Cause, (ii) a termination by Executive for any reason, or (iii) the death of
Executive. Upon any termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, except as may otherwise
be requested by the Company, Executive shall resign from any and all directorships, committee
memberships or any other positions Executive holds with the Company or any of its affiliates.
(b) Termination for Cause or by Executive. The Company may terminate Executive’s
employment hereunder for Cause upon not less than fifteen (15) days written notice by the Board to
Executive of the intention to terminate him for Cause, such notice to state in detail the
particular act or acts or failure or failures to act that constitute the grounds on which the
proposed termination for Cause is based. Executive shall have fifteen (15) days after the date
that such written notice has been given to Executive in which to cure such conduct, to the extent
such cure is possible. If he fails to cure such conduct, the termination shall be effective on the
date immediately following the expiration of the fifteen (15) day notice period. Executive may
terminate his employment hereunder upon not less than fifteen (15) days written notice to the Board
of his intention to terminate his employment.
(c) Payments Upon Termination. Upon expiration of the Term of Employment, or upon any
earlier termination, Executive shall be entitled to:
(i) The Accrued Obligations;
(ii) Continuation of Base Salary at a rate equal to $36,250 per month for a period of eighteen
(18) months following the date of such termination (the “Severance Term”), payable in
accordance with the Company’s payroll practices; provided that the Company shall pay such
amounts over such shorter period of time as it determines to be necessary to comply with
requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
(iii) Should Executive be eligible for and elect to continue his health insurance pursuant to
COBRA following the date of such termination, payment of COBRA premiums by the Company until the
earlier of: (A) expiration of the Severance Term, or (B) the date Executive commences employment
with any person or entity and is eligible for health insurance benefits.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the payments and benefits described in subsections (ii) and
(iii) above shall immediately terminate, and the Company shall have no further obligations to
Executive with respect thereto, in the event that Executive breaches any provision of Section 9
hereof.
(d) Mitigation; Offset. In the event of any termination of employment, Executive
shall be under no obligation to mitigate amounts payable under this Section 8 by seeking other
employment or otherwise and there shall be no offset against amounts due to Executive hereunder on
account of subsequent employment or otherwise.
(e) Release. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Company may
require that, prior to payment of any amount or provision of any benefit pursuant to subsection (c)
of this Section 8, Executive shall have executed a complete release of the Company and its
affiliates and related parties in such form as is reasonably required by the Company, and any
waiting periods contained in such release shall have expired.
Section 9. Restrictive Covenants. Executive acknowledges and agrees that (A) the agreements
and covenants contained in this Section 9 are (i) reasonable and valid in geographical and temporal
scope and in all other respects, and (ii) essential to protect the value of the Company’s business
and assets, and (B) by his employment with the Company, Executive will obtain knowledge, contacts,
know-how, training and experience and there is a substantial probability that such knowledge,
know-how, contacts, training and experience could be used to the substantial advantage of a
competitor of the Company and to the Company’s substantial detriment. For purposes of this Section
9, references to the Company shall be deemed to include its subsidiaries.
(a) Confidential Information. At any time during and after the end of the Term of
Employment, without the prior written consent of the Board, except to the extent required by an
order of a court having jurisdiction or under subpoena from an appropriate government agency, in
which event, Executive shall use his best efforts to consult with the Board prior to responding to
any such order or subpoena, and except as required in the performance of his duties hereunder,
Executive shall not disclose any confidential or proprietary trade secrets, customer lists,
drawings, designs, information regarding product development, marketing plans, sales plans,
manufacturing plans, management organization information, operating policies or manuals, business
plans, financial records, packaging design or other financial, commercial, business or technical
information (i) relating to the Company, or (ii) that the Company may receive belonging to
suppliers, customers or others who do business with the Company (“Confidential
Information”). Executive’s obligation under this Section 9(a) shall not apply to any
information which is known publicly or hereafter enters the public domain without the breach of the
Executive of this Section 9(a).
(b) Non-Competition. Executive covenants and agrees that during the Restricted
Period, with respect to any jurisdiction in which the Company is engaged in business at the time of
such termination, Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Board, directly or
indirectly, individually or jointly, own any interest in, operate, join, control or participate as
a partner, director, principal, officer, or agent of, enter into the employment of, act as a
consultant to, or perform any services for any entity that engages in Competitive Activities.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Section 9(b) shall not prevent Executive from
acquiring as an investment securities representing not more than three percent (3%) of the
outstanding voting securities of any publicly-held corporation.
(c) No Solicitation; No Interference. During the Restricted Period, Executive shall
not, directly or indirectly, for his own account or for the account of any other individual or
entity, nor shall he assist any person or entity to (i) encourage, solicit or induce, or in any
manner attempt to solicit or induce, any person employed by, as agent of, or a service provider to,
the Company to terminate such person’s employment, agency or service, as the case may be, with the
Company; or (ii) divert, or attempt to divert, any person, concern, or entity from doing business
with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or attempt to induce any such person, concern or
entity to cease being a customer or supplier of the Company.
(d) Return of Documents. In the event of the termination of Executive’s employment
for any reason, Executive shall deliver to the Company all of (i) the property of the Company, and
(ii) the documents and data of any nature and in whatever medium of the Company, and he shall not
take with him any such property, documents or data or any reproduction thereof, or any documents
containing or pertaining to any Confidential Information.
(e) Blue Pencil. If any court of competent jurisdiction shall at any time deem the
duration or the geographic scope of any of the provisions of this Section 9 unenforceable, the
other provisions of this Section 9 shall nevertheless stand and the duration and/or geographic
scope set forth herein shall be deemed to be the longest period and/or greatest size permissible by
law under the circumstances, and the parties hereto agree that such court shall reduce the time
period and/or geographic scope to permissible duration or size.
Section 10. Injunctive Relief.
Without intending to limit the remedies available to the Company, Executive acknowledges that
a breach of any of the covenants contained in Section 9 hereof may result in material irreparable
injury to the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates for which there is no adequate remedy at
law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the
event of such a breach or threat thereof, the Company shall be entitled to obtain a temporary
restraining order and/or a preliminary or permanent injunction, without the necessity of proving
irreparable harm or injury as a result of such breach or threatened breach of Section 9 hereof,
restraining Executive from engaging in activities prohibited by Section 9 hereof or such other
relief as may be required specifically to enforce any of the covenants in Section 9 hereof.
Section 11. Taxes.
The Company may withhold from any payments made under this Agreement all applicable taxes,
including but not limited to income, employment and social insurance taxes, as shall be required by
law.
Section 12. Successors and Assigns.
(a) The Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by,
and may be assigned by the Company to, any purchaser of all or substantially all of the Company’s
business or assets, any successor to the Company or any assignee thereof (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise). The Company will require any such
purchaser, successor or assignee to expressly assume and agree to perform this
Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to
perform it if no such purchase, succession or assignment had taken place.
(b) Executive. Executive’s rights and obligations under this Agreement shall not be
transferable by Executive by assignment or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the
Company; provided, however, that if Executive shall die, all amounts then payable
to Executive hereunder shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to Executive’s
devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to Executive’s estate.
Section 13. Waiver and Amendments.
Any waiver, alteration, amendment or modification of any of the terms of this Agreement shall
be valid only if made in writing and signed by the parties hereto; provided,
however, that any such waiver, alteration, amendment or modification is consented to on the
Company’s behalf by the Board. No waiver by either of the parties hereto of their rights hereunder
shall be deemed to constitute a waiver with respect to any subsequent occurrences or transactions
hereunder unless such waiver specifically states that it is to be construed as a continuing waiver.
Section 14. Severability and Governing Law.
If any covenants or such other provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid or
unenforceable by a final determination of a court of competent jurisdiction: (a) the remaining
terms and provisions hereof shall be unimpaired, and (b) the invalid or unenforceable term or
provision hereof shall be deemed replaced by a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and
that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision
hereof. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF) APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS
MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE. The parties hereto consent to venue in the
courts of either the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the State of New York or in the Federal
courts sitting in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the State of New York with respect to any
dispute regarding the subject matter hereof.
Section 15. Notices.
(a) Every notice or other communication relating to this Agreement shall be in writing, and
shall be mailed to or delivered to the party for whom it is intended at such address as may from
time to time be designated by it in a notice mailed or delivered to the other party as herein
provided, provided that, unless and until some other address be so designated, all notices or
communications by Executive to the Company shall be mailed or delivered to the Company at its
principal executive office, and all notices or communications by the Company to Executive may be
given to Executive personally or may be mailed to Executive at Executive’s last known address, as
reflected in the Company’s records.
(b) Any notice so addressed shall be deemed to be given: (i) if delivered by hand, on the
date of such delivery; (ii) if mailed by courier or by overnight mail, on the first
business day following the date of such mailing; and (iii) if mailed by registered or
certified mail, on the third business day after the date of such mailing.
Section 16. Section Headings.
The headings of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience
only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part thereof, affect the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement or of any term or provision hereof.
Section 17. Entire Agreement.
This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto
regarding the employment of Executive and his termination of employment. This Agreement supersedes
all prior negotiations, discussions, correspondence, communications, understandings and agreements
between the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the Term Sheet, except as expressly set forth herein.
Section 18. Survival of Operative Sections.
Upon any termination of Executive’s employment, the provisions of Section 8 through Section 19
of this Agreement shall survive to the extent necessary to give effect to the provisions thereof.
Section 19. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to
be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The
execution of this Agreement may be by actual or facsimile signature.
* * *
[Signatures to appear on the following page.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first above
written.
| POLYPORE INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||||
| /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | ||||
| By: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx | ||||
| Title: Chairman of the Board | ||||
| Executive | ||||
| /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx | ||||
| Xxxxx Xxxxxx |
