EXHIBIT 10.1
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2004 (the
"Agreement"), is by and between American Home Mortgage Holdings, Inc., a
Delaware corporation having a place of business at 000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 (the "Company"), and Xxxxxx Xxxxx, [_________] (the
"Executive").
Whereas the Company wishes to assure itself of the services of the
Executive, and the Executive desires to be employed by the Company, upon the
terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
Now, therefore, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as
follows:
1. Employment. The Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the
Executive hereby accepts such employment by the Company during the term set
forth in Section 2 and on the other terms and conditions of this Agreement.
2. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence retroactively,
effective January 1, 2004, and shall continue until four weeks after the
resignation or discharge of the Executive.
3. Position, Duties and Responsibilities, Rights.
(a) During the term of this Agreement, the Executive shall serve as,
and be elected to and hold the office and title of Executive Vice President,
Wholesale and Internet Lending. As such, the Executive shall have all of the
powers and duties usually incident to such office.
(b) During the term of this Agreement, the Executive agrees to
devote substantially all the Executive's time, efforts and skills to the affairs
of the Company during the Company's normal business hours, except for vacations,
illness and incapacity, but nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the
Executive from devoting reasonable periods to (i) manage the Executive's
personal investments, (ii) participate in professional, educational, public
interest, charitable, civic or community activities, including activities
sponsored by trade organizations, (iii) serve as a director or member of an
advisory committee of any corporation not in competition with the Company or any
of its subsidiaries, or as an officer, trustee or director of any charitable,
educational, philanthropic, civic, social or industry organizations, or as a
speaker or arbitrator; provided, however, that the performance of the
Executive's duties or responsibilities in any of such capacities does not
materially interfere with the regular performance of the Executive's duties and
responsibilities hereunder.
(c) Place of Performance. In connection with the Executive's
employment by the Company, the Executive shall be based in an office in
Melville, New York, and shall not be required to be absent from there on travel
status or otherwise for more than a reasonable time each year as necessary or
appropriate for the performance of the Executive's duties hereunder.
4. Compensation.
(a) During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall pay the
Executive, and the Executive agrees to accept a base salary at the rate of not
less than $400,000.00 per year (the annual base salary as increased from time to
time during the term of this Agreement being hereinafter referred to as the
"Base Salary"). The Base Salary shall be paid in installments no less frequently
than monthly. Any increase in Base Salary or other compensation shall not limit
or reduce any other obligation of the Company hereunder, and once established at
an increased specified rate, the Executive's Base Salary hereunder shall not
thereafter be reduced.
(b) Monthly Volume Override. No later than the twenty-fifth day
after the end of a month, the Company shall pay the Executive 0.001% (one tenth
of one basis point) of the principal amount of the loans that close during the
month, and that were originated in accordance with the Company's policies by
Company employees that work under the Executive's management as set forth on the
Company's organization chart, which may be amended by the Company at its
discretion.
(c) Profit Participation Payment. Beginning in March, 2005, and for
each succeeding March during the term of this Agreement, the Company shall pay
the Executive profit participation equal to 4% of the profit for the previous
calendar year earned by origination businesses set forth on the Company's
organization chart as reporting to the Executive, which may be amended by the
Company at its discretion. Profit will be calculated by the Company in its
standard fashion which it may, at its discretion, amend from time-to-time, and
may include a capital charge if it acquires origination franchise it assigns to
report to the Executive.
(d) During the term of this Agreement, the Executive shall be
entitled to fringe benefits, in each case at least equal to and on the same
terms and conditions as those attached to the Executive's office on the date
hereof, as the same may be improved from time to time during the term of this
Agreement, as well as to reimbursement, upon proper accounting, of all
reasonable expenses and disbursements incurred by the Executive in the course of
the Executive's duties.
(e) The Company shall grant the Executive 20,000 stock options as of
the effective date of this Agreement, in accordance with the terms of the
Company's 1999 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan.
5. Termination of Employment. The employment created hereby is at
will. The Company may terminate this Agreement by discharging the Executive. The
Executive may terminate this Agreement by resigning with four weeks notice to
the Company. Discharge or resignation may be for any reason or for no reason. No
amounts will be due the Executive for profit participation if he is discharged
or resigns before such profit participation is paid. If the Company terminates
this Agreement without cause, the Company will pay the Executive a severance
award equal to three months base salary.
6. Enforceability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement
is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms and conditions
of this Agreement shall be unaffected and shall remain in full force and effect,
and any such determination of
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invalidity or enforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provision of this Agreement.
7. Super Session of Previous Agreements. This Agreement supersedes
all previous agreements and represents the entire understanding of the parties
hereto. This Agreement may only be amended by written amendment signed by the
Company and the Executive.
8. Notices. All notices which may be necessary or proper for either
the Company or the Executive to give to the other shall be in writing and shall
be sent by hand delivery, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested
or overnight courier, if to the Executive, to him at [_________] and, if to the
Company, to it at its principal executive offices at 000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000, Attention: General Counsel, and shall be deemed given when
sent. Either party may by like notice to the other party change the address at
which it is to receive notices hereunder.
9. Non-Disparagement, Non-Solicitation, Confidential Information.
The Company and the Executive agree that neither will disparage the other and
that their representatives will not disparage either party hereto. The Executive
agrees that for a period of two years following the termination of this
Agreement, the Executive will not solicit any employee of the Company to leave
the Company or hire any employee of the Company. The Company and the Executive
agree to keep the terms of this Agreement confidential except that the Executive
may divulge the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's spouse, attorney,
financial advisor and accountant provided they agree to keep the terms of this
Agreement confidential. The Executive agrees to protect, not disclose, and not
use for the Executive's benefit any confidential information or trade secrets
belonging to the Company, including information regarding proprietary procedures
and techniques, accounts, or personnel (excepting information that was already
disclosed by the Company or otherwise was made public other than by breach of
this Agreement by the Executive). The preceding two sentences shall not apply to
disclosures required due to the laws or regulations of governments, or the
orders of courts having jurisdiction over the Company and the Executive. This
section 9 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
10. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND BE
ENFORCEABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING
EFFECT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS THEREOF.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed as of the date first written above.
American Home Mortgage Holdings, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, President
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx
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Xxxxxx Xxxxx
