EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT EXHIBIT 10.8
AGREEMENT, dated as of October 1, 1996, between PETER HORN
(hereinafter called "Horn") and VICON INDUSTRIES, INC., a New York corporation,
having its principal place of business at 525 Broad Hollow Road, Melville, New
York 11747 (hereinafter called the "Company").
WHEREAS, Horn has previously been employed by the Company,
and
WHEREAS, the Company and Horn mutually desire to assure
the continuation of Horn's services to the Company,
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual covenants herein set forth, the parties covenant and agree
as follows:
1. Employment. The Company shall employ Horn as its
Vice President of Quality Assurance and Compliance throughout the
term of this Agreement, and Horn hereby accepts such employment.
2. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence as
of the date of this Agreement and end on September 30, 1998.
3. Compensation.
A. The Company shall pay Horn a base salary of $105,000 per
annum, subject to periodic adjustment as determined by the President of the
Company with Board of Directors approval, but in any event shall not be less
than the base salary so indicated. Beginning October 1, 1997 to the end of this
agreement, the base salary shall be adjusted upward by an amount at least equal
to the Consumer Price Index - All Urban Consumers factor for the previous twelve
months.
B. Horn's base salary shall be payable monthly or bi-weekly.
C. Horn shall also be entitled to participate in any pension,
profit sharing, life insurance, medical, dental, hospital, disability or other
benefit plans as may from time to time be available to officers of the Company,
subject to the general eligibility requirements of such plans.
4. Covenant not to Compete. Horn agrees that during the term of this
Agreement and for a period thereafter equal to the length of severance as
calculated in paragraph 5A, he shall not directly or indirectly within the
United States or Europe engage in, or enter the employment of or render any
services to any other entity engaged in, any business of a similar nature to or
in competition with the Company's business of designing, manufacturing, and
selling security equipment and protection devices anywhere in the United States
and Europe. Horn further acknowledges that the services to be rendered under
this Agreement by him are special, unique, and of extraordinary character and
that a material breach by him of this section will cause the Company to suffer
irreparable damage; and Horn agrees that in addition to any other remedy, this
section shall be enforceable by negative or affirmative preliminary or permanent
injunction in any Court of competent jurisdiction. Horn acknowledges that he may
only be released from this covenant if the Company materially breech's this
agreement or provides to Horn a written release of this provision.
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5. Severance Payment on Certain Terminations.
A. If either this Agreement expires, or the Company
terminates Horn's employment under this Agreement for reasons other than "Gross
Misconduct", then Horn, at his option, may elect to receive severance payments,
without reduction for any offset or mitigation, in an amount equal to (a)
one-twelfth Horn's annual base salary at the time of such termination multiplied
by (b) the number of full years of Horn's employment by the Company up to a
maximum of 24 years.
B. "Gross Misconduct" shall mean (a) a wilful, substantial and
unjustifiable refusal to perform substantially the duties and services required
of his position; (b) fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement involving the
Company or its assets; or (c) conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude.
Horn's option to elect to receive severance payments may
be exercised only by written notice delivered to the Company within 90 days
following the date on which Horn's receives actual notice of termination or this
Agreement expires, as the case may be.
In the event of an election under this section, payment of such
severance shall be in lieu of any other obligation of the Company for severance
payment or other post-termination compensation under this Agreement if any.
The severance amount shall be paid in equal monthly payments over a
12 month period.
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6. Termination Payment on Change of Control.
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, if a "Change of Control" occurs without the prior written consent of
the Board of Directors, Horn, at his option, may elect to terminate his
obligations under this Agreement and to receive a termination payment, without
reduction for any offset or mitigation, in an amount equal to three times his
average annual base salary for five years preceding the Change of Control, in
either lump sum or extended payments over three years as Horn shall elect.
B. A "Change of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any
other entity shall directly or indirectly acquire beneficial ownership of 20%,
or any further amount in excess of 20%, of the outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Company or (ii) a majority of the members of the Board of Directors
of the Company or any successor by merger or assignment of assets
or otherwise, shall be persons other than Directors on the date of
this Agreement.
C. Horn's option to elect to terminate his obligations and to
receive a termination payment and to elect to receive a lump sum or extended
payments may be exercised only by written notice delivered to the Company within
90 days following the date on which Horn receives actual notice of Change of
Control.
7. Death or Disability. The Company may terminate this
Agreement if during the term of this Agreement (a) Horn dies or (b)
Horn becomes so disabled for a period of six months that he is
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substantially unable to perform his duties under this Agreement for
such period.
8. Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out of, or relating to
this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in the
City of New York in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration then
in effect, and judgement upon the award rendered be entered and enforced in any
court having jurisdiction thereof.
9. Miscellaneous.
A. Except for stock options previously granted, this Agreement
contains the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior
agreements by the parties relating to payments by the Company upon involuntary
employment termination with or without cause, however, it does not restrict or
limit such other benefits as the President or Board of Directors may determine
to provide or make available to Horn.
B. This agreement may not be waived, changed, modified
or discharged orally, but only by agreement in writing, signed by the party
against whom enforcement of any waiver, change, modification, or discharge is
sought.
C. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of New York
applicable to contracts between New York residents and made and to be entirely
performed in New York.
D. If any part of this Agreement is held to be
unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining
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provisions of this Agreement shall continue in full force and
effect.
E. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be
binding upon, the Company, its successor, and assigns.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement.
VICON INDUSTRIES, INC.
By
Peter Horn Kenneth M. Darby
Vice President - Compliance President
and Quality Assurance Vicon Industries, Inc.
Date: 10-01-96 Date: 10-01-96
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