C&D TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
1400 Union Meeting Road
Blue Bell, PA 19422
September 30, 1997
John J. Murray, Jr.
4100 Meadow Lane
Echo Valley
Newtown Square, PA 19073
Dear John:
C&D Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), agrees to employ
you, and you agree to accept such employment, under the following terms and
conditions:
I. TERM OF EMPLOYMENT.
1.1 Except for earlier termination as is provided in Section 10
below, your employment under this Agreement shall be for a
term (the "Initial Term") commencing on October 13, 1997 (the
"Effective Date") and terminating on October 12, 1998.
1.2 This Agreement shall be automatically renewed for successive
terms of one month each, unless either party shall have given
to the other party at least 30 days' prior written notice of
the termination of this Agreement. If such 30 days' prior
written notice is given by either party, (i) the Company
shall, without any liability to you, have the right,
exercisable at any time after such notice is sent, to elect
any other person to the office or offices in which you are
then serving and to remove you from such office or offices,
but (ii) all other obligations each of you and the Company
have to the other, including the Company's obligation to pay
your compensation and make available the medical and dental
insurance which you are entitled hereunder, shall continue
until the date your employment terminates as specified in such
notice.
1
John J. Murray
September 30, 1997
2. COMPENSATION.
2.1 You shall be compensated for all services rendered by you
under this Agreement at the rate of $125,000.00 per annum
(such salary, as it is from time to time adjusted, is herein
referred to as the "Base Salary"). Such Base Salary shall be
payable in periodic installations twice monthly in accordance
with the Company's payroll practices for salaried employees.
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors shall
review such Base Salary prior to October 31,1998 and each year
thereafter during the term of this Agreement, including any
renewal term, and shall make such adjustments, if any, as the
Compensation Committee of the Board shall determine; provided,
however, that no adjustment shall reduce the Base Salary below
$125,000.00
2.2 If your employment hereunder shall be terminated (i) by the
Company without Cause (as defined in Section 10.3) therefor
having been given to you (other than pursuant to Sections 10.1
or 10.2), or (ii) as a result of the non-renewal of this
Agreement by the Company upon expiration of the Initial Term
or any renewal term, then for a one year period after the
effective date of such termination the Company shall pay you
at the rate of your Base Salary in effect at the time of such
termination.
3. DUTIES.
3.1 During the term of your employment hereunder, including any
renewal thereof, you agree to serve as the Vice President &
General Manager Motive Power Division, or in such other
capacity with duties and responsibilities of a similar nature
as those initially undertaken by you hereunder as the
President of the Company may from time to time determine. Your
duties may be changed at any time and from time to time
hereafter, upon mutual agreement, in a manner appropriate to
the Company for the times and circumstances for which the
change is to be made. You also agree to perform such other
services and duties consistent with the office or offices in
which you are serving and its responsibilities as may from
time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors, and you
also agree to serve, if elected, as an officer and/or director
of the Company, and/or any of the Company's other direct or
indirect subsidiaries, in all cases in conformity to the
by-laws
2
John J. Murray
September 30, 1997
of each such corporation. Unless you otherwise agree, you will
not be required to relocate from [the Company's headquarters
in the Blue Bell, Pennsylvania area].
3.2 You shall devote your full employment energies, interest,
abilities, time and attention during normal business hours
(excluding the vacation periods provided in Section 4.2 below)
exclusively to the business and affairs of the Company, its
parent corporation and subsidiaries, if any, and shall not
engage in any activity which conflicts or interferes with the
performance of duties hereunder.
3.3 You agree to cooperate with the Company, including taking such
reasonable medical examinations as may be necessary, in the
event the Company shall desire or be required (such as
pursuant to the terms of any bank loan or any other agreement)
to obtain life insurance insuring your life.
3.4 You shall, except as otherwise provided herein, be subject to
the Company's rules, practices and policies applicable to the
Company's senior executive employees. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, you shall, with respect to the
Company and its parent, subsidiaries, assets and stockholders,
act in a manner consistent with your fiduciary
responsibilities as an executive of the Company.
4. BENEFITS.
4.1 You shall have the benefit of such life and medical insurance,
bonus, stock option and other similar plans as the Company may
have or may establish from time to time, and in which you
would be entitled to participate, by reason of your position
with the Company, pursuant to the terms thereof. Also to the
extent you have met the qualifications required, you may
participate in the Company's Savings and Retirement plans. The
foregoing, however, shall not be construed to require the
Company to establish any such plans or to prevent the Company
from modifying or terminating any such plans, and no such
action or failure thereof shall affect this Agreement.
4.2 You shall be entitled to a vacation of four (4) weeks each year.
4.3 The Company will provide you with an annual physical examination
3
John J. Murray
September 30, 1997
5. WORKING AND OTHER FACILITIES.
During the Initial Term of this Agreement and any renewal term thereof,
you shall be furnished with such working facilities and other services
as are suitable to your position and adequate for the performance of
your duties.
6. EXPENSES.
The Company will reimburse you for reasonable expenses, (consistent
with Company policy), including traveling expenses, incurred by you in
connection with the business of the Company upon the presentation by
you of appropriate substantiation for such expenses.
7. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.
7.1 During such time as you shall be employed by the Company, and
for a period of one year thereafter, you shall not, without
the written consent of the Board of Directors, directly or
indirectly become associated with, render services to, invest
in, represent, advise or otherwise participate as an officer,
employee, director, stockholder, partner, agent of or
consultant for, any business which is competitive with the
business in which the Company is engaged at the time your
employment with the Company ceases (a "Competitive Business");
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing herein (i) shall prevent you
from investing without limit in the securities of any company
listed on a national securities exchange, PROVIDED that your
involvement with any such company is solely that of a
stockholder, and (ii) is intended to prevent you from being
employed during the one-year period following the termination
of your employment with the Company referred to herein by any
business other than a Competitive Business.
7.2 The parties hereto intend that the covenant contained in this
Section 7 shall be deemed a series of separate covenants for
each state, county and city. If, in any judicial proceeding, a
court shall refuse to enforce all the separate covenants
deemed included in this Section 7, because, taken together,
they cover too extensive a geographic area, the parties intend
that those of such covenants (taken in order of the states,
counties and cities therein which are least populous), which,
if eliminated, would permit the remaining separate
4
John J. Murray
September 30, 1997
covenants to be enforced in such proceeding, shall, for the
purpose of such proceeding, be deemed eliminated from the
provisions of this Section 7.
8. CONFIDENTIALITY, NON-INTERFERENCE, INVENTIONS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION.
8.1 CONFIDENTIALITY. In the course of (i) your employment by the
Company hereunder, and (ii) your prior employment with the
Company, you will have and have had access to confidential or
proprietary data or information of the Company. You will not
at any time divulge or communicate to any person nor shall you
direct any Company employee to divulge or communicate to any
person (other than to a person bound by confidentiality
obligations similar to those contained herein and other than
as necessary in performing your duties hereunder) or use to
the detriment of the Company any of such data or information.
The provisions of this Section 8.1 shall survive your
employment hereunder, whether by the normal expiration thereof
or otherwise. The term "confidential or proprietary data or
information" as used in this Agreement shall mean information
not generally available to the public, including, without
limitation, personnel information, financial information,
customer lists, supplier lists, product and tooling
specifications, trade secrets, product composition and
formulae, tools and dies, drawings and schematics,
manufacturing processes, knowhow, computer and any other
processed or collated data, computer programs, pricing,
marketing and advertising data.
8.2 NON-INTERFERENCE. You agree that you will not at any time
after the termination of your employment by the Company, for
your own account or for the account of any other person,
interfere with the Company's relationship with any of its
suppliers, customers or employees; PROVIDED that your
employment by a competitor of the Company, if not in violation
of your non-competition agreement contained in Section 7.1
above, and your contacting of suppliers and customers in
connection therewith, if not in violation of Section 8.1 above
or Sections 8.3 or 8.4 below, shall not constitute
"interference" hereunder.
5
John J. Murray
September 30, 1997
8.3 INVENTIONS. It is understood that you may, during your
employment, conceive or develop certain inventions,
innovations or discoveries related to any business in which
the Company may be engaged, either solely or jointly with
others. In connection with the conception or development
thereof, you agree to disclose promptly to the Company all
such inventions, innovations and discoveries, to assign, and
hereby do assign, to the Company all of your right, title and
interest in and to said inventions, innovations and
discoveries, and to do all things and sign all documents
deemed by the Company to be necessary or appropriate to vest
in it, its successors and assigns, all of your right, title
and interest in and to such inventions, innovations or
discoveries, and to procure for it, at the Company's expense,
patents, copyrights and/or trademarks covering such
inventions, innovations or discoveries in the United States
and its possessions and in foreign countries, at the
discretion and under the direction of the Company. In the
event the Company is unable for any reason to assure your
signature on such documents, you irrevocably appoint the
Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as your
agents and attorneys-in-fact to execute such documents and to
do such things with the same legal force and effect as if
executed or done by you.
8.4 RETURN OF PROPERTY. All written materials, records and
documents made by you or coming into your possession during
your employment concerning any products, processes or equip-
ment, manufactured, used, developed, investigated or con-
sidered by the Company or otherwise concerning the business
or affairs of the Company, shall be the sole property of
the Company, and upon termination of your employment, or upon
request of the Company during your employment, you shall
promptly deliver the same to the Company. In addition, upon
termination of your employment, or upon request of the Company
during your employment, you will deliver to the Company all
other Company property in your possession or under your
control, including but not limited to, financial statements,
marketing and sales data, patent applications, drawings and
other documents, and all Company credit cards and automobiles.
6
John J. Murray
September 30, 1997
9. EQUITABLE RELIEF. With respect to the covenants contained in
Sections 7 and 8 of this Agreement, you agree that any remedy
at law for any breach of said covenants may be inadequate and
that the Company shall be entitled to specific performance or
any other mode of injunctive and/or other equitable relief to
enforce its rights hereunder or any other relief a court might
award.
10. EARLIER TERMINATION. Your employment hereunder shall terminate
prior to the Initial Term (or any renewal term, in the event
of renewal) on the following terms and conditions:
10.1 This Agreement shall terminate automatically on the date
of your death. Notwithstanding the foregoing the Company
shall (i) continue to make payments to your estate of your
Base Salary as then in effect pursuant to this Agreement for
six (6) months after your death, and (ii) pay your estate any
reimbursable expenses which otherwise would have been paid to
you to the date of your death.
10.2. This Agreement shall be terminated if you are unable to
perform your duties hereunder for a period of any 180 days in
any 365 consecutive day period by reason of physical or
mental disability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it this
Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, the Company
shall pay any accrued but unpaid Base Salary through the date
of termination and any reimburseable expenses due to you
hereunder. For purposes of this Agreement "physical or mental
disability" shall mean your inability, due to health reasons,
to discharge properly your duties of employment, supported by
the opinion of a physician satisfactory to both you and the
Company. If the parties do not agree on a physician mutually
satisfactory to both you and the Company within ten days of
written demand by one or the other, a physician shall be
selected by the president of the Pennsylvania Medical
Association, and the physician shall, within 30 days
thereafter, make a determin- ation as to whether disability
exists and certify the same in writing. Services of the
physician shall be paid for by the Company. You shall fully
cooperate with the examining physician including submitting
yourself to such examinations as may be requested by the
physician for the purpose of determining whether you are
disabled.
7
John J. Murray
September 30, 1997
10.3. This Agreement shall terminate immediately upon the Company's
sending you written notice terminating your employment
hereunder for Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement
for Cause, but only after written notice specifying the Cause
of such action shall have been rendered to you by the
President of the Company. "Cause" shall mean any of the
following:
(i) Breach of this Agreement.
(ii) Refusal or inability (other than pursuant to Sections
10.1 or 10.2) to perform duties assigned in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement or overt
and willful disobedience of orders or directives
issued to you by the Company and within the scope of
your duties to the Company.
(iii) Willful misconduct in the performance of your duties,
functions and responsibilities.
(iv) Commission of acts which are illegal in connection
with the performance of your duties, functions and
responsibilities under this Agreement.
(v) Commission of acts which would constitute a felony
offense during the term of this Agreement.
(vi) Violation of Company rules and regulations concerning
conflict of interest.
(vii) Gross mismanagement of the assets of the Company.
(viii) Gross incompetence, gross insubordination or gross
neglect in the performance of your duties hereunder
or being under the habitual influence of alcohol
while on duty or possession, use, manufacture,
distribution, dispensation or sale of illegal drugs
while on or off duty.
(ix) Any act or omission, whether or not included in the
foregoing, that a court of competent jurisdiction
would determine to constitute cause for termination.
8
John J. Murray
September 30, 1997
If the Company terminates this Agreement for Cause under this Section,
the Company shall not be obligated to make any further payments under
this Agreement except for amounts due at the time of such termination.
Existence of Cause shall be conclusively determined for all purposes
hereunder by the President of the Company. Such advice and consultation
shall be utilized as such officer regards as appropriate, and no
obligation or duty with respect to any procedure or formality is
created by this Agreement.
11. POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS COVERAGE.
11.1 Your coverage under the benefits program provided by the
Company will cease effective on your termination date. You
will be entitled to elect continuation of your medical and
dental benefits at the same cost the Company pays, pursuant to
the provision of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation At (COBRA). Details with regard to COBRA
continuation coverage will be provided to you shortly after
your termination date.
11.2. Life Insurance coverage will cease upon your termination date.
You may, however, apply to General American Life Insurance
Company (or such other insurance company as may provide group
life insurance to the Company's employees at the time) for an
individual converted life policy, with such application and
payment of the first premium required to be accomplished
within 31 days after your termination date. Details regarding
this conversion option will be provided to you shortly after
your termination date.
11.3 Accidental Death and Dismemberment and Long Term Disability
coverages cease with your termination date and may not be
extended or converted.
12. TERMINATION OF PRIOR AGREEMENT; MODIFICATION. This Agreement
constitutes the full and complete understanding of the parties, and
will, on the Effective Date, supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, oral or written, between the parties. This Agreement
may not be modified or amended except by an instrument in writing
signed by the party against which enforcement thereof may be sought.
9
John J. Murray
September 30, 1997
13. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that no
representations, inducements, promises or agreements, oral or written,
have been made by either party or anyone acting on behalf of either
party, which are not embodied herein and that no other agreement,
statement or promise not contained in this Agreement shall be valid or
binding.
14. SEVERABILITY. Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid
or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be
ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability
without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and
provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or
enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in
any other jurisdiction.
15. WAIVER OF BREACH. The waiver by either party of a breach of any
provision of this Agreement shall not operate as or be construed as a
waiver of any subsequent breach.
16. NOTICES. All notices hereunder shall be in writing and shall be sent by
express mail or by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid,
return receipt requested; if to you, to your residence as listed in the
Company's records; and if to the Company, to the address set forth
above with copies to the President.
17. ASSIGNABILITY; BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall not be assigned by
you without the written consent of the Board of Directors of the
Company. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of you, your legal representatives, heirs and distributees, and shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, its successors
and assigns.
18. GOVERNING LAW. All questions pertaining to the validity, construction,
execution and performance of this Agreement shall be construed and
governed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, without giving effect to the conflicts or choice of law
provisions thereof.
19. HEADINGS. The headings of this Agreement are intended solely for
convenience of reference and shall be given no effect in the
construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
10
John J. Murray
September 30, 1997
If this Agreement correctly sets forth our understanding, please sign the
duplicate original in the space provided below and return it to the Company,
whereupon this shall constitute the employment agreement between you and the
Company effective and for the term as stated herein.
C&D Technologies, Inc.
By: /s/ Alfred Weber
Alfred Weber
President/Chief Executive Officer/
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Agreed as of the date first above written:
/s/ John J. Murray, Jr.
John J. Murray, Jr.
11