Exhibit 10.3
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is dated as of October 1,
2001, between Ellen M. Walker ("Executive"), Ameritrans Capital Corporation
("Ameritrans"), and Elk Associates Funding Corporation ("Elk") (collectively,
Ameritrans and Elk are hereinafter referred to as the "Employer").
In consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants hereinafter set
forth and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Employment of Executive.
Employer hereby agrees to employ Executive, and Executive hereby agrees to
be and remain in the employ of Employer, upon the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth.
2. Employment Period.
Subject to the earlier termination as provided in Section 5, the term of
Executive's employment under this Agreement shall commence as of the date of
execution (the "Effective Date"), and shall continue for a period of five (5)
years (the "Initial Employment Period"). Unless Employer gives notice of
non-renewal at least four (4) months prior to the expiration of the Initial
Employment Period or Executive gives notice of non-renewal at least two (2)
months prior to the expiration of the Initial Employment Period, the term of
this Agreement shall be extended for an additional five (5) year period beyond
the end of the Initial Employment Period on the same terms and conditions in
effect under this Agreement at the time of extension (the Initial Employment
Period and any extension thereof is hereafter referred to as the "Employment
Period"). During the period between the fourth month and the second month prior
to the expiration of the Initial Employment Period, Employer and Executive shall
negotiate in good faith with respect to any additional terms to the renewed
Employment Agreement.
3. Duties and Responsibilities.
3.1. General. During the Employment Period, Executive shall have the title
of Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Employer and shall have
duties commensurate with her office and title similar to other senior executives
of the Employer. Executive shall report directly to and take direction from Gary
Granoff or the Board of Directors of the Employer (the "Board"). Executive shall
devote such of her business time, consistent with past practice, and expend her
best efforts, energies, and skills to the Employer; provided, however, that (i)
Executive shall be allowed to devote such reasonable time as she deems necessary
to her personal and family business matters, (ii) Employer acknowledges that
Executive currently is and may remain as a director and an officer or employee
of Gemini Capital Corporation, (iii) Executive shall be permitted to provide
services to Pierre Funding Corporation consistent with past practice as such has
been disclosed by Executive to the Company, and (iv) Employer acknowledges that
Executive currently is and may remain a partner in the law firm of Granoff,
Walker & Forlenza, P.C. and continue to practice law in a manner consistent with
past practice, so long as such time, attention, and duties in (i), (ii), (iii),
and (iv), above, do not (A) interfere with her duties and responsibilities to
Employer or (B) violate her obligations under Section 7, herein, or any duty,
consistent with her status with Employer, as she may be assigned from time to
time by Gary Granoff or the Board.
4. Compensation and Related Matters.
4.1. Base Salary. For each of the twelve-month periods during the
Employment Period, commencing with the twelve-month period beginning on the
Effective Date (each such period, an "Employment Year"), Employer shall pay to
Executive a base salary equal to $114,400 for the first Employment Year, which
shall increase by 4% for each subsequent Employment Year (with respect to each
Employment Year, the "Base Salary"). The Base Salary for each Employment Year
shall be payable in accordance with the normal payroll procedures of Employer.
4.2. Annual Bonus. For each fiscal year during the Employment Period (each,
a "Bonus Year"), Executive shall be eligible to receive a discretionary bonus
based on the achievement of corporate and/or individual performance objectives
set by the Board for such Bonus Year.
4.3. Other Benefits. During the Employment Period, subject to, and to the
extent Executive is eligible under their respective terms, Executive shall be
entitled to receive such benefits as are, or are from time to time hereafter,
generally provided by Employer to Employer's senior management employees
(including any executive vice president or chief financial officer) (other than
those provided under or pursuant to separately negotiated individual employment
agreements or arrangements) under any pension or retirement plan, disability
plan, or insurance, group life insurance, family medical and dental insurance,
accidental death and dismemberment insurance, travel accident insurance, or
other similar plan or program of Employer. In addition, Employer shall make
regular contributions to Executive's SEP IRA account of 15% of Executive's Base
Salary and Bonus subject to limitations under the plan, and shall reimburse
Executive for the use of a cell phone ($75/month).
4.4. Expense Reimbursement. Employer shall reimburse Executive for all
business expenses reasonably incurred by her in the performance of her duties
under this Agreement upon her presentation of signed and itemized accounts of
such expenditures, all in accordance with Employer's procedures and policies as
adopted and in effect from time to time and applicable to its senior management
employees.
4.5. Vacations. Executive shall be entitled to 20 business days vacation
for each calendar year during the Employment Period, which vacations shall be
taken at such time or times as shall not unreasonably interfere with Executive's
performance of her duties under this Agreement.
4.6. Stock Options. In order to provide further incentive to Executive and
align the interests of Executive with those of the stockholders of Employer,
Employer shall grant to Executive, from time to time, options to purchase shares
of common stock of Employer, par value per share $.01 (the "Common Stock"), in
an amount determined by the Company's board of directors or committee thereof,
as the case may be. The options shall be granted pursuant to the Employer's
existing Stock Option Plan consistent with the terms and conditions therein. The
options shall have such other terms and conditions as set forth in a stock
option agreement. Employer shall register the sale of Common Stock to Executive
upon the exercise of any such options pursuant to a Registration Statement on
Form S-8, provided that Form S-8 is available to Employer under the Securities
Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission at the time Executive exercises such options.
5. Termination of Employment Period.
5.1. Voluntary Termination by Executive. Executive may, by notice to
Employer at any time during the Employment Period, voluntarily resign from
Employer and terminate the Employment Period.
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The effective date of such termination of Executive from Employer shall be the
date that is thirty (30) days following the date on which such notice is given.
5.2. By Employer for Cause. Employer may, at any time during the Employment
Period, by notice to Executive, terminate the Employment Period for "Cause." As
used herein, "Cause" shall mean (i) incompetence, fraud, personal dishonesty,
defalcation, or acts of gross negligence or gross misconduct on the part of
Executive in the course of her employment, (ii) an intentional breach of this
Agreement by Executive that is injurious to Employer, (iii) substantial and
continued failure by Executive to perform her duties hereunder, (iv) willful
failure by Executive to follow the lawful directions of Gary Granoff or the
Board, (v) use of alcohol by Executive or her illegal use of drugs (including
narcotics) which in either case is, or could reasonably expected to become,
materially injurious to the reputation or business of Employer or which impairs,
or could reasonably be expected to impair, the performance of Executive's duties
hereunder, (vi) Executive's conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction of,
or pleading "guilty" or "no contest" to, (x) a felony, or (y) any other criminal
charge (other than minor traffic violations) which has or could reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse impact on Employer's reputation and standing
in the community, or (vii) Executive's violation of any of the provisions of
Section 7 herein. Any notice given by Employer pursuant to Section 5.2(ii),
(iii), or (iv), above, shall specify in writing in reasonable detail the nature
of Executive's action or inaction that is the cause for giving such notice.
Executive will have 30 days to cure, to the reasonable satisfaction of Employer,
any action or inaction charged by Employer for Cause under (ii), (iii), or (iv),
above. In the event of a termination of the Employment Period for Cause under
(i), (v), (vi), or (vii), above, the Employment Period shall terminate
immediately upon notice by Employer of termination for Cause. In all other cases
of a termination of the Employment Period for Cause, the Employment Period shall
terminate 30 days after such notice of termination for Cause, unless Executive
has satisfactorily cured such actions or inactions.
5.3. By Executive for Good Reason.
(a) Executive may, at any time during the Employment Period by notice
to Employer, terminate the Employment Period under this Agreement for "Good
Reason" (as defined below). For the purposes hereof, Executive shall have
"Good Reason" to terminate employment with Employer on account of any of
the following events without Executive's consent: (i) any reduction in the
Base Salary; (ii) Employer relocating its principal headquarters outside of
a 30 mile radius from Manhattan; (iii) the failure of Employer to provide
employee benefits consistent with Section 4.3 herein, or (iv) a "Change in
Control" (as defined below); provided, however, that the circumstances set
forth in this Section 5.3 shall not be Good Reason if within 30 days of
notice by Executive to Employer, Employer cures such circumstances. The
effective date of such termination of Executive from Employer shall be the
date that is thirty (30) days following the date on which such notice is
given.
(b) For purposes of this Section 5.3, a "Change in Control" shall be
deemed to have taken place if any "Person" (as such term is defined in
Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")
and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) becomes
a "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act),
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing 50%
or more of the combined voting power of Employer's then outstanding
securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board (the "Voting
Securities"); provided, however, that the event described in this paragraph
(b) shall not be deemed to be a Change in Control by virtue of any of the
following acquisitions: (i) by Employer or any subsidiary of Employer in
which Employer owns more than 50% of the combined voting power of such
entity (a "Subsidiary"), (ii) by any employee benefit plan (or related
trust) sponsored or maintained by Employer or any Subsidiary, (iii) by
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any underwriter temporarily holding Employer's Voting Securities pursuant
to an offering of such Voting Securities, or (iv) pursuant to any
acquisition by Executive or any group or persons including Executive (or
any entity controlled by Executive or any group of persons including
Executive).
5.4. Disability. During the Employment Period, if, as a result of physical
or mental incapacity or infirmity, Executive shall be unable to perform her
duties under this Agreement for (i) a continuous period of at least 120 days, or
(ii) periods aggregating at least 180 days during any period of 12 consecutive
months (each, a "Disability Period"), and at the end of the Disability Period
there is no reasonable probability that Executive can promptly resume her duties
hereunder, Executive shall be deemed disabled (the "Disability") and Employer,
by notice to Executive, shall have the right to terminate the Employment Period
for Disability at, as of, or after the end of the Disability Period. The
existence of the Disability shall be determined by a reputable, licensed
physician selected by Employer in good faith, whose determination shall be final
and binding on the parties. Executive shall cooperate in all reasonable respects
to enable an examination to be made by such physician. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Employer may conclusively determine Executive to be disabled and
terminate the Employment Period on account of Disability at any time after
Executive has commenced receiving benefits under Employer's long-term disability
insurance policy.
5.5. Death. The Employment Period shall end on the date of Executive's
death.
5.6. Any termination under this Section 5 shall act as a notice of
non-renewal of this Agreement pursuant to Section 2 herein.
6. Termination Compensation.
6.1. Termination for Good Reason by Executive. If the Employment Period is
terminated by Employer for Good Reason pursuant to the provisions of Section
5.3, hereof, Employer will pay to Executive Executive's Base Salary through the
date of termination and an amount equal to the sum of the Base Salary multiplied
by the number of years (and fractional portions thereof) remaining in the
Employment Period (the "Severance Payment"); provided, however, the minimum
Severance Payment to be paid to Executive hereunder shall not be less than an
amount equal to two-and-one-half years of Executive's Base Salary as in effect
at the time this Agreement is terminated as provided herein. Employer shall have
no obligation to continue any other benefits provided for in Section 4 past the
date of termination.
6.2. Certain Other Terminations. If the Employment Period is terminated by
Employer on account of Executive's Disability pursuant to the provisions of
Section 5.4, or by death, pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.5, Employer
shall pay to Executive, within thirty (30) calendar days of the date of
termination, Executive's Base Salary through the date of termination and a
pro-rated share of the discretionary bonus if already determined. In the event
that the Employment Period is terminated by Employer on account of Disability
pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.4 or on account of death pursuant to the
provisions of Section 5.5 and provided Executive has been employed for at least
six months during the year of termination, Employer shall also pay to Executive
a portion of a bonus for the year of termination based upon the bonus paid, if
any, for the immediately preceding year prorated through the date of
termination. Employer shall have no obligation to continue any other benefits
provided for in Section 4 past the date of termination.
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6.3. Payment; No Other Termination Compensation. Any payment pursuant to
this Section 6 shall be made in a lump sum within ten (10) business days
following the date of such termination. Executive shall not, except as set forth
in this Section 6, be entitled to any compensation following termination of the
Employment Period.
7. Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation.
7.1. Non-solicitation of Employees. The Executive agrees that during the
term of the Executive's employment with the Company and for a period of one year
thereafter, the Executive shall not directly recruit, solicit or otherwise
induce or attempt to induce any employees of the Company to leave the employment
of the Company.
7.2. Non-competition. The Executive agrees that during the term of the
Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall not directly or
indirectly, except as a passive investor in publicly held companies and except
for investments held at the date hereof, engage in competition with the Company
or any of its subsidiaries, excluding those activities described in Section 3.1
hereof, or own or control any interest in, or act as director, officer or
employee of, or consultant to, any firm, corporation or institution directly
engaged in competition with the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
8. Successors; Binding Agreement.
This Agreement and all rights of Executive hereunder shall inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and Executive's personal or legal
representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees,
divisees, and legatees. If Executive should die while any amounts would still be
payable to her hereunder if she had continued to live, all such amounts, unless
otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement to Executive's devisee, legatee, or other beneficiary or, if there be
no such beneficiary, to Executive's estate.
9. Survivorship.
The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall
survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent necessary to the
intended preservation of such rights and obligations.
10. Miscellaneous.
10.1. Notices. Any notice, consent, or authorization required or permitted
to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and sent to the party
for or to whom intended, at the address of such party set forth below, by
registered or certified mail, postage paid (deemed given five days after deposit
in the U.S. mails) or personally delivered or sent by facsimile transmission
(deemed given upon receipt), or at such other address as either party shall
designate by notice given to the other in the manner provided herein.
If to Employer: Ameritrans Capital Corporation
747 Third Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, New York 10017
Attn: Gary Granoff, President
If to Executive: Ms. Ellen Walker
28 Basket Neck Lane
Remsenburg, New York 11960
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10.2. Taxes. Employer is authorized to withhold (from any compensation or
benefits payable hereunder to Executive) such amounts for income tax, social
security, unemployment compensation, and other taxes as shall be necessary or
appropriate in the reasonable judgment of Employer to comply with applicable
laws and regulations.
10.3. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without reference
to the principles of conflicts of laws therein.
10.4. Arbitration. Any dispute or controversy arising under or in
connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in
the city in which Employer's main corporate headquarters is then located in
accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration association then in
effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitration award in any court having
jurisdiction.
10.5. Headings. All descriptive headings in this Agreement are inserted for
convenience only, and shall be disregarded in construing or applying any
provision of this Agreement.
10.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which, together, shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
10.7. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement, or any part
thereof, is held to be unenforceable, the remainder of such provision and this
Agreement, as the case may be, shall nevertheless remain in full force and
effect.
10.8. Entire Agreement and Representation. This Agreement contains the
entire agreement and understanding between Employer and Executive with respect
to the subject matter hereof. No representations or warranties of any kind or
nature relating to Employer or its several businesses, or relating to Employer's
assets, liabilities, operations, future plans, or prospects have been made by or
on behalf of Employer to Executive. This Agreement supersedes any prior
agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof.
10.9. Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or
provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provision or provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full
force and effect. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid,
void, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, any court or arbitrator so holding
shall substitute a valid, enforceable provision that preserves, to the maximum
lawful extent, the terms and intent of such provisions of this Agreement. If any
of the provisions of, or covenants contained in, this Agreement are hereafter
construed to be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the same shall not
affect the remainder of the provisions or the enforceability thereof in any
other jurisdiction, which shall be given full force and effect, without regard
to the invalidity or unenforceability is such other jurisdiction. Any such
holding shall affect such provision of this Agreement, solely as to that
jurisdiction, without rendering that or any other provisions of this Agreement
invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any other jurisdiction. If any covenant
should be deemed invalid, illegal, or unenforceable because its scope is
considered excessive, such covenant will be modified so that the scope of the
covenant is reduced only to the minimum extent necessary to render the modified
covenant valid, legal, and enforceable.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.
AMERITRANS CAPITAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Gary Granoff
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Gary Granoff
ELK ASSOCIATES FUNDING CORPORATION
By: /s/ Gary Granoff
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Gary Granoff
/s/ Ellen M. Walker
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Ellen M. Walker
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