EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into on the 11th day of
July 2005, effective as of the, August 1, 2005 (the "Effective Date"), by and
between MICROTEK MEDICAL HOLDINGS, INC., a Georgia corporation (hereinafter the
"Company"), and MARK ALVAREZ (hereinafter the "Employee").
RECITALS:
R-1. The Company develops, manufactures and markets infection control (such
as equipment and patient drapes and encapsulation products) and other products
for use primarily in healthcare markets (the "Business").
R-2. The Company's markets are worldwide.
R-3. The Company maintains certain trade secrets and confidential
information which is proprietary to the Company, the disclosure or exploitation
of which would cause significant damage to the Company.
R-4. The Company desires to employ the Employee, and the Employee desires
to accept such employment, for which purposes each of the Company and the
Employee desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth and clarify certain of
the terms and conditions relevant to such employment.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the recitals, the covenants and
agreements herein contained and the benefits to be derived herefrom, the
parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
1. Recitals. The recitals set forth above constitute part of this Agreement
and are incorporated herein by this reference.
2. Employment. From and after the date hereof and for the term herein
provided, the Company agrees to employ the Employee, and the Employee accepts
such employment with the Company upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set
forth.
3. Term. The Employee's employment shall commence on the Effective Date
and, subject to Section 8 of this Agreement, shall continue for 38 months from
the Effective Date.
4. Duties. Subject to the direction and supervision of the Board of
Directors of the Company, the Employee agrees that: (a) he or she shall devote
substantially all of his or her full working time and attention to the business
of the Company and its affiliated companies; (b) he or she will perform all of
his or her duties properly assigned to him or her pursuant to this Agreement
faithfully and to the best of his or her abilities in a manner intended to
advance the Company's interests; and (c) he or she shall not engage in any other
business activity except: (i) investing assets in a manner not prohibited by
Section 9(e) of this Agreement, and in such form or manner as shall not require
any material services on his or her part in the operations or affairs of the
companies or other entities in which such investments are made, (ii) serving on
the board of directors of any company, subject to the provisions set forth in
Section 9(e) of this Agreement and provided that he or she shall not be required
to render any material services with respect to the operations or affairs of any
such company, (iii) engaging in religious, charitable or other community or
non-profit activities which do not impair his or her ability to fulfill his or
her duties and responsibilities under this Agreement, or (iv) such other
activities as may be expressly approved in advance by the Board of Directors of
the Company.
5. Compensation. As full compensation for all services rendered by the
Employee pursuant to this Agreement and as full consideration for all of the
terms of this Agreement, the Employee shall receive from the Company during his
employment under this Agreement the base salary, bonuses and fringe benefits
described below.
(a) Base Salary. For all services rendered pursuant to this Agreement, the
Company shall pay or cause to be paid to the Employee an annual base salary of
$225,000. The annual salary may be increased from time to time during the term
of this Agreement in the discretion of the Company. The base salary shall be
payable in accordance with the customary practices of the Company for payment of
its employees, but in any event, in installments not less frequently than once
monthly.
(b) Bonus Compensation. To the extent that the Company shall establish,
from time to time in its discretion, bonus compensation plans for the benefit of
all of its management level employees, the Employee shall be entitled to
participate in such bonus compensation plans in accordance with the terms and
provisions established by the Company.
(c) Fringe Benefits. The Company has adopted, or may from time to time
adopt, policies in respect to fringe benefits for its management level employees
in the nature of health and life insurance, holidays, vacation, sick leave
policies, disability and other matters. The Company covenants and agrees that
the Employee shall be entitled to participate in any such fringe benefit
policies adopted by the Company to the same extent that such fringe benefits
shall be available to and for the benefit of all other management level
employees.
(d) Tax Withholdings and Other Deductions. The Company shall have the right
to deduct from the base salary and any additional compensation payable to the
Employee all amounts required to be deducted and withheld in accordance with
social security taxes and all applicable federal, state and local taxes and
charges as may now be in effect or which may be hereafter enacted or required as
charges on the compensation of the Employee. The Company shall also have the
right to offset from the base salary and any additional compensation payable to
the Employee any loan or other amounts owed to the Company by the Employee.
6. Working Facilities. The Company, at its own expense, shall furnish the
Employee with office, working space and such equipment as may be reasonably
necessary for the Employee's performance of his or her duties.
7. Expenses. The Employee is required as a condition of employment to incur
ordinary, necessary and reasonable expenses for the promotion of the business of
the Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries, including expenses for
entertaining, travel and similar items. The Employee is authorized to incur
reasonable expenses in connection with such business, including travel and
entertainment expenses, fees for seminars and courses, and expenses incurred in
attendance at executive meetings and conventions. If paid by the Employee, upon
presentation by the Employee of an itemized account of such expenditures in a
manner satisfactory to the Company, the Employee shall be entitled to receive
reimbursement for these expenses, subject to policies that may be established
from time to time by the Company. It is intended by the Company and the Employee
that all expenses incurred pursuant to this paragraph are to be ordinary and
necessary business expenses.
8. Termination. The Employee's employment may be terminated in accordance
with the provisions of this section. The provisions for termination are as
follows:
(a) Death or Disability. The Employee's employment shall be terminated upon
the death or total disability of the Employee (total disability meaning the
failure of the Employee to perform his or her duties and responsibilities
hereunder in the manner and to the extent required by this Agreement for a
period of 180 consecutive days by reason of the Employee's mental or physical
disability as determined by the Company, which determination, in the absence of
a showing of bad faith, shall be conclusive upon the Employee).
(b) Termination for Cause. The Employee's employment may be terminated by
the Company for cause, which for purposes of this Agreement shall be limited
solely to (i) the Employee's material failure or refusal to comply with the
policies, standards and regulations of the Company from time to time reasonably
established and fairly administered by the Company, (ii) a material breach by
the Employee of the terms of Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) a material
breach by the Employee of any of the other terms of this Agreement (including,
without limitation, any resignation by the Employee prior to the expiration of
the term of this Agreement), or (iv) the indictment or conviction of the
Employee for any felony, the conviction of the Employee for a misdemeanor
involving the misuse of funds, or the adjudication by a court that the Employee
engaged in willful misconduct in connection with the activities of the Company.
(c) Termination Without Cause. The Employee's employment may be terminated
by the Company without cause; provided, that, in the event of any termination of
the Employee's employment under this paragraph (c), then (i) the Employee shall
be entitled to receive the base salary as set forth in Section 5(a) until the
first anniversary of the date of such termination of employment payable at the
Company's election either in a lump sum (present value, discounted at rate of
10%) or as otherwise payable under Section 5(a), plus any benefits or awards
(including both the cash and stock component) which pursuant to the terms of any
compensation plans have been earned or become payable (including, without
limitation, any portion of any bonus award for which any performance conditions,
other than continued employment, have been satisfied), but which have not yet
been paid to the Employee (including, without limitation, amounts which
previously have been deferred at the Employee's request), and (ii) the Company
shall maintain in full force and effect at the sole cost of the Company for the
continued benefit of the Employee and his or her dependents until the first
anniversary of the date of such termination of employment (or, if earlier, upon
the commencement date of equivalent benefits from a new employer) the Company's
health and dental insurance benefits; provided that, to the extent such benefits
are not available, the Company shall provide replacement benefits on terms
which, as near as may be practicable, are as favorable to the Employee as the
discontinued benefits. The Company's obligation to make payments under this
paragraph shall cease and terminate in the event of any breach by the Employee
of any of the provisions of Section 9 of this Agreement. The Company may
require, as a condition precedent to making any payments under this paragraph to
the Employee, that the Employee execute a customary release and covenant not to
sue in favor of the Company. Any payments under this Section 8(c) shall be
subject to Section 5(a).
(d) Change of Control.
(i) As used in this Agreement, the term "Change of Control" shall mean:
(A) Individuals who, as of the date of this Agreement, constitute the Board
of Directors (the "Incumbent Board") of the Company cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of such Board; provided, however, that any
individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or
nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of
at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall
be considered as though such individual was a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any individual whose initial assumption of such
directorship occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election
contest (as such terms are used in Section 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")) or other actual
or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an
individual, entity or group other than the Board;
(B) The acquisition by an individual, entity or group (within the meaning
of Section 13(d)(3) or14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) other than a trustee or
other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the
Company, of Beneficial Ownership (as defined in that certain Shareholder
Protection Rights Agreement dated as of December 20, 1996 between the Company
and SunTrust Bank, as such agreement may be modified or amended from time to
time (the "Rights Agreement")) of 15% or more of either the then outstanding
shares of common stock of the Company or the combined voting power of the
outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors unless the Incumbent Board determines in writing that such
transaction shall not constitute a "Change of Control" hereunder;
(C) If there occurs any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into
any other corporation or entity (other than a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Company) unless the Incumbent Board determines in writing that such transaction
shall not constitute a "Change of Control" hereunder; or
(D) There occurs a sale or disposition by the Company of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets. The Incumbent Board shall have
authority to determine in its sole discretion what constitutes substantially all
of the Company's assets.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Change of Control shall be deemed to have
occurred for purposes of this Agreement by virtue of any transaction which
results in the Employee, or a group of persons which includes the Employee,
acquiring directly or indirectly all or substantially of the assets of the
Company.
(ii) In the event of any termination of Employee's employment with the
Company occurring within six (6) months following the occurrence of any event
constituting a Change of Control other than a termination of employment
occurring as a result of a termination under Subsections (a) or (b) of this
Section 8 (being a termination for death or disability or a termination by the
Company for Cause), the Company shall pay to the Employee the sum of the
following:
(A) The Employee's base salary through the date of termination at the rate
in effect just prior to the date of termination of employment, plus any benefits
or awards (including both the cash and stock component) which pursuant to the
terms of any compensation plans have been earned or become payable (including,
without limitation, any portion of any bonus award for which any performance
conditions, other than contingent employment, have been satisfied) but which
have not yet been paid to the Employee (including amounts which previously had
been deferred at the Employee's request);
(B) A lump sum payment in cash in an amount equal to the Employee's current
annual base salary; and
(C) The Company shall maintain in full force and effect, at the sole cost
of the Company for the continued benefit of the Employee and his or her
dependents until the first anniversary of the date of such termination of
employment (or, if earlier, upon commencement of equivalent benefits from a new
employer), the Company's health and dental insurance benefits; provided that, to
the extent such benefits are not available, the Company shall provide
replacement benefits on terms which, as near as may be practicable, are as
favorable to the Employee as the discontinued benefits.
9. Protective Covenants; Remedies.
(a) Property Rights. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that all records
of the accounts of customers, lists, prospect lists, prospect reports, vendor
lists, samples, desk calendars, briefcases, day timers, notebooks, computers,
computer records and software, policy and procedure manuals, price lists,
catalogs, premises keys, written methods of pricing, lists of needs and
requirements of customers, written methods of operation of the Company or any
subsidiary or affiliate of the Company (collectively, the "Company Group"),
manufacturing techniques, financial records and any other records and books
relating in any manner whatsoever to the customers of the Company Group or its
business, whether prepared by the Employee or otherwise coming into the
Employee's possession, are the exclusive property of the Company Group
regardless of who actually purchased or prepared the original book, record, list
or other property. All such books, records, lists or other property shall be
immediately returned by the Employee to the Company upon any termination of
employment.
(b) Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information. The Employee acknowledges
that through his employment by the Company, the Employee will become familiar
with, among other things, the following:
Any scientific or technical information, design, process, procedure,
formula or improvement that is secret and of value, and information
including, but not limited to, technical or nontechnical data,
formula, patterns, compilations, programs, devices, methods,
techniques, drawings and processes, and product, customer and
financial data, which the Company takes reasonable efforts to protect
from disclosure, and from which the Company derives actual or
potential economic value due to its confidential nature (the foregoing
being hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Confidential
Information").
The Employee acknowledges that use or disclosure of such Confidential
Information would be injurious to the Company and will give the Employee an
unfair competitive advantage over the Company Group in the event that the
Employee should go into competition with the Company Group. Accordingly, the
Employee agrees that during the term of this Agreement and for a period of two
(2) years subsequent to the termination of employment for any reason, the
Employee will not disclose to any person, or utilize for the Employee's benefit,
any of the Confidential Information. The Employee acknowledges that such
Confidential Information is of special and peculiar value to the Company; is the
property of the Company Group, the product of years of experience and trial and
error; is not generally known to the Company Group's competitors; and is
regularly used in the operation of the Company Group's business. The Employee
acknowledges and recognizes that applicable law prohibits disclosure of
confidential information and trade secrets indefinitely (i.e., without regard to
the two year period described in this paragraph), and the Company has the right
to require the Employee to comply with such law in addition to the Company's
rights under this paragraph.
(c) Non-Interference With Employees. The Employee agrees not to solicit,
entice or otherwise induce any employee of the Company Group to leave the employ
of the Company Group for any reason whatsoever, and not to otherwise interfere
with any contractual or business relationship between the Company Group and any
of its employees for two (2) years from the termination of the Employee's
employment.
(d) Non-Solicitation of Customers. For so long as the Employee shall be due
or shall have accrued salary payments from the Company (including, without
limitation any such payment under Subsection (c) of Section 8 of this Agreement
which Employee does not waive and refund to the Company in advance of taking any
actions prohibited by this Subsection), and, in the event of any termination of
Employee's employment hereunder by the Company for Cause, for one (1) year after
the date of such termination of employment, the Employee agrees that the
Employee will not, within the world (the "Territory"), which the parties agree
is the territory from which the Employee shall primarily renders services, for
the Employee's own benefit or on behalf of any other person, partnership,
company or corporation, contact any customer or customers of the Company Group
who the Employee called upon or with which the Employee became familiar while
employed by the Company, for the purpose of engaging in the Business. This
Subsection shall apply for one year following the date of any termination of
employment within the scope of Subsection (d)(ii) of Section 8 of this
Agreement.
(e) Non-Competition. For so long as the Employee shall be due or shall have
accrued salary payments from the Company (including, without limitation any
payment under Subsection (c) of Section 8 of this Agreement which Employee does
not waive and refund to the Company in advance of taking any action prohibited
by this Subsection), and in the event of any termination of Employee's
employment hereunder by the Company for Cause, for one (1) year after the date
of such termination of employment, the Employee agrees that the Employee will
not (i) within the Territory, either directly or indirectly, whether on his own
behalf or in the service of others (whether as an employee, director, consultant
or advisor) in any capacity that involves duties similar to the duties of the
Employee hereunder, engage in the Business, or (ii) become an owner (except for
the ownership of not greater than an interest of five percent of a publicly held
company) of any company which is engaged in the Business. This Subsection shall
apply for one year following the date of any termination of employment within
the scope of Subsection (d)(ii) of Section 8 of this Agreement.
(f) Inventions and Discoveries. The Employee agrees to fully inform and
disclose to the Company all inventions, designs, improvements and discoveries
which the Employee now has or may hereafter while employed by the Company obtain
which either constitutes an improvement to or a modification of any of the
products which from time to time are under development by the Company or being
manufactured or marketed by the Company (collectively, the "Products") or
constitute an invention, design, improvement or discovery having unique
application to the Products, whether conceived by the Employee alone or with
others during or outside the usual hours of work. All such inventions, designs,
improvements and discoveries shall be the exclusive property of the Company. The
Employee shall assist the Company to obtain such legal protection of all such
inventions, designs, improvements and discoveries as may be deemed desirable by
the Company from time to time. This Subsection shall survive any expiration or
earlier termination of this Agreement.
(g) Acknowledgment Regarding Protective Covenants. The Employee
acknowledges that the Employee has read and understands the terms of this
Agreement, that the same was specifically negotiated, and that the protective
covenants agreed upon herein are necessary for the protection of the Company
Group's business. Further, the Employee acknowledges that the Company would not
employ the Employee without the specifically negotiated protective covenants
herein stated.
(h) Remedies. In addition to any other rights and remedies which are
available to the Company, with respect to any breach or violation of the
protective covenants set forth herein, it is recognized and agreed that the
Company shall be entitled to (i) obtain injunctive relief which would prohibit
the Employee from continuing any breach or violation of such protective
covenants, and (ii) commence an action to obtain such relief in any court of
competent jurisdiction.
10. Disputes. Except as set forth in Section 9(h) of this Agreement, any
controversy or claim arising out of or relating to the employment relationship
between the Company and the Employee shall be settled by arbitration by the
American Arbitration Association administered under its National Rules for the
Resolution of Employment Disputes. Such arbitration shall be conducted in the
City of Atlanta, Georgia in accordance with the rules of the American
Arbitration Association. Judgment upon the award entered by the arbitrators
shall be final and may be entered in a court having jurisdiction thereof. If the
Employee is the prevailing party in such proceeding, then the Employee shall be
entitled to recover the Employee's costs (including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys' fees) of such proceeding. If the Company is the prevailing
party in such proceeding, then the arbitrator may in the arbitrator's discretion
award the Company its costs (including reasonable attorneys' fees) of such
proceeding.
11. No Conflicting Agreements. The Employee hereby represents and warrants
that the execution of this Agreement and the performance of his or her
obligations hereunder will not breach or be in conflict with any other agreement
to which he or she is a party or by which he or she is bound, and that he or she
is not subject to any covenants against competition or similar covenants which
affect the performance of his or her obligations hereunder.
12. Consulting Cooperation. The Employee shall cooperate fully with the
Company in the defense or prosecution of any claims or actions which may be
brought against or on behalf of the Company which relate to events or
occurrences that transpired while the Employee was employed by the Company. The
Employee's full cooperation in connection with such claims or actions shall
include, but not be limited to, being available to meet with counsel to prepare
for discovery or trial and to act as a witness on behalf of the Company at
mutually convenient times. The Employee shall also cooperate fully with the
Company in connection with any examination or review by any federal or state
regulatory authority as any such examination or review relates to events or
occurrences that transpired while the Employee was employed by the Company. The
obligations under this Section shall continue, to the extent required, following
the expiration of this Agreement. To the extent the Employee is required to
provide services under this Section subsequent to the expiration of this
Agreement, the Company shall continue to reimburse the Employee for the
Employee's reasonable expenses in connection with the performance of his or her
duties under this Section and pay a consulting fee in the amount of $100 per
hour.
13. Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this
Agreement shall be in writing and personally delivered or sent by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, in the case of the Company, to the
principal office of the Company, and in the case of the Employee, to the
Employee's last known residence address.
14. Construction. This Agreement shall be governed and interpreted in
accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia. The waiver by any party hereto
of a breach of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not operate or be
construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by any party.
15. Modification; Assignment. This Agreement may not be changed except by
written agreement duly executed by the parties hereto. The rights and
obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company. This agreement,
being for the personal services of the Employee, shall not be assignable or
subject to anticipation by the Employee.
16. Severability. Each provision of this Agreement shall be considered
severable. If for any reason any provisions herein are determined to be invalid
or unenforceable, this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as though
such invalid or unenforceable provisions were omitted, and such invalidity or
unenforceability shall not impair or otherwise affect the validity of the other
provisions of this Agreement. Moreover, the parties agree to replace such
invalid provision with a substitute provision that will correspond to the
original intent of the parties.
17. Number of Agreements. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each one of which shall be deemed an original.
18. Pronouns. The use of any word in any gender shall be deemed to include
any other gender and the use of any word in the singular shall be deemed to
include the plural where the context requires.
19. Headings. The section headings used in this Agreement are for
convenience only and are not to be controlling with respect to the contents
hereof.
20. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the complete and exclusive
statement of the terms and conditions of the Employee's employment by the
Company, and there exists no other inducement or consideration between the
Company and the Employee relative to the employment contemplated by this
Agreement. All prior agreements relative to the subject matter of this Agreement
are terminated.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the date first set forth above.
MICROTEK MEDICAL HOLDINGS, INC.
BY: ------------------------------------
----------------------------------- MARK ALVAREZ
ITS:
-----------------------------------