Exhibit 10.8
Form of Employment Agreement with Gustavo Cardenas
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of
July 1, 1999, by and between SYNTEC ACQUISITION CORP., a Texas corporation (the
"Company"), and GUSTAVO A. CARDENAS (the "Employee").
WHEREAS, the Employee has been employed by the Company, and the Company and
the Employee have entered into a written agreement dated as of July 1, 1999 (the
"Prior Agreement"), to specify the terms and conditions of Employee's employment
with the Company;
WHEREAS, the Company and the Employee desire to replace the Prior Agreement
with this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Company hereby agrees to employ the Employee and the Employee
hereby accepts employment, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Employee's past and future employment
with the Company and other good and valuable consideration including the mutual
release of the Company and Employee from their respective obligations under the
Prior Agreement, the parties agree as follows:
l. Period of Employment. The period of the Employee's employment under
this Agreement (the "Period of Employment") shall commence immediately upon the
date hereof and shall expire on the third (3rd) anniversary of the date hereof
(the "Expiration Date"), subject to two (2) successive one (1)-year renewal
options which may be exercised by the Company by notice given no later than
sixty (60) days before the Agreement would otherwise expire, and subject also to
any earlier termination of the Employee's employment as provided in Section 6
hereof. If the Employee's employment is terminated pursuant to Section 6
hereof, the Period of Employment shall expire as of the Date of Termination (as
hereinafter defined).
2. Duties. The Employee agrees to serve as the Chief Financial Officer
of the Company, and shall act in accordance with the Company's Bylaws, with all
duties and authority necessary or appropriate to carry out the responsibilities
of such position. During the Period of Employment, the Employee will devote his
full working time and use his best efforts to advance the business and welfare
of the Company. During the Period of Employment, the Employee shall not engage
in any other employment activities (which shall not include solely passive
investments in securities or real estate investments) for any direct or indirect
remuneration without the advance written consent of the Company.
3. Compensation. During the Period of Employment the Company shall pay,
payable at least as frequently as bi-monthly, the Employee a salary of one
hundred thirty five thousand dollars ($135,000.00) per year (the "Base Salary").
In addition, the Employee (a) is hereby granted an option (the "Option") to
purchase three hundred thousand (300,000) shares of Class A Common Stock, par
value $0.0001 per share, of the Company ("Class A Stock") with an exercise price
of one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) per share vesting over three (3) years,
such Option to become exercisable in three increments of one hundred thousand
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(100,000) shares each on July 1, 2000, July 1, 2001 and July 1, 2002,
respectively, and each such increment shall be exercisable until the close of
business on June 30, 2007, on which date the option shall terminate, unless
earlier terminated in accordance with this Agreement; (b) during the Period of
Employment, shall receive an automobile allowance of four hundred fifty dollars
($450) per month; and (c) during the Period of Employment, shall be entitled to
participate in an Executive Officer Bonus Plan intended to be adopted by the
Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") providing for a bonus of up to
the Employee's Base Salary upon attainment of goals established by the Board.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3, the Base Salary
shall be paid by the Company in shares of Class A Stock rather than cash,
subject to applicable law, until the earlier of March 31, 2000 or the date on
which the Company becomes subject to the periodic reporting requirements under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Each share of Class A Stock delivered for
that purpose shall satisfy the Company's obligation to pay a portion of the Base
Salary equal to the value of one share of Class A Stock at the time of delivery,
as determined in accordance with this paragraph. The Board has determined, in
good faith and using its best business judgment, that the value of one share of
Class A Stock as of the effective date of this Agreement is one dollar and fifty
cents ($1.50), and the parties agree that the value of one share of Class A
Stock for purposes of this Agreement shall initially be one dollar and fifty
cents ($1.50). The Board shall from time to time during the term of this
Agreement determine whether any changes to such value are necessary or
appropriate. The absence of a determination that such a change is necessary or
appropriate shall be conclusive evidence that the value of a share of Class A
Stock for purposes of this Agreement remains one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50)
or the most recently determined value, if applicable.
The certificates representing shares of Class A Stock issued to the
Employee in payment of his Base Salary or upon his exercise of the Option shall
bear such restrictive legends as the Company shall deem necessary or
appropriate.
If any stock dividend payable in Class A Stock or any split-up or
contraction of the number of outstanding shares of Class A Stock is effected
prior to the exercise in full of the Option, the number of shares subject to the
Option and the exercise price will be proportionately adjusted. In the event of
any reclassification or change of outstanding shares of Class A Stock or in case
of any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another company or in
case of any sale or conveyance to another company or entity of the property of
the Company as a whole or substantially as a whole, shares of stock or other
securities equivalent in kind and value to those shares the Employee would have
received if he had held the full number of shares of Class A Stock subject to
the Option immediately prior to such reclassification, change, consolidation,
merger, sale or conveyance (together with all other shares, stock and securities
thereafter issued in respect thereof) will thereupon be subject to the Option.
Upon dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Option will terminate, but
the Employee will have the right, immediately prior to such dissolution or
liquidation, to exercise the Option to the extent exercisable on the date of
such dissolution or liquidation. No fraction of a share of Class A Stock will
be purchasable or deliverable upon exercise, but in the event any adjustment
hereunder of the number of shares covered by the Option will cause such number
to include a fraction of a share, such number of shares will be adjusted to the
nearest smaller whole number of shares.
If a Change in Control (as defined below) shall occur during the Period of
Employment, then, effective immediately prior to such Change in Control, the
Option (a) shall become immediately and fully exercisable and (b) subject to the
terms and conditions of the Option set forth herein, shall be fully exercisable
for the remaining term of the Option. If a Change in Control has not occurred
and the Employee's employment is terminated prior to the Expiration Date by
reason of death or permanent disability or by the Company without cause as
provided in subsections (a), (b) and (d), respectively, of Section 6.1, then
effective immediately prior to the Date of Termination, the Option (a) shall
become immediately and fully exercisable and (b) subject to the terms and
conditions of the Option set forth herein, shall be fully exercisable for the
remaining term of the Option. Whether or not a Change in Control has occurred,
if the Employee's employment is terminated prior to the Expiration Date by the
Company for cause
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as provided in subsection (c) of Section 6.1, then the Option shall be
exercisable during the shorter of the remaining term of the Option or the period
ending thirty (30) days after the Date of Termination, but only to the extent
the Option was exercisable on the Date of Termination, and the Option shall not
continue to vest after the Date of Termination. If a Change in Control has not
occurred and the Employee's employment is terminated prior to the Expiration
Date voluntarily by Employee as provided in Section 6.2, then the Option,
subject to the terms and condition set forth herein, shall be exercisable for
the remaining term of the Option, but only to the extent the Option was
exercisable on the Date of Termination, and the Option shall not continue to
vest after the Date of Termination. Except as expressly provided herein, no
termination of the Employee's employment shall affect his rights under the
Option and the Option shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Change in Control" means a change in
control of the Company after the date of this Agreement in any one of the
following circumstances: (i) there shall have occurred an event that is or
would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of
Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any similar schedule or
form) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting
requirement; (ii) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
of the Exchange Act) shall have become the "beneficial owner" (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the
Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's
then outstanding voting securities (other than solely as a result of the
repurchase of voting securities by the Company) without prior approval of at
least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company in
office immediately prior to such person's attaining such percentage interest;
(iii) the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets, or
other reorganization, or a proxy contest, as a consequence of which members of
the Board of Directors of the Company in office immediately prior to such
transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board thereafter;
(iv) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the
beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors of the Company
(including for this purpose any new director whose election or nomination for
election by the Company's shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-
thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning
of such period) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the
Board; or (v) the stockholders of the Company shall approve a liquidation or
dissolution of the Company or a sale of all or substantially all of the stock or
assets of the Company.
4. Benefits. During the Period of Employment, the Employee shall be
entitled to participate in all fringe benefit programs maintained by the Company
which are available to salaried employees of the Company generally, including,
without limitation and to the extent they may exist from time to time, the
Company's vacation plan, group health and life insurance plans, and retirement
plans qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; provided
that the Employee shall not be eligible to participate in any stock incentive or
similar plan. The Employee acknowledges that he shall have no vested rights
under or to participate in any employee benefit program except as expressly
provided under the terms thereof. The Employee shall be entitled to the number
of vacation days in each calendar year as determined in accordance with the
Company's vacation policy as in effect from time to time. The Employee shall
also be entitled to all paid holidays and personal days given by the Company to
its salaried employees generally.
5. Expenses. The Company will pay or reimburse the Employee for such
reasonable travel or other expenses as he may incur at the request of the
Company during the Period of Employment in connection with the performance of
his duties hereunder but only to the extent that the Employee shall furnish the
Company with such evidence relating to such expenses as the Company may
reasonably require to substantiate such expenses for tax purposes and shall
comply with other policies of the Company as may relate to reimbursement of such
expenses.
6. Termination of Employment.
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6.1 By the Company. Notwithstanding the terms set forth in Section 1
hereof, the Employee's employment with the Company shall terminate upon the
occurrence of any of the following circumstances:
(a) Death. Immediately upon the Employee's death.
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(b) Permanent Disability. The Employee becoming unable to perform
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the essential functions of his position and such condition exists for an
aggregate of sixty (60) consecutive days or ninety (90) days in any twelve
(12) month period (the Company, at its option and expense, being entitled
to retain a physician to confirm the existence of such incapacity or
disability, and the determination of such physician being binding upon the
Company and the Employee).
(c) Cause. At the option of the Company, and as determined in good
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faith in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company,
because the Employee:
(i) has been convicted of or entered a plea of guilty or nolo
contendere to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or
financial misconduct, or
(ii) has used (A) alcohol on an ongoing basis (whether on or off
the job) to an extent that it interferes with the performance by the
Employee of his duties under this Agreement, or (B) drugs or any
controlled or illegal substance (whether on or off the job), or
(iii) has embezzled or misappropriated Company funds or property
or engaged in any other act of dishonesty, fraud, or misconduct
injurious to the Company or its business, or
(iv) has violated any material provision of this Agreement or of
any other agreement between the Employee and the Company, or
(v) has failed or refused on a continuing basis to devote his
full time and use his best efforts to perform his duties on behalf of
the Company in accordance with this Agreement, or
(vi) has failed to comply with any reasonable direction given by
the Company's Board of Directors, or
(vii) has been unable on a continuing basis to properly perform,
or has been grossly negligent in the performance of, his duties
hereunder.
(d) Not For Cause. At the option of the Company at any time for any
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reason other than those referred to above or for no reason at all. For all
purposes of this Agreement, a termination of the Employee's employment at
his election following a Constructive Termination (as defined below) shall
be deemed to be a termination at the option of the Company pursuant to this
Section 6.1(d).
A "Constructive Termination" of the Employee's employment with
the Company shall be deemed to have occurred if the Company:
(i) demotes the Employee to a lesser position, either in title or
responsibility, than the highest position held by him with the Company at
any time during his employment with the Company;
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(ii) decreases the Employee's Base Salary below the level in effect
at the earlier of the occurrence of a Change in Control or the date on
which a tentative agreement is reached by the Company, or a public
announcement is made, regarding a proposed Change in Control that
ultimately occurs; or
(iii) requires or requests the Employee to relocate to a principal
office more than 25 miles from the principal office at which the Employee
is employed immediately prior to a Change in Control.
6.2 By the Employee. The Employee may terminate his employment with the
Company at any time. If the Employee terminates his employment hereunder (other
than as a result of a Constructive Termination), it shall be deemed a voluntary
termination by the Employee.
6.3 Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Employee's employment
by the Company or by the Employee (other than termination pursuant to Section
6.1(a) hereof) shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the
other party hereto in accordance with Section 9.2. For purposes of this
Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice which shall indicate
the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon. For purposes
of this Agreement, the "Date of Termination" shall be the date on which the
Notice of Termination is delivered except that with respect to Section 6.1(a)
the "Date of Termination" shall be the date of the Employee's death.
7. Payments Upon Termination of Employment.
7.1 Incentive Compensation. In the event that Employee's employment is
terminated as a result of expiration of this Agreement or as provided in
subsection (a), (b ) or (d) of Section 6.1 hereof, the Period of Employment
shall expire as of the Date of Termination and the Employee shall be entitled to
a termination payment in an amount equal to one (1) year's Base Salary payable
in twelve (12) equal monthly installments over the course of the year following
the Date of Termination and the Company shall have no further obligation to
provide any compensation or other consideration in respect of the Employee's
employment with the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.1, if a
Change in Control shall occur during the Period of Employment, and the
Employee's employment shall thereafter be terminated as a result of the
expiration of this Agreement or as provided in subsection (d) of Section 6.1
hereof, the termination payment to which the Employee shall be entitled under
this Section 7.1 shall be in an amount equal to two (2) years' Base Salary and
shall be payable in a single lump sum within ten (10) days after the Date of
Termination.
7.2 Gross-Up Payment. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to
the contrary, if it shall be determined that any payment, distribution or
transfer of property or rights thereto by the Company or any successor thereto
to or for the benefit of the Employee (whether payable, distributable or
transferable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, including but
not limited to the acceleration of vesting of options, restricted stock or other
rights), but determined without regard to any additional payments required
pursuant to this Section 7.2 (a "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax
imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any
interest or penalties are incurred by the Employee with respect to such excise
tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then the Employee shall be
entitled to receive an additional payment from the Company or its successor (a
"Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that after payment by the Employee of all
taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes),
including, without limitation, any income taxes (and any interest and penalties
imposed with respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment,
the Employee retains an amount of Gross-Up
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Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments. The Gross-Up Payment
shall be paid to the Employee within ten (10) days after the Company or its
accountant determines the amount of such payment.
7.3 Release and Satisfaction. With respect to the Employee, his heirs,
successors and assigns, payment by the Company of the severance to be provided
under Section 7.1 above shall release, relinquish and forever discharge the
Company and any director, officer, employee, shareholder or agent of the Company
from any and all claims, damages, losses, costs, expenses, liabilities or
obligations, whether known or unknown (other than any such claims, damages,
losses, costs, expenses, liabilities or obligations (i) covered by any
indemnification arrangement of the Company with respect to the Employee, or (ii)
arising under any written employee benefit plan or arrangement (whether or not
tax-qualified) covering the Employee), which the Employee has incurred or
suffered or may incur or suffer as a result of the Employee's employment by the
Company or the termination of such employment.
7.4 Effect on This Agreement. Any termination of this Agreement or of the
Employee's employment and any expiration of the Period of Employment under this
Agreement shall not affect the continuing operation and effect of Section 7.3
above, which shall continue in full force and effect with respect to the Company
and the Employee, and its and his heirs, successors and assigns.
8. Miscellaneous.
8.l Other Contracts. The Employee represents and warrants to the Company
that he is not under any obligation of a contractual or other nature to any
person, firm, or corporation which is inconsistent or in conflict with this
Agreement, or which would prevent, limit, or impair in any way the performance
by him of his obligations hereunder.
8.2 Notice. Any notice required or permitted to be given hereunder shall
be deemed sufficiently given if either hand delivered or sent by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the addressee at his or its
address last provided the sender in writing by the addressee for purposes of
receiving notices hereunder or, unless or until such address shall be so
furnished, to the address indicated opposite his or its signature to this
Agreement.
8.3 Modification and No Waiver of Breach. No waiver, amendment, or
modification of this Agreement shall be binding unless it is in writing signed
by the parties hereto. No waiver by a party of a breach hereof by the other
party shall be deemed to constitute a waiver of a future breach, whether of a
similar or dissimilar nature, except to the extent specifically provided in any
written waiver under this Section 8.3.
8.4 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
8.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
8.6 Captions. The captions used herein are for ease of reference only and
shall not define or limit the provisions hereof.
8.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between the parties hereto relating to the matters encompassed hereby and
supersedes any prior oral or written agreements (including the Prior Agreement,
which is hereby terminated). No representations, oral or written, modifying or
contradicting the terms of this Agreement have been made by any party. The
foregoing notwithstanding, the Employee shall enter into the Company's standard
Employee Confidentiality and Intellectual Property
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Ownership Agreement and Employee Non-Competition Agreement (the "Other Employee
Agreements") concurrent herewith.
8.8 Assignment. The rights of the Company under this Agreement may,
without the consent of the Employee, be assigned by the Company, in its sole and
unfettered discretion, to any person, firm, corporation, or other business
entity which at any time, whether by purchase, merger, or otherwise, directly or
indirectly, acquires all or substantially all of the stock, assets or business
of the Company or of any business with which the Company is reasonably
connected.
8.9 Non-Transferability of Interest. None of the rights of the Employee
to receive any form of compensation payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be
assignable or transferable except through a testamentary disposition or by the
laws of descent and distribution upon the death of the Employee, and upon any
such disposition the only rights that may be transferred are rights to receive
compensation that has accrued and become payable at the time of the Employee's
death or that becomes payable as a result of the Employee's death pursuant to
Section 7.1. Any attempted assignment, transfer, conveyance, or other
disposition (other than as aforesaid) of any interest in the rights of the
Employee to receive any form of compensation to be made by the Company pursuant
to this Agreement shall be void.
8.10 Tax Matters. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that all payments
and benefits made or provided to Employee pursuant to the terms hereof which are
required by applicable federal, state or local laws to be subject to withholding
for income taxes or otherwise shall be so subject.
8.11 Invalid Provisions. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be
illegal, invalid, or unenforceable under any present or future law, and if the
rights or obligations of the Employee or the Company under this Agreement would
not be materially and adversely affected thereby, (a) such provisions shall be
fully severable; (b) this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such
illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provisions had never comprised a part hereof;
(c) the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid, or unenforceable
provision or by its severance herefrom; and (d) in lieu of such illegal,
invalid, or unenforceable provision, there shall be added automatically as a
part of this Agreement a legal, valid, and enforceable provision as similar in
terms to such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision as may be possible.
8.12 Arbitration. Except as to any injunction hereunder or under the Other
Employee Agreements, any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this
Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance
with the Rules of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon the
award rendered by the arbitrator or arbitrators may be entered in any court
having jurisdiction thereover. The arbitration proceeding shall be conducted in
the city and state of the Company's principal executive office in the United
States unless otherwise agreed by the parties thereto. The arbitrator or
arbitrators shall be deemed to possess the powers to issue mandatory orders and
restraining orders in connection with such arbitration; provided, however, that
nothing in this Section 8.12 shall be construed so as to deny the Company the
right and power to seek and obtain injunctive relief in a court of equity for
any breach or threatened breach by Employee of any of his covenants contained
herein. The prevailing party in any such arbitration shall be awarded its legal
fees from the other.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first written above.
Address for notices: SYNTEC ACQUISITION CORP.
15635 Vision Drive
Pflugerville, Texas 78660-3203
Attn: President By:________________________________
Jaime J. Munoz, President
Address for notices: EMPLOYEE
6801 Terre Oak Circle ____________________________________
Austin, Texas, 78749 Name: Gustavo A. Cardenas
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