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EXHIBIT 10.1
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (this "Agreement") by and between EVI, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Curtis W. Huff (the "Executive"),
dated March 16, 1998.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has
previously determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders to retain the Executive and to induce the employment of the
Executive for the long term benefit of the Company;
WHEREAS, the Board does not contemplate the termination of the
Executive during the term hereof and the Board and the Executive expect that
the Executive will be retained for at least the three year period contemplated
herein; and
WHEREAS, to accomplish these objectives, the Board has caused the
Company to enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Employment.
(a) The Company hereby agrees that the Company or an
affiliated company will continue the Executive in its employ, and the Executive
hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company or an affiliate subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, during the Employment Period (as
defined below).
(b) The "Employment Period" shall mean the period
commencing on the Effective Date (as defined below) and ending on the third
anniversary of the date hereof; provided, however, that commencing on the date
one year after the date hereof, and on each annual anniversary of such date
(such date and each annual anniversary thereof shall be hereinafter referred to
as the "Renewal Date"), unless previously terminated, the Employment Period
shall be automatically extended so as to terminate three year(s) after such
Renewal Date, unless at least 60 days prior to the Renewal Date the Company
shall give notice to the Executive that the Contract Period shall not be so
extended. The Effective Date shall be June 15, 1998, or such other date as may
be agreed upon between the Company and the Executive.
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2. Terms of Employment.
(a) Position and Duties.
(i) During the Employment Period, (A) the
Executive's position (including status, offices, titles and reporting
requirements, authority, duties and responsibilities) shall be Senior
Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary and (B) the
Executive's services shall be performed at the Company's principal
executive offices in Houston, Texas or other locations less than 35
miles from such location.
(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding
any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is
entitled, the Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention and time
during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the
Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities
assigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive's reasonable
best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such
responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a
violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (A) serve on
corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver
lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational
institutions, (C) serve as "Of Counsel" to Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
and (D) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not
significantly interfere with the performance of the Executive's
responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with this
Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that to the extent
that any such activities have been conducted by the Executive prior to
the date hereof, the continued conduct of such activities (or the
conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent
to the date hereof shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with
the performance of the Executive's responsibilities to the Company.
(b) Compensation.
(i) Base Salary. During the Employment Period,
the Executive shall receive an annual base salary of $350,000 ("Annual
Base Salary"), which shall be paid at a monthly rate. During the
Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed no more
than 12 months after the last salary increase awarded to the Executive
prior to the date hereof and thereafter at least annually; provided,
however, that a salary increase shall not necessarily be awarded as a
result of such review. Any increase in Annual Base Salary may not
serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under
this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any
such increase. The term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this
Agreement shall refer to Annual Base Salary as so increased.
(ii) Annual Bonus. The Executive shall be
eligible for an annual bonus (the "Annual Bonus") for each fiscal year
ending during the Employment
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Period on the same basis as other executive officers under the
Company's executive officer annual incentive program. Each such
Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than the end of the third month of
the fiscal year next following the fiscal year for which the Annual
Bonus is awarded, unless the Executive shall elect to defer the
receipt of such Annual Bonus pursuant to a Company sponsored deferred
compensation plan in effect.
(iii) Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans.
During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to
participate in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices,
policies and programs applicable generally to the Executive's peer
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies, but in no
event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the
Executive with incentive opportunities (measured with respect to both
regular and special incentive opportunities, to the extent, if any,
that such distinction is applicable), savings opportunities and
retirement benefit opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the
aggregate, than the most favorable of those provided by the Company
and its affiliated companies for the Executive under such plans,
practices, policies and programs as in effect on the date hereof. As
used in this Agreement, the term "affiliated companies" shall include
any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with
the Company.
(iv) Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Employment
Period, the Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may
be, shall be eligible to participate in and shall receive all benefits
under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided
by the Company and its affiliated companies (including, without
limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, salary
continuance, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel
accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable
generally to the Executive's peer executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices,
policies and programs provide the Executive with benefits which are
less favorable, in the aggregate, than such plans, practices, policies
and programs in effect for the Executive on the date hereof.
(v) Expenses. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all
reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the
most favorable policies, practices and procedures of the Company and
its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive on the date
hereof.
(vi) Fringe Benefits. During the Employment
Period, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits (including,
without limitation, financial planning services, payment of club dues,
a car allowance or use of an automobile and payment of related
expenses, as appropriate) in accordance with the most favorable plans,
practices, programs and policies of the Company in effect on the date
hereof.
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(vii) Vacation. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the
most favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company
and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive on the date
hereof.
(viii) Restricted Stock and Options. Effective as
of the Effective Date, the Executive shall be granted 75,000 shares of
the Company's Common Stock, $1.00 par value ("Common Stock"). Such
shares shall be subject to four year vesting on the basis of 18,750
shares of Common Stock on each anniversary of the Effective Date;
provided, however, if the employment of the Executive under this
Agreement is terminated prior to the shares being fully vested for any
reason other than by the Company for Cause or Disability, the death of
the Executive or by the Executive for any reason other than for Good
Reason, such shares shall become vested on the termination date.
Until the shares of Common Stock so granted are vested, the Executive
may not transfer, pledge or dispose of the unvested shares. The
Executive, however, may vote any unvested shares and be entitled to
receive any dividends or distributions (other than non cash
distributions, which shall be subject to the same vesting restrictions
as the shares of Common Stock for which such distributions were
received). The Company may also hold the unvested shares until they
have vested. The Executive may elect to deliver shares of Common
Stock (valued at their then current market price) to the Company in
satisfaction of any withholding obligation the Company may have on the
vesting of such shares. Such shares shall be subject to accelerated
vesting as provided in Section 4(a). Such shares shall also be
subject to accelerated vesting on a change of control as defined in
the Company's form of stock option agreement, with the proposed merger
with Weatherford Enterra, Inc. not resulting in any acceleration of
such vesting. The Executive shall also receive options under the
Company's stock option plan to purchase an aggregate of 100,000 shares
of Common Stock at an exercise price per share equal to the closing
sale price of a share of Common Stock on the Effective Date, such
options to be subject to three year vesting on the basis of one-third
of the shares per year, with the proposed merger with Weatherford
Enterra, Inc. not resulting in any acceleration of such vesting.
3. Termination of Employment.
(a) Death or Disability. The Executive's employment
shall terminate automatically upon the Executive's death during the Employment
Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the
Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition
of Disability set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice in
accordance with Section 10(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate
the Executive's employment. In such event, the Executive's employment with the
Company shall terminate effective 30 days after receipt of such notice by the
Executive (the "Disability Effective Date"), provided that within the 30-day
period after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time
performance of the Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement,
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"Disability" shall mean the absence of the Executive from the Executive's
duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 calendar days as a result
of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total
and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and
acceptable to the Executive or the Executive's legal representative.
(b) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive's
employment during the Employment Period for Cause. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Cause" shall mean:
(i) the willful and continued failure of the
Executive to perform substantially the Executive's duties with the
Company or one of its affiliates (other than any such failure
resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after a
written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the
Executive by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company
which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or Chief
Executive Officer believes that the Executive has not substantially
performed the Executive's duties, or
(ii) the willful engaging by the Executive in
illegal conduct or gross misconduct which is materially and
demonstrably injurious to the Company.
For purposes of this provision, no act, or failure to act, on
the part of the Executive shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or
omitted to be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief
that the Executive's action or omission was in the best interests of the
Company. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a
resolution duly adopted by the Board or upon the instructions of the Chief
Executive Officer or of a senior officer of the Company or based upon the
advice of counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or
omitted to be done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of
the Company. The cessation of employment of the Executive shall not be deemed
to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to the
Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not
less than three- quarters of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of
the Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice is provided
to the Executive and the Executive is given an opportunity, together with
counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion
of the Board, the Executive is guilty of the conduct described in subparagraph
(i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
(c) Good Reason. The Executive's employment may be
terminated by the Executive during the Employment Period for Good Reason. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean:
(i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties
inconsistent in any respect with the Executive's position (including
status, offices, titles and
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reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as
contemplated by Section 2(a) of this Agreement, or any other action by
the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority,
duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated,
insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which
is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof
given by the Executive;
(ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any
of the provisions of Section 2(b) of this Agreement, other than an
isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad
faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of
notice thereof given by the Executive;
(iii) the Company's requiring the Executive to be
based at any office or location other than as provided in Section
2(a)(i)(B) hereof or the Company's requiring the Executive to travel
on Company business to a substantially greater extent than required
immediately prior to the date hereof;
(iv) any purported termination by the Company of
the Executive's employment otherwise than as expressly permitted by
this Agreement; or
(v) any failure by the Company to comply with
and satisfy Section 9(c) of this Agreement.
For purposes of this Section 3(c), any good faith
determination of "Good Reason" made by the Executive shall be conclusive.
(d) Notice of Termination. Any termination during the
Employment Period by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good
Reason, shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party
hereto given in accordance with Section 10(b) of the Agreement. For purposes
of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice which (i)
indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon,
(ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of
Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such
notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than 30
days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the Executive or the
Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance
which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any
right of the Executive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact
or circumstance in enforcing the Executive's or the Company's rights hereunder.
(e) Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" shall
mean:
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(i) if the Executive's employment is terminated
by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, the
date of receipt of the Notice of Termination or any later date
specified therein, as the case may be;
(ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated
by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability, the Date of
Termination shall be the date on which the Company notifies the
Executive of such termination; and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated
by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the
date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective Date, as
the case may be.
4. Obligations of the Company Upon Termination.
(a) Good Reason; Other than For Cause, Death or
Disability. If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the
Executive's employment other than for Cause, death or Disability, or the
Executive shall terminate employment for Good Reason:
(i) The Company shall pay to the Executive in a
lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination the
aggregate of the following amounts:
(A) the sum of (1) the Executive's
Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the
extent not theretofore paid, (2) the product of (x) the higher
of (I) the highest Annual Bonus received by the Executive over
the preceding three year period and (II) the Annual Bonus paid
or payable, including any bonus or portion thereof which has
been earned but deferred (and annualized for any fiscal year
consisting of less than 12 full months or during which the
Executive was employed for less than 12 full months), for the
most recently completed fiscal year during the Employment
Period, if any (such higher amount being referred to as the
"Highest Annual Bonus", it being agreed that for any
termination prior to the Executive receiving his first Annual
Bonus under this Agreement, the Annual Bonus shall be an
amount equal to the Annual Bonus the Executive would have
received for the year ended December 31, 1997, had the
Executive then been employed and received a bonus on the same
basis as the other executive officers of the Company for such
year) and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number
of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of
Termination, and the denominator of which is 365, and (3) any
compensation previously deferred by the Executive under a plan
sponsored by the Company (together with any accrued interest
or earnings thereon), and any accrued vacation pay, in each
case to the extent not theretofore paid (the sum of the
amounts described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) shall be
hereinafter referred to as the "Accrued Obligations"), and
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(B) an amount equal to three times the
sum of (i) the then current Annual Base Salary of the
Executive and (ii) the Highest Annual Bonus, and
(C) an amount equal to the total of the
employer matching contributions credited to the Executive
under the Company's 401(k) Savings Plan (the "401(k) Plan") or
any other deferred compensation plan during the 12-month
period immediately preceding the month of the Executive's Date
of Termination multiplied by three, such amount to be grossed
up so that the amount the Executive actually receives after
payment of any federal or state taxes payable thereon equals
the amount first described above.
(ii) For a period of three years from the
Executive's Date of Termination (the "Remaining Contract Term") or
such longer period as may be provided by the terms of the appropriate
plan, program, practice or policy, the Company shall continue benefits
to the Executive and/or the Executive's family equal to those which
would have been provided to them in accordance with the plans,
programs, practices and policies described in Section 2(b)(iv) of this
Agreement if the Executive's employment had not been terminated;
provided, however, that with respect to any of such plans, programs,
practices or policies requiring an employee contribution, the
Executive shall continue to pay the monthly employee contribution for
same, and provided further, that if the Executive becomes reemployed
by another employer and is eligible to receive medical or other
welfare benefits under another employer provided plan, the medical and
other welfare benefits described herein shall be secondary to those
provided under such other plan during such applicable period of
eligibility;
(iii) The Company shall, at its sole expense as
incurred, provide the Executive with outplacement services, the scope
and provider of which shall be selected by the Executive in his sole
discretion;
(iv) With respect to all options to purchase
Common Stock held by the Executive pursuant to a Company stock option
plan on or prior to the Date of Termination, irrespective of whether
such options are then exercisable, the Executive shall have the right,
during the 60-day period after the Date of Termination, to elect to
surrender all or part of such options in exchange for a cash payment
by the Company to the Executive in an amount equal the number of
shares of Common Stock subject to the Executive's option multiplied by
the difference between (x) and (y) where (x) equals the purchase price
per share covered by the option and (y) equals the highest reported
sale price of a share of Common Stock in any transaction reported on
the New York Stock Exchange during the 60-day period prior to and
including the Executive's Date of Termination. Such cash payments
shall be made within 30 days after the date of the Executive's
election; provided, however, that if the Executive's Date of
Termination is within six months after the date of grant of a
particular option
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held by the Executive and the Executive is subject to Section 16(b) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, any cash payments
related thereto shall be made on the date which is six months and one
day after the date of grant of such option to the extent necessary to
prevent the imposition of the disgorgement provisions under Section
16(b). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any right granted pursuant
to the foregoing would make any change of control transaction
ineligible for pooling of interests accounting treatment under APB No.
16 that but for this Section 4(a)(iv) would otherwise be eligible for
such accounting treatment, the Executive shall receive shares of
Common Stock with a Fair Market Value equal to the cash that would
otherwise be payable hereunder in substitution for the cash, provided
that any such shares of Common Stock so granted to the Executive shall
be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; any
options outstanding as of the Date of Termination and not then
exercisable shall become fully exercisable as of the Executive's Date
of Termination, and to the extent the Executive does not elect to
surrender same for a cash payment (or the equivalent number of shares
of Common Stock) as provided above, such options shall remain
exercisable for one year after the Executive's Date of Termination or
until the stated expiration of the stated term thereof, whichever is
shorter; restrictions applicable to any shares of Common Stock granted
to the Executive by the Company shall lapse, as of the date of the
Executive's Date of Termination;
(v) All country club memberships, luncheon clubs
and other memberships which the Company was providing for the
Executive's use at the time Notice of Termination is given shall, to
the extent possible, be transferred and assigned to the Executive at
no cost to the Executive (other than income taxes owed), the cost of
transfer, if any, to be borne by the Company;
(vi) The Company shall either transfer to the
Executive ownership and title to the Executive's company car at no
cost to the Executive (other than income taxes owed) or, if the
Executive receives a monthly car allowance in lieu of a Company car,
pay the Executive a lump sum in cash within 30 days after the
Executive's Date of Termination equal to the Executive's annual car
allowance multiplied by three;
(vii) All benefits under the EDC and the 401(k)
Plan and any other similar plans, including any stock options or
restricted stock held by the Executive, not already vested shall be
100% vested, to the extent such vesting is permitted under the Code
(as defined below);
(viii) To the extent not theretofore paid or
provided, the Company shall timely pay or provide to the Executive any
other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which the
Executive is eligible to receive under any plan, program, policy or
practice or contract or agreement of the Company and its affiliated
companies (such other amounts and benefits shall be hereinafter
referred to as the "Other Benefits"); and
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(ix) The foregoing payments are intended to
compensate the Executive for a breach of the Company's obligations and
place Executive in substantially the same position had the employment
of the Executive not been so terminated as a result of a breach by the
Company.
(b) Death. If Executive's employment is terminated by
reason of the Executive's death during the Employment Period, this Agreement
shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive's legal
representatives under this Agreement, other than for payment of Accrued
Obligations and the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits. Accrued
Obligations shall be paid to the Executive's estate or beneficiaries, as
applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination.
With respect to the provision of Other Benefits, the term Other Benefits as
utilized in this Section 4(b) shall include, without limitation, and the
Executive's estate and/or beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive, benefits
at least equal to the most favorable benefits provided by the Company and
affiliated companies to the estates and beneficiaries of the Executive's peer
executives of the Company and such affiliated companies under such plans,
programs, practices and policies relating to death benefits, if any, in effect
on the date hereof or, if more favorable, those in effect on the date of the
Executive's death.
(c) Disability. If the Executive's employment is
terminated by reason of the Executive's Disability during the Employment
Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the
Executive, other than for payment of Accrued Obligations and the timely payment
or provision of Other Benefits. Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the
Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination.
With respect to the provision of Other Benefits, the term Other Benefits as
utilized in this Section 4(c) shall include, without limitation, and the
Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date to receive,
disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable benefits
generally provided by the Company and its affiliated companies to the
Executive's disabled peer executives and/or their families in accordance with
such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to disability, if any, in
effect generally on the date hereof or, if more favorable, those in effect at
the time of the Disability.
(d) Cause; Other Than for Good Reason. If the
Executive's employment is terminated for Cause during the Employment Period,
this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive,
other than the obligation to pay to the Executive (x) his or her Annual Base
Salary through the Date of Termination, (y) the amount of any compensation
previously deferred by the Executive, and (z) Other Benefits, in each case to
the extent theretofore unpaid. If the Executive voluntarily terminates
employment during the Employment Period, excluding a termination for Good
Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the
Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or
provision of Other Benefits. In such case, all Accrued Obligations shall be
paid to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of
Termination subject to such other options or restrictions as provided by law.
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5. Other Rights. Except as provided hereinafter, nothing in this
Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive's continuing or future
participation in any plan, program, policy or practice provided by the Company
or any of its affiliated companies and for which the Executive may qualify,
nor, shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the
Executive may have under any contract or agreement with the Company or any of
its affiliated companies. Except as provided hereinafter, amounts which are
vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under
any plan, policy, practice or program of or any contract or agreement with the
Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of
Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or
program or contract or agreement. It is expressly agreed by the Executive that
he or she shall have no right to receive, and hereby waives any entitlement to,
any severance pay or similar benefit under any other plan, policy, practice or
program of the Company. In addition, if the Executive has an employment or
similar agreement with the Company at the Date of Termination, he or she agrees
that he or she shall have the right to receive all of the benefits provided
under this Agreement or such other agreement, whichever one, in its entirety,
the Executive chooses, but not both agreements, and when the Executive has made
such election, the other agreement shall be superseded in its entirety and
shall be of no further force and effect. The Executive also agrees that to the
extent he or she may be eligible for any severance pay or similar benefit under
any laws providing for severance or termination benefits, such other severance
pay or similar benefit shall be coordinated with the benefits owed hereunder,
such that the Executive shall not receive duplicate benefits.
6. Full Settlement.
(a) No Rights of Offset. The Company's obligation to
make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its
obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have
against the Executive or others.
(b) No Mitigation Required. In no event shall the
Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way
of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the
provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced whether or
not the Executive obtains other employment.
(c) Legal Fees. The Company agrees to pay as incurred,
to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expense which the
Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the
outcome thereof) by the Company or the Executive of the validity or
enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any
guarantee of performance thereto (including as a result of any contest by the
Executive about the amount of any payment pursuant to this Agreement), plus in
each case interest on any delayed payment at the applicable
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Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
7. Certain Additional Payments by the Company.
(a) Although this Agreement is not being entered into in
connection with or contingent upon a change of control of the Company, anything
in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding and except as set forth
below, in the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by
the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive (whether paid or payable or
distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or
otherwise, but determined without regard to any additional payments required
under this Section 7) (a "Payment") would be subject to the excise tax imposed
by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties are incurred by the
Executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any
such interest and penalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"Excise Tax"), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional
payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that after payment by the
Executive 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 Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up
Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments. Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this Section 7(a), if it shall be determined that the
Executive is entitled to a Gross-Up Payment, but that the Executive, after
taking into account the Payments and the Gross-Up Payment, would not receive a
net after-tax benefit of at least $50,000 (taking into account both income
taxes and any Excise Tax) as compared to the net after-tax proceeds to the
Executive resulting from an elimination of the Gross-Up Payment and a reduction
of the Payments, in the aggregate, to an amount (the "Reduced Amount") such
that the receipt of Payments would not give rise to any Excise Tax, then no
Gross-Up Payment shall be made to the Executive and the Payments, in the
aggregate, shall be reduced to the Reduced Amount.
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 7(c), all
determinations required to be made under this Section 7, including whether and
when a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and
the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination shall be made
by Arthur Andersen LLP or, as provided below, such other certified public
accounting firm as may be designated by the Executive (the "Accounting Firm")
which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and
the Executive within 15 business days after the receipt of notice from the
Executive that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is requested
by the Company. In the event that the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant
or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change of Control,
the Executive shall appoint another nationally recognized accounting firm to
make the determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be
referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All fees and expenses of the
Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as
determined
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pursuant to this Section 7, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive
within five days after the receipt of the Accounting Firm's determination. Any
determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the
Executive. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999
of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm
hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made
by the Company should have been made ("Underpayment"), consistent with the
calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Company
exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section 7(c) and the Executive thereafter is
required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall
determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such
Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the
Executive.
(c) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of
any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require
the payment by the Company of the Gross-Up Payment (or an additional Gross-Up
Payment) in the event the IRS seeks higher payment. Such notification shall be
given as soon as practicable, but no later than ten business days after the
Executive is informed in writing of such claim, and shall apprise the Company
of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be
paid. The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the
30-day period following the date on which he gives such notice to the Company
(or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with
respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in
writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such
claim, the Executive shall:
(i) give the Company any information reasonably
requested by the Company relating to such claim,
(ii) take such action in connection with
contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in
writing from time to time, including without limitation, accepting
legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney
reasonably selected by the Company,
(iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in
order effectively to contest such claim, and
(iv) permit the Company to participate in any
proceedings relating to such claims; provided, however, that the
Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including
additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such
costs and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an
after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest
and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such
representation and payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation
on the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(c), the Company shall
control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at
its sole option, may
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pursue or forego any and all administrative appeals, proceedings,
hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such
claim and may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive to pay
the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any
permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest
to determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of
initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the
Company shall determine; provided, however, that if the Company
directs the Executive to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the
Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Executive, on
an interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold the Executive
harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax
(including interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed with
respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with
respect to such advance; and further provided that any extension of
the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the
taxable year of the Executive with respect to which such contested
amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested
amount. Furthermore, the Company's control of the contest shall be
limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be
payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or
contest, as the case may be, any other issues raised by the Internal
Revenue Service or any other taxing authority.
(d) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount
advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 7(c), the Executive becomes
entitled to receive any refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall
(subject to the Company's complying with the requirements of Section 7(c))
promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any
interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If, after
the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to
Section 7(c), a determination is made that the Executive shall not be entitled
to any refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify the
Executive in writing of its intent to contest such denial of refund prior to
the expiration of 30 days after such determination, then such advance shall be
forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and the amount of such advance
shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to
be paid.
8. Confidential Information. The Executive shall hold in a
fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential
information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliated
companies, and their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by
the Executive during the Executive's employment by the Company or any of its
affiliated companies, provided that it shall not apply to information which is
or shall become public knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or
representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement), information
that is developed by the Executive independently of such information, or
knowledge or data or information that is disclosed to the Executive by a third
party under no obligation of confidentiality to the Company. After termination
of the Executive's employment with the Company, the Executive shall not,
without the prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be
required by law or legal
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process, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to
anyone other than the Company and those designated by it. In no event shall an
asserted violation of the provisions of this Section 8 constitute a basis for
deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under
this Agreement.
9. Successors.
(a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and shall
not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the Executive's legal representatives.
(b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.
(c) The Company will require any successor (whether
direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume
expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the
same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such
succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean
the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or
assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by
operation of law, or otherwise.
10. Miscellaneous.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO PRINCIPLES
OF CONFLICT OF LAWS. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the
provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may not be
amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the
parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.
(b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:
If to the Executive: Curtis W. Huff
EVI, Inc.
5 Post Oak Park, Suite 1760
Houston, Texas 77027
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If to the Company: EVI, Inc.
5 Post Oak Park, Suite 1760
Houston, Texas 77027-3415
Attention: Bernard J. Duroc-Danner
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith. Notices and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressee.
(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision
of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement.
(d) The Company may withhold from any amounts payable
under this Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be
required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
(e) The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist
upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to
assert any right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including
without limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good
Reason pursuant to Section 3(c)(i)-(v) of this Agreement, shall not be deemed
to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of
this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive's hand
and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has
caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the
day and year first above written.
/s/ Curtis W. Huff
----------------------------------------
Curtis W. Huff
EVI, INC.
By /s/ Bernard J. Duroc-Danner
-------------------------------------
Name: Bernard J. Duroc-Danner
----------------------------------
Title: President
---------------------------------
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