EXHIBIT 10(m)
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into to be
effective as of July 16, 2003 (the "Effective Date"), between PEERLESS MFG. CO.
("Employer"), and WILLIAM T. STROHECKER ("Employee").
SECTION 1. EMPLOYMENT.
1.1 Employment and Term. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, Employer agrees to employ Employee pursuant to this Agreement for a
term beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary date of
the Effective Date, unless Employee's employment is terminated earlier as
provided in Section 4 below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the
term of Employee's employment hereunder be less than 90 days from the Effective
Date. Sections 2, 3, and 5 of this Agreement shall survive any termination of
Employee's employment with Employer.
1.2 Duties. At all times during the course of Employee's employment
with Employer, Employee agrees to perform the duties associated with his
position diligently and to devote all of his business time, attention and
efforts to the business of Employer. Employee agrees to comply with the
policies, procedures and guidelines established by Employer from time to time.
Employee agrees to perform his duties faithfully and loyally and to the best of
his abilities, and shall use his best efforts to promote the business of
Employer. Employee understands and agrees that both the business and personal
standards and ethics of Employer's employees must at all times be above
reproach. Employee agrees to act at all times so as to reflect this high
standard. Employee further agrees to abide by all rules, policies, or procedures
established by Employer from time to time.
SECTION 2. NON-COMPETITION.
2.1 Non Competition.
(a) Employee agrees that during the term of his employment and
for a period of one (1) year following termination of his employment
(regardless of whether Employee is terminated without Cause (as defined
in Section 4.1(c) below), for Cause, voluntarily resigns or otherwise),
neither Employee nor any person or entity directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by or under common control with Employee, shall
directly or indirectly, on his own behalf or as an employee or other
agent of or an investor in another person:
(i) engage in any business conducted by Employer
during Employee's term of employment with Employer
(collectively, the "Business");
(ii) influence or attempt to influence any customer or
supplier of Employer or any affiliate of Employer to purchase
goods or services related to the Business from any person
other than Employer or such affiliate; or
(iii) employ or attempt to employ any individuals who
are then or have been employees of Employer or any affiliate
of Employer during the preceding 12 months, or influence or
seek to influence any such employees to leave Employer's or
such affiliate's employment.
(b) Employee specifically acknowledges that Employer's
products are sold in a world market and that Employee has been engaged
with regard to Employer's products and Employer's customers throughout
the world without geographic limitation, and accordingly that the
restrictive covenant regarding competition contained in this Section
2.1 shall apply without geographic limitation.
(c) Employee acknowledges that his obligations under this
Section 2.1 are a material inducement and condition to Employer's
entering into this Agreement and the Related Agreement (as defined in
Section 5.9 below) and a material inducement and condition to Employee
receiving or having access to Confidential Information (as defined in
Section 3.1). Employee acknowledges and agrees that the terms and
provisions of this Agreement (including the severance provisions of
Section 4.1) and Employee's receipt and access to Confidential
Information are sufficient consideration for the restrictions set forth
in this Section 2.1. Employee acknowledges and agrees further that such
restrictions are reasonable as to time, geographic area and scope of
activity and do not impose a greater restraint than is necessary to
protect the goodwill and other business interests of Employer, and
Employee agrees that Employer is justified in believing the foregoing.
(d) If any provision of this Section 2.1 should be found by
any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of
its being too broad as to the period of time, territory, and/or scope,
then, and in that event, such provision shall nevertheless remain valid
and fully effective, but shall be considered to be amended so that the
period of time, territory, and/or scope set forth shall be changed to
be the maximum period of time, the largest territory, and/or the
broadest scope, as the case may be, which would be found enforceable by
such court
(e) Employee acknowledges that Employee's violation or
attempted violation of this Section 2.1 will cause irreparable damage
to Employer or its affiliates, and Employee therefore agrees that
Employer shall be entitled as a matter of right to an injunction, out
of any court of competent jurisdiction, restraining any violation or
further violation of such agreements by Employee or others acting on
his behalf. Employer's right to injunctive relief will be cumulative
and in addition to any other remedies provided by law or equity.
SECTION 3. CONFIDENTIALITY; NONDISPARAGEMENT; CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
3.1 Confidentiality.
(a) In the course of his employment with Employer, Employee
will receive and have access to commercially valuable, confidential or
proprietary information ("Confidential Information"). Confidential
Information means all information, whether oral or written, previously
or hereafter developed, acquired or used by Employer and relating to
the business of Employer that is not generally known to others in
Employer's
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area of business, including without limitation (i) any trade secrets,
work product, processes, analyses or know-how of Employer; (ii)
Employer's advertising, product development, strategic and business
plans and information, including customer and prospect lists; (iii) the
prices at which Employer has sold or offered to sell its products or
services; and (iv) Employer's financial statements and other financial
information.
(b) Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Confidential
Information is and shall be the sole and exclusive property of
Employer. Employee shall not use any Confidential Information for his
own benefit or disclose any Confidential Information to any third party
(except in the course of performing his authorized duties for Employer
under this Agreement), either during or subsequent to his employment
with Employer.
(c) Specifically, Employee agrees that, except as expressly
authorized in writing by Employer, or as may be required by law or
court order, Employee shall (i) not disclose Confidential Information
to any third party, (ii) not copy Confidential Information for any
reason, and (iii) not remove Confidential Information from Employer's
premises. Upon termination of his employment with Employer, Employee
shall promptly deliver to the Employer all Confidential Information,
including documents, computer disks and other computer storage devices
and other papers and materials (including all copies thereof in
whatever form) containing or incorporating any Confidential Information
or otherwise relating in any way to the Employer's business that are in
his possession or under his control.
(d) Employee acknowledges that Employee's violation or
attempted violation of this Section 3.1 will cause irreparable damage
to Employer or its affiliates, and Employee therefore agrees that
Employer shall be entitled as a matter of right to an injunction, out
of any court of competent jurisdiction, restraining any violation or
further violation of such agreements by Employee or others acting on
his behalf. Employer's right to injunctive relief will be cumulative
and in addition to any other remedies provided by law or equity.
(e) Employee acknowledges that on the Effective Date, Employer
provided Employee with selected financial data that constituted
Confidential Information that was not known to Employee prior to his
receipt thereof.
3.2. Covenant of Nondisparagement. In consideration of this Agreement
and the Related Agreement, Employee agrees and promises that, during the term of
and at all times after the termination of this Agreement (regardless of whether
Employee is terminated without Cause, for Cause, voluntarily resigns or
otherwise), not to make any libelous, disparaging or otherwise injurious
statements about or concerning Employer or any of its affiliates, their
officers, employees or representatives. Such prohibited statements include any
statement that is injurious to the business or business reputation of any of
Employer, its affiliates or their employees or representatives, but does not
include reasonable statements of disagreement that Employee makes for the
purpose of protecting or enforcing any of his rights or interests hereunder or
defending against any claim or claims of Employer, so long as such statements
are not slanderous or libelous and are delivered in terms as would ordinarily be
considered customary and appropriate.
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3.3. Conflict of Interest. Employee agrees that during the term of this
Agreement without the prior approval of the Board of Directors of Employer,
Employee shall not engage, either directly or indirectly, in any activity which
may involve a conflict of interest with Employer or its affiliates (a "Conflict
of Interest"), including ownership in any supplier, contractor, subcontractor,
customer or other entity with which Employer does business (other than as a
shareholder of less than one percent of a publicly traded class of securities)
or accept any material payment, service, loan, gift, trip, entertainment or
other favor from a supplier, contractor, subcontractor, customer or other entity
with which Employer does business and that Employee shall promptly inform the
Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of Employer as to each offer
received by Employee to engage in any such activity. Employee further agrees to
disclose to Employer any other facts of which Employee becomes aware which might
involve or give rise to a Conflict of Interest or potential Conflict of
Interest.
SECTION 4. TERMINATION.
4.1 Termination by Employer.
(a) Employer may terminate Employee's employment without Cause
upon no less than 30 days prior notice of termination to Employee. In
the event of any such termination without Cause, on the effective date
of such termination Employer shall pay Employee as severance
compensation, a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the difference
of (i) Employee's then current monthly base salary times the number of
complete months that Employee has been employed since the Effective
Date for up to 12 months, at which time such amount will remain at
Employee's then current base salary annualized, less (ii) the amount of
base salary paid to Employee from the date of Employer's notice of
termination to the effective date of such termination. In the event of
any such termination without Cause, except as aforesaid, Employer shall
have no other obligations to pay any base salary, incentive
compensation or bonus or provide for any benefits to Employee after the
effective date of such termination. As used herein, "base salary"
excludes any bonus or incentive compensation.
(b) Employer may discharge Employee for Cause at any time
without prior notice. In the event of any such termination for Cause,
Employer's obligations to pay any base salary, incentive compensation
or bonus or provide for any benefits to Employee shall terminate
immediately upon the effective date of such termination.
(c) As used herein, "Cause" shall mean any of the following:
(i) the conviction of Employee by a court of competent
jurisdiction of any felony or crime involving moral turpitude;
(ii) commission by Employee of an act of fraud or
other act reflecting unfavorably upon the public image of
Employer as reasonably determined by Employer's Board of
Directors;
(iii) the continued failure by Employee to
substantially perform his duties hereunder, or the intentional
wrongdoing by Employee resulting in material injury to
Employer, in each case as reasonably determined by Employer's
Board of Directors;
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(iv) the failure by Employee to follow a reasonable
directive of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive
Officer of Employer; or
(v) violation of any policies or procedures of
Employer, including without limitation, any human relations
policy, resulting in material injury to Employer, in each case
as reasonably determined by Employer's Board of Directors.
4.2 Termination by Employee. Employee may resign from Employee's
employment hereunder (whether for voluntary retirement or otherwise) upon no
less than 30 days prior notice of resignation to Employer, unless such prior
notice is otherwise waived by Employer in its absolute and sole discretion. The
effective date of Employee's resignation shall be as stated in Employee's notice
of resignation or at the sole option of Employer, such earlier date as
determined by Employer in its sole discretion. If Employee voluntarily resigns
from his employment with Employer during the term hereof (whether for voluntary
retirement or otherwise), Employer's obligations to pay any base salary,
incentive compensation or bonus or provide for any benefits shall terminate
immediately upon the effective date of such resignation. Upon retirement,
Employee shall be entitled to all benefits (if any) provided by Employer in the
ordinary course to other executive officers of Employer at comparable retirement
age.
4.3 Termination on Death of Employee. This Agreement shall terminate
automatically upon the death of Employee and all rights of Employee, his heirs,
executors and administrators to salary, bonus, incentive compensation or
benefits shall terminate immediately, except as otherwise provided in Employer's
benefit plans in effect at such time.
4.4 Termination by Disability. Employer may terminate Employee's
employment hereunder upon Employee becoming Disabled (as defined below). Upon
such termination, Employer shall pay Employee an amount equal to his then
current monthly base salary for a period of six months, which payment amounts
will be reduced by any disability payments Employee receives during such period
from the disability insurance provided through Employer, if any. Employee shall
be entitled to all other disability benefits then in effect (if any) provided by
Employer to all other executive officers of Employer. In the event of
termination due to Employee being Disabled, except as aforesaid, Employer shall
have no other obligation to pay any base salary, incentive compensation or bonus
or provide for any benefits to Employee after the effective date of termination.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Disabled" means any mental or physical
impairment lasting (or that will last) more than 180 consecutive or
non-consecutive calendar days that prevents Employee from performing the
essential functions of his position with or without reasonable accommodation as
determined by a competent physician chosen by Employer and consented to by
Employee or his legal representatives, which consent will not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed. Employee agrees to submit to appropriate medical
examinations and authorize his physicians to release medical information
necessary to determine whether Employee is Disabled for purposes of this
Agreement.
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SECTION 5. MISCELLANEOUS.
5.1 Notice. Except as set forth below in this Section 5.1, any notice
under this Agreement must be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given
when delivered personally or by overnight courier service or three days after
being sent by mail, postage prepaid, at the address indicated below or to such
changed address as such person may subsequently give such notice of:
if to Employer:
Peerless Mfg. Co.
2819 Walnut Hill Lane
Dallas, Texas 75229
Attn: Chairman, Board of Directors
if to Employee:
William T. Strohecker
2328 Eldger Drive
Plano, Texas 75025
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the party receiving notice may waive any
provisions of this Section 5.1 in its sole and absolute discretion.
5.2 Assignment. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal
representatives, successors, and assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein,
this Agreement may not be assigned by any party hereto without the prior written
consent of the other party hereto. Employer shall require any successor, and any
corporation or other person which is in control of such successor, to all or
substantially all of the business and/or assets of Employer (by purchase,
merger, consolidation or otherwise), by agreement in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Employee, to expressly assume and agree to perform
this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that Employer would be
required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure of
Employer to obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such
succession shall be a material breach of this Agreement by Employer. As used in
this Agreement, "Employer" shall mean Employer as herein before defined and any
successor to its business and/or all or part of its assets as aforesaid which
executes and delivers the assumption agreement provided for in this Section 5.2
or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this
Agreement by operation of law.
5.3 Headings. The section headings used herein are for reference and
convenience only and shall not enter into the interpretation hereof.
5.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts for the convenience of the parties hereto, all of which together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.
5.5 Amendment and Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement may be
amended or waived only by written agreement of Employer and Employee, and no
course of conduct, failure or delay in enforcing the provisions of this
Agreement shall effect the validity, binding effect or enforceability of this
Agreement.
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5.6 Severability. Any provision or portion of a provision of this
Agreement that is held to be invalid or unenforceable will be severable, and
this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such provision, or portion
thereof, did not comprise a part hereof, and the remaining provisions or
portions of provisions will remain in full force and effect. In lieu of each
invalid or unenforceable provision there will be added automatically as part of
this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable
provision as may be possible and be legal, valid, and enforceable.
5.7 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to any
conflicts of law rule or principle that might require the application of the
laws of another jurisdiction.
5.8 Disputes. The parties to this Agreement agree that in the event
there is a dispute or controversy between them that cannot be settled through
direct discussions, it is in the best interests of all for such dispute or
controversy to be resolved in the shortest time and with the lowest cost of
resolution as practicable. Consequently, any such dispute, controversy or claim
between the parties to this Agreement will not be litigated, but instead will be
resolved by arbitration in accordance with Title 9 of the U.S. Code (United
States Arbitration Act) and the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American
Arbitration Association (the "Rules"), and judgment upon the award rendered by
the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The
arbitration will be before one neutral arbitrator and will proceed under the
Expedited Procedures of said Rules. The arbitration will be held in Dallas,
Texas, or such other place as may be selected by mutual agreement. The
arbitrator will have the discretion to order a prehearing exchange of
information by the parties, and to set limits for both the scope and time period
of such exchange. All issues regarding exchange requests will be decided by the
arbitrator. Neither party nor the arbitrator may disclose the existence, content
or results of any arbitration hereunder, unless required to do so by court or
regulatory order, without the prior written consent of both parties.
Administrative fees and expenses of the arbitration itself will be borne by the
parties equally unless otherwise required by law, a court of competent
jurisdiction or the Rules; provided, that, in no event will Employee be required
to pay in excess of $1,000 of such fees and expenses. The arbitrator will also
be authorized to award to the prevailing party all or that fraction of its
reasonable costs and fees as is deemed equitable. Costs of a party's
representation by counsel or preparation costs for hearing are not considered
administrative fees and expenses for purposes hereof. This provision will not
apply to any injunctive relief sought by the Company or any of its affiliate
under Section 2 or 3 of this Agreement.
5.9 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Agreement (the "Related
Agreement"), of even date, between Employee and Employer regarding certain
agreements effective upon a "Change in Control" embody the complete agreement
between Employer and Employee regarding the subject matter hereof and the same
supersede all prior agreements or understandings, whether oral, written or
otherwise, between the parties hereto that may have related in any way to the
subject matter hereof.
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EMPLOYER:
PEERLESS MFG. CO.
/s/ Sherrill Stone
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Sherrill Stone,
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
EMPLOYEE:
/s/ William T. Strohecker
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William T. Strohecker
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