Exhibit 10.60
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into as of October 25, 2002, by and
between KIRK A. BENSON (the "Employee") and HEADWATERS INCORPORATED, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company").
1. Duties and Scope of Employment.
(a) Position. For the term of his employment under this Agreement (the
"Employment"), the Company agrees to employ the Employee in the position of
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The Employee shall report to the Company's
Board of Directors (the "Board").
(b) Obligations to the Company. During his Employment, the Employee
shall devote his full business efforts and time to the Company. During his
Employment, without the prior written approval of the Board, the Employee shall
not render services in any capacity to any other person or entity and shall not
act as a sole proprietor or partner of any other person or entity or as a
shareholder owning more than five percent of the stock of any other corporation;
provided that the Employee may devote a reasonable amount of time to charitable,
educational, civic and political activities. The Employee shall comply with the
Company's policies and rules, as they may be in effect from time to time during
his Employment.
(c) No Conflicting Obligations. The Employee represents and warrants to
the Company that he is under no obligations or commitments, whether contractual
or otherwise, that are inconsistent with his obligations under this Agreement.
The Employee represents and warrants that he will not use or disclose, in
connection with his Employment, any trade secrets or other proprietary
information or intellectual property in which the Employee or any other person
has any right, title or interest and that his Employment will not infringe or
violate the rights of any other person.
2. Cash and Incentive Compensation.
(a) Salary. The Company shall pay the Employee as compensation for his
services a base salary at a gross annual rate of not less than (i) $400,000 for
the 12-month period ending April 24, 2003, (ii) $450,000 for the 12-month period
ending April 24, 2004, and (iii) $500,000 for the 12-month period ending April
24, 2005. Such salary shall be payable in accordance with the Company's standard
payroll procedures. (The annual compensation specified in this Subsection (a),
together with any increases in such compensation that the Company may grant from
time to time, is referred to in this Agreement as "Base Salary.")
(b) Incentive Bonuses. The Employee shall be eligible to be considered
for an annual incentive bonus. Such bonus shall be awarded based on objective or
subjective criteria established in advance by the Board or the Compensation
Committee of the Board. The determinations of the Board or its Compensation
Committee with respect to such bonus shall be final and binding. The foregoing
notwithstanding, as long as the Company's Incentive Bonus Plan, as approved by
the Board on November 10, 2001 (the "2001 Incentive Plan") remains applicable,
the Employee's "bonus percent" within the meaning of such Plan shall not be less
than 110%. If the Company replaces the 2001 Incentive Plan with a new program,
the Employee's opportunity to earn a bonus under the new program shall at least
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be equivalent to the opportunity that he enjoyed under the 2001 Incentive Plan.
Upon termination of Employment for any reason, the Employee shall be eligible to
receive a prorated bonus for the year of termination and any previously withheld
or "banked" bonuses, subject in each case to the generally applicable terms and
conditions of the 2001 Incentive Plan (or its successor) and to the
determinations of the Board or its Compensation Committee; provided, however, if
the Employee retires from Employment after having attained age 57 and has not
been terminated for Cause, then previously withheld or "banked" bonuses shall be
immediately paid to the Employee notwithstanding the terms of the 2001 Incentive
Plan (or its successor).
(c) Stock Option Grants.
(i) February 2003 Grant. Subject to availability under a stock
incentive plan of the Company that is approved by the stockholders, on or
promptly after the date of the next regular annual meeting of the Company's
stockholders, the Company shall grant the Employee a stock option covering a
number of shares of the Company's Common Stock equal to the greater of (A)
164,000 or (B) the number that, when combined with the option covering 61,000
shares that was granted to the Employee on June 10, 2002, will have a value
equal to the value of a hypothetical option covering 225,000 shares granted to
the Employee on June 10, 2002. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the value
of options shall be determined by the same methodology and assumptions used for
purposes of footnote disclosure in the Company's financial statements for the
year ending September 30, 2002. The option granted under this Paragraph (i)
shall become exercisable in three equal installments on March 31, 2003, March
31, 2004, and March 31, 2005, provided that the Employee's Employment continues
until the date in question.
(ii) April 2003 Grant. Subject to availability under a stock incentive
plan of the Company approved by the stockholders, on or promptly after April 24,
2003, the Company shall grant the Employee a stock option covering 137,500
shares of the Company's Common Stock. The option granted under this Paragraph
(ii) shall become exercisable in three equal installments on April 24, 2004,
April 24, 2005, and April 24, 2006, provided that the Employee's Employment
continues until the date in question.
(iii) April 2004 Grant. Subject to availability under a stock incentive
plan of the Company approved by the stockholders, on or promptly after April 24,
2004, the Company shall grant the Employee a stock option covering 137,500
shares of the Company's Common Stock. The option granted under this Paragraph
(iii) shall become exercisable in three equal installments on April 24, 2005,
April 24, 2006, and April 24, 2007, provided that the Employee's Employment
continues until the date in question.
(iv) Other Option Terms. The exercise price per share of each option
granted under this Subsection (d) shall be equal to the fair market value per
share of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant. The term of each such
option shall be 10 years, provided that each such option may expire earlier if
the Employee's Employment terminates, but not less than (A) 3 months after the
termination of his Employment for any reason other than death or disability; (B)
12 months after termination of his Employment because of death; and (C) 6 months
after termination of his Employment because of his total and permanent
disability. All share numbers set forth in this Subsection (d) shall
automatically be adjusted to reflect stock splits, stock dividends, reverse
stock splits, and similar events.
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(v) Substitution of Other Equity Grants. In lieu of all or part of the
stock options described in Paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above, the Company may
grant the Employee equity in the Company in other forms, provided that (A) the
equity grants in other forms have a value not less than the value of such
options and (B) the Employee consents in writing to the substitution of other
equity grants for such options.
(d) Reimbursement of Legal Fees. The Company shall reimburse the
Employee for the reasonable cost of retaining counsel to assist him in the
preparation and negotiation of this Agreement in an amount not to exceed $5,000.
3. Vacation and Employee Benefits. During his Employment, the Employee
shall be eligible for paid vacations in accordance with the Company's vacation
policy, as it may be amended from time to time. The Employee shall be eligible
to participate in the employee benefit plans maintained by the Company, subject
in each case to the generally applicable terms and conditions of the plan in
question and to the determinations of any person or committee administering such
plan. The Employee shall also be entitled to any other perquisites that the
Company makes available to its executive officers.
4. Business Expenses. During his Employment, the Employee shall be
authorized to incur necessary and reasonable travel, entertainment and other
business expenses in connection with his duties hereunder. The Company shall
reimburse the Employee for such expenses upon presentation of an itemized
account and appropriate supporting documentation, all in accordance with the
Company's generally applicable policies.
5. Term of Employment.
(a) Termination of Employment. The Company may terminate the Employee's
Employment at any time and for any reason (or no reason), and with or without
Cause, by giving the Employee notice in writing. The Employee may terminate his
Employment by giving the Company notice in writing. The Employee's Employment
shall terminate automatically in the event of his death. The termination of the
Employee's Employment shall not limit or otherwise affect his obligations under
Section 7.
(b) Employment at Will. The Employee's Employment with the Company
shall be "at will," meaning that either the Employee or the Company shall be
entitled to terminate the Employee's Employment at any time and for any reason,
with or without Cause. Any contrary representations that may have been made to
the Employee shall be superseded by this Agreement. This Agreement shall
constitute the full and complete agreement between the Employee and the Company
on the "at will" nature of the Employee's Employment, which may only be changed
in an express written agreement signed by the Employee and a duly authorized
officer of the Company.
(c) Rights Upon Termination. Except as expressly provided in Section 6,
upon the termination of the Employee's Employment, the Employee shall only be
entitled to the compensation, benefits and expense reimbursements that the
Employee has earned under this Agreement before the effective date of the
termination. The payments under this Agreement shall fully discharge all
responsibilities of the Company to the Employee.
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6. Termination Benefits.
(a) General Release. Any other provision of this Agreement
notwithstanding, Subsections (b), (c) and (d) below shall not apply unless the
Employee (i) has executed a mutual release of all claims and (ii) has returned
all property of the Company in the Employee's possession.
(b) Severance Pay. If the Company terminates the Employee's Employment
for any reason other than Cause, or if the Employee resigns all of his positions
with the Company for Good Reason, then the Company shall immediately make a lump
sum severance payment to the Employee in an amount equal to 300% of his annual
Base Salary (at the rate in effect when his Employment terminates).
(c) Option Acceleration. If Subsection (b) above applies, all options
to purchase shares of the Company's stock that the Employee then holds shall
immediately become fully vested and exercisable.
(d) Health Insurance. If Subsection (b) above applies, and if the
Employee elects continuation health insurance coverage under the Consolidated
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act ("COBRA") following the termination of his
Employment, then the Company shall pay the monthly premium under COBRA for the
Employee and his dependents until the earliest of (i) the date that is 18 months
after the Employee's termination of his Employment, (ii) the expiration of the
Employee's continuation coverage under COBRA or (iii) the date when the Employee
receives substantially equivalent health insurance coverage in connection with
new employment or self-employment ("replacement coverage"). To the extent that
the Employee is not receiving replacement coverage after the expiration of the
COBRA continuation period, then the Company shall reimburse the Employee, on a
monthly basis, for the cost of obtaining such coverage on an individual basis
for up to an additional 18 months and in an amount not to exceed the cost of the
last monthly COBRA premium paid by the Company on the Employee's behalf.
(e) Definition of "Cause." For all purposes under this Agreement,
"Cause" shall mean:
(i) An unauthorized use or disclosure by the Employee of the
Company's confidential information or trade secrets, which use or
disclosure causes material harm to the Company;
(ii) A willful act by the Employee which constitutes gross
misconduct or fraud and which is materially injurious to the Company;
(iii) The Employee's conviction of, or plea of "guilty" or "no
contest" to, a felony under the laws of the United States or any state
thereof; or
(iv) A willful failure by the Employee to substantially
perform his duties under this Agreement, other than a failure resulting
from the Employee's complete or partial incapacity due to physical or
mental illness.
The foregoing shall not be deemed an exclusive list of all acts or omissions
that the Company may consider as grounds for the termination of the Employee's
Employment with Cause. No act, or failure to act, by the Employee shall be
considered "willful" unless committed without good faith and without a
reasonable belief that the act or omission was in the Company's best interest.
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(f) Definition of "Good Reason." For all purposes under this Agreement,
"Good Reason" shall mean that the Employee has not been terminated for Cause and
elects to resign after one or more of the following events:
(i) The reduction of the Employee's Base Salary;
(ii) The diminution or reduction of Employee's title,
authority, duties or responsibilities, including (without limitation)
the Employee's removal from his position as the Company's Chief
Executive Officer;
(iii) The Employee, at any time after the Company has been
subject to a Change in Control (as defined in Section 7), is assigned
to any position other than the position of Chief Executive Officer of a
corporation whose equity securities are regularly traded on a national
securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market;
(iv) The relocation of the Employee's principal place of
employment by more than 25 miles from its present location; or
(v) Any breach by the Company of any material provision of
this Agreement.
7. Change in Control.
(a) Option Acceleration. If the Company is subject to a Change in
Control, all options to purchase shares of the Company's stock that the Employee
then holds shall immediately become fully vested and exercisable.
(b) Definition of "Change in Control." For all purposes under this
Agreement, "Change in Control" shall mean:
(i) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the
Company with or into another entity or any other corporate
reorganization, if persons who were not stockholders of the Company
immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or other reorganization
own immediately after such merger, consolidation or other
reorganization 50% or more of the voting power of the outstanding
securities of each of (A) the continuing or surviving entity and (B)
any direct or indirect parent corporation of such continuing or
surviving entity;
(ii) The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets;
(iii) A change in the composition of the Board, as a result of
which fewer than 50% of the incumbent directors are directors who
either:
(A) Had been directors of the Company on the date 24
months prior to the date of such change in the composition of
the Board (the "Original Directors"); or
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(B) Were appointed to the Board, or nominated for
election to the Board, with the affirmative votes of at least
a majority of the aggregate of (I) the Original Directors who
were in office at the time of their appointment or nomination
and (II) the directors whose appointment or nomination was
previously approved in a manner consistent with this
Subparagraph (B); or
(iv) Any transaction as a result of which any person is the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of securities of the
Company representing at least 50% of the total voting power represented
by the Company's then outstanding voting securities. For purposes of
this Paragraph (iv), the term "person" shall have the same meaning as
when used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 but shall exclude (A) a trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or of a parent
or subsidiary of the Company and (B) a corporation owned directly or
indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same
proportions as their ownership of the common stock of the Company.
A transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if its sole purpose is to
change the state of the Company's incorporation or to create a holding company
that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held
the Company's securities immediately before such transaction.
8. Successors.
(a) Company's Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon any
successor (whether direct or indirect and whether by purchase, lease, merger,
consolidation, liquidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the
Company's business and/or assets. For all purposes under this Agreement, the
term "Company" shall include any successor to the Company's business and/or
assets which becomes bound by this Agreement.
(b) Employee's Successors. This Agreement and all rights of the
Employee hereunder shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the
Employee's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.
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9. Arbitration.
(a) Scope of Arbitration Requirement. The parties hereby waive their
rights to a trial before a judge or jury and agree to arbitrate before a neutral
arbitrator any and all claims or disputes arising out of this Agreement and any
and all claims arising from or relating to the Employee's Employment, including
(but not limited to) claims against any current or former employee, director or
agent of the Company, claims of wrongful termination, retaliation,
discrimination, harassment, breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good
faith and fair dealing, defamation, invasion of privacy, fraud,
misrepresentation, constructive discharge or failure to provide a leave of
absence, or claims regarding commissions, stock options or bonuses, infliction
of emotional distress or unfair business practices.
(b) Procedure. The arbitrator's decision shall be written and shall
include the findings of fact and law that support the decision. The arbitrator's
decision shall be final and binding on both parties, except to the extent
applicable law allows for judicial review of arbitration awards. The arbitrator
may award any remedies that would otherwise be available to the parties if they
were to bring the dispute in court. The arbitration shall be conducted in
accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of
the American Arbitration Association; provided, however that the arbitrator
shall allow the discovery that the arbitrator deems necessary for the parties to
vindicate their respective claims or defenses. The arbitration shall take place
in Salt Lake County, Utah, or, at the Employee's option, the county in which the
Employee primarily worked with the Company at the time when the arbitrable
dispute or claim first arose.
(c) Costs. The parties shall share the costs of arbitration equally.
Both the Company and the Employee shall be responsible for their own attorneys'
fees, and the arbitrator may not award attorneys' fees unless a statute or
contract at issue specifically authorizes such an award.
(d) Applicability. This Section 9 shall not apply to (i) workers'
compensation or unemployment insurance claims or (ii) claims concerning the
validity, infringement or enforceability of any trade secret, patent right,
copyright or any other trade secret or intellectual property held or sought by
either the Employee or the Company.
10. Miscellaneous Provisions.
(a) Notice. Notices and all other communications contemplated by this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when
personally delivered or when mailed by U.S. registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested and postage prepaid. In the case of the Employee, mailed
notices shall be addressed to him at the home address that he most recently
communicated to the Company in writing. In the case of the Company, mailed
notices shall be addressed to its corporate headquarters, and all notices shall
be directed to the attention of its Secretary.
(b) Modifications and Waivers. No provision of this Agreement shall be
modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is
agreed to in writing and signed by the Employee and by an authorized officer of
the Company (other than the Employee). No waiver by either party of any breach
of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the
other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or
of the same condition or provision at another time.
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(c) Whole Agreement. No other agreements, representations or
understandings (whether oral or written and whether express or implied) that are
not expressly set forth in this Agreement have been made or entered into by
either party with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement contains
the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof.
(d) Withholding Taxes. All payments made under this Agreement shall be
subject to reduction to reflect taxes or other charges required to be withheld
by law.
(e) Choice of Law and Severability. This Agreement shall be interpreted
in accordance with the laws of the State of Utah (except their provisions
governing the choice of law). If any provision of this Agreement becomes or is
deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any applicable jurisdiction by
reason of the scope, extent or duration of its coverage, then such provision
shall be deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary to conform to applicable
law so as to be valid and enforceable or, if such provision cannot be so amended
without materially altering the intention of the parties, then such provision
shall be stricken and the remainder of this Agreement shall continue in full
force and effect. If any provision of this Agreement is rendered illegal by any
present or future statute, law, ordinance or regulation (collectively the
"Law"), then such provision shall be curtailed or limited only to the minimum
extent necessary to bring such provision into compliance with the Law. All the
other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall continue in full force and
effect without impairment or limitation.
(f) No Assignment. This Agreement and all rights and obligations of the
Employee hereunder are personal to the Employee and may not be transferred or
assigned by the Employee at any time. The Company may assign its rights under
this Agreement to any entity that assumes the Company's obligations hereunder in
connection with any sale or transfer of all or a substantial portion of the
Company's assets to such entity.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in
the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year
first above written.
EXECUTIVE
/s/ Kirk A. Benson
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Kirk A. Benson
HEADWATERS INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Steven G. Stewart
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Title: CFO
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