Exhibit 10.85
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT –
HAROLD T. EPPS
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “
Agreement ”), is made and entered into as
of ,
2009, by and between PRWT Services, Inc., a Pennsylvania
corporation (the “ Company ”) and
Harold T. Epps (the “ Executive ”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ the
Executive and the Executive desires to be employed by the Company,
on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1.1. Term of Employment. The
Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall commence on
the date hereof (the “ Start Date ”) and shall
continue until December 31, 2012 (such period being herein referred
to as the “ Initial Term ,” and the period from
January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009 and any additional
12-month period thereafter ending on December 31st shall
be referred to as an “ Employment Year
”). After the Initial Term this Agreement shall be
automatically renewed for a successive two (2) year period (the
“First Renewal Term”) . After the
First Renewal Term, and on the last day of any Employment Year
thereafter, this Agreement shall be automatically renewed for
successive one year periods (each such period being and the First
Renewal Term referred to herein as a “ Renewal Term
”), unless, either the Executive or the Company prior to the
expiration of the Initial Term, First Renewal Term, or thereafter,
the then current Employment Year, gives written notice of not less
than ninety (90) days that this agreement will not be renewed,
whereupon the term of the Executive’s employment (the “
Term ”) shall terminate upon the expiration of the
Initial Term or the then current Renewal Term, unless sooner
terminated pursuant to Section 5 hereof.
1.2. General .
1.2.1. During the Term, the Executive shall have
the title of the President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
the Company and shall have such duties as may be from time to time
delegated to him by the Board of Directors of the Company (the
“ Board ”). The Executive shall
report directly to the Chairman of the Board. The
Executive shall faithfully and diligently discharge his duties
hereunder and use his best efforts to implement the policies
established by the Board. The Executive’s
responsibilities shall include, among other things, to render
executive, policy, operations and other management services to the
Company of the type customarily provided by persons situated in
similar executive and management capacities.
1.2.2. The Executive
shall devote all of his business time, attention, knowledge and
skills faithfully, diligently and to the best of his ability, in
furtherance of the business and activities of the Company;
provided , however , that nothing in this Agreement
shall preclude the Executive from devoting reasonable periods of
time required for:
(i) serving as
a director or member of a committee of any organization or
corporation involving no conflict of interest with the interests of
the Company and with the written consent of the Company;
(ii) delivering
lectures, fulfilling speaking engagements, and any writing or
publication relating to his experience or area of
expertise;
(iii) engaging
in professional organization and program activities;
(iv) managing
his personal investments; and
(v) to the
extent the Company has given notice of non-renewal of this
Agreement as provided in section 1.1, seeking alternate
employment;
provided that
such activities do not materially interfere with the due
performance of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement
as determined by the Board.
1.3. Reimbursement of Expenses
.
1.3.1. The Company shall reimburse Executive for
all reasonable, documented out of pocket expenses incurred by him
in rendering his services hereunder, subject to and in accordance
with the Company’s reimbursement policy as same shall be in
effect and amended from time to time, including but not limited to
expenses associated and incurred to maintain licenses,
certifications and memberships required to perform his duties and
responsibilities under this Agreement.
1.3.2. The Company shall provide Executive with
monthly parking at 1835 Market Street, subject to availability, or
another equivalent parking facility (subject to the
Executive’s approval, which approval will not be unreasonably
withheld).
1.3.3. To the extent any reimbursements
referenced in Sections 1.3.1 and any other reimbursements of costs
and expenses provided for herein are includable in the
Executive’s gross income for federal income tax purposes, all
such reimbursements shall be made no later than March of the
calendar year next following the calendar year in which the
expenses to be reimbursed are incurred.
1.4. Consideration . In
consideration for the Executive’s execution of this
Agreement, the Company agrees that the Executive shall become
employed by the Company as set forth in this Agreement, and shall
be eligible to receive post-Term severance payments (Sections
5.4.2, 5.4.3 and 5.4.4) as set forth in this Agreement
(subject to his compliance with Sections 7 and 8 of this
Agreement). The Executive understands, acknowledges and
agrees that the Executive would not receive the consideration
specified in this Section 1.4, except for the Executive’s
execution of this Agreement and the fulfillment of the promises
contained herein.
2.1. Base Salary . During the
period beginning with the Start Date of the Term and ending June
30, 2009, the Executive’s annual base salary (“Base
Salary”) shall remain at its current
level. Thereafter, commencing on July 1, 2009 and
continuing for the balance of the Term, the Executive shall be
entitled to receive a Base Salary that shall be increased to
a rate of three hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars
($375,000.00) per annum, which Base Salary shall be payable in
arrears in equal installments not less frequently than every two
weeks in accordance with the payroll practices of the Company, with
such increases as may be recommended by the Compensation Committee
to the Board for approval.
2.2. Incentive Bonus . The
Executive shall be eligible to receive, in the discretion of the
Board and the Board’s Compensation Committee, a target annual
incentive bonus of 100% of Base Salary for such Employment Year
(the “ Incentive Bonus ”) if the Company and
Executive achieve goals and objectives established by the Board for
such Employment Year. The goals and objectives to be met for
Executive to receive the Incentive Bonus shall be (a) reasonable
and in accord with the general interests of the Company; (b)
consistent with the Company’s incentive structure for its
similarly positioned executives; and (c) provided to Executive in
writing no later than ninety (90) days after the beginning of the
Employment Year for which they apply (provided that any such goals
and objectives shall apply only for the period of the Employment
Year after which they are accepted by the parties). Any
Incentive Bonus shall be paid in full in a single lump sum cash
payment during the calendar year next following the Employment Year
for which it is earned and vested (“ Payment Calendar
Year ”) upon the earlier of December 31 of the Payment
Calendar Year; or the date when any other executive of the Company
receives any bonus payment for the Employment Year, but in any
event no earlier than December 31 of the Employment
Year. Executive’s goals and objectives for the
determination of the payment of Executive’s Incentive Bonus
for 2009 shall be those in place for Executive as of January 1,
2009, or, if determined thereafter, upon the mutual agreement of
the parties.
2.3. Additional Compensation
. In addition to the Base Salary and the Incentive
Bonus, if any, the Executive shall be entitled to receive such
other cash bonuses and such other compensation in the form of
stock, stock options or other property or rights as may from time
to time be awarded him by the Board during or in respect of his
employment hereunder. Executive shall be entitled to
participate in any compensation programs (including, without
limitation any stock grant or options programs) made available to
other similarly situated employees of the Company.
2.4. Prior Year Compensation
. The Company shall pay Executive’s incentive
bonus in the amount of two-hundred and eighty-two thousand and one
hundred and sixteen dollars ($282,116.00) for calendar year 2008
(to be paid in accord with the Company’s practices in effect
as of December 31, 2008) on or before December 31, 2009.
3. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE . In
connection with his employment by the Company, the Executive shall
be based at the Company’s principal executive offices in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, subject to the mutual agreement of the
Executive and the Company to relocate him to another office of the
Company and provided that Executive shall undertake travel from
time to time as necessary to faithfully execute his duties
hereunder.
4.1. Benefit Plans . The
Executive shall, during the Term, be included to the extent
eligible thereunder in all employee benefit plans, programs or
arrangements of general application (including, without limitation,
any plans, programs or arrangements providing for retirement
benefits, options and other equity-based incentive compensation,
profit sharing, bonuses, disability benefits, health, and life
insurance, or vacation and paid holidays) which shall be
established by the Company or any affiliate of the Company, for, or
made available to, their respective senior executives (“
Benefits ”). During the Term, the Benefits
described in this paragraph 4 may only be reduced, and
Executive’s contributions therefor may only be increased as a
result of a general reduction or increase for senior
executives.
4.2. Vacation . The Executive
shall be entitled to not less than four (4) weeks vacation at full
pay for each calendar year during the Term, subject to increases
consistent with the Company’s policy for other similarly
situated employees, using Executive’s actual commencement
date of employment with the Company as the basis for determining
Executive’s tenure. Such vacation may be taken in
the Executive’s discretion, and at such time or times as are
not inconsistent with the reasonable business needs of the
Company.
5.
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
5.1. General . The
Executive’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated
without any breach of this Agreement on the following
circumstances:
5.1.1. Death . The
Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall terminate
upon his death.
5.1.2. Disability . If, as a
result of the Executive’s Disability (as defined below), the
Executive shall have been absent from his duties under this
Agreement for sixty (60) consecutive days (which shall not include
any vacation time which Executive is entitled to exercise under
this Agreement), the Company may terminate the Executive’s
employment upon fifteen (15) days prior written notice; provided
that the Executive has not returned to full time performance of his
duties during such fifteen (15) day period. For purposes
hereof, “ Disability ” shall mean that the
Executive is unable to perform his normal and customary duties
hereunder as a result of physical or mental incapacity, illness or
disability.
5.1.3. Good Reason . The
Executive may terminate his employment for Good Reason at any
time. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Good
Reason ” shall mean:
(i) the failure
by the Company to comply with its material obligations and
agreements contained in this Agreement;
(ii) a material
diminution or shift of the executive responsibilities or a material
modification of title of the Executive with the Company without the
consent of the Executive; or
(iii) a
reduction by the Company in the Base Salary as in effect on the
date hereof, or as the same may be increased from time to time,
without the express written consent of the Executive.
provided,
however , the Executive
must give notice to the Company of the existence of the condition
described in paragraph 5.1.3 within a period not to exceed 120 days
of the initial existence of the condition, upon notice of which the
Company may, within 30 days thereafter, remedy or cure such
condition.
5.1.4. Cause . The Company may
terminate the Executive’s employment under this Agreement for
Cause. Termination for “ Cause ”
shall mean termination of the Executive’s employment because
of the occurrence of any of the following as determined by the
Board:
(i) the willful
failure by the Executive to substantially perform his obligations
under this Agreement (other than any such failure resulting from
the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental
incapacity, illness or disease); provided , however ,
that the Company shall have provided the Executive with written
notice that such actions are occurring and the Executive has been
afforded a reasonable opportunity of at least thirty (30) days to
remedy or cure same; or
(ii) the
indictment of the Executive for a felony or other crime involving
moral turpitude as defined by the Company’s
Employee Handbook and/or Code of Ethical Conduct; or
(iii) a
material breach of Section 7 or Section 8 hereof or a breach of any
representation contained in this Agreement by the Executive;
or
(iv) a material
breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit; or
(v) the
Executive having committed acts or omissions constituting gross
negligence or willful misconduct (including theft, fraud,
embezzlement, and securities law violations) which is injurious to
the Company, monetarily, or otherwise. For purposes of
this Section 5.1.4(v), no act, or failure to act, on the part of
the Executive shall be considered “gross negligence” or
“willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by him in
bad faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission
was in the best interest of the Company; or
(vi) the
Executive having committed any willful or material violation of, or
willful or material noncompliance with, any securities law, rule or
regulation or stock exchange regulation or rule relating to or
affecting the Company, including without limitation (A) the
Executive’s failure or refusal to honestly provide the chief
executive officer or principal executive officer certification
required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, including the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Sarbanes-Oxley
Act”), or failure to take reasonable and appropriate steps to
determine whether or not any such certificate was accurate or
otherwise in compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act, or (B) the Executive’s failure to establish and
administer effective systems and controls necessary for the Company
to timely file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
5.2. Notice of Termination
. Any termination of the Executive’s employment by
the Company or by the Executive (other than termination by reason
of the Executive’s death) shall be communicated by written
Notice of Termination to the other party of this
Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a “
Notice of Termination ” shall mean a notice which
shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement
relied upon and shall set 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.
5.3. Date of Termination
. The “ Date of Termination ”
shall mean (a) if the Executive’s employment is
terminated by his death, the date of his death, (b) if the
Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to subsection
5.1.2 above, fifteen (15) days after Notice of Termination is given
(provided that the Executive shall not have returned to the
performance of his duties on a full-time basis during such fifteen
(15) day period), (c) if the Executive’s employment is
terminated pursuant to subsections 5.1.3 or 5.1.4 above, the date
specified in the Notice of Termination after the expiration of any
applicable cure periods, and (d) if the Executive’s
employment is terminated for any other reason, the date on which a
Notice of Termination is given.
5.4. Compensation upon Termination
.
5.4.1. Termination for Cause
. If the Executive’s employment shall be
terminated for Cause, the Company shall pay the Executive his Base
Salary through the Date of Termination in accordance with the
Company’s standard payroll practices, at the rate in effect
at the time Notice of Termination is given , and any Incentive
Bonus for a preceding Employment Year which Executive is entitled
to receive for that Employment Year which has not been paid as of
the Date of Termination, and all expenses and accrued Benefits
arising prior to such termination which are payable to the
Executive pursuant to this Agreement through the Date of
Termination and any accrued but unused vacation time to which
Executive is entitled under this Agreement as of the Date of
Termination, to be paid at the rate in effect at the time the
Notice of Termination is given and the Company shall have no
further obligation with respect to this Agreement. If
Executive’s employment is terminated for Cause, all vested
and or unvested stock option awards shall terminate
immediately.
5.4.2. Termination Following
Change in Control . In the event the
Executive’s employment hereunder is terminated following a
Change in Control (as defined below) by the Company without Cause,
by the Executive with Good Reason, or by the Company for Disability
then the provisions of subsection 5.4.3
herein shall apply to any such termination as though there had been
no Change in Control for purposes of calculating severance pay
during the Severance Period.
For purposes of this Agreement, a “
Change in Control ” shall be deemed to occur
(i) when any “person” as defined in Section
3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“ Exchange Act ”), and as used in Section 13(d)
and 14(d) thereof, including a “group” as defined in
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding the Executive, the
Company or any subsidiary or any affiliate of the Company or any
employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any
subsidiary of the Company (including any trustee of such plan
acting as trustee), becomes the “beneficial owner” (as
defined in Rule 13(d)(3) under the Exchange Act) of securities of
the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power
of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or
(ii) when, during any period of twelve (12) consecutive
months, the individuals who, at the beginning of such period,
constitute the Board (the “ Incumbent Directors
”) cease for any reason other than death to constitute at
least a majority thereof; provided, however , that a
directo