EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTEmployee Retention Agreement |
|
|
|
You are currently viewing: This Employee Retention Agreement involves
GOODMAN APPLIANCE HOLDING CO | Chill Acquisition, Inc. RealDealDocs™ contains millions of easily searchable legal documents and clauses from top law firms. Search for free - click here. |
|
|
|
Search Employee Retention Agreement by:
Exhibit 10.12
EXHIBIT B
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
(Charles Carroll)
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the Agreement), dated as of February 13, 2008, is made by and between Chill Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and Charles Carroll (Executive).
WHEREAS, the Company, Chill Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the sole shareholder of the Company (Holdings or Parent), and Goodman Global, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Goodman) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 21, 2007 (the Merger Agreement), pursuant to which it is intended that Company will merge with and into Goodman (the Merger), whereby the Company will cease to exist and Goodman will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent;
WHEREAS, upon the consummation of the Merger, the contracts and obligations of the Company shall become the contracts and obligations of Goodman;
WHEREAS, Executive and Goodman entered into an employment agreement, originally dated as of November 18, 2004, and as subsequently amended on March 7, 2006 (the Employment Agreement), which generally sets forth Executives severance rights and related obligations in the event Executives employment with Goodman is terminated under certain circumstances;
WHEREAS, Executive currently serves as Chief Executive Officer;
WHEREAS, upon the consummation of the Merger, the Company desires to secure for itself and its successors and assigns, which shall, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, include Goodman, the continuing services of Executive, and Executive desires to provide such continuing services, in each case, pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:
1. Effectiveness; Prior Agreements; Term of Employment.
(a) Effectiveness. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the operative provisions of this Agreement shall only become effective upon the occurrence of the closing of the Merger (the date of such closing being hereinafter referred to as the Commencement Date or the Closing). In the event the Merger Agreement is terminated without the Closing having occurred, this Agreement shall be terminated without further obligation or liability of either party hereto. Effective as of the Closing, the Company will merge into Goodman and Goodman will assume all obligations of the Company, including all obligations of the Company under this Agreement and therefore all references to the Company hereunder shall mean Goodman, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(b) Prior Agreements. Effective as of the Commencement Date, this Agreement shall supercede all prior agreements between Executive and the Company or any of its affiliates
regarding the terms and conditions of Executives employment and severance rights with the Company and its affiliates, including, without limitation, the Employment Agreement (together with all other prior agreements and understandings, the Prior Agreements). Subject to the exceptions set forth herein, it is expressly agreed that from and after the Commencement Date, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates shall have any obligations or rights under, and Executive shall have no further obligations or rights under, any Prior Agreement, including, without limitation, any severance, termination or change of control related benefits; except that (i) all prior grants or assignments by Executive to the Company of any rights (including, without limitation, any rights under any license) to any intellectual property, authorship, inventions, materials, documents or other work product under any Prior Agreement shall continue in full force in effect prior to, from and after the Commencement Date, and (ii) Executives rights to indemnification, exculpation and the advancement of expenses under the current indemnification agreement between the Company and Executive shall continue in full force with respect to claims arising from Executives pre-Commencement Date services with the Company and such rights shall continue for the longer of (x) the applicable statute of limitations with respect to any such claim, or (y) the six-year period commencing on the Commencement Date; provided, that, rights to indemnification with respect of any claim pending or asserted or any claim made within such period shall continue until the resolution of such claim.
(c) Term and Position. Subject to the provisions of Section 6 of this Agreement, Executive shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Holdings for the period commencing on the Commencement Date and ending upon the earlier of (i) the date a suitable replacement commences employment as the next Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and (ii) June 30, 2008 (the Interim Employment Term). During the Interim Employment Term, Executive shall also serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company and of Holdings (the Board). Following the Interim Employment Term, Executive shall serve as the Chairman of the Board, unless otherwise agreed. In the event Executive is no longer serving as Chairman of the Board following the Interim Employment Term, he will be given the opportunity to serve as a non-executive employee of the Company for the period ending no earlier than June 30, 2010 (the period of any such employment together with the Interim Employment Term, the Employment Term). During the Employment, Executive shall have such duties and authority as shall be determined from time to time by the Board and such duties and authorities shall be commensurate with Executives position at such time.
2. Duties. During the Employment Term, Executive shall devote Executives full business time and attention to the performance of Executives duties hereunder and shall not engage in any other business, profession or occupation for compensation or otherwise which would conflict or interfere with the rendition of such services either directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Board; provided that, nothing herein shall preclude Executive from (i) continuing to serve on any board of directors or trustees of any business corporation or any charitable organization, (ii) being involved in charitable activities, or (iii) managing his personal and family passive investments; provided further that, in each case, and in the aggregate, such activities shall not materially conflict or materially interfere with the performance of Executives duties hereunder or conflict with Section 7 hereof.
3. Salary and Annual Bonus.
(a) Base Salary. During the Interim Employment Term, the Company shall pay Executive a base salary at the annual rate of $1,073,900, payable in regular installments in accordance with the Companys usual payment practices. Following the Interim Employment Term and continuing for the remainder of the Employment Term, the Company shall pay Executive a base salary at the annual rate of $150,000, payable in regular installments in accordance with the Companys usual payment practices. Without limiting the foregoing, Executive shall be entitled to such increases in Executives base salary, if any, as may be determined from time to time in the sole discretion of the Board upon its annual review of Executives compensation and Executives annual base salary, as in effect from time to time, shall hereinafter be referred to as the Base Salary. Except as expressly set forth above with respect to the period following the Interim Employment Term, the Board may reduce the Base Salary only if such reduction is part of a general cost reduction and is consistent with reductions generally made to other executives of the Company.
(b) Annual Bonus. During the Interim Employment Term, Executive shall be eligible to earn a pro rata annual bonus award for fiscal year 2008 (based on the ratio of (i) the number of days Executive serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company during fiscal year 2008, to (ii) 365 days) (the Annual Bonus) in a target amount (assuming Executive served as the Chief Executive Officer during the entire fiscal year) equal to 100% of Executives Base Salary (the Target Bonus) and a maximum bonus opportunity (assuming Executive served as the Chief Executive Officer during the entire fiscal year) of 481.4% of the Target Bonus, based upon the achievement of the performance goals established by the Board within the first three months of the fiscal year. Without limiting the foregoing, Executives Annual Bonus shall be calculated in accordance with the table attached hereto as Exhibit A (the Annual Bonus Table), whereby the Annual Bonus that shall become payable for fiscal year 2008 shall be the pro-rata portion of the amount equal to the Percentage of Base Salary that corresponds with the highest Level of Achievement attained by the Company for such year (which, as set forth on Schedule A, shall be tied to the Companys EBITDA). For these purposes, the Companys EBITDA for fiscal year 2008 shall mean the Consolidated EBITDA, as such term is defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2008, among Chill Intermediate Holdings, Inc., the Company, the lending institutions party thereto, Barclays Capital (Barclays) and General Electric Capital Corporation (GECC), as Joint Lead Arrangers, Barclays, Calyon New York Branch and GECC, as joint bookrunners, and GECC as the administrative agent, as may be amended, modified, extended, refinanced, renewed or replaced form time to time. The Companys Target EBITDA for fiscal year 2008 shall be set forth on Schedule A attached hereto. The Annual Bonus, if any, shall be paid to Executive prior to the expiration of the period ending two and one-half months after the end of fiscal year 2008.
4. Equity Participation. Executives equity participation in Parent, the Company and any of their subsidiaries or affiliates shall be documented pursuant to the Chill Holdings, Inc. 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the Equity Plan), award agreements issued under the Equity Plan or otherwise (including any option or option rollover agreements), the Management Stockholders Agreement of Chill Holdings, Inc. (the Management Stockholders Agreement), and any contribution or subscription agreements relating to the equity of Parent or the Company, each as executed, if applicable, by the Company, Executive, the other Initial Management Investors (as defined in the Management Stockholders Agreement) and Parent (collectively, the Equity Documents). The Company and Executive each acknowledges that the terms and conditions of
the aforementioned Equity Documents govern Executives acquisition, holding, sale or other disposition of Executives equity in the Parent, the Company or any of their affiliates, and all of Executives rights with respect thereto.
5. Employee Benefits. During the Employment Term, Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Companys employee benefit plans and payroll practices, as in effect from time to time (collectively, Employee Benefits), on the same basis as those benefits are generally made available to other similarly situated executives of the Company.
6. Termination of Employment. The Employment Term and Executives employment hereunder may be terminated by either party at any time and for any reason; provided that Executive will be required to give the Company at least 60 days advance written notice of any termination initiated by Executive. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section 6 shall exclusively govern Executives rights upon termination of employment with the Company and its affiliates; provided that Executives rights with respect to Executives equity participation in Parent, the Company and their affiliates shall be governed solely by the Equity Documents. For the avoidance of doubt, Executives services in any non-employee capacity shall also constitute part of Executives employment for purposes of this Agreement.
(a) For Cause by the Company or For Any Reason Other than Good Reason by Executive. The Employment Term and Executives employment may be terminated by the Company for Cause (as defined below) or by Executive without Good Reason (as defined in Section 6(c) below).
(i) For purposes of this Agreement, Executive can be terminated by the Company for Cause due to:
(A) Executives willful failure to substantially perform his duties (other than any such failure resulting from Executives physical or mental incapacity);
(B) Executives willful failure to carry out, or comply with, in any material respect, any lawful and reasonable directive of the Board, not inconsistent with the terms of the agreement;
(C) Executives commission at any time of any act or omission that results in, or that may reasonably be expected to result in, a conviction, plea of no contest or imposition of unadjudicated probation for any felony or crime involving moral turpitude;
(D) Executives unlawful use (including being under the influence) or possession of illegal drugs on the Companys premises or while performing the executives duties and responsibilities under the agreement; or
(E) Executives commission at any time of any act of fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation, material misconduct, or breach of fiduciary duty against the Company or any of its affiliates (or any of their respective predecessors or successors), which shall not include any good faith disputes regarding immaterial amounts that relate to Executives expense account, reimbursement claims or other de minimis matters.
(ii) If Executives employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or if Executive resigns without Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to receive:
(A) the Base Salary through the date of termination;
(B) any Annual Bonus earned, but unpaid, as of the date of termination for the immediately preceding fiscal year, paid in accordance with Section 3 (except to the extent payment is otherwise deferred pursuant to any applicable deferred compensation arrangement with the Company or any of its affiliates);
(C) reimbursement for any unreimbursed business expenses that have been properly incurred by Executive prior to the date of Executives termination and that are or have been submitted in accordance with the applicable Company policy;
(D) such Employee Benefits, if any, as to which Executive may be entitled under the employee benefit plans of the Company, which shall include payment for any unused vacation in accordance with the Companys policy then in effect or as otherwise required by applicable law (the amounts described in clauses (A) through (D) hereof being referred to as the Accrued Rights).
(iii) Following termination of Executives employment by the Company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason, and except as set forth in Section 6(a)(ii) directly above, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement; provided that Executives rights with respect to Executives equity participation with the Company or any of its affiliates shall be governed solely by the Equity Documents.
(b) Disability or Death. The Employment Term and Executives employment hereunder shall terminate upon Executives death and may be terminated by the Company as a result of Executives Disability.
(i) For purposes of this Agreement, Disability means a physical or mental illness, injury or condition that prevents Executive from performing any or all of the essential functions of Executives job duties for at least 90 consecutive calendar days, or for at least 120 calendar days, whether or not consecutive, in any 365 calendar day period, as determined by a licensed physician reasonably satisfactory to the Company and Executive. The Boards good faith determination that Executive has a Disability will be final and binding for purposes of determining the rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement.
(ii) If Executives employment and other services are terminated on account of Executives death or Disability, Executive or Executives estate (as the case may be) shall be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights.
(iii) Following termination of Executives employment and other services due to death or Disability, and except as set forth in Section 6(b)(ii) directly above, Executive shall have no further rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement; provided that Executives rights with respect to Executives equity participation with the Company or any of its affiliates shall be governed solely by the Equity Documents.
(c) Without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason.
(i) The Employment Term and Executives employment may be terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executives resignation for Good Reason.
(ii) Except to the extent expressly contemplated by this Agreement, Executive shall be able to terminate his employment for Good Reason following the occurrence of any of the following:
(A) a failure of the Company to continue Executive in his current position or other substantially similar or more senior position;
(B) a material diminution in the nature or scope of Executives responsibilities, duties or authority;
(C) a failure of the Company to make any material payment or provide any material benefit under the Agreement;
(D) a material breach by the Company of the Agreement or any option agreement between Executive and the Company; or
(E) the Company relocates Executives primary place of employment to a place outside of the 75-mile radius of Executives current primary place of employment (it being understood that neither a temporary work assignment nor travel on the Companys business shall constitute such a relocation);
provided that the occurrence of any of the foregoing events (A), (B), (C), (D) or (E) shall only constitute Good Reason if the Company fails to cure such event within 30 days after receipt from Executive of written notice of such occurrence; provided, further, that Good Reason shall cease to exist following the later of 30 days following its occurrence or Executives knowledge thereof, unless Executive has given the Company written notice thereof prior to such date. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the changes to Executives position (and related duties and authority) as a result or upon the expiration of the Interim Employment Term shall not constitute Good Reason.
(iii) If Executives employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of death or Disability) or if Executive resigns for Good Reason during the Interim Employment Term, Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company:
(A) the Accrued Rights; and
(B) subject to Executives continued compliance with the provisions of Sections 7 and 8, and upon execution of the Release within 60 days after receipt, which shall be delivered to Executive within 10 days following the termination of Executives employment and which shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B:
(1) equal, or substantially equal, payments totaling, in the aggregate, 200% of the sum of the Base Salary and the Target Bonus, which shall be payable in accordance with the Companys normal payroll practices over the twenty-four month period commencing on the date of termination, provided that the first payment shall be made on the seventy-fifth day following the termination of Executives employment and shall include any amounts that would have otherwise been due prior to such seventy-fifth day;
(2) continued participation in the Companys group heal plan until Executive reaches age 65 or the qualifying age under Medicare, if later, provided that Executive will pay 100% of the applicable COBRA premium, le






