Execution Copy
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT made effective as of the first
day of January 2008 between NOVAMERICAN STEEL INC., a Delaware
corporation (the “Corporation”), with its principal
offices at 28 West 44 th Street, 16 th Floor,
New York, NY 10036 and KAREN NARWOLD (the “Executive”).
Each of the Executive and the Corporation are called, individually,
a “Party” and, collectively, the
“Parties”.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to employ the
Executive and the Executive desires to be employed by the
Corporation, as a senior executive of the Corporation;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and
the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and other
good, valuable and sufficient consideration, the receipt of which
is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound,
hereby agree as follows:
1.
Employment . The
Corporation hereby agrees to employ the Executive, and the
Executive hereby agrees to be employed by the Corporation, on the
terms and conditions set forth herein.
(a) The
Executive shall serve as the Vice President, Chief Administrative
Officer and General Counsel of the Corporation. The Executive shall
report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation (the
“CEO”). The Executive shall have such responsibilities
and duties as are customary for such position and as may be
assigned by the CEO to the Executive from time to time.
(b) The
Executive shall devote all of the Executive’s working time
and efforts to the business and affairs of the Corporation;
provided ,
however , that the
Executive may from time to time serve on boards of trustees or
directors of a limited number of (i) not-for-profit organizations
so long as she shall have advised the Board of Directors of the
Corporation (the “Board”) of her intention to so serve
prior to the commencement of such service and (ii) for-profit
organizations so long as the Board shall have approved such service
prior to commencement of such service and Executive may manage her
personal investments so long as such management does not interfere
with performance of her responsibilities or duties hereunder. The
proviso to the preceding sentence shall not limit the obligations
of the Executive under Section 7.
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3.
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Compensation and Benefits .
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(a) The
Executive’s salary shall be $400,000 per year during which
this Agreement is in effect. Such salary shall be paid in
accordance with the Corporation’s payroll practices. Such
salary shall be subject to review each year by the Board and may
be
increased (but not decreased) in the discretion of
the Board. The Executive’s salary, as then in effect, is
called the “Salary”.
(b) The
independent directors of the Board shall determine performance
targets and metrics for the Executive for each year during which
this Agreement is in effect. The Executive will be eligible to
receive a performance bonus each year. The bonus is expected to be
no less than 50% and no greater than 100% of the Salary. The
independent directors of the Board shall determine, in their
discretion, the amount of the bonus, if any, for each year. The
bonus will be paid in accordance with the Corporation’s
payroll practices no later than March 15 following the year in
respect of which the bonus is earned.
(c) The
Executive shall be entitled to receive reimbursement, in accordance
with the Corporation’s expense reimbursement practices, for
all reasonable and customary expenses incurred by the Executive in
connection with performance of her duties and
responsibilities; provided
, that such expenses are incurred and reported in
accordance with the Corporation’s expense reimbursement
policies and procedures. Without limiting such expenses, such
expenses include expenses for reasonable and customary temporary
accommodations near the Corporation’s facilities located more
than 35 miles outside of New York, New York for the Executive and,
if the Executive is required to work from such facilities for an
extended period, the Executive’s spouse and dependents and
related travel arrangements.
(d) The
Executive shall be entitled to participate in or receive benefits
under any medical, pension, profit sharing or other employee
benefit plan or arrangement generally made available by the
Corporation now or in the future to its executives and management
employees (or to their family members) subject to the terms and
conditions of such plans and arrangements.
(e) The
Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks vacation each year,
with carryover of unused vacation days in accordance with the
Corporation’s vacation policy.
(a)
Termination by Corporation . The Executive’s employment may be terminated by the
Corporation at any time with or without Cause (as defined in
Section 5(e)(ii)) or if the Executive becomes Disabled (as defined
in Section 5(e)(i)), by notifying the Executive, in which case the
termination shall be effective immediately upon receipt of such
notice by the Executive.
(b)
Termination by the Executive
. The Executive’s employment may be terminated
by the Executive with or without Good Reason (as defined in Section
5(e)(iii)) by notifying the Board within ninety (90) days following
the first occurrence of the event or circumstance constituting Good
Reason, in which case the termination shall be effective thirty
(30) days following the receipt of such notice by the Board;
provided , that the
event or circumstance is not cured within thirty (30) days
following such notice to the Board. Any failure to so notify the
Board within the applicable ninety (90) day period constitutes a
waiver by the
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Executive of her right to terminate her employment
for Good Reason as to such applicable event(s) or
circumstance(s).
(c)
Notice of Termination .
Any notification under this Section to either Party shall indicate
the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon
and set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances
claimed to provide a basis for termination under the provision so
indicated.
5.
Compensation Upon Termination
. Upon termination of the Executive’s
employment for any reason, the Executive is deemed to have
resigned, as of the date of such termination of employment, from
the Board and any committees of the Corporation or its affiliates
on which she serves.
(a) If the
Corporation shall terminate the Executive’s employment for
any reason other than for Cause, including due to the
Executive’s Disability, or if the Executive resigns for Good
Reason, subject to Sections 5(f) and 5(h), the Executive shall be
entitled to the following:
(i) A
lump sum payment, within thirty (30) days following the termination
of the Executive’s employment, which includes all amounts due
to the Executive through the date of her termination, including any
accrued but unpaid Salary and/or bonus and any accrued and unused
vacation days;
(ii) A lump
sum payment, within sixty (60) days following the termination of
the Executive’s employment, equal to the product of (A) the
Salary plus the minimum bonus of 50% of the Salary multiplied by
(B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months
(full and partial) remaining between the date of termination and
December 31, 2010 and the denominator of which is twelve (12), but
in no event shall the fraction equal less than one (1) (the
“Severance Period”);
(iii) Continued
participation in the Corporation’s health plans (medical and
dental), at the same cost to the Executive as immediately prior to
such termination of employment, for the longer of (A) the Severance
Period and (B) eighteen (18) months; provided , that if the Executive is
entitled to participate in a health plan provided by a new
employer, any payment by the Corporation for continued
participation in the Corporation’s health plans shall cease
(although participation may continue solely at the
Executive’s cost, to the extent participation must be offered
under federal law); provided
, further
, that if the new employer plan does not have
preexisting condition coverage, the Executive may continue medical
coverage with the Company for the balance of the period described
above, without affecting the cost to the Executive.
The Corporation anticipates that health benefits
made available pursuant to this clause (iii) will be provided in
accordance with applicable continuation coverage requirements under
federal and state law.
(iv) Continuation
of life insurance coverage at the same level and at the same cost
to the Executive as immediately prior to such termination of
employment, for the longer of (A) the Severance Period and (B)
eighteen (18) months;
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(v) Reimbursement for
reasonable outplacement services for 12 months following the
termination of the Executive’s employment. The Parties shall
use their good faith efforts to locate a provider, and determine
the scope of, outplacement services which are reasonably acceptable
to both parties.
(vi) Except as
provided in this Section 5(a), the Corporation will have no further
obligations to the Executive under this Agreement following the
Executive’s termination of employment under the circumstances
described in this Section 5(a).
(b) If the
Executive’s employment with the Corporation shall terminate
due to either (i) the Executive’s termination other than for
Good Reason or (ii) by the Corporation’s termination of the
Executive’s employment for Cause, then the Executive shall be
entitled to receive her Salary through the date of termination
(which Salary shall not include any accrued and unused vacation
days). Except as provided in this Section 5(b), the Corporation
shall have no further obligations to the Executive under this
Agreement following the Executive’s termination of employment
under the circumstances described in this Section 5(b).
(c) If the
Executive’s employment with the Corporation shall terminate
due to the Executive’s death, then the Executive’s
estate shall be entitled to the amounts described in Section
5(a)(i) and (ii) and the Executive’s surviving spouse and
dependents, if any, shall be entitled to continued participation in
the Corporation’s health plans (medical and dental) as
described in Section 5(a)(iii) above. Except as provided in this
Section 5(c), the Corporation shall have no further obligations to
the Executive under this Agreement following the Executive’s
termination of employment under the circumstances described in this
Section 5(c).
(d) In the
event a Change of Control (as defined in Section 5(e)(iv)) of the
Corporation occurs after December 31, 2008 but prior to the
termination of the Executive’s employment, then, for purposes
of Section 5(a), the “Severance Period” shall mean the
number of months (full and partial) remaining between the date of
termination and the two year anniversary of the effective date of
the Change of Control.
(i) “Disability”
means the Executive becomes “disabled” as defined in
the Corporation’s long term disability plan or, if there is
no such plan, the Executive becomes physically or mentally
incapacitated and absent and/or unable to perform her duties on a
full-time basis for 90 days in any 180 consecutive day
period.
(ii) “Cause”
means the Executive’s (A) willful, intentional or grossly
negligent failure to substantially perform her duties (other than
due to Disability) after the CEO or the Board has given lawful
directive to so perform; (B) conviction of or plea of no contest to
a crime constituting (I) a felony or (II) a misdemeanor involving
deceit, dishonesty or fraud that relates to the Corporation; or (C)
willful, intentional or grossly negligent conduct which is
materially injurious to the Corporation, monetarily or otherwise.
The Executive’s employment shall not be deemed to have been
terminated for Cause without (x) reasonable written notice to the
Executive setting forth the reasons for the Corporation’s
intention to
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terminate for Cause and (y) the opportunity to cure
(if curable) within 15 days of such written notice of the event(s)
giving rise to such notice.
(iii) “Good
Reason” means: (A) any failure to pay or reduction in the
Executive’s Salary; (B) the assignment of duties or
responsibilities to the Executive that are materially and adversely
inconsistent with the Executive’s position, including a
material diminution in duties or responsibilities or title; (C) a
material breach by the Corporation of this Agreement or any other
material agreement between the Executive and the Corporation; (D)
the failure of the Corporation to obtain the assumption of this
Agreement in writing by each successor to the Corporation; or (E)
any circumstance in which the Corporation is directing the
Executive to participate in illegal activity; provided , that the events and
circumstances described in clauses (A) through (E) above shall not
constitute Good Reason (I) if the Executive consents to such event
or circumstance or (II) if such event or circumstance has been
cured within thirty (30) days after notice of such event or
circumstance has been given by the Executive to the
Board.
(iv) A
“Change of Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the
occurrence of any of the following events or
circumstances:
(A) any
“person” or “group” within the meaning of
Section 13(d) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the “Act”) becomes the beneficial owner of 40% or more
of the then outstanding common stock of the Corporation or 40% or
more of the then outstanding voting securities of the
Corporation;
(B) any
“person” or “group” within the meaning of
Section 13(d) or 14(d)(2) of the Act acquires, by proxy or
otherwise, the right to vote on any matter or question with respect
to 40% or more of the then outstanding common stock of the
Corporation or 40% or more of the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of the Corporation;
(C) Present
Directors and New Directors cease for any reason to constitute a
majority of the Board (and, for purposes of this clause (C),
“Present Directors” shall mean individuals who, at the
beginning of any consecutive twenty-four month period, were members
of the Board and “New Directors” shall mean individuals
whose election by the Board or whose nomination for election as
directors by the Corporation’s stockholders was approved by
at least two-thirds of the Present Directors and New Directors then
in office);
(D) the
stockholders of the Corporation approve a plan of dissolution or
complete or substantially complete liquidation of the Corporation;
or
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(E)
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upon the consummation of:
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I. any
reorganization, restructuring, recapitalization, reincorporation,
merger, consolidation or similar form of corporate transaction
involving the Corporation (a “Business Combination”)
unless, following such Business Combination, (a) all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the
beneficial owners of the common
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stock of the Corporation and the voting securities
of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior to such Business
Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 40%
of the common equity securities and the combined voting power of
the voting securities of the entity resulting from such Business
Combination (including the Corporation, if it is such resulting
entity) outstanding after such Business Combination (including,
without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such Business
Combination, owns the Corporation or all or substantially all of
the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis, either directly or through one or more
subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of common stock of the Corporation and combined voting
power of the voting securities of the Corporation, respectively,
outstanding immediately prior to such Business Combination, (b) no
“person” or “group” within the meaning of
Section 13(d) or 14(d)(2) of the Act (excluding (x) any entity
resulting from such Business Combination and (y) any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of any entity resulting from such
Business Combination) beneficially owns 40% or more of the common
equity securities or of the combined voting power of the voting
securities of the entity resulting from such Business Combination
(including the Corporation, if it is such resulting entity)
outstanding after such Business Combination (including, without
limitation, an entity that, as a result of such Business
Combination, owns the Corporation or all or substantially all of
the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis,, either directly or through one or more
subsidiaries), except to the extent that such beneficial ownership
existed prior to such Business Combination with respect to the
common stock of the Corporation and the voting securities of the
Corporation, and (c) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors (or similar governing body) of the entity
resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Board
at the earliest of the time of the execution of the initial
agreement providing for such Business Combination, the time of the
action of the Board approving such Business Combination or, if such
approval is required or sought, at the time of action of the
stockholders approving such Business Combination; or
II. any sale,
lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series
of related transactions) of all or a majority of the assets of the
Corporation, whether held directly or indirectly through one or
more subsidiaries (excluding any pledge, mortgage, grant of
security interest, sale-leaseback or similar transaction, but
including any foreclosure sale).
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur pursuant
to clause (A) or (B) above solely because 40% or more of the then
outstanding common stock of the Corporation or the then outstanding
voting securities of the Corporation is or becomes beneficially
owned or is directly or indirectly held or acquired
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by (1) one or more employee benefit plans (or
related trusts) maintained by the Corporation or (2) any one or
more of the founding stockholders of the Corporation.
For purposes of this definition, refer