EXHIBIT
10.4
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
THIS
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as
of the 1 st
day of
June, 2008 (“Effective Date”), by and between HELIX
WIND, INC., a Nevada corporation (“Helix” or
“Company”), and SCOTT WEINBRANDT
(“Executive”), and is made with reference to the
following considerations and terms:
A.
As of
the February 1, 2008, Employee has been employed by Company in
various capacities, and as of the Effective Date will become
employed by Company as the President.
B.
To
foster loyalty to the Company, to free Executive from any
day-to-day concerns about job security with the Company, and to
encourage Employee to devote his or her undivided attention and
energy to furthering the interests of the Company, it is desirable
that Executive shall have an employment contract with the Company,
and that Executive shall thus have a greater expectation of either
continuing employment or a compensating severance payment for a
finite period into the future than Executive would have under a
strictly at-will employment status with the
Company.
C.
In
light of the foregoing promises, and in consideration of the mutual
covenants contained herein and other valuable consideration the
receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the
Company and Executive (each individually, a “Party”,
and collectively, the “Parties”) hereby agree as
follows:
II.
Employment Term and Duties .
A.
Initial Term . Company agrees to employ
Executive, and Executive hereby accepts such employment, in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, commencing on the
Effective Date and ending December 31, 2010 (“Initial
Term”), unless this Agreement is earlier terminated as
provided herein.
1.
Automatic Extensions . Unless terminated earlier,
this Agreement shall be automatically extended for additional
periods of three (3) years each (an “Additional
Period”) at the end of the Initial Term and any Additional
Period of this Agreement. The term of this Agreement shall include
any Additional Period for which this Agreement has been
automatically extended.
III.
Duties and Responsibilities of Executive .
A.
Performance of Duties . Executive shall serve as
the President of the Company and, as such, he shall perform all
duties commonly incident to such office. Executive shall
work together with the Chief Executive Officer to manage and be
responsible for all operational departments and strategic
responsibilities related to the Company, including, without
limitation, day to day responsibility for finance, HR, legal,
sales, marketing, engineering, manufacturing, R&D, IS and IT
reporting. Executive shall report to and perform such
additional duties as may be designated by the Board of Directors
(the “Board”) and/or the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company from time to time. In addition, the Executive
shall also serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the
Company, with an initial term of three (3) years. The
Executive agrees to serve the Company faithfully and to the best of
his ability, and to devote that amount of time, attention and
effort to the Company which is necessary in order to satisfy the
requests of the Board. The Executive further agrees (i)
to use his best reasonable efforts to preserve intact the goodwill,
customer relations and employee relations of Helix and (ii) to take
such specified actions as the Company may reasonably request with
respect to such customers and employees of Helix as the Company may
identify. The Executive hereby confirms that he is under
no contractual commitments inconsistent with his obligations set
forth in this Agreement.
B.
Competitive Activities Prohibited . The Executive
acknowledges that the Company has invested substantial time, money
and resources in the development and retention of its Confidential
Information (defined herein), customers, accounts and business
partners, and further acknowledges that during the course of the
Executive’s employment with the Company the Executive has had
and will have access to the Company’s Confidential
Information, and will be introduced to existing and prospective
customers, accounts and business partners of the
Company. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that any
and all “goodwill” associated with any existing or
prospective customer, account or business partner belongs
exclusively to the Company, including, but not limited to, any
goodwill created as a result of direct or indirect contacts or
relationships between the Executive and any existing or prospective
customers, accounts or business partners. Additionally,
the parties acknowledge and agree that Executive possesses skills
that are special, unique or extraordinary and that the value of the
Company depends upon his use of such skills on its
behalf. In recognition of this, the Executive covenants
and agrees that during the operation of this Agreement, and, if
applicable, the Severance Period (defined herein), Executive shall
not, without the prior written authorization of the Board, directly
or indirectly, engage in any other activity which is directly
competitive to the Company’s business in any existing or
proposed geographic region. Nothing in this Agreement
shall prevent Executive from engaging in any voluntary or
for-profit activity within or outside the wind energy industry that
is not competitive with Company.
A.
Base Salary, Accrued Salary, and Signing Bonus
. As compensation for all services rendered by the
Executive under this Agreement, the Company shall pay to the
Executive compensation comprising Base Salary, Accrued Salary, and
a Signing Bonus, as set forth in Exhibit “A” hereto,
and subject to the following:
1.
Accrued Salary . Notwithstanding the foregoing,
unpaid monthly compensation due to Executive for work performed
from February 1, 2008 through May 31, 2008 in the amount of
$33,333.32 (calculated at the rate of $8,333.33 per month for the
four month period at issue) will remain accrued and unpaid
(“Accrued Salary”). In addition, if in the
discretion of management there is not sufficient cash flow to pay
any portion of the increase in Base Salary beginning August 1, 2008
(“Accrued Increase in Base Salary”), such Accrued
Increase in Base Salary shall be accrued and remain
unpaid. At such time as the Company, in the discretion
of management, has secured sufficient assets to pay the Accrued
Salary and/or the Accrued Increase in Base Salary, the same shall
immediately be paid to Executive.
2.
Payment of Base Salary . Base Salary shall be
payable monthly in accordance with the Company’s regular
payroll policies, and shall be exclusive of and not in lieu of
other compensation benefits and bonus(es) payable pursuant to this
Agreement. Payments will be calculated pro rata if payment for less
than a full month is due.
3.
Withholdings . All compensation paid pursuant to
this Agreement shall be subject to all applicable federal, state
and local taxes, including, without limitation, income tax and
other employment taxes required to be withheld with respect to
compensation paid by a corporation to its employees.
4.
Annual Compensation Review . The Board shall
review Executive’s Base Salary and Incentive Bonus prior to
the end of each calendar year, for the purpose of determining
whether any increase (but not decrease) is appropriate beyond any
increase pursuant to the schedule above. The Board shall
perform an annual evaluation of Executive’s performance and
effectiveness. Among the factors taken into account will
be success in meeting milestones and budgets previously established
by the Board, increase in net profit from the previous year and
short and long term benefit accruing to
shareholders. The Board will consider any increases in
compensation taking into account Executive's contribution to the
increase in profit and shareholder value and available cash
flow.
B.
Bonus and Incentive Pay . Executive shall be
entitled to receive incentive and bonus compensation (collectively,
“Bonus Pay”), as follows:
1.
Incentive Compensation . Executive shall be
entitled to annual Incentive Compensation in accordance with the
Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan ( the
“Plan”) to be established by the Board of Directors
and/or Compensation Committee for each calendar
year. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, in the event
Executive is terminated prior to the end of a calendar quarter, he
shall be entitled to participate in the Plan on a pro rata
basis equal to the number of days employed in the quarter with the
Company divided by 90. Incentive Compensation shall be
evaluated by the Compensation Committee and paid quarterly, based
upon the Company’s success in achieving the Incentive Goals
set forth in the Plan. On or before January 31 of each
calendar year, the Compensation Committee shall review the Plan
and, in its sole discretion, determine to leave it in place or
modify the Incentive Goals and/or compensation payable thereunder
for the remainder of such calendar year.
2.
Annual Bonus . During the term of this Agreement,
Company also may pay to Executive additional bonuses, from time to
time, the payment, amounts and timing of which shall be determined
annually by the Board or Compensation Committee, in its sole
discretion.
C.
Fringe Benefits . Solely during the Period of
Employment, the Company shall provide the following fringe benefits
to the Executive:
1.
Vacation . Executive shall be entitled to four
(4) weeks paid vacation each year in addition to all holidays
recognized by the California State and federal government, with
such vacation being fully earned and accrued as of the first day of
each such employment year.
2.
Insurance . The Company shall provide Executive
with health and medical, dental, optical, life, and disability
insurance consistent with the coverage offered by the Company to
its other Executives. The Company shall pay
Executive’s current health & medical, dental, life
insurance, disability and optical plan premiums for at least three
months or until such time as the Executive has been accepted by the
respective plan into the Company’s new program without
exclusions or waiting periods for benefits.
3.
Business Expenses Reimbursements . During the
term of this Agreement, Company shall reimburse Executive promptly
for all reasonable business expenses incurred by Executive whether
or not deductible by Company for income tax purposes, including
without limitation, travel, entertainment, parking, business
meetings, industry membership dues, cellular telephones and usage
charges, in-home office equipment (including, without limitation;
telephone, facsimile, laptop, printer, internet, and e-mail
service), and such other business expenses reasonably incurred by
Executive in the pursuit and furtherance of the Company’s
business. Such expenses shall be reimbursed only upon
presentation to the Company of appropriate documentation
substantiating such expense.
D.
Equity Participation . Effective upon execution of this
Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to participate in the
Company’s 2008 Omnibus Stock Plan (“2008 Stock
Plan”) and shall be granted an Incentive Stock Option to
purchase the number of shares of the Company Common Stock (the
“2008 Option Shares”) equal to 8.75% of those common
shares issued and outstanding after the closing of series A
financing (post-dilution), at an exercise price equal to the price
specified in the series A offering, in accordance with a Notice of
Grant and Stock Option Agreement to be executed by Executive and
the Company, according to the terms and conditions of the 2008
Stock Plan.
1.
Vesting of Options . The 2008 Option Shares will
vest in the following manner:
a. Forty
percent (40%) upon execution of the 2008 Stock Plan;
b.
twenty percent (20%) on December 31, 2008;
c. twenty
percent (20%) on December 31, 2009; and
d. twenty
percent (20%) on December 31, 2010
4.
Accelerated Vesting . In the event there is a
Change of Control (as defined herein) or Company terminates the
Executive’s employment during the Term of Employment other
than pursuant to Section V.C. (described below), or if
Executive terminates his employment pursuant to Section V.F
(described below), all unvested Stock Options granted to Executive
pursuant to the 2008 Stock Plan will immediately vest, as further
described in Executive’s Stock Option Agreement.
5.
“ Change of Control ” shall mean a change in
ownership or control of the Company effected through any of the
following transactions:
a.
a
merger, consolidation or reorganization approved by the
Company’s stockholders, UNLESS securities representing more
than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
voting securities of the successor corporation are immediately
thereafter beneficially owned, directly or indirectly and in
substantially the same proportion, by the persons who beneficially
owned the Company’s outstanding voting securities immediately
prior to such transaction;
b.
any
stockholder-approved transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Company’s assets; or
c.
the
acquisition, directly or indirectly by any person or related group
of persons (other than the Company or a person or company that
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under
common control with, the Company), of beneficial ownership (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934)
of securities possession more than fifty percent (50%) of the total
combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities
pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the
Company’s stockholders which the Board recommends such
stockholders accept.
6.
Piggy-Back Registration : Executive shall be
entitled to “piggy-back” registration rights on
registrations of the Company Common Stock; subject to the right,
however, of the Company and its underwriters, in their sole
discretion, to reduce the number of shares proposed to be
registered pro rata with the other holders of the Company’s
Common Stock in view of market conditions and customary lock-up and
stand-off provisions.. The Company shall bear
registration expenses (exclusive of underwriting discounts and
commissions and special counsel of the selling shareholders) of all
demand and piggy-back registrations. The
registration rights may be transferred provided that the Company is
given written notice thereof and provided that the transfer is in
connection with a transfer of all securities of the
transferor.
7.
Reload Option : In the event this Agreement is renewed or
extended for an additional Term as provided in Section
II.A.1 , the Company shall grant to Executive a further Option
to purchase additional shares of the Company Common Stock (a
“Reload Option”). Any such Reload Option (i)
shall be for a number of shares equal to 2.334% of the then issued
and outstanding shares of capital Stock of the Company, on a fully
diluted basis; (ii) shall have a Term of five (5)
years; (iii) shall have an exercise price which is equal to one
hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Stock
subject to the Reload Option on the date of renewal or extension;
and (iv) shall otherwise be granted and exercisable on terms and
conditions substantially identical to those applicable to the 2008
Option Shares. Any such Reload Option shall be subject
to such other terms and conditions as the Board or Committee may
determine.
V.
Termination of Employment .
A.
Notice . Executive’s employment with the
Company may be terminated by the Company With or Without Cause,
upon written notice (i) during the Initial Term, equal to the
remainder of the Initial Term or three hundred and sixty five (365)
days, whichever is greater; and (ii) during any Additional Terms,
equal to three hundred and sixty five (365) days (in either case,
the “Notice Period”).
B.
Termination Without Cause . The Com