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Exhibit
10.1
EMPLOYMENT AND
NON-INTERFERENCE AGREEMENT
This Employment and
Non-Interference Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2007 (the
“ Agreement ”), is by and between Alfred
Giammarino (the “ Executive ”) and Sensus
Metering Systems Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “
Company ”), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Sensus Metering Systems (Bermuda 2) Ltd., a company organized
under the laws of Bermuda (“ Bermuda 2 ”),
which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sensus Metering Systems
(Bermuda 1) Ltd., a company organized under the laws of
Bermuda (“ Holdings ”).
W I T N E S S E T H
:
WHEREAS, the Company wishes
to obtain the future services of the Executive for the Company and
its divisions and direct and indirect subsidiaries; and
WHEREAS, the Executive is
willing, upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, to provide
services hereunder; and
WHEREAS, the Company wishes
to secure the Executive’s non-interference, upon the terms
and conditions herein set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained
herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
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1. |
Nature of Employment; Term of Employment . |
The “ Term of
Employment ” shall commence as of the date hereof, and
extend to December 31, 2009, unless sooner terminated as
hereinafter provided; provided , that such term shall
continue for the twelve month period following December 31,
2009, and for each twelve month period thereafter, unless at least
90 days prior to the scheduled expiration date, either the
Executive or the Company notifies the other of its decision not to
continue such term. Should the Executive’s employment be
earlier terminated by the Company pursuant to
Section 4(a) , by the Executive pursuant to
Section 4(b) or mutually by both parties pursuant to
Section 4(c) , the Term of Employment shall end on the
date of such earlier termination. Nothing contained herein shall be
deemed to be an obligation on the part of the Company to extend the
Term of Employment. During the Term of Employment, the Company
agrees to retain Executive in its employ, and Executive agrees to
remain in the employ of the Company, as Chief Financial Officer.
Executive will carry out his duties as Chief Financial Officer with
respect to all the divisions and direct and indirect subsidiaries
and joint ventures of Holdings which companies, together with the
Company, shall be referred to collectively as the “
Company Group ”), subject to the direction of the
Chief Operating Officer.
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2. |
Extent of Employment . |
(a) During the Term of
Employment, the Executive shall perform his obligations hereunder
faithfully and to the best of his ability under the direction of
the Chief Operating Officer to which the Executive shall directly
report, and shall abide by the rules, customs and usages from time
to time established by the Company or Holdings.
(b) During the Term of
Employment, the Executive shall devote all of his business time,
energy and skill to the performance of his duties, responsibilities
and obligations hereunder (except for vacation periods and
reasonable periods of illness or other incapacity), consistent with
past practices and norms in similar positions. The Executive will
have such authority and power as are inherent to the undertakings
applicable to his position as Chief Financial Officer and which are
necessary to carry out his responsibilities and the duties required
of him hereunder.
(c) Nothing contained herein
shall require Executive to follow any directive or to perform any
act which would violate any laws, ordinances, regulations or rules
of any governmental, regulatory or administrative body, agent or
authority, any court or judicial authority, or any public, private
or industry regulatory authority (collectively, “
Regulations ”). Executive will not (i) breach or
violate any provision of any Regulations in any material respect or
(ii) otherwise act in any manner which might reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the ongoing business,
operations, conditions, prospects or other business relationships
or properties of any company in the Company Group or
Holdings.
(a) Base Salary .
During the Term of Employment, the Company shall pay compensation
to Executive as base compensation for his services hereunder, in
substantially equal bi-weekly installments, an annual base salary
of $295,000 (the “ Base Salary ”). The Board of
Directors of Holdings (the “ Board of Directors
”) shall annually, and based on the recommendation of the
Chief Operating Officer, determine whether the Base Salary should
be increased and, if so, the amount of such increase.
(b) Annual Bonus .
During the Term of Employment, in addition to the Base Salary,
commencing the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 2007, The
Company shall pay to the Executive an annual bonus or performance
incentive compensation, at a target level of 40% of
Executive’s Base Salary, subject to such performance and
other conditions as the Chief Operating Officer shall determine on
an annual basis (the “ Annual Bonus ”) pursuant
to the Company’s Management Incentive Program and guaranteed
and prorated, based on hire date, for the fiscal year beginning on
April 1, 2007.
(a) Company
Termination . Subject to the Company’s obligations to
make the payments contemplated by Section 4(d) , the
Term of Employment may be terminated at any time by the
Company:
(i) upon the death of
Executive;
(ii) in the event that
because of physical or mental disability the Executive is unable to
perform, and does not perform, as certified by a mutually agreeable
competent medical physician, his material duties hereunder for 180
days in any continuous 210 day period;
(iii) for Cause or Material
Breach; or
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(iv) for any other reason not
referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) including
nonrenewal of the Term by the Company under Section 1
or no reason, and the Company shall not be required to specify a
reason for the termination, provided that termination of the
Executive’s employment by the Company shall be deemed to have
occurred under this clause (iv) only if it is not for reasons
described in clauses (i) through (iii) such that this
Agreement, subject to the provisions of Section 4(d) ,
shall be construed as terminable at will by the Company.
Executive acknowledges that
no representations or promises have been made concerning the
grounds for termination or the future operation of the
Company’s business, and that, except as set forth in the
following sentence, nothing contained herein or otherwise stated by
or on behalf of the Company modifies or amends the right of the
Company to terminate Executive at any time, with or without Cause
or for Material Breach. Termination shall become effective
30 days after written notice, or, if for Cause or Material
Breach, upon the delivery by the Company to the Executive of
written notice specifying the basis of such termination and, if for
Cause or Material Breach, the specific reasons
therefore.
(b) Executive
Termination . Subject to the Company’s obligations to
make the payments contemplated by Section 4(d) , the
Term of Employment may be terminated at any time by the
Executive:
(i) upon the death of
Executive;
(ii) in the event that
because of physical or mental disability the Executive is unable to
perform, and does not perform, as certified by a mutually agreeable
competent medical physician, his material duties hereunder for 180
days in any continuous 210 day period;
(iii)(A) under circumstances
involving a material reduction in Executive’s position,
authority, base compensation or benefits or a hostile or adverse
work environment, in each case taken as a whole, or
(B) from and after the date hereof through
December 31, 2009, a requirement that Executive relocate
to an area outside a radius of sixty (60) miles of the
Company’s current headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina,
without the consent of Executive; or
(iv) voluntarily or for any
reason not referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) or no
reason or non renewal of this Agreement by either Executive or the
Company (a “ Voluntary Termination ”), after
30 days’ prior written notice to the Company and its
Board of Directors, provided, that the expiration of the Term of
Employment pursuant to Section 1 , or any renewal term
thereof, will not be considered a Voluntary Termination.
(c) Mutual Termination
. Subject to the Company’s obligations to make the payments
contemplated by Section 4(d) , the Term of Employment
may be terminated at any time by the mutual agreement of the
Company and the Executive. Any termination of the Executive’s
employment by mutual agreement of the parties will be memorialized
by an agreement which is reduced to writing and signed by the
Executive and a duly appointed officer of the Company.
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(d) Severance . If
Executive’s employment is terminated for any reason
whatsoever, then Executive shall be entitled to (x) accrued
and unpaid base salary and benefits (including sick pay, vacation
pay and benefits under Section 6 ) with respect to the
period prior to termination, (y) reimbursement for expenses
under Section 5 with respect to such period, and
(z) any other benefits (including COBRA) required by law to be
provided after termination of employment under the circumstances.
Except as may otherwise be expressly provided to the contrary in
this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as
requiring the Executive to be treated as employed by the Company
for purposes of any employee benefit plan following the date of the
termination of the Executive’s Term of Employment. In the
event Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant
to:
(i) Sections 4(a)(i)
[Death] or 4(a)(ii) [Disability] by the Company, or
Sections 4(b)(i) [Death], 4(b)(ii) [Disability], or
4(c) [Mutual Termination] by the Executive, the Company will
also pay to Executive (or his estate or representative) the
Executive’s Base Salary for a 12 month period following the
actual date the Term of Employment is terminated; and
(ii)
Section 4(a)(iii) [Cause or Material Breach] by the
Company or 4(b)(iv) [Any or No Reason] by the Executive,
there will be no additional amounts owing by the Company to
Executive under this Agreement from and after such termination;
and
(iii)
Section 4(a)(iv) [Any or No Reason] by the Company or
Section 4(b)(iii) [Material Reduction &
Relocation] by the Executive, will pay to Executive the
Executive’s base salary through December 31, 2009, the
balance of the term of the original Agreement, or for a 12 month
period, whichever is longer; provided , however , if
the termination of employment occurs after a Change of Control such
payment will be through December 31, 2009, the balance of the
term of the original Agreement, or for a 24 month period, whichever
is longer.
(e) Continuing
Provisions . Termination of the Term of Employment will not
terminate Sections 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ,
12 through 24 , and related definitions, or any other
provisions not associated specifically with the Term of
Employment.
(f) Mitigation . In
the event of termination, the Executive shall not have a duty to
mitigate the Company’s payment obligations under
Section 4(d) by seeking alternative employment;
provided , however , that if the Executive does
accept alternative employment, payment obligations under
Section 4(d) shall be subject to offset by any amounts
of base and bonus compensation earned by Executive through such
alternate employment.
(g) Company Election .
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, during the
period beginning on the date of delivery of a written notice by the
Company or the Executive, as the case may be, indicating that the
Term of Employment is to be terminated, and ending on the actual
date the Term of Employment is terminated, which, in any event,
shall be no later than 90 days following the delivery of such
notice, the Executive shall continue to perform his duties as set
forth in this Agreement, and shall also perform such services for
the Company as are necessary and appropriate for a smooth
transition to the Executive’s successor, if any.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section 4(g) , the Company may suspend the
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Executive from performing his duties
under this Agreement following the delivery of a written notice by
the Executive providing for the Executive’s resignation, or
delivery by the Company of a notice providing for the
Executive’s termination of employment for any reason;
provided , however , that during the period of
suspension (which shall end upon the actual date the Term of
Employment is terminated, which in any event shall be no later than
90 days following the delivery of such notice), the Executive shall
continue to be treated as employed by the Company for other
purposes, and his rights to compensation or benefits shall not be
reduced by reason of the suspension.
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5. |
Reimbursement of Expenses . |
During the Term of
Employment, subject to the approval of the Chief Operating Officer,
the Company shall reimburse Executive for reasonable and documented
travel, entertainment and other expenses reasonably incurred by
Executive in connection with the performance of his duties
hereunder and, in each case, in accordance with the rules, customs
and usages promulgated by Holdings, the Company from time to time
in effect.
(a) Vacation . The
Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks paid
vacation.
(b) Company Car . The
Company will provide Executive with access to a vehicle as per the
provisions of the Sensus Metering Systems Executive Car
Policy.
(c) Relocation .
During the first (12) months of employment the Executive shall
be entitled to relocate his primary residence to the Raleigh, NC
area in accordance with the provisions of the Sensus Metering
Systems Relocation Policy.
(d) Insurance and Other
Plans . The Executive shall be entitled to participate in and
be covered by any insurance plan (including but not limited to
medical, dental, health, life, accident, hospitalization and
disability), profit sharing or other employee benefit plan of the
Company, to the same extent and on the same terms as such benefits
are or may be provided by the Company, at the sole discretion of
the Board of Directors, from time to time to other members of
senior management.
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7. |
Non-Competition/Non-Disclosure Provisions . |
(a) Non-Competition .
In consideration of this Agreement, the Executive covenants and
agrees that during the Term of Employment and, for a period of two
(2) years from the date of termination of the Term of
Employment (the “ Restricted Period ”), the
Executive shall not, subject to this Section 7 ,
without the express written approval of the Board of Directors of
the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or a series of
transactions, own, manage, operate, control, invest or acquire an
interest in, whether as a proprietor, partner, stockholder, member,
lender, director, officer, employee, joint venturer, investor,
lessor, supplier, customer, agent, representative or other
participant, or otherwise engage or participate in, whether as a
proprietor, partner, stockholder, member, lender, director,
officer, employee, joint venturer, investor, lessor, supplier,
customer, agent, representative or other participant, any business
which competes, directly or indirectly, with the Business in the
Market (“ Competitive Business ”) without
regard
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to (A) whether the Competitive
Business has its office, manufacturing or other business facilities
within or without the Market, (B) whether any of the
activities of the Executive occur or are performed within or
without the Market or (C) whether the Executive resides, or
reports to an office, within or without the Market; provided
, however , that (x) the Executive may, anywhere in the
Market, directly or indirectly, in one or a series of transactions,
own, invest or acquire an interest in up to two percent
(2%) of the capital stock of a corporation whose capital stock
is traded publicly, or that (y) the Executive may accept
employment with a successor company to the Company.
(b) Non-Solicitation .
If the Executive’s employment is terminated, then, subject to
this Section 7 , the Executive shall not during the
Restricted Period, without the Company’s prior written
consent, (A) directly or indirectly, in one or a series of
transactions, recruit, solicit or otherwise induce or influence any
proprietor, partner, stockholder, member, lender, director,
officer, employee, sales agent, joint venturer, investor, lessor,
customer, supplier, agent, representative or any other person which
has a business relationship with the Company Group or had a
business relationship with the Company Group within the twenty-four
(24) month period preceding the date of the incident in
question, to discontinue, reduce or modify such employment, agency
or business relationship with the Company Group, or (B) employ
or seek to employ or cause any Competitive Business to employ or
seek to employ any person or agent who is then (or was at any time
within twelve (12) months prior to the date the Executive or
the Competitive Business employs or seeks to employ such person)
employed or retained by the Company Group. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Executive from
providing a letter of recommendation to an employee with respect to
a future employment opportunity.
(c) Non-Disclosure .
The Executive further agrees, during and after the Term of
Employment, the Restricted Period and thereafter, that the
Executive will not, directly or indirectly in one or a series of
transactions disclose to any person or use or otherwise exploit for
his own benefit or for the benefit of anyone other than the Company
Group any Confidential Information (as defined below) whether
prepared by the Executive or not provided, however, that any
Confidential Information may be disclosed to officers,
representatives, employees and
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