CONFEDERATE
MOTORS, INC.
Employment
Agreement for H. Matthew Chambers
THIS
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), by and between
CONFEDERATE MOTORS, INC. a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), and H. Matthew Chambers
(“Executive”), is hereby entered into as of October 30,
2008.
W I T
N E S S E T H
WHEREAS,
Executive is currently an employee of the Company;
WHEREAS,
the Company desires to continue to employ Executive in his capacity
as Chief Executive Officer in connection with the conduct of its
business, and Executive desires to accept such employment on the
terms and conditions herein set forth; and
WHEREAS,
the Company and Executive desire to set forth the terms upon which
Executive shall be so employed.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants
contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration the
receipt and adequacy of which the Company and Executive each hereby
acknowledge, the Company and Executive hereby agree as
follows:
The
Company hereby agrees to employ Executive as its Chief Executive
Officer, and Executive hereby agrees to accept such employment and
serve in such capacities, during the Term (as defined in Section 2)
and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement.
The
term of employment of Executive under this Agreement (the
“Term”) shall, unless this Agreement is terminated in
accordance with Section 6 or 7, be a five-year period initially
commencing on the Effective Date. At each anniversary of
the Effective Date, the Term shall automatically be extended by one
year, unless the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to
such anniversary (the “Termination Notice Date”) that
the Term shall not be so extended and, in such
case,
the Term shall terminate on the second anniversary of such
Termination Notice Date. As used herein,
“Effective Date” shall mean the closing date of a
merger between (i) Confederate Motor Company, Inc.
(“Confederate”) and (ii) a subsidiary (the
“Merger Sub”) of Confederate Motors, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, in which the Merger Sub merges with and into
Confederate and Confederate is the surviving
entity. This Agreement shall become effective only when
and if the Effective Date occurs. If the Effective Date
does not occur on or before January 30, 2009, then this Agreement
shall be null and void.
The
provisions of this Section 3 will apply during the Term:
(a)
Generally . Executive shall serve as the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company. Executive shall have
and perform such duties, responsibilities and authorities as are
customary for the Chief Executive Officer of a publicly held
corporation of the size, type, and nature of the Company as they
may exist from time to time and consistent with such position and
status and as the Company’s Board of Directors (the
“Board”) shall from time to time direct, but in no
event shall such duties, responsibilities, and authorities be
reduced from those of Executive prior to the Effective
Date. Executive shall devote such business time and
attention as is necessary to appropriately and efficiently
discharge his duties and responsibilities as set forth
herein.
(b)
Place of Employment . Executive’s principal
place of employment shall be the current corporate offices of the
Company in Birmingham, Alabama. In no event shall the
Executive’s principal place of employment be relocated to any
other location without his prior written consent.
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Salary
and Annual Incentive Compensation.
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As
partial compensation for the services to be rendered hereunder by
Executive, the Company agrees to pay to Executive during the Term
the compensation set forth in this Section 4.
(a)
Base Salary and Guaranteed Cash Bonus . The
Company will pay to Executive during the Term a base salary at the
initial annual rate of $180,000 payable in cash in accordance with
the Company’s usual payroll practices with respect to senior
executives. The base salary shall be determined at least
annually by the Committee (as defined herein); provided that the
base salary may be increased, but not decreased, from that in
effect for the prior year. “Committee” means
the Compensation Committee of the Board, or, if the Company does
not then have a Compensation Committee, the Board. In
addition, the Company will pay to Executive during the Term a
guaranteed annual cash bonus equal to 25% of the annual base
salary, which bonus shall be paid in four substantially equal
quarterly installments, starting with the quarterly installment for
and payable in the second quarter of 2009. Each
quarterly installment shall be paid no later than the end of the
quarter in which the installment is
earned. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the annual
base salary increases during any calendar year, then the guaranteed
annual cash bonus payments in that year shall be increased
accordingly so that the total guaranteed annual cash bonus paid for
that year is equal to 25% of the total base salary for that
year. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) the guaranteed
annual
cash
bonus for 2008 shall be equal to 25% (or such higher percentage, if
any, that the Committee may determine) of the annual base salary in
effect at the beginning of the Term and shall be paid in a single
lump sum payment no later than 60 days after the Effective Date;
(ii) a guaranteed bonus for the first quarter of 2009 equal to 25%
(or such higher percentage, if any, that the Committee may
determine) of the quarterly base salary in effect at the beginning
of the Term and shall be paid in a single lump sum payment no later
than 90 days after the Effective Date; and (iii) the guaranteed
bonus for the second quarter of 2009 shall be payable no later than
120 days after the Effective Date.
(b)
Annual Incentive Compensation . The Company will
pay to Executive during the Term annual cash incentive
compensation, if any, in amounts determined each calendar year by
the Committee. Any such annual cash incentive
compensation payable to Executive for a calendar year shall be paid
in a single lump sum payment during the period starting on
January1, and ending on March 15, of the calendar year following
the calendar year in which the annual cash incentive compensation
is earned. As used herein, “annual cash incentive
compensation” does not include the guaranteed annual cash
bonus contemplated by Section 4(a).
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Long-Term
Compensation, Benefits and Expense Reimbursement
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(a)
Executive Compensation Plans . Executive shall be
entitled during the Term to participate, without discrimination or
duplication, in all executive compensation plans and programs
intended for general participation by senior executives of the
Company, as presently in effect or as they may be modified or added
to by the Company from time to time, subject to the eligibility and
other requirements of such plans and programs, including, without
limitation, the Company’s 2008 Equity Incentive Plan, and any
successor to such plan, any other stock option plans, performance
share plans, management incentive plans, deferred compensation
plans and supplemental retirement plans; provided ,
however , that such plans and programs, in the aggregate,
shall provide Executive with benefits and compensation and
incentive award opportunities substantially no less favorable than
those provided by the Company to Executive under such plans and
programs as in effect on the Effective Date.
(b)
Employee and Executive Benefit Plans . Executive
shall be entitled during the Term to participate, without
discrimination or duplication, in all employee, executive benefit
and special individual plans and programs of the Company, as
presently in effect or as they may be modified or added to by the
Company from time to time, to the extent such plans and programs
are available to other senior executives or employees of the
Company, subject to the eligibility and other requirements of such
plans and programs, including, without limitation, plans providing
health and medical insurance, life insurance, disability insurance
and accidental death or dismemberment insurance, and pension or
other retirement plans, savings plans, vacation and time-off
programs, profit-sharing plans, stock purchase plans and stock
ownership plans; provided , however , that such plans
and programs, in the aggregate, shall provide Executive with
benefits and compensation and incentive award opportunities
substantially no less favorable than those provided by the Company
to Executive under such plans and programs as in effect on the
Effective Date.
(c)
Reimbursement of Expenses . The Company will
promptly reimburse Executive for all reasonable business expenses
and disbursements incurred by Executive in the performance of
Executive’s duties during the Term within 60 days after
Executive submits reasonable evidence of such expenses and
disbursements to the Company.
(d)
Funding of Rabbi Trust . Not later than 30 days
following a Change in Control: (1) the Company shall contribute to
a “rabbi trust” within the contemplation of IRS Revenue
Procedure 92-64 (which trust and its assets shall be located within
the United States) an amount equal to the amount that would be
payable to the Executive under (i), (ii), (iii), and (v) of Section
7(b) (and, if applicable, under the last sentence of the first
grammatical paragaph of Section 7(b)) upon a Termination of
Employment described in Section 7(b), and (2) the trustee of the
rabbi trust shall be irrevocably instructed to pay such amounts
(plus earnings thereon) to the Executive upon the Executive’s
Termination of Employment, if the amounts due to the Executive
hereunder are not otherwise paid to the Executive by the
Company. The Company shall provide to Executive written
evidence of compliance with this Section 5(d) within two business
days after such contribution.
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Termination
Due to Death or Disability.
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Executive’s
employment and the Term shall terminate upon Executive’s
death. The Company may terminate the employment of
Executive as Chief Executive Officer due to Disability (as defined
in Section 8(c)) of Executive, effective upon the expiration of the
30-day period set forth in Section 8(c), absent the actions
referred to therein being taken by Executive to return to service
and Executive’s presentation to the Company of a certificate
of good health.
In the
event of Executive’s Termination of Employment due to death
or Disability, all obligations of the Company and Executive under
Sections 1 through 5 of this Agreement will immediately cease;
provided , however , that the Company will pay
Executive (or, in the case of Executive’s death, his
beneficiaries or estate), and Executive (or, in the case of
Executive’s death, his beneficiaries or estate) will be
entitled to receive, the following:
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The
earned but unpaid portion of annual base salary and guaranteed
annual cash bonus;
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Any
annual cash incentive cash compensation earned, but unpaid, for the
calendar year prior to the calendar year in which such Termination
of Employment occurs,
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An
amount equal to the Severance Annual Incentive Amount, multiplied
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days
Executive was employed in the year of termination and the
denominator of which is the total number of days in the year of
termination,
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All
vested, nonforfeitable amounts owing or accrued at the date of
Executive’s Termination of Employment under any compensation
and benefit plans, programs and arrangements set forth or referred
to in Sections 5(a) and 5(b) in which Executive
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theretofore
participated, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
plans, programs and arrangements (and agreements and documents
thereunder); and
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Reimbursement
of reasonable business expenses and disbursements incurred by
Executive prior to such Termination of Employment, within 60 days
after Executive (or Executive’s representative) submits
reasonable evidence of such expenses and disbursements to the
Company.
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The
Company shall pay the amounts under clauses (i) and (iii) in a
single lump sum payment no later than 30 days after Termination of
Employment. The Company shall pay the amount under
clause (ii) in a single lump sum payment no later than (A) 30 days
after Termination of Employment or (B) such earlier date as
required by Section 4(b).
As
used herein, “Severance Annual Incentive Amount” means
an amount equal to the average annual cash incentive compensation
paid to Executive for the Most Recent Years, except that if
Executive was not eligible to receive or did not receive such
compensation for any year in the Most Recent Years, then
“Severance Annual Incentive Amount” means the target
annual cash incentive compensation for the year of
termination. As used herein, “Most Recent
Years” means the three calendar years immediately preceding
the year of termination; provided , however that if,
at the time of termination Executive has not been employed by the
Company for the entire year in each of the three immediately
calendar years, then “Most Recent Years” means the
immediately preceding calender year(s) (not to exceed two years)
during which Executive was employed for the entire year by the
Company.
In
addition, upon a termination of Executive’s employment due to
death or Disability, stock options then held by Executive will be
exercisable to the extent and for such periods indicated in, and
otherwise be governed by, the plans and programs (and agreements
and other documents thereunder) pursuant to which such stock
options were granted. Furthermore, for the period
extending from such termination until Executive reaches age 65,
Executive shall continue to participate in all health, medical and
life insurance plans, programs and arrangements (including those
self-funded by the Company) under Section 5(b) in which Executive
was participating immediately prior to termination
(“Insurance Plans”), as if Executive had continued in
employment with the Company during such period. To the
extent that the Insurance Plans do not allow such continued
participation, the Company shall make cash payments to Executive
equivalent on an after-tax basis to the value of the benefits
Executive would have received under the Insurance Plans
if Executive had so continued in the employment of the
Company during such period and had continued to participate in the
Insurance Plans, provided that (i) the value of any
insurance-provided benefits (including under self-funded Insurance
Plans) will be based on the premium cost to Executive, which shall
not exceed the highest risk premium charged by a carrier having an
investment grade or better credit rating, and (ii) such cash
payments by the Company shall be made within 60 days after the
Executive submits reasonable evidence to the Company of
Executive’s payment of such premiums.
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Termination
of Employment For Reasons Other Than Death or
Disability.
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(a)
Termination by the Company for Cause and Termination by
Executive Other Than For Good Reason . In accordance
with the provisions of this Section 7(a), the Company may terminate
the employment of Executive as Chief Executive Officer for Cause at
any time prior to a Change in Control, and Executive may terminate
his employment as Chief Executive Officer voluntarily for reasons
other than Good Reason (as defined in Section 8(d)) at any
time.
Upon
Termination of Employment by the Company for Cause or by the
Executive for reasons other than Good Reason, the Term will
immediately terminate, and all obligations of the Company and
Executive under Sections 1 through 5 of this Agreement will
immediately cease; provided , however , that the
Company shall pay Executive, and Executive shall be entitled to
receive, the following:
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The
earned but unpaid portion of annual base salary and guaranteed
annual cash bonus;
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Any
annual cash incentive cash compensation earned, but unpaid, for the
calendar year prior to the calendar year in which occurs such
Termination of Employment.
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All
vested, nonforfeitable amounts owing or accrued at the date of such
Termination of Employment under any compensation and benefit plans,
programs and arrangements set forth or referred to in Sections 5(a)
and 5(b) in which Executive theretofore participated, in accordance
with the terms and conditions of the plans, programs and
arrangements (and agreements and documents thereunder);
and
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Reimbursement
of reasonable business expenses and disbursements incurred by
Executive prior to such termination of employment, within 60 days
after Executive submits reasonable evidence of such expenses and
disbursements to the Company.
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The
Company shall pay the amount under clause (i) in a single lump sum
payment no later than 30 days after Termination of Employment. The
Company shall pay the amount under clause (ii) in a single lump sum
payment no later than (A) 30 days after Termination of Employment
or (B) such earlier date as required by Section 4(b).
(b)
Termination by the Company Without Cause and Termination by
Executive for Good Reason . In accordance with the
provisions of this Section 7(b), the Company may terminate the
employment of Executive without Cause, including after a Change in
Control, upon 90 days’ written notice to Executive, and
Executive may terminate his employment with the Company for Good
Reason upon 90 days’ written notice to the Company;
provided , however , that the Company shall have 30
days after receipt of such notice to remedy the basis for such Good
Reason. Termination of Employment by Executive shall not
be a termination for Good Reason unless such termination occurs
during the two (2) year period following the initial occurrence of
one or more events constituting a Good
Reason. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may
terminate Executive without Cause and without providing 90
days’ written notice to Executive provided that the Company
pays Executive the portion of his then-current annual base salary
under Section 4(a) for such 90-day period in a single lump sum
payment on 30 th
day
following such Termination of
Employment
and credits Executive with service for such 90 days for purposes of
determining amounts payable under Sections 7(b)(ii), (iii) and
(v).
Upon a
Termination of Employment by the Company without Cause, or a
Termination of Employment by Executive for Good Reason, the Term
will immediately terminate and all obligations of the parties under
Sections 1 through 5 of this Agreement will immediately cease,
except that the Company shall pay Executive, and Executive shall be
entitled to receive, the following (in addition to any amount
payable under the last sentence of the first grammatical paragraph
of this Section 7(b)):
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A cash
payment in an amount equal to the product of (x) the sum of (A)
Executive’s annual base salary under Section 4(a) at the
annual rate in effect immediately prior to termination plus (B) the
guaranteed annual cash bonus under Section 4(a) at the annual rate
in effect immediately prior to termination, plus (C) the Severance
Annual Incentive Amount (as defined in Section 6 of this
agreement), multiplied by (y) 3;
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The
earned but unpaid portion of annual base salary and guaranteed cash
bonus;
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Any
annual cash incentive cash compensation earned, but unpaid, for the
calendar year prior to the calendar year in which occurs such
termination of employment;
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All
vested, nonforfeitable amounts owing or accrued at the date of
Executive’s Termination of Employment under any compensation
and benefit plans, programs and arrangements set forth or referred
to in Sections 5(a) and 5(b) in which Executive theretofore
participated, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
plans, programs and arrangements (and agreements and documents
thereunder) pursuant to which such compensation and benefits were
granted;
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An
amount equal to the Severance Annual Incentive Amount, which,
unless a termination occurs during the period beginning on the date
of a Change in Control and ending two years after a Change in
Control, shall be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which
is the number of days Executive was employed in the year of
termination and the denominator of which is the total number of
days in the year of termination; and
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Reimbursement
of reasonable business expenses and disbursements incurred by
Executive prior to such termination of employment, within 60 days
after Executive submits reasonable evidence of such expenses and
disbursements to the Company.
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The
Company shall pay the amounts under clauses (i), (iii) and (v) in a
single lump sum payment no later than 30 days after Termination of
Employment. The Company shall pay the amount under
clause (ii) in a single lump sum payment no later than (A) 30 days
after Termination of Employment or (B) such earlier date as
required by Section 4(b).
In
addition, upon a Termination of Employment by the Company without
Cause, or Termination of Employment by the Executive for Good
Reason, stock options then held by Executive will be exercisable to
the extent and for such periods indicated in, and otherwise be
governed by, the plans and programs (and agreements and other
documents thereunder) pursuant to which such stock options were
granted. Furthermore, for a period of one (1) year after
such termination, Executive shall continue to participate in the
Insurance Plans (as defined in Section 6) as if Executive had
continued in employment with the Company during such
period. To the extent that the Insurance Plans do not
allow such continued participation, the Company shall make cash
payments to Executive equivalent on an after-tax basis to the value
of the benefits Executive would have received under the Insurance
Plans if Ex
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