Exhibit
10.1
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “
Agreement ”), dated as of September 1, 2006, is
entered into among FBO Air, Inc. (the “ Company
”), and Keith P. Bleier (“ Executive
”).
Recitals
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to employ Executive
and Executive wishes to be employed by the Company, on the terms
and conditions set forth below.
THEREFORE, the parties agree as
follows:
1.
Employment
Duties . During the Term (as defined in paragraph
2 below), the Company will employ Executive as Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Executive
will devote substantially all of his business time and attention to
the performance of his duties under this Agreement. Executive shall
have the duties, rights and responsibilities normally associated
with his position with the Company, together with such other
reasonable duties consistent with Executive’s position and
relating to the operation of the business of the Company and its
affiliates as may be assigned to him from time to time by the
Chairman or Chief Executive Officer of the Company or the Board of
Directors of the Company. Executive hereby agrees to promote and
develop all business opportunities that come to his attention
relating to the current or anticipated future business of the
Company, in a manner consistent with the best interest of the
Company and with his duties under this Agreement. As used herein,
the term “business opportunity” shall not include
business opportunities involving investment in publicly traded
stocks, bonds or other securities, or other investments of a
personal nature.
2.
Term
.
The term of Executive’s
employment under this Agreement (the “ Term ”)
will begin on September 15, 2006 and will continue, subject to the
termination provisions set forth in paragraph 5 below, until
the third anniversary of such date; provided ,
however , that this Agreement will automatically renew for
additional one-year periods unless either party gives written
notice to the other not to extend the Term not less than 90 days
prior to the then next upcoming expiration date.
a. Salary . During each year of the Term, Executive will
receive a salary at the annual rate of $185,000 (the “
Base Salary ”), which amount shall increase by 5% on
each anniversary date during the term of this Agreement. The Base
Salary shall be payable in equal semi-monthly installments. The
Board of Directors of the Company may increase such salary at any
time and from time to time.
b. Incentive Bonus . In addition to Base Salary, the Executive
shall be entitled to an annual performance bonus payable within 120
days after the end of each year ended December 31 in an amount
which shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board of
Directors taking into account such factors concerning the
performance of the Company and Executive and Executive’s
overall compensation level as shall be determined by the Board of
Directors. The primary criteria for the amount of the performance
bonus will be the operating results of the Company, which factors
shall be consistent with those provided to other executives
similarly situated within the Company. The amount of the
performance bonus shall be determined in the sole discretion of the
Board of Directors, but shall not be less than the amount provided
to other similarly situated executives, and Executive shall not be
entitled to any performance bonus unless and until such performance
bonus is approved by the Board of Directors.
4.
Fringe
Benefits . In addition to the other compensation payable
pursuant to this Agreement, during the Term:
a. Standard Benefits . Executive will be entitled to receive such
fringe benefits and perquisites, including medical and life
insurance, as are generally made available from time to time to
senior management employees and executives of the Company and to
participate in any pension, profit-sharing, stock option or similar
plan or program established from time to time by the Company for
the benefit of its senior management employees, provided ,
that such benefits, perquisites and plans shall be at the same
level or better, in the aggregate, than those made available
generally to similarly situated employees of the Company. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company agrees to (i)
pay premium expenses on behalf of Executive and family for medical,
dental and vision insurance coverage; (ii) provide an automobile
allowance of $700 per month plus the cost of insurance for one
vehicle; (iii) provide and pay for term life insurance insuring the
life of Executive during the term of this Agreement in the amount
of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00), with one-half (1/2) of the
proceeds thereof directed to such beneficiary or beneficiaries as
Executive may from time to time appoint and one-half (1/2) the
proceeds thereof directed to the Company.
b. Vacation . In addition to standard Company holidays, the
Executive shall be entitled each year to a vacation of three (3)
weeks, during which time his compensation shall be paid in full.
Each vacation shall be taken at such time as to minimize its affect
on the operations of the Company.
c. Business Expenses . The Company will pay or reimburse Executive
for all business-related expenses incurred by Executive in the
course of his performance of duties under this Agreement, subject
to the procedures established by the Company from time to time with
respect to incurrence, substantiation, reasonableness and
approval.
d.
Stock Options
. Executive shall be entitled to
receive an Option to purchase shares of the Company’s Common
Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Common Stock
”), as follows:
250,000 shares
on the date hereof;
250,000 shares
on the first anniversary of the date hereof; and
250,000 shares
on the second anniversary of the date hereof.
The price for the initial tranche shall be $0.60
per share. The per share price for the remaining tranches will be
the fair market value of the Common Stock as of the close of
business on the day immediately preceding each respective grant
date. Each tranche shall be vested after one year and the executive
will have five years to acquire the stock from the date of vesting.
So long as it may be done lawfully, the manner of acquisition of
stock shall be structured as to minimize adverse tax consequences
to Executive.
Additional options may be granted by
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company at
its discretion.
5.
Termination of
Employment .
a. Death and Disability . Executive’s employment under this
Agreement will terminate immediately upon his death and upon 30
days’ prior written notice given by the Company in the event
Executive is determined to be “permanently disabled”
(as defined below).
b. For Cause . The Company may terminate Executive’s
employment under this Agreement for “Cause” (as defined
below), upon providing Executive 30 days’ prior written
notice of termination, which notice will describe in detail the
basis of such termination and will become effective on the 30th day
after Executive’s receipt thereof unless Executive reasonably
cures the alleged violation or other circumstance which was the
basis of such termination within such 30--day notice period;
provided , however , that the termination for
“Cause” under subparagraphs 5(f)(ii)(B), (C), (E) or
(F) thereof shall be effective immediately upon the giving of the
notice of termination and may not be cured by any act or
event.
c. For Good Reason . Executive may terminate his employment under
this Agreement for “Good Reason” (as defined below)
upon providing the Company 30 days’ prior written notice of
termination, which notice will detail the basis of such termination
and will become effective on the 30th day after the Company’s
receipt thereof, unless the Company cures the alleged violation or
other circumstance which was the basis of such termination within
such 30-day notice period.
d. Without Cause . The Company may terminate Executive’s
employment under this Agreement without “Cause” at any
time upon thirty (30) days written notice to the
Executive.
e. Change of Control . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the
Company or Executive may terminate this Agreement upon ten (10)
days’ notice to the other party upon the occurrence of a
“Change of Control” (as defined below).
f. Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement:
(i) Executive will be deemed “ permanently
disabled ” if he becomes unable to discharge his normal
duties as contemplated under this Agreement for at least four
months during any eight-month period as a result of incapacity due
to mental or physical illness as determined by a physician
acceptable to Executive and the Company and paid by the Company,
whose determination will be final and binding. If Executive and the
Company are unable to agree on a physician, Executive and the
Company will each choose one physician who will mutually choose the
third physician, whose determination will be final and
binding.
(ii) “ Cause ” means either (A) a
breach by Executive of any material provisions of this Agreement,
but only if, after notice provided in subparagraph (b) above,
Executive fails to cure such breach to the reasonable satisfaction
of the Company; (B) conviction of a felony offense, whether or not
such offense was committed in connection with the Company’s
business; (C) theft, embezzlement, intentional or reckless false
entries on records, intentional or reckless misapplication of funds
or property, misappropriation of any asset, or any actual or
constructive fraud; (D) gross neglect of duty and/or willfully
engaging in gross misconduct materially and demonstrably injurious
to the Company; (E) at any time during employment at the Company,
intentionally or recklessly imparting confidential information,
whether proprietary or non-proprietary, to any person other than
(i) an authorized employee of the Company; or (ii) as required by
law, or (iii) as part of a privileged communication to an attorney;
or (F) receiving, during the term of this Agreement, compensation,
income, anything of value, or a future interest in or future
entitlement to compensation, income or a thing of value, from any
person or entity who or which is engaged in the same or
substantially the same business as the Company in the same product,
service or geographical market, except stock dividends and/or
capital gains from passive investments in financial institutions by
Executive made in the ordinary course of business and as part of
Executive’s investment portfolio.
(iii) “ Good Reason ” means a
breach by the Company of any of its material obligations under this
Agreement, but only if after expiration of the 30-day notice period
provided in subparagraph (c) above, the Company fails to
cure such breach.
(iv) “ Change of Control ” means
the occurrence of:
(a) the sale by the Company of f