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Exhibit 10.1
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of the 14th day of March, 2005 (the “Effective Date”) by and between BEAZER HOMES USA, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Kenneth J. Gary, an individual resident of the State of Georgia (“Executive”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to employ the Executive, and the Executive wishes to accept employment with the Company, on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:
1.
Employment and Duties.
(a)
The Company hereby agrees to employ
Executive for the Term (as hereinafter defined) as its Executive Vice
President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. If requested by the Board
of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), Executive shall also
serve on the Board without additional compensation. Executive shall also
serve, if requested by the Board, as an executive officer and/or director of
any subsidiaries and/or affiliated companies and shall comply with the policy
of the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”)
with regard to retention or forfeiture of any director’s fees. As used in
this Agreement, the term “affiliated companies” shall include any
company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company.
(b)
The Executive shall have such management
and oversight responsibilities and authority as are necessary to efficiently
administer the affairs of the Company and as are customary of an Executive Vice
President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. All powers herein
granted to the Executive are subject to supervisory approval of the Board and
of the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the
“CEO”), and the Executive may be given such further reasonably
related supervisory duties, powers and prerogatives as may be delegated to him
from time to time by said Board and/or the CEO. The Executive shall
report exclusively to the CEO and the Board and further shall render such
advice to the CEO and Board as said CEO and/or Board may from time to time
request.
(c)
During the Term, and excluding any
periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is entitled,
Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time and efforts to
the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge
the responsibilities assigned to the Executive hereunder, use the
Executive’s reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully such
responsibilities. In performing such duties hereunder, Executive shall comply
with the policies and procedures as adopted from time to time by the Board,
shall give the Company the benefit of his special knowledge, skills, contacts
and business experience, shall perform his duties and carry out his
responsibilities hereunder in a diligent manner.
(d)
During the Employment Term, it shall not
be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to (i) with the prior
approval of the Board in each case, serve on corporate, civic or charitable
boards or committees, (ii) with the prior approval of the Board in each case, deliver
lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions,
and (iii) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not
significantly interfere or constitute a conflict of interest with the
performance of the Executive’s responsibilities as an employee of the
Company in accordance with this Agreement.
(e)
The principal location for performance of
Executive’s services hereunder shall be at the offices of Beazer Homes
USA, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia, subject to reasonable travel
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requirements during the course of such performance. Executive shall not be required, without his consent, to regularly report to any office of the Company which is located more than thirty-five (35) miles from the Company’s current office location, provided Executive will be expected to travel to the extent reasonably necessary to fulfill his responsibilities.
2.
Employment Term. The term of Executive’s employment
hereunder (the “Term”) shall commence effective as of the date
hereof and shall end on March 13, 2007, unless sooner terminated as provided
herein; provided, however; that the Term shall automatically be
extended for successive one year periods unless: (i) this Agreement is
terminated as otherwise provided herein; or (ii) Executive or the Company
provides written notice to the other of such party’s desire not to extend
the Term at least sixty (60) days prior to the scheduled expiration of the Term
as then in effect.
3.
Compensation and Benefits
(a)
Base Salary. During the Term, the Executive shall receive
an annual base salary (“Annual Base Salary”) in the amount of
$375,000, payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll
practices (but not less frequently than monthly). During the Term, the Annual
Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Compensation Committee (for purposes of
increase only) at least annually. Any increase in Annual Base Salary shall not
serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement.
Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase and the term
Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement shall refer to Annual Base
Salary as so increased. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, in the event that the Company shall implement a Company-wide
reduction in executive base compensation, then, solely for such purpose and
only during the continuation of such Company-wide reduction, the Company shall
have the right to reduce the Annual Base Salary then payable hereunder in a
manner that is consistent with said Company-wide reduction.
(b)
Bonuses; Stock Incentive Plans. Executive will be eligible to and shall participate
in the Company’s bonus and stock incentive plans at the discretion of the
Compensation Committee of the Board. The amount and terms of, and the targets,
conditions and restrictions applicable to each bonus or other incentive award
shall be subject to the provisions of any such plan and of the applicable award
letter duly executed and delivered by the Company.
(c)
Incentive, Savings and Retirement
Plans. During the Term, the
Executive shall be entitled to participate in all incentive, savings and
retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to
other most senior executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(d)
Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Term, the Executive and/or the
Executive’s family, as the case may be, shall be eligible for
participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans,
practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated
companies (including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental,
disability, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident
insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable generally to other most
senior executives of the Company and its affiliated companies.
(e)
Expenses. The Company will pay or reimburse Executive for all
reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him in the
performance of his duties under this Agreement. Executive shall keep detailed
and accurate records of expenses incurred in connection with the performance of
his duties hereunder and reimbursement therefore shall be in accordance with
policies and procedures to be established from time to time by the Board.
(f)
Office and Support Staff. During the Term, the Executive shall be
entitled to an office or offices of a size and with furnishings and other
appointments, and to secretarial and other assistance, consistent with the
Executive’s position and title.
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(g)
Vacation. During the Term, Executive shall be entitled
to twenty (20) working days of compensated vacation in each fiscal year, to be
taken at times which do not unreasonably interfere with the performance of
Executive’s duties hereunder. Any unused vacation time from any fiscal
year shall be subject to accumulation or forfeiture in accordance with Company
policy as in effect from time to time.
4.
Termination of Employment.
(a)
Death or Disability. The Executive’s employment shall terminate
automatically upon the Executive’s death during the Term. If the
Disability of the Executive occurs during the Term (pursuant to the definition
of Disability set forth below), the Company may give to the Executive written
notice in accordance with Section 10(c) of this Agreement of its intention to
terminate the Executive’s employment. In such event, the Executive’s
employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after
receipt of such notice by the Executive (the “Disability Effective
Date”), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the
Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of the
Executive’s duties. For purposes of this Agreement,
“Disability” shall mean the absence of the Executive from the
Executive’s duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 120
consecutive business days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical
illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected
by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or the
Executive’s legal representative.
(b)
Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s
employment for Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall
mean:
(i)
any act or failure to act by Executive
done with the intent to harm in any material respect the financial interests or
reputation of the Company or any affiliated companies;
(ii)
Executive being convicted of (or entering
a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to) a felony (other than a felony
involving a motor vehicle);
(iii) Executive’s dishonesty, misappropriation or
fraud with regard to the Company or any affiliated companies (other than good
faith expense account disputes);
(iv) a grossly negligent act or failure to act by Executive
which has a material adverse affect on the Company or any affiliated companies;
(v)
the material breach by Executive of his
agreements or obligations under this Agreement which has a material adverse
effect on the Company, which breach, if curable, is not cured by Executive
within fifteen (15) days after written notice from the Company which
specifically identifies the material breach which the Company believes that
Executive has committed; or
(vi) the continued refusal to follow the directives of the
CEO or the Board or their designees which are consistent with
Executive’s duties and responsibilities identified in Section 1 hereof;
provided that the foregoing refusal shall not be “cause” if
Executive in good faith believes that such direction is illegal, unethical or
immoral and promptly so notifies the CEO or Board, as the case may be, in
writing.
(c)
Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for Cause shall
be communicated by Notice of Termination to the Executive given in accordance
with Section 10(c)
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of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than thirty days after the giving of such notice). The failure by the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Cause shall not waive any right of the Company hereunder or preclude the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Company’s rights hereunder.
(d)
Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” means (i) if the
Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, the date
of receipt of the Notice of Termination or, subject to applicable cure periods,
any later date specified therein, as the case may be, (ii) if the
Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause
or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the Company
notifies the Executive of such termination and (iii) if the Executive’s
employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date of
Termination shall be the date of death of the Executive or the Disability Effective
Date, as the case may be.
6.
Obligations of the Company upon
Termination.
(a)
Other Than for Cause. If, during the Term, the Company shall terminate the
Executive’s employment other than for Cause:
(i) the Company shall pay to the Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days after the Date of Termination the aggregate of the following amounts: (1) the Executive’s Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (2) any accrued but unpaid annual bonus (“Annual Bonus”) respecting any completed fiscal year ending prior to the Date of Termination, (3) the product of (x) the Average Annual Bonus (hereinafter defined) and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365 and (4) any compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any accrued interest or earnings thereon) and any accrued vacation pay, in each case to the extent not theretofore paid (the sum of the amounts described in clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) shall be hereinafter referred to as the “Accrued Obligations”). The timing of payment by the Company of any deferred compensation shall remain subject to any payment election previously made by the Executive. The term “Average Annual Bonus” shall mean the arithmetic average of the Executive’s bonuses (whether paid or deferred) under the Company’s annual incentive plans during the last three full fiscal years prior to the Date of






