Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT (the “
Agreement ”), is entered into as of the date shown on
the signature page, with employment to commence on or before
August 1, 2009 (the date such employment commences is the
“ Effective Date ”) by and between THOMAS C.
HANSEN , a resident of the State of Texas (“
Executive ”), and HEELING SPORTS LIMITED, a
Texas limited partnership (“ Company ”, and
together with Executive, the “ Parties ” and
each a “ Party ”).
WHEREAS , Company is engaged in the commercial
enterprise of selling wheeled footwear, other athletic footwear,
and related products and services (the “ Business
”);
WHEREAS , Company recognizes that Executive’s
substantial skills and expertise will be useful to the Business and
desires to provide for the employment of Executive on the terms and
conditions provided in this Agreement;
WHEREAS , Executive is willing to commit to serve
Company in the capacity and on the terms and conditions provided in
this Agreement; and
WHEREAS , in order to effect the foregoing, Company and
Executive wish to enter into an employment agreement on the terms
and conditions set forth below;
NOW, THEREFORE
, in consideration of the premises
and the mutual promises and agreements contained herein, the
Parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as
follows:
1.
Scope of Employment
.
1.1
Employment . Subject to the terms and
conditions set forth herein, Company agrees to employ Executive
during the Employment Term (as defined below), and Executive hereby
commits to accept such employment as set forth in
Section 4.1 . Executive will hold the office of
“President and Chief Executive Officer” (“
President and CEO ”) of Heelys, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (“ Parent ”), during the Employment
Term, and will perform the services described in
Section 3 (the “ Services ”) as
assigned to Executive by the Board of Directors (the “
Board ”) of the Parent, its designee, the Chairman of
the Board (“ COB ”), or the COB’s
designee.
1.2
Place of Performance . Executive will
perform the Services based out of an office at Company headquarters
(currently in Carrollton, Texas), but Executive will be required to
travel as reasonably required for performance of the
Services.
2.
Representations, Warranties, Covenants, and Acknowledgements
. Executive hereby represents,
warrants, covenants, and acknowledges to Company as
follows:
2.1
No Conflict or Breach . The execution,
delivery, and performance of this Agreement by Executive does not
and will not conflict with, breach, violate, or cause a default
under any contract, agreement, instrument, order, judgment, or
decree by which Executive is bound.
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2.2
Disclosed Previous Agreements . Prior to the
Effective Date, Executive has provided Company a true and correct
copy of Executive’s employment agreement(s) with
previous employer(s), and, as of the Effective Date, Executive has
not violated any lawful obligations to any previous employer.
Executive acknowledges Company’s instructions not to breach
any such lawful obligations.
2.3
No Use of Previous Employer Information .
During
the Employment Term and thereafter, Executive will not use or
disclose to Company, Parent, affiliate, subsidiary, investor,
owner, shareholder, franchisee, franchisor or other related entity
(each a “ Related Entity ”) of Company, or to
any other Person (as defined below), any confidential or
proprietary information or trade secrets of any of
Executive’s previous employer(s) or any Related Entity
of such employer(s), and will not bring onto Company’s
premises, or access, such confidential or proprietary information
or trade secrets, unless consented to in writing by such
employer(s) or Related Entity and then only with the prior
written authorization of Company. For purposes of this
Agreement, “ Person ” means an individual, a
partnership, a limited liability company, a corporation, an
association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an
unincorporated organization, and/or a governmental entity or any
department, agency, or political subdivision thereof.
2.4
Understands Agreement . Executive
acknowledges that Executive has read this Agreement before signing
it, has consulted and been advised by counsel about it, and fully
understands its purposes, terms, and provisions, which Executive
hereby expressly acknowledges to be reasonable in all
respects.
2.5
Material Breach . Executive acknowledges
that any breach of Section 2 (including subparts) by
Executive will constitute a material breach of this
Agreement.
3.
Duties and Responsibilities .
3.1
President and CEO . During the Employment
Term, Executive’s duties and responsibilities will be those
typically performed by a President and CEO of a nationwide
commercial enterprise in the Business, and otherwise as reasonably
and lawfully directed by the Board, its designee, by the COB or the
COB’s designee. Company may adjust the duties and
responsibilities of the Executive notwithstanding the specific
title set forth in Section 1.1 , based upon
Company’s needs from time to time; provided that such
adjusted duties are consistent with duties and responsibilities of
a senior executive officer of an enterprise of comparable size to
the Company. Executive will devote substantially all of
Executive’s business time, energy, and skill to performing
the Services and will perform all obligations hereunder diligently,
faithfully, and to the best of Executive’s abilities, except
during times of vacation, illness, incapacity, or other approved
leave. Executive shall strictly adhere to and obey all
applicable policies and practices now in effect or subsequently
promulgated or revised governing the conduct of employees of
Company. In the event of conflict or inconsistency between
this Agreement and the employee policies and written manuals of
Company, the terms of this Agreement shall govern. Company
will review Executive’s performance on an annual basis,
through the COB or the COB’s designee.
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3.2
Board . During the Employment Term,
Executive shall serve, if elected or appointed, as a director of
Parent, as a director and officer of any subsidiary or affiliate of
Parent, and as a member of any committee of the Board or any
committee of the board of directors of any of Parent’s
subsidiaries or affiliates.
4.
Employment Term;
Termination .
4.1
Employment Term . Subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, unless terminated earlier in
accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2,
Executive’s employment under this Agreement commences on the
Effective Date and will continue through and until
December 31, 2010 (the “ Initial Term ”)
and shall automatically and repeatedly renew for successive periods
of one (1) year each thereafter (each a “ Renewal
Term ” and together with the Initial term, the
“Employment Term”) The last date of Executive’s
employment with Company is referred to herein as the “
Termination Date .”
4.2
Termination .
(a)
Death . This Agreement will automatically and immediately
terminate upon the death of Executive, and Executive (e.g.,
Executive’s heirs or estate) will not be entitled to
any Severance Benefits (as defined below).
(b)
Disability . This Agreement may be terminated by
either Party upon written notice to the other in the event
Executive becomes unavailable to work due to a Disability (as
defined in this Section). As used herein, “
Disability ” means Executive’s becoming
incapacitated by accident, sickness, or other circumstances that,
in the reasonable judgment of Company, renders or is expected to
render Executive mentally or physically incapable of performing the
essential duties and services required hereunder, where
(i) such incapacity has been determined to exist by the
disability insurance carrier for Company, or (ii) a written
determination by a physician mutually agreeable to the Company and
Executive (or, in the event of Executive’s total physical or
mental incapacity, Executive’s legal representative) that
such incapacity has continued or will continue for at least ninety
(90) consecutive calendar days, or 180 non-consecutive calendar
days, within a calendar year, or in the absence of agreement by the
Company and Executive (or his legal representative), each party
shall designate a physician and the two physicians will select a
third physician who will make the determination as to
Executive’s incapacity. If Executive’s employment
is terminated due to a Disability, Executive will not be
entitled to any Severance Benefits. In conjunction with
determining mental and/or physical disability for purposes of this
Agreement, the Executive hereby consents to (x) any
examinations that the Board or Compensation Committee of Parent
deems relevant to a determination of whether the Executive is
mentally and/or physically disabled, or are required by any such
designated physician, (y) furnish such medical information as
may be reasonably requested, and (z) waive any applicable
privilege that may arise because of such examination.
(c)
Cause . In addition to any other rights or remedies
available to Company during the Employment Term, in its sole
discretion Company may terminate Executive’s employment for
Cause (as defined in this Section) effective immediately upon
delivery of written notice to Executive, and Executive will
not be entitled to any Severance Benefits. As used
herein, “ Cause ” means any of the
following: (i) that Executive has
materially
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neglected, failed, or
refused to render the Services or perform any other material duties
or obligations under this Agreement; (ii) that Executive has
otherwise materially violated any provision of this Agreement,
including, without limitation, violation of Company policies
regarding drugs and alcohol, discrimination, harassment,
retaliation, honesty, confidentiality, and/or other employee
misconduct, whether now in effect or subsequently promulgated or
revised; (iii) Executive’s conviction for, or entry of a
plea of no contest with respect to, any felony, crime of moral
turpitude, or other crime that adversely affects or (in
Company’s reasonable judgment) may adversely affect Company,
the ability of Executive to provide the Services, or any of the
other Company Parties (as defined below); (iv) any act or
omission of Executive involving fraud, theft, dishonesty,
disloyalty, or illegality with respect to, or that harms or
embarrasses or (in Company’s reasonable judgment) may harm or
embarrass, Company or any of the other Company Parties; or
(v) any act or omission of Executive constituting the knowing
or intentional violation of applicable law with respect to, or that
harms or embarrasses or (in Company’s reasonable judgment)
may harm or embarrass, Company or any of the other Company Parties;
provided, however , that with respect to clauses
(i) and (ii) of this Section, if such breach or violation
is susceptible to cure, Company may not terminate Executive’s
employment for Cause unless Company provides Executive with written
notice specifying such breach or violation, in reasonable detail,
and Executive fails to cure or remedy such breach or violation
within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such notice; provided
further , that the Board of Company shall have the sole
discretion to determine whether such a breach or violation is
subject to cure, and if so, whether the Executive successfully
effected a cure following notice.
(d)
Good Reason . Executive may terminate employment with
Good Reason at any time upon notice to Company. For the
purpose of this Agreement, “ Good Reason ”
means, in the absence of Executive’s consent:
(A) the material breach by Company of any material
compensation or material benefit obligation to Executive under this
Agreement; or (B) a material reduction in Executive’s
Base Salary; (C) a material diminution in Executive’s
authority, duties or responsibilities; or (D) a change in the
location of the headquarters of the Company such that
Executive’s current residence in Dallas County, Texas would
be more than 75 miles from such new headquarters; provided,
however , that Good Reason shall only exist if the Company
fails to correct or cure the Good Reason condition within a period
of forty-five (45) days, after being provided with written notice
(describing the Good Reason condition in reasonable detail) by
Executive within thirty (30) days of the initial existence of the
alleged Good Reason condition. If Executive has
resigned for Good Reason in accordance with this paragraph, then
Executive will be entitled to the Severance Benefits
provided in Section 7.2(a) .
(e)
Discretionary .
(i)
By Executive Upon Notice . Executive may terminate his
employment effective as of the end of the Employment Term, by
providing Company with a written notice of non-renewal at least
ninety (90) days prior to the end of the Employment Term, in which
event Executive will not be entitled to any Severance
Benefits. If such a notice of non-renewal is given, then
employment pursuant to this Agreement will continue until the end
of the Employment Term; provided, however , that upon
receipt of such a notice, Company may instruct Executive in writing
to cease work pursuant to this Agreement, not to report to
Company’s offices, and/or not to attend any Company business
functions, ceasing Executive’s compensation and benefits
pursuant to
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this Agreement as
of the effective date of such instructions, and creating an earlier
Termination Date than noticed by Executive, without otherwise
affecting the denial of Severance Benefits; provided further
, that Executive will receive compensation and benefits pursuant to
this Agreement for two (2) weeks following the effective date
of such instructions.
(ii)
By Executive Without Notice . Executive may terminate
employment at any time without Good Reason and without the formal
notice and completion of the Employment Term as provided in
Section 4.2(e)(i) , in which event Executive will
not be entitled to any Severance Benefits. In response
to such a termination by Executive, Company may instruct Executive
to cease work pursuant to this Agreement, not to report to
Company’s offices, and/or not to attend any Company business
functions, ceasing Executive’s compensation and benefits
pursuant to this Agreement as of the effective date of such
instructions, and creating an earlier Termination Date than planned
or noticed by Executive, without otherwise affecting the denial of
Severance Benefits.
(iii)
By Company Without Notice . Company may terminate
Executive’s employment at any time without Cause upon written
notice to Executive in which event Executive will be
entitled to the Severance Benefits provided in
Section 7.2(a) .
5.
Salary, Bonus, and Business
Expenses .
5.1
Base Salary . During the Employment Term,
Company will pay Executive a base salary at the rate of FOUR
HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND NO/100 ($430,000.00) per annum
(the “ Base Salary ”), payable in regular
installments in accordance with Company’s general payroll
practices and subject to all applicable deductions and withholdings
as allowed by law. Executive’s Base Salary for any
partial year will be prorated based upon the number of days elapsed
in such year. Executive’s pay may be changed by Company
from time to time, as Company deems appropriate in its sole
discretion (but may not be decreased without Executive’s
consent), by way of an addendum or other documentation, without
otherwise affecting this Agreement (except as may be set forth in
such addendum or other documentation). Notwithstanding any
change in pay, the employment of Executive will be construed as
continuing under this Agreement, without the necessity of
Executive’s execution of any further instrument.
5.2
2009 Bonus . If Executive remains
continuously employed pursuant to this Agreement through
December 31, 2009, then Company will pay Executive a one-time
bonus of SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND NO/100 ($75,000.00) to
be made in a single sum cash payment on or before March 15,
2010 (the “Guaranteed Bonus”).
5.3
Annual Bonus . During the Employment
Term (beginning with the 2010 calendar year and thereafter),
Executive will be eligible for an annual incentive bonus (the
“ Annual Bonus ”). The opportunity to earn
an Annual Bonus and the amount of any Annual Bonus will be
determined in accordance with criteria (“ Bonus
Criteria ”) established by the Board or Compensation
Committee of Parent. Executive acknowledges that application
of the Bonus
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Criteria will be
discretionary, with discretion resting with the Board or
Compensation Committee of Parent. Payment of the Annual
Bonus, if any, will be made in a single sum cash payment between
January 1 and March 15 of the calendar year following the
calendar year in which the Annual Bonus is earned. The amount
and/or basis for earning the Annual Bonus may be changed by Company
from time to time, as Company deems appropriate in its sole
discretion, by way of an addendum or other documentation, without
otherwise affecting this Agreement (except as may be set forth in
such addendum or other documentation). Notwithstanding any
such change in the Annual Bonus, the employment of Executive will
be construed as continuing under this Agreement, without the
necessity of Executive’s execution of any further
instrument.
5.4
Business Expenses . Subject to
Executive’s compliance with all applicable expense policies
and procedures, Company will reimburse Executive for all reasonable
travel, lodging, long distance telephone, and other business costs
and expenses reasonably incurred by Executive to render Services
pursuant to this Agreement. Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, or any provision in the applicable expense reimbursement
policy or procedure to the contrary, if an expense reimbursement
would constitute taxable income to Executive: (a) the
amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during any calendar
year shall not affect the amount of expenses eligible for
reimbursement in any other calendar year; (b) the
reimbursement by Company of an eligible expense shall be made on or
before December 31 of the calendar year following the calendar
year in which the expense is incurred; and (c) the right to
reimbursement for expenses shall not be subject to liquidation or
exchange for another benefit.
5.5
Tax Withholding; Offsets . Company may deduct
from any compensation or other amount payable to Executive under
this Agreement, social security (FICA) taxes and all federal,
state, municipal, or other such taxes or governmental charges as
may now be in effect or that may hereafter be enacted or
required. Executive further authorizes Company to make
deductions from Executive’s compensation, including, without
limitation, Executive’s final paycheck, that are necessary
for Company to recover for property damages or property not
returned by Executive, and/or to recover overpayments, improper
expenses, loans, and/or advances paid to Executive.
6.
Benefits .
6.1
Benefit Plans . During the Employment Term,
Executive will be entitled to participate in all employee benefit
plans and programs and to receive all benefits for which similarly
situated executives within Company generally are eligible under any
plan or program now in place or established later by Company, on
the same basis as such executives. Executive’s benefits
may be changed by Company from time to time, as Company deems
appropriate in its sole discretion, without otherwise affecting
this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement will preclude
Company from amending or terminating any of the benefit plans or
programs applicable to Executive as long as such amendment or
termination is applicable to all similarly situated
employees. Notwithstanding any change in benefits, the
employment of Executive will be construed as continuing under this
Agreement, without the necessity of Executive’s execution of
any further instrument.
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6.2
Vacation . While employed by Company,
Executive will be entitled to four (4) weeks of paid vacation
per calendar year, to be accrued and taken in accordance with
Company’s normal vacation policy applicable to senior
executives. Executive’s vacation term for any partial
year will be prorated based upon the number of days of
Executive’s employment in such year. Accumulation and
payment of vacation benefits, and loss of unused vacation time, if
any, shall be determined and governed in accordance with Company
policy and procedure.
6.3
Stock Options, Restricted Stock Award or Stock Appreciation
Rights . Within 180 days of the
date of this Agreement, Company shall grant to Executive pursuant
to the terms of the Heelys, Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan an
option to purchase 350,000 shares of Parent’s common stock,
at a purchase price per share equal to 100% of the fair market
value per share of common stock on the date of such grant, such
options shall vest and become exercisable in four equal cumulative
annual installments of one-fourth (1/4 th ) each on each successive
anniversary of the Effective Date and shall contain such other
vesting provisions as are provided in the option agreements, which
shall be in a form substantially the same as the form of option
agreement previously provided to Executive.
7.
Rights On Termination
.
7.1
Without Severance Benefits . If Executive’s
employment under this Agreement is terminated by reason of
Executive’s death or Disability pursuant to Sections
4.2(a) or 4.2(b) , by Company for Cause pursuant
to Section 4.2(c) , by Executive without Good Reason
pursuant to Sections 4.2(e)(i) or 4.2(e)(ii) ,
then all further rights of Executive (or as applicable, of
Executive’s heirs or estate) to employment and/or
compensation and benefits from Company under this Agreement shall
cease as of the Termination Date, except that Company will pay
Executive (or as applicable, Executive’s heirs or estate) the
following:
(a)
any amount of unpaid Base Salary earned by Executive through the
Termination Date, paid in the same manner and on the same date as
would have occurred if Executive’s employment under this
Agreement had not ceased;
(b)
any amount of unpaid Guaranteed Bonus, Annual Bonus or other bonus
that Company in its sole discretion may deem to be earned by
Executive through the Termination Date, paid in the same manner and
on the same date as would have occurred if Executive’s
employment under this Agreement had not ceased; provided,
however , that no Annual Bonus will be paid for any partial
year of work (i.e. for any year during which the Executive was not
employed with Company throughout that year, through and including
the last day of the year);
(c)
all unpaid reimbursable expenses due to Executive under this
Agreement as of the Termination Date, subject to Executive’s
compliance with Company’s expense reimbursement policies,
paid in accordance with the terms of Company’s policies,
practices, and procedures regarding reimbursable expenses, and
subject to the provisions in Section 5.4 as applicable
to reimbursements of expenses that constitute taxable income to
Executive;
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(d)
all unpaid benefits that have been earned by or vested in Executive
under, and subject to the terms of, the employee benefit plans,
insurance policies, or arrangements of Company in which Executive
participated through the Termination Date, paid in accordance with
the terms of the employee benefit plans, insurance policies, or
arrangements under which such amounts are due to Executive;
and
(e)
an amount equal to all accrued and unused vacation pay, calculated
in accordance with Company’s vacation policies, practices,
and procedures, earned by Executive through the Termination Date,
paid in accordance with the terms of Company’s policies,
practices, and procedures regarding vacation pay; provided,
however , that such payment will be made in a single sum cash
payment within sixty (60) days after the Termination
Date.
7.2
With Severance Benefits . Subject to the
requirements of Section 7.3 , if Executive’s
employment under this Agreement is terminated by Executive for Good
Reason pursuant to Section 4.2(d) within ninety
(90) days of the initial existence of the Good Reason condition, or
by Company without Cause, then all further rights of Executive (or
as applicable, of Executive’s heirs or estate) to employment
and/or compensation and benefits from Company under this Agreement
shall cease as of the Termination Date, except that Company will
pay Executive (or as applicable, Executive’s heirs or estate)
the following severance benefits (“ Severance Benefits
”), as applicable:
(a)
all payments and compensation pursuant to Section 7.1
;
(b)
Executive’s Base Salary for a period of one (1) year,
plus an additional period equivalent to four (4) weeks for
every year of Executive’s employment with the Company in
excess of five (5) years, prorated for partial years of such
employment (collectively referred to as the “ Severance
Period ”), as severance pay, capped at a total combined
maximum of seventy-eight (78) weeks of Base Salary severance, based
upon Executive’s Base Salary as of the Termination Date, and
paid in equal installments in accordance with the normal payroll
policies of Company, less applicable taxes, payable over the
Severance Period commencing on the first regular payroll date of
Company following the Release Date (as defined below), without any
obligation of Executive to mitigate damages and, no subsequent
employment of Executive shall reduce the amount of Severance
Benefits provided hereunder; and
(c)
if Executive elects continuation coverage (with respect to
Executive’s coverage and/or any eligible dependent coverage)
(“ COBRA Continuation Coverage ”) under the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“
COBRA ”) with respect to Company’s group health
insurance plan, Executive will be responsible for payment of the
monthly cost of such COBRA Continuation Coverage; provided,
however , that commencing on the first regular payroll date of
Company following the Release Date, to the extent allowed by
applicable law, Company will reimburse Executive for the monthly
premium cost for all COBRA Continuation Coverage (including the
premium cost for the period between the Termination Date and the
Release Date) net of all premium cost (if any) Executive would have
paid had Executive’s employment under this Agreement
continued through the Severance Period, within thirty (30) days of
each payment of such cost by the Executive, provided further
, that such COBRA Continuation Coverage reimbursement payments by
Company shall terminate upon the earlier of: (A) the
expiration of the maximum period required under COBRA
for
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COBRA Continuation Coverage,
(B) the completion of the Severance Period, or (C) the
date Executive becomes eligible for benefits coverage through a new
business or employer.
7.3
General Release Requirement . As a condition
precedent to Executive’s entitlement to any Severance
Benefits, Executive (or as applicable, Executive’s heirs or
estate) must execute and effectuate a general release agreement
(“ General Release Agreement ”) satisfactory to
Company, within forty-five (45) days of the Termination Date, that
may include without limitatio
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