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EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Executive Employment Agreement

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT | Document Parties: POORE BROTHERS INC You are currently viewing:
This Executive Employment Agreement involves

POORE BROTHERS INC

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Title: EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Governing Law: Arizona     Date: 12/19/2005
Industry: Food Processing     Sector: Consumer/Non-Cyclical

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, Parties: poore brothers inc
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Exhibit 99.2

 

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of August 15, 2004 (“Effective Date”), by and between Poore Brothers, Inc. , a Delaware corporation, (the “Company”), and Thomas W. Freeze , (the “Executive”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, Executive is currently employed with the Company and the Company desires to continue retaining the services of Executive, and Executive desires to remain employed by the Company, on the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, the Company and Executive, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                        Prior Employment Agreement .  The Company and Executive agree that that certain Employment Agreement between the Company and Executive dated as of January 3, 2003, is hereby terminated and superceded by this Agreement.

 

2.                                        Employment .  The Company agrees to employ Executive as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Executive accepts such employment and agrees to perform full-time employment services for the Company, subject always to resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), for the period and upon the other terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

3.                                        Term .  The term of Executive’s employment hereunder (the “Term”) shall commence on the Effective Date, and shall continue until this Agreement is terminated upon written notice by either party as set forth in Section 6 below, for any reason whatsoever, this being an “at will” employment agreement.  Sections 6 and 7 of this Agreement shall govern the amount of any compensation to be paid to Executive upon termination of this Agreement and his employment.

 

4.                                        Position and Duties .

 

4.1.                               Service with the Company .  During the Term of this Agreement, Executive agrees to perform such executive employment duties as the Board shall reasonably assign to him from time to time.  In addition, during the period of Executive’s employment by the Company, Executive shall serve without any additional compensation on the Company’s Board upon nomination by the Board and the vote of the shareholders.

 

4.2.                               No Conflicting Duties .  Executive hereby confirms that he is under no contractual commitments inconsistent with his obligations set forth in this Agreement, and that during the Term of this Agreement, he will not render or perform services, or enter into any contract to do so, for any other corporation, firm, entity or person that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement or Executive’s fiduciary obligations to the Company.

 



 

5.                                        Compensation and Benefits .

 

5.1.                               Base Salary .  As compensation for all services to be rendered by Executive under this Agreement, the Company shall pay to Executive an annual salary of $280,000.00 (the “Base Salary”).  The Base Salary shall be subject to review and change at the discretion of the Board (or its Compensation Committee), however, the Base Salary may not be decreased without the written consent of the Executive.  The Company shall pay the Base Salary to Executive on the Company’s regularly scheduled paydays in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll procedures and policies.

 

5.2.                               Bonuses .  Executive may be eligible for bonuses as determined by the Board (or its Compensation Committee) in its discretion.

 

5.3.                               Stock Options .  Executive will be eligible for stock option grants as determined by the Board (or its Compensation Committee) in its discretion.  Any existing written stock option agreements between Executive and the Company remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms.

 

5.4.                               Participation in Benefit Plans .  Executive shall be included to the extent eligible thereunder in any and all plans of the Company providing general benefits for the Company’s executive employees, including, without limitation, medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, 401(k) plan, sick days, vacation, and holidays.  Executive’s participation in any such plan or program shall be subject to the provisions, rules, and regulations applicable thereto. In addition, during the Term of this Agreement, Executive shall be eligible to participate in all non-qualified deferred compensation and similar compensation, bonus and stock plans offered, sponsored or established by Company on substantially the same or a more favorable basis as any other employee of Company.

 

5.5.                               Business Expenses .  In accordance with the Company’s policies established from time to time, 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, subject to the presentment of appropriate supporting documentation.

 

5.6.                               Key Man Life Insurance .  During the Term of this Agreement, the Company shall have the option of purchasing and paying the premiums for a “Key Man” life insurance policy relating to Executive in a coverage amount determined by the Company, and the Company shall be named as the beneficiary of such policy.  Executive represents and warrants that he currently is insurable for such policy on an unrated basis and agrees to fully cooperate with the Company in obtaining the policy.

 

5.7.                               Other Benefits .  During the Term of this Agreement, the Company shall furnish to Executive the following benefits:

 

5.7.1.                      Automobile Allowance .  The Company shall pay Executive $800.00 per month as an automobile allowance, less any required withholdings for tax purposes (the “Monthly Car Allowance”).  Executive shall procure and maintain adequate insurance coverage on the automobile he uses for Company purposes.  Executive acknowledges that he may recognize taxable income in connection with these payments and that these amounts will be reflected on Executive’s W-2, if required by law.

 



 

5.7.2.                      Cellular Telephone .  The Company shall furnish to Executive a mobile or cellular telephone for Executive’s use and shall pay all charges in connection therewith (except Executive shall reimburse the Company for the charges each month that are in excess of $200 of charges in such month that are not accounted for by Executive as charges for the purposes of the Company).  The telephone to be furnished to Executive shall be agreed upon by the Company and Executive from time to time.

 

6.                                        Termination .

 

6.1.                               Disability .  At the Company’s election, Executive’s employment and this Agreement shall terminate upon Executive’s becoming totally or permanently disabled for a period of ninety (90) days or more in any twelve (12) month period.  For purposes of this Agreement, the term “totally or permanently disabled” or “total or permanent disability” means Executive’s inability on account of sickness or accident, whether or not job-related, to engage in regularly or to perform adequately his assigned duties under this Agreement.  A reasonable determination by the Company of the existence of a disability shall be conclusive for all purposes hereunder.  In making such determination of disability, the Company may utilize such advice and consultation as the Company deems appropriate, but there is no requirement of procedure or formality associated with the making of a determination of disability.

 

6.2.                               Death of Executive .  Executive’s employment and this Agreement shall terminate immediately upon the death of Executive.

 

6.3.                               Termination for Cause .  The Company may terminate Executive’s employment and this Agreement at any time for “Cause” (as hereinafter defined) immediately upon written notice to Executive.  As used herein, the term “Cause” shall mean that Executive shall have in the reasonable judgment of the Board (i) committed a criminal act or a single act of fraud, embezzlement, breach of trust, or an act of gross misconduct, or (ii) violated any material written Company policy or rules of the Company, unless cured by Executive within 30 days following written notice thereof to Executive, or (iii) Executive’s willful and material violation of, or noncompliance with, any securities laws or stock exchange listing rules, including, without limitation, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, provided that such violation or noncompliance resulted in material economic harm to the Company, or (iv) refused to follow the reasonable written directions given by the Board or its designee or breached any covenant or obligation under this Agreement or other agreement with the Company, unless cured by Executive within 30 days following written notice thereof to Executive.

 

6.4.                               Resignation .  Executive’s employment and this Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of the date that is one (1) month following the written submission of Executive’s resignation to the Company or the date such resignation is accepted by the Company.

 

6.5.                               Termination Without Cause .  The Company may terminate Executive’s employment and this Agreement without cause upon written notice to Executive.  Termination “without cause” shall mean termination of employment on any basis (including no reason or no cause) other than termination of Executive’s employment hereunder pursuant to Sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, or 6.4.

 

6.6.                               Surrender of Records and Property .  Upon termination of his employment with the Company, Executive shall deliver promptly to the Company all credit cards, computer equipment, cellular telephone, records, manuals, books, blank forms, documents, letters, memoranda, notes, notebooks, reports, data, tables, calculations or copies thereof, that are the property of the Company

 



 

and that relate in any way to the business, strategies, products, practices, processes, policies or techniques of the Company, and all other property, trade secrets and confidential information of the Company, including, but not limited to, all documents that in whole or in part contain any trade secrets or confidential information of the Company that in any of these cases are in his possession or under his control, and Executive shall also remove all such information from any personal computers and other electronic devices that he owns or controls.

 

7.                                        Compensation Upon the Termination of Executive’s Employment .

 

7.1.                               In the event that Executive’s employment and this Agreement are terminated pursuant to Section 6.1 (Disability), 6.3 (Cause), or 6.4 (Resignation), then Executive shall be entitled to receive Executive’s then current Base Salary through the date his employment is terminated, but no other compensation of any kind or amount.

 

7.2.                               In the event Executive’s employment and this Agreement are terminated pursuant to Section 6.2 (Death), Executive’s beneficiary or a beneficiary designated by Executive in writing to the Company, or in the absence of such beneficiary, Executive’s estate, shall be entitled to receive Executive’s then current Base Salary through the end of the month in which his death occurs, but no other compensation of any kind or amount.

 

7.3.                               Unless Section 8 applies, in the event Executive’s employment and this Agreement are terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 6.5 (Without Cause), the Company shall pay to Executive, as a severance allowance, the following amounts, but no other compensation or benefits of any kind: (a) his then current monthly Base Salary and Executive’s Monthly Car Allowance for the twelve (12) month period following the date of termination, paid on the Company’s regular paydays throughout that 12-month period; (b) for Executive’s benefit, up to $10,000.00 for outplacement services for Executive with an outplacement firm selected by Executive; (c) within thirty (30) days after termination of Executive’s employment, any amounts payable under any bonus plans for which Executive is eligible to participate as of the date of the termination of his employment, after pro rating all targets, quotas, and bonus payments as of the termination date, regardless when such bonus may be due under the bonus plan.  Executive shall be entitled to receive these benefits and payments only if he complies with his continuing obligations to the Company as set forth in this Agreement.

 

7.4.                               In the event that Executive’s employment and this Agreement are terminated pursuant to 6.4 (Resignation) within twelve (12) months after a Change in Control (as defined in Section 8.1 below), the Company shall pay, for Executive’s benefit, up to $10,000.00 for outplacement services for Executive with an outplacement firm selected by Executive.

 

8.                                        Change in Control .  In the event of both a Change in Control (as defined below) and the occurrence of Good Reason (as defined below), the Company shall, within thirty (30) days after occurrence of the last of these conditions, pay Executive a lump sum amount equal to the sum of (a) 200% of Executive’s then current annual Base Salary; (b) Executive’s Monthly Car Allowance for twelve (12) months; and (c) any amounts payable under any bonus plans for which Executive is eligible to participate as of the date of the Change of Control, after pro rating all targets, quotas, and bonus payments as of the date of the Change in Control, regardless when such bonus may be due under the bonus plan.   Executive shall be entitled to receive these benefits and payments only if he complies with his continuing obligations to the Company as set forth in this Agreement.

 



 

8.1.                               Definition of Change in Control .  As used herein, a “Change in Control” means both: (i) a change in the composition of the Board, as a result of which less than a majority of the incumbent directors are directors who either (x) had been directors of the Company on the date 24 months prior to the date of the event that may constitute a Change in Control (the “original directors”) or (y) were elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the aggregate of the original directors who were still in office at the time of the election or nomination and the directors whose election or nomination was previously so approved; and (ii) one of the following events has occurred:  (a) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization, if more than 30% of the combined voting power of the continuing or surviving entity’s securities outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation, or other reorganization is owned by persons who were not stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation, or other reorganization; or (b) the sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.  A transaction shall not constitute a Change of Control if its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.

 

8.2.                               Definition of Good Reason .  As used herein, “Good Reason” means any of the following:  (i) termination by the Company of Executive’s employment and this Agreement without cause (as that term is defined in Section 6.5) within three (3) months before, or within twelve (12) months after, a Change in Control; (ii) a material reduction in Executive’s title, status, authority, or responsibility at the Company within twelve (12) months after a Change in Control; (iii) within twelve (12) months after a Change in Control, there is a material reduction in the benefits that were in effect for the Executive immediately prior to the Change in Control, and comparable reductions have not been made in the benefits of the other members of senior management of the Company; (iv) except with Executive’s prior written consent, relocation of Executive’s principal place of employment to a location outside Maricopa County, Arizona within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control; or (v) any material breach by the Company of its material obligations under this Agreement within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control.

 

9.                                        Release .  As a condition precedent to the Company’s obligation to provide Executive with the amounts set forth in Section 7.3, Section 7.4, or Section 8, Executive must first execute and deliver to the Company a legal release, in form and substance acceptable to the Company, in which Executive releases the Company and its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, and others affiliated with the Company from any and all claims, including claims relating to the Executive’s employment with the Company, the termination of Executive’s employment, if applicable, and any facts constituting Good Reason.

 

10.                                  Ventures .  If, during the Term of this Agreement, Executive is engaged in or associated with the planning or implementing of any project, program, or venture involving the Company and a third party or parties, all rights in the project, program, or venture shall belong to the Company and shall constitute a corporate opportunity belonging exclusively to the Company. Except as approved in writing by the Board, Executive shall not be entitled to any interest in such project, program, or venture or to any commission, finder’s fee, or other compensation in connection therewith other than the Base Salary to be paid to Executive as provided in this Agreement.

 



 

11.                                  Restricti


 
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