EXHIBIT
10.1
RETIREMENT BONUS AREEMENT
AND
GENERAL
RELEASE
This Retirement
Bonus Agreement and General Release (“Agreement”) is
entered into by Ricky Gujral (“Employee”), and Hydrogen
Power, Inc. (“HPI”) (collectively, the
“Parties”).
WHEREAS , Employee has decided to retire
from HPI.; and
WHEREAS , HPI wishes to recognize the value
Employee brought to HPI during her tenure as CEO; and
WHEREAS , a triggering event has occurred under
the Executive Severance Agreement (“ESA”) that would
have entitled Employee to severance payments; and
WHEREAS , notwithstanding these severance rights
the Employee wishes to receive a retirement bonus instead of
severance benefits and the Employee will hereby give a full release
of any claims for severance that the Employee may have against HPI
and in exchange for the other covenants and agreements contained
herein;
NOW,
THEREFORE , in consideration of the promises and mutual
covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are expressly
acknowledged, the Parties agree and promise as follows:
1.
EMPLOYEE'S RETIREMENT . Pursuant to this
Agreement, Employee will retire effective as
of…………,…………………………..
(the "Retirement Date").
a.
The Employee shall be entitled to be paid on the Retirement Date by
Hydrogen Power, Inc. a retirement bonus of $750,000.00. which
amount was advanced to the Employee in November, 2006 (referred to
in this Agreement as the “Retirement
Bonus.”)
b.
Employee acknowledges that except as otherwise provided in 2(a)
above, Employee’s Benefits cease on Employee’s
Retirement Date.
c.
Employee and HPI acknowledge that nothing in this Agreement limits
Employee’s right to receive her regular base salary through
the Retirement Date shall be determined in accordance with the ESA.
Further,
Employee shall
receive payment for all vacation or paid time off that has accrued
and remains unused as of Employee’s Separation
Date.
d.
Except as set forth herein, and options already granted Employee is
not entitled to receive any further compensation or benefits of any
sort from Hydrogen Power, Inc. or their respective affiliates, or
any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents,
insurance companies, attorneys, subsidiaries, successors or
assigns.
e.
Employee represents that Employee has not filed, initiated, or
caused to be filed or initiated, any legal action covering any
claim released in this Agreement and hereby agrees and promises
that Employee will never file, initiate or cause to be filed or
initiated, at any time subsequent to the execution of the
Agreement, any claim, suit, complaint, action, or cause of action,
in any state or federal court based in whole or in part on the
matters herein released, except to the extent such waiver is
precluded by law. Employee further agrees not to seek to share or
participate in any recovery arising out of, based upon, or relating
to matters released hereunder, and agrees not to voluntarily
participate, assist or cooperate in any suit, action, or proceeding
against or regarding the Released Parties, or any of them, unless
compelled by law.
f. Employee
shall be entitled to non-confidential information about the
financial and other relevant matters pertaining to the progress of
HPI in achieving its mission on at least a quarterly basis. Such
information to be provided by the CEO of HPI including answers to
specific questions by the Employee.
3.
GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS . In
consideration of the retirement bonus and benefits referred to
herein, Employee hereby forever releases and discharges HPII, and
HPI and their respective affiliates.(collectively, the
“Released Parties”), from any and all claims, charges,
complaints, liens, demands, causes of action, obligations, damages
and liabilities, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR
UNSUSPECTED , that Employee had, now has, or may
hereafter claim to have against the Released Parties from the
beginning of time to the date Employee signs this Agreement. This
release specifically extends to, without limitation, claims or
causes of action for sexual harassment, wrongful termination,
impairment of ability to compete in the open labor market, breach
of an express or implied contract, breach of the covenant of good
faith and fair dealing, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud,
misrepresentation, defamation, slander, infliction of emotional
distress, discrimination, harassment, disabili
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