Exhibit 10.14
EXECUTIVE TRANSITION
AGREEMENT
This Executive Transition Agreement
(“ Agreement ”) is made and entered into by and
between Winston Hickman (“ Executive ”) and
REMEC, Inc. (“ REMEC ” or the “
Company ”), together referred to as “the
parties,” based on the following facts:
RECITALS
|
|
A.
|
REMEC is a
California corporation with its principal place of business in Del
Mar, California.
|
|
|
B.
|
Executive has
been employed, among other positions, as Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer of REMEC pursuant to the terms of an
Employment Agreement dated December 10, 2004 between Executive and
the Company (the “ Employment Agreement
”).
|
|
|
C.
|
Executive has
resigned his employment with REMEC effective 5:00 p.m. (PDT)
September 30, 2005, and REMEC desires to facilitate
Executive’s employment transition, to enter into a consulting
relationship with Executive and to recognize Executive’s many
contributions to the Company.
|
|
|
D.
|
It is the
intent of the parties in entering this Agreement to set forth all
agreements between the parties and to settle and resolve any and
all claims of Executive that exist or may exist as a result of
Executive’s employment, or the termination of his
employment.
|
NOW, THEREFORE
, in consideration of the promises
and mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereby
agree as follows:
1. Termination of Employment
. Executive and the Company acknowledge and agree that Executive
shall resign as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of the Company (and as an officer and/or director of any
other entity which is deemed to be an affiliate of the Company) and
shall terminate his employment with the Company effective on
September 30, 2005 (the “ Termination Date
”).
1
2. Separation Benefits . In
consideration for the release of claims set forth below and other
obligations under this Agreement and in full satisfaction of the
Company’s obligations to Executive under the terms of the
Employment Agreement, and provided that this Agreement is signed by
Executive and not revoked under Section 10 herein, and further
provided that Executive remains in full compliance with his
obligations to the Company under this Agreement, the Company agrees
to provide the following separation benefits to
Executive:
(a) Cash Payment . Following
the Termination Date as consideration for Executive’s
agreement to comply with Sections 13 and 14 herein, and
acknowledging that Executive is a shareholder of the Company and
that within the last twelve (12) months, purchasers have bought
Company assets in transactions where the acquisition of goodwill
was a key factor in the buyers’ purchase, REMEC will pay to
Executive the gross sum of Nine Hundred Thirty Eight Thousand
Dollars ($938,000.00). This payment will be paid in one lump sum
payment on the Effective Date unless the parties mutually agree to
another payment schedule. This payment will be reduced by
applicable payroll deductions and tax withholdings.
(b) Accrued Wages and Vacation;
Expenses . Promptly and within the period of time mandated by
law, REMEC will pay Executive (i) any unpaid base salary due for
periods prior to the Termination Date; (ii) all of
Executive’s accrued and unused vacation pay through the
Termination Date; and (iii) following submission of proper expense
reports by Executive, reimbursement for all expenses reasonably and
necessarily incurred by Executive in connection with the business
of REMEC prior to the Termination Date. In addition, the Company
will reimburse Executive for all monthly fees and usage charges for
cellular service up to one hundred twenty five dollars ($125.00)
per month until December 31, 2004. Each payment will be reduced by
applicable payroll deductions and tax withholdings.
(c) Health Insurance and
Disability and Life Insurance .
(i) REMEC shall pay
Executive’s premiums under COBRA coverage to continue
Executive’s current medical, dental and other health plan
coverage for Executive and Executive’s spouse and eligible
dependents until December 31, 2005. Beginning January 1, 2006 and
continuing until the earlier of March 30, 2008 and the date
Executive becomes eligible for comparable insurance coverage from
new employment, REMEC will reimburse Executive on a quarterly basis
for the reasonable cost of Executive’s individual medical and
dental insurance plans for Executive and Executive’s spouse
and eligible dependents; provided that such plans will be as
comparable as reasonably practicable to the Preferred Provider
plans in which Executive and Executive’s spouse and eligible
dependents participate on the Termination Date based on what is
reasonably available on the insurance market to REMEC. Executive
acknowledges that because REMEC intends to liquidate and dissolve,
it is not expected that Company sponsored or COBRA health benefits
will be available after December 31, 2005.
(ii) Within ninety (90) days after
the Effective Date, REMEC will pay Executive Four Thousand One
Hundred Seventy-Seven Dollars and Fifty Cents ($4,177.50) in one
lump sum payment to allow Executive to continue his UNUM Executive
Disability Insurance of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,250)
per month through March 30, 2008.
(iii) Within ninety (90) days after
the Effective Date, REMEC will pay Executive Six Thousand Five
Hundred Sixty Dollars ($6,560)in one lump sum payment
2
to cover the premiums on
Executive’s One Million Dollar ($1,000,000) Executive Term
Life Insurance Policy through March 30, 2008.
(iv) Within ninety (90) days after
such coverage becomes available, REMEC will pay Executive in one
lump sum payment the reasonable costs of a Term Life Insurance
Policy in the face amount of Six Hundred Thousand Dollar ($600,000)
covering a period through March 30, 2008.
(d) Electronic Equipment .
Executive may retain for his personal use the computer system
provided for his use by the Company.
(e) No Other Payments or
Benefits . Executive expressly acknowledges that the payments
and benefits set forth in Sections 2 and 3 include payments and
benefits to which he is not otherwise entitled, and that Executive
is not entitled, pursuant to prior contracts, agreements or
otherwise, to any other payment, benefit or consideration in
connection with the termination of his employment with REMEC beyond
that set forth in this Agreement.
3. Consulting Services
.
(a) October 1, 2005 to December
31, 2005 . From October 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005, Executive
agrees to provide consulting services to the Company for one week
per month. The specific nature of the consulting services will be
directed by the Company. Executive will be paid at a monthly rate
of $6,450.00, plus travel expenses.
(b) January 1, 2006 to September
30, 2006 . From January 1, 2006 to September 30, 2006,
Executive agrees to provide consulting services to the Company on a
daily basis upon request of the Board of Directors or President of
the Company and the reasonable availability of the Executive. The
specific nature of the consulting services will be directed by the
Company. Executive will be paid at a daily rate of $1,500.00 pro
rated for days with less than eight hours worked, plus travel
expenses.
(c) No Employment
Relationship . The provisions of Section 3 concerning
consulting services are not intended to and shall not operate to
establish an employer-employee relationship.
4. Excise Taxes . Executive
acknowledges that the Company obtained a valuation by the Abrams
Valuation Group that determined that the value of all benefits to
be paid to Executive pursuant this Agreement is substantially less
than the value of the non-competition provisions of Section 13 of
this Agreement. Executive hereby agrees to release, indemnify and
hold harmless REMEC from any claims, demands, charges and costs
arising from or relating to any tax imposed by Section 4999 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any similar tax that
may hereafter be imposed on the Executive on the benefits provided
pursuant to this Agreement.
3
5. Release of Claims
.
(a) Release by Executive .
Executive, for himself and for his heirs, assigns, executors,
administrators, successors and each of them, hereby fully and
forever waives, releases, acquits and discharges REMEC and any and
all past, current and future parent, subsidiary and affiliated
companies, predecessors and successors thereto, as well as the
Company’s officers, directors, agents, employees, affiliates,
representatives, shareholders and assigns (collectively the “
Releasees ”), from any and all claims, actions,
charges, complaints, grievances and causes of action of whatever
nature, whether now known or unknown, including but not limited to,
all claims arising from or relating to Executive’s
recruitment and hiring by the Company, Executive’s employment
with the Company and the involuntary termination or termination
without cause thereof, including but not limited to: claims for
bonuses, or for severance benefits except pursuant to the
Agreement; claims of breach of contract, breach of co