AMENDED AND RESTATED
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Restated Agreement")
effective as of August 1, 1998, (the "Effective Date"), amends and restates in
its entirety the Agreement made and entered into effective January 1, 1996 (the
"Old Employment Agreement"), by and between Glas-Aire Industries Group Ltd. (the
"Company"), a Nevada corporation, and Xx. Xxxx Xxxx (the "Executive"), an
individual residing at 000-0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxx, X.X., X0X 0X0,
Xxxxxx.
WHEREAS, the Executive has served in various capacities for the Company
including as the Vice President Operations, Chief Financial Officer, and General
Manager; and
WHEREAS, the leadership of the Executive has constituted a major factor in
the development of the Company and the Company is greatly in need of the
Executive's continued leadership so that the further and uninterrupted progress
of the Company will be assured;
WHEREAS, the Company acknowledges and recognizes the value of the
Executive's services, including the capacity for service of special, unique and
extraordinary character; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Old Employment Agreement entered
into with Executive in order to provide Executive with additional incentives for
remaining in the employ of the Company and assisting with the possible sale of
the Company or its assets to a strategic partner or another entity, and the
Company believes that it is necessary, proper, and in the best interests of the
Company and its shareholders to encourage Executive to remain in the employ of
the Company and to assist with the possible sale of the Company or its assets;
and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ, retain and make secure for itself
the experience and outstanding abilities and services of the Executive for the
period of at least two years from the Effective Date hereof; and
WHEREAS, both parties desire to embody the terms and conditions of
employment of the Executive into a written agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained,
the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
(A) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company, together
with an executive committee thereof (if any), as same shall be constituted from
time to time.
(B) Cause" for termination shall mean (i) Employee's final conviction
of a felony involving a crime of moral turpitude, (ii) acts of Employee which,
in the judgment of the Board, constitute willful fraud on the part of Employee
in connection with his duties under this Restated Agreement, including but not
limited to misappropriation or embezzlement in the performance of duties as an
employee of the Company, or willfully engaging in conduct materially injurious
to the Company and in violation of the covenants contained in this Restated
Agreement, or (iii) failure to obey the lawful written instructions of the
Chairman of the Board construed as insubordination but unrelated to line-duties,
after 15 days of notice in writing of employees failure to do so and of the
Chairman's intention to terminate employee if such failure is not corrected,
(iv) Insubordination, which for the purposes of this agreement shall mean the
refusal to obey orders of Employee's superiors, or (v) gross misconduct,
including but not limited to the failure of Employee's either to (a) continue to
obey lawful written instructions of the Board after 15 days of notice in writing
of Employee's failure to do so and the Board's intention to terminate employee
if such failure is not corrected, or (b) correct any conduct of Employee that
constitutes a material breach of this Restated Agreement after 15 days notice in
writing of Employee's failure to do so and the Board's intention to terminate
Employee if such failure is not corrected.
(C) "Change of Control" shall mean the occurrence of one or more of
the following three events:
(1) After the effective date of this Restated Agreement, any
person becomes a beneficial owner (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) directly or indirectly of
securities representing 33% or more of the total number of votes that may be
cast for the election of directors of the Company or 33% or more of the total
number of votes that may be cast for the election of directors of any of the
Company's subsidiaries, including but not limited to Multicorp Holdings Inc.,
Glas-Aire Industries Ltd., or Glas-Aire Industries Inc.;
(2) Within two years after a merger, consolidation,
Reorganization, liquidation or sale of assets involving the Company, or a
contested election of a Company director, or any combination of the foregoing,
the individuals who were directors of the Company immediately prior thereto
shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board; or
(3) Within two years after a tender offer or exchange offer for
voting securities of the Company, the individuals who were directors of the
Company immediately prior thereto shall cease to constitute a majority of the
Board.
(D) "Disability" shall mean a written determination by a physician
mutually agreeable to the Company and Employee (or, in the event of Employee's
total physical or mental disability, Employee's legal representative) that
Employee is physically or mentally unable to perform his duties of General
Manager under this Restated Agreement and that such disability can reasonably be
expected to continue for a period of six (6) consecutive months or for shorter
periods aggregating one hundred and eighty (180) days in any twelve-(12)-month
period.
(E) "Employee" shall mean Xxxx Xxxx and, if the context requires, his
heirs, personal representatives, and permitted successors and assigns.
(F) "Person" shall mean any natural person, incorporated entity,
limited or general partnership, business trust, association, agency
(governmental or private), division, political sovereign, or subdivision or
instrumentality, including those groups identified as "persons" inss.ss.13(d)(3)
and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
(G) "Reorganization" shall mean any transaction, or any series of
transactions consummated in a 12-month period, pursuant to which any Person
acquires (by merger, acquisition, or otherwise) all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company or the then outstanding equity securities of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries and the Company or the Subsidiary or Subsidiaries
that are involved are not the surviving entity or entities, the Company and any
Subsidiary being deemed surviving if and only if the majority of the Board of
Directors of the surviving entity were directors of the Company or Subsidiary
involved with the transaction prior to the reorganization.
(H) "Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries" shall mean any of the following
corporations--Multicorp Holdings Inc., Glas-Aire Industries Ltd., or Glas-Aire
Industries Inc.
2. Employment Period and Duties. The Company hereby agrees to employ the
Executive as General Manager, and the Executive hereby agrees to serve the
Company in such capacities for a period commencing on the Effective Date of this
Restated Agreement and continuing for two (2) years thereafter (unless such
employment shall be terminated as hereafter provided) and thereafter from year
to year unless and until terminated as hereafter provided (the "Employment
Period").
3. Services. The Executive agrees to devote his full time and efforts
during the Employment Period to the business of the Company and to serve as
Director of the Company, if elected as such, provided, however, that he shall be
entitled to a minimum vacation period as provided in Paragraph 6 of this
Restated Agreement.
4. Compensation.
(A) Base Salary. The remuneration of the Executive for his services
hereunder shall be at the base rate of C$ 80,000.00 per year ("Minimum Annual
Compensation"), together with any such increments thereto as the Board of
Directors of the Company may from time to time determine, payable in equal
bi-weekly installments in arrears, the first of such installments to be payable
on the 1st day of August, 1998. C$7,800.00 of C$80,000.00 will be paid as car
expenses at a rate of C$650.00 per month.
(B) Bonuses. In addition to the foregoing base salary and the Profit
Sharing Program described below, the Executive may be paid an annual bonus in
the sole discretion of the Board of Directors. Any such bonus shall be
determined and paid not later than May 31 of each year and shall be based upon
the Board of Directors' evaluation of the Company's and the Executive's
performance for the prior fiscal year, and the achievement of mutually agreed
upon goals for that fiscal year.
(C) Profit Sharing Program. In addition to the foregoing base salary
and bonuses, the Executive shall be entitled to 12% of the 10% of profits before
taxes.
5. Reimbursement of Expenses. The Executive shall be reimbursed for all
reasonable, out-of-pocket expenses, including but not limited to travel
expenses, actually and properly incurred by him in connection with his duties
hereunder, upon presentation of vouchers therefor. The Executive shall furnish
to the Treasurer of the Company receipts for all expenses in excess of $25.
6. Vacation. The Executive shall be entitled to take and be paid for three
vacation weeks per calendar year, to be taken at times mutually acceptable to
the Company and the Executive. Three weeks vacation will be increased to four
weeks vacation during the fifth year of executive's employment with the Company
(i.e. "fifth year" is the 12 month period starting February 1, 1999). Any unused
vacation may be accumulated from year to year if mutually agreed upon by the
Company and the Executive.
7. Participation in Benefit Plans. The Executive will be eligible for
employee benefits on the same terms and subject to the same conditions as such
benefits are provided for or made available to other full-time employees of the
Company.
8. Termination.
(A) Termination by Company for Other Than Cause. If during the term of
this Restated Agreement the Company terminates the employment of Executive and
such termination is not for Cause, then, the Company shall pay to Executive an
amount equal to the monthly portion of Executive's Minimum Annual Compensation
(C$80,000.00) multiplied by the greater of twelve (12) or the number of months
remaining in the term of this Restated Agreement (the "Severance Period") until
such time as Executive shall become reemployed in a position consistent with
Executive's experience and stature. If Executive obtains such a position but
Executive's annual compensation shall be less than the Minimum Annual
Compensation, then the difference shall be paid to Executive for the balance of
the Severance Period. Such difference shall be calculated as follows: The
difference between Executive's Minimum Annual Compensation for any year, or
lesser period, in which this Restated Agreement would have been in effect and
the annualized compensation payable to Executive in his new position during such
period shall be payable in the same manner as the Minimum Annual Compensation
was paid prior to termination over the period of such reemployment during such
period. If the Executive's employment in a new position shall terminate, then
for the purposes of this Paragraph 8(A) Executive shall be entitled to
continuation of the Minimum Annual Compensation until he shall again become
reemployed, in which case only the difference shall be payable as aforesaid; and
so on. If the Executive's employment shall terminate as aforesaid or if the
Executive's reemployment in a new position shall terminate, Executive shall use
his best efforts to become reemployed as soon as reasonably possible in a
position consistent with Executive's experience and stature. The Company will
start paying the executive compensation payments no later than 30 days after the
date of termination. The Company will also pay the executive, the executiv s
accumulated unused vacation no later than 30 days after the date of termination.
(B) Constructive Discharge. If the Company engages in any material
breach of the terms of this Restated Agreement, Executive may at his option
terminate his employment and such termination shall be considered to be a
termination of Executive's employment by the Company for reasons other than
"Cause."
(C) Termination by the Company for Cause. The Company shall have the
right to terminate the employment of Executive for Cause. Effective as of the
date that the employment of Executive terminates by reason of Cause, this
Restated Agreement shall terminate and no further payments of the Compensation
described in Paragraph 4 (except for such remaining payments of Minimum Annual
Compensation under Paragraph 4(A) relating to periods during which Executive was
employed by the Company, Benefits that are required by applicable law to be
continued, and reimbursement of prior expenses under Paragraph 5) shall be made.
(D) Change in Control. If any time during the term of this Restated
Agreement there is a Change of Control and Executive's employment is terminated
by the Company for reasons other than "Cause" within the greater of one (1) year
following the "Change in Control" or the remaining term of this Restated
Agreement, the Company shall pay to Executive the greater of C$ 80,000.00 plus
the accumulated, unused vacation of the employee within 30 days of the Change in
Control.
(E) Termination on Account of Executive's Death. In the event of
Executive's death during the term of this Restated Agreement, this Restated
Agreement shall terminate.
(F) Termination on Account of Executive's Disability. If Executive
ceases to perform services for the Company because he is suffering from a
medically determinable disability and is therefore incapable of performing such
services, the Company shall continue to pay Executive an amount equal to
two-thirds (2/3) of Executive's Minimum Annual Compensation as in effect on the
date of Executive's cessation of services by reason of disability less any
amounts paid to Executive as Workers Compensation, Social Security Disability
benefits (or any other disability benefits paid to Executive as federal, state,
provincial, or local disability benefits) and any amounts paid to Executive as
disability payments under any disability plan or program for a period ending on
the earlier of: (a) the date that Executive again becomes employed in a
significant manner and on a substantially full-time basis, or (b) the date that
the Company has paid Executive disability compensation under this Paragraph for
six months.
9. Restrictive Covenants.
(A) Best Efforts Covenant. Executive will, to the best of his ability,
devote his full professional and business time and best efforts to the
performance of his duties for the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
(B) Exclusivity Covenant. During the Agreement's term, Executive will
not undertake or engage in any other employment, occupation or business
enterprise other than a business enterprise in which Executive does not actively
participate. Further, Executive agrees not to acquire, assume, or participate
in, directly or indirectly, any position, investment, or interest adverse or
antagonistic to the Company, its business or prospects, financial or otherwise,
or take any action towards any of the foregoing. The provisions of this
Paragraph shall not prevent Executive from owning shares of any competitor of
the Company so long as such shares (i) do not constitute more than 1% of the
outstanding equity of such competitor, and (ii) are regularly traded on a
recognized exchange or listed for trading by NASDAQ in the over-the-counter
market.
(C) Post-Employment Noncompetition Covenant. Except with the prior
written consent of the Board, Executive shall not engage in activities either on
Executive's own behalf or that of any other business organization, which are in
direct or indirect competition with the Company for a period of one (1) year
subsequent to Executive's voluntary withdrawal from employment with the Company
(except for a termination pursuant to a Change in Control), or the Company's
termination of Executive's employment for Cause. Executive and the Company
expressly declare that the time limitations contained in this Paragraph are
entirely reasonable at this time and are properly and necessarily required for
the adequate protection of the business and intellectual property of the
Company. If the territorial or time limitations in this Restated Agreement, or
any portions thereof, are deemed to be unreasonable by a court of competent
jurisdiction, whether due to passage of time, change of circumstances or
otherwise, Executive and the Company agree to a reduction of said territorial
and/or time limitations to such areas and/or periods of time as said court shall
deem reasonable.
For a period of one year subsequent to Executive's voluntary
withdrawal from employment with the Company (except for a termination pursuant
to a Change in Control), or the Company's termination of Executive's employment
for Cause, Executive will not without the express prior written approval of the
Board (i) directly or indirectly, in one or a series of transactions, recruit,
solicit or otherwise induce or influence any proprietor, partner, stockholder,
lender, director, officer, executive, sales agent, joint venturer, investor,
lessor, supplier, customer, agent, representative or any other person which has
a business relationship with the Company or had a business relationship with the
Company within the twenty-four-(24) month period preceding the date of the
incident in question, to discontinue, reduce, or modify such employment, agency
or business relationship with the Company, or (ii) employ or seek to employ or
cause any business organization in direct or indirect competition with the
Company to employ or seek to employ any person or agent who is then (or was at
any time within six months prior to the date the Executive or the competitive
business employs or seeks to employ such person) employed or retained by the
Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the
Executive from providing a letter of recommendation to an employee with respect
to a future employment opportunity.
(D) Confidential Information. Executive recognizes and acknowledges
that the Company's trade secrets and proprietary information and know-how, as
they may exist from time to time ("Confidential Information"), are valuable,
special and unique assets of the Company's business, access to and knowledge of
which are essential to the performance of Executive's duties hereunder.
Executive will not, during or after the term of his employment by the Company,
in whole or in part, disclose such secrets, information or know-how to any
Person for any reason or purpose whatsoever, nor shall Executive make use of any
such property for his own purposes or for the benefit of any Person (except the
Company) under any circumstances during or after the term of his employment,
provided that after the term of his employment these restrictions shall not
apply to such secrets, information and know-how which are then in the public
domain (provided that Executive was not responsible, directly or indirectly, for
such secrets, information or processes entering the public domain without the
Company's consent). Executive shall have no obligation hereunder to keep
confidential any Confidential Information if and to the extent disclosure of any
thereof is specifically required by law; provided, however, that in the event
disclosure is required by applicable law, the Executive shall provide the
Company with prompt notice of such requirement, prior to making any disclosure,
so that the Company may seek an appropriate protective order. Executive agrees
to hold as the Company's property all memoranda, books, papers, letters,
customer lists, processes, computer software, records, financial information,
policy and procedure manuals, training and recruiting procedures and other data,
and all copies thereof and therefrom, in any way relating to the Company's
business and affairs, whether made by him or otherwise coming into his
possession, and on termination of his employment, or on demand of the Company at
any time, to deliver the same to the Company. Executive agrees that he will not
use or disclose to other employees of the Company, during the term of this
Restated Agreement, confidential information belonging to his former employers.
Executive shall use his best efforts to prevent the removal of any
Confidential Information from the premises of the Company, except as required in
his normal course of employment by the Company. Executive shall use his best
efforts to cause all persons or entities to whom any Confidential Information
shall be disclosed by him hereunder to observe the terms and conditions set
forth herein as though each such person or entity was bound hereby.
(E) Nonsolicitation. Except with the prior written consent of the
Board, Executive shall not solicit customers, clients, or employees of the
Company or any of its affiliates for a period of twelve (12) months from the
date of the expiration of this Restated Agreement. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, Executive will not willfully canvas, solicit nor
accept any such business in competition with the business of the Company from
any customers of the Company with whom Executive had contact during, or of which
Executive had knowledge solely as a result of, his performance of services for
the Company pursuant to this Restated Agreement. Executive will not directly or
indirectly request, induce or advise any customers of the Company with whom
Executive had contact during the term of this Restated Agreement to withdraw,
curtail or cancel their business with the Company. Executive will not induce or
attempt to induce any employee of the Company to terminate his/her employment
with the Company.
(F) Records, Files. All records, files, drawings, documents, equipment
and the like relating to the business of the Company which are prepared or used
by Executive during the term of his employment under this Restated Agreement
shall be and shall remain the sole property of the Company.
(G) Hired to Invent. Executive agrees that every improvement,
invention, process, apparatus, method, design, and any other creation that
Executive may invent, discover, conceive, or originate by himself or in
conjunction with any other Person during the term of Executive's employment
under this Restated Agreement that relates to the business carried on by the
Company during the term of Executive's employment under this Restated Agreement
shall be the exclusive property of the Company. Executive agrees to disclose to
the Company every patent application, notice of copyright, or other action taken
by Executive or any affiliate or assignee to protect intellectual property
during the 12 months following Executive's termination of employment at the
Company, for whatever reason, so that the Company may determine whether to
assert a claim under this Paragraph or any other provision of this Restated
Agreement.
(I) Equitable Relief. Executive acknowledges that his services to the
Company are of a unique character which give them a special value to the
Company. Executive further recognizes that violations by Executive of any one or
more of the provisions of this Paragraph 9 may give rise to losses or damages
for which the Company cannot be reasonably or adequately compensated in an
action at law and that such violations may result in irreparable and continuing
harm to the Company. Executive agrees that, therefore, in addition to any other
remedy which the Company may have at law and equity, including the right to
withhold any payment of compensation under Paragraph 4 of this Restated
Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to injunctive relief to restrain any
violation, actual or threatened, by Executive of the provisions of this Restated
Agreement.
10. Executive's Rights Under Certain Plans. The Company agrees that nothing
contained herein is intended to or shall be deemed to be granted to the
Executive in lieu of any rights and privileges under any retirement, pension,
profit, insurance, hospitalization, moving expense reimbursement or other plans
which may now be in effect or which will, during the Employment Period, be
adopted.
11. Binding Agreement, Nonassignability. This Restated Agreement and the
rights and obligations of the parties shall bind and inure to the benefit of
each of the parties hereto and shall also bind and inure to the benefit of any
successor or successors of the Company by reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any assignee of all or substantially all of its business and
properties, but, except as to any successor or assignee of the Company, neither
this Restated Agreement nor any rights or benefits hereunder may be assigned by
the Executive.
12. Governing Law. This Restated Agreement has been executed and delivered
in the Province of British Columbia, Canada, and its validity, interpretation,
performance, and enforcement shall be governed by the laws of said Province.
13. Counterparts. This Restated Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Restated Agreement to be
executed and its seal to be affixed hereunto by its officer thereunto duly
authorized and the Executive has signed this Restated Agreement, all as of the
day and year written above.
THE EXECUTIVE
------------------------------------------
Xx. Xxxx Xxxx
GLAS-AIRE INDUSTRIES GROUP LTD.
By:
----------------------------------------
Xx. Xxxxxx Xxxx, Chief Executive Officer
Amendment to Employment Agreement
This is an amendment to the "Bonuses" (paragraph C) of the "Compensation"
(section 4) of the "Amended and Restated Employment Agreement" between Glas-Aire
Industries Group Ltd. (the "Company"), a Nevada corporation, and Xx. Xxxx Xxxx
(the "Executive"), an individual residing at 000-0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxx,
X.X., X0X 0X0, Xxxxxx, dated August 1, 1998.
Following statement is added to the existing text in "Bonuses" (paragraph C) of
the "Compensation" (section 4) of the "Amended and Restated Employment
Agreement" and the following statement will become an integral part of the
"Amended and Restated Employment Agreement":
The Company will issue common shares to the Executive valued one half of
the Executive's bonus as quantified in this paragraph C, within 30 days.
THE EXECUTIVE
-------------------------February 26, 1999
Xx. Xxxx Xxxx
GLAS-AIRE INDUSTRIES GROUP LTD.
By:
-----------------------February 26, 1999
Xx. Xxxxxx Xxxx, Chief Executive Officer
