Exhibit 10.1
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") dated as of the 1st
day of July, 1998 (the "Effective Date") is between Equitable Resources, Inc., a
Pennsylvania corporation, with its principal executive offices at 420 Boulevard
of the Allies, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 (the "Company"), and Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxx, an individual and resident of Houston, Texas (the "Executive").
WHEREAS, the Company desires to secure the employment of the
Executive in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Executive desires and is willing to accept
employment with the Company in accordance herewith.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained and intending to be legally bound, the Company and the Executive
hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Position and Duties.
(a) The Company hereby agrees to employ the Executive for the
term of this Agreement to render services to the Company as Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and to perform those duties
commensurate with such position, as the Chief Executive Officer may reasonably
direct.
(b) The Executive hereby accepts such employment and agrees
faithfully to perform to the best of his ability and on a full-time basis the
duties described in Section l(a). The Executive further agrees that promptly
after the execution of this Agreement, he shall move his primary residence to
the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area.
Section 2. Term of Employment Agreement.
(a) Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective
Date and shall terminate on the last day of the 36th calendar month after the
Effective Date, unless automatically extended as follows: commencing on the last
day of the first full calendar month after the second anniversary of the
Effective Date and on the last day of each succeeding calendar month, the term
of this Agreement shall be automatically extended without further action by
either party (but not beyond the Executive's 65th birthday) for one additional
calendar month unless one party notifies the other in writing that such party
does not wish to extend the term of this Agreement. In the event that such
notice shall have been delivered, the term hereof shall no longer be subject to
automatic extension and the term hereof shall expire on the date which is 12
calendar months after the last day of the month in which such written notice is
received. The last day of the calendar month in which the term hereof, as such
may be extended from time to time, shall end is hereinafter referred to as the
"Expiration Date".
(b) Termination of Employment. If the Executive's Termination of
Employment Date (as defined below) is prior to the Expiration Date, this
Agreement shall terminate on the Termination of Employment Date , subject to the
provisions of Section 8 hereof. For purposes of this Agreement, the Executive's
Termination of Employment Date shall be the earliest to occur of the following
events:
(i) if the Executive's employment is terminated for Disability, as
defined in Paragraph 8(b), the date which is thirty days after Notice of
Termination is given following expiration of the Disability Period
(provided that the Executive shall not have returned to the performance
of the Executive's duties on a full-time daily basis during such
period),
(ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated on account of his
death, the Executive's date of death, and
(iii) if the Executive's employment is terminated for any other reason,
the date specified in the Notice of Termination (which shall not be less
than 30 days nor more than 60 days, from the date such Notice of
Termination is given).
For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a
Notice which shall specify the date of termination and shall identify
the basis therefor.
The Company reserves the right to terminate the Executive's employment
for any reason not prohibited by law; provided, however, that any such removal
shall be without prejudice to any rights the Executive may have to benefits
under this Agreement or the Agreements described in Appendix A and B.
Section 3. Compensation and Benefits.
The Executive shall be entitled to receive the following compensation and
benefits under this Agreement:
(a) The Executive shall receive Inducement Benefits as set forth
in Section 4 of this Agreement;
(b) The Executive shall receive base salary as set forth in
Section 5 of this Agreement;
(c) The Executive shall be eligible for bonus and incentive
benefits as described in Section 6 of this Agreement;
(d) The Executive shall be entitled to employee benefits as
described in Section 7 of this Agreement;
(e) The Executive shall be entitled to Change of Control benefits
as set forth in the Change of Control Agreement which is attached to this
Agreement as Appendix A; and
(f) The Executive shall be entitled to post-termination benefits
under the Post-Termination Confidentiality/Noncompete Agreement which is
attached to this Agreement as Appendix B.
Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent the Company from
amending or otherwise altering the benefit plans and agreements described below
so long as such amendment or alteration equitably affects all employees,
executive or otherwise, previously covered thereunder.
Section 4. Inducement Benefits.
(a) Signing Bonus. The Executive will receive a bonus payment in
the amount of $175,000 from the Company on his first day of employment with the
Company. This amount must be repaid to the Company if the Executive's
Termination from Employment Date is on or before April 30, 1999.
Section 5. Compensation.
The Company shall pay the Executive a base salary of $270,000 per year. This
base amount shall be reviewed by the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors on an annual basis and will be adjusted taking into consideration both
individual performance and competitive position relative to the Company's peer
group.
Section 6. Bonus and Incentive Benefits.
The Executive shall be eligible to participate in the following bonus and
incentive benefit programs of the Company:
(a) Short Term Incentive Benefits. The Executive shall be
entitled to an annual incentive compensation payment equal to the amount, if
any, payable to the Executive under the terms and conditions of the Company's
Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan as in effect for each annual period
during the term of this Agreement; except that for the 1998 year, the
Executive's bonus amount as described in this paragraph, if any, shall be
reduced by the amount of the Executive's signing bonus as described in Agreement
Section 4(a);
(b) Long-Term Incentive Benefits. The Executive shall participate
in the Company's 1994 Long-Term Incentive Plan or any successor plan (the
"Long-Term Incentive Plan"). Under the Long-Term Incentive Plan, the Executive
will be credited with benefits which shall be subject to the terms and
conditions of the Long-Term Incentive Plan and programs thereunder, except as
otherwise specifically provided below, and shall include the following:
(i) The Executive will receive a grant of 10,000 shares of
Company stock which shall vest in one-third increments with the first third
vesting on the first anniversary of the Effective Date, the second third vesting
on the second anniversary of the Effective Date, and the final third vesting on
the third anniversary of the Effective Date. Also, the Executive will receive a
cash payment on each of the three vesting dates equivalent to the federal, FICA,
state and local taxes payable relative to the grant as determined by the
Company.
(ii) The Executive will receive options to purchase 60,000
shares of Company stock. These options will also vest in one-third increments
with the first third vesting on the first anniversary of the Effective Date, the
second third vesting on the second anniversary of the Effective Date, and the
final third vesting on the third anniversary of the Effective Date. The strike
price for all of the options will be set on the Effective Date and will be the
Fair Market Value on the Effective Date as defined in the Long-Term Incentive
Plan. The exercise period shall be four years from the date of vesting.
(iii) The Executive shall be eligible to receive
additional stock option grants under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan. For
the 1998 plan year, and each of the following four plan years, the Executive
will be granted options to purchase no less than 30,000 shares.
Section 7. Other Benefits.
(a) Employee Benefits. The Executive shall participate on the
same terms and conditions as all other corporate employees in all employee
benefit plans, as may be now or hereafter sponsored or maintained for all
corporate employees of the Company and participation on the same terms and
conditions as other executive officers in such other plan, program or
arrangement as may be now or hereafter sponsored or maintained for executive
officers of the Company. The Executive will be entitled to four weeks of
vacation per year subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's policies.
(b) Executive Life Insurance Benefits. The Executive shall be
provided with the following life insurance benefits:
(i) In addition to the life insurance benefits provided
under the corporate employee benefit plans (currently one times annual base
salary), the Executive shall receive life insurance benefits which shall provide
a death benefit equal to an additional one-times the Executive's annual base
salary; and
(ii) The Company shall fund the purchase of a
second-to-die split dollar life insurance policy on the joint lives of the
Executive and his spouse. The policy shall provide a one million dollar death
benefit and shall be subject to a Split Dollar Agreement.
(c) Perquisites. Subject to the reasonable approval of the
Company, the Executive shall be entitled to the following Executive perquisites:
(i) One country club membership; (ii) One dining club
membership; (iii) A car or a monthly car allowance of
$765; and (iv) Financial, estate and tax planning services
Any bond or bond equivalent purchased by the Company in
connection with the provision of club memberships shall at all times be in the
name and ownership of the Company.
(d) Relocation. Relocation benefits will be provided to the
Executive as detailed in the Offer of Employment document provided by the
Company.
(e) Expenses. The Executive shall be reimbursed for reasonable
travel and other expenses incurred by Executive in performing his obligations
hereunder pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Company's policy in
respect thereto. In addition, the Executive will be reimbursed for reasonable
legal expenses in connection with the review of this document and all other
initial employment related documents.
Section 8. Benefits Upon Termination of Employment.
(a) Involuntary Termination without Cause. If the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates prior to the Expiration Date on account
of an involuntary termination of employment by the Company without Cause, or by
voluntary termination within 90 days of a material breach by the Company of the
Agreement, the Executive shall receive his base salary compensation as described
in Section 5 hereof until the Expiration Date and no additional benefits other
than medical benefits until the Expiration Date and those accrued hereunder and
under the Company's employee benefit plans up to the Termination of Employment
Date.
(b) Other Terminations of Employment. If the Executive's
employment with the Company terminates on the Expiration Date, or on account of
the Executive's (i) death, (ii) Disability, (iii) termination for Cause, or (iv)
voluntary termination, the Executive will receive no additional benefits under
this Agreement other than those accrued hereunder and under the Company's
employee benefit plans up to the Termination of Employment Date.
For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Disability" means the
occurrence of a physical or mental condition of the Executive which, in the
judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, prevents the Executive from
performing his duties on a full time basis for a period of 90 consecutive days
("Disability Period").
For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall include: (i) the
conviction of a felony, a crime of moral turpitude or fraud or having committed
fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement in connection with the performance his
duties hereunder, (ii) willful and repeated failures to substantially perform
his assigned duties; or (iii) a material violation of any other provisions of
this Agreement or express significant policies of the Company.
(c) Sole Right of Recourse. In the event the Executive's
employment is terminated, the Executive agrees that his sole right against the
Company with respect to his employment or the termination thereof shall consist
of his rights to benefits as described in this Section 8 and as set forth in
other Agreements entered into between the Company and the Executive, employee
benefit programs and any indemnification with respect to third party actions
under the Company By-Laws.
(d) Executive's Duty to Mitigate. The Executive shall not be
required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Section by
seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment
provided for in this Section be reduced by any compensation earned by the
Executive as the result of employment by another employer, or otherwise.
(e) Coordination With Other Agreements. If the Executive is
entitled to benefits under the Change of Control Agreement (as set forth in
Appendix A hereto) following his termination of employment, then its terms shall
control and he shall not receive the base salary compensation and benefits
continuance provided under paragraph (a) of this Section 8. The base salary
compensation and benefits continuance provided to the Executive under paragraph
(a) of this Section 8 shall be also be reduced by the 24-month annual base
salary payment and benefits continuance provided in Section 3 of the
Post-Termination Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement.
Section 9. Arbitration.
Any disputes hereunder shall be settled by arbitration in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania under the auspices of, and in accordance with the rules of, the
American Arbitration Association, and the decision in such arbitration shall be
final and conclusive on the parties and judgment upon such decision may be
entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The prevailing party may
recover from the other the costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys'
fees, if any, incurred in conjunction therewith.
Section 10. Notices.
All notices and other communications which are required or may be given under
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally or by
registered or certified mail addressed to the party concerned at the following
addresses:
If to the Company:
Equitable Resources, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Corporate Secretary
If to the Executive:
Xx. Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
In Care of:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Attorneys at Law
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
or to such other address as shall be designated by notice in writing to the
other party in accordance herewith. Notices and other communications hereunder
shall be deemed effectively given when personally delivered, or, if mailed, 48
hours after deposit in the United States mail.
Section 11. Assignment.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective
legal representatives, successors, and assigns of the parties hereto. However,
the relationship contemplated by this Agreement is unique and personal, and any
assignment of this Agreement by the Executive without the consent of the Company
shall be void. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Company may assign
its rights and obligations hereunder to any corporation or other business
organization with which the Company may merge or consolidate, or to which it may
transfer substantially all its assets or otherwise enter into an acquisition or
reorganization transaction.
Section 12. Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Section 13. Miscellaneous.
(a) This Agreement and its appendices as executed supersede all
prior agreements, arrangements and undertakings, written or oral, relating to
the subject matter hereof.
(b) This arrangement shall inure to the benefit of the
Executive's heirs, representatives or estate to the extent stated herein.
(c) This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded,
canceled, renewed or extended and the terms or covenants hereof may be waived,
only by a written instrument executed by both of the parties hereto, or in the
case of a waiver, by the party waiving compliance. The failure of either party
at any time or times to require performance of any provisions hereof shall in no
manner affect the right at a later time to enforce such provisions thereafter.
No waiver by either party of the breach of any term or covenant contained in
this Agreement, whether by conduct or otherwise, in any one or more instances,
shall be deemed to be, or construed as, a further or continuing waiver of any
such breach or a waiver of the breach of any other term or covenant contained in
this Agreement.
(d) In the event any one or more of the covenants, terms or
provisions contained in this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, the validity of the remaining covenants, terms and
provisions contained herein shall be in no way affected, prejudiced or disturbed
thereby.
(e) The Executive represents that he has no obligations under
any other agreement which would conflict or interfere in any way with the
services to be rendered hereunder.
(f) The Company and the Executive agree that the termination of
this Agreement shall not cause, by itself, the termination of any of the
agreements referenced as appendices or any other employee benefit plan
maintained by the Company which shall be governed by their terms.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered.
ATTEST: EQUITABLE RESOURCES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
______________________________________ By: ________________________________
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Vice President and Corporate Secretary President and Chief
Executive Officer
WITNESS:
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
______________________________________ _________________________________
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
